Sept-Oct 2010

Living

LM I Ellis County Living Magazine

Shopping Music Home Travel Law Health Medical

Wedding Issue

September-October 2010/living-magazine.com

6th Annual

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 18

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2010 PHOTO BY MIKE JONES PHOTOGRAPHY

DIVE IN TO OUR 2010 WEDDING SECTION

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F W L+S 8

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2010 Fall Fashion 12 Day to Night 14

HG &

Wedding Old/New/Borrowed/Blue 20 Wedding Emergency Kit 22 Get the Bridal Portraits of Your Dreams 24 Bits and Pieces From Our Readers 26 Feature Weddings 28 Wedding Videography 34

Life & Style Signature Sips 37 Books for Wedding-Planning Bliss 38 Consider Counseling 40 Organizing Your Fairytale Wedding 42 Get Out of the Bubble 44

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010

BEGIN YOUR PLANNING

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER

CHECK OUT THE LATEST IN LOCAL FASHION

Fashion

38

P M

Home & Garden Creating a Car Lover’s Haven 48 Dumpster Diving 49 September and October Plants 50 Eat, Pray, Love 51

Professional A Genie in a Bottle 54 Cindy Writes with a Quill, I Write with a Hammer 56 Barbarians at the Gate 58 Celebrating Women Luncheon 59

Medical N.E.W. is the New You 62 The Fight Against Female Cancers 64 Blending Families 66 The Basics of Ophthalmology 68 Competition in the Martial Arts 70

Living

ELLIS COUNTY

MAGAZINE Volume 6 Issue 5 Cindy Camp Publisher Jennifer Kemp Art Director Kate McClendon Executive Editor Deborah Tilson Jennifer Thornhill Advertising Meagan Camp Online Editor

Contributing Writers Melinda Hines Diane Johnson Collard Melinda Kocian Jacob A. Hale Mark Singleton Dr. Katherine Donaldson, Psy. D. Cindy Burch Special Thanks to Marie Q Photography Ellis County Living Magazine is published bi-monthly

by Ellis County Living Publications, Inc. using only environmentally friendly ink.

Copyright 2010, Ellis County Living Publications All rights reserved.

For advertising information, please contact Ellis County Living Magazine at 972.935.0938 or info@living-magazine.com.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! www.facebook.com/EllisCountyLiving twitter.com/ECLiving

We are proud members of the Waxahachie, Ennis, Midlothian, Red Oak, DeSoto and Cedar Hill Chambers of Commerce.

No portion of Ellis County Living Magazine shall be reprinted in any other publication without permission.

The views expressed herein should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult your physician.

Weddings are in the air with the upcoming Waxahachie Civic Center’s Bridal Extravaganza happening in October. It’s a fun day full of ideas from local vendors. It’s the seventh annual event and Living Magazine is pleased to be a part of it. Congratulations to all of the upcoming brides and grooms.

The fall fashions are coming out full of color and in some wonderful styles. My favorite time of putting the magazine together is the week we go out “shopping.”

We look over our choices and come up with some trends to share with our readers. If you’re attending a wedding, going back to college or wanting to refresh your working wardrobe, get inspired by our fashion pages.

And be sure to check out the Around Town page for all the great upcoming events in the area. See you there!

-Cindy Camp, publisher Jennifer is the art director for Ellis County Living Magazine. A graduate of the University of Texas, she has a love for all things Longhorn! She has a perfectionist work ethic and works around the clock to make sure the magazine maintains its high design standard. While ad design and page design are two very different worlds, her charming and positive nature keeps the two sides of magazine production working well together. You can send questions or comments to Jennifer@living-magazine.com.

Kate is the editor of Living Magazine. She grew up in Waxahachie and graduated from Baylor University in 2006 as a journalism major and studio art minor. Kate loves all aspects of the writing and editing process and has writing experience for multiple mediums. In her spare time, Kate enjoys being with her friends, family and two dogs. If you have any story ideas, comments, questions or concerns, send her an e-mail at Kate@living-magazine.com.

Deborah is working in advertising, focusing on Cedar Hill, Red Oak, Ovilla, Midlothian and corporate accounts in the Metroplex. Her passion for relationship building and selling a quality product has led her to a career with Living Magazine. When not working at the magazine, Deborah works as a professional organizer. She loves football and is an avid Redskins fan. She enjoys spending time with her family and supporting her daughter, Kelsey, in her many activities. Contact her at Deborah@living-magazine.com.

Jennifer is a Waxahachie native and the proudest member of the Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 2005. She has relocated back to Ellis County after years directing marketing initiatives in the family business. Jennifer has created several digital advertising programs for the magazine’s partner company, ECL Media Group and she is now managing magazine ad sales for Waxahachie and Ennis as well. Jennifer’s hobbies include traveling, photography, and spending time with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Contact her at jennifer@eclmedia.com.

Guarantee you’ll receive Ellis County Living Magazine by subscribing today!

Go to www.living-magazine.com and click on “subscriptions.”

Staff photos by Marie Q Photography Cover photo provided by Amy Karp Photography • www.amykarp.com SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010

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Edit or’s Note:

Happy wedding season everyone!

We’re excited to bring you this issue, which is chock full of wedding goodness. We received so many beautiful photo submissions from some great photographers in and around Ellis County. I’m disappointed that we couldn’t use all the photos we received and feature everyone, but , if you’re looking for a great local photographer, rest assured that you’ll have plenty of options from which to choose.

AROUND TOWN WAXAHACHIE www.waxahachiechamber.com ART EXHIBIT Beginning Sept. 18, the Ellis County Art Association will feature a new exhibit entitled “Fall, Gracefully.” To kick off the exhibit, a wine and cheese reception will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 18 at the Anderson Gallery, located in the lower level of the Ellis County Art Association Art Center at 501 W. Main Street. For more information, visit www.elliscountyart.net.

We had fun pretending like we had a wedding to attend and shopping for great wedding attire in the local stores. If you’re looking for a dress to wear that will go from a day wedding to a night wedding, turn to page 14. If you just want a great outfit, turn to page 12. We’ve got your wedding-season wear covered.

CHAMBER AUCTION The 2010 Waxahachie Annual Chamber Auction will be held at the Waxahachie Civic Center on Oct. 2. Come out to eat dinner, bid on items and see the finalists of the Waxahachie’s Got Talent competition perform. Tickets are $50 per person; RSVP by Sept. 24 by calling 972.937.2390.

If you’re a local bride, you won’t want to miss the Bridal Extravaganza on Oct. 31 at the Waxahachie Civic Center. For just $3, you can see all the best in local vendors and enter to win a gift certificate valued at $500 to the Waxahachie Civic Center.

TEXAS COUNTRY REPORTER FESTIVAL Come out on Oct. 23 to the 15th Annual Texas Country Reporter Festival on the square. Join Bob Phillips and a diverse group of artists, craftsmen and chefs who have been featured on his show. There will be a parade, food and games for the kids. Don’t miss this great event!

Though it still feels like summer, the holidays are right around the corner. We’ll be gearing up for the cold weather and getting our November-December issue ready in no time!

Happy reading!

BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE Show off your bowling skills and show your support by participating in the annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser on Oct. 23 at Hilltop Lanes. Visit www.bowlforkidssake.org for more information.

BRIDAL EXTRAVAGANZA Join us for everything wedding related at the annual bridal extravaganza at the Waxahachie Civic Center on Oct. 31 from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $3.

LIONS CLUB If you want to join the Lions Club but can’t make it to the noon meetings, you’re in luck. A new chapter, The Waxahachie Sunset Lions Club, meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at The Dish in the Rogers Hotel. Call 817.673.0356 for more information.

MIDLOTHIAN www.midlothianchamber.org LORD’S ACRE FESTIVAL Put on by the First United Methodist Church of Midlothian, the Lord’s Ace Festival will take place on Oct. 2 at the First United Methodist Church. Come out at 9 a.m. to enjoy auctions, crafts, children’s activities and a turkey dinner.

For more information, visit www.fumcmidlothian.org.

FALL FESTIVAL The annual Fall Festival will be held on Oct. 16 at the Multi-Purpose Stadium from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come out to enjoy food, games, vendors and more!

RED OAK www.redoakareachamber.org FOUNDER’S DAY On Sept. 11, the annual Founder’s Day festival will kick off, beginning with a parade at 9 a.m. Events, including a 5K race, games, food and entertainment, will take place all day long. Visit the Red Oak Chamber website for more information.

For all local events and updates on what is happening in our area, visit www.living-magazine.com/blog.

Do you have an event that you want everyone to know about? Send an e-mail to:

EVENTS@LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM

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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010

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2010 FALL FASHION

GRAY DRESS BY MM COUTURE AT BRIARPATCH, $84.95 • SILVER STUD CUFF BY RODEO ROYALTY AT THE DOVES NEST, $25 PURSE BY LIZ CLAIBORNE AT JC PENNEY, $60 HEELS BY MADDEN GIRL AT BELK, $39.99

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FUCHSIA TANK BY NEW DIRECTIONS AT BELK, $44 EARRINGS BY TARGET AT TARGET, $9.99 • CLUTCH

BY NEW DIRECTIONS AT BELK, $35 • BLACK SKIRT

BY WORTHINGTON AT JC PENNEY, $25 • HEELS

BY MOSSIMO AT TARGET, $24.99

2010 FALL FASHION

NECKLACE BY ERICA LYONS AT BELK, $45 GRAY BELTED DRESS BY B. WEAR TOO! AT JC PENNEY, $50 • BLACK BEADED BRACELET BY TARGET AT TARGET, $9.99 • BLACK RUFFLE BOOTIE BY MADDEN GIRL AT BELK, $49

DRESS BY JONATHAN MARTIN AT BELK, $86 PURSE BY MAD BY DESIGN AT BUFFALO CREEK COWGIRLS, $84.99 • BELT

BY NINE WEST AT BELK, $32 • RING AT THE DOVES NEST, $16.95 • HEELS

BY MOSSIMO AT TARGET, $29.99

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DAY TO NIGHT

If you have two events to go to in one day, why spend the time and money changing your outfit? Start with one versatile dress and go from day to night in a flash.

TAKE THIS SIMPLE BLACKK DRESS BY WORTHINGTON N AT JC PENNEY, $50, AND DRESS ESS IT DOWN WITH A SCARF BY CEJON AT BELK, $34, MULTILTISTRAND BRACELET BY TARGET ARGE GT AT TARGET, $17.99, SHINY PURSE

BY MERONA AT TARGET, $24.99, AND RHINESTONE FLIP FLOPSBY DECREE AT JC PENNEY, $45.

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MAKE THE SAME DRESS RESS NIGHTTIME WORTHY HY BY ADDING A LARGE FLORAL NECKLACE FROM BRIARRIARPATCH, $15.95, A GRAY RAY CLUTCH BY RODEO ROYALTY AT THE DOVESS NEST, $40, AND SNAKESKIN HEELS BY WORTHINGTON AT JC PENNEY, $65.

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DAY TO NIGHT

If you have two events to go to in one day, why spend the time and money changing your outfit? Start with one versatile dress and go from day to night in a flash.

DRESS THIS COLORFUL DRESS

BY MADISON AT BELK, $88, DOWN BY ADDING GOLD EAR-RINGS BY TARGET AT TARGET, $7.99, A BROWN BELT BY RODEO DEO ROYALTY AT THE DOVES NEST, ST $20, SUNGLASSES BY MERONA AT TARGET, $14.99, AND BROWN RUFFLE FLATS BY UNLISTED AT BELK, $39.

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DRESS IT UP BY PUTTING ON A MAROON RUFFLE CARDIGAN BY MADISON AT BELK, $58, AN OVER-SIZED BLACK BELT BY MERONA ATT TARGET, $16.99, A GOLD BRACELETT

BY TARGET AT TARGET, $12.99, A LARGE BLACK PURSE BY MOSSIMO O AT TARGET, $24.99, AND A PAIR OF BLACK STRAPPY HEELS BY MADDEN GIRL AT BELK, $39.99.

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W WEDDING SECTION Wedding season is upon us! In this wedding issue you’ll find tips to help you have the best bridal portraits, all you need to know about wedding videography, what you should pack in your bridal emergency kit and much more.

The brides in the three featured weddings this year all had unique challenges to overcome during their wedding-planning process. Those challenges led to increased stress during an already-stressful process, but each bride overcame the obstacles and had a beautiful wedding. Read all about them starting on page 28.

If you’re a soon-to-be bride, make sure you head out to the Waxahachie Bridal Extravaganza to find all the latest and greatest in wedding fashion, photography and vendors. Be there Oct. 31 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Waxahachie Civic Center.

