Fall/Winter 2023 At Home in Edmond

A PUBLICATION OF EDMOND LIFE & LEISURE

Letter from the Publisher

LOOK TO PROFESSIONALS FOR HOUSING HELP

You are probably saying to yourself that my headline is just another person trying to sell property in Edmond. Everyone says all the time that it is a great time to buy a house or remodel your home. I understand that kind of thinking, but the truth is that it really is a great time to buy a house in Edmond, Oklahoma.

You can do the math on price per square foot and how much more home you can get for your money than three years ago. There are lots that can be purchased, neighborhoods with houses that need to sell and builders that are anxious to build a custom home right now. Mortgage rates are higher but with the action of the Feds, I would not look for them to come down soon so please do not wait for that.

More importantly, you will own a lot of home in a great town, Edmond. For most of us, our home is the biggest investment we can make. That is why Edmond is a great place to make that investment. What is so special about Edmond?

We could start with our schools, low crime rate, parks, city government, our own electric company, strict zoning, great retail options that are getting even better, low cost of living, quality builders and developers, sports programs and public art. Many other communities in our state are following our lead and trying to get a public art ordinance in place and meeting resistance from tax payers. Our residents saw the wisdom in having your town full of public art. I understand that when budgets get tight, it is harder to see down the road but Edmond can honestly say that our public art has contributed to making this a better place to live and that brings more business to town. More business means more city tax income which all goes to maintaining great city services.

The housing market is very different than we have ever seen and that is why you should look to professionals in this area that are qualified to walk you through the tough decisions of financing, building, remodeling or redecorating. Our At Home in Edmond magazine gives you just that opportunity to find trusted professionals in our community. They want you to make good decisions as well.

I want to thank our staff for their hard work on this section. It is tough when producing a weekly newspaper to put out a section the size of this one as well. They have done an excellent job once again. Edmond Life & Leisure is 100% locally owned and operated, which means we are the only newspaper in town that can make that statement.

We do hope you enjoy our fall edition of At Home In Edmond. Our staff and our advertisers love our city and hope you do as well.

Best Regards,

Ray Hibbard

Publisher Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond

CONTRIBUTING

Get in the spirit Decorating for Halloween

Drive through a suburban neighborhood in October and it’s likely you will find yards filled with inflatable witches, animatronic grim reapers and makeshift graveyards bearing witty sayings on tombstone and bony hands reaching out from the soil. Decorating for Halloween has become big business, with consumers spending a collective $10.6 billion in this category in the United States in 2022, according to a survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics and the National Retail Federation. In fact, decorations, particularly outdoor decorations, were the second most popular way to celebrate Halloween (candy still reigns supreme).

According to research by LombardoHome.com, which looked at Google searches across the country, Las Vegas, Denver, Baltimore, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle were the top five states that searched the most for Halloween decorations on average per capita. Carved pumpkins, skeletons and witch cauldrons topped the list of preferred Halloween decorations in America.

Halloween is an opportunity to pull out all the stops for this fun fall celebration. The following tips can help to turn any home into a Halloween haunt to remember.

• Decide on a theme. Most people fall into one of two camps when decorating for Halloween. There are those who want their homes to be frightening and full of horrific details, and others who prefer more of a fall harvest look. Identify your preferences and then gather decorative items accordingly.

• Shop early/late. Ideally, the best time to buy Halloween decorations is the day after the holiday when prices get slashed (pun intended). This is the time to stock up on items for next year. You can save anywhere from 50 to 70 percent when buying late in the season. For those who need new items for this year’s Halloween, closeout retailers like HomeGoods and TJ Maxx start putting out Halloween products in the middle of summer. Stock up as soon as you see items, as they’re not likely to remain on shelves for long. By the time October rolls

around, decorations may be gone.

