March 2015 Ellis County Living Magazine by Ellis County Living Magazine

FASHION RECIPES HOME TRAVEL HEALTH MEDICAL

Living

Everything Spring

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. 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.

The Schmidt Group promises you: • A community - first approach • Local underwriting and reliable closings • Service for a lifetime

Your Award-Winning Team Jeff Schmidt - 817.681.7897 REGIONAL MANAGER

Licensed Residential Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS 91368

Jeff.Schmidt@GatewayLoan.com

Tom Ker - 972.365.7022 SENIOR LOAN OFFICER

Licensed Residential Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS 356892

Tom.Ker@GatewayLoan.com

Nick Hester - 469.855.9262 SENIOR LOAN OFFICER

Licensed Residential Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS 338108

Nick.Hester@GatewayLoan.com

Terry Wooten - 214.949.9285 SENIOR LOAN OFFICER

Licensed Residential Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS 224831

Terry.Wooten@GatewayLoan.com

Office: 972.937.2200 | 1332 W. Hwy 287 Bypass, Suite-1 | Waxahachie, TX 75165 Gateway Mortgage Group is a registered service mark of Gateway Mortgage Group, LLC. NMLS 7233

HAVE A HAPPY

YOUTHFUL

YEAR

BOTOX DYSPORT FILLERS minimize facial fine lines and wrinkles Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Howard F. Cooke, D.M.D., M.S. BOARD CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY.

www.drhcooke.com

Dr. Cooke has specialized in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery 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

LAWN & GARDEN EXPO

March 28th • 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Waxahachie Civic Center Over 100 Exhibit Booths • Children’s Workshops • Keynote Speakers Ask The Experts • Door Prizes • Plant Sales • 4-H Food Concessions

FREE Advance Tickets

Admission at the door $5 (Children under 12 free)

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Available From Our Sponsors

MONICA NYENHUIS

STEVE SMITH & JAMES JEFFERS

RANDY JOHNSON

Seed Saving

Eat the Yard

Pollinators and Natives - An Ancient Marriage

GOLD SPONSORS:

Living

ELLIS COUNTY

MAGAZINE

BRONZE SPONSORS: Renewal by Anderson, Earthtones Greenery, Waxahachie Civic Center GREEN SPONSORS: AmeriGrafix, TexScapes Greenery, CNB of Texas, Roland’s Nursery and Landscape

972.825.5175 | WWW.ECMGA.COM

Living

ELLIS COUNTY

MAGAZINE

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 2

CINDY has been a force in Ellis County for more than 20 years. An optimistic and generous leader, she has supported many local organizations throughout her time living in Waxahachie and was the perfect candidate to start Ellis County Living Magazine. Send her your thoughts at publisher@living-magazine.com.

PUBLISHER CINDY CAMP EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR JENNIFER KEMP CREATIVE DIRECTOR LINDSEY KEENEY EDITOR IZAMAR LOREDO ADVERTISING 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 2015, 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!

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LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

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. 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. He is an avid film and television buff and enjoys entertaining the staff with “fun factoids”. 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. STAFF PHOTOS BY MARIE Q PHOTOGRAPHY COVER PHOTO BY THIBAUT | THIBAUTDESIGN.COM

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS 40

GARDEN TALK WITH THE MASTER GARDENERS

24 14

podcasting for knowledge

spring fashion guide

MARCH/APRIL FASHION

HOME & GARDEN

LIFE & STYLE

MEDICAL

Local fashion 14 WHAT MAKEUP?! 20 (FRUIT AND VEGGIES) KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY 22

PODCASTING FOR KNOWLEDGE 24 GARDEN EATS 26 SPRING MIXES 28 DAY TRIPPING ON THE TEXAS BLUEBONNET WINE TRAIL 30 ESCAPE TO CANCUN 32 NONPROFIT: A LIFE WORTH KNOWING 34

living-magazine.com // MARCH-APRIL 2015

> GARDEN TALK WITH THE MASTER GARDENERS 40 SPRING BEGINNINGS 48 DIY: CONTAINER GARDENING 52 MARCH/APRIL PLANTS 56

GOODNIGHT MOON 60 DR. DONalDson: TRAIN YOUR BRAIN 62 CREATING A HEALING ENVIRONMENT 64

> Cindy Burch: CAMP ROUND TOP 68

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

A LOT IS HAPPENING IN ELLIS COUNTY...