In This Section: Old/New/Borrowed/Blue 20

by Kate McClendon and Facebook fans

Wedding Emergency Kit 22

by Kate McClendon

Get the Bridal Portraits of Your Dreams 24

by Charlotte and Ashley Hensley

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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010

Bits and Pieces From Our Readers 26 Feature Weddings 28

by Teresa Choaté

Wedding Videography 34

by Rick and Charlotte Orr

Bridal Extravaganza

Join over 100 Bridal Professionals featuring the Finest for the

Bride & Groom

The honour of your presence is requested as we bring together the latest in bridal fashions & information from surrounding communities on this very special day.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2010 Waxahachie Civic Center Noon-5pm • Admission $3 per person Register to win a $500 valued gift certiďŹ cate from Waxahachie Civic Center Waxahachie Civic Center I www.waxahachieciviccenter.org I For more information call 972.938.3434

W

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue Many brides have heard of the tradition of wearing something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue in their wedding. But what is the custom all about? It’s an old Victorian tradition that is meant to bring good luck to the bride—if she carries all of the tokens, her marriage will be happy. The something old represents continuity with the bride’s past and her family. The new thing symbolizes optimism and hope for the new married life ahead. The borrowed thing is usually from a friend or family member with a happy marriage—her luck is supposed to rub off on the bride. This also represents the bride’s ability to depend on her friends and family. The color blue has been tied to weddings for many years and is said to represent love, modesty, fidelity and purity. If the bride wants to go even further with the tradition, she’s also supposed to carry a sixpence in her shoe, though, these days, a dime or penny are often substituted. Here are some of the old, new, borrowed and blue things our Facebook fans chose for their weddings.

Old

The embroidered handkerchief from my son’s wedding. - Leslie Hill

PHOTO BY AM

HY PHOTO BY AMY KARP PHOTOGRAP

Y KARP PHOT OGRAPHY

I carried in my bridal bouquet the handkerchief that my grandfather (who died before I was born) gave to my grandmother when they were “courting.” - Sherrie Jan Howard Davis

New

My wedding dress was my “something new.” - Ericka Stacks Allen My something new was my wedding dress and my bright pink heels! - Brooke Higginbotham Balance My dress and my jewelry. - Melissa Presnall Brown

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My something old was my grandfather’s high school class ring. I pinned it to my dress. - Ericka Stacks Allen My great grandmother’s nd embroidered handkerchief. - Elizabeth Elizabet Nelson Tull PHOTO BY MARIE

Q PHOTOGRAPH

Y

Borrowed

My grandmother’s diamond earrings that my grandpa gave her on their 50th wedding anniversary. - Elizabeth Crump Winn My great-grandmother’s lace handkerchief. - Elizabeth Nelson Tull A sixpence for my shoe. - Debra Babb Wolf My great-grandmother’s wedding rings. - Kirsten Hartley A handkerchief from my maid of honor’s dad—just for fun. - Sasha Herrin I borrowed my sister’s tiara that she wore in her wedding. - Melany Williams Esberger er A jeweled clip that my best friend of 23 years used in her wedding. - AmyLynn Dodd I borrowed my mom’s diamond tennis bracelet! - April Wilson Crabtree A handkerchief from my great grandmother and a broach from my mother in law. Both items were worked into my floral arrangement. -Traci Wages-Berry PHOTO BY A

MY KARP PH

OTOGRAPH Y

Blue

M great-grandmother’s sapphire bracelet. - Ashley My JJohnson W When we first started dating, a baby blue pom-pom fell off my ankle sock and my boyfriend found it and saved it.

On our wedding day, he gave it to me in a card and told me he had been carrying it in his pocket. - Kelly Kovar We eloped, so my borrowed navy suit was my blue. Ginny Costa Phillips A blue poker chip! - Karen Moore Allen A touch of blue ribbon in my garter. - Leslie Kuykendall My grandmother’s blue sapphire ring. - Kirsten Hartley

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WEDDING

BY KATE MCCLENDON

EMERGENCY KIT It’s mere minutes before you walk down the aisle and all the bridesmaids’ dresses are full of static.

There’s a stray thread hanging from your dress. And, heaven forbid, your gorgeous updo is starting to fall.

DON’T PANIC. Being the calm, cool, collected and well-prepared bride that you are, you made sure to create a wedding-day emergency kit for problems just like this.

In addition to static-cling spray, a mini sewing kit and bobby pins, your kit contains the items necessary to tackle any last-minute issues ranging from unexpected forehead shininess to slightly less-than-perfect breath.

Make sure nothing is left to chance and pack your crucial wedding-day emergency kit a few days before the wedding. Or, if you have a trustworthy maid of honor or bridesmaid, ask them to handle it for you. You’ll be able to relax and enjoy the big day knowing that everything is there for you just in case something goes wrong. But weddings always go off without a hitch, right?

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GET THE BRIDAL PORTRAITS OF YOUR DREAMS

BY CHARLOTTE & ASHLEY HENSLEY HENSLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

DECIDE ON A LOOK AND A PHOTOGRAPHER Traditional bridal portraits shot in a studio are as old fashioned as your mother’s dress. Today’s brides choose locations that represent their own personal vision and often reflect a look that will be echoed at the wedding.

The location can be a place that has sentimental meaning, your reception site, gardens, whether formal city gardens or backyards, architectural sites that include staircases or interesting details, and even city streets for a more urban look.

Trust your photographer’s suggestions if you don’t have an immediate concept or if he or she tells you something might not translate into the pictures you have in mind.

Most photographers include a bridal portrait session as one of their wedding coverage packages. Many will also be happy to hear your ideas and try to incorporate these into your session. Trust their suggestion for time of day for best results. Your bridal portraits will probably take between one and two hours.

PREPARE IN ADVANCE Your portraits should be taken a month to six weeks before your wedding. That means your dress with the alterations, your shoes and veil all need to be ready by then. In a crunch if your dress comes in late, most photographers can rush the process, but allowing more time reduces the stress.

Personal grooming should be done several days beforehand. You don’t want a fresh burn or any self-tanner rubbing off on your dress. Do however try to even out tan lines, especially if you are wearing a strapless gown. You should also schedule facials, brow waxing or hair coloring several days before pictures to avoid redness, irritation or an unfortunate “oops.”

Plan ahead with your hairdresser and use your photo session to test the look and hold of your wedding day hairstyle. Allow 30 minutes more than you think your hairstyling will take to be safe.

Buy the right undergarments. This is not the time to tuck in straps or sport hot pink undies that might show through in the bright light. Spanx can make you appear 10 pounds slimmer and smooth love handles or tummy pooch. Many

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wedding dresses can be fitted with built in bras, but adhesive bras can also help fill out a bodice or take the place of a strapless.

pending on the fabric using soda water, and a hairdryer set on low will help with wrinkles. But ultimately, no one will see the underside of your dress, so try not to be too worried.

THE NIGHT BEFORE Go ahead and shave your legs because a little leg with a wedding dress is sexy. A pair of flip-flops or comfy slip-ons will keep you from scuffing your wedding shoes while walking, but definitely have your wedding shoes to highlight in a couple of pictures.

Make a comprehensive list of everything you need to take with you, including your shoes, your accessories and your makeup. Don’t forget bobby pins, hairspray and tissue. Plan to bring at least one person to look after you, but not an entire entourage, and then appoint someone to do the check off in the morning. This will save you from getting to the session and then remembering that special bracelet you planned to wear. A small rolling case can help your assistant keep up with all of your gear.

THE DAY OF YOUR PORTRAITS Makeup should be slightly exaggerated but not overly so. Skip deep red lipstick and smoky eyes unless you are going for a really dramatic look.

Powder will set a nice finish and help your look last longer. Wear eyeliner, blush and a lightly tinted lipstick even if you usually don’t. A lip stain er it will last longer, but bring a gloss to put over cara to avoid a dried-out look. Waterproof mascara rom prevents smudging whether your tears are from eup emotion or the wind. To keep your makeup looking fresh all day, a product like Urban Deting cay’s All-Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray available from Ulta can be a good investestment. nge If there is not a dedicated location to change thes once you get to the portrait site, wear clothes that are easy to shimmy out of after you slip your dress on over them. Be sure whoever comes with you knows how to fasten your dress back. Bring a button hook if you have lots of tiny buttons.

Expect to get the underside of your dress a little dirty even with a drop cloth to stand on. Your photographer will probably provide this. Ask if your bridal shop includes a free cleaning after your portraits. You can spot clean yourself de-

POSING A good photographer will guide you through posing, but it never hurts to know a little beforehand. Almost everyone looks better from a little bit of an angle, so stand with your left shoulder (to show the ring) toward the photographer.

Straighten your neck and slightly drop your front shoulder. Soften your hands so that your fingers are together without being stiff. No Barbie hands. Point your toes if your feet are showing.

If you don’t remember anything else, sucking in your tummy and popping out your chest will make you feel and look great. Don’t forget to show your ring and smile your true smile. Most importantly, relax, breathe and enjoy being a model for a day.

Charlotte and Ashley Hensley are a mother/ daughter photography team who specialize in wedding and portrait photography in the southwest Dallas and Ellis County areas. Visit their website at www.charlottehensleyphotography. com or send an e-mail to charlottehensley@ hotmail.com.

AMY TRULL PHOTOGRAPHY

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W

What Went Wrong at Your Wedding?

Bits and Pieces FROM OUR READERS How Did He Propose?

“Travis took out a full-page ad in the newspaper. I didn’t even notice my name that was five inches tall across the page because I was so interested in the wedding announcements on the other side of the page. It was awesome. That was almost eight years ago and two kids later.” - Stacy Johnson “We went to a company Christmas party at La Cantera in San Antonio and he had the room set up when we got there. I opened the door to balloons everywhere (floor, ceiling) and an empty open ring box on the bed with a note that said, ‘Our happily ever after is in one of these balloons.’ I had to pop balloons until I found my ring and there were plastic “decoys” in all of the balloons. Everyone was waiting down in the bar of the hotel to congratulate us.” - Sasha Herrin “We were hanging Christmas lights at my parents’ house and he asked, ‘Are you doing anything later on?’ And I said that I did not know, and he said, ‘Well do you want to go and get married?’”

- Traci Wages-Berry

OU

“Our photographer was 45 minutes late! My mom was trying to keep it from me so that I wouldn’t freak out, but the phone rang at the church and I picked it up. Well, it was the photographer calling to tell the “bride” that he was running late! The wedding started at 7:45 instead of 7, but 13 years later we are happy as can be!” - Jena Young Caddell

“Our wedding coordinator forgot to send the ring bearer and flower girl down the aisle. Then, our preacher forgot to let us say our vows and light the unity candle. And in the middle of us kissing, he fell off the stage for all to see and our photographer caught the shot! Nearly two years later we can laugh but at the time it was disappointing.” - Gina Matthews

“It wasn’t my wedding but I was maid of honor at my friend’s wedding and managed to foul things up. First, I dropped the groom’s ring, it rolled down the steps and landed at the groom’s father’s feet. While the bride was walking up the aisle, I got the father’s attention, he picked up the ring then proceeded to hand it to the last groomsman who handed up the line to the best man. When the time came for me to hand the ring to the preacher, I pretended to do it but whispered that the best man had it. He said, ‘Oh I’m so sorry!’”

Second, after the bride and groom turned to face the congregation and the preacher pronounced them man and wife, I fluffed her train like a good little maid of honor does and stepped out of the way. I noticed things felt a little warm and I looked over my shoulder to see that I was standing too close to the candelabra. I snuffed the flame out with my sleeve. Thankfully it didn’t catch my hair on fire with all the hairspray in it!” - Caryn Spaniel

R TOP 5 HONEYM OON PIC KS MAU BORA I, BO SANTO RA, R SEYCH INI ELLE & TAHI S TI

“My grandmother got lost trying to find the convention center. My dad held up the wedding for at least 30 minutes while he was on the phone trying to tell her how to get there! It’s funny now, but I was sooo nervous and just ready to get it started! - Jennifer Day Tywater

Popular Color Trends:

This year’s color trends continue to be a mix of greens and creams. Accents can be other shades of greens, chocolate or black. The other popular color combination has been orange or corals with pops of bright accents such as hot pinks, purples and limes. Each color scheme can incorporate traditional, natural or contemporary concepts.

-Teresa Choaté

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Leigh Herrin and Ted Wilson Leigh Herrin and Ted Wilson were engaged on January 25, 2009, and beginning their last semester at Southwestern University. They were making plans for their graduations and planning a wedding for December 19, 2009. Leigh had applied for physician assistant programs at various graduate schools. By May an acceptance had not yet come.

Leigh started reapplying to PA schools. Wedding planning was progressing; save the dates were sent out. Five days later she received the call that would affect everything. The University of TexasPan American offered her a seat in the new class that would begin in August. The excitement, confusion and stress set in. If she accepted their offer, it would be an extremely challenging first semester while planning a wedding nine hours away from home. Her final exams would be Friday, December 18, the day before the wedding. With all this weighing on her, the university had given her two hours to make her decision.

With overwhelming support from Ted and her parents, she accepted the offer. She immediately called me and we discussed changing the date to New Year’s Eve. With the cooperation of First United Methodist Church—Midlothian, the Midlothian Conference Center, Marie Q, Villa Flora, The Dove’s Nest, My Invitation Lady, Professional DJ and Cretia’s, we were all able to make Leigh and Ted’s event happen.

After the fact, Leigh thinks moving the wedding date to New Year’s Eve ending up being the

best decision they made. Leigh stated that although it was stressful, she wouldn’t change a thing. She and Ted are happy with the decision for her to begin graduate school, and were both delighted with every detail of the wedding. But, most importantly to her, they had fun, their guests had fun and their marriage is very happy.

