I MANSFIELD CUSTOM HOMES

GET TO KNOW best of WINNER

MANSFIELD CUSTOM HOMES

WRITTEN BY MEREDITH KNIGHT

We believe building your dream home should be fun,” Hayden said. “Our transparency and focus on the customer experience make that belief a reality for our clients. Our mission is to provide unparalleled quality and service to our clients through a spirit of excellence during every phase of their building experience.

HAPPY CUSTOMERS

Here’s just one. “With a custom home, we were able to have every detail the way we wanted it, and we were involved in every design decision. Yet, they also helped us prevent decisions we’d regret later. Everyone who saw our home during the construction process praised the cleanliness, which was very helpful as we visited the site. We’re very happy with the final result and would highly recommend using Mansfield Custom Homes.”

MEET YOUR NEXT BUILDER

If you’re considering having a custom home built for your family, you may be dreading the inevitable stress that comes with the project. Well, Hayden Dalley and his team at Mansfield Custom Homes want you to know it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, many of their clients will testify that the home building process came with a minimum of stress—it was even fun!

That’s only one thing that sets this family-owned and operated business apart. Another is the “spirit of excellence” that permeates everything they do. “My dad, Stoney Short, started the company when a family friend was ready to build a custom home and said he wouldn’t trust anyone else to be his builder,” Hayden said. “I came on board, after being in the real estate industry for a few years, to grow the business. I’ve always admired my dad’s attention to detail and integrity so I wanted to learn from the best.” From his first day with the company, Hayden’s been keenly aware of his responsibility to maintain the best practices for which his father has become known. “A spirit of excellence is our mantra and a core principle of our company culture,” he said. “From the cleanliness of a jobsite to the quality of our product, everything is completed with a spirit of excellence, just the way my dad did it.” It’s no wonder Mansfield Custom Homes has racked up so many awards, from Best Builder every year since 2014, to “Top 100 Leaders in Real Estate and Construction” in 2021 and “Best of Houzz” for 2019 and 2020. And the internet is teaming with positive reviews from satisfied homeowners. Raised all over the DFW Metroplex, Hayden spent the bulk of his childhood in Mansfield. “I have a beautiful wife and three beautiful kiddos, loyal employees, a job I love, and wonderful clients. What more could I ask?” he said. “We love raising our kids in the country. We’ve been members of Living Church for seven years. Between MCH and spending time with my family, I stay pretty busy. In my free time I love to golf, hunt, and fish.” “We believe building your dream home should be fun,” Hayden said. “Our transparency and focus on the customer experience make that belief a reality for our clients. Our mission is to provide unparalleled quality and service to our clients through a spirit of excellence during every phase of their building experience.”

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MEDICAL records

A HISTORY LESSON WORTH LEARNING

BY PETE ALFANO

ave you ever sat in a doctor’s office before the first visit or in front of a computer at home documenting your family health history and thought, “This would go a lot faster if I just included the diseases we didn’t have?”

It may take up a lot of your time, but a record of your family history provides medical professionals with the background information they use to help you avoid the genetic road map you may be unwittingly following, thus reducing your risk of life-threatening diseases. Suppose

your primary care physician advises you to adopt a lifestyle that would give you the best possible chance of avoiding the heart attack, diabetes, and cancer prevalent on your family tree. Why take a chance even if the diseases could be explained away because these relatives smoked a pack of cigarettes a day, were sedentary, or had poor eating habits? Conversely, just because there may be little or no family history of serious disease, that doesn’t mean you can feast on fried food seven days a week. Exercise, good nutrition, and avoiding tobacco are still the keys to a healthy lifestyle. There’s also a growing awareness that lifethreatening disorders are not as gender specific as once assumed. Women can have heart attacks, for example, even if the symptoms are different. Although rare, men can develop breast cancer, especially if more than one female in their immediate family has it. You wouldn’t know it from TV commercials, but osteoporosis can afflict men, not just women. You should give your doctors as much information as possible. Ideally, family history will include at least three generations. That can be problematic because great grandparents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts may be deceased. Often, however, surviving relatives can fill in the blanks on medical conditions in your family. Among these conditions are high blood pressure, asthma, anemia, diabetes, stroke, clinical depression, and dementia. For example, let’s say a patient’s father, grandfather, and uncle all had colon cancer. That would make it imperative that the patient be screened for colon cancer well before turning 45. If a patient’s mom, sister, and grandmother had breast cancer, then earlier breast cancer screening is a must at an early age. Other factors play a part in knowing your family history. Is there longevity in your family? How old were relatives and family members when they were first diagnosed with a disease?

