Chattanooga, TN August 2024

These are the Days

I can’t believe that August is here and we are over halfway through the year! As summer begins to wind down, many of you are making preparations for your children to head back to school. While I’m sure that the structure the school year brings will be a welcome rhythm for us all, I already miss the slower pace, longer days, and time spent catching up with friends and family.

This school year, my daughter joins me on campus at Chattanooga Christian School and as we prepare supplies, uniforms, and scheduling, I simply cannot fathom how quickly she is growing. I know many of you find yourselves in the same boat as me or remember the days when your children grew and changed right before your very eyes. Each day brings new challenges and new joys, and each day I find myself wishing that I could just make time stand still.

This month, we bring you our annual Kids & Pets issue full of ideas, advice, and resources to prepare you for the months ahead. We feature Wild Magnolia Events & Design again this August as Erin Minnis continues to grow her business–expanding her portfolio to include weddings, birthday parties, retirement celebrations, small business grand openings, dinner parties, vendor networking events, open houses, branding shoots, Mother’s Day events, wedding showers, and rehearsal dinners. Most recently, Erin has formed a partnership with Spill the Beans providing tea parties for groups of all ages. Our cover image by Christin Sofka Photography features a concept set up and the moment I saw it, I couldn’t wait to throw a tea party for my daughter and her friends!

Furthermore, this month we have the privilege of featuring the Nanny Collection, whose top priority is finding sustainability and longevity for families and supporting that relationship to ensure it reaches its maximum capacity. We bring you a round-up of businesses sure to meet the various needs of our fourlegged companions as well as a quick recipe for homemade dog treats. Finally, we feature a bucket list perfect for closing out summer with the whole family.

No matter how you wind down these final days of summer, we hope that you are making the most of every moment. As we curated this month’s issue and reflected on the little ones and four-legged friends in our lives, we were reminded over and over again that despite the curve balls life has a way of throwing at us, these are the days.

BELINDA MARTIN, EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

August 2024

PUBLISHER

Lisa Yockey | lisa.yockey@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Belinda Martin | belinda.martin@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Belinda Martin, Michelle W. Parnell, Ryleigh Roberts, Eve Robles

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ansley Suddeth Photography, Christin Sofka Photography, Wandermoore Photos

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain

Learn

ARTICLE BY BELINDA MARTIN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANSLEY SUDDETH PHOTOGRAPHY, CHRISTIN SOFKA

PHOTOGRAPHY, WANDERMOORE PHOTOS, WILD MAGNOLIA EVENTS

WILD MAGNOLIA

Events & Design

The Little Things are the Big Things

Erin Minnis and I first met at a luncheon recognizing influential local women–a group in which Erin undoubtedly belongs. We were seated together and made casual, polite conversation about each other's occupations. I, the new mom of an almost one-year-old, was brimming with ideas for my daughter’s first birthday party, but didn’t quite know how to take my ideas from vision to reality. Erin simply asked me to send her some ideas of what I had in mind and she took it from there— turning my daughter’s first birthday party into a celebration that was more incredible than I had even dreamed. A year later, our friends and family are still talking about it and are eagerly awaiting this year’s party. Without hesitation, any time we want to host an event, Erin is our first call, text, or Instagram message. When I think about what makes working with Erin so special, three words come to mind. Erin Minnis is invested, imaginative, and intentional.

CONTINUED >

Invested. Erin is a recently married wife and mother of two. She gets it. She knows the concerns that you have about your budget, the weather, the guest list, the venue, the vendors, and the start time. She understands that while your event might be her seventh event of the month, it's the one you’ve been looking forward to all year.  Imaginative. One of the things I find myself asking Erin most often is, “How’d you think of that?”. While Erin spends a lot of

time researching ideas for each of her events, what continues to impress me with each event that she curates is her ability to turn everyday items into event decor. She has an eye and a talent that are unmatched in all of my event experience.  Intentional. From intimate ceremonies to elaborate celebrations, there is no event too big or too small for Wild Magnolia Events & Design. A quick glimpse at the Wild Magnolia social media accounts will spark ideas for themes

When I think about what makes working with Erin so special, three words come to mind.