Vendor List: WEDDING PLANNER: Teresa Choate’ CEREMONY VENUE: First United Methodist Church—Midlothian RECEPTION VENUE: Midlothian Conference Center FLORIST: Villa Flora CATERER: The Dove’s Nest PHOTOGRAPHER: Marie Q Photography MUSIC: Hector Solis Professional DJ BAKERY: Cretia’s

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Cedar Hill Recreation Center It’s More Than Just Fitness... Plan Your Next Meeting, Wedding, or Special Event with Us! Most everyone knows you can get a great workout at our award-winning, state-of-the-art recreation center.

But did you know we have four expandable meeting rooms with a lakeside view? Or that we have a patio overlooking a cascading fountain? Our facilities also include a full commercial kitchen, 50” plasma TVs, and audio visual equipment available for your special event, wedding, or conference. Give us a call at 972293-5288 and ask to tour our premier facilities.

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Katie Hensley and Jake Mensch

Vendor List: WEDDING PLANNER: Teresa Choaté CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUE: Loma Linda Events FLORIST: Villa Flora CATERER: Appeteasers MUSIC: Gus Garza Your DJ BAKERY: Peggy Collier PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Richardson, Star Images

Katie Hensley has suffered from extremely painful headaches since eighth grade. She had tried a series of medications and procedures, from medicinal Botox to neurostimulator. They eventually found out her C1 vertebrae was fused to her skull. If she wasn’t extremely careful, she could break her neck.

After high school Katie began a career as a hair stylist. She was recently engaged to Jake Mensch, whom she says, “was willing to take along all of my medical baggage.” The migraines continued on a daily basis and were much more severe and she was running out of options.

The wedding planning was in progress—vendors selected, event design determined and budget set. Katie then found out she was a candidate for nerve decompression surgery in Houston. The surgery was successful and Katie returned to work and planning continued. However, the continuous overhead motion with her arms affected her. She would have to quit her career path and sole source of income.

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Planning then became stressful for her and we had to restructure her budget. She had planned on using her parent’s contributions for décor and décor was Katie’s priority.

We redesigned the wedding décor to fit within the new budget.

Katie stated, “You can make it simply beautiful; my wedding planner, parents and husband helped me realize this and make mine and Jake’s wedding absolutely gorgeous.” She was very thankful for her parents and Jake being there every step of the way.

It has been a long 10 years of suffering with migraines for Katie. Katie told me she had never expected people to notice the struggles she endured or the pain she was in, or for her story to be written to share with others, because there are so many people with worse struggles than her own. The headaches are now slowly going away. To quote Katie, “true beauty comes from within and the simplest of things can be the most beautiful. People really do watch how you react to challenges that happen to us.”

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Megan Plunkett and Kyle Dillow

Megan Plunkett’s challenges have been all about the finding the date, making the date and being able to keep the date.

We knew the date setting would be challenging with Corporal Dillow’s commitments with the United States Marines. During Kyle’s six years in active duty, he has only been able to spend two holidays with Megan. So the challenge began. Megan began looking for local venues and the only date available at the Midlothian Conference Center for both ceremony and reception was June 5. We began planning.

Her brother’s graduation and sister’s due date ended up being on the same day. She was flexible and decided to push the date back to July. Kyle was scheduled for Marine Corp. training in July, but could not get the exact dates.

Again, Megan was very accommodating and flexible. She decided to push the wedding date back even further to January 2011. However for this date, there would not be a honeymoon because Megan would be

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attending Texas Women’s Dental Hygienist School.

Training dates ended up being scheduled for June, so July or August once again became an option. Megan and Kyle decided to go a different route with a beach wedding in August in Alabama, and an October reception at the MCC. All was set—beach homes booked, the ceremony planned, the décor planned and a gorgeous beach dress ordered. We were all ready for the day to arrive. Then the oil spill happened. No one could predict how much damage would happen to the beach. With one week’s discussion and debate, they decided to make yet another change.

Megan began calling venues again.

The only summer date left for the MCC was August 7 and the Central Presbyterian Church in Waxahachie was available. So, within eight weeks, we redesigned and re-planned everything, including the dress. Now that Megan was having a church ceremony, the beach dress would not be appropriate. Megan ordered a new

gown and had it rushed. She also had to find a place to live in Denton while Kyle was gone for two weeks.

Megan and Kyle credit their families and listening to each other to get them through. Megan says the hardest part had to be making decisions so quickly over such a short period of time.

I am so blessed to be a part of these events and give a special thanks to Mrs. Ted Wilson, Mrs. Jake Mensch and Mrs. Kyle Dillow for sharing their experiences with all of us. To read the full stories of each wedding, visit www. teresastopics.blogspot.com.

-Teresa Choaté

VENDOR LIST WEDDING PLANNER: Teresa Choate CEREMONY VENUE: Central Presbyterian Church CEREMONY MUSIC: Randy Avery FLORIST: Villa Flora SWORD DETAIL: Marine Corp.

RECEPTION VENUE: Midlothian Conference Center BAKERY AND CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN: Victorian Rose PHOTOGRAPHER: Andrea Calvery, A/O Photography MUSIC: Black Tie Premier EventS

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Wedding Videography People have always made photography a top priority when it comes to wedding planning, and rightfully so. After all, these are memories that should be preserved for a lifetime. But with that in mind, brides and grooms-to-be now see videography as a great way to capture the full extent of those memories. Simply put, it lets newlyweds share their experience in ways that could not be done otherwise.

To better illustrate the point, consider this: married couples have daily reminders of the wedding from pictures displayed in their homes, but only those people who pair photography with videography have the chance to relive key moments of their special day—to actually hear “I do,” to feel the emotions of the ceremony and to watch the entire first dance with crystalclear picture and sound.

And just as people rarely trust amateurs to photograph weddings, they also wisely enlist the services of professional videographers. Any vendors who are seriously considered need to rate highly in terms of experience, flexibility and service.

The ultimate goal, after all, is to get the best possible product for the individual and to have it done in a way that enhances the whole wedding process. The best advice, then, is to gauge a videographer’s expertise and creativity by asking as many relevant questions of them as possible.

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There are many variables that factor into the off a wedh production d d ding video, and first-time customers may not be aware of all the available options as they enter into discussions. Be sure to inquire about any differences that exist between wedding packages, including what kind of audio and video equipment is used and how many copies of the product will be supplied.

An especially notable component of any video package is the amount of time a videographer plans to spend filming on location. Any arrangement agreed upon should state the number of hours that a videographer will spend at the site, including any pre-ceremony footage of the bride and groom. Those moments can be particularly intimate and emotional, so remember to take that into account.

The bottom line is that a good videographer will work with clients to make them feel comfortable, explain the process fully and do

BY RICK & CHARLOTTE ORR

whatever is necessary to produce h d the wedding video they’ve always imagined. There is added incentive for these professionals to achieve success, because unlike the work of others, theirs will surely be evaluated for years to come by people with the highest degree of interest.

Brides often attest that their wedding days are surprisingly hectic and fast-paced—so much so that many crucial memories would usually escape them, if not for videos to reanimate the action. That’s what it’s really all about. Because while photographs are precious and convenient keepsakes, life’s special moments shouldn’t always stand still.

Rick and Charlotte Orr are the owners of VS Production Services.

The Video Station has been providing production services for Ellis County residents as well as clients both in and out of Texas for more than 20 years. Contact them at 972.937.7150.

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L+S LIFE + STYLE We’re continuing the wedding theme into this section. We’ll tell you just how to create a signature cocktail for your wedding and the best books to read to help you plan. You’ll also learn about the benefits of premarital counseling and what you need to organize your dream wedding.

In addition to some of the wedding information, you’ll learn about one of the local non-profit organizations dedicated to helping parents network and raise a healthy family. To find out which bands we’re most excited to hear at the Austin City Limits festival in October, check out our blog at www.living-magazine.com.

In This Section: Signature Sips 38

Organizing Your Fairytale Wedding 42

by Kate McClendon

by Melinda Hines

Books for Wedding-Planning Bliss 37

Get Out of the Bubble 44

by Kate McClendon

by Kate McClendon

Consider Counseling 40

by Darlene Hardy

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L+S

SIGNATURE SIPS

BY KATE MCCLENDON

• Consider printing the recipe on custom coasters.

If you want to serve more than simply wine and beer at your wedding, consider adding in a “signature” cocktail. This will be one additional drink that supports your theme and colors, and won’t break the bank by making you have a full bar.

If there’s a cocktail you and your sweetie always order, try serving that as your signature drink with a clever name or garnish to tie into your wedding theme, colors, location, honeymoon destination, meeting spot or your name.

You can also spend some time creating your own recipe or find a recipe you like and tweak it to make it your own.

If you’re creating your own, simple flavor combinations work best. Don’t go adding each liquor and syrup you can get your hands on. Instead choose one to two liquors with one to two additional flavors, like fruit juice, add a garnish and call it quits.

To get started, choose a color that complements your wedding colors. For a blue drink, maybe choose Curacao. For green, try Midori. Next, pick a liquor base, like gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, brandy or vodka. Then pick a cocktail type— frozen, shaken, stirred, etc. Once those fundamentals are in place, build upon the cocktail with some additional flavors, garnish and name your drink.

Keep in mind how quickly and easily the cocktail can be made. You don’t want to pick something that causes the person manning the bar to spend five minutes preparing. If possible, create a drink that can be prepared in large batches, then simply ladled into a glass and garnished.

Make sure to have options for your non-alcohol drinkers.

Have tea, water and possibly lemonade or cider, depending on the time of year, available. If you love your signature cocktail so much, and you think others will too, try creating the cocktail without the alcohol for a “mocktail.” This may require quite a bit of experimentation to get the right flavors but it will be worth it.

WHAT’S IN A NAME Here are a few name ideas for your signature cocktail: • • • • • • • •

Marital Bliss Happily Ever After The Aisle Love in the Fall/Spring/ Winter/Summer Matrimonial Margarita/ Martini The Knot Pucker Up Love Potion

Try to keep your drink simple so as to appeal to a large crowd, but know that not everyone will like or want to drink your signature cocktail.

Some people just aren’t cocktail people and that’s why the beer, wine and Champagne are there. Make something that’s special to you and your fiancé. It is your day after all.

DO A LITTLE EXTRA • Have the name and ingredients listed on a sign or menu at the bar area.

• Get creative with stir sticks—print personalized flags to attach to the ends.

APPLE PIE 2 apple slices 1/2 oz. agave nectar 1 pinch Apple Pie Spice (store-bought in the spice section) 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 oz. apple vodka Thinly sliced red apple, for garnish 1.

2.

3.

4.

Muddle apple slices in agave, spice, and lemon juice.

Add ice and vodka and shake well.

Strain over ice in an old-fashioned glass.

Garnish with thinly sliced red apple.

Recipe courtesy of theknot.com.

CRANBERRY KISS 3/4 oz. rum 2 oz. Collins mix 2 oz. cranberry juice 1 wedge lemon 1. Add rum, Collins mix and cranberry juice to ice-filled highball glass and stir.

2. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Recipe courtesy of delish.com.

LAUREN’S LEMONADE 1 can frozen pink lemonade Club soda Lemons, cut like pinwheels Limes, cut like pinwheels Vodka (to taste) Fresh mint, for garnish 1. Make pink lemonade according to package instructions, except substitute club soda for water.

2. Fill glasses with ice.

3. Place one lemon and one lime pinwheel in each glass.

4. Add one shot of vodka to each glass.

5. Fill with pink lemonade.

6. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Recipe courtesy of theknot.com.

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L+S

Books for

Offbeat Bride:

Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides

By Ariel Meadow Stallings Seal Press Ariel Meadow Stallings, creator of the popular blog by the same name, didn’t want the typical cookie-cutter wedding, so she set out to do things a little differently. In this book, the second edition, she recounts her own wedding and includes advice and ideas from other offbeat brides. She’ll show you the unconventional way to deal with all aspects of the wedding—from getting engaged, creating a budget and dealing with the wedding party to deciding what to wear, planning the entertainment and how to answer the age-old question, “how’s married life?” She also talks you through how to deal with family members who don’t understand why you’re going a non-traditional route. If your wedding will be on the more offbeat side, this book is for you. Even if just a small part of your wedding is a little outside of the typical wedding box, you’re sure to find help and ideas in this book.

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Wedding-Planning Bliss

BY KATE MCCLENDON, staff book-a-holic

The DIY Bride

Crafty Countdown

By Khris Cochran The Taunton Press If you’re a bride trying to save money by doing a few things yourself, you must get this book.

You’ll learn how to create wedding projects from save-thedates to invitations, flower baskets to ring pillows and bridal hairpins to boutonnieres. There are also so many ideas for favors, you’ll have trouble trying to choose (my favorite is the cupcake in a jar). Each project tells you when to start working on it in relation to your wedding date (six weeks before, four months before), who you should include in the project (bridesmaids, husband-to-be, family members) or whether you should do it alone, and what it costs to DIY as opposed to purchasing. Cochran also gives you a list of what items you’ll need to complete the project in addition to a detailed explanation of what each tool is and how to use it. Even if you’re a beginner DIY-er, this book will have you completing seemingly elaborate projects in no time!