Race and ethnicity are also part of the equation. For example, Heart.org reports that 40% of African Americans have high blood pressure (hypertension), which often presents at an early age. Since hypertension can be a silent killer with no obvious symptoms, it is important to know how prevalent it is on your family tree. That is also true for sickle cell disease and thalassemia, blood disorders with a strong genetic link. Knowing your family history doesn’t guarantee you will avoid any major medical conditions but being aware they exist will enable you to make lifestyle choices to lower the risk. Coupled with an annual physical examination and early screening for diseases such as breast and colon cancer, you could add years to your life.

Risk and Reward of Knowing Your Family History

Assessing your risk for certain diseases will help your doctor help you avoid or minimize your risk. According to MayoClinic.org, your doctor can:

• Recommend changes in diet or other lifestyle habits • Ask about medications or treatments to reduce the risk of disease • Decide which diagnostic tests to order and how often to screen • Determine whether you or family members should get a specific genetic test • Identify a condition that might not otherwise be considered • Identify other family members who are at risk of developing a particular disease • Assess your risk of passing conditions on to your children

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PARENTAL advice

CARING FOR AGING LOVED ONES – A BASIC GUIDE

BY DAVID BUICE

ole reversal is one of the most common effects of aging. As the years pass and age takes its toll, parents often become increasingly dependent, and their children find they’re now the caretakers, nurturing and protecting those who once nurtured and protected them. This transition can be difficult for all involved. The key is finding a compromise that is both economically and emotionally doable for your parents, you and your spouse, and any of your children who may still be living at home.

The following guide can help you in considering some common options. INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY This option is best suited for active, independent 55+ seniors who will rent or buy a home, apartment, or mobile home in a community with other seniors. This option can be quite expensive, however. According to the AARP, rent for an independent living unit can run from $3,000 to $6,000 a month. IN-HOME CARE Many older people are not interested in going into a nursing home or another facility and prefer to remain in their own home amidst familiar surroundings. While attractive to them, aging in place may require the assistance of a home health aide for help with medications, personal hygiene, and proper diet. The cost of a home health aide averages between $20 to $30 per hour, and yearly expenses can be in excess of $20,000. In Texas, Medicaid may provide assistance for home health care when a patient needs skilled nursing care and qualifies financially. ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY These are residential facilities where older people can live mostly on their own while benefitting from personal care assistance if needed. Things like taking medicine, bathing, and getting dressed are services often provided by assisted living facilities. Currently, the cost of assisted living in Texas averages about $3,988 a month, slightly under the national average of $4,300 monthly.

Government Benefits

In exploring elder care options, a helpful source is Benefits. gov, the U.S. government website providing information on over 1,000 benefit and assistance programs.

NURSING HOME This option is best for seniors requiring an environment with caregiving and medical assistance outside the confines of a hospital. Ideally, the nursing staff will be on duty around the clock to help with care as needed. In Texas, the average daily cost of a semi-private room is around $140, though higher in the DFW area, where the average is $260 a day. Fortunately, Medicaid pays for the care of approximately seven of every 10 nursing home patients. And with certain restrictions, Medicare will provide assistance after a hospital stay. LIVING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS It isn’t uncommon for an older relative to move in with family members who can provide companionship, support with daily activities, and non-skilled health care. The downside of this situation is that it can be very stressful to care for an aging parent while holding down a full-time job and taking care of your children. In that situation, hiring in-home help is strongly advised.

