FASHION RECIPES HOME TRAVEL HEALTH MEDICAL
Living
Backyards 2014
Your GATEWAY to HOMETOWN service and expertise Voted “Best Mortgage Company” In Ellis County 2013 & 2014
www.TheSchmidtGrp.com When you are looking for hometown service backed by expert, local professionals, turn to The Schmidt Group at Gateway Mortgage. Their Waxahachie office has over 90 years’ experience in the mortgage industry and best of all, they live and work right here in ELLIS COUNTY. The Schmidt Group promises you: • A community - first approach • Local underwriting and reliable closings • Service for a lifetime So whether you are purchasing a new home, considering refinancing or even seeking access to your home’s equity, they have the right solution to meet nearly any mortgage need.
Your Local Mortgage Team JEFF SCHMIDT - 817.681.7897 Regional Manager, RMLO 91368
TOM KER - 972.365.7022 Senior Loan Officer, RMLO 356892
NICK HESTER - 469.855.9262 Senior Loan Officer, RMLO 338108
TERRY WOOTEN - 214.949.9285 Senior Loan Officer, RMLO 224831
Office: 972.937.2200 | 100 Executive Court #3 | Waxahachie, TX 75165
Gateway Mortgage Group, LLC NMLS 7233
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT A DENTAL IMPLANT SOLUTION? Our patients are smiling! With dental implants we create confident smiles.
www.drhcooke.com Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Howard F. Cooke, D.M.D., M.S. BOARD CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY.
Dr. Cooke has specialized in dental implants for over 16 years. He is recognized in the community for his outstanding results and accomplishments in this area and in his practice as a full scope Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon.
Two convenient locations to serve you: 1626 W. Business 287 Suite 208 Waxahachie, TX 972.923.2900
7988 W. Virginia Dr. Suite 200 Dallas, TX 972.296.1992
Find Dr. Cooke on The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons website. like us on facebook: facebook.com/maxillofacial.oral.surgeon
The Ultimate in Outdoor Living
Pools • Spas • Cabanas • Cottages • Lazy Rivers • Outdoor Kitchens
Lazy River Pool Company
Unique One-of-a-Kind Pools Our website will show you our custom designed pools. No two pools are alike. We customize a pool to your home, your style and your budget.
214.883.2779 • OAK LEAF • WWW.LAZYRIVERPOOLS.COM Architectural Designs (Copyright 2014) Engineering Construction
Back to the Basics with Love Waxahachie Civic Center Presents the 11th Annual
Bridal Extravaganza September 14th, 2014
Waxahachie Civic Center 12 P.M. - 4 P.M.
Admission $3 Per Person
Today’s Trends for Modern Brides NOW ACCEPTING VENDOR APPLICATIONS
For more information:
dsmith@waxahachie.com | 469.309.4040 | www.waxahachieciviccenter.org
Fancy Apron Contest
Fabulous Anniversary Celebration!
FOR OUR
THURSDAY AUGUST 14TH
Extended Shopping Hours: 10am until 8pm
Giveaways, Drawings & Special Savings!
Put on your most original apron to whip up a prize. Judging will be held at 6pm.
Kitchenware • Grills • Home Decor Glassware | Dinnerware | Cutlery | Cookware | Gifts | Hand Poured Candles
501 South Rogers • Waxahachie in the Historic MKT Train Depot • 972.351.0086
TABLE OF CONTENTS 42 PERSONALIZE YOUR OWN LITTLE PIECE OF NATURE
50
14
SIZZLING SUMMER FASHIONS
FASHION
LOCAL FASHION 14 AVOIDING THE MAKEUP MELTDOWN 20
LIFE & STYLE
WEDDING: THE COCKTAIL HOUR 22 FREEDOM READS 24 GREAT AMERICAN RECIPES 26 MIDSUMMER MIXTURES 28 GUY TALK: FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH 30 NONPROFIT: EXTEND A HELPING PAW 32 DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS 34 A MOTHER’S TALE: THOSE FOUR WALLS 36
THE PERFECT SUMMER DIY
JULY/ AUGUST > BACKYARDS 2014:
A LITTLE SLICE OF NATURE 42
HOME & GARDEN BACKYARD: ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE 48 DIY: HOMEGROWN CORN HOLE 50 SCREENING OUT THE HEAT 52 JULY AND AUGUST PLANTS 56
MEDICAL
DEFEATING THE TEMPER TANTRUM 60 JUVENILE ARTHRITIS 62 WEIGHING IN ON BODY COMPOSITION 64 STEER YOUR EARS CLEAR OF DANGER 66
> CINDY BURCH: VACATION VILLAS 101 68 8
LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // JULY-AUGUST 2014
810 E. Main | Midlothian | 972.723.0702
www.EarthTonesGreenery.com
Come see us for the best prices in hardscapes, 810 E. Main • Midlothian 972.723.0702
Any Size Cedar Cabana with 30-year shingle roof
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Free consultation and estimates!
810 E. Main • Midlothian 9 7 2 . 7 2 3. 0 7 0 2
fireplaces, cabanas, arbors & outdoor kitchens!
living-magazine.com // JUlY-aUgUST 2014
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Living
I love summer time. The pool, the sun and family picnics. I’ve started an herb garden plus I’m enjoying having fresh fruit and vegetables from the local farmers markets! I hope you have a great summer.
ELLIS COUNTY
MAGAZINE
VOLUME 10 ISSUE 4 PUBLISHER CINDY CAMP EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR JENNIFER KEMP CREATIVE DIRECTOR LINDSEY KEENEY EDITOR IZAMAR LOREDO ADVERTISING PAMELA MCCRORY CHRIS BENNETT CFO SUSAN KOSORIS INTERN TRISTA MCCORMICK A special thanks to all of our contributing writers.
Ellis County Living Magazine is published bi-monthly by ECL Media, Inc.© using only environmentally-friendly ink. Copyright 2014, ECL Media, Inc.© All rights reserved. For advertising information, please contact Ellis County Living Magazine at 972.935.0938 or info@living-magazine.com. We are proud members of the Waxahachie, Ennis, Midlothian and Red Oak 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.
Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest & Twitter! facebook.com/EllisCountyLiving pinterest.com/eclivingmag twitter.com/ECLiving
Guarantee you’ll receive Ellis County Living Magazine by subscribing today!
Go to www.living-magazine.com
CINDY CAMP, PUBLISHER JENNIFER is the executive creative director for Living Magazine. She is a perfectionist who 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. Send questions or comments to jennifer@living-magazine.com.
LINDSEY is the creative director for Living Magazine. She grew up in Ennis and graduated from Texas A&M University. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, concerts, shopping and traveling, especially to her favorite destination, Las Vegas. Contact Lindsey at lindsey@living-magazine.com. IZAMAR is the editor of Living Magazine. She grew up in Red Oak and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in corporate communication. In her free time she enjoys trying out cool new places around the Ellis County area, shopping for the best deals and pinning her life away on Pinterest. Contact Izamar at editor@living-magazine.com. PAMELA is the advertising representative for Waxahachie and Red Oak. She has an extensive background in sales and advertising and runs a promotional advertising business. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, entertaining and traveling. Contact her at pamela@eclmedia.com.
CHRIS is the advertising representative for Ennis, Waxahachie and Midlothian. He grew up in Red Oak and volunteers with the SPCA in his spare time. In February, he married the love of his life, Robin, and they are happily settling in to married life together. Contact him at chris@living-magazine.com.
SUSAN is the chief financial officer of Living Magazine. A University of Texas business school graduate, Susan has 25 years of experience in business management, marketing and accounting. She has three sons and enjoys volunteering, cooking, reading and traveling. Contact her at accounting@eclmedia.com.
and click on “subscriptions.”
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LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // JULY-AUGUST 2014
STAFF PHOTOS BY MARIE Q PHOTOGRAPHY
r u o Y n I s What’ ? g a B h c Bea Monogrammed beach towels. Must have two, one for the chaise and one for drying. No one will ever take your personalized towels! It’s a great style statement too. I also like having the Vaseline moisturizer body spray. Very refreshing while reading a great book. My third must have: a colorful insulated tote to keep your drinks cool.
My beach bag must-haves are Hawaiian Tropic Lip Balm (tropical flavor), my Betsey Johnson pink sunglasses, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer sunblock, spray sunscreen with at least 50 SPF, my iPhone for taking pictures and lots of water!
Cindy Camp PUBLISHER
Lindsey Keeney CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Sunglasses, swim trunks, and a good book, preferably an autobiography on an actor from the 70’s or 80’s era. I wish Lyle Wagonner would come out with an autobiography because he’d be number one in my beach bag.
I always have my Carmex chapstick with SPF, a high SPF sunscreen, Kleenex, a baseball cap, sunglasses, snacks that won’t melt (like almonds or pistachios) and two beach towels. I also take a bottle of water, my iPad or book and my iPhone.
Jennifer Kemp EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Chris Bennett
Susan Kosoris
Most likely a historical fiction, science fiction or a post-apocalyptic book, a gaming device, and of course, the latest issue of Living Magazine!
ADVERTISING REP
CFO
Sunscreen, plastic baggies (for cellphones), sunglasses, word searches, pens, a little bit of money, hair clips and hair bands, pool toys, lip balm and face sunscreen, keys and a water bottle. I normally have a separate bag for my beach towels.
Pamela McCrory
ADVERTISING REP
This is so fitting since I’m working on my beach bag for Cancun right now! I need to make sure to have the highest SPF sunscreen I can find since I toast in five minutes…. I also need two beach towels (I stole that little piece of advice from Cindy), some waterproof mascara, a mirror, my phone, a camera, a small card case for important cards or money, and lots of water! All in a really cute beach tote, of course.
Izamar Loredo EDITOR
LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // JULY-AUGUST 2014
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A LOT IS HAPPENING IN ELLIS COUNTY...
AROUND TOWN EDITOR’S NOTE Hi everyone! I am so excited to present to you my very first edition of Living Magazine! I’ve met so many people in my first month here, had so many unique and amazing opportunities (see my awesome chinchilla encounter on page 32), and I am so excited that I will have even more as I get more familiar with all of you in the community. As the new editor, I want to introduce two new mainstays to the magazine. In addition to long distance travel, I’d like to include a weekend trip section in every issue. As a huge fan of short weekend road trips, I want to share with you local trip ideas that are fun and within driving distance. My goal is for you to grab this magazine as your guide and go! The other mainstay is a DIY section. I love arts and crafts, so I want to include a cool, relevant project in every issue! In our Backyards issue we’re bringing you plenty of summer recipes and activity ideas, a cool backyard game project and some amazing Ellis County backyards. I hope you enjoy our Backyards issue. Coming in September will be the wedding issue - if you have any ideas, comments or questions, please email me at editor@ living-magazine.com.
ENNIS FARMERS MARKET
EVERY SATURDAY APRIL 26 THROUGH OCTOBER, 8 A.M. - 1 P.M.
Fresh picked organic garden produce, fresh eggs, children’s activties, arts and crafts and live music downtown.
MIDLOTHIAN FARMERS MARKET
EVERY SATURDAY MAY THROUGH OCTOBER, 8 A.M. - 1 P.M.
Open air market hosted by the Midlothian Downtown Business Association at Heritage Park.
WAXAHACHIE FARMERS MARKET
EVERY SATURDAY MAY THROUGH DECEMBER, 8 A.M. - 1 P.M.
410 S. Rogers St. Open air market offering a variety of things for sale.
MIDLOTHIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE JULY 4, 10 A.M.
DOWNTOWN The theme for this year is “Stars, Stars, Stars”. The Grand Marshal will be the Chris Kyle family. New this year, the Downtown Farmers Market will be held in conjunction with the parade. Vendors will set up in Heritage Park from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 972.775.7177 for more.
SIMS LIBRARY PET SHOW
SOUTHWEST MOBILE DAIRY
JULY 9, 10 A.M.