AROUND TOWN EDITOR’S NOTE There’s nothing quite like the springtime. It’s the ideal time to work in the garden, sign up to volunteer, reorganize and clean your home, and change up the way you’ve been doing things. Quite simply, it’s perfect for new beginnings and getting back to nature. This issue, we’ve taken that theme to heart. Whether it’s giving you the rundown on the healthiest fruits and vegetables, tips on how to start your own container garden, giving you some great outdoorsy travel tips or teaching you all about podcasts, we designed every article with a new and refreshed start in mind. Texas spring will be gone in a blink of an eye, so make sure you take full advantage of it! I for one am really excited to finally see the world famous Ennis Bluebonnets. After living in Ellis County for 15 years I am determined not to miss them this year! Up next is the Health and Wellness issue and we’ve already got some great ideas brewing to make it your perfect guide to health just in time for summer. Enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed creating it, and as always, if you have any questions, comments, ideas or just want to say hi, email me at

WAXAHACHIE

WAXAHACHIE GUN & KNIFE SHOW MARCH 7-8 Waxahachie Civic Center

WAXAHACHIE GUITAR SHOW

MARCH 21 Waxahachie Civic Center

ST. JOSEPH SPRING FIESTA

MARCH 21, 10 AM Activities include carnival games, bingo, raffle drawings, karaoke, washer tournament, Mexican food, BBQ and live music! For more information go to www.springfiesta.net or 972.938.1953.

ELLIS COUNTY MUSEUM BROWN BAG SPEAKER SERIES MARCH 26, 12-1 PM Ellis County Museum Sharan Farmer (Bardwell, TX)

WAXAHACHIE OLD FASHIONED SINGING

MARCH 27-28; FRIDAY AT 7 PM, SATURDAY AT 3 PM Chautauqua Auditorium www.waxaofs.com

SPRING LAWN & GARDEN EXPO

MARCH 28 Waxahachie Civic Center Over 100 exhibits, speakers, demonstrations. For more information: 972.825.5175 or www.ecmga.com

WAXAHACHIE LIONS CLUB SPRING DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

MARCH 28 Waxahachie High School and Ninth Grade Academy

editor@living-magazine.com.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

SCARBOROUGH RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

WEEKENDS APRIL THROUGH MAY 2511 FM 66, Exit 399A on I-35E Festival set back in time of King Henry VIII with arts, crafts, vendors, food and entertainment. For more information call 972.938.3247 or www.srfestival.com.

WAXAHACHIE EASTER EGG HUNT APRIL 4, 11 AM-1 PM Getzendaner Park For children ages 0-12.

ELLIS COUNTY YOUTH EXPO

APRIL 6-11 Ellis County Expo Center

WAXAHACHIE SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION: THE SAGU JAZZ BAND APRIL 9, 7 PM SAGU Performance Hall

www.waxahachiesymphony.com

LIFESTYLE: BUSINESS, HEALTH & WELLNESS EXPO APRIL 11 Waxahachie Civic Center, 60,000 square feet of entertainment, shopping, and fun for the whole family! For more information: 972.937.2390 or www.waxahachiechamber.com.

WAXAHACHIE DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET

SATURDAYS APRIL 11OCTOBER 31 410 S. Rogers, downtown Waxahachie.

ELLIS COUNTY MUSEUM BROWN BAG SPEAKER SERIES APRIL 23, 12 TO 1 PM Ellis County Museum Steve Chapman (Waxahachie, TX)

MIDLOTHIAN

BRIDAL & SPECIAL EVENT SHOW MARCH 1, 11 AM TO 4 PM Midlothian Conference Center $3.00 admission per person. For more information call 972.723.7919 or visit

www.midlothiancenter.com.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MARKETPLACE

MARCH 14, 9 AM Midlothian Conference Center

MOCKINGBIRD NIGHT HIKE

MARCH 21, 7 PM Mockingbird Nature Park

EASTER EGG HUNT MARCH 28, 10 AM Kimmel Park

KIDS FISHING DERBY APRIL 11, 9 AM Gifford-Hill Lake @ Ash Grove

CITYWIDE CLEAN-UP DAY

APRIL 11, 8 AM-12 PM Public Works Building

MISDEF ROWDY RUN 5K APRIL 18, 9 AM

ENNIS

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BBQ COOK-OFF

PDRA PRO MOD NATIONAL SEASON KICKOFF MARCH 19-21 Texas Motorplex

www.texasmotorplex.com

ENNIS BLUEBONNET TRAILS

APRIL 1-30 Sponsored by Ennis Garden Club. Call 972.878.4748 for information.