DR. ANNA TOKER

DON’T LET CELLULITE

dicatate what you wear

BY DR. ANNA TOKER

f you scrutinize your reflection in the mirror and cringe at the sight of rimples and dimples of cellulite on your butt, thighs, and elsewhere, know you’re not alone. Ninety percent of women have cellulite. And most of us hate it! If you wouldn’t dream of wearing light-colored yoga pants (Black, anyone?) and those cute cut-off shorts that look great on all your friends are not even a consideration, chances are cellulite is the issue. If only there were a targeted, non-invasive treatment to smooth and tighten that dreaded dimply skin. Well, there is! In fact, those girls strutting light-gray yoga pants at the gym and Daisy Dukes around town may already know about it. If you’re been diligent about working out, hoping it will eliminate cellulite, sorry, it just doesn’t work that way. If you’ve tried cellulite creams, needling, and massage and been woefully disappointed, let me cut to the chase and introduce you to EMTONE, the first and currently only device that simultaneously delivers thermal and mechanical energy to treat the root causes of cellulite. What are those? Basically, increased cumulative sun damage, body fat, skin laxity, and loss of integrity and thickness of the skin, as we age, all lead to what we call cellulite. That’s why Emtone addresses all those things at once.

Women are finding Emtone treatment to be:

64% more effective than stand-alone treatment for building elastin 59% more effective than stand-alone treatment for building collagen 50% faster than stand-alone therapies

With a 90% patient satisfaction rate “During your first visit for the Emtone treatment, I design an individual treatment plan specifically for you. Most of my patients undergo four treatments, scheduled once or twice a week typically taking 20 minutes, depending on the treated area. Afterwards, you’re free to return to your normal activities.” What are women saying about the treatment? “It feels similar to having a hot-stone massage with a good bit of vibration added in,” said one patient. “The treatment was performed while I was lying down and comfortable. It was a pleasant experience. My skin was tighter and smoother immediately afterward and continued to improve, over the next few months.” If you’re tired of avoiding certain clothes because you’re worried about the appearance of cellulite, there’s finally a solution that’s quick, non-invasive, and can be targeted to the areas where you need it. It’s about time!

ADULT ACNE:

causes and cures

A PATH TO CLEAR SKIN AT ANY AGE

BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT

cne was bad enough in your teens and 20s. In your 30s, 40s — or even 50s — it’s downright embarrassing. Additionally frustrating, treatments which helped in your teen years often don’t work on adult acne. The reasons for later-life zits are many, including:

Fluctuating hormones due to menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, or cessation of birth-control

Stress that causes our bodies to produce more androgens and stimulates oil glands

Genetic disposition

Hair and skincare products that clog pores

Medication

Undiagnosed medical condition (such as polycystic ovary syndrome)

Pollution in the environment

Overwashing your face (more than twice a day) A combination of these

But it’s not all bad news. According to the American Dermatological Association, there are ways to combat adult acne and an experienced dermatologist can consult with you about which treatment — or combination of treatments — can help you have clear skin again. TOPICAL TREATMENTS

While not every topical product or ingredient works for everyone and even the right product may take weeks to achieve noticeable improvement, talk to your dermatologist about the efficacy of compounds such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, polyhydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, retinoids, or azelaic acid. Each one addresses acne a bit differently, so it’s important to work with an expert who can diagnose the root cause of your problem and work with you to determine the best treatment options. EXFOLIATORS

A chemical or physical exfoliant can help prevent breakouts by removing clogs from your pores then working to keep them clear. But be warned. Exfoliating too often can leave your skin irritated, flaky, and dry. One to three times a week is plenty for most people. SPOT TREATMENT

Spot treating with a product containing benzoyl peroxide can kill the germs that cause acne and help you zap a single zit fairly quickly. But be careful. It can be harsh on sensitive skin.