• Subtle touches can work. Though some people just love covering every square foot of a property with all things Halloween, it’s also possible to make a big impact with minimal effort. Lighting, or lack thereof, can create a spooky atmosphere. Swap existing porch lights with yellow or even black lights so everything glows. Candles flickering can add mystery. Place some battery-powered or electric candles in windows for an eerie feel. Swap out your typical curtains with purple or black ones to drape the house in even more spooky appeal.

• Wait on the carved pumpkins. Halloween seldom is complete without jack-o’-lanterns. But pumpkins often begin to degrade shortly after they’re first carved. Use artificial pumpkins if you plan to decorate early; otherwise, wait until a day or two before Halloween to add freshly carved pumpkins to the Halloween scape. Children can come up with the design, but ensure only adults cut into the pumpkins.

Beautiful Homes from Brent Gibson Classic Home Design

By Rose Drebes

The team at Brent Gibson Classic Home Design rolls out the red carpet for clients as they go through the design process.

“We want to make sure they are happy,” founder Brent Gibson said.

Gibson started the company in 1990. He grew up in Guymon and attended Southwest Oklahoma State University where he majored in art.

“I have a big background in art,” he said, adding he has 400-500 paintings in his personal portfolio.

After going to work for a construction company, Gibson said he taught himself to draw custom homes.

“What was interesting was that no one was drawing the designs I liked,” he said.

The designs he liked were those similar to historic homes. After a stint in Colorado, he moved back to Oklaho-

ma and got to work.

He designed his office located off of 15th near Kelly in 1995.

What really helped get the word out about his expertise was the design of a decorator show house for the Edmond Women’s Club in 1992. The home was based on the historic architecture of Heritage Hills.

Having a background in construction is a plus because Gibson said he knows how a house goes together and can design accordingly.

While there are hundreds of stock designs available from Brent Gibson Custom Homes which can be modified, most of what the company still does is custom designs.

The first step, Gibson said, is to go out and look at the property to see where the sun is going to set and get

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Brent Gibson

An example of a 3D rendering of a client’s home. an idea of how the light and shadows will contribute to the look of the home.

Next, designers meet with the client and draw out their ideas right there. It then takes about two or three months to produce a 3D rendering.

Gibson and his staff can design any type of home, from traditional to country French to Mediterranean, farmhouse and more.

Mike Gundy, Lincoln Riley and Toby Keith are some of Gibson’s more well-known clients. Lake

homes are also popular, he said.

Gibson has been married since 1980 and has two daughters. He said he enjoys his work with Pivot — A Turning Point for Youth in designing tiny homes for young people who have aged out of the foster care system.

He said he doesn’t plan to slow down soon.

“I love going to work,” Gibson said. “I am going to for a long time.”

To learn more, visit brentgibson.com.

Gibson and his staff can design any type of home, from traditional to country French to Mediterranean, farmhouse and more.

Halloween Crafts for Kids

Halloween is an enjoyable holiday for all, but particularly for children. Kids enjoy the opportunity to channel their whimsy and imagination, whether that involves choosing a clever costume or helping design the theme and scope of home decorations.

The following are some Halloween crafts children can make alone or with the help of older siblings and parents — helping to curb added expenses on commercial decor.

Forest spider

Take a trip to a nearby forest or wooded trail and gather up round pinecones that have fallen. Purchase brown pipe cleaners and cut four of the cleaners in half to form eight legs. Glue the legs on the pinecone and attach several small googly eyes and

two larger ones to form the eyes of the spider.

Paper roll treat holders

Rather than discarding the tubes inside of paper towel rolls, let kids transform them into monster craft treat holders. They’ll be perfect for party favors or even to give out to neighborhood trick-or-treaters. Cover the bottoms of the rolls with masking tape so treats won’t fall out. Paint the outside of the cardboard rolls and let dry. An alternative is to cover the rolls in colored paper for less messy fun. Then use markers or paper cut-outs to form faces of the monsters. Fill the rolls with treats, then stuff a piece of tissue paper in each top to add even more personality to the creations and hide the treats inside.