ENNIS FARMER’S MARKET

APRIL 4-OCTOBER 31

CITY WIDE EASTER EGG HUNT APRIL 4 Ennis Veterans Memorial Park Call 214.549.5878 for information.

NHRDA TEXAS DIESEL NATIONALS APRIL 11 Texas Motorplex For more information:

www.texasmotorplex.com.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DIVISIONAL APRIL 16-19 Texas Motorplex For more information:

www.texasmotorplex.com.

FRITZ HODDE & THE FABULOUS SIX APRIL 18 Sokol Hall

WILDFLOWER WALK

MARCH 6-7 Texas Motorplex For more information:

APRIL 18 , 11 AM, APRIL 19, 2 PM Kachina Prairie (weather permitting).

GREATEST GENERATION GUN AIRCRAFT GUN SHOW

ENNIS BLUEBONNET TRAILS FESTIVAL

www.texasmotorplex.com

MARCH 14-15 Sokol Hall

APRIL 18-19 Downtown Ennis For more information, call 972-878-4748.

For updates and chances to win free stuff, be sure to “like” us on Facebook and visit our blog at www.living-magazine.com. Do you have an event you want everyone to know about? Send an e-mail to: EDITOR@LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM

MEMBERS OF THE WAXAHACHIE DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION:

WDMA VISION STATEMENT The WDMA has grown to be a financially successful and independent non-profit organization supporting friendly business partners collaborating to create an active downtown. Through these efforts, downtown Waxahachie is a top ten destination in Texas for shopping, dining, entertainment and events.

Interested in joining WDMA? $120 ANNUAL DU ES

MONTHLY MEMBE R MEETING

8:30 am first Wedn esday of every month at th e Parks and Recreation Bu ilding

MISSION STATEMENT WDMA is a membership organization of business owners and supporters who collaborate with unified vision to maximize viability and profitability in downtown Waxahachie. We encourage fellow members through best practices, peer referrals and professional development that result in robust economic growth and community awareness, making our downtown an exceptional cultural and commercial destination.

Ark Country Store Boyce Feed & Grain Corp. Check It Out Cherics Antiques College St. Printing College St. Restaurant & Pub Common Threads Quilting Crooked Creek Farms Antiques Doves Nest Ellis County Art Association Ellis County Living Magazine Fire House Clothing Frank’s Urban Collection Fresh Market Coffee GG’s Vintage Home Gingerbread Antique Mall Glory Bound Vintage Market Gran’s Antiques Jim Lake Companies Junction 22 KBEC Radio Klassy Klutter Main St. Dental Maxwell Jewelry Mosaic Madness Multitudes My Father’s House Old Fashioned Singing Project Old Town Village Antiques Paris Flea Market Pearman Oil LP Gas Inc. Plain Jane & Co. Red Barn Something Vintage Southern Harts Boutique T. Beresford Teresa McNiel - Coldwell Banker Texas Pearls & Co. The Crafty Scrapper The Rust Shack The Shop Tire Town Waxahachie Chamber Yazmin’s Bridal

UPCOMING EVENTS: LADIES NIGHT OUT

MUSIC ‘N ART WALK

JUNK IN THE TRUNK

2ND THURSDAY EVERY MONTH

MARCH 21ST

APRIL 11TH

APRIL 18TH-19TH

Stroll the streets of downtown Waxahachie and enjoy shopping, sights, sounds, and tastes from 2-8 pm. Food, music, and art from more than 50 entertainers will be displayed all around downtown.

Approximately 80+ dealers selling goods in an open-air market surrounding the historic Waxahachie Courthouse. Come rummage their wares or rent space to sell your own junk. (Applications available at www. downtownwaxahachie.com).

Tents offering extraordinary savings on clearance items will be set up at various parking lots. Visit Downtown Merchants on your way to/ from Antique Alley! Saturday 9-5 pm, Sunday 12-5 pm.

Monthly customer appreciation event held by participating Downtown Merchants 5-8 pm. Visit stores for sips, snacks, and savings!