AT RED OAK LIBRARY
Bring your pet to the library lawn for fun contests and prizes.
CHRISTMAS IN JULY JULY 12, 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
Ennis National Bank Event Center, 116 W. Ennis Ave. Shop for Christmas a little early this year. Buy from local artists and vendors and find unique gifts while supporting the local community. For more information call 972-935-6777.
WILDFLOWER WALK JULY 12, 9 A.M.
Mockingbird Nature Park Guided walk led by members of the Indian Trail Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists.
MOVIE IN THE PARK: FROZEN
JULY 12, 8:30 P.M. OR DUSK
Hawkins Spring Park in Midlothian Enjoy this family favorite under the stars with your kids. Call 972.775.7177 for more.
JULY 19, 10 A.M . TO 12 P.M.
Red Oak Public Library The Mobile Dairy Classroom is a traveling milking parlor that will featuring a live cow and an oral presentation. Children will learn how to milk a cow and how milk goes from farm to store. This outdoor classroom experience will teach science and nutrition in a unique way.
WAXAHACHIE COMMUNITY THEATER: THE POISONED APPLE JULY 25-27
McCafferty Hall – SAGU Campus For show times and tickets: www. waxahachiecommunitytheatre. com
ELLIS COUNTY WILDLIFE EXPO AUGUST 9, 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
Waxahachie Civic Center Learn all about the wildlife industry from wildlife experts and industry leaders.
MOVIE IN THE PARK: THE NUT JOB
AUGUST 9, 8:30 P.M. OR DUSK
Hawkins Spring Park 2014 Movie from Open Road Films tells the story of Surly and Buddy who plan a nut store heist. Contact 972.775.7177 for more.
For updates and chances to win free stuff, be sure to “like” us on Facebook and visit our blog at www.living-magazine.com.
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Do you have an event you want everyone to know about? Send an e-mail to: EDITOR@LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // JULY-AUGUST 2014
SHOPPING
WAXAHACHIE CRAPE MYRTLE FESTIVAL & DRIVING TRAIL JULY 3, GATES OPEN AT 5 P.M.
Concert and Fireworks at the Waxahachie Sports Complex JULY 4, 10 A.M.
Downtown parade and Picnic in the Park
2ND THURSDAY LADIES’ NIGHT OUT JULY 10; 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M.
Every Month in Downtown Waxahachie with Participating Merchants.
SUMMER MOONLIGHT MOVIES: FROZEN JULY 12, 9 P.M.
Downtown Waxahachie Sponsored by City of Waxahachie Main Street Program. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy a free movie with the kids. There will be a concession stand on-site. For more information call 469.309.4111.
SINCE 1850
2ND THURSDAY LADIES’ NIGHT OUT AUGUST 14; 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M.
Every Month in Downtown Waxahachie with Participating Merchants.
SUMMER MOONLIGHT MOVIES: MONSTERS UNIVERSITY AUGUST 22, 9 P.M.
Downtown Waxahachie Sponsored by City of Waxahachie Main Street Program. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Concession stand on-site and free admission. For more information call 469.309.4111.
JUNK IN THE TRUNK SALE
JULY 12; 9 A.M. TO 2 P.M.
Downtown Waxahachie
CHECK IT OUT
We can decorate your outdoor living area along with the rest of your home! Come check out our large supply of in-stock fabric or order from fabric samples.
212 S. ROGERS ST. WAXAHACHIE 972.938.2403 CHECKITOUTFABRICS.NET
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL OF THE FUN THINGS GOING ON IN DOWNTOWN WAXAHACHIE, VISIT...
WWW.DOWNTOWNWAXAHACHIE.COM
Bling It On Blingin’ Gypsy Boyce Feed & Grain Corp Brent Hughes Photography Carol’s Designs Catfish Plantation Check It Out Cherics Antiques Chic Boutique Citizens National Bank of Texas College St Printing College St Restaurant Pub Common Threads Quilting Crafty Scrapper Crooked Creek Farms Antiques Doves Nest Restaurant El Mexicano Ellis County Abstract and Title Ellis County Art Association Ellis County Living Magazine Ellis County Museum Eubank Florist Gifts Frank’s Urban Collection FRESH at Villa Flora GG’s Vintage Home Gingerbread Antique Mall Gran’s Antiques Grow My Biz hodge•podge Junction 22 KBEC Radio Klassy Klutter Main St Dental Maxwell Jewelry Multitudes Mosaic Madness My Father’s House NAPA Auto Parts/Pool Supplies NOW Magazine Old Town Villiage Antiques Pearman Oil LP Gas Inc Plain Jane Co Red Barn Salon Friends SoCo Depot T Beresford Teresa McNiel - Coldwell Banker The Briarpatch The Shabby Sheep The Shop Toshio’s Taste of Japan & Klopfer House Town Square Title Waxahachie Daily Light Well Inked Custom Invitations Wray, Willett & Stoffer PLLC
Downtown
Members of the Waxahachie Downtown Merchants Association:
FREE
Parking Garage
COM // JULY-AUGUST 2014 at theLIVING-MAGAZINE. corner of Jack son and Jeffer son
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FASHION
Sizzling
DRESS, Multitudes $48 PURSE, Chic Boutique $39.95 BRIGHTON BRACELETS, Briarpatch $48 BRIGHTON RING, Briarpatch $42 Necklace, Doves Nest $32
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LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // JULY-AUGUST 2014
TOP, Multitudes $26 SHORTS, Multitudes $32 CLUTCH, SoCo Depot $40 NECKLACE, SoCo Depot $60 BRIGHTON RING, Briarpatch $56
TOP, Chic Boutique $32.95 PANTS, Briarpatch $44 NECKLACE, Multitudes $32 BRIGHTON BRACELET, Briarpatch $78 BRIGHTON EARRINGS, Briarpatch $58
Summer
TOP, Briarpatch $56.95 SHORTS, Chic Boutique $34.95 GYPSY SOULE EARRINGS, SoCo Depot $30 BRACELET, SoCo Depot $12 SCARF, SoCo Depot $28
DRESS, Plain Jane $38.99 NECKLACE, Multitudes $48 BRIGHTON RING, Briarpatch $48 BRIGHTON BANGLE, Briarpatch $62 BRIGHTON EARRINGS, Briarpatch $28
ROMPER: Briarpatch $29.95 BRIGHTON EARRINGS, Briarpatch $38 NECKLACE, Doves Nest $20 RING, Briarpatch $33 PURSE, Multitudes $24 LIPSTICK, Merle Norman $18 LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // JULY-AUGUST 2014
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Chic Boutique $22.95
FASHION { SHOPPING }
PRETTY IN
PEACH Multitudes $24
udes
Multit $28
Chic Boutique $32.95
Chic Boutique $38.95
Doves Nest $32.95
SoCo Depot $35
Plain Jane $24.99 Essie, Tart Deco
Chic Boutique 33.95 16
LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // JULY-AUGUST 2014
living-magazine.com // JULY-AUGUST 2014
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FASHION { SHOPPING }
MAXIMUM
CHIC Whether you’re dressing up or down, the Maxi has the flexibility to do it all! Pair it with wedges for a dressy look or with sandals and statement jewelry for a casual yet polished look. However you do it, rest assured that the maxi will make you look effortlessly sophisticated.
Multitudes $62
Blake Lively...
Multitudes $46
Briarpatch $79
Chic Boutique $39.95 18
LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // JULY-AUGUST 2014
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FASHION { BEAUTY }
AVOIDING THE
MAKEUP MELTDOWN
Oh, summer. The time for sunny skies, longer days and… constant sweating, raccoon eyes and melted makeup. With the Texas summer comes triple digit heat and the seemingly impossible task of keeping a freshly made up face. We all want to look effortlessly cool every day, but what do we do when our makeup melts off as soon as we step out of the house? Sit tight and check out the following tips… your face will thank you. BY izamar loredo
THE BASE
first things first: always start with a clean, moisturized face. make sure to use a very light facial moisturizer that will absorb into your skin immediately. i repeat, use a facial moisturizer! if you use regular lotion it will be too heavy and feel like a thick layer on your face as soon as you step outside. if we’re trying to keep fresh, this is the last thing we need.
TRY:
LUSH VANISHING CREAM, $42.95. as soon as you put this on your face, it disappears, leaving you with a wonderfully soft face. even better? it contains blemish-eliminating properties.
HIDE IT AWAY
concealer comes next. i’m a huge believer in using waterproof concealer year-round because it doesn’t budge or crease as much as regular concealer does. make sure to apply with a concealer brush (the e.l.f. brand brushes are a low-cost and highly effective option) or if none are available, apply with your ring finger to avoid damaging the area.
TRY:
HD MAKEUP FOR EVER FULL COVER CONCEALER, $32. This concealer blends wonderfully and covers as little or as much as you want it to.
THE FACE
okay, so your face is moisturized. foundation is next, but some might find it too heavy for the summer. for a lighter and money-saving solution, mix it with some of your facial moisturizer before applying. Think of it as a homemade tinted moisturizer!
ADD SOME COLOR
Use a good, high-pigment blush that is guaranteed to stay on all day. Use a lighter hand than usual to apply this blush as it is richly colored. one swipe is usually all you need!
TRY:
MILANI BAKED BLUSH, $8. an array of flattering colors and an extremely high-pigmented and long-lasting formula make this one a winner.
DARKEN THOSE EYES
i think using waterproof eye products is a great way to keep your make-up on all day year-round, not just during the summer. Waterproof eyeliner is best because it manages to stop the dreaded raccoon eye effect by combating moisture and oil.
TRY:
BOBBI BROWN LONGWEAR EYE PENCIL, $24. This has been my unwavering, faithful eyeliner for four years now. it doesn’t smudge, run or melt, and it lasts all day- perfect for the summer!
The same philosophy applies to mascara. although waterproof mascara isn’t really necessary all the time, it is if you plan on spending a large quantity of time outside in hot or wet weather.
TRY:
L’OREAL VOLUMINOUS MILLION LASHES WATERPROOF MASCARA, $8. You can trust this mascara not to budge during a day at the beach, which proves its worth.
living-magazine.com // JULY-AUGUST 2014
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LIFE & STYLE
{ Wedding }
THE COCKTAIL HOUR
Make the ceremony-to-reception transition as smooth as possible BY TereSa choaTe
What do you serve and how do you entertain your guests while the postceremony photography session is being completed? it is very important to have beverages and a little something for the guests while they await the anticipated arrival of the bride and groom and for the actual reception to start. There are many options available for the cocktail hour, or the transition time into the reception. This is also an area that can be over the top with selections and decor or very simple. passed hors d’oeuvres, champagne or a signature drink to complement the appetizers are always appreciated. The most traditional are the fruit, cheese, crackers or bread displays. most brides and grooms are now being more creative and making selections that stay in tune with the entire concept and
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living-magazine.com // JUlY-aUgUST 2014
design of the event. This can be as simple as a chips and salsa station in a reception where fajitas and cheese enchiladas are being served for dinner. Take it further by having assorted chips and salsas for the guests to select from and add creative decor. one of my recent favorites was a popcorn station, a simple concept. To take it up a notch, we served three varieties of popcorn. however, we kept with the vintage military concept of the event. We served the popcorn out of a vintage truck with americana decor. We also offered the popular cake pops during the cocktail hour. We had a choice of two beverages: cherry Kool-aid served in mason jars over ice or cranberry juice and vodka, both with red and white paper straws. The popcorn was placed into simple brown lunch bags. When adding decor to any serving station, keep in mind that it needs to be functional for
the caterer and your guests. have fun with the concept of your event and be happy with your selections. as always, feel free to send me an email if you have any questions. happy planning, Teresa choate The Bride’s rep 972.935.3478 teresachoate@aol.com
living-magazine.com // JULY-AUGUST 2014
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{
LIFE & STYLE
{ BOOKS }
Freedom Reads BY Izamar Loredo
If someone asked me what the last book I read was, I’d have to say it was “Business Law, 14th Edition”. In other words, I haven’t had the opportunity to read for fun in a very long time. All throughout college, as I was forced to read entire textbooks that left me with little time to read anything else, I made a mental list of all the books I would read when I was finally free from the demands of schoolwork. Now that the day has come, I want to share with you some of the books I am so excited to finally get to read!
