FAITH • FAMILY • FOOTBALL
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Web: thesomethingblueshoppe.com IG: @thesomethingblueshoppe
LIFESTYLE LETTER
Thankful!
November 2026 PUBLISHER
Rob Henshaw | rob.henshaw@citylifestyle.com E D I TO R
Taylor Brand | taylor.brand@citylifestyle.com
Hello, Cullman! My name is Rob Henshaw, and I am the new owner and publisher of Cullman City Lifestyle. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this community and to continue what has been built here over the past four years. I also want to thank Missy Gurley for the care and dedication she has poured into this magazine. She has been a great resource throughout this transition, and I truly appreciate her support as I step into this new role. Cullman is home to so many wonderful people, businesses and organizations, and now I have the privilege of helping share their stories with you each month. That is a responsibility I do not take lightly. Even as our community continues to grow and change, Cullman remains a special place, one that values its heritage while still looking toward the future. November seems like the perfect month to begin this new chapter. As the weather changes and we head into the holiday season, it is a good time to remember just how much we have to be thankful for. Time spent with family and friends. Worshipping with our church families. Friday night lights. Supporting local businesses. And all the things that make this community home. I hope you enjoy my “first” issue of Cullman City Lifestyle. I could not have asked for a better group of people to help bring it together, and we are just getting started. I look forward to sharing many more stories about the people, businesses and organizations that make Cullman the place we’re proud to call home. Happy November, y’all!
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Taylor Brand, Rob Henshaw, Priscilla Henshaw C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R AP H E R S
Jen Johnston Photography, Jay Betts Photography, Emily Boaz Photography, Lili Flynn Photography, Kayla Mitchell Photography
Corporate Team CEO Steven Schowengerdt President Matthew Perry CRO Jamie Pentz CoS Janeane Thompson AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe LAYOUT DESIGNER Liz Nixon QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas
R O B H E N S H A W, P U B L I S H E R @CULLMAN_CITYLIFESTYLE_
Learn how to start your own publication at CityLifestyle.com//Franchise. Proverbs 3:5-6 Cullman City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Cullman area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle
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L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R
Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Cullman City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.
inside the issue NOVE M B E R 2 0 2 6 | TH ANK F U L
18 Featured
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18 24
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Print Prestige Meets Digital Power.
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WHY CHOOSE BETWEEN PRESTIGE AND PLACEMENT?
Departments
Sweet Traditions
One family recipe carries generations of holiday memories.
From T-Town to Toomer’s
Two teams. Two traditions. Two game-day favorites.
Tinsel & Timber
You’re Invited to Celebrate Tinsel & Timber with First Source for Women This Christmas Season.
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Lifestyle Letter
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City Scene
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Business Monthly
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Locally Sourced FOOD + BEVERAGE
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Athlete Life SPORTS + RECREATION
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Happy Hour FOOD + BEVERAGE
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Trend Setter EVENT PLANNING + SERVICES
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Our Town ENTERTAINMENT
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Locals Only LIFE + CULTURE
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Giving Back LIFE + CULTURE
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Culinary Creations FOOD + BEVERAGE
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Events
On the Cover From players on the field to cheerleaders and majorettes on the sidelines, Cullman connections share unforgettable Iron Bowl memories, hometown ties and the family traditions that make Alabama and Auburn’s rivalry mean more than football. Photography: Jen Johnston Photography
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NOVEMBER 2026
city scene WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
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412 PUBLIC HOUSE
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HEIRLOOMS FINE & PERFORMING ARTS
5 DRIFTERS BAR & GRILL SMITH LAKE
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EMILY BUSSMAN
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BROOKE ELIZABETH
STEPHANIE COOK
KARMA’S COFFEE HOUSE
1: Pancakes & Princesses: A Magical Fairytale Breakfast with Heirlooms Fine & Performing Arts 2: Congratulations to 412 Public House on these well-deserved honors and an incredible accomplishment! 3: SINGO BINGO winner Alivia Bishop with host Jacob Gibbs at Drifters on Smith Lake! 4: Sips N Strokes hosts another fun fundraising class benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. 5: Chamber Young Professionals enjoy The Willow Path’s event, A Night in the French Quarter. 6: Celebrating 60 years of Cullman Florist serving our community and sharing in life’s special moments. 7: Mom’s day out with their future Karma’s Coffee House regulars.