‘N TENTS SALE EVENT

YOU CAN FIND MORE DETAILS ABOUT DOWNTOWN WAXAHACHIE EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS AT

WWW.DOWNTOWNWAXAHACHIE.COM

FASHION

Fashion in

TOP, Luanna’s Boutique $52 SHORTS, Multitudes $28 YOSI SAMRA FLATS, Multitudes $72 NECKLACE, Doves Nest $26.95 EARRINGS, Chic Boutique $9.95 VERA BRADLEY TOTE, Briarpatch $68

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

DRESS, Multitudes $39 VEST, Chic Boutique $39.95 NECKLACE, Briarpatch $50 SANDALS, Chic Boutique $19 GOLD BANGLE, Briarpatch $18.95 Bracelet, Luanna’s Boutique $12

TOP, Multitudes $46 PANTS, Briarpatch $44 PURSE, Doves Nest $46.95 NECKLACE, The Dove’s Nest $28.95 EARRINGS, Chic Boutique $23.95 SHOES, Briarpatch $42

Full Bloom

TOP, Multitudes $38 SHORTS, Chic Boutique $29.95 BRIGHTON EARRINGS, Briarpatch $30 NECKLACE, Doves Nest $19.95 BRIGHTON BRACELET, Briarpatch $40 TASSEL BRACELET, Luanna’s Boutique $12 SHOES, Chic Boutique $17

DRESS, Multitudes $48 BRIGHTON EARRINGS, Briarpatch $24 RING, Multitudes $45 BRIGHTON PURSE, Briarpatch $330 LIPSTICK, Merle Norman $18

MISS ME JACKET, Briarpatch $105 DRESS, Briarpatch $59.95 NECKLACE, Luanna’s Boutique $42 WATCH, Luanna’s Boutique $24 SHOES, Chic Boutique $17 CLUTCH, SoCo Depot $45

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

FASHION SHOPPING

chasing the

NEON

RAINBOW

SoCo Depot $85

Multitudes $32 Multitudes $48

Chic Boutique $29.95

Chic Boutique $31.95

Multitudes $24

ANTON OPARIN / SHUTTERSTOC

K.COM

Chic Boutique $28.95

Multitudes $78

Multitudes $32

Multitudes $28

EmbroidMe, Prices Vary

SoCo Depot $45

SoCo Depot $45.90

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

FASHION SHOPPING

2015 Spring

TREND

Feminine Florals

REPORT

Mellow Yellows

DRESS, Multitudes $62; SCARF, SoCo Depot $30; VERA BRADLEY TOTE, Briarpatch $68; NECKLACE, Chic Boutique $20.95

and Bohemian

Vibes!

DRESS, Multitudes $62; YELLOW VERA BRADLEY SATCHEL,Briarpatch $128; JEANS, Briarpatch $42

TIP:

You can’t go wrong with fringe and tassels this season!

EARRINGS, Doves Nest $12.95; CROCHET TOP, Briarpatch $35.95; NECKLACE, Luanna’s Boutique $56; BRACELET, Briarpatch $34; FRINGE TOP, Briarpatch $48

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

FASHION BEAUTY

What

Makeup?! This spring, embrace the natural look

As bestselling author Mandy Hale eloquently says, “Maybe it’s not Maybelline, maybe you were born with it!” Makeup is meant to enhance your natural beauty, so here are some tips and tricks on flaunting what your momma (and daddy) gave ya! BY TRISTA MCCORMICK

Eyebrows should have strays and wisps. Perfectly lined brows look too polished! Lightly line them in their normal shape.

For a natural sun-kissed glow, start with a medium coverage foundation or tinted moisturizer with liquid bronzer added. Rub evenly across your face making sure to blend at the edges! My pick: REVLON PHOTOREADY SKINLIGHTS ILLUMINATOR IN BEACH BRONZE ($10). A nice, light highlighter looks great on the top of cheekbones, nose, and chin. Try LAURA MERCIER MATTE RADIANCE BAKED POWDER COMPACT ($38).

There IS such a thing as too perfect...

Line your eyes slightly on the top and fuller towards the outer corner to amplify the look of lashes. Shadows should be neutral, browns, creams, etc. Even while using different shades of brown you can still go for a smoky-natural look. For long lean lashes use DEFINE-A-LASH BY MAYBELLINE ($8). For the cheeks, use a blush close to the color of your natural blushing cheeks. Generally, light colors such as DANDELION BY BENEFIT COSMETICS ($28) OR MAYBELLINE’S DREAM BOUNCY BLUSH IN FRESH PINK are perfect for an easy breezy look!