The Ultimate Wedding Planner & Organizer, 2nd Edition

By Elizabeth Lluch WS Publishing Though many books boast that they cover it all, this book really delivers.

The book is actually a three-ring binder so you can add or take away pages based on your needs. It also includes a tote bag, zippered pockets, a threehole punch and dividers with pockets for extra storage. The paper is your standard white, copier-style paper so you can write notes and fill in charts without worrying about smudges, smears and messiness. In it you’ll find a detailed checklist based on time before the wedding (like Teresa Choaté’s in the last issue, which you can find online at www.living-magazine.com); ceremony site, bakery, photographer and caterer comparison charts; popular flower descriptions and a detailed budget checklist and chart so you can figure out a pretty good budget estimate. There’s even an opening page for writing special memories, like the proposal and family members’ reactions. If you have a general idea of what you want your wedding to be, this book will figure out the rest and won’t leave your hands until you say “I do.”

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L+S

Consider Counseling

BY DARLENE HARDY

The venue has been secured. You’ve signed the contract with the caterer, the florist and the photographer. The honeymoon destination is reserved and the dress of your dreams has been hung expectantly in your closet. Check. Check. Check.

Over and over each detail is scrutinized, all in the pursuit of the perfect ceremony.

But wait. The title of the book by Florence Littauer so wisely states, “After Every Wedding Comes a Marriage.” Jason Boyett with Focus on the Family has said, “There is a reason romantic movies end, rather than begin with a wedding. That’s because that’s where the hard stuff begins.”

Even so, in the greatly evolved American culture of 2010, people ages 25-34 still see marriage as the model living arrangement. With the current failure rate of 40 percent for first marriages and 60 percent for second marriages, take a leap in your imagination and visualize how those statistics might change, if every couple planning their wedding were to exert equal time, effort and resources in preparing for their lives together after the ceremony.

Premarital counseling, provided by a licensed professional, is perhaps the best gift you can give one another. Shopping for the right therapist is as important and sometimes as difficult as finding that perfect dress. The following information will perhaps assist you in navigating the malaise.

Competent counselors have particular theories they subscribe to. To the layperson, it might appear there are as many theories as there are stars in the sky. You can find out a lot about a therapist by perusing his or her website, calling for information and speaking with other couples you know who have navigated premarital counseling successfully. When you make your initial

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call, it is helpful to have a list of questions prepared. Ask the therapist about his or her experience in premarital counseling.

Ask what theories he or she subscribes to and what your treatment plan might look like (although later it will be modified to meet your particular goals). Notice if he or she talks down to you or explains his or her techniques or theories in easy-tounderstand language. Inquire about the types of assessments used, the cost of the sessions and if the assessments will require additional payment.

conflict in each family of origin was modeled in similarly healthy ways. Dr. Goleman, author of the 1995 best seller, “Emotional Intelligence,” ranks emotional health as an 80-percent indicator of success in life, including success and happiness in relationships. If you are an emotionally mature couple, four to eight sessions of pastoral counseling utilizing the pastor’s relationship expertise and/or implementation of a program such as Prepare and Enrich may be all you need to jump-start your future together.

The way you handle communication and conflict will be a great predictor of the success of your marriage. In a marriage relationship where conflict is present, one will often pursue and one will withdraw.

This one communication trait in itself can cause unprecedented pain in a marriage.

The good news is that new, healthier ways of processing conflict can be taught during the premarital counseling sessions.

Dr. Harville Hendrix, co-founder of Imago Therapy, believes that we are attracted to those with whom we believe on a subconscious level we will be able to work out our unresolved childhood issues. According to his theory, romance is the great anesthesia.

Once the romantic “high” begins to wear off, the deep, underlying issues begin to surface. This can be a good thing because as you both become what your spouse needs, you grow into a better and more complete person. What a beautiful picture.

John Gottman, who has spent three decades researching the marital relationship, is considered by most to be the foremost authority on marriage. He states that a happy marriage is based on deep friendship, mutual respect and an intimate knowledge of each other’s quirks, likes and dislikes. Perhaps surprisingly, Dr. Gottman does not see frequent fighting as a sign of a bad marriage. Conflict is normal as long as there is no abuse and both the husband and the wife “fight fair.” Having a strong friendship and engaging in activities that keep the anger down during arguments keep conflict from spiraling out of control.

These skills can all be learned and honed during counseling.

Occasionally a couple will show up in the counseling office and both come from strong, emotionally healthy families where

Sound confusing? It doesn’t have to be.

Do your homework. Look around and ask around. You may even try a couple of counselors and one or both of you will feel that the therapist is just not a “good fit.” Don’t give up. Just keep looking. The wedding will be wonderful but the marriage can be even better. And for family and friends who are looking for just the right wedding gift to present to the happy couple, have you thought of premarital counseling?

Darlene Hardy is a certified anger resolution therapist, trauma and loss consultant supervisor, personality trainer, Theophostic counselor and EMDR I located at Midlothian Bible Church. To contact Darlene, call 214.577.9828.

All

! d r a Abo

CHAUTAUQUA 2010

1:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 25, 2010 Opening Ceremonies “John & Sally Strickland,” Getzendaner Park & Historic Waxahachie M.C. portrayed by Ryan & Charity Mullican 1:30 p.m.

ASSEMBLY DAY ACTIVITIES Robin Cole-Jett, Director of Education 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Museum of the American Railroad Tours: Strickland Home, Train Depot 2:00 p.m.

1:00-5:00 p.m.

Robert L. Haynes, Curator Children’s Activities in Getzendaner Park Plano Interurban Museum Bounce Houses & Trackless Train Rides 2:30 p.m.

Built For Fun www.builtforfun.com Johnnie J. Myers, Author 1:00-3:00 p.m.

“Texas Electric Railway” Plein Air Painters 3:00 p.m.

Original Art Show & Sale Rail in Waxahachie: Today & Tomorrow 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Clyde Melick, Waxahachie City Planner Rail History Memorabilia 4:00 p.m.

Garden Trains Melodrama: Dirty Work at the Crossroads Scale Model Train Exhibit Waxahachie Community Theatre 5:00-7:00 p.m.

7:00-9:00 p.m.

Dinner in the Diner The Levee Singers

ALL-DAY TICKET: ADULT - $15 IN ADVANCE, $20 AT DOOR • STUDENT (UNDER 18) - $2 • CHILD AFTERNOON ACTIVITY PASS $5* *WITH PURCHASE OF ADULT & STUDENT ADMISSION

Advance tickets at Glenn’s Warehouse Carpets, 972-937-8848, 301 N. College Street in Waxahachie BUY TICKETS ONLINE AT WWW.DISCOVERCULTURE.ORG

209 S. Hwy 77 • Waxahachie

972.937.8860 WWW.ARKCOUNTRYSTORE.COM SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM

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ORGANIZING YOUR

g n i d d e W e l a t y r i a F

1

BY MELINDA HINES

What girl doesn’t love a wedding?

But one of the quickest ways to turn that dream into a nightmare is not planning well. Make that fairytale day come true by following the tips below.

Planning a wedding can sometimes feel like a second job and getting and staying organized will determine if it’s a job you love! The first thing is to buy an organizer. Make it pretty—after all, you will be looking at it for months to come, but be sure it’s useful and able to contain all those documents, papers, brochures, magazine articles and pictures as well as samples of fabric or color swatches. A threering binder is perfect, with at least 20 dividers and Ziplock sections for all those small pieces. Pick a wedding color and slip a picture of you and the groom into the front pocket to make it extra special.

Once you have your organizer it’s time to organize it. Be sure to include contracts and keep receipts in Ziplock baggies attached to rings. By preference, you will need sections including but not limited to: • Premarital counseling • Journal • Important contacts • Calendar and checklist

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • •

Budget Registries Inspiration clips and pictures Rings and license The dress and the groom’s and attendant’s attire Announcements and invitations Bridal luncheon/showers/parties Guest and gift list with places to check off for thank you notes sent Gift ideas for attendants, officiant, accompanists and so on Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner Ceremony/vows Flowers/decorations Photos, video and music Reception and catering Transportation and lodging for you and guests before wedding Honeymoon The future: budget for real life, residency information and so on

You also may want to get notebooks for your maid of honor and/or bridesmaids and the best man. Put information such as dates, times, locations and duties. This will keep everyone organized as well, and minimize the chance of someone missing a fitting date or rehearsal time.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Planning a wedding can be one of the

most overwhelming tasks you will ever encounter. Wedding coordinators can be expensive but many couples feel they are worth the cost as they can be invaluable in putting together your ideal day, and can often save you money. Don’t forget to ask your friends how they did it and, more importantly, the mistakes they made and what they learned from them. Also, free online or printable checklists are especially helpful. The most important of these forms is the overall wedding checklist, which will help you stay on top of all of your important to-dos.

Finally, enjoy everything about this engagement period, from telling your loved ones to celebrating with all the parties. Most importantly, don’t get so wrapped up in the planning that you neglect your partner. Make sure you journal all your emotions and talk about them with each other. Give each other lots of extra attention when you don’t actually talk about the wedding but concentrate instead on your future marriage. We spend so much time planning the wedding and sometimes we need to spend a little more time planning the marriage— look back at my “99 Questions to Ask Before You Say I Do” article series at www.living-magazine.com.

Melinda Hines is a wife, mom, author, speaker, teacher and proud Waxahachie resident. Her book, “Operation Mom: Winning the Mommy Wars,” is available on her website, www.melindahines.net, and at Hastings and Amazon.com. To get Melinda’s daily devotional, send her an e-mail at melindaahines@yahoo.com.

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Instead, you solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. Each column, each row and each of the nine 3x3 boxes should contain the digits from 1 to 9, only one time each (that is, exclusively).

Find the answers at www.living-magazine.com and click on the Sudoku link.

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Get Out of the Bubble Are you tired of only speaking in baby talk? Or feeling like you’re the only one dealing with temper tantrums and potty training? Well, you’re not alone.

Ellis County Early Childhood PTA is a community-wide non-profit organization that has been serving Ellis County and local parents for more than 15 years. Their mission statement says they are “dedicated to improving the lives of young children and parents through education, community service and social interaction.”

Dawn Divinia, vice president and fundraising coordinator put it this way: “Some of our goals for the program are just to create well-rounded kids and do the best job that we can possibly do, because there’s nothing easy about being a parent,” she said. “We want to do the best we can with our kids and try to make them good human beings when they’re older.”

Members of ECECPTA enjoy monthly meetings, weekly playgroups, monthly Mom’s Nights Out, monthly newsletters and support for families. In addition to the benefits for parents, during each meeting children get to enjoy activities, like crafts and recreation, and meet other local kids.

The program follows the school year, so meetings are held once a month from September through May. Meetings are beneficial to the parents because they get to network, meet other parents and listen to informative speakers discuss things from healthy family relationships to child safety during the holidays.

“I cannot stress enough the importance of the socialization. You’re in such a bubble when you are home with your kids and I just appreciate having adults

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to talk to, especially people that are in your same situation,” Kim Garlitz, membership chair, said about the meetings and members. “They understand the frustrations with potty training and fit throwing and uncooperativeness. I hardly ever come away from a meeting where I don’t learn something I can take back and incorporate into how I raise my child.”

Dawn agreed. “Especially for the stayat-home moms it’s very hard to meet people and find stuff to do with people who have your same kind of interests, which are little bitty children running around wreaking havoc.”

Both women said the program has helped them meet other parents and create lifelong friendships.

“As you get older and you get in a routine with family and this and that, your blinders go on and it’s hard to meet people,” Dawn said. But not with ECECPTA. The meetings, outings, fundraisers and community outreach have created bonds between all its members.

Helping the community is also a big part of what ECECPTA is all about. Each month the members choose a charity to help out at their meeting and bring something that the group they picked for that month is in need of. They also do a toy drive and sing at nursing homes during Christmas. All of this teaches the participating children the importance of community outreach.

BY KATE MCCLENDON

“I think it’s important for your kids to see you volunteer and do things for the community,” Kim said. Being involved in community service has already taught Dawn’s children how to give back. “[My son] has started telling me what toys I can take to give to other kids that don’t have toys.”

ECECPTA is for anyone who cares for children, whether they’re the mother, father or grandparent, and children

ECECPTA parents and children participating in a recent July 4th parade. age five or under. If you’re interested in joining, the first meeting of the 20102011 school year will be held on Sept.

8 at First United Methodist Church in Waxahachie at 10 a.m. Make sure to get there early to fill out membership forms.

“Looking back, I can’t imagine raising a child here without building up all the relationships and the networking and the socialization for [my daughter], which is really why I joined. But I didn’t realize a side benefit is getting to meet great friends,” Kim said. “I think others would benefit from having such a great resource at their disposal.”