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C I T Y SC E N E
Want to be seen in the magazine? TA G Y O U R I N S TA G R A M P H O T O S W I T H @ C U L L M A N _ C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E _
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VISIT CULLMAN
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SONYA BOYD
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JAY BETTS PHOTOGRAPHY
8: Celebrating Cullman’s culinary scene with local flavors, community favorites and unforgettable bites from hometown restaurants. 9: North Alabama Agriplex hosts a fall-inspired Mocktails & Lattes class featuring local flavors. 10: At Oktoberfest, we celebrate everyone in our community, even the ones made of hay!
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NOVEMBER 2026
business monthly A R O U N D U P O F N E W S F R O M LO C A L B U S I N E S S E S
The Backyard Social The Backyard Social brings the party straight to you! Based in Cullman, this new local business creates memorable celebrations with backyard movie nights, themed sleepover tents and unique event experiences designed to make gathering together easy and fun. Whether you’re planning a birthday, sleepover or simply looking for an excuse to make memories with the people you love, The Backyard Social takes care of the details so you can enjoy the moment. 256-615-8252 | bookbackyardsocial@gmail.com
Scan to read more Photography by Lili Flynn Photography
Cymbidium Studios Cymbidium Studios is a Cullman-based wedding and event design company founded by Tony Haynes, a designer with a passion for transforming spaces into memorable experiences. Specializing in custom floral designs, décor and event rentals, Cymbidium brings creativity and thoughtful detail to weddings, celebrations and special occasions. From beautifully curated arrangements to arches, furnishings and finishing touches, each design is personalized to reflect the client’s vision and create a setting that feels unforgettable. (256) 339-1180 | cymbidiumstudios.com
Photography by Jen Johnston Photography
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The Uniform Initiative The Uniform Initiative is a locally owned medical uniform store founded by Stephanie King after 31 years as a Respiratory Therapist. Alongside her friend Nicole, Stephanie offers quality scrubs, accessories and special ordering from trusted brands for healthcare professionals, students and local facilities. Created to fill a need in the community, The Uniform Initiative pairs industry experience with personalized hometown service for people who dedicate their lives to caring for others. (256) 347-6388 | theuniforminitiative.com
Scan to read more
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CULLMAN CITY LIFESTYLE™ Good news happening right in your neighborhood.
Inspiration for your best local life.
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STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
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Local content by local creators.
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Sweet Traditions O N E F A M I LY R E C I P E C A R R I E S G E N E R AT I O N S O F H O L I D AY M E M O R I E S . ARTICLE BY TAYLOR BRAND | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEN JOHNSTON PHOTOGRAPHY
For Jennifer Sparkman, the smell of pecan pies baking will always feel like the holidays. Growing up, Jennifer and her family knew the season was near when they came home from school to find their mother, Jeanenne Skinner, and grandmother, Mattie Oden, baking as many as twenty five pies at a time. The pies were given to their teachers, a tradition that began in kindergarten and continued through high school. But some of Jennifer’s favorite memories happened before the pies ever reached the oven. Pecans were gathered from their yard and shelled by hand before Grandma Oden finely ground them in her little one-cup grinder. They also shared pies with school office staff, church staff, at fellowship meals and with employees at the drugstore owned by her dad, Frank Skinner. Grandma Oden continued baking well into her 90s, and her mother says people throughout the community still remember those pies. The family credits their unique flavor to maple flavoring instead of vanilla and finely ground pecans that create a crunchy topping. Today, Jennifer is honored to carry on the tradition and share a recipe filled with generations of memories, from her family to yours.