Lips have a little more freedom if you play down the eyes. Try a new berry color such as CLINIQUE’S MOISTURIZING CHUBBY STICK IN BROADEST BERRY or go for a more nude look with a color such as L’OREAL’S COLOUR RICHE LIPSTICK IN FAIREST NUDE ($9).

My New Addiction:

THE DERMA ROLLER While searching online once again for acne scar solutions, I came across something called “Derma Rolling.” This tool resembles a mini-paint roller with micro-needles…. ouch! But at this point, I’m pretty much willing to try anything to get rid of my acne scars. The roller claims to trigger the skin’s natural healing process by making small punctures in the skin. Now, I will admit that this process is uncomfortable, but it is not unbearable. So far I really like the results! I have seen significant changes in my skin: smaller pores, scars lessening, and wrinkles decreasing. I highly recommend this new trend! ($20 on Amazon or available for purchase at most dermatologist offices).

Light contouring from the ear under the cheekbone is essential, but be sure to blend, blend, blend! Once the contour is applied, try dabbing a makeup sponge on the contoured area and the non-contoured area, combining them flawlessly. NAKED FLUSHED BY URBAN DECAY ($30) IS GREAT FOR THIS.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

By Trista McCormick

FASHION

( Fruits and Veggies )

What about the other colors?

Keep the Doctor Away We all know veggies are good for us, but just how good are they? Check out this list of commonly consumed veggies and their amazingly beneficial properties, and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to bring it along on your next grocery trip. After all, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more beautiful than a healthy body?

Blueberries protect the heart, reduce skin cancer and are a good, fiber-full snack.

Cherries calm the nervous system.

Collard Greens help combat osteoporosis and lower LDL cholesterol levels. Arugula inhibits cancer growth, is great for bones and strengthens the immune system.

Watermelon controls heart rate and blood pressure and regulates the heartbeat.

Swiss Chard helps maintain connective tissue, controls sugar levels and helps boost immunity. Iceburg lettuce fights anemia, age-related illness, and heart disease.

Grapes relax blood vessels and help lower high blood pressure.

Kale fights cancer, promotes retinal function and health and aids in blood clotting. Turnip greens enhance collagen synthesis for better skin and help boost immunity. Spinach helps red blood cell function, regulates heart rate and blood pressure and strengthens bones. Romaine Lettuce promotes heart health, prevents strokes and helps build healthy mucus membranes and skin. Mustard greens prevent arthritis and anemia, lower LDL cholesterol, offer protection from cancerous growths, and battle the onset of heart disease.

living-magazine.com // MARCH-APRIL 2015

Oranges help maintain skin and vision.

Strawberries fight against aging, help with weight loss and boost shortterm memory.

Pomegranate boosts the metabolism, helps lower blood pressure, and is the most powerful fruit antioxidant.

Mango prevents muscular deterioration from aging.

Pineapples help fight arthritis and inflammation. Lemon is a great liver detoxifier. Mix it with warm water for an effective liver cleanse.

Kiwi helps increase bone mass and prevents heart disease.

TRISTA is our resident beauty expert/ jack-of-alltrades intern/ photographer. Contact her and see her work at facebook.com/ tristamccormickphotos.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

LIFE & STYLE

Podcasting for Knowledge

BY IZAMAR LOREDO

Tired of the same old mind-numbing morning and afternoon commute? Are radio station talks not interesting enough to keep you engaged? Let me introduce the podcast, a phenomenon that is rapidly growing in popularity around the country. With hundreds of thousands of topics, genres and discussions available on command, the podcast’s functionality and variety is a welcome change from the often-static themes of traditional radio. Stimulate your brain on the go with these thought-inducing, highly captivating podcasts and solve mysteries, dig into your own psyche or simply learn something new, all before you even get to work.

SERIAL: Serial, hosted by journalist Sarah Koenig, goes deep into a single murder case over the course of an entire season, in this case the 1999 Baltimore murder of high school student Hae Min Lee at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed. Syed has been sentenced to life in prison, but the details surrounding his case are very mysterious. Every episode reveals new facts about the case (so it’s important to listen in order), followed with insightful interviews and thought-provoking discussion as Koenig, along with the listener, tries to piece everything together.

HOW DO I LISTEN TO PODCASTS? 24

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW: How does cinnamon work? What about Rainbows? Blimps? Extinction? If you’re looking for an entertaining yet extremely informative podcast, look through the Stuff You Should Know playlist and find whatever topic you want to learn about. Stuff You Should Know is made by HowStuffWorks.com and follows the website’s user-friendly explanations for the relatively simple to the most complex scientific questions. With dozens of different topics available, chances are they’ve covered something you didn’t already know (and should).

