BAYOU ARTIST

Robin Ozburn

Robin Ozburn sells her crocheted pieces under the umbrella of her business, Roz Handmade. In addition to the amigurumi dolls, Roz Handmade is also a vendor of polymer clay jewelry, and while yarn and clay may seem like vastly differing mediums, Robin believes the two exist peacefully in her world because they both satisfy her urge to create with her hands.

article by STARLA GATSON photography by KELLY MOORE CLARK

Though crocheted amigurumi dolls have become to create something that I could play with, that whoever I Robin Ozburn’s claim to local fame, the ten-year Louisiana give it to could play with, and it brings a lot of joy.” resident admits when she first picked up a crochet hook and Presently, Robin uses patterns that others have made ball of yarn, it was not exactly love at first stitch. “I bought to crochet her dolls, but a personal goal of hers is to create a little crochet kit, and I probably spent, like, maybe 15 her own patterns and character designs, hoping to one minutes trying to figure it out,” she recalls. “I got frustrated, day experience the excitement of seeing the sketches she so I left that kit in a drawer for probably a year and a half, scribbled on paper come to life as three-dimensional items. maybe more.” “There’s something about starting with a ball of yarn and

Fast forward to 2016, when Robin tried her hand at when you’re done with it, you have a toy,” she says. “You learning the skill once more. This time, it stuck, and the have something that brings you joy when you look at it. I do then-University of Louisiana Monroe student began making think it takes a childlike desire to find joy in something like blankets to give to members of her family. At the time, the this.” The childlike joy to which she refers is a major driver idea of selling her creations was not in creating and selling the dolls; the even on her mind — until her mother- money from the sales are but an added in-law approached her with a question “It’s not just that I learned bonus. Her creations take time, some that would change everything. “My husband’s mom was actually the first person to ask me if she could buy one how to crochet, and this was the next step,” Robin explains. up to 40 or more hours, to complete, so her prices cannot be totally based on the length of her labor. It’s a sacrifice, Robin from me, so I was like, ‘Hmm, that’s “I’ve always loved toys. explains, but one she is willing to make interesting. I could make a little bit of Always. I never quite grew to get her toys in the hands of someone money off this.’” the ‘I’m too old to be playing else, adding, “What I want is to create Robin’s first attempt at selling her crocheted creations came in 2018, when she headed to the Downtown with dolls’ mentality. I could use my talent to create something that makes somebody else happy… selling something for cheaper than what it’s technically worth is more RiverMarket’s Christmas on the River, something that I could play valuable to me than it sitting on a shelf with an armful of blankets and a heart with, that whoever I give it for three years before the right person filled with hope that her booth would to could play with, and it can afford to buy it.” be well-received. But unfortunately, the response was not exactly what the brings a lot of joy.” In addition to the amigurumi dolls, Roz Handmade is also a vendor budding fiber artist anticipated. “I had of polymer clay jewelry, and while yarn about 10 crochet blankets, and the only and clay may seem like vastly differing one that I sold was to my mother-in-law.” The lack of other mediums, Robin believes the two exist peacefully in her sales was disappointing, she reveals, but rather than giving world because they both satisfy her urge to create with up on crocheting all together, Robin chose to view her day at her hands. “I don’t create with a pencil or a paintbrush, the RiverMarket as a moment from which to learn and went so I was looking for something that was a little bit less back to the drawing board. “I realized at that moment that time-consuming,” she says of her decision to venture into I needed to really decide what people wanted,” she says. jewelry-making. “I was starting to try to think of other ways “If I wanted to sell my craft, I needed to sell something that that I could create for the purpose of potentially selling that was interesting. Anybody can learn how to make a crochet are quality materials and don’t take hours and hours or days blanket, but there needs to be more.” to make.”