Jen Johnston Photography
Mattie Oden Jeanenne Skinner Jennifer Sparkman Emalyn Blackwell
Mattie Oden’s Pecan Pie recipe makes two pies. Combine 6 lightly beaten eggs with 2 cups sugar, 1 cup dark Karo syrup, 2 pinches salt and 2 teaspoons maple flavoring. Mix in 1/2 cup melted butter and 2 cups finely chopped pecans. Divide between two unbaked deep-dish pie shells. Bake at 350°F for about 55 minutes, until lightly browned, set and almost cracked in the center. Jen Johnston Photography
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LOCA LLY SOU R CE D | FOOD + BE VE RAGE
CULLMAN | HOLLY POND | HAYDEN DODGE CITY | ARLEY | PRICEVILLE
256-735-2121
www.traditionsal.com
Brian Bostick
More Than Just A Game
From Bryant-Denny to Jordan-Hare, Cullman area players, cheerleaders and majorettes share the Iron Bowl memories that made Alabama vs. Auburn personal.
ARTICLE BY TAYLOR BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEN JOHNSTON PHOTOGRAPHY
Jen Johnston Photography
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AT H LE T E LIF E | S P O RTS + RE CRE AT ION
In Alabama, the Iron Bowl is rarely just football. It is divided households, friendly arguments and generations choosing between crimson or orange and blue. It is a rivalry passed from grandparents to parents to children, and for several people with ties to the Cullman area, it is something they experienced from the field and sidelines themselves. For former Auburn football player Brad Johnson, one game stands above the rest. Johnson played for the Tigers from 1986 to 1989 and was part of the historic 1989 Iron Bowl, the first played at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn defeated undefeated No. 2 Alabama 30 to 20 that day, but Johnson remembers more than the final score. He remembers students arriving early and the excitement surrounding a game that brought Alabama to Auburn for the first time. Today, Johnson lives in Vinemont with his wife, Stacy. He owns several businesses, works in the medical field and helps coach at Vinemont. He and Stacy have fostered 21 children. Across the rivalry, Cullman High School graduate Jackson Cook wore crimson. Cook played at Alabama from 1994 to 1996, beginning as a walk-on before earning a full scholarship. He played center and long snapper. One favorite memory came in 1996, when Alabama won the SEC West and advanced to the SEC Championship Game. Football remains part of his life, and his Alabama connection has become a family tradition spanning three generations. For Taylor Britt, another Cullman High graduate and former Alabama player, the Iron Bowl represented a childhood dream. Britt played from 2002 to 2005 and remembers crowds so loud players could barely hear the quarterback’s snap count. He remembers hearing his name announced among the starters and taking the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium and Jordan-Hare Stadium. Today, Britt lives in Cullman and has had the opportunity to coach his children at Cullman High School. Cullman High graduate Brian Bostick also wore crimson, playing place kicker at Alabama from 2000 to 2004. For Bostick, the rivalry was personal. His grandfather was an Auburn fan, but when his grandson played, he showed up wearing Alabama colors and cheering for the Crimson Tide. Today, Bostick is an electrical engineer in Huntsville and lives in
Madison with his family, while Cullman remains part of their lives. On the Auburn side, Fairview native Eddie McGriff walked onto the Tigers football team after receiving an academic scholarship. Injuries shortened his playing career, but never his connection to Auburn. McGriff says the friendships formed with teammates became like family. After a 30-year career with University of Georgia Extension, he returned to North Alabama to work with Auburn Extension. The rivalry created unforgettable memories beyond the football field, too. Former Auburn cheerleader Lindsay Harris was a first-year cheerleader when selected as one of seven cheer couples to travel to Tuscaloosa. From the sidelines, she watched unranked Auburn defeat No. 9 Alabama in an experience she still treasures. For former Alabama majorette Karri Sumrall, a favorite Iron Bowl memory came during her senior year when she twirled alongside her cousin, who represented Auburn. Different uniforms and stories brought each of them into the rivalry. Years later, their memories followed them home. Because in Cullman, Alabama versus Auburn is more than football. It is family, tradition, community and hometown history, woven into Saturdays that generations never quite forget.
Brad Johnson
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F R OM T-T OW N T O T OOME R’S
TWO TEAMS. TWO TRADITIONS. TWO GAME-DAY FAVORITES.
