In the fall

they established a relationship with Inquis Clinical Research Lab in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that had agreed to score their new variation of rice The results were fantastic. “What we found was way more than we ever dreamed of.”- he shares.

He informs me how this works- white rice scores around 73 on the glycemic index– brown on average will come in around 10 points less – and their hope was to have a score close to brown rice. The test results of Parish Rice scored a 41 on the glycemic index. They knew they had a game changing product. Here's the breakdown of the science; Parish Rice contains 53% more protein than the average consumer brand of white rice. The higher protein slows down the rate at which the carbs are turned to glucose which results in a low glycemic index value of 41.

With these test results in hand, Michael knew he had to make sure his brand was showcased and marketed effectively. He brought in a marketing agency, brandRUSSO and they officially created the Parish Rice label and brand Michael explains, "Food is our culture here in south Louisiana, it only made sense to tie the brand to where we are from."

He shares with us that like any start-up company he has a lean team of employees helping to increase brand awareness and move the product He goes on to explain, "We are growing quickly but we still have to be resourceful and thoughtful about our efforts. I'm fortunate to have dedicated team members."

His world changed around Christmas 2021 when the LSU AgCenter posted a video about Michael's story on their social media. "Suddenly our online sales skyrockted, I didn't know what was going on! That video changed everything for us."

Shortly after, Parish Rice welcomed Rouses Markets as a retail partner and went on to add stores like Albertson's, Super 1 Foods, Nu-Nu's Markets and several others The company is also popular online, "We have shipped to all 50 states, people are always sending messages telling us how they are so happy they can enjoy rice again."

Since then, the Parish Rice team has been working to expand their footprint Michael is proud to tell us, "We have some exciting things in the works for our customers. Y'all stay tuned."

It is quite true that we as Americans do not eat as much rice as those around the world Increasing domestic consumption is the goal and if we bring people back to rice, with Parish Rice, our culture will be impacted for decades to come. parishrice.com

This isn't just our landIt's our heritage. And I want to thank you for helping to sustain our culture.

Health and Wellness in Acadiana comes in many shapes and sizes!

How exciting to see our community embrace the importance of catering to such a unique group of people with many needs and wants in health. The uptick in growth reminds us to stay local and connect with the people behind the businesses- the owners full of passion and a staff who puts a smile on your face while listening to your needs. You will find just that in one of the bustling central complexes in Lafayette, Nutrition Krewe.

Nestled in the prime real estate of Shops at Martial on Kaliste Saloom Rd , Nutrition Krewe has elevated Lafayette as the go-to spot for a wellness beverage Ashley and Michael Hebert own and operate this healthy smoothie, coffee and herbal tea store When you get the chance to speak with them, you will quickly learn they are an extremely kind couple Their drive shines bright in the commitment to serve locals by encouraging healthier daily choices They radiate a sense of pride in their staff and will jump at any opportunity to help their community thrive in any way they can

Ashley and Micheal were already small business owners in our beautiful Acadiana with their Card My Yard franchise. While visiting out of town friends, they discovered the high-quality cafe concept and decided to share their vision of it with Lafayette.

Having since sold their Card My Yard business, they can now focus on their nutrition cafe.

It could be weight loss, weight gain, more energy or simply enjoying delicious drinks and snacks that are also health-conscious The “Krewe” has quite an impressive array of products including smoothies that can be prepared gluten-free and certified vegetarian The shop even has a new vegan line coming soon

Nutrition Krewe features over three hundred different herbal energy teas to help you “kick the can” of sugary sodas and other unhealthy drinks These teas give you sustained energy from natural caffeine plus include vitamins like B6 and B12 while also being very low in sugar, carbs and calories.

They also boast an impressive sports nutrition line that is NSF-Certified For Sport which provides certainty that the athlete and/or consumer is taking a safe, high-quality supplement, free of banned substances. These offerings include hydration and pre-workout drinks, post-workout recovery shakes, protein bars, BCAAs, and more. Supplements with this global certification are recognized and recommended by many professional organizations including the NFL, MLB NHL NBA PGA LPGA Ironman and

Nutrition Krewe’s brand name and logo pays homage to South Louisiana’s culture reflecting how beautifully and deeply they fit into our Acadiana community. Many of their customers have become genuine friends that visit daily, with some even opening their own similar cafes inspired by Nutrition Krewe.

For a supportive and friendly environment to start your wellness journey or to meet other likeminded people taking steps to improve their health, Nutrition Krewe is there to welcome you

Written by: Michael Comeaux

The Phrase “Home is where the heart is” is used to describe so many key moments in our lives. The home is a sanctuary of security and love that gives us a chance to tap into our best selves. We do this by creating a reflection of our energy in a chosen environment. In the busy lives we lead, keeping your space in its true zen nature can be a challenge. This brings us to the question that is becoming more commonly asked- what service do you use to clean and organize your home? The competition is out there but with most businesses and the wonderful people behind the curtain, they are not all of the same quality or offer the same level of skill. Let me introduce you to the wonderful faith and family based Cornerstone Cleaning Solutions, and their lovely message of consistency and care in what they give to their clients.

I had the pleasure of speaking with the owners and was so impressed with their message and story behind Babineaux Cory and Bethany Cornerstone Cleaning Solutions

Their journey to this adventure started from a challenging season in their lives. Bethany needed to step back into the workforce from being a stay at home mom. After a vigorous search to find the best fit for her she landed on working as a housekeeper for a family in Lafayette. The opportunity allowed her to work with this family five days a week, maintaining their home and helping care for their children. She grew very fond of the position and her work with them only to be met with devastating news; they were moving on. The cause for this decision was the family wanting someone who was licensed and insured which Bethany was not.