Ghostly leaves

Make a truly eco-friendly craft on Halloween, with ghosts made out of leaves, eliminating the need to use extra paper. Paint large leaves with white paint. On the narrow-most point on top of the leaves, paint black eyes and mouths. When completely dry, scatter on a table or sideboard for some scary fun, or use double-sided tape to stick to windows and doors.

Bachle’s by the fire

By Erika Williams

Decorating for the holidays is one of the best ways to welcome fall and winter weather. Bachle’s Fireplace Furnishings located at 11920 N May Avenue in Northpark Mall has all the things you need to bring the Christmas spirit into your home.

Bachle’s has been a part of the Oklahoma City community for over a century. The store, now owned by Clayton Sliger and William Bourne, specializes in fireplaces and hearth furnishings but has expanded to offer outdoor living products and home décor.

“Leonard Bachles started the store in 1906. We’ve been in the city before statehood, and it’s evolved over the years into what you see now,” said William.

The store does have offerings for customers year-round, but Bachle’s has a special kind of charm during the holidays.

“We go all out on decorating for Christmas. If you see our trees, it’s the more the better. I mean, we really pull out all the stops and stuff our trees full with ornaments,” said William.

“The Thursday before Thanksgiving is our annual open house, so we’ll have the Christmas trees, gifts, all that stuff decorating the store.”

For those looking for ideas on how to decorate their homes for the holi-

days, William has a few tips. “Just go with what you like. Don’t feel like you need to follow a recipe or anything like that, you know? You don’t have to get all the same things. You can mix it up. Nothing has to match. Go with whatever makes you happy and puts a smile on your face,” said William.

William added that customers trying to decide between traditional and trendy Christmas décor can look for unique ways to intertwine the two. When decorating for the store, he ensures that many different styles are represented.

“We do different trees. We’ll have candy cane trees then something that’s more elegant that you’d maybe see in a big colonial home, and then we’ll do a rustic tree with the popcorn garland,” said William.

Bachle’s also features different styles in their fireplace and décor displays so that customers can see what would work best in their homes.

“If you notice our fireplaces, we try to do a little bit of each kind of design style, you know, so it gives people ideas and stuff,” said William. “It’s the same with decorating. We have a variety of stuff just so everybody can kind of imagine it in their house with their decorating. They may see something that they can add to their décor to kind of freshen it up.”

Sitting around the fire is the perfect way to enjoy a cold winter day, and Bachle’s offers electric fireplaces for customers who may not already have one in their home.

“An electric fireplace is a great way

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to add a fireplace if you don’t have one. You can also add an electric fireplace to anywhere you would like to have one like the master bedroom, theater room, maybe a room that’s a little chilly that you like to sit in during the wintertime,” said William. “You get a little bit of ambience and a little bit of heat. They come in different sizes with different functions you can control from your phone.”

Bachle’s also carries multiple vented log sets for wood burning fireplaces which they install and service. Customers can also take advantage of custom iron pieces that are made in Oklahoma City.

“You get to design it. That’s the fun part about that. If there’s a design in your house that you like or something that you found online, we can recreate it as closely as possible. You get more customization that way that if you were to pick something out of the catalog.”

Bachle’s is best described as a destination spot for providing warmth and ambiance to the hearth of the home dedicated to helping you create a unique home environment.

Customers interested in learning more about fireplaces and fireplace furnishings can call 405-842-8872 or visit the store Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Snap a Great Christmas Card Photo

Greeting cards are among the first signs that the holiday season has arrived. Mailboxes are filled with cards and email inboxes have new messages popping up each day wishing others well. Many of these greetings feature family photos.

A Shutterfly poll conducted by Ipsos in 2021 discovered that, while traditional holiday messages are by far the most popular missives at 63 percent, younger age groups show more interest in other types of cards, such as photo cards (between 34 and 38 percent depending on age group). Forty-one percent of people polled prefer to receive photo cards. That means holiday well-wishers may want to brush up on their photography skills.