ARTICLE BY ROB HENSHAW PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEN JOHNSTON PHOTOGRAPHY
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H AP PY H OU R | FO O D + BE VE RAGE
The Iron Bowl is one of Alabama’s most treasured traditions. For generations, the annual matchup between Alabama and Auburn has brought together families, friends and communities, even if everyone isn’t cheering for the same team. Whether you’re yelling “Roll Tide” or “War Eagle,” no game day gathering is complete without good food, good company and something refreshing to sip while watching the rivalry unfold. Presented by Rob’s Happy Hour, these two game day drinks give each side of the rivalry something of its own. Alabama fans can mix up a Yellowhammer, the legendary Tuscaloosa favorite, while Auburn fans can pour a glass of refreshing Toomer’s Lemonade, inspired by one of the university’s most recognizable landmarks. So pick your side, raise your glass and enjoy one of Alabama’s favorite Saturdays of the year. Follow @robshappyhour on Instagram for more drink inspiration.
TOOMER’S LEMONADE YELLOWHAMMER
A Tuscaloosa game day classic, the Yellowhammer has become almost as much a part of an Alabama football weekend as crimson and white. Fruity, refreshing and easy to drink, this cocktail combines vodka, rum and amaretto with pineapple and orange juices for a sweet, tropical flavor. Served over plenty of ice and finished with an orange slice and maraschino cherry, it’s an easy cocktail to mix up before kickoff or serve while everyone gathers around the television. Just don’t let that fruity flavor fool you. This Alabama favorite packs a little more punch than you might expect.
INGREDIENTS • • • • • •
1 oz vodka 1 oz light rum 1 oz amaretto 4 oz pineapple juice 2 oz orange juice Orange slice and maraschino cherry, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
Combine the vodka, light rum, amaretto, pineapple juice and orange juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake briefly until chilled, then strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry, then serve immediately.
Few things say Auburn quite like a cold glass of lemonade and a visit to Toomer’s Corner. Inspired by the beloved Auburn landmark, this sweet and tart Southern favorite is a simple and refreshing addition to an Iron Bowl spread. The recipe makes enough to share, making it especially convenient for tailgates, watch parties and family gatherings. Serve it as is for a refreshing alcohol free option everyone can enjoy, or let adults add a splash of vodka to their individual glasses.
INGREDIENTS • • • • • •
4 cups sugar 2 cups hot water 3 cups fresh lemon juice 9 cups cold water Lemon slices, for garnish Vodka, optional
DIRECTIONS
Add the sugar to the hot water and stir until completely dissolved. Pour in the fresh lemon juice and cold water, stirring until everything is well combined. Chill thoroughly before serving. Pour the lemonade over plenty of ice and garnish each glass with fresh lemon slices. For an adult version, add 1½ oz vodka to an ice filled glass, top with lemonade and stir. No matter which colors you’re wearing on Iron Bowl Saturday, there’s something worth raising a glass to: tradition, rivalry and another football season in Alabama.
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Cullman Holiday Tradition Share Club of Cullman Christmas Tour of Homes ARTICLE BY PRISCILLA HENSHAW | PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY BOAZ PHOTOGRAPHY The Share Club of Cullman’s annual Christmas Tour of Homes has been a favorite in our community since 1986. This year’s tour is on Sunday, December 6th, from 1:00-5:00 pm. Proceeds from the tour will benefit various local charitable organizations. This year’s beneficiaries are The Bonnie Heatherly Memorial Scholarship, The Good Samaritan
Home of Megan & Kurt Apel Tucked into the Lick Creek area near the Smith Lake dam, this lake home was custom built by Cullman-based Dustin Schwaiger Construction and meticulously designed by Lauren Harding and Megan herself. Alabama architect David Dearing adapted one of his English Arts and Crafts sketches to suit the Apels’ waterfront lot. Fieldstone and a cedar shake roof give the home a timeless feel and will age gracefully with time, while the floor plan offers lake views from nearly every room. Treasured heirloom pieces fill the house with warmth and memories, making it a true gathering place for family and friends.