STITCHER

THIS AMERICAN LIFE: The most popular podcast ever made with about 1 million people downloading it each week, each episode of This American Life highlights a different current issue or aspect of American society in a thoughtful and exceptional way. It’s a complex show difficult to water down to a simple summary and easier understood when listened to, so check out the “favorites” tab on their website (www.thisamericanlife.org/ favorites) to get started.

INVISIBILIA: Invisibilia is a series that digs deep into the human psyche to understand the invisible forces that make us do the things we do. The show interweaves personal stories with interesting and informative scientific research. Topics such as human thought, fear, expectation and human connection are among the forces analyzed, and more often than not you will find that each episode answers a question or two you had yourself about your own life.

If you have an iPhone or Android, download the app “Stitcher”, which is an incredibly user-friendly online directory of thousands of podcasts. Search for the shows you want to listen to by name, or if you’re interested in finding something new, Stitcher allows you to browse for shows according to the topic of discussion of your choice.

On a home computer, you can find all of these shows and their episodes on their websites.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

LIFE & STYLE

Butternut Squash & Lentil Stew BY MEAGAN CAMP

Cozy up this spring with this delicious and rich soup that features a seriously underrated ingredient, the lentil. They have a reputation for being tasteless and boring, but this soup will change your mind by pairing them with warm curry, coconut milk and butternut squash. Make it in a large dutch oven or plan ahead and put it in the slow cooker for an easy weeknight meal. Note: Give the lentils a good rinse before cooking.

Summer Vegetable Tian BY BETH MONCEL OF BUDGETBYTES.COM SERVES 6

RECIPES

Garden Eats Start your spring with a clean plate (literally and figuratively) and try one of these healthy, vegetablehearty dishes full of ingredients that can come straight from your garden.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

Ingredients »» 1 tablespoon olive oil »» 1 medium yellow onion »» 1 teaspoon minced garlic »» 1 medium zucchini »» 1 medium yellow squash »» 1 medium potato »» 1 medium tomato »» 1 teaspoon dried thyme »» Salt & pepper to taste »» 1 cup shredded Italian cheese InSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Finely dice the onion and mince the garlic. Sauté both in a skillet with olive oil until softened (about five minutes). 2. While the onion and garlic are sautéing, thinly slice the rest of the vegetables. 3. Spray the inside of an 8x8 square or round baking dish with nonstick spray. Spread the softened onion and garlic in the bottom of the dish. Place the thinly sliced vegetables in the baking dish vertically, in an alternating pattern. Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper and thyme. 4. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, top with cheese and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.

Ingredients »» 1 tablespoon olive oil »» 1 small red onion, chopped »» 2 garlic cloves, chopped »» 1 cup red or green lentils »» 1 cup butternut squash, cubed »» 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and chopped »» 2 cups water »» One 14-ounce can of coconut milk »» 1 teaspoon curry powder »» 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, more if you like it spicy »» 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, ground »» 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, ground »» Salt to taste Parsley and yogurt for garnishes just before serving alongside some warm flatbread.

Method: 1. In a large stockpot heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heat through before adding chopped onion and sprinkling with salt. Cook onion for 5-6 minutes until translucent and then add the garlic. 2. Add the butternut squash and fresh ginger and let them brown with the onions and garlic 3-4 minutes. Add the lentils, coconut milk, water, curry powder, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, and turmeric. 3. Stir well and bring to a boil, then let it simmer for 30-45 minutes until lentils are tender but firm and the stew thickens. Adjust seasonings by making it spicier with more curry and cayenne. If it’s too spicy for some, stir in more coconut milk or yogurt to neutralize the heat. NOTE: For a slow cooker, consider sweating the onions and garlic and adding them to the mix if you have time. It will deepen the flavor!