READ THE LABEL

If you suffer from adult acne, always look for moisturizer, cleanser, sunscreen, and other skin and hair care products that advertise:

Non-comedogenic Non-acnegenic Oil-free Water-based Won’t clog pores

PRODUCTS THAT FIGHT INFLAMMATION

Pimples form when a pore is clogged with dirt, oil, or dead skin then often worsen as bacteria in the irritated area multiplies. In conjunction with other acne treatments, products containing colloidal oatmeal, aloe, or Centella Asiatica can help calm inflamed areas.

ORAL MEDICATIONS

If your acne is beyond anything topical treatments can cure, talk to your dermatologist about prescription meds such as oral contraceptives, spironolactone, or isotretinoin. Once your dermatologist has determined the cause of your acne, they’ll better know what RX can help. CORTISONE INJECTIONS

If you’re suffering from painful cystic acne lesions (the kind likely to leave scarring), ask your dermatologist whether a cortisone shot might not be in order. In the meantime, know you’re not the only adult still dealing with zits. With the help of an experienced dermatologist and a little effort and patience on your part, you can absolutely look forward to clear skin again.

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HELPING YOUR hearth

FIREPLACE CARE, UPDATES, AND TECHNOLOGY

BY CHERYL ALEXANDER

fireplace is a beautiful and cozy addition to any space and can create an attractive centerpiece to a room or a stunning division between areas. New trends focus on both beauty and function. FRAMELESS

Frameless Fireplaces are among the decade’s hottest trends. This seamless style can be surrounded by marble, tile, stone or designed as a classic single-sided piece or a see-through tunnel. It can also be built flush with the wall sans mantel.

CONVERTIBLE

Sometimes, deciding whether you want wood or gas, open or closed viewing is the toughest choice when selecting a fireplace. New technology allows for converting, giving you the best of all worlds.

THREE-SIDED

The three-sided corner unit, or peninsula, has a clean, modern look. It offers views from every angle, adds warmth and coziness without sacrificing space, and installation is simple. INDOOR/OUTDOOR DOUBLE-SIDED

This style of fireplace is a hit year-round. A beautiful summer night outside on the deck or a cozy winter evening on the couch — enjoy both with a fire. Indoor/ Outdoor styles are widely varied. You can have rustic, clean and modern, or anything in between. Many styles offer the option to convert between open and sealed fires.

TALL, VERTICAL

Combining linear and extra-large, tall, vertical fireplaces are trending. And by tall, we mean tall, whether it’s the size of the flame height or bold and dramatic floor-to-ceiling features. This is one of the most interesting and distinctive trends and works best in a modern space with high ceilings. FOUR-SIDED GLASS

The see-through (four-sided glass) design is another sophisticated, contemporary trend. The see-through option is the perfect choice for the minimalist. It makes a statement without being big and flashy — its simplicity says everything. SMART REMOTES

With programmable remotes and thermostats, gas fireplace remotes are smarter than ever, allowing you to maintain a consistent temperature or set your fireplace to turn on or off at specific times. The remote now also acts as a portable thermostat. If you have set the fire to a specific temperature, it will maintain the temperature based on where you and the remote are sitting. If you move, the fireplace will automatically adjust to ensure the ambient temperature matches the preset. FLEXIBILITY

Nowadays, multiple products allow combustible materials to be placed directly above and surrounding the fire. Formerly fireplaces required surrounds that were heat resistant, such as brick, stone, or tile. New technology transfers heat away from the wall and into the home. You can apply any finishes — even wood and wallpaper — to the very edge of the gas fireplace and even mount your art or your TV directly above it. CONTROLLABLE HEAT

Since today’s new homes are more tightly sealed and well-insulated, the need for heat is reduced. A fireplace with controllable heat options allows you to use your fireplace to heat your home and lets you lower the fireplace’s heat output, creating a romantic, cozy ambiance year-round.

Fireplace Safety

Use a fireplace for a short-duration fire — no longer than five hours. Keep the screen closed to prevent sparks from jumping onto the carpet. Never leave a fire unattended. Open a window just a bit when using the fireplace to prevent the room from becoming smoky. Before making a fire, open glass, pull aside the screen, and place kindling, newspaper, and logs inside. Make sure the smoke will go up the chimney properly by lighting a match, blowing it out, and watching the smoke go up and out. Keep a non-flammable rug in front of the fireplace. Use fireplace tools. Use a chimney cap.