5
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green
Hazel Grace Lancaster is a 16-year-old stage IV cancer survivor who is also clinically depressed. To help her combat this, Hazel’s doctor sends her to a cancer support group. There, she meets Augustus Waters, an intelligent and handsome young man also afflicted with cancer. Both fall in love as they seek out the answers to questions that range from something as mundane as curiosity about the ending of a book to their mortality and the meaning of life, death and love.
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MIDNIGHT IN MEXICO: A REPORTER’S JOURNEY THROUGH A COUNTRY’S DESCENT INTO DARKNESs
by Alfredo Corchado
Dallas Morning News Mexican-American reporter Alfredo Corchado bravely shares with us the little-reported and difficult truths about Mexican politics, all the while risking his life to do so. Led by his love for both the United States and Mexico, Corchado hopes that his honest reporting will bring justice and peace to the borderlands.
5
#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amuroso
#GIRLBOSS follows the fascinating success of Sophia Amuroso, founder of the highly successful clothing e-tailer Nasty Gal. Choosing to forgo a college education at 17, her story is about hard work and self-made success. #GIRLBOSS gives business and life advice while keeping a humble, fun and easy to read tone.
5
OUT OF MY MIND by Sharon Draper
Twice a year I have the tremendous privilege of being a counselor at Camp Most, a camp for teens with Cerebral Palsy. During a session one of my campers told me to read this book to get an accurate look into what it’s really like to have Cerebral Palsy. Out of My Mind tells the story of Melody, a fifth grader who cannot walk, talk or write. Gifted with a brilliant and photographic memory nobody knows about, Melody feels trapped in her mind. At school, her teachers think she is incapable of learning and her fellow students ignore her. She goes unnoticed until she finds a special keyboard that helps her speak her mind for the first time in her life, shocking all of those around her with the complexity and beauty of her thoughts.
living-magazine.com // JULY-AUGUST 2014
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LIFE & STYLE { RECIPES }
grEAt AMEricAn rEcipEs Celebrate this Fourth of July with the Living Magazine staff as we share with you some of our favorite American recipes! Fire up the grill, gather the family, and delight them with some of our unique takes on the American classics.
One Good
Pamela’s
Homemade
FROM LU SMITH VIA BECKY RASOR
Ingredients
FROM PATRICK KEANE VIA SUE FLANAGAN
Banana Pudding Ingredients
8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 can eagle Brand milk 3 cups milk 1 large package vanilla instant pudding mix 1 12-ounce carton of cool Whip 1 box vanilla wafers Bananas, sliced
Instructions
cream together cream cheese and eagle Brand milk. add pudding mix and 3 cups of milk and beat until thickened. Fold in 1/2 of cool Whip. layer vanilla wafers, bananas and pudding in two or more layers until all ingredients are used. it looks very pretty in a trifle dish or tall glass bowl. Top with remaining cool Whip and crumbled vanilla wafers. Better if refrigerated overnight.
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Hearty Chili 2 pounds of chili meat 1 pound of sausage 1 stick real butter 1 large onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped garlic (about 1/2 of a whole one, pressed) 1 package of 2 alarm chili mix 2 cans chili ready Tomatoes
Instructions
in a big pot, brown chili meat and sausage with butter, onion, bell pepper and garlic. cook until brown. add in 2 alarm chili mix (excluding the masa and red pepper). if you would like, add extra salt, ground cumin and chili powder. Stir, add chili ready Tomatoes and stir again to mix all the flavors. cover and simmer for about an hour or until tender. leave the extra oil on top while cooking to keep the meat tender and flavor going, then skim the extra oil off of the top before serving. tip: You can add extra meats, another 2 Alarm Chili Mix, and more Chili Ready Tomatoes for a larger group. Serve with crackers, cheese and onions!
living-magazine.com // JUlY-aUgUST 2014
BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
1 32-ounce bottle of ketchup 2 cups water 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/4 cup Worchestershire sauce 1 teaspoon garlic, chopped 2 tablespoons of vinegar 2 dashes bottled red pepper sauce (Tabasco is fine) 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1 teaspoon chili powder 3 tablespoons liquid smoke 1 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon red pepper
Instructions
combine all ingredients in a saucepan. cover and place over medium heat. Simmer about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Store in refrigerator, it will keep for several weeks.
Blueberry Cobbler
CONTRIBUTED BY JOSHUA CHILDRESS
Ingredients
1 Jiffy Pie crust (blue box) 6 cups fresh blueberries 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch Pinch of cinnamon Pinch of salt 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest 1 tablespoon lemon Juice 1/2 stick cold butter (cut into small chunks) all-purpose flour (for dusting) 1 can of non-stick cooking spray
Instructions MEthod For Filling
Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Whisk sugar, corn starch, cinnamon and salt together in large bowl. add berries and gently mix until evenly coated. add lemon zest and juice and gently mix to combine. Spray 9 by 13 inch baking dish (preferably glass) with Pam, then transfer mixture. Wrap a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place pie plate on top of it in oven on middle rack. cook for 25 minutes until edges are bubbling and filling is firming up. MEthod For crust
While filling is in the oven, prepare pie crust according to box instructions (a little wetter is preferable). Spread flour on your working surface (a smooth counter or large cutting board), and roll out crust in a long square. There is no need to go very thin here- this is cobbler, so don’t worry about making it perfect. it all tastes good! AssEMbly
Bring oven up to 425 degrees. cut crust in 2-inch strips and place over filling in an overlapping fashion. note that this is only for the presentation and has no bearing on the flavor of this recipe. Using a knife, punch a few tiny vent holes in the crust (concentrate these in middle). Place cold or diced butter on top of crust strips. FinAl bAking
Place in middle rack (still on aluminum foil baking dish). Bake for around 8 minutes (set timer, turn on light of oven and monitor). When one side starts to turn golden in color, rotate pan 90 degrees. Bake another 8 minutes until top is evenly golden brown. Time may vary based on your oven, so trust your eyes! Place on wire rack and allow to cool at room temperature. Serve, place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, and enjoy!
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LIFE & STYLE Whether you’re out by the beach or just by the pool, having the right drink in your hand makes a world of difference. Quench your thirst this summer with one of these light cocktails and go soak up the sun!
{ DRINKS }
miDsummer
mixtures
BY izamar loreDo
Pinch of salt 6 ounces fresh grapefruit soda or juice (grapefruit or “Toronja” flavored Jarritos if you’re being authentic!) 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 2 ounces mezcal or tequila reposado mix the tequila, salt and lime juice in a tall glass. add ice, then top off with the grapefruit soda or juice. Throw in your pinch of salt or rim the glass with it, and stir.
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you’ll neeD:
one of mexico’s traditional drinks, la Paloma is a thirstquenching drink popular among the locals. next time you order a mexican drink, try this instead of a traditional margarita. This one is ideal for those hot Texas summer afternoons. if no grapefruit soda is available, typical lime soda with a splash of grapefruit juice will work. ¡Disfruten!
Paloma Mexicana
French 75
Mojito
Mimosa
Perfect for a warm evening outdoors, the French 75 has been around since 1915, when WWi soldiers brought it to the United States from Paris. named after the French 75mm field gun, the French 75 has a kick to it reminiscent of its namesake. a popular drink at the peak of Prohibition, it was also one of ernest hemingway’s favorites. remember that kick and enjoy this one slowly!
Few drinks are as refreshing as the mojito. originally from cuba, this drink brings to mind the caribbean. if you have access to a latin supermarket, replace the mint leaves with a plant called yerbabuena for the most authentic cuban flavor. enjoy poolside and pretend you’re in a hammock by havana Beach.
one excellent way to start a weekend brunch is with a delicious mimosa. For the best taste, use the freshest orange juice you can find and enjoy this wonderful morning pick-me-up.
you’ll neeD:
cocktail shaker 1 1/2 ounces gin 1/2 ounce simple syrup (or if you’re feeling daring, replace with St. germaine liqueur) 1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice 3 ounces of champagne lemon zest for garnish add all of the ingredients except for the champagne into the cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake, then strain into a champagne glass. Top up with champagne and garnish with the lemon zest.
you’ll neeD:
3 teaspoons sugar 1/2 lime, squeezed into the drink 10 mint (or yerbabuena) leaves 1 1/2 ounces rum 4 ounces club soda (to taste) Pour in the sugar, lime juice and leaves into a tall glass. With the end of a wooden spoon, crush the leaves softly into the lime juice and sugar. add the rum, ice, and soda. Stir and enjoy.
you’ll neeD:
1 bottle of hand-squeezed orange juice (or grapefruit juice if you’re feeling adventurous) 1 bottle of your favorite champagne or dry sparkling wine Keep all ingredients in the refrigerator until ready to serve for a cold, refreshing mimosa. in a champagne flute, pour half a glass of champagne. The champagne is always poured first for better mixing. Top off with orange juice and enjoy! although mimosas are typically 1/2 orange juice and 1/2 champagne, this can be adjusted to taste.
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LIFE & STYLE { GUY TALK }
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH BY JUDD MCCUTCHEN
I have a value proposition for you. Let’s call it a “deal”. For the remainder of this article, promise me you’ll be open minded. I will need you to think differently than you normally do, but it won’t be easy. Our society has been conditioned to believe a certain way on the topic I’m going to write about. So if you agree to be bipartisan, keep reading. If not, there are lots of cool backyards in this issue that you can be jealous of. Go check those out and daydream a little. Okay, for those of you still with me, thanks for quasi-shaking hands. Here’s the concept: In some form or fashion, our world revolves around money. People are always looking for ways to save a buck. You hear slogans like “20 minutes can save you 20 percent” all the time, and there’s a million more just like that. Ask any consumer what is most important to them in a purchase, and nine times out of ten they will tell you that it’s the price. They want fast. They want easy. Most of all, they want cheap. So here it goes… are you ready? Price doesn’t really matter. Take a deep breath, let it soak in and don’t flip the page just yet. We had a deal, remember? Give me a chance to explain. I get to deal with the “price” issue daily. I’m a banker. The top two questions I hear regularly are “What’s my rate going to be?” and “When is closing?”, both of which are usually asked prior to even getting an application. Which is fine, by the way. It’s my job to work through all of that. But do you see the trend? Cheap and fast. That’s what people want. It’s a mindset that has resonated for a number of years now, so it’s
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somewhat to be expected. I deal with a lot of different industries, not just banking. If my customer is a plumber, then I’m in the plumbing business. An electrician? I’m in the electrical business. I have noticed one common thread when it comes to all types of industries. People mostly go with whoever is cheapest, no matter what they are giving up in return. They want high quality results with garage sale haggling. With a little research, consumers might just find out that price isn’t actually the number one priority on their list. Yes, it’s important, but it may not even be in the top three when they really break it down. Society has commoditized a lot of things that are far from a commodity. Webster defines a commodity as a “good or service whose wide availability typically leads to smaller profit margins and diminishes the importance of factors other than price.” To bore you with some facts, here is a list of the top ten traded commodities in the world for 2013: natural gas, gold, copper, silver, sugar, corn, wheat, cotton, coffee, and crude oil. Very unspecialized, right? Let me go back to my previous statement, Price doesn’t really matter, and make it resonate a little. Let’s say your child is starting day care this year. Is price the number one factor in where he or she goes? No way! Only the best for little Johnny, right? Or if dear dad is reaching the age of needing assisted living, will you be raising your hand asking for the cheapest price? Absolutely not! We want the best for dad too. These
are specialized industries for which we will pay whatever we need to in order to get top-notch quality and service, no questions asked. So here’s where that deal we made comes in. Why not think the same way about other specialized industries as we do the ones that are more relevant to us personally? For example, think about banking. Specialized field, right? Are all banks the same? No. Could paying a little more interest be worth it for the service and relationship you get out of the deal? Absolutely. What about plumbers? Not all plumbers are the same. I know plumbers that make a living off of fixing cheap plumbers’ mistakes. To so many people, a bank is a bank, a plumber is a plumber, and they let their perception of price importance stop them from researching other pertinent factors in the deal. Look into the big picture when dealing with specialized industries before making a decision. What you really want may cost a little more but be well worth the price in the end. I saw a photo the day I was writing this article and thought it was the perfect image to humorously display the mindset I’m going after. There were two men standing on the street, one offering free hugs and the other offering deluxe hugs for $2. You can’t tell me that if you saw these guys on the street that a little part of you wouldn’t want to get out a couple of dollars. So, from me to you: Next time you make a deal, think about how much better that deluxe hug will feel.