Sunday Night Fried Rice BY MEAGAN CAMP

Sunday nights are the perfect night to pull out all your forgotten vegetables and put them together for a fast and delicious dinner or a weekday lunch. I use whatever I have on hand and make sure that I season everything really well before adding it to the rice. Here’s what my vegetable fried rice looks like:

For the Vegetables: »» 1 tablespoon sesame oil »» 1-2 tablespoon Sriracha, depending on how much heat you like »» 1 teaspoon red chili flakes »» 1 garlic clove, chopped fine »» 3-4 tablespoons soy sauce, low sodium »» Various vegetables (I like frozen peas, asparagus, squash, bell peppers, and onions. Think about vegetables that aren’t going to be too watery when you cook them and will brown well) Cut all the vegetables to a similar size, about 1 inch long for longer vegetables like asparagus. Having them all the same size will ensure they cook at the same time. Mix the sesame oil, sriracha, chili flakes, garlic and soy sauce together in a large bowl and mix in all the vegetable pieces. Let them sit for 25 minutes or so while the rice cooks.

For the Rice: »» 1 cup rice (Basmati or Long Grain are best) »» 1 3/4 vegetable stock »» 1 tablespoon vegetable oil »» Salt »» 2 tablespoons soy sauce »» 1/2 cup scallions, chopped Add the rice, stock, oil and salt together in a medium sized sauce pan and bring to a boil. Then reduce to a slow simmer for 15 minutes, 40-45 if you are cooking brown rice. When the rice is finished cooking put it in a large bowl and stir in the soy sauce.

To Finish: 1. Heat a large sauté pan or a 10” cast iron skillet with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Add all the vegetables and the soy sauce mixture into the skillet and cook for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are all cooked through and browned. 2. Once the vegetables are cooked, remove them from the skillet into a bowl or plate. If you want to add the traditional scrambled egg to your fried rice fry it up now and then put on a separate plate. After these steps make sure your skillet is hot and add the rice in, making a single layer and letting the rice crisp up in the pan. Taste the rice and add soy sauce if it needs more flavor. In a large serving bowl toss the vegetables, egg if you are using and the crispy rice and serve with the scallions as a garnish.

THE MOLCAJETE One of the many uses for the traditional Mexican version of the mortar and pestle is to crush and grind fresh spices, stimulating their release of flavor. The molcajete is a musthave when preparing any authentic Mexican salsa. Create your own spicy blend or the recipe below and experience the bold flavors of Mexico.

Authentic Mexican Serrano Salsa BY IZAMAR LOREDO

To make one bowl: »» 6 Serrano peppers »» 4 Roma tomatoes (more tomatoes if you want it less spicy and vice versa) »» 1 clove of garlic »» 1 cup of water »» 1 small bunch of cilantro or 10 cilantro leaves »» A pinch of cumin »» 1 small piece of white onion (about as big as the clove of garlic) »» Salt Instructions Boil peppers and tomatoes together in water over medium heat until soft (check with a fork). Drain water; put the tomatoes and peppers in a blender along with the garlic clove, pinch of cumin, 10 cilantro leaves, small piece of white onion for flavor and the cup of water. Cover and blend for about 10 seconds. Serve in a bowl and add salt to taste. Enjoy!

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

LIFE & STYLE DRINKS

SPRING MIXES

This issue is all about earthy, natural vibes and believe it or not, the veggie theme carried over to the bar very well. From the classic to the unique, here are some fun new ways to drink your veggies. BY IZAMAR LOREDO

CUCUMBER-MINT GIN COCKTAIL

DIRTY MARTINI

CLASSIC BLOODY MARY

RHUBARB FIZZ COCKTAIL

YOU’LL NEED:

BY BREE HESTER BAKEDBREE.COM SERVES 6

»» 1.5 ounces gin »» 5 cucume simple syrup »» 2 sprigs of mint »» 3/4 ounce fresber slices »» 3/4 ounch lime juice Add 3 slices of cucumber, the simple syrup and the leaves from one sprig of mint to a cocktail shaker and muddle them. Add the ice, gin and lime juice and shake until chilled. Strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with remaining cucumber slices and mint spring (Note: For best taste, take the mint sprig, place it on your palm and give it a quick, firm slap to release its aroma before garnishing).

Vegan? Want to make sure the liquor you’re using is vegan friendly? Check out Barnivore.com, a full vegan alcohol directory.

»» 2 ounces gin »» 1 tablespoon dry vermouth »» 2 tablespoons olive juice »» 2 olives Fill a martini glass with ice and place in the freezer to cool the ice. Fill a cocktail shaker with all of the ingredients, cover and shake hard 4 times. Remove the glass from the freezer, empty and strain in the drink. Remove one olive and serve.