Home of Lindsay & Jeff Brannon Tucked away on 150 acres on Smith Lake, the Brannon home is a special place built for enjoying the water, the views, and most importantly time with family and friends. With more than 200 feet of shoreline, the home was thoughtfully placed on the property to make the most of its lakefront setting. Interior Designer Emma Fry worked on the interior architecture and design of the home. A key point when designing the home was bringing the outdoors in, resulting in large windows that frame the lake, fill the rooms with natural light, and keep the landscape front and center.
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T R E N D SE T T E R | EVENT PLAN N IN G + SE RVICE S
Health Clinic, Hospice of Cullman County, and Restoring Women Outreach. These four stunning homes are unique and bring their own spin to Christmas decorating, along with style and design. The lineup of homes is amazing and everyone attending is in for a real treat! The event truly is a must for the Christmas season. Tickets can be purchased at Cullman Cabinet/The Added Touch, J. Drake Salon, Monograms
Plus, and Three Pears. You can also purchase tickets from any Share Club member or online. Admission to the Christmas Tour of Homes is $25.00. More information about the homes, including addresses, will be provided upon ticket purchase. Follow The Share Club of Cullman’s social media pages for updates, teasers and sneak peeks into these beautiful homes. https://www.facebook.com/ShareClubOfCullman
Home of Shellie & Darrell Vines Completed in 2023, this custom home was designed by Trent Basch and built by Franklin Homebuilding. Located within walking distance of Cullman’s historic Warehouse District, the home showcases extraordinary craftsmanship, soaring 12-foot ceilings and dramatic vaulted spaces throughout its sprawling footprint. Thoughtfully designed for entertaining and everyday living, the home blends timeless details with a warm, welcoming style. During the Christmas season, each space comes alive with festive touches that reflect the joy of gathering with family and friends.
Home of Savannah & BJ Wood Designed by the homeowners and originally built by Dexter Campbell in 2018, this custom home blends modern design with whimsical farmhouse style. Warm, inviting spaces are filled with thoughtful details, distinctive finishes and playful touches that give the home a personality all its own. The newest addition, an expansive barn and pool designed and built by BJ Wood himself, creates a welcoming outdoor retreat for entertaining, relaxing and making memories with family and friends.
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“Juliet” 1536 Fourth Street SW, Cullman, AL 35055 | 256.775.0411 | glssupply.com
East Point Animal Clinic (256) 734-6060
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Where Cullman comes to unwind, refresh, and recharge.
Expert Care, made personal. At The Corner Soak & Spa, you’re more than just another appointment on the books. We’re here to get to know you, understand your goals, and create a space where you feel cared for, confident, and completely at home.
Your first visit starts here — scan to explore our services & book.
256-841-5057 thecornersoakandspa.com
501 3rd St SW Cullman, AL 35055 NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / C UL L M A N
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A Season OFGiving, A Celebration OF Hope You are Invited to Celebrate Tinsel & Timber with First Source for Women This Christmas Season. ARTICLE BY TAYLOR BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAYLA MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY
For many women facing an unexpected pregnancy, the first feeling is not certainty. It is fear. First Source for Women exists to meet women in that moment with compassion, practical support and, most importantly, hope. On December 1, that mission will take center stage as Tinsel & Timber returns to Cotton Creek. What has quickly become one of First Source for Women’s largest annual fundraisers is also a beautiful reminder of what can happen when a community chooses to show up for women and families. Funds raised through Tinsel & Timber directly support First Source’s free services, including pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds, options consultations, FIRST Steps classes and the Baby Boutique. The organization also connects women and families with resources for employment, housing, treatment and domestic violence support when needed. Through partnerships with local churches, women can also find community through Embrace Grace groups. But behind every service is a story. Last year, one of the most meaningful pieces of Tinsel & Timber was the baby tree, decorated in honor of 205 babies born to mothers served by First Source in 2025. The tree will return this year with even more names represented. “Those aren’t simply numbers,” Director Meredith Little shared. “Behind each one is a mom with a story.” That is the heart of this night. Guests will enjoy dinner catered by Black Rock Bistro of Jasper and live music from violinist Winslow Davis. The night will include both live and silent auctions featuring Christmas decor, gifts and the event’s now signature whole beef
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O UR TOWN | ENTERTAI NME N T
cow with custom processing from Tinney Farms. Tickets are $75 with open seating, and reserved tables begin at $1,000. Tinsel & Timber may feel like the beginning of the Christmas season, but its impact reaches far beyond one December evening. It is Cullman coming together to remind women they do not have to face an unexpected pregnancy alone and helping them believe there is hope for what comes next. @firstsourcecullman firstsourceforwomen.org
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Faith & Family For Keisha Fuller, family can best be described as controlled chaos, heavy on the chaos. Her blended family is anything but traditional, with children ranging in age from 24 to 3. Their home is filled with overlapping conversations, little voices and the beautiful messiness of a house full of life. At the center of it all is faith. For Keisha and her husband, Chris, following Jesus has shaped the way they understand marriage, parenting and what it truly means to be a family. Their story, however, has not been one of perfection.