• Keep cards in the back of your mind. While the Norman Rockwell-esque family tableau or a wintry Christmas scene is a go-to holiday card, any photo-worthy moment throughout the year can suffice. Keep a lookout for ideas while vacationing or enjoying time together as a family.

• Avoid busy prints. Stick to solid colors when posing

for holiday photos; otherwise, recipients’ eyes may not know where to look when viewing the photo. Photo sub-

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jects should coordinate, but wardrobes that completely match can seem contrived.

• Plan around nap times. If photos involve young children, schedule the photo shoot to occur when children are well-rested and fed. Now may be the time to offer kids treats they don’t normally get in an effort to reward patience and happy smiles.

• Avoid red eye. Proper lighting can help avoid the occurrence of “red eye” in photographs, which happens when the flash bounces off a wide pupil. Asking subjects to look into bright light before the photo, or utilizing a camera that snaps a small burst of flash before the actual flash, can help alleviate this problem.

• Embrace candid shots or mixups. Some of the funniest and most memorable photos are when things didn’t go according to plan. A crying infant or a parent looking away from the lens may not be magazine wor-

thy, but don’t be so quick to discard those less-thanperfect snaps.

• Zoom in tight and cropped. Card recipients want to look at you and not the surroundings. Avoid landscape shots on holiday cards, and be sure to focus on the subjects’ faces as much as possible.

• Angle correctly for flattering photos. Adjust your body posture to look your best. Turn the lower half of your body to the side and then adjust the upper half to move slightly toward the camera to appear more svelte. Position the camera lens at eye level or above to avoid double chins in photos.

• Show off your sense of humor. You can show friends and family you like to laugh by posing in funny ways or by mimicking pop culture references in your photo cards. Recreate childhood photos of yore, or imitate photos from album covers or movie posters.

“Families are like branches on a tree. We grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one.”

-Anonymous

Finnleo Saunas by Amini ’s

As the weather begins to cool down, it’s important to focus on health and wellness. Amini’s located at 525 W. Memorial Rd. in Oklahoma City recently started carrying a product that can help you do just that. In addition to home and outdoor furnishings, game room equipment, and area rugs, Amini’s now offers both traditional and infrared saunas.

Arash Amini, the CEO, believes that everyone can benefit from using saunas. In fact, Arash uses his infrared sauna every day.

“If you sit in a sauna for 30 minutes when you get out, you’ll be thinking, ‘I want to do this every day.’ I say this because I’ve had an infrared sauna for three years,” said Arash. “I sit in it for 20-35 minutes depending on the time I have in the morning. I get out every day, and I’m like, I cannot believe how amazing this feels.”

The idea of home saunas is somewhat new to the United States, but it has been commonplace in Western Europe for decades. In Finland, 90% of homeowners own a sauna, and it is consistently rated as the happiest country in the world.

There are numerous, scientifically proven benefits from using a sauna on a regular basis. A 20-year study conducted in Finland found that regular sauna usage improved heart and brain health reducing the risk of fatal cardiac incidents, stroke, hypertension, Alzheimer’s, and Dementia.

“If you sit in a sauna for four days a week for 30 minutes, you reduce your likelihood of dementia by 65%. It has such a tremendous impact on blood flow and circulation that

it reduces mortality by 40%. It’s all about this infrared light and raising your body temperature and how this infrared light penetrates and gets into your blood flow at a cellular level, and so with this increased blood circulation and detoxification and a reduction of inflammation in your body, it just has a tremendous amount of positive impact

Infrared saunas can also help aid in recovery after exercise and with joint pain. Some doctors even recommend saunas to help with recovery a hip or knee replacement.

In addition to those benefits, saunas can aid improving overall wellness including relieving stress, strengthening immune systems, and inducing better sleep.

“When you do these saunas, you just sleep better, and you relax,” said Arash. “It detoxifies you and it burns calories at the same time”

The sauna’s offered at Amini’s are from the company Finnleo which is known for being one of the best wellness brands in the country. Customers who visit Amini’s will get to examine the saunas in person.