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“For All Your Weather Protection Needs” COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL PATIO COVERS - AWNINGS RETRACTABLE AWNINGS ELECTRIC AND MANUAL SHADE SCREENS ADDS CHARACTER & PRIVACY CUSTOM DESIGN 4551 Old Hwy 67 • Midlothian

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FOR LOT SALES CALL BOBBY GLASS 972.935.2738 46

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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010

HG &

HOME & GARDEN As the weather starts to cool down (ďŹ nally!) and fall begins, take the time to enjoy your backyard a few more times before the cold weather begins.

In this issue, Diane Johnson Collard recounts a design challenge that had her going back in time to the 1940s. Melinda Kocian will show you exactly what plants you need for the fall weather, and Michele Hampton will show you how she made over a sad-looking chair and how you can do it, too.

In This Section: Creating a Car Lover’s Haven 48

September and October Plants 50

by Diane Johnson

by Melinda Kocian

Dumpster Diving 49

Eat, Pray, Love 51

by Michele Hampton

by Deborah Tilson

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010

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H&G

BEFORE

CREATING A CAR LOVER’S HAVEN In the 30 years that I have worked in the design and construction business, I thought I had done just about everything. But, just when you think you have done it all, you get the opportunity to do something totally different. That is what I love about this business.

I have actually redesigned several exterior buildings in my career. I can’t say that they were the most exciting jobs, but some were actually pretty interesting and certainly served their purpose well.

I have converted a carport into a pool cabana, built and designed a greenhouse and storage buildings and transformed an attached lean-to into a useable room, but I have never converted a shed into a fantasy, until now.

When my clients, Lora Jane and Arlyn Campbell told me that they needed to reface their old green shed, I agreed completely. Their lovely home sits on a small acreage that looks like a park, but the view from the back windows was lacking that perfectly landscaped charm. The first thing you would see was an ugly green shed and another larger unattractive out building. The previous homeowner obviously did a poor job of planning the building placement, but it was what it was.

The Campbells collect and restore vintage cars. After completing the remodeling of the home, I was hired to help with the design and conversion of the larger building into a handsome garage for their car collection. Once that building was on its way to a total face lift, things were looking much better, but the

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green shed stood out like a neon light.

One day, as we were walking around the grounds inspecting all of the other projects, we started discussing the green shed. Jokingly, I said, “Maybe you need a gas station for your cars. Let’s turn this building into a 1930s filling station.” Little did I know that was just down Arlyn Campbell’s alley. He had already ordered an old gas pump, so Lora Jane got on eBay and started looking for signs. I started researching options for redesigning the front of the building.

In searching for elevation ideas, I had to keep in mind the slanted shed roof that existed on the original green building. The front of the building was perfectly flat, so adding a port with columns and redesigning the entrance area was an easy fix. Getting the roof line to look natural was a little more complicated, but it all came together like a charm.

I knew that I would need to add windows and a service door to the station front, so I started looking in antique stores for just the right sizes and shapes. After searching for a while I remembered that I had some old doors and windows in my original barn. There, in my own backyard, I found vintage wood windows and a wood entrance door that fit the bill perfectly.

McKeever Construction was great on this project. Allen McKeever got the vision and was capable of understanding exactly what I wanted the finished project to be. He started tearing out the original doorways and framing in the new ones.

Carriage doors were added, not only for easy

access, but to make the filling station look like it had a working repair garage. Every detail had to be perfect.

Every day was more fun than the last. It was like building a doll house. Each addition, one by one, transformed that old green shed into a perfect replica of a 1930s Mobil filling station.

The big day finally came. The signs were up. The lights were installed. Now the Mobil gas pump had arrived. The final piece to the puzzle was added and the station was complete.

What a delight it is to look out the back windows or see the lovely view from the back porch. A perfect, adorable filling station facade that hides an ordinary old storage shed. Or does it? Well, most of it is storage…

Now, Arlyn has decided that he wants a little office in the station. Just a small 12 x 12 space to use as a cigar smoker’s hideaway. Hmmmm. We will see where this leads. You never know what new project is on the horizon, but next time I will tell you about the vintage car garage. You will love it.

DIANE JOHNSON COLLARD has been decorating Ellis County for more than 20 years.

Contact Diane Johnson Interiors at 972.935.8899 or djohnsoninteriors@hotmail.com.

Dumpster DIVING

SUPPLIES

BY MICHELE HAMPTON

We all remember our first home. Most of us were on a tight budget and working with discarded things from our parents.

My father-in-law, being semi-retired loves to find treasures in the rough on his morning walks.

This chair was sitting in someone’s yard with a sign saying, “Free, take me.” With a little labor and very little cash, it can be quite a find. We spent less than $150 on refurbishing this charming chair.

1. Remove old fabric, nails and tacks 2. Clean and lightly sand the wood frame 3. Paint the chair frame 4. Recover and add trim 5. Enjoy!

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

For more tips on decorating or staging your home, come see us at Check It Out!

BEFORE

1 CAN OF SPRAY PAINT SANDPAPER 1 1/2 YARDS OF FABRIC 3 YARDS OF TRIM

AFTER

Michele Hampton is a creative designer at Check It Out, located at 212 S. Rogers in Waxahachie. To contact Michele, call 972.938.2403.

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SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

BY MELINDA KOCIAN of Ellis County Master Gardeners

PHOTO BY PAM DANIEL

Passion flower (Passiflora incarnate) They begin blooming in July and continue until frost. The vines can easily grow up to 15 feet in a season so you can grow it on a fence or trellis. The Gulf Fritillary butterfly and its larvae are especially attracted to the passion flower and feed upon the plant. Butterflies are often present in large numbers and if you watch closely you may witness the life cycle of the butterfly!

TIPS FOR SEPTEMBER Diversity in the landscape can actually promote healthy plants and less disease by encouraging beneficial organisms. Most pests target a certain species or family of plants, and when there isn’t enough food to support a population, the pest does not survive.

PLANTING AND SOWING • Time to dig, divide and replant spring-blooming perennials such as iris, daylilies, coneflowers, gaillardia, violets, liriope and ajuga. Amend the planting bed with compost and replant. Give away any divided plants not needed.

• Plant trees, shrubs and perennials from containers. Fall planting will allow them to establish roots before hot and dry weather arrives next year.

FERTILIZING AND PRUNING • Root-prune trees and shrubs to be transplanted this winter.

• Fertilize lawns with a high-nitrogen food and apply a preemergent to prevent germination of winter and spring weeds.

THIS AND THAT • Prepare beds for spring flowering bulbs to be planted in October and November. Raise the planting area for good drainage.

Fall Garden Squash, zucchini, peas, tomatoes, greens, beets, spinach, lettuces, broccoli, cabbage and peppers are growing in the garden below. Whether carrying over spring tomato plants into fall or by planting typical fall crops for the Ellis County area, nothing could be more gratifying than the bounty of homegrown vegetables. They can be canned for use throughout the winter months in recipes such as stews, soups and casseroles. The color, flavor and nutritional value of homegrown vegetables are incomparable. Using EarthKind© techniques, such as drip irrigation and good soil preparation will help create a sustainable garden.

PLANTING AND SOWING • Plant cool-season annuals: pansies, violas, dianthus, snapdragons, ornamental kale, cabbage, poppies and Swiss chard.

• In well-prepared beds, plant leeks, elephant garlic, garlic, shallots and onions (from bulbs or sets).

• Daffodils can be planted now. Some good varieties for this area are Unsurpassable, Ice Follies, Carlton, Thalia and Mount Hood.

FERTILIZING AND PRUNING • Turn the compost pile, add a cup or two of regular lawn fertilizer and keep moist.

• Remove annuals that have completed their life cycle. Leave seed pods of those you want to reseed for next year such as Castor bean, larkspur, coneflower and cosmos.

THIS AND THAT • Chill tulip and hyacinth bulbs in the refrigerator until mid to late December before planting. The lower part of the refrigerator is best. Do not leave bulbs in airtight plastic bags and avoid storing them with fruit.

• There is still time to divide and reset such perennials as phlox, violets, hollyhocks, irises, daylilies and Shasta daisies.

GARDEN WATCH • To prevent potential insect and disease next year, remove and toss all dead vegetable plants in the garden.

TIPS FOR OCTOBER

GARDEN WATCH • Spray roses for blackspot and mildew, which can be extremely troublesome in September and October.

• Apply herbicide containing MSMA to eliminate perennial grassy weeds such as dallisgrass in Bermuda grass. Read and heed label instructions.

• Applications of pre-emergent weed killers must be made early this month, before seeds begin to germinate. Depending on which weeds you are targeting, it may be necessary to apply two different products; one for broad-leafed winter annuals such as henbit, dandelions and chickweed, and one for grassy winter weeds such as Rescuegrass and annual blue grass.

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When possible, use hardscapes and pavers that are eco-friendly and permeable to allow rainwater to infiltrate and storm water to be filtered to reduce pollutants.

PHOTO BY MELINDA KOCIAN

Eat, Pray, Love

BY DEBORAH TILSON, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER

I went and saw this fabulous movie the day it came out and I was really inspired by a certain line in the movie. The main character is standing in front of a storage building after leaving her husband and she states, “My whole life fits in a 12x12 building.” For some that may seem frightening, but to me it sounded freeing. What if we could free half of our living space, what could that do for us, for our family?

Many of the things in my house are not serving a purpose in my life today. It is just stuff. It is stuff I do not need, use or love. Many of the things I have held on to were for all the wrong reasons.

Here is a great example: I recently sat gazing upon my books in my office, which are all nice and neat on bookshelves. I decided to use my own organizing principles on this issue and I began to ask myself why I was saving all the ones that I had already read.

• In case I want to read them again • For my daughter when she is older • For future reference What I realized is that none of these were really true. I was saving most of these books for purely ego and self-esteem reasons.

They were like a tribute to all the knowledge that I had acquired over the years. Just in case I forgot that I am an avid reader or if someone wanted to question my reading capabilities, I could always go into my office and have proof of who I am and what I have done.

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Once I got to the heart of the matter and realized what the truth was, and how silly and demeaning it made me feel, I was ready to let them go, immediately. I have cut my collection down to half, or about 75 books. Now I have a new book in, old book out rule firmly in place.

I have been able to work in many people’s homes that have had situations like that of the main character in “Eat Pray Love” that have affected their lives—marriages, divorces, deaths and financial devastation. What I know to be true in each and every situation is simply this: did any of the stuff that they were hanging on to make their situation better or more tolerable? Did they feel less guilt or remorse over decisions that had negative consequences?

Was all the stuff or possessions really adding a better quality or value to their lives? In each instance the answer was no.

So I challenge you as we head into a new year to take a long, hard look at your whole life and what it is that is surrounding you.

Think about these questions: What would I do if I had more space to create what is truly important me? Would I have more money if I needed less space in which to store my things? What could I do with the all the extra time and energy I spend in taking care of all my things? How are all of the things in my home affecting my relationships?

Remember, joy is not found in possessions, but in the living of life with those we love.

Deborah Tilson is a sales representative who spends her time outside the magazine as a professional organizer. If you need help getting organized, contact her at deborah@living-magazine.com.

“We’re not just selling real estate, we’re selling Ellis County!”

BETH BOLES-TERMINELLA GRI, REALTOR

214-801-9801

LESLIE ARMSTRONG REALTOR

817-980-4760 Check Out Our Website For All Of Our Current Property Listings

WWW.SELLINGELLISCOUNTY.COM ReMax Suburban South • 138 N 8th • Midlothian, TX

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P PROFESSIONAL GUIDE Don’t Invite Burglars In

By Tim Tobey State Farm® Agent Imagine coming home to find that someone has broken into your home, stolen valuable items and ransacked your personal possessions. The feeling of devastation can be overwhelming for victims of burglary. It’s a crime to which we are all vulnerable—whether we live in a city or rural area, have a high or low income, live in a house or in an apartment or condominium. According to the FBI, a burglary happens every 15 seconds in the United States.

The problem is, many of us, through our own carelessness, make it easier for burglars to carry out their work. A few simple steps can make your home a harder target for burglars: • Lock all outside doors before you leave or go to bed.

• Lock all windows.

• Leave a few lights on when you are not home.

• Keep all garage doors closed and locked.

• Don’t allow daily deliveries, like newspapers and mail, to pile up when you’re out of town.

Ask a friend or neighbor to pick them up for you or arrange to have deliveries stopped until you return.

• When you’re on vacation, arrange to have someone take care of your yard.

• Don’t leave keys under flower pots, doormats or other “secret” hiding places - burglars know them all.

Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, contact the police immediately.

In This Section: A Genie in a Bottle 54

Barbarians at the Gate 58

by Dr. Jennifer Smolka

by Jacob A. Hale

Cindy Writes with a Quill, I Write with a Hammer 56

Celebrating Women Luncheon 59

by Mark Singleton

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by Ashley Howland

Building a Trusting Relationship One Client at a Time

We’re here to answer your call personally and solve your legal, accounting and IRS needs.