HOLIDAY

inspiration

IDEAS TO GET YOU OUT OF A DECORATING RUT

BY COURTNEY WARREN

s the weather turns a little colder, a magical feeling floats in the air. However, even with the changing seasons, some people feel uninspired with their holiday decor, lamenting that they decorate with the same things each year. If you feel like you are reusing items in repeated tired ways, I am here to help. Allow me to walk you through the next few months with some of my favorite ideas that will hopefully inspire you to get out of a holiday decorating rut. Choose one or all to keep things fresh as you host your friends and family this season. REPURPOSE YOUR PUMPKINS

Gather dozens of pumpkins and arrange them on the corner of each step of a staircase. Make sure to use a lot of variation in sizes. I like to mix a combination of real and faux to stretch the look and the budget. I incorporated a few bursts of color, but if you prefer simplicity, embrace only the orange. An entire staircase full of pumpkins will be challenging to walk up, so remember to take this into account when you plan. If you have an extra space outdoors or less frequently used steps, that is ideal.

USE UNCONVENTIONAL COLORS

This fall, explore incorporating a few colors outside the standard harvest color palette. I love pairing orange with teal to spice up the table. This brightly colored runner is a significant departure from typical harvest golds and reds and gives a bright and festive alternative that I leave up for several weeks.

CHRISTMAS COLLECTIONS

If there was EVER a time made for collecting, it is the holidays! Collections bring in a feeling of nostalgia and meaning. I decided one of the best ways to show off my special decor was to make a wreath for each room. Here are two of my favorite unique wreath themes. In looking through my ornaments, I realized a theme of small trucks and trailers. Gathering these adorable mini vehicles created the perfect opportunity to showcase this theme. I hot glued them on a green wreath and added berries and bows. When I saw an adorable Martha Stewart wreath, I knew I needed to recreate it. I made the tiny houses, but this would be a simple DIY by purchasing small Christmas houses and hot gluing them around the wreath. I hang mine on the door or above the mantle for a festive touch. Celebrating does not have to feel the same every year, nor does it need to look the same. Which of the above ideas can you replicate in your home to shake things up?

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Courtney Warren is a Rockwall interior designer whose award-winning design work has been featured in numerous national magazines and media and whose clients span the North Texas area.

GATHER FOR SOME FUN THAT THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN ENJOY

othing causes amiable sibling rivalry, friendly competition, and deep belly laughs like family game night. Playing board gameswith the family was one of my favorite traditions as a kid, and we still gather as adults to challenge each other to a round of Trivial Pursuit or something new. It’s the easiest way to break the ice with new friends or get the whole family — yes, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, too — bonding and smiling at holiday gatherings. Keep reading for a few of our favorites that are family-friendly, easy to figure out, and tons of fun. Plus, the perfect snack to pair with each one.

Trivia Game

Trivia is the best way to show off the random snippets of knowledge you’ve gathered over the years. I Should Have Known That is an entertaining trivia game for players 14 and up, which features random questions that will drive you crazy trying to remember the answers, like which hand the Statue of Liberty holds the torch and how long Sleeping Beauty slept. This game would still be appropriate for kids if they team up with someone older to even the score. Chips and salsa, queso, or guacamole make for a great trivia night snack.

Drawing Game

I love Telestrations, which can accommodate up to eight players of all ages. This game (a drawing version of the old whisper game, Telephone) involves one player drawing a picture, then passing it to the next player, who writes down a phrase describing what they think the drawing is. Then, the next player draws a picture based on what the previous player wrote, and so on. When it gets back to the player who drew the original drawing, they can show the progression to everyone. Players will laugh about how closely (or not) the final guess matches up to what they drew. Pretzels or popcorn are perfect during this entertaining game.