“We have several models that are going to be on our

floors in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa. So, people can see what size they want. They can sit in them; they can test them. They’ll be on, they’ll be hot, and they can learn more about them. We have the stock, and we can deliver them and get them going,” said Arash. “Nobody wants to go online and take a risk of knowing what it’s going to be like in real life and how it works and what if it doesn’t? Who’s going to build it and assemble it? And we handle all that.”

Saunas were a natural addition for the Amini’s as they have always put health, wellness, and family at the forefront.

“My dad is always focused on the premium brands, and it’s always

Traditional Finnish saunas are wood lined rooms with heaters filled with rocks over which water may be ladled.

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been about family entertainment and time together in the home. We focus on offering products that create experiences or can impact our lives in a positive manner, in a healthy manner.”

The family business started in Oklahoma City in 1975 when Mack Amini opened his first store with only five pool tables. The business grew from there, and now there are four locations across the Midwest.

“He just started adding complementary products to the pool tables. At some point he had the barstools, the pool tables, and game room furniture. Then then it became

pinball machines,” said Arash. “Then, people started really looking to us as a company that would carry premium brands with really good warranties and white-glove full service.”

Amini’s has plenty of products that can help shoppers take advantage of the cooler fall weather.

“We’re getting back in this season for outdoor entertaining. We have all kinds of outdoor furniture, whether it be dining or fire pits or sectionals, or sofas or wicker, pub tables, outdoor bar stools, or umbrellas. We have awesome displays and all kinds of stuff in stock,” said Arash.

Once the weather gets too cold for outdoor entertaining, Amini’s carries

a variety of games and game room furniture perfect for hosting guests inside.

Said Arash, “We have pool tables shuffleboard, pinball machines, Golden Tee. We always sell Miss Pac Man and all kinds of fun games that everybody always played.”

Amini’s is a great place shoppers looking for quality products that encourage family togetherness and promote wellness.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

OUTDOOR SAUNA ROOMS

Simple panel construction makes it easy to assemble anywhere you have space.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

CUSTOM INFRARED SAUNA AND INFRASAUNA

As infrared saunas have grown in popularity. And made to fit your own design ideas

PHOTOS PROVIDED

You and your family will enjoy a lifetime of fun playing pool on this beautiful model.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

The Twilight collection is a stunning option for outdoor living. Designed to showcase the beauty of a wicker design and reliable enough to endure the elements.

‘Puerto Rican Eggnog’

Tradition reigns supreme during the holiday season. Putting up Christmas trees, stringing lights, singing carols, and filling stockings with trinkets are just a few of the season’s many cherished traditions. However, amid the typical holiday hustle and bustle, there also are traditions that are unique to various cultures and ethnicities — particularly those pertaining to foods and beverages. From minced pies in England to kutia in Ukraine to spiced hot chocolate in Peru, many different foods and beverages are savored this time of year around the world.

Individuals of Puerto Rican descent might enjoy whipping up batches of coquito around the holidays. Coquito, which means “small coconut,” is made in batches with recipes passed down through families. It is similar to traditional eggnog, but Puerto Ricans will tell you it’s even better. The beverage is served throughout Navidad, or starting after Thanksgiving and ending in mid-January with the celebration of Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián.

Those interested in making homemade coquito can follow this “Traditional Coquito” recipe, courtesy of Discover

Puerto Rico

Traditional Coquito

1 can of condensed milk

1 can of evaporated milk

1 can of cream of coconut

1⁄2 cup white rum (preferably Don Q or Bacardí)

1⁄2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon (add more to taste)

In a blender, add evaporated milk, cream of coconut, sweetened condensed milk, rum, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Blend on high until mixture is well combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer mixture into glass bottles and chill in the refrigerator until cold. To serve, pour coquito into small serving glasses and garnish with ground cinnamon or a cinnamon stick.

Note: This is traditional Coquito. Individuals can experiment with different flavors, like chocolate, guava or even mango coquito if they desire.

