Jun132016
Annapolis third-grader meets challenge to help others

Annapolis third-grader meets challenge to help others

Third-grader Gemma Love has made a big difference at the Wellness House! Her story was featured in Chesapeake Family Life:

Gemma Love is a fairy godmother of sorts. She is raising funds to benefit children affected by cancer and is even teaching them how to make fairy furniture.

The 9-year-old from Annapolis has joined “My Peak Challenge,” a campaign started by the “Outlander” television series star Sam Heughan to raise funds for blood cancers and encourage people to set fitness goals and try new things. As part of the challenge, Gemma has learned to ice skate, has set rock wall climbing goals and set a goal of raising $1,000 for kids affected by cancer in Anne Arundel County.

Click to continue to read the original article from Chesapeake Family Life Magazine.
Mar12016
Wellness House: The First Ten Years

Wellness House: The First Ten Years

Ten years ago, a 40-year-old breast cancer patient and her three young daughters inspired a team of Annapolis professionals to create what some people said couldn’t be created. This story was shared in What's Up? Magazine.

Click here to download this article by What’s Up? Magazine.

Oct182015
Annapolis-area artist paints over mastectomy scars, bald heads from chemo

Annapolis-area artist paints over mastectomy scars, bald heads from chemo

Artist and Wellness House Therapeutic Art instructor Christalene Karaiskakis shares Healing Body Art with body painting and henna art for cancer patients. This experience was shared in the Capital Gazette:

I adorn or paint women or men who've been through illness, who have scars from their surgeries or lost their hair," Karaiskakis says, "to empower them and make them feel better, even if for two hours."

...

It started two years ago when she painted swirls of henna on the bald head of a breast cancer survivor who had lost her hair during chemotherapy sessions. Since then she has practiced her art form on residents at Hospice of the Chesapeake and on cancer patients visiting Wellness House.

Click to continue to read the original article from the Capital Gazette.
Aug272015
Maryland’s First Lady Visits Wellness House of Annapolis

Maryland’s First Lady Visits Wellness House of Annapolis

  • Capital Gazette

Maryland's First Lady Yumi Hogan shared her talents with Wellness House of Annapolis as part of ‪#‎MDUnites, a service day on August 26, 2015.

She taught cancer patients and their families the art of Korean Fan Painting. An artist herself, Mrs. Hogan uses Hanji paper and Sumi ink. Sumi ink and Hanji paper are Korean traditions utilizing layers of translucent ink on the textured Hanji.

Click here for the original publication from Maryland State Arts Council.
Sep92014
Davidsonville musician helps cancer patients cope

Davidsonville musician helps cancer patients cope

Once a month for the past two years, Davidsonville musician Bob Sima has performed concerts for cancer patients.
This story was featured in the Capital Gazette:

Wellness House of Annapolis is normally a very quiet place.

Unless Bob Sima is there.

...

"His lyrics are amazing," said Betty Rounsaville, a breast cancer survivor. "I feel peaceful, connected and joyful. This is like musical yoga." Sima, 47, is a self-taught songwriter and guitarist with a growing following.

Click to continue to read the original article from the Capital Gazette.
Aug12014
Wellness House hosts celebrity chef event with Carla Hall of ‘The Chew’

Wellness House hosts celebrity chef event with Carla Hall of ‘The Chew’

  • Press Release

Carla Hall Delights to a Sold Out Crowd at Wellness House of Annapolis

On Friday, August 1st Wellness House of Annapolis hosted its inaugural Celebrity Chef Event with cooking demonstrations, a tasting dinner, cheese and charcuterie tastings, delicious desserts and wine, and entertainment by the Rhoades Whiltehill jazz ensemble.

Celebrity Chef, Carla Hall, co-host of ABC’s popular lifestyle series “The Chew” was the guest host of this inaugural event which sold out several days prior to the function with more than 100 guests and 20 volunteers in attendance.

Though the evening was overcast, the event, held at Wellness House of Annapolis on Mas Que Farm Road, was a tremendous success thanks in part to Carla’s exuberant personality and graciousness. Guests enjoyed Carla’s cooking demonstration which were entertaining and full of unique cooking tips. Capital Teas was also on hand to teach guests about the use of teas in cooking and Miriam’s Kitchen provided delectable desserts.

Gift bags capped off this special evening. They were filled with an autographed copy of “Cooking with Love” by Carla Hall, a gift certificate for a free class at Pure Barre, Burpee seed packets, a sample from Capital Teas, a Wente Vineyards pen, and Carla Hall Petite Cookies.

Carla Hall, the Celebrity Chef and host for the evening is best known as a competitor on Bravo’s Top Chef where her fun catch phrase, “Hootie Hoo” and her philosophy to always cook with love helped her capture the “audience favorite” award.  Hall is the owner of Carla Hall Petite Cookies, an artisan cookie company that specializes in creating sweet and savory “petite bites of love.” Her approach to cooking blends her classic French training and Southern upbringing in a twist on traditional favorites. She is committed to health and balance in everyday living and has published two cookbooks: “Carla’s Comfort Foods: Favorite Dishes from Around the World” featuring Carla’s favorite international comfort foods and the different spices that differentiate them regionally, and “Cooking with Love:  Comfort Food that Hugs You”.

 

This inaugural event was made possible by the generous support of Tastings Gourmet Market, Kerri-Out Catering, Wegmans. Miriam’s Kitchen – Ann Brown, Carla Hall Petite Cookies, Rentals to Remember, Wente Vineyards, Capital Teas, Hearn Kirkwood, Heineken USA, Diehl’s Produce of Annapolis and the Rhoades Whitehill jazz ensemble. Net proceeds will be used to continue to provide free programs and services to those touched by cancer.