Looking for a family-friendly Halloween event in Haywood or Jackson Counties? See below for a roundup of events. Have fun and be safe! 

Being a mom is always hard, but there is something uniquely challenging about parenting an adolescent. For me, it felt like my 12-year-old morphed into a young man overnight. Within one calendar year, he grew six inches and three shoe sizes. I watched his pants grow shorter each day like he was a superhero molting into a larger, more powerful form. Suddenly his voice was deeper, and I found myself grasping for his little boy octave, the one without the baritone sound and crackly inflection.   

Rumble team member Susanna Shetley originally published this interview with Jennifer Smith in 2016 while she was undergoing breast cancer treatment. It's message continues to be powerful and informational for all individuals. Jennifer has been in remission for five years. 

In today’s unpredictable, chaotic world, we’re in search of anything that offers hope for humanity. 

Years ago when I was a mom to very young boys and blogging almost daily, I wrote a post about fostering literacy in kids. Not only had I been a language arts teacher and a reading instructional coach, but I had closely observed my own children and expereimented with a variety of strategies. Those little boys are now 12 and 9. They both enjoy reading, albeit very different genres. I fully believe a lot of the work I put in when they were young is paying off now that they're older. Below are the original six tips I inlcuded in that blog post, although I've added some new details and storylines. If you're the parent of young ones, these tips will hopefully help instill a love of books and a joy of reading. 

My 12-year-old son is extraordinarily inquisitive. Since he was a little boy, he’s inquired about everything from politics and finances to sports and geography to space and the environment to all topics in between. He loves to learn and fully absorbs all the knowledge he acquires, to the point where he’s often concerned about the outcome or implications of what’s going on in this big, confusing world of ours. 

For 5,000 years, individuals have been using botanicals as healing agents for the mind and body. Modern women fully understand why our ancestors started using them in the first place. Not only do they smell amazing, but they work! The human body instinctively responds to items that come from nature. All essential oils are made from flowers, plants, herbs or saps. Various oils help with specific ailments. The following 7 oils help decrase stress adn boost mood. 

I've been a fan of high-quality essential oils for a long time, and it seems when people get hooked on essential oils, they also become well-versed in the world of DIY products. That was the case for me, anyway. As I learned more about the benefits of oils and the horrible, toxic ingredients in mainstream skincare lines, I began to either use raw products (pure vitamin E, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, etc.) or make my own products at home. 

Aside from the global darkness of a pandemic, political strife, natural disasters and the impending anniversary of 9/11, there is grief on a local and personal level as well. 

Community is essential to the human experience. We are social beings with an innate yearning to connect with and support one another. The recent floods in Western North Carolina reminded us what it means to be part of a true community. The minute the waters receded, folks of all ages and walks of life showed up to offer a genuine smile and a helping hand. When considering community as a concept, studies show it offers a number of benefits. 

The world feels beyond heavy right now. 

Floods, wildfires, war, refugees, a pandemic.

This topic of this article was orignally focused on the back-to-school season. The masking debate in our home county of Haywood was heated, but that wasn’t what was on my heart. As a daughter of two educators and a former teacher myself, the back-to-school season will always be special.

Several weeks ago I wrote about my anxiety surrounding the Lake Logan triathlon. At the time, I’d been training since April but had yet to register. My anxiety concerning the open water swim was extreme. I honestly just didn’t know if I could survive it. I know I sound dramatic, but it’s the truth. The entire experience was emotionally draining, but luckily I learned a few life lessons along the way. 

They say the weeks leading up to the anniversary of a loved one’s death are harder than the day itself. 

I’d say that’s true. 

This week’s column comes to you from a campground picnic table in Hershey, Pennsylvania. My boyfriend and I are on a weeklong RV adventure with our cumulative seven children. In January, we decided against a yearly beach trip and instead created a plan to visit three different amusement parks via giant recreational vehicle. 

What you don’t know won’t scare you. 

That was the lesson I learned during my first triathlon. 

Everyone needs a tribe, and sometimes we need more than one. 

Summertime and candles dance well together. Whether you're hosting a romantic al fresco dinner or simply trying to battle mosquitoes, there are many reasons to make candles during the summer months. Get creative and have fun with the process. Think citrus, flowery and herbal. You can't go wrong when using fresh, fragrant ingredients from Mother Earth. 