The couple has been together for nearly 20 years, and about four years into their marriage, they found themselves at a place where hope felt scarce. They had reached the end of themselves and realized what they were doing simply wasn’t working. That became the beginning of rebuilding. Keisha and Chris made the decision to surrender their marriage and lives to Jesus and rebuild with Him at the center. As they began pursuing their faith individually, they discovered they were ultimately on the same team. That doesn’t mean always agreeing. For them, it means remaining committed to finding their way back to one another, even when they begin from different places. Today, the Fruit of the Spirit serves as their family motto: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. They don’t claim to get them right every day, but those qualities represent the kind of home they hope to create. Some of Keisha’s sweetest reminders of faith have come through her youngest children. “Momma, do you know how much Jesus loves us?” “Momma, did you know Jesus heals people?” Their simple belief reminds her that faith doesn’t have to be complicated. Keisha knows she cannot protect her children from every difficult season ahead. Instead, her prayer is that they encounter Jesus early and know where to turn when those seasons come. For the Fuller family, faith isn’t about perfection. It’s about continuing to grow while knowing where their foundation lies. Above all, Keisha hopes her children remember a family that loved deeply, laughed often, clung to truth and ran to Jesus first.
For Keisha Fuller, family begins with a foundation firmly rooted in Jesus. ARTICLE BY TAYLOR BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEN JOHNSTON PHOTOGRAPHY
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LOCA LS ON LY | L I FE + C U LT U RE
Residential Cleaning Commercial Cleaning Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning Construction Cleanup Restaurant & Janitorial Supplies U-Haul Rentals Hydraulic Dump Trailer Rentals
256-736-9944 760 County Road 437 (Hwy 69) Cullman, AL 35055
cleaningandmorecullman.com
CLIMATE CONTROL STORAGE
Clean • Secure • Climate Controlled
256-736-9944
760 County Road 437 (Hwy 69) Cullman, AL 35055
Conveniently located at the same
cleaningandmorecullman.com location as Cleaning & More Cullman! NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / C UL L M A N
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C I T Y L I FEST Y L E G I V ES BAC K
GIVING TOGETHER A Community That Shows Up
Every year, City Lifestyle sends checks to hundreds of families in need across the country through our annual Giving Campaign and our nonprofit arm, Kingdom Building Foundation. But none of it would be possible without you. We can only help the people we know about, and
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G IV IN G BAC K | L I FE + C ULT U RE
that’s where our readers come in. If you know someone quietly struggling, whether it’s a single parent, a senior citizen, or a family facing something they never saw coming, we want to hear their story. Nominations are what make this whole campaign possible.
We provided a chair lift for a teenager paralyzed in a gymnastics accident so she could move freely through her own home again. We helped a child who lost an eye to cancer get the prosthetic because insurance wouldn’t cover it. We covered dental work for a man who needed his smile back just to walk into a job interview. We got heat turned back on for a family who had spent part of the winter without it. We helped a family keep up with bills while a husband and father fought pancreatic cancer, and we helped another family cover medical expenses after the unimaginable loss of a child. These are just a few examples of some of the hundreds of individuals that have been helped through nominations from readers like you. None of it happens without someone noticing first and speaking up. "We don't just send checks," says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle.