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LIFE & STYLE
{ nonProFiT }
There are hundreds of animals in ellis county that need shelter or a home from the hot temperatures this summer, and animal shelters often find themselves in need while trying to rescue as many critters as they can. Whether you’re looking to adopt a new furry friend or just to support the shelters that aid them, here is a small list of the animal shelters and rescues in ellis county that could use your help.
eXTeND a
helPING AW
P
Ellis County SPCA
Who thEy ArE: The ellis county SPca is a private nonprofit organization in Waxahachie started by ellis county citizens. it works to increase adoptions of unwanted animals, to promote love and gentleness towards animals and to encourage responsible pet ownership by supporting spaying and neutering. Since it is not affiliated with any other SPca groups, they mostly depend on the support of donors and volunteers. hoW to Adopt: ecSPca’s adoptable pets are listed on their website at elliscountyspca.org/adopt. html. Some of their available cats can also be found at Petsmart in Waxahachie. The ecSPca is there the second and fourth weekend of every month with more pets looking for forever homes. hoW to hElp: The ecPSca shelter is always in need of supplies. if you would like to donate any of the following items, please call 972.935.0756. » newspaper » Blankets » copy paper » cat litter » leashes and collars » Dog and cat toys » non-spillable bowls (wide bottom) » Wal-mart gift cards » Dish soap and laundry detergent » You can also donate monetarily on the ecSPca website, http://elliscountyspca.org/Donate.html, or by mailing a check to the shelter. CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone: 972.935.0756 email: office@elliscountyspca.org 2570 Fm 878, Waxahachie
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BY izamar loreDo
ChinChildren Chinchilla rescue:
Who thEy ArE: The largest chinchilla rescue in Texas, chinchildren chinchilla rescue is based out of red oak, Texas. Started by a concerned animal lover that cared for the welfare of the unique critters, it provides a vast wealth of chinchilla information to potential owners as it strives to find a good home for all chinchillas. hoW to Adopt: chinchildren asks that all prospective adopters call or e-mail to set up an appointment. You can fill out an adoption application on the website, http://chinchildrenchinchillarescue.yolasite.com/. The application is obligation-free and just a way for the rescue to open a line of communication with you. hoW to donAtE: chinchildren is in deep need of monetary help. There is no PayPal button on the website, but all donations can be sent to the e-mail tgracemitchell@att.net. checks or cash are also welcome, and the mailing address can be found on the website. all money will be used for the care and well being of the chinchillas. Supplies are also always needed and appreciated. if you would like to donate any of the following items, please call 972.617.8864: » mazuri Pellets » Blue cloud dust » apple wood chew sticks » Pumice » Western Timothy hay » Timothy hay or alfalfa cubes » aspen shavings
CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone: 972.617.8864 if there’s no answer, leave a message. calls are returned the same day. email: tgracemitchell@att.net chinchildrenchinchillarescue.yolasite.com
Midlothian Animal Control
Who thEy ArE: The city of midlothian community Services (animal control and code enforcement) are dedicated to returning lost pets to their owners and finding new, loving families for surrendered and homeless cats and dogs. hoW to Adopt: You can find all available, found or surrendered animals on the city of midlothian animal Shelter Facebook page at www.facebook.com/midlothianTXanimalcontrol or the city of midlothian website. hoW to donAtE: The shelter can always use newspapers, animal collars and financial support. monetary contributions can be made through the city of midlothian. Please earmark any monetary donations for the animal shelter. For additional information, contact animal Services at 972.775.7614, online at the city of midlothian website, or in person at the midlothian Police Department at 1150 n. hwy 67. CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone: 972.775.7614 (For after hours or during the weekend, call 972.775.3333) 1150 n. highway 67, midlothian
Tails of Hope Pet rescue Who thEy ArE: Tails of hope is a nonprofit allvolunteer rescue and adoption group. They have no actual brick-and-mortar building. instead, they foster all adoptable animals until homes are found. Because of this, they cannot take animals from the public and only take them from local shelters. hoW to Adopt: Tails of hope lists all of their available dogs on their website. They include an adoption application and a foster application that can both be downloaded from the website. hoW to donAtE: monetary donations are accepted through the PayPal link on the Tails of hope website, www.txtailsofhope.org. a mailing address is also available for people who prefer to mail checks. CONTACT INFORMATION: Because Tails of hope has no physical address, there is no one available to answer the phone. The phone number is voicemail only and checked by a volunteer who returns calls as needed. The best way to contact Tails of hope is via email at lisa@txtailsofhope.org or a Facebook message on the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/txtailsofhope.
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LIFE & STYLE { TRAVEL }
Deep in the
heart
of texas
4ExplorE Austin, A hot trAvEl spot right in your bAckyArd “Keep Austin Weird” is a slogan Austin has truly taken to heart. From the chaos of events like South by Southwest and Formula One to the beauty of the rolling Hill Country, the strangest city in Texas always has something up its sleeve. Having lived there for the past four years, I thought it would only be fitting to open this new local travels section by telling you all about this incredibly unique city. Here are a few of my favorite city haunts, perfect for a short road trip. Next time you want to do something adventurous with your weekend, grab this article, use it as your own personal tour guide and get out there!
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BY izamar loreDo
4 saltlicK:
The stereotypical austin BBQ must-have, Saltlick is also located outside of the city limits. Walk in and be greeted by their impressive barbeque pit, which is filled with a variety of delicious meats. get there early to beat the crowds and come hungry, as the portions are very large and enough to satiate even the hungriest of patrons. Saltlick is also BYoB, so bring a cooler and enjoy another beautiful section of the hill country.
4 Jester King Brewery:
Try: The potato salad is excellent! make sure to get it as a side to your order.
You’ll find this hidden gem just 30 minutes out of the city and down a winding hill country road. located on a large piece of picturesque land, Jester King offers a guaranteed day of beautiful views and relaxation. Take an afternoon to drive out there, walk in and grab a menu of their impressive beer offerings.
Try: make sure to taste their flagship sour stouts for a unique beer taste.
4 alamo
Drafthouse: going to see a movie at the alamo Drafthouse isn’t quite like seeing a movie at the average movie theater. named “the best theater ever” by Time magazine, the Drafthouse perfectly combines a delicious food and drink menu with the movie-watching experience.
equipped with a theater bar to enjoy before the movie, the Drafthouse is also a social event.
Try: if you get lucky
enough to catch one, attend one of their famous movie quote-alongs or a master Pancake Theater show, which pairs select movies with live comedy.
The
Nightlife LADYBIRD LAKE AND BARTON SPRINGS:
SOUTH
CONGRESS:
Take a walk on South Congress, or “SoCo”, and visit all the eclectic shops that this street has to offer! From restaurants to ice cream bars to antiques and much, much more, South Congress has something for every age.
TRY: South Congress has
many restaurants to try, but my personal favorite is Hopdoddy’s Burger Bar. Reasonably priced and delicious, this joint offers some of the juiciest and most unique burgers around. However, be prepared for a long line during the weekends. Head there as early as possible and if there’s a long line, don’t worry as it tends to move quickly. After lunch, grab some of Austin’s very own Amy’s Ice Cream for dessert. Offering flavors sometimes found only in Austin, this is a local favorite. Try the Mexican Vanilla flavor, a delicious twist on an old favorite.
Austin’s very own oases are located right in the heart of the city. From kayaking, paddle boarding and year-round 68 degree swimming, Lady Bird Lake and Barton Springs are where Austinites spend their summer.
Austin nightlife doesn’t always have to be the rowdy spectacle that Sixth Street is known for. Austin offers many options for a bar hopping nightlife, each with its own unique vibe and feel.
OLD SIXTH STREET: Old Sixth is a legend in its own right. More for those who are looking for a wickedly good time or a touristy must-do, Sixth Street is mostly full of college kids and those looking for wild revelry.
TRY: Chupacabra Cantina’s giant margaritas or Shakespeare’s Long Island Pitchers
WEST SIXTH:
TRY: Kayaking on the
lake is a great and budgetfriendly way to start the morning. Get there early enough to beat the very hot sun and enjoy the splendid view of the Austin skyline in combination with nature. Barton Springs always has cool, refreshing 68 degree water. Tubing is allowed if you bring your own, but swimming is the best thing to do here.
Something like Sixth Street’s older brother, West Sixth offers entertainment for the more serious crowd. Hip bars and good music keep it in the fun area without letting it be too “adult”. This is my favorite nightlife destination!
TRY: Deep Eddy grapefruit vodka and soda
RAINEY STREET: Rainey Street is a street of modern and renovated bars that used to be old houses. The music is a little less loud than Sixth and West, and outdoor seating space is ample. If you have a group of people you want to talk to without yelling over music, Rainey is for you.
TRY: The Cucumbertini at Lucille Bar
LIVE MUSIC Wanting to see the live music Austin is famed for? Whether you’re just walking on SoCo or exploring the nightlife, live music is guaranteed almost anywhere in Austin. For the full immersion, make sure to check out Austin City Limits
Music Festival and South by Southwest, two of Austin’s biggest music events. Austin is a large, bustling city and these activities are just a small sampling of everything there is to do. Above all, make sure to be safe, have fun and of course, keep it weird.
LIFE & STYLE
Those
A Mother’s tale BY LINDSAY MARKERT
Four Walls Married less than a year, we excitedly signed our lives away on our first home on a bright May afternoon. It was fresh and clean, perfectly sized for a young couple hoping to have a family someday. Just like in the movies, my sweet husband carried me over the threshold into a new chapter of our lives. We jumped right in, painting walls and picking out furniture. Unpacking boxes and shopping for the perfect things to fill out the spaces filled my days during my summer break from teaching. We invested so much time into those four walls and truly felt at home very quickly.
The next few years were filled with weekends of sleeping late and having friends over, ambitious recipes tried out in our first kitchen (some were vetoed), lots of hours worked in the yard and several lessons learned as new homeowners, all as we also learned how to be married. Before we knew it, we weren’t just growing a marriage in those four walls. We were growing a baby. This new addition meant a change in our surroundings, and with my waistline rapidly expanding we began the nursery almost three years to the day that we moved in. Once we were done painting walls, assembling furniture and folding tiny clothes, I would spend time in that sweet room every night (usually with a bowl of ice cream), rocking in our big comfy chair and dreaming about how our family was about to change. That change was better than I could have ever dreamed, and those four walls saw
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us grow together through it. Paths were worn on the carpet during those first nights calming a fussy baby, the kitchen sink held those rolls of sweet 6-month-old chunkiness during bath time and he took his first wobbly steps towards us in the living room a couple of months before his first birthday.
