Shop. Eat. Play.
Romantic Edmond
Table Of Contents 4.
Around Edmond
6.
My Yard
8.
He Said, She Said
10.
Metro Flavor
12.
Romantic Edmond
16.
Parks And Rec
18.
Shop Edmond
405-315-7325
20.
Edmond People
To submit stories: Sherrih@Edmondactive.com
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V. 6, ISSUE 1 Feb 2014
Publishers/Editorial/ Photography Chris Hultner Sherri Hultner For Commercial Photography Call Chris Hultner @ 405.315.6405 chrish@edmondactive.com
To Advertise contact us at: sherrih@edmondactive.com
Contributors Trevor Hultner Heather Popowsky Chef Marc Dunham Jenny Dunham Jeffrey Taylor Jason Boag
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Around Edmond Welcome to the snowiest winter Edmond’s had since at least 2011! We have all been busy scheduling our days around sub freezing temps and ice or snow storms, and I for one am just about ready for Spring! The last time we published, we talked about the crazy psychology of feeling like we don’t have enough time when Thankgiving hits the last few days of November. I have been absent at our Around Edmond blog because that phenomenon has continued in my personal life. As irritating as the February snow may feel, consider it a message from God to take a minute, slow down and enjoy this simple occurence of nature for what it is in it’s pleasantness. For me it’s a chance to catch up with all of the paper even our little magazine creates, and to reconnect with my website at www. EdmondActive.com (I miss posting weekly!!!). This month, we bring you a comprehensive guide to everything date worthy for Valentines Day in our annual Romantic Edmond issue, with our favorite places to shop, eat and play and a peek into the Arcadian Inn Bed & Breakfast, which is simply an amazing place to go and be pampered and just relax with your favorite person. Heather Popowsky, our resident master gardener, brings you information you’ll need to care for your yard in February and March and tells us the benefits of sub zero freezing temperatures for your yard & garden. Chef’s Marc and Jenny Dunham are back with their 3rd installment on their journey to becoming a fit family and parents in their 40’s trying to retain their ideal personal level of fitness while dealing with their busy everyday schedules. Also we were excited to visit the all new Mitch Park YMCA and bring you a sneak peek inside. If you’re not a member, be sure to visit them online for more information at www.YMCAOKC.org. It really is an amazing facility and the benefits to the Edmond community in whole will be longstanding. Thanks again for taking the time each issue to pick up Edmond Active Magazine, visit online, participate in our first ever Edmond’s Choice ballots (polling starts online 2/14/14) and interact with us at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You inspire me daily, and I’m really looking forward to 2014! Thanks for reading and I’ll see you Around Edmond! ~ Sherri
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My Yard
Gardening in Oklahoma’s Bipolar Weather It can be counted on one hand the days since the last time the Oklahoma City Metro area saw over a 50 degree drop in temperature in a singular 24-hour period. Even though winter is considered a dormant period of time for most vegetation in this part of the country extreme weather fluctuations can be harmful to everything from turf to older more established trees. Here are some things to look for from the weather in the metro areas most recent past. Early in the winter season an ice storm that lingered did some considerable damage to the larger more established trees. Waking up or coming home to branches in your drive or yard was the case for many in Edmond neighborhoods. And sure enough, close behind these storms are men in trucks offering to take those limbs and even larger parts of your trees with them. Leaving your pocket book and landscaping budget much lighter. Taking your limbs and making clean cuts from where the limb broke is all the transaction needed unless you are actually speaking to an educated horticulturist or arborist. I use an accountant for a reason, personally I don’t understand tax law well and I am also smarter than to visit a tax location with no formal background in tax preparation. The eco system and landscaping around an established tree would greatly be effected by drastic changes in the winter months. Examples would be fescue turf or ornamental shade plants relying on the shade from such a tree. Some ornamental shade plants might have already been exposed to damage given the extreme weather changes. Hydrangeas hard dormant wood, that has this springs buds on it, may have been injured from long standing ice formations on the wood stems. Even newly harden