Mystery Game

If you think Clue is fun, just wait until you play Unsolved Case Files: Who Murdered Harmony Ashcroft? Put on your detective hats and dive into this interesting roleplaying game for fans of true crime. You play a detective tasked with solving a decades-old murder and have to find three separate clues to crack open the case. You will investigate more than 50 evidence photos and documents, including newspaper articles, phone records, evidence reports, fingerprint cards, legal documents, witness statements, and suspect interrogations. After you think you’ve solved each clue, you input your information into an online website, which will only let you move on when you get the correct answer. Great for couples, groups, and parties with kids 13 and up. To get in the detective spirit, serve mini donuts, fruit, and coffee or hot chocolate.

Card Game

I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like Exploding Kittens, a card game for kids at least seven years old. This game has some strategy, but it mostly boils down to chance, giving kids and adults equal opportunities to win or get blown up by an exploding kitten. The game is super simple. The last one standing after everyone else has drawn an exploding kitten wins. All other cards help you avoid or lower your risk of drawing an exploding kitten (like peeking at the next three cards or shuffling the deck). This game moves quickly, so sore losers can try their luck in the next round. Serve this with a board filled with cheese, cucumbers, carrots, crackers, strawberries, grapes, and even candy, like gummy bears and M&Ms. The top five highest-selling board games (excluding only two-player games) of all time, as reported by Money Inc., include:

1. Monopoly 2. Scrabble 3. Clue 4. Trivial Pursuit 5. Battleship

Grab your favorite version of these classic games (hello, Target Monopoly!) and play with your family today.

ALL ABOARD for family fun

HOLIDAY TRAIN RIDES CAPTURE THE MAGIC OF THE SEASON

BY ANNETTE BROOKS

The Polar Express

he holiday season is a magical time, and Texas’ fun-fi lled holiday train rides are a great way to spread cheer and create lifetime memories. We’ve chosen three of the Lone Star State’s most popular Christmas rail excursions for you to consider — the North Pole Flyer in Bertram, The Polar Express in Palestine, the North Pole Express in Grapevine. Be sure to reserve your tickets early. Seats fi ll up quickly. Plan to have lunch or dinner at one of the local restaurants in these quaint towns. Remember to give yourself extra time to explore all the unique shops and boutiques for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. There’s something for everyone, even for the person on your gift list who has everything. THE POLAR EXPRESS

Departs from Palestine, Texas

Dates from November 19, 2021, to December 26, 2021 The Texas State Railroad brings the wonder and excitement of classic children’s Christmas story — The Polar Express — to life. Adapted to the big screen in 2003, the motion picture soundtrack sets the mood on board. Once the train departs the station, adults and kids enjoy hot chocolate and cookies served by dancing Cocoa chefs reciting the book. When the train arrives at the “North Pole,” Santa and his merry elves come aboard to hand out a gift and spread the joy of the season. All cars have large viewing windows. Seating includes the Dome Class, which has wonderful views from the upper deck dome windows and includes a keepsake cocoa mug. Other options are Presidential Class, First Class, and Coach Class with Pullman-style seating.

Visit TexasStateRailroad.net/polarexpress for more information and to reserve tickets.

Tip: Purchase a gift-wrapped copy of The Polar Express when you make your reservations so children can read along with the narrators during the train ride.

NORTH POLE FLYER

Departs from Bertram, Texas

Dates from November 27, 2021, to December 12, 2021 It’s always a treat to get away to the Texas Hill Country, and Christmastime is no exception. Bertram, located about 10 miles east of Burnet and 45 minutes from Austin, offers an ideal opportunity for adults and children alike to get into the holiday spirit riding the North Pole Flyer. The two-hour ride aboard the train cars pulled by the Austin Steam Train Association’s stunning blue diesel engine departs from the historic Bertram Depot. Passengers may choose their train car when they reserve tickets, but the North Pole Flyer train team assigns seats within the car. The excitement mounts as Santa and his elf walk through each car, handing out a special gift and talking briefly with everyone. Passengers will enjoy cookies and hot chocolate, and kids receive a coloring sheet and crayons. Everyone is encouraged to read along to the story of the North Pole Flyer told by the storyteller elf. Copies of the book can be purchased for $10.