“We send a message: You are seen, you are loved, and you are not forgotten.” Together with City Lifestyle President Matthew Perry, Steven has helped shape this into a tradition that goes far beyond the holiday season. "This is about community," Matthew says. "We believe we've been blessed, so now we get to be a blessing." Often, the person making the nomination gets just as much out of the experience as the recipient. There's something powerful about being part of the reason someone else's burden got lighter, especially when that need might have otherwise gone unnoticed. The campaign is completely confidential. No names are ever shared or publicized, and nominating someone is as simple as telling us their story. We are looking for those in our communities who fall between the cracks of getting help, and together as a community, we can meet those needs.
Nominations open November 1st and close December 3rd. To nominate someone in your community, follow @CityLifestyle on Instagram and find the form in our bio, or visit KingdomBuildingFoundation.org.
This season, giving starts with you. Let's do it together. Nominate someone in need today.
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ARTICLE BY PAULI REEP
Cranberry Chambord Chutney 30
C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE
There always seems to be a debate of some kind or another on whether homemade cranberry sauce or canned is best for your holiday table. Whether you are in the homemade camp or the canned camp, this recipe is a must-try for everyone. It’s easy and packed with yummy goodness! And if you’re in the canned camp, you may surprise yourself that you ever thought canned was the easiest route to your table! This sauce is a great addition to your poultry or pork when fresh cranberries are in season, but frozen cranberries can certainly be used in a pinch. CONTINUED >
WANT TO BREAK FREE FROM THE CAN? THIS HOMEMADE SAUCE WILL WOW YOUR THANKSGIVING GUESTS! NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / C UL L M A N
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Ingredients • 1-pound fresh cranberries • 2 cups sugar • 2 tart apples (such as Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and diced • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves • 1/8 teaspoon allspice • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon • zest of 1 lemon, cut into julienne strips • zest of 1 orange, cut into julienne strips • 1/3 cup Chambord liqueur
Cooking Instructions 1. Rinse and pick over cranberries. Discard any that are green or mushy and remove stems. 2. In a 2-quart saucepan, place cranberries, sugar, and diced apples. Cover the pot and cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil. (No need to add liquid.) 3. Uncover and stir in spices. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover and add lemon and orange zest. Cover the pot and cook for another 5 minutes or until the mixture has thickened and the berries have popped. 4. Cool for 5 minutes, then stir in the Chambord and refrigerate until serving time.
“It’s easy and packed with homemade, yummy goodness.”
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C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE
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NOVEMBER 2026
events A S E L E C T I O N O F U P C O M I N G LO C A L E V E N T S
NOVE M BE R 5T H
North Alabama Agriplex Presents: Southern Pies, Savory Edition North Alabama Agriplex | 6:00 PM Learn to master a buttery pie crust and fill it with hearty, comforting flavors. Participants will also learn a braided lattice technique and other decorative additions. Cost is $25 per person. Register at www.agriplex.org. NOVE M BE R 1 3T H
Heirlooms Fine & Performing Arts presents Disney’s Frozen JR. Wallace State Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre | 7:00 PM Heirlooms Fine & Performing Arts presents Disney’s Frozen JR. at Wallace State’s Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre. Enjoy this family-friendly production featuring the beloved story and songs of Frozen. Performances are Friday, November 13 at 7 PM and Saturday, November 14 at 2 PM and 7 PM. Tickets are $12.
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Family owned. Community trusted.
Our family. Your peace of mind. For over 37 years, our family-owned and operated shop has served our community with dependable auto repair, honest communication, and care that goes beyond the keys.
Full-Service Auto Repair
Comfortable waiting room with complimentary snacks & drinks
Loaner vehicles offered when available
Walk-ins Welcome
Our mission is to honor God by serving our customers, employees, and community with love and integrity.
Let our family take care of yours. Monday–Friday | 7:30 AM–5:00 PM
256-734-3981 | www.gravesautoservice.com 2143 2nd Ave. SW, Cullman, AL 35055