portions of roses bushes can be drastically affected by multiple days of ice sitting on the plant. As with any pruning done to wounded plants, using clean tools, and cleaning tools in between plants is key. Also waiting for that plant to truly show you what parts are damaged is important. Remember the rule of thumb when pruning is *You can always take off more after you step back and look or come back in a week or two, but you can never put back on what you have aggressively taken off. This is true of ALL pruning from trees to bushes. Dense forming evergreen bushes are likely to have die back from what I call “frost bite” This is where small portions of the plant die back leaving the foliage blotchy. Carefully pruning just those small sections out to leave room for healthy new branches to enter that space is the best plan. Also as with following of any damaging season a balanced round of early spring fertilizing will go a long way to regaining growth. It wasn’t but a few winter seasons back that crap myrtles were largely wounded by a heavier winter. Trimming crap myrtles back as usual in the early season this year is prudent but don’t be surprised if some of the larger stalks of the plant don’t need to be trimmed out again from the base of the plant. Herbaceous perennials, plants that die back in the winter to the ground, but return each spring, are least likely to be disturbed by the weather if they were properly mulched. Ground temperatures do fluctuate, but not ever as drastically as air temperatures. As winter is considered a season of drought, most years, watering on any day where we experience above 50 degrees helps all vegetation come the spring. In the winter mid morning is the best time
By Heather Popowsky
for watering as it gives enough time for areas to dry out before temperatures dip back down that evening. This also helps with drying out the overspray that often happens on sidewalks and driveways from irrigation systems. The Groundhog said we have another six weeks of winter in store, but that means spring is just around the corner. While what has been said here is to prepare the common gardener for the severity of winter to their landscaping, there is also cause for the same gardener to rejoice in the cold this winter has brought us. The last several seasons we have seen tremendous loss of a variety of plants and damage to species due to disease and pest infestations. To quote another article published recently “Extreme cold is a fortuitous management tool.” This weather should help with the populations from everything including the common housefly and mosquito to the pine beetle. What a severe yet master artist old Winter is.... No longer the canvas and the pigments, but the marble and the chisel. ~John Burroughs, “The Snow-Walkers,” 1866 The advice above has been accumulated from my education in the field of horticulture to the almost a decade of owning a landscaping business in the state of Oklahoma. Due to space and the purpose of this article I couldn’t elaborate on all the tips I gave and couldn’t fit all the advice I have for the season. So I encourage you to find me on facebook under Neighborhood Gardener or on Twitter @gardenchica for questions about this article and further information on monthly tips and to do lists items. Look for me here in April to keep Edmond up to date on improving your garden this season.
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Life Happens
Self Trust By Jenny Dunham
By Marc Dunham
Something I don’t have a lot of. I have a lot of confidence, but that’s different. And YOU can trust me with a secret or know ill do it if I said I would. I think I’ve let myself down too many times. Even through the process of these articles I thought the accountability would hold me to the promise I made to myself to get fit. I started out great and then when things in our lives changed, I didn’t make adjustments to keep the workouts going. The difference this time is that I’m not going to give up. I’ve gone back to work mostly full time and I’ll know if it’s going to stay full time by the end of January. I’ve had a hard time adjusting to working so much (I still have my other part time job!) I’ve been in survival mode and now I’m switching to planned and with purpose mode. Self trust is a bigger issue than this article can handle. But if you don’t promise yourself anything then you won’t fail at it. I think that’s sort of been my problem for too long. I’ve been ok with the ok. I look fine. I feel fine. If I haven’t promised myself big results then no failure. Well I’m over it. Ok isn’t ok. I deserve to look and feel my best. And the truth is, I don’t. So happy 2014...let’s do this. January’s goal is to reach 10000 steps on my fitbit each day. Doable. PS Marc’s dedication to his 5 am workouts is inspiring and working. He looks amazing.