Visit AustinSteamTrain.org/special-events/ north-pole-flyer for more information and to reserve tickets.

Tip: Most of the holiday magic occurs in the main lounge area. If you book a Private Compartment ticket, you’ll miss out on the reading of the North Pole Flyer story. NORTH POLE EXPRESS

Departs from the Cotton Belt Depot in Grapevine

Dates from November 26, 2021, to December 23, 2021 Grapevine Vintage Railroad welcomes everyone to wear their pajamas and board the North Pole Express with Mrs. Claus hosting the 45 to 50-minute ride to bring Santa to the Christmas Capital of Texas. Riders enjoy cookies, Santa’s Frosty Chocolate Snow Milk served in a keepsake mug and a special gift. Tickets are available for the First-Class Coach and Touring Class. All coaches are equipped with bench-style seating, designed to accommodate two guests.

Visit GVRR.com to reserve tickets and for more information.

Tip: Stroll through the Snowy Christmas Village Forest at the “North Pole” for photo ops and a keepsake photo with Santa. North Pole Express

Can’t fi t the North Pole Express into your busy holiday schedule? Enjoy the After-Christmas Trains that run from December 26, 2021, to December 30, 2021. All coaches remain adorned with holiday decorations and run daily, departing from Grapevine at 12:50 PM and going to Stockyards Station in Fort Worth. Dine, shop, sightsee, or all three during the stopover in Fort Worth before the train returns to Grapevine.

DURANGO POLAR EXPRESS

November 19, 2021, to January 1, 2022

Planning to travel over the holidays? Head for Colorado to experience the Polar Express by the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. A pre-boarding show at the Durango train depot includes lights and music, then the vintage steam train departs, spouting billows of steam as it chugs toward the valley to pick up Santa at the “North Pole.” Riders enjoy a synchronized light show, music with dancers, and other festivities at the North Pole. St. Nick returns to Durango on board, making his way through the train cars talking with children and handing out gifts. Upon return to Durango, live reindeer (rescues) await to greet riders and Santa.

Visit DurangoTrain.com/events/polar-express-trainride for more information, fares and to reserve tickets. Sweet treats and hot chocolate are enjoyed by all during the train ride. PJ’s welcome!

Durango Polar Express

TIPS & TRICKS:

Serve as is or sprinkle with powdered sugar.

RECIPE revival

BRING NEW LIFE TO YOUR THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS

BY MELISSA TATE

GRILLED MONTE CRISTO

SERVINGS: 2 | PREP TIME: 10 MIN. | COOK TIME: 5 MIN. | TOTAL TIME: 15 MIN.

INGREDIENTS: 4 slices challah bread | ½ lb. leftover turkey (or desired amount), sliced thin | ½ lb. leftover ham (or desired amount), sliced thin | ¼ cup leftover cranberry sauce | ¼ cup herbed cream cheese, homemade or store-bought | 1 stick butter, softened | arugula DIRECTIONS: HEAT skillet or griddle to medium heat. MELT 2 Tbsp. of butter in a pan. SPREAD 2 Tbsp. cranberry sauce on one slice of bread and 2 Tbsp. herbed cream cheese on the other. TOP one side with turkey, ham, and arugula, and place both pieces of bread together to make your sandwich. PLACE the sandwich in melted butter and spread 1 to 2 Tbsp. of butter on the top slice of bread, while the bottom toasts. COOK until golden brown, and then flip the sandwich. COOK again golden brown and remove from skillet. Repeat with second sandwich.

TIPS & TRICKS: Try this recipe with fresh strawberries, roasted pears, blueberries, or any leftover fruit you have.

SWEET BISCUIT SHORTCAKES

SERVINGS: 4 | PREP TIME: 15 MIN. | COOK TIME: 25 MIN. | TOTAL TIME: 40 MIN.

