April · May · June 2016
A Word From The Publisher
Hello CIRCA readers! I hope that while you’re reading this, you are reveling in all the splendor of spring in North Carolina … as I write, I’m gazing out the window at the b...
What's Happening?
The Town of Wake Forest is offering several new and exciting events and activities throughout the spring season. Craving a concert? The town is adding three new live music series t...
Backyard Grocery Store
There is nothing more inviting than the smell of fresh herbs simmering on a stove top. No matter how full you may be, that olfactory explosion will have your mouth watering and eve...
Lake Gaston
"A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature,” wrote Henry David Thoreau in the pages of Walden. “Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the...
Go Back Outside
Did you know that the average American spends 93% of his or her life inside? Maybe those people don’t live around here! Living in North Carolina, we are blessed with a warm souther...
The Art of Flower Arranging
With spring officially here, now is the perfect time to take advantage of all of Mother Nature’s beautiful new blooms and try your hand at a new hobby – flower arranging. By learni...
Swimming Smart
Spring means warm weather. And with the hotter temperatures comes the time for pools, beaches, boats, lakes – in other words, water activities. Before diving off that board into th...
Beyond The Norm
There is ... a time to be born and a time to die ... A time to weep and a time to laugh ... A time to mourn and a time to dance. – Ecclesiastes 3:1-4. I imagine most of you have a...
Getting Dirty
Spring is finally here and there’s a sense of outside calling us there. Feel the warmth? Ready to get together with old friends or meet new ones? Want to feel the earth in your han...
Say "I Do" To Your Smile
Now that spring has arrived, warm, sunny days and beautiful blooms aren’t the only things back in season – so are weddings! Brides-to-be are busy making preparations for their big ...
The Red Buckeye
I’m not sure how some plants manage to be delicate and showy at the same time, but the red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) has that down pat. This pretty little native woodland tree makes...
It's Party Time!
Parents of young children, consider this a love letter from those of us who have made pretty much every mistake in the book when it comes to planning and hosting kids’ birthday par...
Treat Your Mama
This is it ladies – your one day of the year to be treated like the queen you are. This is my gift to my fellow rock star mamas out there who are giving, giving, giving to their fa...
Makeup Cleanout
Spring cleaning … we do it in our closets, rotating out the winter gear and bringing in the flip-flops; we do it in our garage, putting away snow gear, making way for beach ...
(No) Jumping For Joy
Jumping is one of the most common behavior problems dog owners face. A dog that jumps up on people is rarely welcome at human social functions. Not only is it considered impolite, ...
The Power Of Touch
It’s date night and your sweetie has scooped you up for an evening out. You glance over at the family sitting next to you, and what do you see? Electronics. Everywhere. The seven-y...
Prep Your Pooch
Introducing your pet to your new baby can be a bit challenging for all involved. Your pet may feel threatened if not used to having to share your time with someone else. Remember, ...
The Evolution of Braces
Did you know that the first signs of orthodontic treatments were found on Egyptian mummies with crude metal bands wrapped around individual teeth? It’s evidence that the desire for...
Gain Control
Do you ever feel like your emotions override your rational thoughts after a long or difficult day? Do you catch yourself reaching for food that is warm, sweet, and full of fat when...
Attacking Allergies
All that yellow pollen out there is sure to make seasonal allergy sufferers very aware that spring has sprung. Allergies affect more than 50 million people per year, according to t...
Longing For Longer Locks
As women, we love change and we often want what we don’t have. If you have straight hair, you want it curly. If you have curly hair, you want it straight. If you’ve got long tresse...
Driveable Destinations
Johnston County is something special, and not just because it’s the birthplace of Ava Gardner. Although giving the world a movie star certainly puts you on the map, any icon worth ...
Growing Strong Children
Kids, like all human beings, are designed to do physical work. Their joints, muscles, nervous system, heart, lungs, etc. are specifically in place, allowing them to do amazing phys...
Living With Less, But More
One of my two New Year’s commitments is slowly coming along. (I am not doing as well on the other commitment … more about that another time.) The one I am having success wit...
Our Heritage Revisited
Wake Forest is graced by a rich educational and cultural legacy. With so much attention given to the beginnings of Wake Forest University, other aspects of the town’s history could...