The search for more led Robin to amigurumi — a Unlike her crocheted crafts, Robin’s jewelry can be Japanese term meaning “crochet or knitted stuffed toy” — started and finished in the same day and being able to dolls. Amigurumi dolls were surely different than anything celebrate a quickly completed task is an easy encourager she previously attempted to create, but after watching a for an exhausted or overwhelmed creator. “It’s hard to see a step-by-step tutorial on YouTube, Robin had made her first finished product when it takes so long to complete. So, the doll, a bear that she would give to her newborn nephew. jewelry is a good thing where I’m like, ‘I have four hours “When I finally finished that first little bear that I did, I today. I don’t want to start another project; I’m not feeling knew that this was something I definitely would want to super excited about what I’m working on. Let me just put on do.” It was confirmed: she was hooked. a podcast and roll out some clay and stamp some little stars

Now, Robin sells her crocheted pieces under the in it.’ It’s going to be something that is very cute, but I can umbrella of her business, Roz Handmade. Her stuffed dolls also feel accomplished in sort of a smaller way.” have been sold on her website, at maker’s fair booths, and When she’s not crocheting dolls or shaping brightly through special orders and commissions. In retrospect, colored clay into a pair of earrings, the central Texas native Robin says, it makes perfect sense that handmade dolls works as a graphic designer, having earned a bachelor’s would be her niche. “It’s not just that I learned how to degree in Digital Media Production in 2017. Though graphic crochet, and this was the next step,” she explains. “I’ve design is a more commercial kind of art, the field still allows always loved toys. Always. I never quite grew the ‘I’m too Robin to feed her creative energy. “I get to use the creative old to be playing with dolls’ mentality. I could use my talent part of my brain at work, and then, in some of the ways that

above: When she’s not crocheting dolls maybe I don’t or shaping brightly colored clay into feel creatively a pair of earrings, the central Texas accomplished native works as a graphic designer at work, I can channel that part of me that needs to create toys and fun things like that; I am able to do that in how I choose to spend my creative free time.” In both her full-time job and in Roz Handmade, Robin indeed fits the definition of an artist given by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary — “one who professes and practices an imaginative art.” Despite having achieved certain levels of success, however, Robin openly admits she often has a hard time classifying herself as such.

“Because I don’t do a traditional form of art, you know, watercolor or portraits or whatever, it’s hard for me to acknowledge the fact that I can be in the artist community, and I can call myself an artist and a creative without feeling like an impostor. Especially with something like this, with getting chosen as a Bayou Artist, it’s just insane to me.”

The feelings of doubt and inadequacy Robin says she experiences — impostor syndrome — is a struggle faced not only by artists of all mediums, but by those in all sorts of careers, with studies suggesting that more than 70 percent of people have reported feeling these types of anxiety or self-doubt in their lives. Robin says deep down, she knows she works hard and deserves recognition for her creations and is determined to develop the self-assurance needed to proudly declare herself a member of the art community. “I would love to find the confidence to own it. To be like, ‘This is what I have to offer. I am an artist. I am a creative person by nature.’” As she builds that confidence in herself, Robin remembers what she deems the most important part of being an artist: filling the void in one’s own heart. “Am I doing something that makes me feel like I’m doing something?” she asks. “Am I doing this to make money? Am I trying to have a side hustle? Or am I doing this because I wake up every single morning and ask myself how can I be creative today? How can I fill that insatiable desire to be an artist? And if what I’m doing at the end of the day, if I’m spending all day doing it but I’m still not satisfied, then maybe you do need to look inward and really decide if you’re doing it for yourself or not.”

An important lesson she has learned in the process comes from a two-minute video called “The Gap,” addressing the creative’s relentless desire to be better, a roadblock Robin admits she has worked to overcome. “You have to give yourself time to live up to your own expectations,” she advises. “It doesn’t happen overnight. You have to let yourself be okay with the fact that maybe for now and the next couple of years, you’re going to create things that you don’t think are that great, that you know other people don’t think are that great, but it doesn’t mean that they’re not great.”

Though she may not have realized it at the time, Robin’s purchasing the crochet kit as a young college student seems to have kickstarted a chain of events that would eventually help develop her identity as an artist. She does not crochet for the money, but to fill the void in herself that cries out to create and to bring a sense of childlike joy and wonder back to a world that so often tries to dim it. “I am doing this because everyone should still want to feel like a child,” she declares. “There’s a lot in this day and age where you’re expected to grow up and put your big kid pants on and deal with the crap that is happening in the world, but there is so much room in everyone’s life for having fun.”

Where can that fun be found? According to Robin, the answer is simple: in the small things. She believes that when one lets himself feel excitement over little joys in life, like a well-crafted Mickey Mouse amigurumi doll or polymer clay earrings molded in the shape of a donut with sprinkles, they are allowing themselves to lean into those raw, childlike emotions that may have previously lain dormant. And that kind of fun, Robin says, is important to happiness.