Kevin McDonnell has his B.S. in accounting from the University of New Orleans. He received Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law. Kevin is an accomplished Attorney and Certified Public Accountant practicing in Ellis County. His goal is to provide efficient and effective management for all individuals at all stages of their lives. He provides reasonable rates for full accounting and legal services concentrating on asset protection, wealth preservation, all aspects of business, tax, and elder care law. Kevin will examine each individual’s needs regarding preserving wealth and assets for the future, financial security and wealth transfer. He is a founding board member of CASA helping abused and neglected children. Kevin is never to busy to take your call. *Not Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Kevin McDonnell, JD, CPA Attorney at Law and Certified Public Accountant 714 Ferris Ave. • Waxahachie • 972.923.2881

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P

A GENIE IN A BOTTLE Imagination, Innovation and Inspiration

BY DR. JENNIFER SMOLKA

Do you remember that one teacher who made a difference in your life?

What was it about that teacher that was different from the others? I was lucky in finding several teachers throughout my schooling who inspired me to become an educator. An early inspiration was my first grade teacher, Mrs. Czuba, at Racebrook Elementary in Orange, Conn. She tried new things with us and let us know that it was OK to think outside of the box. If you ask your friends, I bet many of them will have their favorite teacher. There is something special about teachers who remain indelibly in children's hearts well beyond into adulthood.

Twenty years ago I stepped into my own classroom as a fifth-grade teacher in Plano, Texas. When I first walked in the doors, I brought with me all of the pieces of imagination left behind by Mrs. Czuba, Miss Piccolo, Mr. Smith and Ms. deSola. I was inspired to be one of the teachers who made a difference and sparked the imagination in children. I tried new things by digging in the back cabinet of the library and dusting off unused technology. Even though I was teaching in a ‘wealthy’ school district, there were still things that I wanted to experiment with that I couldn’t afford on a first-year teacher’s salary. Many days, I just wished that I could find a genie in a bottle who could fund my innovative ideas. Ideas that I hoped would be an inspiration for my students.

It is with this memory that I accepted an offer to join the Education Foun-

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dation for WISD in 2007. Instead of finding a genie in a bottle, I would discover the magic within the bottle! When first approached by the board, I didn’t know a lot about education foundations. I knew vaguely of fundraising, scholarships and grants. But I didn’t truly understand the magic that is created by the non-profit groups that support the school districts across Ellis County.

Education foundations are one of the fastest-growing groups of non-profits across the country. The first education foundations started more than 50 years ago in California. When Robin Hood hit Texas in 1993, these foundations became a way to support the local school district with the funds going directly to the classrooms of our children and not distributed across the state.

Education foundations go beyond just fundraising. Instead, we strive for “development.” We develop relationships with the community, parents, businesses and educators to be able to sustain the genie in the bottle—even in a tough economy.

Philanthropy Today recently reported that non-profits were experiencing more difficult times due to the economic downturn. This isn’t surprising considering that when the economy worsens we all need to tighten the belt. However, for those of us involved in the Education Foundation for Waxahachie ISD, we were surprised—surprised by the support our community gave to the teachers who want to be innovators in their classroom. We had

The Education Foundation more sponsors and support in both our annual Legacy of Excellence campaign in the fall and our spring golf tournament. We had more community members approach the board to be able to give not only of their treasures, but also of their time and talent. When the teachers in our schools needed it most, the community banded together to support an organization that can be their “genie in the bottle.”

If you are wondering about the magic of the moment, I invite you to join our foundation, or ask your local education foundation to be part of the announcement of the latest grants. Each spring and winter, a group of foundation board members becomes genies who grant teachers’ wishes of innovation that fuel the imagination of children to create an inspiration to last a lifetime.

Don’t you want to be a part of that magic?

Dr. Jennifer Smolka is the president of the Education Foundation for Waxahachie ISD and a Specialization Coordinator in the PhD in Education Department at Walden University. For more information about the Education Foundation for WISD, please visit their website at www.wisdeducationfoundation.org.

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CINDY WRITES WITH A QUILL, I WRITE WITH A HAMMER

BY MARK SINGLETON - PRESIDENT & CEO CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK OF TEXAS

Many of my colleagues and customers tell me that Cindy Burch’s column is their favorite part of the Ellis County Living Magazine. My articles in this magazine just don’t stir up the same warm and fuzzy emotions.

Cindy Burch is a wonderful writer; a wordsmith that weaves a story like an artist.

I’m a nuts-and-bolts writer; a scribe that hammers home points for water cooler discussions.

Cindy writes about her dog, Maggie, and I write about Congressman Barney Frank, that dog! She writes about sailing in the Abacos Islands and my topic is about the financial criminals in the Cayman Islands.

In one issue Cindy wrote about how her mother always included a dove in the art she painted. In that same issue I talked about the vultures in Congress.

Since most of the ardent readership of Living is females, Cindy’s articles will naturally have much more appeal. However, women should also be keenly interested in the things that affect their budget planning, since research clearly shows that most family banking accounts are handled by the woman of the home.

Therefore, my article in this issue of Living centers on how the trickle down of federal financial laws are going to be a white water rapid by the time they reach you and me.

On July 21, Barack Obama signed a 2,300-page bill with sweeping overhauls regarding financial regulations. To administer this mammoth legislation, the government will establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that will have hundreds of employees and a $450 million yearly budget. Well, that’s one way to ease the nation’s unemployment problem—hire more government workers.

The new regulatory agency will be the watchdogs of the $700 billion TARP bailout bill that passed earlier this year, plus billions of more dollars now in the pipeline

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of congressional enactment. So, what does it all mean to those of you that must handle family finances?

First, make no mistake about it, the federal government is going to dictate to you how you will do your banking in the future. It already has with the Reg. E laws that will go into effect on Aug. 15.

That mandate says that unless you specifically tell your bank that you want overdraft protection, whether you currently have that benefit or not, it will be taken away. At CNB of Texas we have contacted more than 30,000 customers that will be affected by the Reg. E legislation at least three times. That is 90,000 letters, plus ads, e-mails and other communication channels. Although the great majority of our customers have opted to have overdraft protection, some have not responded.

This article will appear after the Aug. 15 deadline for compliance with Reg. E goes into effect. By the time you read this, we will have had calls by irate customers who won’t understand why the bank didn’t cover their debit card transaction and they were embarrassed at the grocery checkout line. We will explain that we sent loads of reminders of the new Reg E rulings, but they will still be mad.

These customers may not have had an overdraft in years, if ever. But the new laws are so strangling that the whole financial playing field is dramatically changing.

Even after Aug. 15, you can call your bank and request overdraft protection. We hope you do it before the new banking regulations put you in a compromising situation with your debit card or ATM card. However, under new government regulations, those who have never needed or wanted overdraft protection will wish they had requested this service from their bank. It is going to get ugly out there and the federal government is handcuffing bankers. The door is being slammed on areas where we have been able to help in

the past.

The next thing you will soon discover about the bailouts and boondoggles is the cost.

They haven’t hit your pocketbook yet, but they will. Here is my prediction.

Many U.S. Congressional and Senate seats will be up for grabs this November. There is a likely chance that citizens will vote out the rascals that are putting us and future generations in financial chaos. There will be a sigh of relief that the new crop of legislators will heed the voices that got them elected and shame on them if they don’t.

However, between election day on Nov. 2 and the time of taking office in January 2011, defeated congressional representatives will vote every tax, levy and albatross as possible. What do they have to lose?

They’ve already lost their election.

You will need every advantage you can get to fight against the financial carnage Congress and the Senate are waging from Washington. Why, you ask? The answer is simple. All the bailouts and blunders have to be paid. The United States owes so much that deficit spending is like Thelma and Louise in a speeding convertible going over the cliff. There are only two solutions left: spend less or tax more. Guess which one the federal government is going to choose.

Your bank has lots of ways to help you take control of your budget and the great majority of those benefits are free. We love it when customers come to us to seek our financial expertise because it helps establish a strong, friendly relationship between the customer and a banker, which is the most important objective in building customer loyalty.

The banker/customer relationship may not be the warm and fuzzy feeling Cindy Burch wrote about her dog, Maggie. However, it is a doggone good relationship to foster when the wrath of Washington begins to touch all of our lives.

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BY JACOB A. HALE

Barbarians at the Gate:

The Importance of Asset Protection

Every story can be reduced to one theme: two dogs, one bone.

History is awash with people who want things preying on those who have things. The Vikings terrorized the European coastline; the Mongols inspired the construction of the Great Wall; and only a few hundred Conquistadors separated the Aztecs from their gold.

Civilization has changed the methods, but the madness remains. No amount of cultural polish can reshape the core elements of this central human theme.

Two dogs. One bone.

People who want your things have found new ways—civilized ways—to satisfy their appetite. Pirates and pillagers have given way to lawyers and creditors. Nearly every American business and individual will be sued or threatened with suit at some point in their life. Luckily, the defenses have evolved to meet the attack. Let asset protection be your fortress.

Proper asset protection planning is the orderly organizing and structuring of your assets and affairs in advance of a liability, risk, judgment or creditor’s claim to protect your family’s financial well-being. Asset protection is life planning, not a reaction to a problem. It is not a means of defrauding creditors or evading taxes. It is too late to build a fortress when the barbarians are at the gate.

Asset protection planning involves a combination of four strategies. The first is risk sharing, which involves identify-

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ing risks and contracting with insurance companies to share the expense of future claims. Personal and business liability insurance is the first line of defense.

worth only a few thousand. There are two types of homesteads—urban and rural. The urban homestead is limited to 10 acres, while the rural homestead covers up to 200 acres per family.

The second strategy is divesture, by which an individual transfers his property to another (often a trust), either by outright transfer or by having liens or mortgages placed upon the asset. This method relies on the simple truth that a creditor cannot have what a debtor does not own. It may seem counterintuitive to implement a divesture plan to protect what you own. However, it’s not what you own that counts, but rather what you control and have the benefit of that really matters.

In addition to the homestead, a family can exempt up to $60,000 of personal property from the reach of creditors, which may include home furnishings, vehicles, heirlooms and the like.

Irrevocable spendthrift trusts are of particular interest to business owners and are most advantageous if created early in the business’ life cycle. An individual can request a close relative or friend to create a trust for his primary benefit, naming the beneficiary as trustee. If properly designed, the trust can protect a business owner’s stock in his business and other investments, while granting the individual the control and benefit of the trust. Ownership—the key ingredient for creditors of the individual—is missing. The trust can also provide a great tax-savings benefit in that the business grows outside of the business owner’s estate and is, therefore, estate-tax free.

The third approach is through exemption planning, where an individual transfers assets to a statutorily protected class of property. Texas has very favorable state law exemptions. Among these are four primary categories: the homestead exemption, the personal property exemption, life insurance and annuities, and retirement benefits.

Amazingly, the homestead exemption in Texas is unlimited. A home worth several million dollars enjoys the same exemption from creditors as a home

The Texas Insurance Code exempts life insurance and annuities, including the cash value, from the reach of creditors as well. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds and CDs do not enjoy the asset protection benefits found in life insurance and annuities. However, though not otherwise exempt from creditors, these stocks, bonds, mutual funds and CDs are protected if owned within a qualified retirement plan.

The fourth asset protection strategy involves the use of liability shielding entities such as limited liability partnerships, corporations, S-corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships. Nearly all business owners can protect their personal assets by conducting their business operations through a liability shielding entity. The choice of a business format should be made only after thoroughly discussing the relative advantages and disadvantages in terms of simplicity, flexibility, cost, taxation issues, control, continuity of life, transferability of ownership and liability protection.

Asset protection is for anyone who has something to lose. Often, the planning tools cost clients little to implement and can easily become the best investment you’ll ever make.

Don’t let the unforeseen eclipse your financial aspirations.

Jacob A. Hale is an elder law and estate planning attorney at The Hale Law Firm in Waxahachie.

Celebrating Women Luncheon

We want to be your hometown realtor!

BY ASHLEY HOWLAND

Actress and breast cancer survivor Jill Eikenberry and her husband, actor Michael Tucker, will be the featured speakers at the 11th annual Baylor Health Care System Foundation Celebrating Women luncheon. The event, presented by Tom Thumb, benefits research, community outreach and expanded technology for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer throughout Baylor Health Care System. Since its inception, Celebration Women has raised more than $11 million.

Cindy Carter and her sister-in-law, Christie Carter, will chair the event, and Carl and Peggy Sewell have been named honorary chairmen. Lisa Longino and Pam Perella are this year’s underwriting chairmen.

Former Foundation chairman of the board Leonard Riggs Jr., M.D., and his wife, Peggy, will be honored with the Circle of Care Award, as will The Discovery Foundation, which has long supported women’s health initiatives at Baylor Health Care System.

Eikenberry and Tucker, best known for their roles as Ann Kelsey and Stuart Markowitz in the hit series “L.A. Law,” will speak about how Jill’s struggle with breast cancer impacted their marriage and brought them together as a couple.

The luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 21 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. For more information, visit www.

BaylorHealth.com/CelebratingWomen.

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Michael W. Hartley Attorney & Counselor at Law Michael W. Hartley has been practicing law for 30 years. He is proud to call himself a trial lawyer. He believes that power in America should remain with the people through the exercise of individual freedoms. Trial lawyers give the voice with which to respond to big business, government and the judiciary.

AWARDS: The Brown and Judge award for Academic Achievement in the area of Products Liability. He was a member of the Board of Barristers and Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity while in law school.