The simplest of changes to your daily lifestyle can make you feel more alert, productive and energetic. Following these seven steps will make your body healthier and life happier. 

Years ago during a teeth cleaning, an older dental hygienist offered some advice. She told me to let other people be my crystal ball — to observe their lives and learn from their mistakes, and to also note their successes and triumphs. Doing this would save valuable time.

Everything about summer is romantic. What doesn’t speak love when you combine sunshine with fresh food, bare skin and more daylight hours to frolic and adventure, not to mention those starry nights perfect for sky gazing and first kisses. Coming off the uncertainty of last year, this summer feels extra special. Below are 17 fun summer date ideas for you and your person. 

Some people are so unique no adjective seems worthy. They are such distinct individuals that a written description eludes me. My dad is a person such as this.

I recently went on a girls’ beach trip to Hilton Head Island. It’d been a while since I enjoyed surf and sun with my female tribe. The last all-female excursion was in August of 2016, the same week my mom passed away unexpectedly. She’d been battling cancer but was projected to live much longer, so her death came as a shock. Every time I thought about a girls’ beach trip, my stomach knotted. I associated the timing of my previous experience with my mother’s passing. 

Traveling with a gaggle of kids and teens can be exciting but only if you’re emotionally prepared and well equipped with a few tips and tricks. Together, my boyfriend and I have five kids ranging in ages from 9 to 17. We’re an active and adventurous brood. When we united tribes, we never planned to sit still, but we knew traveling would look different than ever before. Below are some suggestions to help you plan your vacay, especially if you have a group of children and adolescents in tow.  

Dawsonville, Georgia sits just an hour north of Atlanta nestled in the foothill of the Appalachian Mountains. Etched into the landscape of these hills you will find the perfect setting to release your inner racer at Atlanta Motorsports Park.

Sober-curious is the new buzzword. It means being more intentional about how, when and why you drink. Unlike previous movements or rehabilitation programs, diving into “sober-curious” is for everyone, not just those who have significant addictions or health issues stemming from alcohol use. 

Sponsored: Rumble sat down Smokey Park Nursery owner, Derek Engelhardt, to learn a few tips and suggestions for spring and summer gardening and landscaping. More than ever, people are having fun working in their yards and strengthening curb appeal. 

There was once a young girl in Southern India who lived in a house with no electricity. A coiled water hose sat in a corner of the room where she slept. Each night when the sun went down, she convinced herself it was a snake.

With decades of experience in the world of architecture, TAB Associates are leaders in the industry. Firm CEO, Tab Bonidy, sat down with Rumble to offer his knowledge and advice in regard to working with an architect. 

My last column was about reorienting oneself after a time of loss or change. The entire world is working to do that now that the height of the pandemic has seemingly, hopefully passed. I didn’t realize how disoriented I felt during COVID-19 until now. It’s as if a veil has lifted and life is full of possibility again. 

Something has shifted in the world of motherhood. It’s different than ever before, and it's not that previous generations of mothers cared for or loved their children less, it’s that our generation puts too much pressure on modern moms to be perfect. 

Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center is offering a social media summit on Tues., May 11.

I’m not the traditional church-going type. “Christianity” is an antiquated, laden term of which I’m not a fan. My faith is unique, evolving. My God is changing and alive with the times. My Bible is a book of stories, metaphors and poetry. It is not a hard and fast guidepost.

CBD was relatively unknown to the world a few years ago. Today, you can purchase a variety of CBD products at every pharmacy, convenient store and roadside stand, but not all products are equal.

Rumble’s Susanna Shetley sat down with Libby Rodenbough of the band Mipso. This popular North Carolina collective offers a variety of unique Americana tunes. In 2020, the talented quartet released their sixth album, Mipso, and Libby released her debut solo album, Spectacle of Love. Lucky for those of us in Western North Carolina, Mipso will be playing in Asheville next Thursday, April 29, at the unique Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre in the historic neighborhood of Montford. 

My boyfriend and I recently bought a vintage house. It was built in 1971. When the realtor gave us a tour, I furrowed my brow trying to imagine our blended family of seven settling into such an abode. Prior to finding this house, we’d been looking at modern homes with open floor plans, bright and airy kitchens, two-car garages and large closets. 