To shop Robin’s work or to order a custom commission, visit www.rozhandmade.com.

Brush Up On Oral Health

Dr. Bagwell and Dr. Johnston Share with Us

AS WE GET TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, IT IS A great time to brush up on your oral health. After all, our teeth do more than help us chew. They help us smile and laugh - something we could all use more of after this year. Here is a list provided by The World Dental Federation of some smart choices you can make for a lifetime of dental health.

VISIT YOUR DENTIST This seems obvious, but statistics reflect that only 65.7% of adults in the U.S. go to the dentist on a regular basis. Regular trips to your dentist every six months are an important preventative measure that will save time and money down the road.Your dentist can detect early signs of disease, help you develop healthy habits, and be a vital part of your care team even if you have an overall medical condition or are pregnant.

BRUSH AND CLEAN BETWEEN YOUR TEETH DAILY Healthy habits like brushing and cleaning between your teeth go a long way in preventing cavities and keeping a healthy smile. Brush for two minutes, twice a day. Look for toothbrushes, toothpastes, and flossing tools with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. If you need help getting your kids to brush their teeth, or need help breaking bad brushing habits, ask your dentist for advice.

PROTECT YOUR SMILE Prevent damage to your pearly whites throughout the day and while you play. Sealants in children are a safe and effective coating that adheres to the chewing surface of your back teeth. They’ve been shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay by nearly 80% in back molars, the teeth you use most to chew. Mouthguards can protect your teeth during contact sports.

PRACTICE HEALTHY NUTRITION HABITS What you put in your mouth affects your general health and that of your teeth and gums. Sugar can be a cavity culprit because it gives the cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth something to feed on. Once this happens, acid is produced that can cause holes to form in your enamel. Good nutrition shows, as well. Healthy foods that contain calcium can strengthen your teeth.

DRINK WATER The healthiest beverage for your teeth is water. Studies show drinking water can help prevent tooth decay by at least 25%.

With the proper care, your teeth can last you a lifetime and good dental health is something you can enjoy at every stage of your life. No matter what your age, good oral health is vital to your general health and well-being.

Dr. Jan T. Bagwell has over 30 years of experience and has welcomed her daughter, Dr. Jessica J. Johnston into her practice. They are North Louisiana’s only mother-daughter dental team. Their office is located next to Sterlington High School on 165 N and offers patients complete general and cosmetic dental treatments. Their team is dedicated to using the newest technologies and techniques, as well as state-of-the-art equipment, to enhance your smile and make it as healthy and beautiful as possible. They offer regular hygiene checkups as well as general dentistry services like partials, dentures, extractions and root canals. They also offer cosmetic dental treatments such as teeth whitening, veneers, porcelain crowns, and implant restorations. Dr. Jan T. Bagwell and Dr. Jessica J Johnston always work with compassion to make their patients feel as relaxed as possible and provide the best possible dental care! If you and your children are looking for a dental home, Dr Jan Bagwell and Dr. Jessica Johnston would love for you to join their family!

Keep West Monroe Beautiful

Keep West Monroe Beautiful Has Been Selected As A Grant Recipient

KEEP WEST MONROE BEAUTIFUL has been selected as a recipient of the Healthy Communities Grant by Keep Louisiana Beautiful, the state’s premier anti-litter and community improvement organization.

A grant of $8,000 was awarded to Keep West Monroe Beautiful for the purpose of purchasing additional recycling containers to be used at public events and cameras to be placed in areas where illegal dumping is taking place. Grant funds will also be used for environmental education materials and the implementation of a digital awareness campaign to make the public understand the importance of recycling and litter abatement. Keep West Monroe Beautiful is an affiliate of Keep Louisiana and Keep America Beautiful.

“We at KWMB appreciate the unique opportunity the Healthy Communities Grant offers us to move forward with making West Monroe a cleaner and greener community,” said Keep West Monroe Beautiful Chairman Aundi Brown. “The grant will allow us the ability to increase recycling efforts, illegal dumping/litter abatement, and environmental education programs, all of which greatly benefit our city and quality of life.” About Keep Louisiana Beautiful

Keep Louisiana Beautiful, Inc. is the state’s anti-litter and community improvement organization focused on education, enforcement, awareness and cleanups. Affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, the Keep Louisiana Beautiful mission is to promote personal, corporate and community responsibility for a clean and beautiful Louisiana. With a network of 40 affiliates in communities throughout the state, over 35,000 volunteers work toward a clean and beautiful Louisiana.