Represents both Plaintiffs and Defendants: Family, Probate, Contract, Corporate, Real Estate, Product Liability, Commercial Collections, Appeals to the Court of Appeals & Supreme Court of Texas., Trial of civil cases including misdemeanor & felony charge, including Capital Murder and appeals to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

• B.S. degree in 1975, Texas Tech University • J.D. degree in 1979, Texas Tech School of Law • Practiced in El Paso, Texas for 11 years • 1991, Practice relocated to Waxahachie

216 Franklin Street • Waxahachie

972.938.0088 JILL EIKENBERRY AND MICHAEL TUCKER

www.elliscountylawyer.com

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010

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M MEDICAL DIRECTORY Every four minutes one person is diagnosed with a blood cancer.* Leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic cancers begin in the bone marrow or lymphatic tissue and cause uncontrolled growth of cells. The malignant cells interfere with the production of healthy blood cells in the body.

You can do something to spread awareness and raise money for treatment. Join the North Texas/Oklahoma chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training®, the world’s largest endurance sports program. By joining, you’ll raise money and train with other participants to run or walk a full or half marathon, or complete a 100-mile bike ride, triathlon or hiking adventure in honor or memory of blood cancer patients and survivors. Find out more by visiting www.teamintraining.org/ntxok/ firsttimehere/tnt. *Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma Facts 2010-2011

In This Section: N.E.W. is the New You 62

The Basics of Ophthalmology 68

by Dr. Paul Lansdowne

by The American Academy of Ophthalmology

The Fight Against Female Cancers 64

Competition in the Martial Arts 70

Baylor Update

by Steve Cross

Blending Families 66

by Katherine Donaldson, Psy.D.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010

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N.E.W .

IS THE NEW YOU

BY DR. PAUL LANSDOWNE

The keys to healthier living are here. They have been with us all along, but they get easier to overlook with so many things competing for our attention these days. These keys are nutrition, exercise and wellness.

osteoporosis. Many people who exercise regularly still feel that they cannot lose weight—consulting a physician, having an exercise professional develop a plan for you and limiting your calorie intake may be your next steps.

Nutrition

Wellness or Preventive Care

Americans are eating more calories than we need. This means almost all of us. Specifically, we are getting more calories than we need from fat, alcohol and sugar—so says the USDA, which publishes its Dietary Guidelines for Americans every five years. Taking in fewer calories and eating more of the right kinds of foods (like whole grains) is essential to losing weight and maintaining a healthy body. For starters, have a look at the Food Guide Pyramid at www.mypyramid.gov.

For a more personal and in-depth approach, you may need to sit down with a dietician and analyze your dietary needs.

Having regular medical and dental care is good preventive medicine. Keeping up with screening tests, like the pap test, mammogram and cholesterol check, may help to detect a problem early on. Taking in adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium may help prevent disease as well. But a healthy, well-balanced diet with naturally occurring antioxidant vitamins and fiber may be the best medicine of all—helping to prevent heart disease and even cancer. Staying at or near your ideal body weight will help cut your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and several types of cancer.

Exercise It seems that most people can’t get enough of it! If you are not getting any regular exercise, start by taking a walk—just 10 minutes, three times a week. You’ll feel good about starting the habit, and you can build from there. Even if you can make time to do it, you might wonder how much is enough?

If you are already exercising some, take a look at the exercise recommendations from the American Heart Association.

Adding some basic weight training may be the next step for you. Building muscle helps burn more calories and prevent

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Take small steps toward your overall health goals. See your doctor and ask them about preventive care. Take a 10-minute walk and find one small change to make in your diet.

You’ll feel good knowing that you are taking action and you’ll be on your way to a lifelong habit.

Dr. Paul Lansdowne is an obstetrics, gynecology and women’s health doctor based in Waxahachie and Mansfield.

Contact him by calling 972.938.3493 or visiting www. waxahachiewomenshealth.com.

Dr. Paul Lansdowne, M.D. OBSTETRICS • GYNECOLOGY • WOMEN’S HEALTH “Providing comprehensive obstetric care and general gynecologic care to the women of Ellis County for 9 years and well into the future.”

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WOMEN – KNOW YOUR ADVERSARY:

THEA LittleFIGHT AGAINST FEMALE CANCERS Self-Awareness Can Go a Long Way in the Fight Against Cancers Affecting Women Combined, it is estimated that cancers affecting women will take the lives of more than 50,000 American women in 2010. This year they also will challenge more than 225,000 women in the United States to a fight for their life, threatening families of every race, age and socio-economic status.* But breast cancer and ovarian cancer don’t have to be a death sentence. In fact, if caught early and treated aggressively, survival rates for both cancers are better than many other forms of the disease.

ARE YOU AT RISK? Outside of skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among American women. While ovarian cancer is not nearly as common, it shares some of the same risk factors, such as: • Personal history of breast or ovarian cancer • Not having children • Not breast feeding • Poor diet/obesity • Use of alcohol Age also is a big factor. “As with any type of cancer, as you get older, you have an increased risk of these diseases,” says Leigh Nordstrom, MD, internal medicine physician on the medical staff of Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie.

However, one of the strongest predictors of both breast and ovarian cancer is family history. Women who inherit a mutated BRCA gene are at a substantially greater risk of developing one or both of these cancers. In fact, women with a mutated BRCA gene have up to an 80 percent* chance of getting breast cancer and up to a 40 percent** chance of getting ovarian cancer at some point during their life.

“Women with a significant family history of breast or ovarian cancer are typically referred to a genetic counselor to be screened for the mutated BRCA gene,” says Valerie Gorman, MD, general surgeon and breast surgeon on the medical staff of Baylor Waxahachie. “If diagnosed with the gene, a preventive double mastectomy is commonly recommended along with removal of the ovaries.”

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LOWERING THE ODDS To mitigate some risk for breast and ovarian cancer, women should maintain a healthy weight, not smoke, moderate use of alcohol and find out their family history of cancer.

Talk to your doctor about screening options if cancer—especially breast and ovarian cancer—runs in your family.

“There are other things that can help prevent these types of cancer,” says Dr. Nordstrom.

“However, you should always discuss them with your doctor, since some measures—such as starting birth control—carry with them their own risks.”

DIAGNOSING THE DISEASE Women must be their own first line of defense against breast and ovarian cancer not only by living a healthy lifestyle, but by being vigilant to changes in their bodies. The American Cancer Society recommends that women begin self-breast exams at age 20. During a self-breast exam, women should feel for an abnormal mass and look for nipple discharge, changes in the texture of the skin, reddening of the skin and swelling.

“It’s an easy thing to do once a month, and if you make it a habit, it can make a world of difference in saving your life,” says Dr. Gorman.

“There are breast cancers that don’t show up on mammograms, and the only way they are found is through self-breast exam.”

Dr. Gorman believes that women over 40 should get an annual screening mammogram in accordance with guidelines set by the American Cancer Society and backed by several other prestigious medical organizations.

A DIFFICULT CATCH “The bad thing about ovarian cancer is that we don’t have a very good screening test, and you don’t generally have a lot of signs or symptoms,” explains Dr. Nordstrom. “A lot of women think when they get their Pap smear they are getting screened for all cancers affecting the reproductive organs. And while the Pap smear is a very good test, it is specific to the cervix.”

Bloating, nausea, change in bowel move-

ments, decreased urination, backaches and changes in the menstrual cycle are all possible symptoms of ovarian cancer. Dr. Nordstrom acknowledges though that these are all very vague symptoms since most women experience all of them at some point during their life.

“However,” she says, “if these symptoms are something out of the ordinary for you and if they persist, it’s time to go to the doctor.”

Dr. Gorman echoes that advice when it comes to breast cancer and any other health concerns a woman may have during her lifetime. “If something is different, go to your doctor and find out. You’d rather it be something simple, but if it is something serious like breast cancer, the sooner it’s found, the better.”

*American Cancer Society **National Cancer Institute Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie or Baylor Health Care System.

TAKING OUT A TUMOR Surgery and chemotherapy are generally the cornerstones of any breast or ovarian cancer treatment plan. However, in recent years, an exciting new type of radiation therapy—partial breast radiation— has been saving women with early stage breast cancer weeks of treatment and sparing breast tissue.

“A catheter is inserted into the area of the breast where we removed the tumor,” explains Dr. Gorman.

“Then, a radiation oncologist delivers radiation seeds through the catheter and radiates just that area rather than the whole breast. It’s five days of radiation rather than eight weeks, and it has great cosmetic as well as medical results.”

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Blending Families DEAR DR. DONALDSON, I am getting married this fall. My fiancé has two children from a previous marriage and we will have them every other weekend. My children are grown, but his are still in school. What are some things I can do to make sure things go well?

You are wise to think about this now to help ensure a successful transition. There are many things you can do to make things easier on both adults and children.

HAVE PATIENCE. Establishing new families takes time. It is unrealistic to think that his children will automatically accept you. At the same time, you may not feel immediately bonded with them. Sharing time together and creating happy memories will help increase loving feelings.

EXPECT AN ADJUSTMENT PERIOD. Children can recover from divorce and cope with changes blended families bring, but remember that all children experience a difficult adjustment period following a divorce or remarriage. It takes time, patience and sometimes professional help, but most children are able to regain their emotional bearings. It is critical that the adults manage their own emotional recovery in order to help the children adjust without trauma.

SINCE YOU WILL ONLY HAVE HIS CHILDREN ON THE WEEKENDS, YOU MAY NEED A LONGER ADJUSTMENT PERIOD. All relationships take time to develop, but it takes a family that is only together part time longer to adjust than a new family that is together all week long.

DON’T EXPECT YOUR NEW FAMILY TO BE LIKE YOUR FIRST FAMILY. Remember that each family is unique. Your new family will have its own identity, including family traditions and routines.

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the new household, they may be attending a new school, getting used to a new house, and even losing friends if they have to move. They will likely still be experiencing disappointment and sadness that their parents’ marriage did not work out.

BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR HUSBAND’S EX-WIFE. It is much easier for the children to adjust if the parents and stepparents can be respectful of each other. Children should be allowed to regularly contact both parents (unless there are extenuating circumstances such as abuse or unlawful behavior).

BE CLEAR ABOUT THE RULES. Ideally, both sets of parents should discuss the family rules and what will happen if rules are broken. After the adults come to an agreement, they should explain the rules to the children. Most successful stepfamilies have decided on the rules together in the beginning and have allowed the biological parent to explain them and enforce the discipline. The stepparent may have more involvement after the relationships with the stepchildren have been established.

All of this works best when the parents can agree to be flexible and cooperative with one another. This may be difficult immediately following a divorce or remarriage, but it is important to work toward this objective. If there are different rules during the week than on the weekends, children can usually adjust, but it is easier if parents can agree.

EXPECT CONFUSION. Forming a stepfamily is confusing for everyone. Parents and children have to learn new routines, rules and boundaries.

EDUCATE YOURSELVES AND SEEK EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. Read books about managing stepfamilies, attend classes and participate in stepfamily support groups. If you have difficulty adjusting, you can seek the help of an experienced therapist.

ALLOW TIME FOR GRIEVING. Children of blended families have many losses: they will not get to spend as much time with each parent, they may feel uncertain of their new role in

GIVE THE CHILDREN THEIR OWN SPACE. Make physical space available for the children even if they are only going to be there on the weekends. Children need a sense of belonging. If

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they cannot have their own room, creating a section of a room for children will help them feel like part of the family when they can be with you.

EXPECT THEM TO THINK IT’S TEMPORARY. Accept the fact that his children may expect their parents to reconcile. They may fantasize that your new relationship with their father is only temporary. This is especially true in the beginning. Find a time to sit down with the children and explain that when two people are unable to live together anymore, it doesn’t mean they love their children any less. This is especially important if your fiancé has moved away, since the children may feel a sense of rejection.

EXPECT RESENTMENT. No matter how good a stepparent you are, you will never be the biological parent of your stepchildren. It is natural for a stepchild to feel some resentment for you, especially when you are setting limits for their behavior.

SHOW THE CHILDREN LOVE. Children usually need love the most at a time when it is difficult to give it to them. While bad behavior should never be rewarded, they should always be reminded that they are loved. Remember to praise them when they are behaving well.

You didn’t mention whether or not the children will be involved in your wedding. Including them in the ceremony and/or the celebration can go a long way in helping them to feel a part of the new family.

Although it can be a struggle to create a new family, healthy, loving relationships are possible. Best wishes on your upcoming marriage.

Dr. Donaldson is a clinical psychologist practicing in Waxahachie. She can be contacted at donaldsonpsyd@aol.com or visit her Web site at donaldsonwellnesscenter.com.

John Sullivan, M. D. General Surgery

ENNIS HEART CENTER, P.A. CHEST PAIN, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, PALPITATIONS, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, FAMILY HISTORY OF HEART ATTACKS • All types of stress tests - exercise, chemical & nuclear • Echocardiogram • Coronary Calcium Scoring • Coronary CT Angiography • Cardiac pacemaker & defibrillator check-ups • All types of heart rhythm ambulatory monitoring • No referral required • Accepts most private insurances & Medicare

Dr. Sullivan arrived in Ennis in 2003 after completing his residency in General Surgery and Fellowship in Laparoscopic Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Since then he married Meg, who is a cardiologist, and had two boys John Michael and William Henry. Dr. Sullivan has kept at the forefront of medicine in Ennis and performs outpatient procedures now at both Southwest Surgery Center in Ennis and Waxahachie Surgery Center.