Erin Minnis is invested, imaginative, and intentional.  It’s clear that, for Erin, the little things are the big things.

you didn’t even know you’d consider. Erin’s content is carefully curated, inspired, and timely. Again, Erin won’t showcase something she wouldn’t include in an event she’s hosting.

As Erin’s business continues to rapidly grow, it is evident that her investment, her imagination, and her intentionality are the keys to her success. Wild Magnolia’s portfolio has expanded to include: weddings, birthday parties, retirement celebrations, small business grand openings, tea parties (in partnership with

From intimate ceremonies to elaborate celebrations, there is no event too big or too small for Wild Magnolia Events & Design. Wild Magnolia’s portfolio has expanded to include: weddings, birthday parties, retirement celebrations, small business grand openings, tea parties, dinner parties, vendor networking events, open houses, branding shoots, Mother’s Day events, wedding showers, and rehearsal dinners.

Spill the Beans), dinner parties, vendor networking events, open houses, branding shoots, Mother’s Day events, wedding showers, and rehearsal dinners. Erin treats every event as if it were her own. She coordinates with vendors, arranges payment agreements, creates easy-to-use ordering lists and is transparent about cost and budget. Paying attention to even the smallest details, like Eric Carle books as an added touch of decor for my daughter’s “Hungry Caterpillar” themed birthday, is how Erin operates. It’s clear that, for Erin, the little things are the big things. Though Erin has become a great friend of mine over the course of the last year, I am continually impressed by her professionalism, candor, and vision.

Even though we’ve only just passed the halfway point of 2024, Wild Magnolia Events and Design has already begun booking well into 2025. Trust me, if you love throwing a party like I do and also ascribe to the notion that little things are the big things, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation and get on Erin’s calendar.

To learn more about Wild Magnolia Events and Design, visit: wildmagnolia.org. To get inspiration and to see updates on Wild Magnolia’s events, be sure to check out Erin’s Instagram pages: @wild.magnolia.weddings and @wild.magnolia.events.

Wendy Dixon

Local Resources for Our Four-Legged Friends

Pet Round Up

Two in three households in the United States have a pet. These adopted family members provide consistent comfort on hard days, companionship on good days, and unconditional love every day. We want to give them the best care we can with the resources we have. Check out our curated list of local businesses that can help you provide your pets with the care, attention, and love they deserve.

ARTICLE BY RYLEIGH ROBERTS

Animal Dermatology Specialists

As pet owners, we see our pets daily and witness firsthand how allergies and other skin conditions affect their quality of life. Dr. Laura Wilson, an animal dermatologist in Chattanooga, shares this concern. Through founding Animal Dermatology, Dr. Wilson provides specialized veterinary care that she believes patients and clients deserve while maintaining the personalized attention of a private practice.

Animal Dermatology Specialists aims to help pets wag more and itch less. They offer services for conditions affecting the skin, hair coat, ears, paws, and claws of cats and dogs. Their primary patients suffer from allergies and skin and ear infections resulting from allergic behaviors. The clinic also treats and manages immune-mediated conditions, hormone imbalances, endocrine system disorders, and even cancers.

Dr. Wilson provides passionate care for our furry companions, offering short and long-term plans to remedy their dermatologic struggles. Under her leadership, Animal Dermatology Specialists in Chattanooga delivers specialized care and lasting solutions for our pets.

animaldermchatt.com

Pet Musings

This local business is a passion project and dream of founder Bobo Cheung, who creates custom and handmade pet and pet parent accessories designed to support rescue pets. She started Pet Musings to spread the joy her own rescue pets give her and raise awareness for rescues and shelters so more animals can find their forever homes.