A few months ago, I was asked (told) to join a group of people to discuss some leadership growth strategies. I’m sure that many of you in the corporate world have at one point or another been asked to read a book and then discuss it in your leadership team meetings. This is nothing new for many of you, but it was for me. I have always been a self-learner and preferred solitude or very small groups to large groups when it comes to learning (INFJ, so I’ve been diagnosed). Fear has never been the issue, or speaking in public, but listening to and sharing struggles has always been difficult for me because of the nature of my past. I can suck the wind out of a room quite quickly if I’m not careful, and I know it. So I was fearful of what information I could and could not share in this group without losing credibility. Just a quick note before we move on...the group is small, fantastic, and I’m learning a ton about myself and my colleagues. Credibility. According to Stephen M.R. Covey (son of Stephen R. Covey), there are 4 cores of credibility; integrity, intent, capabilities, results. I’d like to focus on the first as it relates to my goals for getting fit. When I went to culinary school, I struck a deal with the dean of financial aid by convincing her that I would have the highest gpa in my class if she helped me find a way to pay for culinary school. Whatever I said, I must have convinced
her, but I remember leaving that office and being very nervous about being able to deliver. I swallowed that nervousness and decided to symbolize my commitment by taking my knives to an engraver and having the word “integrity” engraved on each knife and tool in my kit (true story). Every time someone asked about it, I sheepishly said that it was just to help me maintain focus. I had no idea if it was working or if it would ultimately pay off (it did though), but it meant a lot to me mentally. I decided that even if I failed, I was going to try my best to keep my word to the dean. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was keeping my word to me as well. Every scholarship, every recognition award, every kind word from a classmate or instructor was building my self trust. I did not feel better than anyone, but for the first time in my life, and I mean the first time, I trusted myself. All from the pits of desperation for change. So as it goes, every morning at 5 am the alarm goes off. Now I’m older and hopefully a little wiser. Integrity is still a challenge as it always will be. My intent is not the same as it was when I was 24, and my “engraving” of integrity these days are the relationships with myself, my family, and the group of morning gym goers at the north side Y on Penn. Everyday we see each other, we trust ourselves and each other a little more.
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Spring 2014 is arriving in store now!
Unique Pieces from Wesley Hall
Design Services
Rugs from Company C 25% off at Emory Anne Interiors.
HOURS: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Saturday 10am-5pm 405.753.4466 www.emoryanneinteriors.com
15020 Bristol Park Place, Edmond (on 33rd, between Santa Fe & Kelly)
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Metro Flavor
Sweet Peace offers Sweet Shop Gourmet Chocolates such as this Red Velvet pictured to the right. It’s one of the most delicious chocolates available. Found at 15th & Santa Fe, across Santa Fe from Crest Grocery Store. Ready made & custom candy bouquet orders available for free Edmond delivery. Many gifts available under $25.
Cupcakes To Go Go Red Velvet Cupcakes are a terrific treat for your Valentine! Stop by the shop on Edmond Rd. just west of Santa Fe.
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Metro Flavor
Edmond Wine Shop, at 15th & Boulevard, suggests these two bubbly treats to celebrate Valentines Day To the left, Mi Amore Moscato at $15.99 and to the right - Toad Hollow’s Risque a French Sparkling Wine at $17.99. Mi Amore is absolutely a sweet moscato and might be a favorite of ours with it’s deep, sweet flavor. Risque is a lightly sweet sparkling wine that has a terrific aftertaste.
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Romantic Edmond
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Romantic Edmond
Romantic Edmond The Arcadian Inn provides a romantic setting for couples, newlyweds, and even business travelers to take a moment to slow down in comfort, all in the heart of Downtown Edmond. For 24 years, the family owned and operated Arcadian Inn Bed & Breakfast has been pampering its guests with luxury surroundings and gourmet candlelit breakfasts. Most of all, the Hall family has been forging lifelong friendships with their guests. We’re guessing this is a big part of their success! If you’re interested in reserving a room at the Arcadian Inn Bed & Breakfast, give them a call at 405-348-6347 or visit them online at www. ArcadianInn.com.
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Romantic Edmond
Edmond Jewelers
Dining Out
Take her racing
Valentines Day is one of the most popular days for Weddings and Engagements/ If you are planning on popping the question, you’re going to need the hardware to go along with it. Edmond’s Jewelers can help with that.