This is where the Cornerstone brand was formed. The couple sat down and decided “Why don’t we open our own cleaning business?” and within a few short months Cornerstone Cleaning Solutions was licensed, insured and open for business January 11, 2021.

When I asked how the name “Cornerstone” was chosen, Cory took me down the path of their love and belief in their faith. “The Bible refers to Jesus as the chief cornerstone. We wanted to lay a firm foundation in our company that Jesus would remain the cornerstone of everything we set our hands and minds to.

The cornerstone of any structure is the first stone set in place when beginning construction. It is this very stone that sets the standard for every other stone which will be positioned within the structure. Hence, we resolved to set a new standard in the cleaning industry and to become the “Cornerstone.”

I find it so genuinely refreshing to listen to his passion shine through. “We felt we could offer something to people that would make us distinct. We wanted to express the nature and love of God in all that we set our hands to. We hoped that the grace and mercy so generously poured upon us would be translated to our customers and the employees of Cornerstone Cleaning Solutions. We believed that we could be a company that would truly go above and beyond for our customers and employees,”

Cory shares

When a potential client is looking to bring this elevated service on board their home, there is a level of reassurance and consideration that needs to be met. Cornerstone has just that. The process they take on to make their clients feel secure and heard is quite impressive. They are very keen on answering all questions from the start of this partnership.

Once they have heard the level of detail to expect on their future service, clients, which become so much more to this team, are met with the thorough list of vetting and screening of each of Cornerstone’s solid technicians Their mission of integrity runs strong with their hiring and maintaining of staff. Their commitment to providing exemplary service that the grace and mercy so generously from their staff starts at the beginning After they have been cleared and chosen to come on board they remain supervised for several months before the owners feel they are ready to take on assigned clients.

When a customer comes on board with Cornerstone, they are actually given the background information for each technician that will be servicing your home. If that doesn’t scream safe, secure and above and beyond from the hilltops, I don’t know what would.

Cory tells me, “As a company, we have made it a pillar to express the heartbeat of Cornerstone to our technicians to remove any ambiguity from our mission and vision. Our focus is to demonstrate honor, integrity and love…

...to our customers. We do this best by respecting their property and family. Bethany and I are proud to say that we have not had a single incident of malfeasance in almost two years of operation, having serviced over 3,000 properties.”

What they seem to lead with is building a customer- centric business. They 100 percent guarantee customer satisfaction and have not faltered. They share that there have been several moments where their customers were so shocked that they were so willing to come back to their property and address any concerns. A company that remains loyal to their core and the customer is a true gem in any industry.

What really shines with CCS is their structure that runs through every angle of their business. They are on a constant trajectory of improvement by maintaining their standards of operating, policies and the training for their employees.

Their staff is family. Bethany and Cory rave over their team and put a great deal of effort and love into highlighting them. They stress that they realize every day what a blessing each member is to them and their family. Their pure joy in identifying the unique traits of each individual is so warming to witness.

“One thing we asked God when we started CCS was that he would send us people who needed our help. We have always prayed that God burdens us with those in need!” he says. “Bethany and I have had some precious employees who have found themselves in terrible situations. We provide them with love and an environment where they can be vulnerable and share their struggles and adversities with the other team members, free from judgment.”

Cornerstone Cleaning Solutions has created an environment and team that treats each other and their customers with care and respect. This message of ownership of the company that flows through every element says so much about CCS and their commitment to excellence.

With the goal to have Cornerstone Cleaning Solutions to become a household name across Louisiana, 2023 is the start to just that. They are strategically expanding and hiring in other state regions starting with the Walker and Denham Springs area. They plan to follow with Lake Charles in the first part of the year. Cory has been an advocate for Bikes for Tikes with other businesses he has worked with in the past. This connection and desire to give back inspired him and Bethany to build Cornerstone Cares Mission 25:40. This is a non-profit organization that came to life in 2021 that provides a special vehicle to engage the community in outreach events. Bikes for Tikes is under this umbrella.

I can’t help but feel so lifted with the message this couple breathes. It is so much more than a business, it is a way of life. Cory shares with me the beautiful way they launched Cornerstone Cares Mission. “We developed Cornerstone Cares so that our team of employees could share in the experience of accomplishing the company’s vision: Pierce Darkness, Bring Hope, Restore Lives, and Change the World.”

I always love to remind our businesses of how unique and needed they are in our community. There is a reason they are here and deserve to be shared with our wonderful community. I asked the Babineaux’s if there was a moment that landed on them that told them they were exactly where they needed to be. Cory shares.

“Ms. Elisse, we have been so blessed with amazing customers who have encouraged and praised CCS. They have celebrated with us and have become ambassadors for our business. They have supported us in every way and promoted our services to many people in the Acadiana area. We love our customers so much! It must be said that we would not be where we are today without them!”

For Cornerstone Cleaning Solutions, they stress that cleaning homes is a byproduct of their company.

“Our business is people. Loving them, caring for them, supporting them, and building them up!”- Cory Babineaux

Daelyn

Laviolette

Director of Operations Senior

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Jardin Hall

Trudy Richard

Sharon Berard

Casha

Montgomery facebook.com/cornerstonecleaningsolutions

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