Cheung handmakes wrinkle-resistant bandanas for every breed and size and “Adopt Me” bandanas for shelter rescues. A portion of the proceeds from her shop goes toward donating these bandanas to local shelters. The bandanas can be customized with name add-ons and come in various themes, seasonal patterns, and colors to express every pet's unique personality. Cheung also offers cats and dogs collars, leashes, treats, tags, toys, and more. Pet Musings sells online and at weekly pop-ups.

petmusings.com | @petmusings

Kelly Slusher, author of the children’s book “The Wild Dog Collection”, was inspired by her two pets, Delilah and Samson. The book came after Delilah’s death from cancer and demonstrates the profound impact pets have on our lives and the lessons they teach us. It follows Delilah, a force of optimism who maintains loving kindness even in difficult times, and Samson, who learns to cope with Delilah’s loss, discovering that love remains even when life is unfair.

For Slusher and her husband John, the book was a personal and universal lesson, offering comfort in grief and hardship. It captures our pets’ unconditional love and strength, showing that despite our challenges, their presence, whether in spirit or flesh, helps us feel less alone. In addition to the book, Slusher and her husband do readings at local schools and businesses and sell Wild Dog merchandise that inspires others to share the same love and outlook as Samson and Delilah. A portion of the proceeds is donated to the Magic Bullet Fund, which helps cover treatment costs for pets with cancer.

wilddogga.com

Aqua Dogs

Aqua Dogs is a spa and grooming service as well as a doggy daycare. This home away from home provides pets with the love and care they deserve. With a commitment to pet pampering, Aqua Dogs ensures your pet can relax in an environment full of comfort and love. Whether staying for a bath, a day, or a weekend, their goal is to send pets home happy, healthy, and looking their best.

They offer various services, including grooming, doggy daycare, lodging, self-serve dog wash stations, and spa treatments. Each service is customized to consider the safety and needs of their furry guests during their treatments and stay.

aquadoggrooming.com

Slobber Bones Pet Bakery & Bath

When puppy parents struggled to find safe and enjoyable treats and grooming products for their pet Holly, they created Slobber Bones Pet Bakery & Bath. This business provides Holly and other pups with the best possible care. Their mission is to offer products and services that cater to pets' overall well-being, keeping them happy, healthy, and clean.

The bakery and grooming uses only natural ingredients that are tasty and good for dogs’ health. Their grooming and bathing services include DIY bathing, breath treatments, and more, each utilizing high-quality products. Slobber Bones also partners with local and national animal organizations and shelters to support community pets, believing every pet deserves a loving home.

slobberbones.com

Veterinary Care and Specialty Group

This 24/7 Emergency Veterinary service in Chattanooga ensures your pet can access care anytime, for any situation. Their mission is to provide compassionate referral and emergency veterinary care. With a versatile staff of specialists, this facility offers the highest quality treatment and equipment for all types of cases, ensuring every possible measure is taken to manage pet health and well-being.

They offer services in emergency care, diagnosis, internal medicine, neurology, surgery, oncology, rehabilitation, cardiology, anesthesiology, and more. Veterinary Care and Specialty Group provides assurance of care for our pets, helping us all rest easier.

vcsgvets.com

ARTICLE BY MICHELLE W. PARNELL

collection The Nanny

CONNECTING FAMILIES & CAREGIVERS

For many parents, finding someone to care for their children who is compatible with the family dynamic and meets a myriad of safety and experience qualifications can be difficult. On the flip side, many experienced and wellloved caregivers often find it difficult to connect with a new family once they are no longer needed in their current placement. This was the experience of Madison Blakeley, founder of The Nanny Collection.

We're

not only there through recruitment but through onboarding, and we provide a weekly educator-produced curriculum and other resources for families. One of our top priorities is finding sustainability and longevity for families and supporting that relationship to ensure it reaches its maximum capacity.

“I was a nanny for several years and whenever it was time for my most recent family to go to preschool, I was devastated. Once they’re your babies, they’re always your babies and you love them forever,” she shared. “But I needed another job, so I looked and looked, but had trouble finding a good fit. That’s when I thought how great it would be to have an agency to help with placement.”