Life kept going in those four walls. We experienced highs and lows, happiness and heartbreak. Another sweet baby joined us and our walls stretched a bit more to fit the love contained within. As we adjusted to being a family of four, time seemed to slow down and speed up all at the same time. I left teaching to stay at home and my workload appeared to somehow increase. Days were filled with many diaper changes and endless laundry, reading books and filling up bellies, lots of snuggling and just trying to get it all done before it was time to start over the next day. Jackson got sick not long after Brayden was born and those four walls held us together, providing a place that felt safe, secure and comforting after those harsh days and nights in the hospital. We desperately needed that time alone within our own space to heal and regroup, and those times within those four walls are certainly some of the sweetest memories. Our perspective had been changed and we realized just how lucky we were to have each other. So often during that time I would creep into the boys’ room after they were asleep and just watch them sleep, fervently praying for healing for Jackson and safety for both of them. Those four
walls sheltered us during a time when we were so scared and felt so out of control.
Not long after Jackson was deemed in remission we welcomed two more sweet babies. We called them our “rainbow babies” because the best rainbows come after the biggest storms. Those four walls really had to stretch this time, not just because we were using every inch of space, but also because we were so overjoyed and overflowing with love and gratefulness. Sometimes a house is just a house, but this home will always have a special place in our hearts. Those four walls held the beginning of a young marriage, the hopes of a family, four sets of first smiles, first sounds and first steps, memories of summer days with popsicle breaks and winter nights watching the rare snow fall with the excitement of building a snowman the next day. Countless boo-boos were kissed, more time-outs given than I care to remember, many celebrations of birthdays, lost teeth and successful potty trips. We had many a “date” night in those four walls, bingewatching TV shows while our sweet babes were tucked safely in their beds. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. We may have outgrown those four walls of our first home, but the time spent there together and the memories made are something we will always have with us, even as we are well on our way to making memories in our new home. Time marches on, but with our memories we take a little bit of our past with us.
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HISTORY
Recipes from the past are always fascinating to discover. Many times they are old family recipes or vintage ones that now seem interesting to try. We have collected vintage recipes from past Ellis County residents, most of them with ties to the Courthouse Square through their businesses or family businesses, for a little culinary flashback.
RECIPES FROM
WAXAHACHIE’S
PAST
IMAGES FROM THE PAST PROVIDED BY SHANNON SIMPSON WITH THE ELLIS COUNTY MUSEUM.
Daryl’s Rexall Drugstore
Harbin Motor Company
THE BACKSTORY:
THE BACKSTORY:
Daryl’s Rexall Drugstore, owned by Daryl Schliep, was located on the south side of the square during the mid 1950s through the mid 1960s. The drugstore had a soda fountain that provided lunch to many downtown workers as well as snacks and after-school ice cream treats for the local children.
THE RECIPE:
Drug Store Pimento Cheese, made fresh daily by soda fountain workers, was served on toasted white bread with ruffled potato chips and dill pickle slices.
> 1 1/2 pounds cheddar cheese, grated (Choose a good cheese– the store used what Daryl called rat cheese and grated the cheese by hand.)
> > > > >
7 ounce jar chopped pimento 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 1/3 cup half and half 1 cup good quality mayonnaise (Daryl’s favorite was Duke’s brand) Chopped sweet pickles
Mix together, adjust seasonings to taste and enjoy!
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BY SUSAN KOSORIS
LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // JULY-AUGUST 2014
Harbin Motor Company was located on the block now housing the county jail. The Harbin’s daughter, Hilda Chapman, eventually opened Gingerbread Antique Mall across College Street from the former car dealership. Hilda, like her mother, was a good cook and enjoyed sharing recipes with her friends.
THE RECIPE:
Hilda’s Green Chili Fudge once appeared in the Dallas Morning News and is in the Waxahachie Junior Service League original cookbook.
> 2 pounds mild cheddar, grated > 6 eggs > 1 cup canned chopped green chilies Spread half of cheese on rectangular and greased baking dish. Beat eggs and combine with green chilies. Spread mixture with spoon on bottom layer of cheese and then spread remaining cheese on top. Bake 45 – 50 minutes in oven set to 350 degrees. Slice into squares when cooled and serve on tortilla chips.
Barber’s Insurance Agency THE BACKSTORY:
Barber’s Insurance Agency was located on the square for several decades and was owned by Bill Barber. His wife, Gerre, was a gracious woman who enjoyed cooking for friends in their historic home on Harbin Avenue, which has been featured more than once on the Gingerbread Trail.
THE RECIPE:
Decorated Cheese Ball was the star of many buffet tables. It is a beautiful showpiece and fun to make and decorate.
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
One 3-pound loaf cream cheese 1/2 Roquefort cheese 1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese, softened 1/2 cup chopped chives or green onion 1 garlic bud, minced 2 T red caviar, well drained 2 T black caviar, well drained 2 T chopped green olives 2 T finely chopped parsley 2 T capers 2 T chopped pimentos 2 T diced bacon, crisped 2 T chopped black olives
Divide cream cheese into 3 parts. Mix one part with the Roquefort, one part with the cheddar, and one part with the chive and garlic. Pile each part on top of one another and shape into a large mound. Mark the mound with a knife into eight sections. Decorate each section with 8 remaining ingredients. Serve with crackers.
Daryl’s Prescription Shop THE BACKSTORY:
After he closed Daryl’s Rexall Drugstore on the square and reopened Daryl’s Prescription Shop across from the hospital, Daryl turned his cooking interests to preparing treats for family and friends. Much of his cooking featured recipes from the then-popular Gourmet Magazine.
THE RECIPE:
Daryl’s most famous recipe was Miss Ottie’s Lemon Ice Cream, from the October 1965 issue of Gourmet. He brought it to every Historic Waxahachie, Inc. Ice Cream Social, countless church functions and many a backyard party. As a girl, I helped crank this ice cream until the glorious day Daryl got an electric freezer. Enjoy some with your family this summer and start your own tradition.
K. Wolens Department Store THE BACKSTORY:
K. Wolens Department Store, located on Rogers Street in the building now housing Old Time Village Antiques, was the source of clothes, things for the home and gift items for many years during the 1950-1970 era. The manager and his wife, Luther and Dora Gregg, enjoyed cooking and had a large garden on their farm on Ovilla Road.
Hickerson’s Food Store THE BACKSTORY:
Hickerson’s Food Store, owned by Marcus Hickerson and begun by his father, was located on Jackson Street across from where the County Court building is now located. The store delivered groceries to people’s homes, and was the main source for groceries until the first half of the 20th century, when a Safeway store was built and Marcus moved on to other business opportunities.
THE RECIPE: Renda
half gallon freezer)
> 2 cups sugar
Add the 2 cups of sugar to the milk and mix well. Pour the mixture into the container of an ice cream freezer. Close, pack the freezer with rock salt and ice and churn until it stiffens. Wipe the lid, open and add the strained juice of 4 large lemons and 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel. Close, repack, and finish freezing. Get out the bowls and enjoy.
THE RECIPE:
Pineapple Chess Pie, a tasty ending to any meal
> 1 & 1/2 cups sugar > 2 tablespoons flour
> Arugula, chopped > Tomatoes, chopped > 2 or more garlic cloves,
chopped > 2 tablespoons olive oil > 2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar Mix the ingredients above and let stand while cooking your pasta of choice. Mix everything and serve warm or cold with these optional ingredients: asparagus tips, feta cheese, ripe olives or smoked sausage.
Mix these well
> 3 eggs, beaten well > 1/2 stick margarine or butter,
melted and partially cooled > One 8-ounce can crushed pineapple, juice and all > 1/2 to 3/4 cups chopped pecans or walnuts
Combine as listed and put in unbaked piecrust. Bake for 45 – 50 minutes at 350 degrees until firm.
Much of Daryl’s cooking featured recipes from the then-popular Gourmet Magazine.
5
Hickerson’s delicious Arugula and Pasta Salad, a fresh summer meal or accompaniment to same, with optional ingredients to make it special each time.
> 1 quart whole milk (use 2 quarts for
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Local Shopping
LIFE & STYLE
MARKETPLACE THE STUDIO Our painted peace poles are strong and durable with a beautiful message painted on all four sides. We have a large selection and multiple sizes. Make this a great addition to your garden. 3671 N. Hwy. 77 Waxahachie 972.617.7740
OLD TOWN VILLAGE ANTIQUES & UNIQUES Old, new and artistically created, you will find something beautiful in every aisle at Old Town Village. Come search for antiques, collectibles, shabby chic decor, vintage finds, books, jewelry, repurposed treasures and much more! 307 S. Rogers St. Waxahachie 972.938.9515
BRIARPATCH #3 HALLMARK
OldTownVillageAntiques.com
We have a large selection of cards, gifts, candles and more for all special occassions! 507 N. Hwy 77 Ste. 406 Waxahachie 972.923.1884
MERLE NORMAN Needing a new summer look? With skin care, clothing, shoes, accessories and more we have you covered. Stop by and see that we have a little something for everyone! Now carrying “Not Your Daughter’s Jeans”! Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ MerleNormanWaxahachie 401 N. Hwy 77, Ste 8 Waxahachie 972.937.9696
DALLAS TORTILLA & TAMALE FACTORY Now serving restaurant-style Mexican food plates! Bringing you authentic Mexican food since 1950. 213 SH 342 Suite 405 Red Oak 972.576.1171
g JUSTUFF CREATIONS You’ve wanted to stop and haven’t. Come explore unique home decor, custom home furnishings, and eclectic gift items. You will find something to satisfy your curiosity! Hours: Wed-Sat 10am-6pm 106 S. Hwy 342, Suite E Red Oak 469.323.0844 www.justuffcreations.com
HOUSE OF TEES Spirit Wear! We have it! Come visit our new shop for spirit tees, bags, caps and more. Let us help you STAND OUT IN THE CROWD!!! 509 George Hopper #B Midlothian 972.723.9820 HouseofTeesOnline.com
MOSAIC MADNESS
BY CUSTOMER JUDY SAWYER
Come in to our studio and make your own mosaic or let one of the artists at Mosaic Madness make a custom mosaic for you! *BRING IN THIS AD AND WE’LL TAKE 10% OFF A STEPPING STONE PROJECT* 211 S. College St. Downtown Waxahachie (972) 937-5797 www.mosaicmadness.net Find us on Facebook!
PLAIN JANE & CO
ARK COUNTRY STORE Join us at the 4th annual Ellis County Wildlife Expo on August 9, 2014 from 9am-4pm • Waxahachie Civic Center Contact Candice Jones to be a sponsor or to reserve a booth space. 209 S. Highway 77 Waxahachie 972.937.8860 or Candice Jones 972.935.8602 www.arkcountrystore.com
No matter what you’re looking for, we can help! A new summer wardrobe, boots, Yellow Box shoes, jewelry, Tyler candles, Poopourri, Consuela bags, home decor and more! 301 S. Rogers • Waxahachie 972.923.4433
LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // JULY-AUGUST 2014
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HOME & GARDEN
{ BACKYARDS 2014 }
A LITTLE
Slice of
Nature No matter if it’s large and spacious or small and compact, a backyard is like owning a little slice of nature. Many of us use our backyard to mirror the type of “outside” we love the best. Whether it’s the beach, the desert, an amusement park or just a homey space to get together, our backyard is a reflection of who we are. Use these beautiful Ellis County backyards as your inspiration and make your little slice of nature reflect you.
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Patio Peace: TOP PHOTO: BACKYARD BY EARTHTONES GREENERY. FIREPLACE AND COUCH: HOME OF JEFF AND KIRI SCHMIDT. PATIO: HOME OF PHIL AND SABRINA PACK.
Every backyard, regardless of its style, needs a comfortable and relaxing seating area. The patio furniture we use often says just as much as our actual backyard does. Pick something that is comfortable yet stylish and modern. Regardless of if your furniture is inside your pool or around it, make sure it compliments your theme as a whole. If you’re going for a resort or oasis look, stick with neutrals or nautical colors. If you’re going for shabby chic, nothing is really out of the question. Reds, mints and whites are among the most popular colors for this type of style.