Learn more about Keep West Monroe Beautiful at www.facebook.com/keepwestmonroebeautiful

Food Nostalgia

Every Flavor Has a Story

HELLO, SWEETIES! IT’S ME, MONICA, YOUR FRIENDLY neighborhood baker. I want to take this opportunity to tell you a little more about Bake318 and what we’re all about.

Let’s talk taglines, shall we? My motto, if you will, is “every flavor has a story.” Research has shown that the senses of taste and smell are closely tied to memory. We all have those foods and desserts that take us to certain times, places, and people. Comfort food has sentimental value; it gives us a sense of belonging. Typically, these foods also have family or social ties for us. A sense of nostalgia, food nostalgia, is evoked. This is the underlying sentiment and message in my tagline. It is my honor to tell my stories, my family’s stories, and your stories through the handmade, from-scratch desserts and sweets that I create.

For me, food nostalgia is a real and tangible thing. I am lucky to belong to a family of great cooks. Needless to say, I was well fed growing up. All the comfort foods were mine! From my mom’s pot roast with carrots and potatoes to my Mamaw Ruth’s vegetable soup and cornbread, every meal was the best I’d ever eaten. My grandma Cheek could make a biscuit like nobody’s business. My aunts and uncles could cook as well; and, all had their signature dishes that made their appearances on the table at family gatherings.

But the dessert table, that’s where it all began for me. I love recreating classic, nostalgic sweets like dollies and lemon bars. For many, the desserts on my menu take them back to their childhood or remind them of a loved one. I use many recipes that I got from my mom, my grandmother, and my aunt. I have added items to the menu at the request of customers because they wanted something their mom use to make. Feeding people is something that makes me happy. I love telling these stories through sweet treats.

One of my most beloved memories is making fruitcake with my twin brother, Will, and my mamaw. I know, I know, fruitcake? YES! Fruitcake! It has a bad rep; I get it. But this fruitcake is in a category all alone. This is a chocolate fruitcake studded with candied fruit and apples. The batter has the traditional warm spices, like my favorite, cloves, and is so thick that we had to take turns stirring it with a wooden spoon. A mixer would have met its end in this batter, y’all. When we got older and wanted fruitcake, we had to buy the ingredients and still take turns stirring the batter. These days, I make the fruitcake and take it to my mamaw, who celebrated her 90th birthday this year. I have to call her and have her walk me through the process. The “recipe” is just a list of ingredients handwritten on a well-worn and stained index card.

So, as you’ll find out, at Bake318 every flavor does have a story. Some are already written while others are still being created, one taste at a time.

LA Tech Receives Grant

New Equipment Helps Maintain Safety

LOUISIANA TECH’S EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Center (ECEC) has received a two iPads and two laptops through a Technology Grant Award from the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana. The new equipment will be a valuable aid in helping ECEC maintain state-required safety adjustments.

The Center is one of the many departments learning to navigate through reopening in regard to complying with state guidelines concerning COVID-19. Along with following these guidelines, ECEC has established extra innovative ways to keep teachers and students safe.

“In order to comply with guidelines mandated by the state, parents are not allowed to enter the center, which can cause a disconnect between the teachers and parents,” said ECEC Director Laura Chestnut.

But with the new technology tools and the purchase of a childcare management software program, ECEC can do the following things: • Check children in and out digitally • Send weekly lesson plans virtually • Record student progress and milestones with parents • Communicate virtually with other staff members

Although the department has new technological tools to help create a cleaner environment for students, teachers, and staff are still performing basic precautions to care for the students, like these: • Deep cleaning the Center • Rearranging to keep children in tighter contact pods • Taking the children’s and staff’s temperatures regularly • Washing hands often • Wearing masks

Focus on the common fundamentals is still a key necessity at ECEC, even as the staff has implemented new ways of operating after months of closed doors.

Along with the teachers and students at ECEC, there are multiple other workers utilizing the new technology. Working and training at the Center is one College of Education resident, eight Human Development and Family Science students from the School of Human Ecology completing their practicums, one graduate assistant, and five student workers. The grant has allowed these students both to gain first-hand technological expertise and to see how businesses have had to adapt in the pandemic.