To facilitate compatible matches, Blakeley meets with families and gathers as much information as possible about their needs, wants, and schedules. In addition to creating and posting the job listing, The Nanny Collection screens applications, performs background checks, and provides families with the top candidates for in-person interviews.

“We want to make sure candidates are experienced, qualified, and educated,” said Blakeley. “Once we have a few candidates who we think will be a good fit for that family, we send their details over. The family chooses who they want to meet with, and they invite them into their home to see if they mesh well.”

Because finding and retaining a nanny is a significant financial investment, The Nanny Collection is committed to being a support through the whole process including assisting with paperwork such as employment contacts and connecting families with a payroll partner.

“We’re not only there through recruitment but through onboarding, and we provide a weekly educator-produced curriculum and other resources for families,” Blakeley explained. “One of our top priorities is finding sustainability and longevity for families and supporting that relationship to ensure it reaches its maximum capacity.”

For more information and to book an exploration call, visit thenannycollection.com

A Homemade Delight Your Pups Will Beg For

Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats

• 2 cups oatmeal, uncooked

• 1 large banana

• 1/2 cup peanut butter

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour ingredients directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a bowl, mix banana and peanut butter until smooth.

3. Using a blender, grind oats into powder form.

4. Add 1 ½ cups of oatmeal and mix until combined. As you combine, the mixture should begin to adhere to itself and form a ball. The texture should be tacky; if it is too sticky, add the remaining ground oats until consistency is met.

5. Add flour to your surface and lightly dust your hands.

6. Roll out and hand flatten your mixture to about ¼ inch thickness.

ARTICLE BY EVE ROBLES

7. Cut into desired shapes and place on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

8. Bake treats for approximately 10 minutes, or until the edges have browned.

9. Cool completely before serving.

Whether your pup has the obedience of a dog show finalist, or social behavior that makes you want to play dead around others, you can develop more owner confidence with help from this expert trainer.

ARTICLE BY LISA MOYER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

STYLED BY ANGELA BROOCKERD

“Creating a relationship between you and your canine based on confidence, reliability and reward can turn a good dog into a great dog.”

“Socializing your dog is beneficial for both dogs and their owners,” says Taryn Tyler, a certified dog trainer. “It creates confidence for both dogs and owners and displaces the anxiety we feel when our dogs aren’t behaving like we want them to.”

Taryn says that boundaries can be learned by dogs of any age.

“There’s a nasty perception along the ‘can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ line of thinking,” she says.

“While you can’t take a dog with serious behavioral issues and completely turn them around 180 degrees, you can make improvements in how you understand your dog and how they understand you. Dog training isn’t just for struggling pups either. Creating a relationship between you and your canine based on confidence, reliability and reward can turn a good dog into a great dog.”

Taryn stresses that teaching a dog to sit or stay is less about tricks and more about the relationship that builds between animal and owner. “That, in turn, fosters an environment where the next time a family hosts Thanksgiving or has friends over, the owner and their dogs fall into the habit of obeying commands because of the confidence built through all the work put in beforehand.”

Even dogs with a troubled history can achieve improvement.

“We all love our dogs, but they can be stressful when they can’t seem to click in our home environments.

DOG SOCIALIZING TIPS:

• Socializing is more than taking your dog in public. A guy can dump a bunch of mulch in your driveway and spread it, but he’s not a landscaper until he’s following a plan. When the doorbell rings or a visitor comes into the house, what’s our expectation for the dog? When we’re in public and the dog’s attention is diverted, what’s our plan to refocus them? Socialization is 99 percent working on small steps as part of a larger plan.

• Socializing isn’t about our dogs being the center of attention in public. Everyone loves seeing a dog, but our best outcome for the dog is to go unnoticed. Sitting by our side, ignoring external stimuli, remaining calm— those are things we strive for when socializing a dog.

“While you can’t take a dog with serious behavioral issues and completely turn them around 180 degrees, you can make improvements in how you understand your dog and how they understand you.”