Shabby Chic Hideaway: BACKYARD: HOME OF SHANE HENRY. ANTIQUE DOOR BY BILL AND LINDA GREENLEE. A SPECIAL THANKS TO KITTY MODEL: PEACHES ATCHLEY.
Shabby Chic tends to look effortless, but the detail that goes into decorating in this style is incredible. Everything about the shabby chic style is so unique that it’s difficult to find two yards that look the same. Something special about this style is that its very DIY friendly. Get inspired by your environment and create your ideal furniture! Sand down that old plain wooden table and paint it any color, but don’t worry about making it perfect. Remember, shabby is the name of the game.
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HOME & GARDEN TOP RIGHT POOL BY LAZY RIVER POOL COMPANY. WATERFALL BY SPLASHAWAY POOL AND SPA. POOL WITH TABLE: HOME OF PHIL AND SABRINA PACK AND POOL BY TEXSUN POOLSCAPES. POND BY GARDENSCAPES BY DIANE. FOUNTAIN BY THE GREENERY. BOTTOM LEFT: HOME OF JEFF AND KIRI SCHMIDT AND POOL BY KING POOLS. BOTTOM RIGHT: HOME OF BRYAN AND GINGER DANIELS AND POOL BY TEXSUN POOLSCAPES.
BACKYARDS 2014
cont.
Backyard Resort OR Desert Mirage: Use your yard as an immediate escape. Design it to look like it came right out of your favorite resort with beautiful, shaded furniture and intricate waterfalls, fountains, and furniture. Going more for the nature look? Make sure you find plants that match the theme and environment you are looking for. Palm trees for a tropical setting, succulents and cacti for a desert oasis-inspired setting.
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HOME & GARDEN
BACKYARDS 2014
cont.
A Throwback To Childhood: Sometimes we just want to use our backyard to have fun. A traditional playground slide transplanted onto a pool can transform a backyard pool into a full-fledged water park. An old trend that’s thankfully coming back is having a tree house. These can be as simple or as ornate as you want them to be. The best part? All of this can be enjoyed by all ages.
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TOP LEFT TREE HOUSE: BILL AND LINDA GREENLEE. TOP RIGHT TREE HOUSE: EDWIN AND CAROL FARRAR. TREE HOUSE WITH GUEST LIST: CODY AND MANDI ATCHLEY. WATERFALL AND SLIDE BY LAZY RIVER POOL COMPANY.
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HOME & GARDEN BY IZAMAR LOREDO
ADVENTURE
IS OUT
THERE
KEEPING THE KIDS ENTERTAINED THIS SUMMER
DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A DAUNTING TASK. TURN OFF THE TV AND DISCOVER YOUR YARD WITH SOME OF THESE FUN AND EASY TO CREATE BACKYARD GAMES.
Cornhole:
A classic that’s making a comeback, corn hole is also known as the beanbag toss game. Although the game simply involves trying to get eight beanbags in a hole, the element of competition and its two to four player range makes it much more dynamic. WHAT YOU NEED: Two corn hole boards, eight beanbags and two to four players
HOW TO PLAY:
*
After deciding who will go first, take turns tossing the beanbags, one after the other. According to cornholehowto.com, scoring is simple. After all bags have been thrown, a bag remaining on the board is worth one point. A bag that went in the hole is worth three points. Add up how many points you earned and compare them to your
opponents. Equal points cancel each other out so that only one team can score per round. For example, if you scored five points and your opponent scored three, you will add two points to your overall score and your team will throw first in the next round. If you scored six points and your opponent scored six as well, there will be no points awarded and whoever threw first in the last round will throw first again. A game is won when a team reaches 21 points with a lead of two or more points. The first team to win two games wins the match.
Want to build your own corn hole game? Check out our DIY on page 50!
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Backyard Twister:
For a fun, messy twist on the living room classic, try covering each colored spot with paint and play as normal. Make sure to buy washable, non-toxic paint. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Twister game mat, washable paint
Backyard Bowling:
This one is as easy as raiding the recycling bin. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Ten plastic bottles of any size with water inside, and a basketball or soccer ball
HOW TO PLAY: You can play this game like regular bowling, or you can make your own version and rules. For better ball trajectory, try making a bowling lane by putting down a hard foundation such as cardboard or wood under the pins. The bigger your party, the more lanes you can build!
Interstellar Backyard Camping:
While not exactly a game, interstellar backyard camping will stretch your kids’ imagination as much as any creative game will. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Tent or DIY fort, sleeping bags, telescope, Skyview app for iPhone Optional additions include decorating the tent like a spaceship and making astronaut helmets before heading outside. After dinner, pitch a tent and watch the stars come out. Once they’re visible the possibilities are endless, so get creative and have fun. One option is having the kids pretend they are driving a space shuttle and asking them to identify constellations along the way, or with a telescope, asking them to identify as many constellations as possible. If the kids are younger, ask them what shapes they see within the stars (an adaptation of seeing shapes in the clouds). If you have an iPhone, download the Skyview app and point it towards the night sky. This nifty app will be able to tell you the exact names of the constellations you’re looking at!
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HOME & GARDEN { DIY }
HOMEGROWN CORNHOLE
CONTRIBUTED BY IAN SCHNEIDER OF THE SOUTHERN TRUNK BLOG, THESOUTHERNTRUNK.COM
Want a fun project to undertake this summer? Create your own version of this yard game classic for an instant backyard upgrade.
Things you need: TOOLS > Drill > Jigsaw
(or anything to cut a hole)
> > > >
Saw Finishing Sander Stain brush Foam brush for polyurethane
MATERIALS > > > > > > > > >
} Step
32 feet of 1 x 6 boards 24 feet of 2 x 3 studs 1.5 inch screws (28) 2.5 inch screws (16) 2 inch hinges (4) Wood Glue Quart of Stain Quart of Polyurethane 8 Bean Bags
1:
SKETCH OUT THE SET Here is a diagram with the general dimensions we used. I start a project by sketching out exactly what I want to do. You don’t have to do this, but it helps me think through what I want.
} Step
2:
CUT THE TOP BOARDS AND GLUE TOGETHER You need 32 feet total of the 1 x 6 boards to make 2 boards, so we purchased four 8-foot boards and had them cut in half to make four 4-foot boards for each corn hole board. After they were cut, we glued 4 of the 4-foot boards together to create a thick bond. Dimensions from cornholehowto.com
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This is where you should use clamps to seal the glue, but we didn’t have any that were long enough for a 24-inch width. We made due with screwing in temporary mending plates and let each corn hole board dry for about 45 minutes.
} Step
3:
Cut and build the back frame While the top boards dry, get started on building the frame to go underneath. We wanted to leave a 2-inch lip all around the boards to give them a different look, so we cut four 2 x 3 pieces at 44 inches and the top and bottom pieces at 16 inches to fit inside the sides. Keep in mind that we’re building 2 boards, so there are 4 sides pieces and 4 top and bottom pieces. Next, we pre-screwed 8 holes, 2 at each joint, into the top and bottom of the side pieces so we could connect the whole frame with the 2.5-inch screws. We put glue in between the boards to help with a stronger seal.
} Step
4:
Fasten the frame to the top board After the top boards have dried and the back frame is put together, set the frame on the back of the top, 2 inches from all the edges, and screw the top to the frame. We used one 1.5-inch screw in the center of each board, 4 on top and 4 on bottom, and 3 down the outsides to make sure the frame was secured well. We used 14 screws in total for each board.
} Step
5:
Since we didn’t use clamps, we removed the mending plates from the frame that was holding the boards together.
Cut and build the feet Use the leftover 2 x 3 boards to cut 11-inch feet. To make them fold in and out and sit level on the ground, we cut each end at a 20-degree angle and screwed the 2-inch hinges underneath so they folded inside the frame. To make sure there’s enough room when the legs fold out, put a 1 inch gap between the inside of the frame and the foot.
} Step
6:
Cut the hole
Measure 9 inches from the top and 12 inches from the side (refer to the dimensions diagram at the top). This will be the center point of the 6-inch hole. Mark it. From the center, measure 3 inches to each side and draw a small line to map out the full circle. You can tie a 3-inch piece of string around a pencil, set it on the center dot, tie another piece of string on the other end and make a full circle by tracing it, keeping the middle pencil centered on the previously made mark. We used a paint can lid to trace a circle, which just happens to be 6 inches in diameter. After we traced a circle, we used a 3-inch bi-metal hole saw to dig out the middle and then used a jigsaw to cut the full hole. There’s probably an easier way to do this, but we made it work. Now that the build part is done, we move on to the finishing.
} Step
7:
Sand, stain and poly
I started off by sanding the board with coarse paper to smooth out the edges, corners and splinters from the screw holes and the main hole. After that, I used light sandpaper to get a nice smooth feel all over. After the sanding is complete, wipe down the boards and apply the stain of your choice. Once the stain has dried, apply two coats of polyurethane to make sure the beanbags slide across the top easily.
That’s it! I’m sure there were easier ways to do things and everybody has a different process, but this was ours and we are extremely happy with the final product! living-magazine.com // JULY-AUGUST 2014
51
HOME & GARDEN
{
inTerior DeSign
}
SCreening
out the heat
The cold winter is over and spring has quickly passed us by. The long hot summer days are here, and with them the heat and the reality that huge utility bills are a month away. Because of this, I want to share with you some information that might help curb those costs and help with your overall hot summer comfort.
most quality builders are making efforts to include more efficient methods of keeping our homes air-tight and comfortable. Better insulation, better house wraps, better heating and cooling systems and doublepane windows are a few of the areas being addressed in new construction.
Single-paned windows have been replaced by double-paned glass. The inside glass is often tinted to help block some of the Uv rays entering the home. The one real benefit to this tinted glass is that it helps greatly in protecting your furniture and floors from fading. This tint, however, does not do a great deal for the utility bills.
in this column, i’m going to concentrate on windows. according to research done by the Department of energy, it is reported that 48 percent of the cooling cost of our homes is due to windows. Yes, there is seeping air coming through cracks, which is being addressed by builders. There is a percentage of heat infiltrating the attic through the roof, which is being curbed by better insulation. However, it is a fact that most of the hot air in our homes is actually caused by the glass in our windows.
With the outside glass being clear and the inside glass being tinted, the heat penetrates through the glass and gets trapped between the two sheets. even though the tinted glass helps block the rays of the sun, it is impossible for it to block the extreme heat trapped and stored in the pocket between the glasses. This extreme heat often causes the inside glass to crack. That is why most manufacturers do not guarantee that breakage will not occur due to extreme heat.
Improvements to windows
aluminum has been replaced by vinyl, which is a very good thing. aluminum attracts the heat and cold and makes the house even hotter or colder. vinyl does not heat up because the air does not penetrate and reflect off of it. vinyl also keeps its color and does not fade with age. These are certainly excellent factors. even wood windows are vinyl-clad on the outside because vinyl products are so durable and maintenance-free.
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BY Diane JoHnSon collarD
considering the improvements made by window manufacturers over the last 20 years, i feel sure that they will continue trying to find the perfect answer for blocking the Texas heat from our homes. in the meantime, we need a little extra help.