INGREDIENTS: 4 leftover biscuits | 2 Tbsp. butter, melted | 1 cup sugar, divided | 3 ripe peaches, peeled and sliced | 3 Tbsp. honey | 1 cup heavy cream | fresh mint DIRECTIONS: PREHEAT oven to 375°. TOSS sliced peaches in ¼ cup sugar and spread on greased baking sheet. BAKE 7 to 9 minutes until peaches are soft. WHILE peaches roast, brush ½ Tbsp. melted butter on top of each biscuit. SPRINKLE ¼ cup of sugar equally on each biscuit. REMOVE peaches from the oven. BAKE the biscuits for 5 minutes to warm inside and crisp the top. PREPARE the whipped topping while biscuits are warming. BEAT 1 cup heavy cream with ½ cup sugar on high until soft peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes with a hand or stand mixer. ASSEMBLE by cutting biscuits open, fill the bottom half with peaches, top with whipped cream, and a sprig of mint. ADD top of the biscuit, drizzle with honey and serve.

TIPS & TRICKS: This dip is great served warm, cold, or room temperature.

WHITE BEAN & CAULIFLOWER HUMMUS

SERVINGS: 8 | PREP TIME: 20 MIN. | TOTAL TIME: 20 MIN.

PHOTOS & FOOD BY MELISSA TATE

To follow her cooking adventures visit MelissaTateTX.com or fi nd her on Instagram at @MELISSATATETX

INGREDIENTS: 3 cups leftover roasted cauliflower | ¼ tsp. salt | ¼ tsp. black pepper | ¼ tsp. garlic powder | 2 Tbsp. minced garlic | 2 ½ Tbsp. tahini | 2 Tbsp. lemon juice | 1 Tbsp. olive oil | 1 15 oz. can white cannelloni beans | salt & pepper | olive oil | parsley | pita | veggies DIRECTIONS: MAKE sure the cauliflower has been roasted or baked and is cut into 1-inch pieces. ADD cauliflower, salt, pepper, garlic powder, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and white beans in a food processor. PROCESS for 3 to 5 minutes, until mixture is very smooth. POUR into a mixing bowl and taste. SEASON with salt and pepper as desired. PLACE hummus in a serving dish, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with parsley, and serve. SERVE with pita bread and veggies.

A SMATTERING of stuff

THAT’S MAKING US SAY “WE LIKE IT!” THIS MONTH

BY HEATHER WITHERSPOON

FESTIVE FOODIES

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas with Sur La Table’s annual collection of culinary-themed holiday ornaments. Hand-painted and mouth-blown in Poland and Germany, these unique ornaments are the perfect addition to your tree or as a gift for a loved one for the holidays.

$PRICES VARY, SURLATABLE.COM

CLASSIC CARRY ALL

Portland Leather’s classic tote features sturdy English bridle handles that soften over time, inside and outside pockets, antiqued brass rivets, and a handy key loop. With a variety of colors and sizes ranging from small to extra-large, you are sure to find the perfect fit.

$128 & UP, PORTLANDLEATHERGOODS.COM

FALL FRAGRANCE

The spiced pumpkin candle from Just Bee is made from organic ingredients, natural fragrance, and essential oils. It features top notes of warm pumpkin, mid notes of fall foliage, toasted pecan, and a dash of spice. Other seasonal scents include Apple Harvest, Christmas Hearth, and Holly & Ivy.

$25, SHOP.JUSTBEE.US/

FAIR PLAY

Suited for a stocking stuffer, Queeng is an updated version of the classic deck of playing cards created by Maayan, a 16-year-old from Jerusalem. The deck still works with all the original principles, so you can play ANY card game with it — Go Fish, Poker, Gin Rummy, etc. Instead of the classic hierarchy of King, Queen and Jack royal face cards, Queeng’s suits come with, Monarchs (male & female), Dukes & Duchesses, Princes & Princesses, and a female Joker! Queeng is also the first multi-ethnic deck of cards, celebrating our world’s beautiful ethnicities and ensuring everyone playing feels represented.

$15, QUEENGCARDS.COM