We asked our Facebook Fans to tell us what their favorite local restaraunts were to take their Valentine to, and here’s how they responded in order of recommendations:In Edmond:
If you and your girl are on the competitive side you can let it out on the race track. Pole Position on May Avenue is the perfect place for such a date. The electric karts at Pole Position are fast and the experience is thrilling to say the least. But here’s a helpful tip, let here win. That way it will be easier to talk her in to going back for a rematch. Be fore warned, though, racing at Pole Position is very addicting...yes, it’s that much fun.
Fields Jewelry 12 S. Broadway Kannard Jewelers 100 N Broadway # 124 Ring’s Etc Fine Jewelry 225 South Broadway Barrett Jewelers 3224 South Boulevard Street
Edmond Florists Nothing says “I Love You” like a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers on Valentines Day. Come home from work without them and you’re in the dog house. In an effort to save you from that shame we’ve compiled a list of Edmond Florist. We’re here to help.
Signature Grill Danforth at Bryant & Danforth Boulevard Steakhouse 505 S. Boulevard Cafe 501 501 S. Boulevard Othello’s 1 S. Broadway Free Carriage Rides 2/14/14 Italian Jim’s Downtown Edmond Broadway Lottinville’s 15th & Kelly In OKC:
A Bloom Above the Rest 416 South Broadway
Ranch Steakhouse 3000 West Britton Road
Madeline’s Flower Shop 1030 South Broadway
Mahogany Prime Steakhouse 3241 W. Memorial Rd
Kickingbird Flowers & Gifts 1251 East Danforth Road
Opus Prime Steakhouse 800 W Memorial Rd
Designs By Tammy Your Florist 1425 South Santa Fe
Red Prime Steakhouse 504 N. Broadway
All About Flower Power 25 West 15th Street
Micky Mantle’s 7 S Mickey Mantle Dr
Woods Floral & Gourmet Foods 1279 West Danforth Road
Cheever’s Cafe 2409 N Hudson
Go To The Gardens The Myriad Gardens are a great way to spend some time with your special someone. Now that the park has been totally redone, there is plenty to see and do at Myriad Gardens.
Paint Your Art Out Date Paint Your Art Out at 10 S. Broadway 405-513-5333 to register or www. PaintYourArtOut.net One fantastic way to spend some fun, quality time with your Valentine is to try an artist led session at Paint Your Art Out. Bring in a bottle of wine or refreshment of choice and settle in to find your inner artists. One of our favorite spots!
Museum Of Art Go for a little class and culture and take your Valentine to the Museum Of Art in Downtown. Go to www.okcmoa.com for the latest exhibits.
Stroll The Paseo From the galleries to restaurants and eclectic boutiques, you can’t go wrong with taking a date to the Paseo District.
Foster’s Flowers & Gifts 15011 Bristol Park
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Parks & Rec
State Of The Art YMCA Opens At Last
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Parks & Rec After all of the news stations, AP newspapers, etc. have done their stories on the newest Edmond addition in the Mitch Park YMCA, we wanted to make sure, especially for the local non members, to show you what this facility has to offer the community. A locally owned paper here in Edmond did a great job at highlighting the impact this facility would have on the local high school competitive swimming community. In those terms, this facility will be hosting some amazing competitive events, with potential global reach.
To the local residents, however, and especially those who are not currently members, this facility has the makings of being the very center of family connectivity. This facility offers TRX training, an amazing 9,000 sq. foot adult work out facility, a youth work out facility, a fun room for 8-12 that requires physical movement to be able to play the various games like the X-Box, Dance Dance Revelution, etc., a splash pad and community pool heated to 84 degrees year
round, community speakers, classes such as Zumba, Yoga & more. I really enjoyed the amazing cozy atmosphere in the lobby which offers seating with electronic charging stations, 2 fireplaces and a complimentary coffee & tea bar. For more information about membership, visit them online at www. YMCAOKC.org, or give them a call at 405-330-4016 to schedule a tour. You will be pleasantly surprised.
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Shop.Eat.Play.Edmond.