Solar screens
i have been recommending solar screens for many years. i know they don’t always look beautiful, but they certainly do serve a purpose. installed on windows facing the sun, solar screens can cut the Uv rays by 80 to 90 percent depending on the materials being used. imagine having a huge oak tree outside every
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HOME & GARDEN
SCreening out the heat window in your home. That is exactly the kind of shade you get from solar screens. The whole idea of solar screens is to provide shade for the glass that will prevent heat and rays from entering the house. if the extreme sunrays don’t heat the glass, hot air will not come into the house. it is as simple as that. Blinds, shutters, shades and draperies help block the sun’s rays and heat. However, the heat is actually trapped behind those treatments and will seep into the room because it has nowhere else to go. With solar screens, you can both have your treatments and open the blinds and shutters during the heat of the day and enjoy the outdoors. Your window treatments will provide the privacy needed at night, and the solar screens will provide the privacy during the day. Solar screens are great for daytime privacy. During the day you can see out perfectly, but no one can see in. The view is slightly shaded but not hindered. if you want to know how dark your house will feel with solar shades, go into a room where there is a covered porch or no sun shining directly in through the windows. Solar screens breathe well, so opening your windows is an option for fresh air. Because of the very dense weave of solar
diane Johnson collaRd Diane has been decorating ellis county for more than 30 years. contact Diane Johnson interiors at 972.935.8899 or djohnsoninteriors@hotmail.com.
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cont.
48 PercenT oF THe cooling coST oF oUr HomeS iS DUe To WinDoWS. screen fabrics, bugs cannot get into the house like they can with regular window screens. That makes this fabric perfect for screened porches as well. a big bonus with installing solar screens is the cleanliness of the screen. Dust collects on the outside of the screen and does not filter into the house or onto the windows. very often, windows don’t have to be cleaned at all after installation. cleaning of the shades themselves is not generally necessary, but you can gently power wash them if you feel the need. lighter colors have a tendency to discolor slightly with age due to soil stains, but darker colors do not. if you are not at home and it starts to rain, don’t worry. very little, if any, water will ever penetrate the fine weave of the solar screen fabric. The rain rolls off and washes away any dust that has collected on the outside of the screen, keeping your windows clean.
Which solar screen do I choose?
not all solar fabrics are the same. a really good fabric, such as Suntex, will last for many
years and never fade. They have a ten-year warranty, which is a good indication that they believe in their fabric. Before making your purchase, find out if the fabric being used qualifies for the energy efficient Tax credit. The fabric has to be certified as an “eligible Building envelope component” and a manufacturer’s certification Statement has to be provided by the supplier. This proves the quality and efficiency of the fabric being used by your supplier and also qualifies you for a tax break.
How much can I save?
The amount of savings you will see from installing solar screens will vary from house to house. The more windows you have, the more savings you will see. if you have small windows facing north and south, you will see very little benefit. if you have windows facing east and west, you will see greater benefits. Using the
90 percent screens on the east and west windows is imperative. it is not necessary to use more than 70-80 percent fabric on windows facing north and south, as they do not get the extreme rays and the rooms would appear darker with the dense fabric. if you are on a budget, have screens installed on the windows facing the sun. That will cut your utility cost and make the house much more comfortable. if you choose not to use screens on the north and south, don’t worry about it, as it is not a major savings factor. Do what you can to block out those rays wherever possible. Texas is heating up and we need all the help we can get. Have a wonderful summer and i will see you again in the fall.
until neXt time,
happy decorating and keep cool.
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HOME & GARDEN
{ garDening }
JULY 2014
BY melinDa Kocian, elliS coUnTY maSTer garDenerS
planting » Plant tomatoes and peppers from transplants. They need full sun, mulch and water several times a week. Plants should survive through a hot, dry summer if kept well watered. other fall vegetables can be planted in august. » Use tomato varieties that are early maturing and tolerant of the summer heat. Best varieties for this area include: ‘celebrity,’ ‘Juliette,’ ‘Porter improved,’ ‘cherry’ and ‘Sweet 100.’ » Plant warm-season grasses such as Bermuda and St. augustine from sod only. Sowing grass by seed in the heat of July will require abundant amounts of water to enable the seed to germinate and become an established lawn.
fertiliZing and pruning » Deadhead all blooming plants and fertilize sparingly. clean up container plantings by removing dead leaves and flowers. » Pinch off flowers of warm weather herbs that are going to seed to
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encourage additional foliage. » Keep pinching back growing tips of fall-blooming plants to keep them compact. » grassy weeds such as dallisgrass and crabgrass will have to be weeded by hand or dug out. The bare area can be filled in with plugs dug from the existing lawn. The chemical herbicide mSma, previously used on Bermuda turf, is no longer available. » nutsedge, easily recognized by its triangular shaped leaves, can be weeded by hand in mulched areas. it has underground rhizomes with nutlets, so dig them up too or the sedge may come back. it likes moist or wet areas. nutsedge can be controlled by applying image or manage. Two applications are usually required. apply 2 to 3 days after mowing. read and follow label instructions.
Turk’s Cap
Turk’s cap (malvaviscus arboreous var. drummondii) is one of the best flowering perennials to attract hummingbirds and butterflies with a consistent bloom period from may to november. once established, Turk’s cap is drought tolerant and holds up well to Texas heat but prefers some afternoon shade. average size is 2-4 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. The most common variety is red—with “Big momma” being about 1/3 larger than most species. ‘Pam Puryear’ is the pink flowering variety that has gained a lot of recognition in recent years. Blooms on the Turk’s cap are a tight whorl of petals with a stamen extending through the middle to resemble a finial on top of a Turkish hat (thus its name). after blooms disappear, all varieties produce marble sized fruit that birds love.
garden WatCh » Keep plants with berries, caladiums and elephant ears well watered. » on a hot afternoon, wilting is a sign of stress. it may be from lack of moisture or that a plant’s roots cannot take up available moisture in the soil. Wait until morning. if the plant is still wilting, it needs water.
tipS & little-knoWn faCtS: This native of mexico and Texas is also known as Texas Wax mallow. in north central Texas’ black clay, a well-established Turk’s cap is exceedingly difficult to dig up due to its very tough, dense and deep roots. although drought tolerant as far west as midland, in full sun it may get mildew, which crinkles the leaves. it is especially welcome in shady sites. The leaf is about 3 inches wide and shaped like a maple leaf. The marble-size red fruit is edible and is enjoyed by a number of birds and animals. The flowers provide nectar to eager ruby-throated hummingbirds and several species of butterflies. caterpillars can be a problem.
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57
HOME & GARDEN
{ garDening }
AUGUST 2014
BY melinDa Kocian, elliS coUnTY maSTer garDenerS
planting » Put out fall vegetables during the first of the month to produce a crop before the first fall freeze. The average date for the first fall freeze in this area is nov. 15th. However, it could occur a week or two before or after that date. it is best to use transplants if available, as some crops planted by seed may not yield a crop before the average fall freeze date. many vegetables can be planted from seed such as winter squash and beans. leafy (greens) and root crops can be planted later in the month. a planting guide for fall vegetables can be found on the web site: http://aggie-horticulture. tamu.edu/. » Sow seeds for bluebonnets and other wildflowers in full sun and directly in the ground. The soil should be free of weeds and grass and the surface should be lightly cultivated. make sure the seed makes good contact with the soil. Water well as these plants must germinate in the late summer or fall. » Plant fall-flowering bulbs such as spider lily, naked ladies, rain lily, fall crocus and oxblood lily as soon as they become available. Put them in the ground twice as deep as the diameter of the bulb. These bulbs may not bloom the first year. » Salvia greggii (autumn sage) can be cut back at least by one-third to extend colorful flowers until late fall.
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fertiliZing and pruning » Keep a spray can of pruning paint in your garage to immediately paint any wound on your oak trees. We no longer say there are windows of safety because of cold weather or hot weather. Texas weather is too unpredictable and changeable—paint every wound all year long. » Prune most roses by cutting out dead canes and weak spindly growth. cut back stems about one-third. Fertilize and water well for beautiful fall blooms. » Prune summer flowering shrubs. Do not flat top any blooming shrub; always leave the tops in a rounded, natural shape. » Prune other prolific-growing shrubs and vines to keep them in bounds (for example, variegated privet, elaeagnus, hollies, trumpet vine and honeysuckle). » Pinch back the tips of fall-blooming perennials such as mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha), Salvia regla, mexican mint marigold, copper canyon daisies, mums and aster before fall buds set.
garden WatCh » continue to follow the “Home owner’s Fruit and nut Spray Schedule” to protect pecan trees against pecan weevils and hickory shuckworms which can destroy the crop. » The same schedule also applies to peach and plum trees to protect them from peach tree borers.
Blackfoot Daisy
Blackfoot Daisy is the common name of (melampodium leucanthem) and is also known as mountain daisy. it is commonly used as a bedding plant or perennial wildflower. it is native to the limestone soils of arkansas, colorado and Texas. low-growing plants form compact mounds and bloom white daisy-like flowers with yellow centers from spring through fall. The Blackfoot daisy rarely needs irrigation and will not tolerate wet feet. it may rot during a rainy season. Heavy clay soils should be amended to allow good drainage and discourage fungal diseases. tipS & little-knoWn faCtS: The Blackfoot daisy is heat and drought tolerant. it is a sturdy, mounding plant that will flourish in rock gardens. it grows well in sun to part shade. good drainage is essential to its success. in late winter, older plants can be cut back halfway to keep them compact. rich soil and abundant water will likely produce many more flowers in the short-term, but may consequently shorten the lifespan. in winter, the older plants may be cut back halfway to keep them compact. They are easy to plant any time of the year and propagate from seed in the fall.
Residential Service Providers
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59
MEDICAL
Defeating the
Temper Tantrum Dear Dr. Donaldson,
My 8-year-old has a total meltdown when he doesn’t get what he wants or when something doesn’t go his way. The way he acts is embarrassing. It is also upsetting to everybody around him. He acts like he is 3 years old. Any tips?
Here are some ideas to help him learn more appropriate ways of responding.
1. Provide him with choices. This helps him
feel more in control and allows him the opportunity to make decisions. For example, if the battle is over what to wear, let him know he can wear the brown shirt or the blue shirt.
2. If he is yelling, let him know you cannot
hear what he says until he speaks in a calm voice. If he continues to yell, walk away.
3. Speak to him in a quiet voice. In fact,
if you speak very softly, he will have to quiet down to hear what you are saying.
4. If he is saying rude things, acknowledge
his feelings but let him know he should not speak that way. For example: “I can see you are really mad, but it is not okay to talk to me that way.”
5. Let him know what is expected so he
8. Provide praise when he responds
appropriately and if possible, ignore inappropriate behaviors. Of course some behaviors cannot and should not be ignored, but many behaviors can. Children will repeat behaviors that get them attention.
9. Whatever you do, do not give in to
his demands. If you give in when he is yelling, this will only teach him that yelling gets him what he wants.
10. Have consequences in place and let
your child know ahead of time what the consequences are for his tantrums. Then be consistent with the consequences.
Children can learn quickly, but their behaviors sometimes get worse before they get better. If he has gotten what he wants with tantrums in the past, he will up his game before realizing that his tactics will no longer work. Staying calm, being consistent, and using consequences will get the best results. Don’t give up.
can be prepared. “You have 10 more minutes to play and then you need to pick up your toys.”
6. Don’t respond to him with anger. If you yell, you have lost the battle. Stay calm.
7. Watch for triggers that set him off. Then figure out a plan for coping with the situation.
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Dr. Donaldson is a clinical psychologist practicing in Waxahachie. She can be contacted at donaldsonpsyd@aol.com or by visiting donaldsonwellnesscenter.com.
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MEDICAL
Juvenile Arthritis: Not the Average Growing Pains By IZAMAR LOREDO
July is National Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month and an opportune time to get acquainted with this debilitating childhood disease. Arthritis is a disease that is often solely attributed to the aging population. Rarely does the image of a child or young adult come to mind. Unfortunately, arthritis is not an age specific disease. In fact, juvenile arthritis is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States. There are currently about 300,000 American children under the age of 18 afflicted by juvenile arthritis. It affects children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds and is most often classified as idiopathic, which means “from unknown causes”. As the name suggests, the greatest mystery facing juvenile arthritis researchers is finding the causes of this disease. While much is still unknown on the subject, many resources are available for those who are diagnosed.