“We are attempting to show them how to use technology to streamline their work but also ‘warm it up’ so that interaction with parents is not sterile,” said ECEC’s Shannon Tatum, an instructor in Tech’s School of Human Ecology.

As a student worker, Jaina Robinson, a graduating senior from Ruston, assists Chestnut throughout the day.

“This consists of guiding the children through learning activities and encouraging them to learn through play,” said Robinson, who is completing her degree in Human Development and Family Science with a Child Development Specialist concentration. “The grant has given us the opportunity to have more effective communication with families, and the iPads have made student records much easier.”

Fun fact: Robinson went to the ECEC as a preschooler and “is finishing strong at Tech by completing her last courses at ECES as a practica student,” Chestnut said. “Not many people can say they finished college in the same place they began their school career.”

Parish Restaurant + Standard Coffee Co.

Give the Gift of Good Food This Holiday Season

WHILE THE HOLIDAYS MAY BE ON A SMALLER SCALE or look a little different this year, there is something that will always stay the same, especially in Louisiana, and that is good food. Whether you are having a smaller, intimate get together or hosting your extended family this holiday season, you can depend on good food from two local favorites, Parish Restaurant and Standard Coffee Co. Both restaurants are owned and operated by local chef, Cory Bahr, and both focus on quality, local ingredients.

Parish, a homage to what is most important to Cory—community, culture, and culinary heritage—presents an inventive take on classic southern dishes utilizing live fire cooking that makes use of all the flavors, technique and heritage of his beloved Delta region. He offers honest dishes with a strong sense of place, for which he has earned national recognition. Parish’s menu depends on seasonal availability but you can always find appealing appetizers, fresh made pasta and entrees that showcase premium seafood, beef and more. For starters, recent favorites include fried boudin, Louisiana blue crab cakes, roasted Brussels and deviled eggs. The pasta is made fresh, in house and its more than your standard spaghetti. Parish offers Creste De Gallo, Rigatoni and Buccatini, topped with Wagyu and Spicy Venison Meatballs, just to name a few pasta options. With a name like Parish, you know the restaurant is going to pay homage to its Louisiana roots and the seafood shines when it comes to entrees. There’s Shrimp and Chorizo Grits, Redfish on the Half Shell, Dry Aged Duck Burger and Belle Farms Duck Confit. Cory inherited a passion for the great outdoors and cooking—spending weekends at the family hunting camp, running fishing lines, and hunting whatever was in season, and that is definitely reflected on the menu.

Right around the corner from the green glow of the Parish neon sign is Standard Coffee Co. The team at the local coffee shop has set a new standard for the community when it comes to coffee. They aim to excellently craft each individual drink paying attention to the quality of espresso, precise milk steaming techniques, and evenly balanced syrup portions. In addition to traditional espresso, drip coffee and cold brew, Standard has seasonal drinks like pumpkin spice latte, butter pecan and caramel apple. But coffee isn’t all the shop offers. They have fresh pastries like cinnamon rolls, kolaches, cookies and other sweet treats. For lunch, you can find avocado toast, sandwiches, ramen and poke bowls.

If you are hosting a holiday office party or small get together, Standard can take care of the catering! And Parish can cater any occasion from holiday parties to weddings and other special celebrations. If you really want to have a special holiday gathering, Parish can provide inhome catering. You can enjoy delicious food in the comfort of your own home, while focusing on spending time and making memories with your friends and family. Both restaurants offer gift certificates as well so give the gift of eating and supporting local this holiday season!

The Paper Market

Celebrate Everything Fall

THIS YEAR MORE THAN EVER, THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR TO reflect and count your blessings, and The Paper Market is thankful to be your one-stop shop for all things paper and party supplies.

For the past decade, The Paper Market has been the go to place for everything from balloons to tablecloths and everything in between and this holiday season is no different. You can find a variety of festive paper products perfect for Thanksgiving. There are a variety of napkins and plates that feature turkey silhouettes, leaves, plaid and all things fall. “We even have paper linen napkins, which are more substantial disposable napkins, perfect for holidays,” said Amy Robinson, owner of The Paper Market. “Our cocktail napkins are great for hostess gifts or teacher happies during this time of year!” The store’s styrofoam cups have become a staple at Northeast Louisiana get-togethers and Thanksgiving is no different. You can grab a sleeve for guests and even order customizable ones with your family’s name, monogram or whatever you please. The Paper Market also offers an ecofriendly version with their clear frosted tumblers.