We specialize in wooden letters from 6” to 4 feet tall, wooden words, growth charts and crosses. We also offer a full line of Greek products for sororities and fraternities. We love custom orders and our motto is “ We don’t do ugly”. We can be found at Serendipity in Edmond, Cabin Fever in Kingfisher, And The Funky a Trunk West in Yukon. Phone # is 405-206-4325 Email: Susan@ wagscreations.com
Emory Anne Interiors is one of the trendiest stores in Edmond right now with a fantastic selection of new high end to affordable pieces for your entire home, very unique home accessories, full line of Company C, Lenny & Eva and Waxing Poetic Jewelry, Thibaut fine fabrics, wallpaper and custom furniture. Emory Anne’s also offers fabric by the yard and design services in store. Be sure to stop by to visit this store which should be a go to staple when redecorating on any budget. You can find Emory Anne Interiors at 15020 Bristol Blvd, on 33rd between Kelly and Santa Fe Open M-F 10 am to 6 pm and Sat. 10-5 pm. Be sure to follow at Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, and visit online at www.Emoryanneinteriors.com! Holiday Open House is Nov. 7 from 4-8 pm! If you have any questions, you can call the store at 405-753-4466.
Paint Your Art Out is Edmond’s MOST fun date, girls night out or party destination. Visit www.Paintyourartout.net to see their latest calendar & register or stop in or call 405-5135333 to register for the holiday sessions just added!! With artist lead sessions, absolutey anyone can be an artist! Visit them online for their current calendar of paintings. Located at 10 S. Broadway right in the heart of Downtown Edmond! Also find them at Facebook & Twitter at PaintYourArtOut!
Book reservations now for your special Valentines Getaway. If you can’t make it for Valentines Day, get your sweetheart a Gift Certificate! Be sure to visit ArcadianInn.com to reserve your room, as they book quickly at this time of year. The Arcadian Inn Bed and Breakfast is located at 1st and University, across from UCO. To book a reservation, visit www. ArcadianInn.com or call 405-348-6347.
MILLIES TABLE CATERING & More Millies is the place to go for catering or for your slowcooker meals! Give Millie’s a call at 330-9156 or visit her website for more information! Located at 1333 W. Danforth Rd in Edmond! For more information, visit her website at www.MilliesTable.com
We offer affordable & stylish accents, restyled furniture, fun jewelry, unique decor & gifts for every room and every taste! Stop in now to see all of the latest spring decor & fashions for you and your home. Find Serendipity Market at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest! Our Location: 917 E Danforth Rd, Edmond (Across from Ted’s Cafe Escondido) and you can call us at 405-340-8869
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Shop.Eat.Play.Edmond.
2 Doors Down Furniture Consignment takes select gently used brand name quality furniture and accessories. If you’re looking to make a change in your home this store is the place to check first as their stock is unique, trendy, and affordable, but you have to check in often as their inventory changes daily. Be sure to stop in to 2 Doors Down, located at 15020 Bristol Park Blvd Ste 400, off 33rd Street, between Kelly & Santa Fe, and take a look around, great owners and great pieces! You can also find them at Facebook at 2-Doors-Down and by calling them at 405254-5175 if you see something you’d like to place on hold!
Looking for something new to try under $20 during the snowstorms of 2014?! The employees at Edmond Wine Shop are ready to help with the most knowledgable staff in the metro, with their Employee Picks! Be sure to follow them at Twitter & Facebook @EdmondWineShop! Located on 15th & Boulevard and open Mon– Sat. till 9 pm! You can also call in any order at 405-3413122.
Store hours are M-F 10-6 and Sat. 10-5
Enjoy the Redneck Rendezvous Package in the country at any one of the 5 cozy Honeymoon cottages at Aaron’s Gate Country Cottages, in Guthrie, just a few minutes north of Edmond. Located on a beautiful wooded 10 acre property, you can relax with the outdoor jacuzzi’s or just relax indoors in front of the fireplace and wake up to a beautiful candlelit breakfast. Visit online at www.Aaronsgate. com to discover the different packages and to reserve your room, or call 405-282-0613.