What causes juvenile arthritis? Juvenile arthritis is usually considered an autoimmune disorder. In an autoimmune disorder, the immune system at-
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tacks the body’s healthy cells and tissues. Although a specific reason as to why this happens is unknown, some scientists believe it is the two-step process of genetic inheritance and the activation of the disease by a virus.
What are the symptoms of juvenile arthritis? According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. It usually affects the knees, hands and feet, and appears to worsen in the morning or after a nap. Other symptoms include limping in the morning because of stiffness in the knee, excessive clumsiness, a high fever and skin rash and swollen lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body. It is also important to note that most children with arthritis have times when their symptoms get worse, or flare, and times when they get better or disappear.
How is juvenile arthritis diagnosed? There is no surefire way to diagnose juvenile arthritis. Your doctor may suspect it if the child reports constant joint pain and swelling. To make sure their suspicions are accurate, doctors depend on physical exams, the symptoms, family history, lab tests and X-rays.
How is juvenile arthritis treated? A specialized doctor, such as a pediatric rheumatologist, can best treat juvenile Arthritis. However, pediatricians and regular rheumatologists are also very capable of treating the disease. Doctors will make sure that the child remains physically active and that they stay involved in social activities to retain a good quality of life. There are medications that doctors can prescribe for joint pain and discomfort, to maintain joint movement and to reduce swelling. They also try to prevent, identify and treat other problems that may arise from the Juvenile Arthritis. Juvenile Arthritis affects the whole family. You can make sure to help your child by ensuring full treatment, by encouraging exercises and physical activity and by treating them as normally as possible. Although the pain from the Arthritis can sometimes limit the activities children can do, keeping a good exercise routine will help maintain range and function of the joints. One of the best physical activities for Juvenile Arthritis is swimming, as it uses all joints and muscles without putting weight on them. When diagnosis of Juvenile Arthritis happens, it is easy to imagine all sorts of images of an interrupted childhood. However, remember that there are many ways you can help your child live a healthy and uninterrupted life.
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MEDICAL Contributed By Regional Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Center
Weighing In on Body Composition In sports medicine we are often concerned about the optimum body composition for different people. Gymnasts should have drastically different proportions of muscle, fat and bone than football linebackers. Furthermore, we are interested in what is healthy for fitness enthusiasts, weekend warriors and non-athletes as well.
the observation that body tissue that does not contain fat conducts electricity much faster than fatty tissue. Early bioimpedance techniques involved inserting needles into the muscle tissue. Needless to say, this wasn’t particularly popular. However, today’s method uses skin electrodes and is completely painless.
Many people determine their body composition status by body weight alone. While this is indeed an important parameter, it is by no means a complete way to determine whether or not you have the correct body composition. Consider the examples of a 300-pound football linebacker with 15% body fat and the 5’2’’ small-framed woman who has 35% body fat.
Companies from Sharper Image to WalMart are now offering fairly low cost devices that will measure bioimpedance. Although this quick and repeatable method of measuring body fat is very attractive, there is evidence to suggest that it may be one of the least accurate and imprecise methods of measurement. The data may be affected by several factors including hydration status. Some people, such as young lean males, may have their body fat percentage overpredicted.
Over the years, several methods of determining body fat percentages have evolved. These range from the very simple to the extremely exotic. For the most part, there are three practical and accepted methods of determining body fat. The first one, called hydrostatic weighing, is probably the least used and most complicated. This method is based on the principle that fat is less dense than water and will tend to float. Bone and muscle are both denser than water and will sink. In order to determine the percentage of body fat, an examiner must know the patient’s weight in air and their weight in water. Then, using a simple mathematic formula, it is possible to determine the percentage of body weight that is fat. A second method that is becoming both more practical and popular recently is bioimpedance. This technique makes use of
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The most tried and true method of measuring body fat is called anthropometry, or skin fold measurement. This uses the measurement of folds of skin to estimate total body fat composition. It requires a trained examiner to take one or more skin fold measurements (depending on the method) and the use of a table to estimate body fat. This method is both accurate and repeatable when performed by a skilled examiner. Many organizations have published recommendations regarding the optimum percentages of body fat for different people. For example, the American College of Sports Medicine has said that 16%-18% is acceptable for men of all ages and 22%26% for women. Various studies have looked at ideal com-
position for specific sports or specific positions. However, there is not general agreement in this area. For athletes trying to gain weight it is important (for the most part) that they try to gain muscle rather than fat. This is done with a combination of increasing their caloric intake and using strength training exercises to increase their lean mass. Weight loss (a more common goal) should be viewed in the context of body composition as well. It is unhealthy to lose lean mass in order to drop total body weight. As with weight gain, exercise is an important factor as well. Exercise for weight loss should emphasize not only lean mass expansion but fat loss too. With either weight loss or weight gain, a healthy diet is key.
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It should be mentioned that in today’s aestheticsdriven society, eating disorders are becoming ever more common. People with eating disorders have complex problems that go beyond the scope of this article. If you believe that you or someone you know has an eating disorder, it is vitally important that professional help is sought. These problems are extremely unhealthy and may require aggressive treatment.
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MEDICAL
Steer Your Ears
Clear of Danger By Matthew Parker Branch, MD
Work in a hospital or doctor’s office long enough, and you’re likely to see some strange cases come through the door. Sometimes, they’re simply the result of a freak accident, but other times they’re the result of people… well… not thinking things all the way through (to put it generously).
Pay Attention to Those Piercings
Ear injuries seem to have a reputation for falling into this category. However, for every ear injury physicians see due to someone cleaning their ears with a rusty nail, they see hundreds of other ear injuries caused by actions that many people don’t realize can be harmful.
But if you pierce the cartilage- not the soft lobe that hangs down- it’s possible to get perichondritis, an infection of the ear cartilage. Unlike many infections that can be cured with a prescription for a generic antibiotic readily available at any local pharmacy, perichondritis can be serious, sometimes requiring IV antibiotics that are only administered in a hospital setting. That could add up to thousands of dollars and many hours in a hospital room.
Negating the Noise Any good mother will tell you to turn your music down or you could go deaf. A physician will tell you that just dialing down the tunes isn’t good enough. “Anyone who works or plays in a noisy environment needs to wear ear protection. It could be a factory, a warehouse, a maintenance facility, a stadium– you don’t have to work at the airport or artillery range or go to a rock concert to be in a noisy environment. Not wearing protection in a noisy environment is one of the top causes of acquired hearing loss. Wearing earplugs or earmuffs- or both– is the best way to protect the tiny hairs inside your ears that are so crucial to hearing.
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For most young women, and even many young men, getting their ears pierced is almost a rite of passage.
It’s best to avoid piercing up high on the ear all together, but short of that, if there are any signs of infection like puffiness, redness or a lot of tenderness around a piercing, take it out and go see a doctor immediately.
A New Tip and Avoiding a Bad Drip Just because you avoid cleaning your ears with a coat hanger doesn’t mean you’re safe from injury. For decades, the default tool for digging out ear
wax has been the Q-tip. But it shouldn’t be. Q-tips account for a substantial number of ruptured eardrums each year, which can cause permanent damage. Ironically, a lot of cotton swab packs even say not to use to clean the ear canal, even though that’s the function people most associate with the product. In addition to Q-tips, other products that seem destined for the inside of your ears aren’t necessarily the right remedy. Ear drops– both over-the-counter and homemade– can actually lead to damage, including deafness, if they are used in ears with a perforated eardrum. Often, people may not even realize they have a small hole in their eardrum, until they add drops and experience terrible pain instead of relief. Remember, as vital as your ears are to hearing, they also play a key role in regulating your sense of balance, making protecting them all the more critical.
Dr. Matthew Branch, MD, is an ears, nose and throat specialist on the Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie medical staff.
sudoku is a logic-based number placement puzzle where the objective is to ďŹ ll the 9x9 grid. do you have to use arithmetic? no! nothing has to add up to anything else. 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. living-magazine.com // JUlY-aUgUST 2014
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LA FIN
VACATION
VILLAS
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I am a planner, list maker and some might say drill sergeant when it comes to planning a vacation. I guess many aspects of being a caterer have flowed over into organizing a good trip. I know some folks just want an all-inclusive resort so they can lie by the pool, eat from a buffet and order unlimited drinks at the bar. I get that, but personally I prefer a whole house I can relax in with a private pool and all the amenities. We like to brew our own coffee, play our own music and feel for just one week that we own a villa in the Caribbean. We recently returned from the beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands where we shared two villas with 16 friends and family. In researching I was able to find villas next door to each other in an exclusive area of the island called Silly Creek Estates. Perched on a cliff overlooking the turquoise Caribbean waters, Villa Alamandra and Villa Ponte del Sogno each had four bedrooms opening up to the ocean with infinity pools, beautiful large living spaces, and gourmet kitchens. People ask me how I plan such incredible vacations, so I thought I would share my strategy. Once we decide on a destination I start looking at every villa rental I can find online that meets our needs. I normally scroll through sites such as Luxury Retreats (www.luxuryretreats.com) or Villas of Distinction (www.villasofdistinction. com), studying every inch of the accommodations. When I have a few favorites, I Google the villa names to see if the owners have their own website. If so, I contact them directly and try to negotiate a
VILLAALAMANDRATCI.COM
better price without a listing agent. I also cross reference the villa on Trip Advisor to check for reviews. By just asking for a discount I always get at least 10% off the advertised rate. If the site shows an availability calendar, and we are flexible on travel dates, I choose a week with fewer bookings and make an offer. I have negotiated thousands of dollars less per week than a villa was asking.
(USA to Caribbean is usually limited to 2 liters per person, but it’s always best to ask). I give our group a list so we don’t end up with ten liters of the same gin. Local beer and rum is a good price on the islands, but any imported liquor can cost 40% more than at home. We have one traveling companion who plans a designated drink and playlist of the day that we all look forward to.
Groceries and supplies on an island can be very expensive since most everything has to be imported. Dividing the costs with a large group can be far less expensive than eating out each day. I like to find a provisioning company on the island that will stock the villa with the basics before our arrival, usually charging 10% of the grocery bill plus a delivery charge. We then divide up the rest of the groceries and pack our own coffee, spices, gourmet cheeses, crackers, pancake mix and even frozen beef tenderloin that we like to grill over coconut husks. If you are lucky enough to have platinum airline status, or traveling with someone who does, they can check extra baggage at no charge. We have a few of those lucky friends who bring an extra bag devoted solely to Trader Joe’s snacks and theme night parties. One friend has been known to pack grass skirts and umbrella toothpicks for a luau by the pool, or eye patches, blow up swords and rub on tattoos for pirate night.
It is wonderful waking up in a spectacular oceanfront villa with folks you love hanging out with. We all pitch in and help. Some mornings my mother in-law makes banana pancakes as the Jack Johnson song by the same name plays in the background, while other mornings my husband will take leftover beef tenderloin and make a killer batch of Migas before heading off to scuba dive. I try and trace down local fishermen and buy fresh grouper or red snapper to prepare one night. But if cooking is not your thing there are always private chefs on an island you can hire. If I’m going to leave town for a week, I want to stay somewhere that is nicer than my own home or it’s not what I call a vacation. With a little organization and pre planning, a week at the beach in a multi-million dollar villa drinking a “Thursday” is not only less expensive than a four star resort, but a whole lot more fun. Even better, you don’t have to deal with all those tourists.
Arriving at your villa ready to mix a cocktail and toast to the start of a great week requires purchasing wine or liquor in the duty-free shop before boarding the plane
Cindy Burch and her husband, Andrew, own and operate The Doves Nest in historic downtown Waxahachie. Cindy is also a freelance writer, caterer and consultant. Her award-winning cookbook, “The Doves Nest Restaurant: New American Recipes From A Historic Texas Town,” is in its fifth printing.
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Cindy Burch
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