When it comes to setting the perfect tablescape for Thanksgiving dinner, The Paper Market has plenty to choose from. There are fabric fall patterned and plaid tablecloths, both disposable and reusable, and kraft table runners. Plate chargers not only prevent messes and retain heat in dishes, they also add a festive pop to the table. Add a special touch with place cards for your guests and food labels for all the casseroles, dips and dishes. Plus, there’s a variety of chalkboard pieces so you can display

the menu and more! You can also choose from different containers and baskets to creatively store and display your utensils, napkins and serving pieces. Every family holiday has a kid’s table and The Paper Market has plenty of items to add to yours this year. Kids of all ages will be entertained with a paper placemat or tablecloth they can color. There are also fun and festive accessories like turkey headbands, photobooth props and turkey cupholders. Another Thanksgiving trend is Friendsgiving and The Paper Market has napkins, plates and more for this special get together.

If you are hosting Thanksgiving and don’t want to spend the day cleaning up afterwards, The Paper Market can help with that, too. “We have a variety of premium quality plates, utensils, wine glasses and serving pieces that will allow you to accommodate your guests beautifully without the dread of doing the dishes!” said Amy. And you can send everyone home with full hearts and bellies with stylish leftover bags that have fun sayings like “It’s even better the next day!”

And with Thanksgiving arriving this month, that means Christmas is just around the corner. The Paper Market has their Christmas wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbon, tissue paper and tags ready so shop early to get exactly what you want for your gift wrapping needs. Personalized stationery makes a thoughtful gift and now is the time to order for the special someone on your list.

The Paper Market is thankful to be your local paper and party supply shop and looks forward to continuing to celebrate everything with you!

Shop Local Support Our Small Businesses

Anybody out there got any idea how Black Friday is going to look this year? Asking for a friend. Because I’m of the opinion that every day of 2020 has been a perpetual Black Friday. Ya’ll with me?

But here we all are on the actual, virtual cusp of the holidays and Black Friday is looming like a big black bear. Can you imagine for a million dollars what a nightmare this is going to be for retailers? They will likely have lines wrapped around their buildings for miles as they let 3 people in their stores at a time, in hazmat suits covered in Lysol. So where does that leave us with our shopping needs?

So, here’s my plan: I’m a huge proponent of shopping local and personally, I plan to start early and do as much shopping as I can with our local businesses. These are the ones who are struggling to survive both a pandemic and back-to-back hurricanes. Right… another sign that we need to label 2020 with a skull and crossbones.

I know the major retailers took hits as well, but the ones who have me in my feels are the businesses on the corners of our community who are fighting to stay alive. And while the shopping experience may look different this year, and we know it will, and we are all shopping in masks which make it more difficult to identify each other, I encourage you to take the time to be intentional with how and where you shop. Don’t get me wrong, I know the internet will be full of great deals, expedited shipping and shopping made simple at the click of a

article by Cindy G. Foust

button. But how about making this year look different from the vantage point that you can control, and that is to support the businesses who more than ever need our support. What’s even better, if you have children or teenagers who are old enough to understand this process and the importance of supporting locally owned businesses, sit down with them and explain a few things.

First, small businesses drive the economy. Quite frankly, we need them and this year more

than ever, they need us. Give your kids an economics lesson and as a family, make a master Christmas list (you know how I love a good poster board project) for everyone you buy for and get the family involved in how you can gift buy right here at home. Or make a map of the area stores that offer gifts and gift ideas for the ones on your list and be intentional in shopping with these businesses. And I would start early, right? You don’t have to do them all in one day! Because as I am also the editor for our great magazine, as well as a world-renowned nearly 8-year columnist, I am getting to see firsthand the creativity, the partnerships and the coming together as a community of these businesses as they strategically figure out how to market themselves during this ongoing pandemic.

With curbside shopping, free delivery,

Open Houses, and free gift wrapping, they are pulling out all the stops to show they are here and they are here to stay. Whatever ways you take advantage, make your lists, create a roadmap that takes you through our community and be intentional with your efforts. So, what are some of the other ways we can help them? I’m glad you ask because

I’ve come up with a few options that I know you are dying to hear about. Next, and I really, really love this one, but I think our local business owners are probably already and of course, have big plans to, run extended hours. Even after the doors close for the business day, their

“second day” will start and they will be wrapping gifts, filling online orders, restocking, and organizing delivery schedules. It almost makes me feel like they will be sleeping while they wrap!