He routinely performs outpatient gallbladder, hernia, intestine and anti-reflux procedures laparoscopically, allowing patients to be at home the day of their operation. He also performs diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy and colonoscopy with minimally invasive techniques for treating hemorrhoids and ulcers. He continues to care for hospitalized patients, performing inpatient and higher risk outpatient surgeries at Ennis Regional Medical Center.

IMAD ALWAN, MD, FACC INVASIVE CARDIOLOGIST FELLOW OF AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY 3 BOARD CARDIOLOGY CERTIFICATIONS: Adult Cardiology Nuclear Cardiology N Cardiac Coronary CT Angiography

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Dr. Sullivan’s passion is minimally invasive surgery with less pain and faster recovery times while avoiding costly stays in a hospital. With the expansions in the department of surgery, Dr. Sullivan no longer takes call 24/7 at the hospital and has found time to hunt, fish and enjoy his growing family.

EEnnis, TX 75119 TH ONLY FULL-TIME THE CAR CARDIOLOGIST IN ENNIS

972-875-0100 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010

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The Basics of Ophthalmology The distinction between ophthalmology and optometry is a frequent source of confusion. In addition to the fact that both are concerned with eye care, several other factors contribute to this misunderstanding.

One is the fact that optometrists are often referred to as “eye doctors” although, unlike ophthalmologists, they do not have medical degrees.

trists determine the need for eyeglasses and contact lenses, prescribe optical correction and screen for abnormalities of the eye. In some states, optometrists can prescribe a limited number of drugs to help diagnose and treat certain eye conditions. Optometrists do not perform surgery. Optometrists attend two to four years of college and four years of optometric college.

WHAT IS AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST?

An optician—licensed by a state to make optical aids—fits, adjusts and dispenses eyeglasses, contact lenses and other optical devices on written prescriptions of a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist. Training for an optician varies from a preceptorship to two years of opticianry school.

An ophthalmologist (eye M.D.) is a medical doctor with additional specialized training in all aspects of eye care—medical, surgical and optical.

HOW IS AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST DIFFERENT FROM AN OPTOMETRIST AND AN OPTICIAN? Ophthalmologists are different from optometrists and opticians in their training and in what they can diagnose and treat.

As a medical doctor, an ophthalmologist is licensed to practice medicine and surgery.

An ophthalmologist diagnoses and treats all eye diseases, performs eye surgery and prescribes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Ophthalmologists complete: • four years of college • four years of medical school • one year of internship • three years, at least, of residency (hospital-based training) in the diagnoses and medical and surgical treatment of eye disorders An optometrist is a doctor of optometry, licensed to practice optometry. Optome-

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WHAT IS A SUBSPECIALIST? While all ophthalmologists specialize in eye problems and can treat all conditions, some decide to specialize in a specific area of medical or surgical eye care. This person is called a subspecialist. He or she usually completes a fellowship, which is one or two more years of training in the chosen area.

Some subspecialists focus on the treatment of a disease such as glaucoma. Others subspecialize in a particular part of the eye such as the retina. Pediatric ophthalmologists subspecialize in treating eye disease in children.

WHEN SHOULD I SEE AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST? You should have your eyes examined by an ophthalmologist if you have: • decreased vision, even if temporary • new floaters (black “strings” or specks in the vision)

• • • • • • • • • •

flashes of light a curtain or veil blocking vision haloes (colored circles around lights) an eye injury or eye pain bulging of one or both eyes crossed eyes double vision loss of peripheral (side) vision AIDS thyroid disease-related eye problems (Graves’ disease) • a family history of eye disease

WHAT HAPPENS AT AN EYE EXAMINATION? Your ophthalmologist and his or her assistants ask about your current symptoms and review your medical history. Eyedrops to dilate your eyes may or may not be used during the exam.

The examination typically evaluates: • visual acuity • need for eyeglasses or contact lenses (refraction) • eyelid health and function • coordination of eye muscles • pupil response to light • side (peripheral) vision • intraocular pressure (pressure inside

the eye) • the anterior segment in the eye • the interior and back of the eye Together, you and your ophthalmologist can work toward the goal of protecting your sight through early diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions.

From the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

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Competition in the Martial Arts

BY STEVE CROSS

Inevitably as a martial artist, the question of competition always arises. Competition isn’t for everyone and there are some positives and negatives associated with it. To begin with, many practitioners prefer to study their martial arts for the art itself and not to be compared with someone else. Some even find the arena to be a frightening place. One important life lesson taught in martial arts is to face your fears and overcome them; including those fears of being in front of others. Additionally, throughout our lives, like it or not, we are judged by others. Using the experience in competitions can help us learn to cope and deal with those situations. Most of all, we gain understanding of when we have control over a situation and when you must simply accept and bow out. Furthermore, participating in a competition can provide a good source of positive self-esteem. By approaching the competition not in a win/lose mentality but in a mindset of doing the best you can, we can come away with a sense of accomplishment and it can provide a means of focus.

I must admit, competitions can be a lot of fun, too. It’s a great opportunity to travel and meet new friends who share

the same ideals and interests. Recently, I was able to take a six-member team to Ontario, Canada, for the CanadianAmerican Taekwon-Do Championships. These students trained many extra hours over the course of seven months with the intention of gaining international experience. With an attitude of, “I’m going to do my best so that I will have no regrets,” those six members of the Double Dragons Demo and Competition Team earned 10 medals. Those students included Cora Allen, who won silver in forms, her sister Katrina Allen, who earned bronze in sparring and forms, and Jeffrey Wright, who won gold in forms. Also included were Hunter Thompson, who took silver in sparring and bronze in forms, Jack Raybourn, who won bronze in forms and gold in sparring, and his sister Jamie Raybourn, who won a gold medal in sparring and silver in forms. More than anything, however, was the sense of accomplishment, gaining the experience of competing against someone new, and experiencing Niagara Falls for the first time together.

Also, year after year, with the same competitors returning, you develop a kinship with the others that helps to form bonds and sometimes friendships.

Unfortunately, there are a few negatives, as well. All too often, some only train to compete and forget about the art part. They train to perfect just one form or focus all their energy on sparring and forget about other basics, resulting in a weaker martial artist overall. One of the dangers of forms competitions is that often times some artists will feel the need to “alter” a form to make a better showing, which results in strange movements that, from a practical standpoint, are ineffective. One of the dangers of fighting competitions is that some artists will simply focus on the win and not the technique. Some competitions aren’t as strict about the styles used and end up becoming not much more than boxing matches.

As much as I hate to admit, not everyone has that good sportsmanship attitude.

Occasionally, I’ve observed people who downgrade someone else for their accomplishments or blame “the other guy” or make excuses for their own failure. Quite honestly, this is one of the ugliest sides of competition and it causes me a great deal of dismay when I run across it. Just as it is important to find the right school and the right teachers, it’s important to find the right type of competition to avoid as many of the negative facets as possible. This may mean you’ll never become a household name or worldwide-recognized competitor, but if you are training in the martial arts for the sake of the martial arts, it should not really be an issue. I, for one, will continue to grow and train and teach others the correct ways to compete because it is not only imperative for the students but it’s also essential for my own development as a person and as a martial artist. I’ll see you on the mat!

Steve Cross is the head instructor and owner of Cross Martial Arts Center in Midlothian. Cross is a 5th Degree Taekwon-Do black belt, a certified international instructor, and a high school communications teacher. For questions call 972.775.1857 or go online at www.crosstkd.com.

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Bariatric Surgery Expertise in Waxahachie Andre D. Graham, M.D. is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. He earned his medical degree at the University of Kansas School Medical School, Kansas. He went on to complete his residency in General Surgery at Staten Island University Hospital, New York.

Prior to joining Waxahachie Surgical Specialists, Dr. Graham practiced as a General Surgeon in the United States Air Force. He served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, during which time he was awarded the Air Force Achievement medal. He also received the Bronze Star medal for both his service in Iraq and for establishing a field hospital in Kyrgyzstan.

Dr. Graham believes strongly in patient education and takes pride in providing quality patient care. He enjoys treating a broad range of general surgical conditions, with a particular interest in minimally invasive surgery, endoscopies, bariatrics, advanced laparoscopy, breast surgery, hernia and gastrointestinal surgery.

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THE SAVVY

TRAVELER

I have always admired those free-spirited travelers who backpack through Europe after college or who raft down the Rio Grande and pitch a tent for the night, but I am not one of them. I don’t have to sleep in five-star hotels, but a hostel in a foreign land with only one bathroom on each floor, polyester sheets and thin little towels is not my idea of fun. Although I have stayed in a thatchedroof hut in the rainforest of Belize and sailed a boat in the Caribbean for a week with no hot water, in most cases I want my accommodations to be as nice, if not better, than my home. After all, it’s called a vacation, right?

I am the self-appointed travel agent when it comes to planning a trip. Choosing the perfect place to stay for friends and family becomes an obsession with me. Once our destination has been decided, I admittedly spend way too much time late at night searching on my laptop for the coolest places to stay. My favorite choice of accommodation if we are going to stay in one location for several days is to rent a private villa or vacation home. If you are traveling with friends or family members, renting a furnished home is the way to go. If you spend the time finding the right place, you will probably save enough to pay for your flight. I have found designer-decorated homes all over the world with fabulous furnishings, fully stocked kitchens, swimming pools, Egyptian cotton sheets and big fluffy towels for half of what a nice hotel costs. I love waking up in a house where we can brew our own coffee and cook some of our own meals. If we are going to a beach destination, we buy liquor in the duty-free shop at the airport before boarding. Duty-free items don’t count as carry ons and alcohol is very expensive on most islands.

The way I go about finding the perfect place to stay is to start with a Google search on the location we are traveling to, along with the words “vacation homes.” I scroll through and look at all of my choices and often find links to other sites along the way. I study every picture of every room before I decide on my top three. I then check TripAdvisor.

com for any reviews on the property and search to see if the owners of the home have their own website. If you can book directly with the homeowner it is usually cheaper, since they don’t have to pay a commission to the booking site. There is also a site called Vacation Rentals By Owner, but you really have to weed through a lot of not-so-great homes to find a few good ones. Make sure the location of the home is in an area convenient for you and don’t be afraid to haggle on the price, especially if you are going in off season—you will never know unless you ask.

Owning a vacation home is a luxury, but in this economy many owners need the rent income and would rather have some than none at all. I have booked a five-bedroom villa overlooking the ocean on Turks and Caicos for the price of one hotel room when I was able to have direct contact with the owner and explained that it was only my husband and I that would be staying there, but we wanted to check it out for a larger family vacation in the future. I even found an incredible compound in Roatan, Honduras, that let us drive the car they keep in the garage for a fraction of what a rent car would’ve been.

When traveling from one place to another every couple of days, it makes more sense to book hotel rooms. I like small boutique hotels that have more flavor of the country we are in than large hotel chains. Once again I search on TripAdvisor.com for the top-rated hotels and then cross reference them with a site called Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

I learned a little trick from the expat owner of our favorite boutique hotel in Istanbul. When she contracts with sites such as Expedia and Hotels.com, she is required to save a percentage of rooms for those sites. When I recently tried to book a hotel in Southern Spain and was told they were full, due to U2 performing in Seville that weekend, I jumped online and was able to grab two more rooms through the booking sites for less than the hotel quoted me. There is a great site called Jetsetter that offers exclusive deals on the world’s greatest vacations. All of the proper-

ties they feature are hand selected by their globe-trotting correspondents, with sales lasting five to seven days. In most cases they offer hotel deals and packages for a fraction of what it normally costs. Travel Zoo is also a great resource with weekly specials on airfare, hotels and entertainment.

If all this research and time doesn’t interest you in finding the perfect place to stay, but you want to do something truly unique, I recommend Lindblad Expeditions. They operate a fleet of small expedition ships that nose into ports where large cruise ships cannot go. They are accompanied by expert naturalists and other specialists, including National Geographic photographers offering you life-changing encounters with beauty and seldom-seen nature. The company’s underlying mission is to introduce “curious and intrepid travelers” to the “international capitals of wildness.” The far-flung reaches of Alaska, Antarctica, Baja, Central America and Galapagos serve up what the company calls “the most fascinating, unspoiled and life-enhancing destinations on the planet.”

That’s not to say that Lindblad ignores traditional destinations because its ships also sail in the British Isles, the Mediterranean, the Baltic and even in the Caribbean, but the emphasis is always on active exploration, learning and sustainable tourism.

In this day and age travel is a bit more complicated, but there have never been so many resources at our fingertips to help us plan a great vacation, and finding the best places to stay just makes it even better.

Cindy Burch

Cindy Burch and her husband, Andrew, own and operate The Dove’s Nest Restaurant and Gifts in historic downtown Waxahachie. Cindy’s own cookbook, “The Dove’s Nest Restaurant: New American Recipes From a Historic Texas Town,” has sold more than 20,000 copies.

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