It’s National Library week, and for someone who loves books and was the child of a librarian, this week is special to me.  Aside from two years as a business teacher, my mom spent her entire career in public education as the librarian of Weaverville Primary School. When she retired, she went back and served part-time in the media center of Fairview Elementary.

Growing up, my family had a little blue and white camper at Ocean Lakes Campground in Surfside Beach, South Carolina. It was our go-to place for every vacation. My sister and I slept on bunk beds built into the side of a wall. We had no phone or TV, but we ate a lot of watermelon and played board games for hours. 

I’ve missed chaotic mornings fighting for the bathroom, looking for shoes under beds, packing lunches, slinging bagels in the toaster and yelling for kids to get in the car. After a year of strangeness, all students are back in school, and it’s offering a thirst-quenching sense of normalcy. 

With spring in the air, we’re dusting off those running shoes and hitting the pavement. If your goals as a runner include losing weight, burning fat and toning your body, you may become discouraged quickly. Research states that when individuals begin running, they can drop a significant amount of weight within the first six to eight weeks, but after that, the body needs help melting the fat away and firming up. Below are five ways to continue burning fat once running becomes part of your life for the long haul.

There’s nothing I enjoy more than a lazy Saturday or Sunday morning where I can relax, drink coffee and make a yummy breakfast or brunch for those I love.

Rumble sat down with Lauren Wood of the Historic Haywood Farmers Market to hear all about their 2021 season. There are exciting things happening! What better way to spend a Saturday morning than strolling through a farmers market, coffee in hand, live music playing and supporting local growers?

I moved from Maggie Valley to Waynesville last fall. My house in Maggie was on the side of Soco Road where there is little to no sun. While that was great for the summertime utility bill, it wasn’t conducive to gardening. I tried hard to make things grow in my shady yard, but photosynthesis is an important part of the growing process. Unfortunately, I had zero control over this life-sustaining force. 

I’ve always dabbled in essential oils and homeopathic remedies, but it wasn’t until the birth of my second son that they became part of my everyday existence. Around the time he was born, I began getting incessant ear infections, which was really strange for a woman my age. I also got my first migraine, which was so painful I almost passed out. I also became horribly allergic to pet dander, grass and dust mites, so bad that I was giving myself weekly allergy shots. I was feeling lethargic, sick and depleted. 

I’d always heard having a puppy was a little like having a baby. I’ve learned over the past two months that information is correct. 

Haywood Community College is excited to offer a new online resource for small business owners and those hoping to start a small business. Rumble sat down with Dr. Shelley White, president of Haywood Community College, to learn more about this new endeavor. 

It’s been a trying year for HART Theatre. As an establishment that thrives off human engagement and interaction, a pandemic results in many setbacks. Nonetheless, they have risen above the circumstances. The women behind the curtain have been particularly helpful in keeping HART afloat during the uncertainty that was 2020. Rumble recently sat down with several members of the HART family to get their perspectives on where HART currently stands.

I started snowboarding when I was 15. Even though neither of my parents were athletes, especially skiers or snowboarders, I joined my flock of teenage friends and braved the mountain to learn this popular winter sport. We lived a mere 15 miles from Wolf Ridge and I knew, even then, it would be silly not to take advantage of the proximity. Not everyone gets to grow up close to ski resort. 

Katy Gould is the director of the Small Business Center at Haywood Community College. She enjoys working with small business owners throughout the life of their business. Katy is also a busy wife, mom, adventurer and community citizen. Whether you’re embarking on a new professional journey or pushing up against career fatigue, take a look as Katy offers excellent advice that’s relevant to any industry.

Growing up I wasn’t a fan of Larry King. As a little girl in the 1980s, I was more concerned with my Cabbage Patch Dolls and Whitney Houston cassette tapes, so when my parents turned on “Larry King Live” at night to catch his latest interview, I zoned out. I lumped his show in the same category as “MASH” and “Hill Street Blues,” all three of which my parents loved and I eventually came to enjoy.

I recently saw a funny political sign that said, “Presidents are temporary, Grateful Dead is forever.” Did you know that less than one-percent of Americans can name every U.S. president? That being said, I bet anyone you stop on the street can name a musician or song that’s contributed something powerful to one’s life.