Why don’t you and your family have food delivered to their stores for their staff or better yet, make some goodies that can be dropped off while they work through their days? Most of us will be home sipping hot cocoa watching a good Hallmark movie, but our local business

community will literally be putting in the hours to keep up with the holiday frenzy. I tell you what, I have some really good friends who love helping me spend my money at Herringstone’s, and it would be a great honor to bring their crew some homemade salsa or a sandwich tray from Chicken Salad Chick, another local business. Get creative in how you do it, just be intentional.

Next, and I thought this one up all on my own, but use your social media platforms to advertise for the businesses you are patronizing. This is a powerful way to help our local businesses, particularly if you have a great shopping experience. Take pictures of the business delivering your gifts that have been gift wrapped or bringing them out to your car. Or take pictures of some of the treasures you have bought that might be of interest to your social media tribes. The value of this type of promotion, in a word, is invaluable. And if you read a really good article in BayouLife, you know, like Bayou-kidZ, share it on Facebook, because, well, it is written by a columnist who has been with the magazine for nearly 8 years. It’s shameful to make personal plugs for yourself, but hey, I have to create fans where I can. All joking aside, it doesn’t cost a thing and it goes a long way in your social media networking for your family and friends to see opportunities or gift ideas they aren’t aware of or hadn’t thought about. Again, intentional.

Lastly, if you have historically supported a non-profit agency, even though they run their organizations from a not-for-profit standpoint, they still depend on the community for financial support. Many of the organizations my family has supported this year have decided to forgo asking for membership dollars, which is money they lean heavily on for their operational budgets. How about, and I plan to lead by example, making a donation of the money you would ordinarily give for a membership anyway? If you don’t have a favorite or one that you patronize regularly, pick one, or three, and make a donation. This month’s BayouLife has pages and pages of nonprofit organizations who do very important work; arts agencies who have been here for 50+ years; and others who support many charitable causes that might otherwise go unserved. Send them a gift, volunteer your time or support their causes through your social media well. We are all in this together and together we can work to take the sting of what has been unprecedented financial hardships, particularly with our nonprofit friends. Did I say to be intentional?

Small businesses are the heart of our

community, I think we can all agree on that, and this is the perfect season, the perfect time, to show them how much they mean to us and how much we want them to stay. We’ve all been dealt COVID blows this year, in some way or the other, and none of us have been completely insulated from this awful pandemic. But as I have said in recent columns, it doesn’t have to be bigger than us in every area of our lives. This is something we can control, this is a way we can help, and it gives us an opportunity to share our resources with so many who have been dealt terrible blows. It also creates yet another opportunity to parent our children through a situation where they can learn from kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity. This virus, no matter what it has taken from us, cannot, in any way, take away those lessons, especially if we sit down with our families and be strategic with our gifts and our time and our resources. These intentional efforts are what make the BayouLife community the generous and supportive beacon it is, and why I am proud to live here. Cindy G. Foust is a wife, mom, author and blogger. You can find her blog at the alphabetmom.com for weekly columns about home life, parenting, small business stories and insight with a smidgen of literacy. Give her a like or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

JAC’s Craft Smokehouse

New Restaurant Opens in West Monroe

IT ALL STARTED WITH SAUCE. TRACY CARTER HAD always loved to grill and couldn’t find the right salsa. He looked and looked, and finally decided he would just make his own. And it was good. After submitting it to amateur competitions and winning best overall product, he went on to start his own line of sauces and seasonings in 2005. With over 42 national awards and BBQ competitors using his seasonings, his company was successful. In 2017, Tracy opened his own food truck - JAC’s Tailgaters. He set up shop for daily lunches, festivals and special events, honing his craft even more. He and his wife, Kristi, not only used the food truck to serve food, but also to serve the community. They fed people after tornadoes and storms, using every opportunity to give back.