• When socializing dogs with other dogs, start small. Take a walk with another dog to get them to just exist in the same vicinity. Once they’re able to not be excited by the other dog, work on limited playing in controlled environments.

• If someone comes into your home, let them know what boundaries you’re working on with your dog. You can even suggest asking them to carry a few treats and work on some of the behaviors your dog is already comfortable with.

Once your dog is able to socialize with other pets, playdates are a great way to encourage good play behavior. One way to celebrate your pup’s birthday is to celebrate with their favorite furry friends. Here are a few helpful tips for making your gathering a success.

• Set up play areas for your furry guests to enjoy. This can include a doggy pool or splash pad, chew toys, frisbees, and don’t forget the pet-friendly bubbles.

• Offer party guests birthday attire such as a birthday hat, bandana or party outfit. Set up a photo wall for pet owners to get photos with their furry friends in their birthday outfits. Better yet, make it a costume competition, and invite guests to come dressed up ready to show off their pup’s attire.

• Create a treat display with a pet-friendly birthday cake and various chewy snacks for guests to give their pups.

• Party favors are a must to end your festivities with a bang. Fill party bags with bouncy balls, treats, and pet-friendly bubbles to send your guests off with a smile.

HOW

TO THROW A BIRTHDAY BASH FOR YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS:

ARTICLE BY LINDA DITCH |

summer is POPSICLE SEASON

KIDS AND POPSICLES ARE THE PERFECT SUMMERTIME PAIR

As temperatures rise, children race to the freezer for this frosty treat or wait anxiously for the approach of the musical ice cream truck. Making homemade popsicles is a fun, kid-friendly activity.

SPICED GRAPE POPSICLES

ingredients:

Makes 18 to 24

• 2 quarts Concord grape juice

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 12 whole cloves

• 4 cinnamon sticks

• 3 tablespoons whole allspice

directions:

Put all of the ingredients into a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to barely a simmer and let it cook for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour the juice through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into a bowl or pitcher to remove the spices. Allow the juice to cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate until well chilled. Pour mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze until firm.

AUGUST 1ST

World's Longest Yard Sale

Highway 127 | 9:00 AM

The 127 Yard Sale is an annual event that takes place the first Thursday-Sunday in August each year. It’s literally, The World’s Longest Yard Sale! The route spans 6 states (Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama) and is nearly 700 miles long. This unique event draws hundreds of thousands of people (shoppers/vendors) each year from all around the country.

AUGUST 10TH

Chattanooga Margarita Festival

First Horizon Pavillion | 6:00 PM

Head to the Chattanooga Margarita Festival at First Horizon Pavilion as Chattanooga’s favorite restaurants compete for the title of Best Margarita in town! Work your way through your Sample Passport that includes 10 mini margaritas, plus enjoy live entertainment by local DJs, a Margarita Fest photo booth, and some of Chattanooga’s tastiest food vendors. Tickets are available for purchase at www.chattanoogamargfest.com

REALTY REPORT CHATTANOOGA

1,100,000

ARTICLE BY EVE ROBLES

End of Summer Bucket List

NoogaSplash

Looking for a fun and different way to beat the heat? Visit Chattanooga’s only floating obstacle course, where kids (and adults) can jump, play and, of course, cool off. Visit noogasplash. com for more information.

Experience farm life with open play days or schedule a horse ride through some trails. To learn more, check out hiddenhillsfarm.com.

Creative Discovery Museum

With hands-on activities, science presentations and more, the Creative Discovery Museum is always a crowd hit. Visit cdmfun.org for events and hours.

Downtown Library

From cooking classes and scavenger hunts to music instrument rooms, weekly art and STEM classes and a 12,000 sq.ft. Makerspace, the downtown library always has something going on. Visit their event calendar at chattlibrary.org

Have budding nature lovers who love to swim? This family-friendly hike features a swimming hole and picnic tables to spend the day. Make it a whole family affair and bring the pups!