Stop by Sweet Peace to find some of the most unique gifts in Edmond! Patty offers Candy Bouquets that can be custom ordered or you can stop in to the store to see the large selection of pre made bouquets. Corporate orders accepted and delivery is free in Edmond! Peacefrogs items are 50% off !!! Sweet Peace is located on the SW Corner of Santa Fe & 15th, across Santa Fe from Crest Grocery Store, and is open Tues - Friday 10 am to 5 pm and Sat: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Follow Sweet Peace at Facebook & Twitter!
The Board of Directors of Citizens Bank of Edmond announced that Jill Castilla will succeed C.H. Wyatt as President & CEO. “Jill represents the legacy of four generations of Citizens leadership and is committed to both the future of the bank and the community. I couldn’t leave the bank in better hands,” Wyatt said. “Our team has developed a culture of service to our customers and community. I expect that to continue and grow under Jill’s leadership.” Castilla, the bank’s new President and CEO, began her career with Citizens in 1998. Her progression then took her to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City where she managed multiple departments then serving on the senior management team at Grand Rapids State Bank in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Prior to Castilla’s initial employment at Citizens, she served in the U.S. Army and Oklahoma National Guard. “Jill represents the future of Citizens Bank and was the natural choice as the bank’s next leader,” Thompson said. “Citizens Bank of Edmond is thriving, and we look forward to the future with Jill’s capable leadership at the helm.” Thompson said that Castilla has already positioned the bank at the forefront of technology and accessibility. In the past year, Castilla received the Woman of the Year award by the Edmond Chamber of Commerce and was named by Independent Community Bankers Association as a top bank social media influencer. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Graduate School of Banking and has a Master’s in Economics from the University of Oklahoma. Castilla is a Distinguished Alumna from Hawaii Pacific University where she earned a BSBA in Finance. She serves on the boards of directors for Oklahoma Bankers Association and Community Bankers Association of Oklahoma as well as a trustee for UCO Foundation and Edmond Public Schools Foundation. “C.H. has been an outstanding mentor and I greatly appreciate how unselfishly he has shared his knowledge and expertise,” Castilla said. “I am humbled to be able to build on my family’s four-generation Citizens legacy, and plan to spend the rest of my career serving this bank.”
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Edmond Business
Millie Shores Millie’s Table: Small Business Of The Year How long have you been doing Millie’s Table? We’ve been in business since September of 2007. We were actually called Super Suppers at the time. How did you get from doing that to changing into Millie’s Table? Well, Super Suppers was a franchise, and we had started doing a lot of catering, and I kind of really wanted to promote that a little bit more, so we decided, a couple of years ago, to go ahead and change our name to Millie’s Table so that we could promote the catering and also still do the
store part of the business too. So how would you describe Millie’s Table? It’s kind of just a food retail store. We have entrees that are ready to go. We assemble everything here. We have what we call a grab-and-go freezer, so people can just walk in and see what we’ve got available, or they can go to the website and order off of that (http://milliestable. com/), and we can make it for them. If we need to customize it, we can do that – so let’s say they want to watch the salt level or they don’t like onions, mushrooms
or whatever, then we can leave those ingredients out if they happen to be in the entree that they’re asking for. And then the other part of the business is our catering business. We offer buffet-style catering. We can do sit-down, but we really prefer buffet-style. A nice casual atmosphere, or it can be very dressy, so anywhere from business lunches to board meetings to maybe you have a big family gathering, or weddings and other big events. We can do those also. How did you come into starting that franchise?