Recently, the couple was presented with a unique opportunity - to expand their business and open a brick and mortar restaurant, and it was truly meant to be. “For the past 10 years, we would pass by this building at the corner of Trenton Street and Pine Street and I would say ‘That would be the perfect place for our restaurant,’ even before the revitalization of the area,” said Kristi. “When it was a boarded up building, I just knew we would be here one day.” And that day has finally come. This month, the couple opens their restaurant, JAC’s Craft Smokehouse. The family owned business features a variety of appetizers, sandwiches and smoked meats. For starters, there’s poblano cornbread, fried Brussels sprouts, fried pork skins and deviled eggs with smoked pimento cheese, just to name a few. When it comes to handhelds, there’s classics like pulled pork, brisket and club sandwiches. Other savory selections include the Bayou Cuban, piled high with pulled pork, smoked ham, melted Swiss cheese, slathered in creole mustard and topped with a pickle, all on toasted Gambino’s poboy bread. Plus there’s burgers that are all made in house with fresh chuck ground with brisket trimmings. Plate options include nachos, meat plates and rib plates. Above all else, JAC’s focus is on quality ingredients and products, offering traditional recipes and elevating them. “We got our start in seasonings and sauces and we still focus on making those in-house with the best ingredients,” said Tracy. “We use the best of the best when it comes to brisket; we use prime grade beef and heritage pork. We even make all of our sausage in house.”

JAC’s will offer these delicious dishes for lunch and dinner, but will also have coffee and pastries each morning as well. In addition, they will offer delivery for local businesses. If you are hosting a special event, party or meeting, JAC’s can take care of the catering, offering a variety of options, not just what they serve on their daily menu. For the upcoming holidays, they will offer family meals featuring turkeys, hams and side dishes.

So stop by JAC’s Smokehouse and say hello to Tracy, Kristi and their team! You can enjoy more than just their delicious hand crafted food, but also sit on the dog friendly patio, enjoy live music and the views of historic downtown West Monroe!

Zo Skin Medical and Zo Skin Health

The Woman’s Clinic Fall Favorites

TIME TO ERASE THE DAMAGE THAT summer brings with dry, hyperpigmented skin. We have compiled our list of new and favorite products to get your skin ready for the holiday season.

The Woman’s Clinic is so excited about the Growth Factor Eye Serum that was recently launched by ZO Skin Health. This product uses the power of ZO Growth Factor Technology to target deeper eye wrinkles, crease formation, hollowness, and microcirculation decline. It contains no retinol, so it is well tolerated. Fast acting and long-term ingredients improve the tissue making it hydrated and plump like a filler. Let’s face it, with the masks covering everything else, the eyes are more visible now than ever.

Other products flying off the shelves are those aimed at erasing the pigmentation caused by the sun, hormones, and inflammatory conditions such as acne. We have a Pigment Control Program + Hydroquinone that will be matched with either a Retinol or Retinoic Acid to get your skin looking bright, healthy, and free of uneven skin tone. We also have individual supplies of these products for patients who don’t need the kit with cleanser, toner, and exfoliant.

The Woman’s Clinic also has brighteners such as Brightalive and 10% Vitamin C to even out skin tone without any anticipated reaction caused by using more aggressive methods. These products are also safe in pregnancy and great tools to maintain a bright and even glow after finishing an aggressive protocol. Come see our experts to see which may be best for your individual needs.

Another area that shows age and damage is the delicate tissue on the neck. Retinols are not ideal for this area. Instead, we want to thicken the tissue and lift it. Growth Factor Serum enhances production of collagen and hyaluronic acid to strengthen skin. Firming Serum is another powerhouse product that was launched last year. It is clinically proven to visibly improve skin’s elasticity. 97% of participants showed significant improvement in skin firmness by week 12. Both of these products may be used on the face as well as the neck. We are in love with the results we have seen.

Retinols are a must when targeting skin health. We have a wide variety to address your specific needs and the knowledge to prescribe the right formula for you. Radical Night Repair is our strongest retinol, which may be used as an at-home peel to address textural issues. There are retinols in different strengths to help erase the hyperpigmented areas, as well as products such as Wrinkle and Texture Repair to penetrate deeper and tackle those stubborn, deep lines. It is also a great product to use on new scar tissue.

We also see great benefits of combined bi-polar radiofrequency and light energies of elos technology in Sublime and Sublative Procedures from Syneron Candela. The dermal tissue is precisely heated to stimulate collagen production resulting in improved facial contours, reduced fine wrinkles, and a smooth, even complexion. The technology is gentle and affordable as compared to lasers or surgical options.

As the Holidays roll around, gifting will be on everyone’s mind. Our cosmetics consultant can help you pick stocking stuffers or purchase a gift card to meet the skin care needs of everyone on your Christmas list.