Creating a Holiday Centerpiece

The holiday season is a great time to make any home a bit more merry and bright. Most individuals let their personalities show through their home decor, and holiday decorating is just as personal as decorating throughout the rest of the year.

The main living areas of a home get the most decorating attention, with a Christmas tree or menorah taking a prominent position in the front window. Garlands, candles and other accoutrements also may dress up spaces. However, when it comes to holiday hosting, attention also should be given to the dining table — which can benefit from a festive centerpiece.

Premade centerpieces are undeniably attractive, but adding a homespun touch can be a fun creative pursuit and become a family tradition. Explore these eight simple ideas to dress up your holiday table.

1. Frosted pine cones: Take advantage of a crisp winter’s day to venture into a forest or park that is rich with evergreen trees. Gather pine cones from the forest floor and, if possible, a few evergreen boughs. Give the pine cones a touch of winter whimsy with a little faux snow in a can or

even white paint. Nestle the boughs and pine cones into a wide-mouthed vase or bowl in the center of the table. Individual pine cones can later be turned into place cards for seating guests.

2. Holiday thanks: Cut many strips of paper roughly 6 inches in length from various colored pieces of paper to match the holiday theme. When guests arrive, ask them to write a favorite holiday memory or two, or what they’re thankful for. Twirl the paper strips around a pencil to curl them, and then place the curlicues into a decorative bowl in the center of the table. Later in the evening, the host or hostess can read some of the sentiments.

3. Magical forest: Use green and silver conical party hats to turn a table or sideboard into a veritable evergreen forest. Arrange them on a blanket of faux snow or white confetti.

4. Freshly cut: Select attractive flowers in vibrant holiday hues from a florist or even the supermarket floral section. Cut the stems and place them into an unusual display container, such as holiday themed mugs or a punch bowl.

5. Glass baubles: Who says ornaments should be exclusive to the tree? A crystal or glass cake stand can be transformed into an icy delight when topped with silver and clear glass ornaments.

6. Birch wood: The crisp white coloring of birch bark is right at home with holiday decor. Go stark with pieces of the cut wood in varying heights intermingled with white candles that mimic the shapes and scale of the wood.

7. Fruit and vegetables: If guests are coming over and the race is on for a fast centerpiece, look no further than the kitchen. Lemons, artichokes, pears, or pomegranates look festive in a bowl interspersed with some greenery and baby’s breath.

8. Cornucopia: The horn of plenty can be customized to any holiday. Purchase a horn in wicker or woven grapevine and fill with flowers, fruit and greenery, or even painted gourds or miniature pumpkins.

Holiday hosts and hostesses should not neglect the dining table when they decorate. Festive centerpieces can be handmade without much effort on the part of hosts.

Hot Chocolate Cookies

Hot chocolate does a fine job of warming people up on cold winter days. What if you could replicate the taste of hot chocolate in a cookie? That’s just what happens with this recipe for “Hot Chocolate Cookies” courtesy of creator Rachel Perry and American Lifestyle magazine. Enjoy them on their own, or paired with a mug of hot cocoa.

Hot Chocolate Cookies - Makes 24

1⁄2 cup butter

1 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips

11⁄4 cup light brown sugar

3 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1⁄4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

11⁄2 cups all-purpose flour

11⁄2 teaspoons baking powder

1⁄4 teaspoon salt

8 ounces semisweet baking chocolate, chopped 12 large marshmallows, sliced in half

1. Place the butter and chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat on high for 1 minute. Stir, and then heat for 30 seconds; repeat until chocolate is melted.

2. Beat the brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract together on medium speed, and then blend in the chocolate

mixture.

3. Add the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix on low until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

4. Preheat oven to 325 F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 12 tablespoons of dough onto each cookie sheet.

5. Bake for 12 minutes, remove from oven, and top each cookie with 1 piece of chocolate and 1 piece of marshmallow. Bake for another 4 minutes, and let cool for 5 minutes before placing on wire racks to cool completely.