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Edmond Business Well, I actually lived in Wichita, KS, and some friends of mine from church were going to start a franchise. So I kind of got involved with them; I started out doing their bookwork, and at that time you signed up for sessions, so I helped them when they had sessions going, or when you signed up to have a party. And then I decided to move back to Oklahoma, and I wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted to do. I knew there was an old Super Suppers here at one time, and the space was still available, and I liked the concept of it and so that’s how it kind of got started. Super Suppers corporate closed down three years ago, and we wanted to keep going and didn’t really want to keep it under the Super Suppers name – mainly because we do catering and that wasn’t part of the franchise. And so we really try to feature the catering a little bit more than we do the store, even though the store does quite well. I mean, it still stays busy. How do you prepare for a given catering job? Well, like today, we did the YMCA board meeting. So they let us know, first of all, when the dates are, and how many they want to do, and we find out what their budget is and what menu they’re wanting. Since it’s the Y, they want something off of our healthy menu, obviously. We just try to find out from the client what they’re doing, what kind of event it is, what their budget is so we can try to work with that budget. And then we just basically go about ordering the food and the ingredients, we put it together a day or so ahead of time depending on what it is, and then we go deliver it. Okay. Now, you recently just won the Edmond Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year award. How did you get to this point? How did the process work? I think how the process works is that, they set a nomination period and people can put in nominations of people, and I’m not sure – I would assume it’s either businesses, other Chamber members, could be Chamber staff that maybe make those nominations, I’m not sure exactly. And then they send out applications to everybody that’s been nominated. So then you have an application that you have to fill out, and then they judge those applications. I’m not sure what all the criteria are, but you get points, and so I guess the final four who have the highest points are considered the finalists. And
then you have an interview with – I think there were six or seven judges this year. They ask you different questions. A lot of them are based kind of on your applications, and they have some other questions in general that they’ll ask you. And they make the final decision. How did you find out that you won the Business of the Year award? Was there some notice beforehand or was it only announced at the event? One of the Chamber officials, Brooke, I think, came in and presented me with a plaque to show me that we were a finalist, and then we set up different things, so no, we did not know until Friday evening. They took video of each of the four finalists, which this year actually was really cool. It was all women-owned businesses. That’s pretty unique. The other businesses were Madeline’s Flower Shop, Red Rock Consulting, and Chirps and Cheers. They took videos of all of us, and then on Friday night at the banquet, they actually – Francis Tuttle did the videos, and they did a little showing of that. And then after that was over, then they announced the winner. I’ve been open six years, and I think Red Rock has been around five. And then Madeline’s Flower Shop has been around a long time, I think they’ve been open for around 50 years. Of course, Madeline has since passed away, but her daughter, Barbara, now owns it, and her daughters work with her, so I think that’s really cool. It’s a neat thing to be able to work with your family and get along. What is your most popular food item? Probably the Parmesan Chicken with the creamy sage sauce. And then the one right after that would be our Bacon
Cheddar Meatloaf. What are your specials for Valentine’s Day? We do have a dinner for two – there’s actually a couple of choices. They can choose from the Parmesan Chicken, the Basil Pork Chops, the Honey Ginger Salmon and the Asian Flank Steak. And then they would get a couple of sides, a salad, rolls and then a special desert. Speaking of Valentine’s Day, I know last holiday season was kind of rough for retailers. People just weren’t spending a whole lot of money. Millie’s Table seems to be doing pretty well. Are the holidays a good time of year for you? Millie Shores: Thanksgiving especially is really a very big deal for us. We offer a complete dinner. And so, we sold a lot of dinners this year. It just makes it easier for everybody; you know, you get so tied up in spending so much time preparing, and then five minutes later you’ve eaten and it’s done, and you haven’t really gotten to enjoy visiting with family or friends that are there. So, we make it easier for them. And they still get the smells, because they cook it in their oven or they have me cook it. We did cook a lot this last year on Thanksgiving, which kind of surprised me. And we do the same thing for Christmas; I don’t usually push it as hard, but we sold quite a few dinners for Christmas – not as extensive as a Thanksgiving meal would be. And we’ll do some for Valentine’s Day. A lot of people like to go out to eat, but sometimes it’s kind of nice just to have a nice evening at home with your spouse or significant other. So, we do those, and then, throughout the year just different things.
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@edmondactive at Instagram. How are you active?
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EdmondActive. In Print. Online. Social Media. Find EdmondActive at any one of these social networks. We’re where you are.
We cover the people, events & businesses that make this town unique. We’re Edmond’s Community Magazine, thanks to you Edmond! Follow along online daily with over 19,000 other Edmond & NW OKC residents to see what’s new in Edmond. No one covers Edmond on social media like EdmondActive!