Best Vegan Vodka:

»» 2 glasses »» 1 cup of ice »» 1.5 ounces vodka »» 2 ounces tomato juice »» 3/4 teaspoon grated horseradish »» 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce »» 3 dashes Tabasco sauce »» 1 dash freshly ground black pepper »» 1 pinch salt »» 1/4 teaspoon fresh lime juice »» 1 stalk celery »» 1 lime wedge for garnish In one of the glasses, stir together the vodka, tomato juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, salt and pepper. Fill another glass with ice and pour in the mix from the other glass. Pour the mix with ice back and forth between the glasses 3 to 4 times to mix well, then add the lime juice. Garnish with the lime wedge, celery stick and salt on the rim.

GREY GOOSE, $25

Best Vegan Beer: STELLA ARTOIS, $9

Best Vegan wine: TRADER JOE’S CHARLES SHAW (ONLY THE RED WINES), $2.50

FOR THE RHUBARB SYRUP:

»» 1 cup sugar »» 1 cup water »» 1 vanilla bean, split and seeded »» 1 1/4 cups fresh rhubarb, finely chopped RHUBARB FIZZ COCKTAIL:

»» 8 ounces gin »» 9 ounces rhubarb syrup »» 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice »» 12 ounces cold Prosecco »» Ice »» Lemon rounds for garnish Add all of the rhubarb syrup ingredients to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and let cook for 3 minutes, or until rhubarb is tender. I strained mine because I did not want the pulp in my drink. But you could simply remove the vanilla bean and call it good. Pour into a container and store for 1 week in the refrigerator. To make the cocktail, put the gin, rhubarb syrup, lemon juice, and ice in a pitcher. Stir to combine. Pour into glasses filled with ice, and top with Prosecco and a lemon round. Cheers!

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

LIFE & STYLE

TRAVEL

Day Tripping on the

Texas Bluebonnet

Wine Trail Now that we’ve made it through winter, the promise of spring and warmer weather is upon us. That promise creates an itch to travel, a desire to explore and puts us on a quest to eat, drink and get outdoors. Luckily for you, we’ve got the perfect daytrip for you and your adult friends and family members that will put a bounce in your step and satisfy your inner sommelier cravings. Print out a handy trail map at http://www.texasbluebonnetwinetrail.com/trail-map/, grab your friends and head south on the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail!

The trail makes a large triangle between Bryan, Montgomery and Brenham along Texas State Highways 6, 105 and US 290. I’ve been on this trail twice and have found it easiest to hop on Interstate Highway 45 early one morning and make your way to Montgomery, just a few miles west of I-45 on Texas 105. There is a Buc-ee’s Store conveniently located a little over halfway there in Madisonville, where you can get gas, snacks and drinks and stretch your legs. Plan to arrive in Montgomery for an early lunch in order to fortify yourself for the afternoon. There are several restaurants in the city near the first winery, as well as many chain restaurants after you exit the freeway. (Time management tip: Depending on how fast you drive, it will take you between 2 1/2 and 3 hours to get there. If you want to make more of a weekend trip, try the excellent La Toretta Resort and Spa on Lake Conroe for a nice spa stay and excellent dinner prior to embarking on the wine trail).

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

BY SUSAN KOSORIS

Winery Visit u

CORK THIS! WINERY is in downtown Montgomery, birthplace of the Lone Star flag. Uniquely woman-run, they specialize in custom-made wines created from the highest quality varietals and emphasize relaxing and having fun while visiting. Cute wine-related items are available in their gift shop and you can get snacks such as cheese and salami trays to accompany your tasting. My favorite wine here: Republican Red Barbera, a good medium-bodied all round red.

Winery Visit v BERNHARDT WINERY, located in Plantersville, is just a few minutes west of Montgomery on Texas 105. The Tuscanyinspired winery sits atop a hill overlooking a beautiful lawn and century-old native pecan trees. They are a boutique mom-and-pop winery producing about 6,000 gallons of wine each year. Their gift shop has a unique selection of locally made jellies, oils and sauces and there is a bed and breakfast on the property. My favorite wine here: the award winning Sarah, a meritage blend named after the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt.

SADDLEHORN WINERY

Winery Visit w

SADDLEHORN WINERY, Saddlehorn Winery, off FM 1948 in Burton, is west of Brenham off US 290. It has a lovely tasting bar in a renovated horse barn with views into the winery and the fermentation tanks. A peaceful setting, their recently completed event room would be a great venue for a wedding. They also have snacks available and an interesting selection of wine-related items in the gift shop. My favorite wine here: Barn Red, a delicious blend of Cabernet, Syrah and Zinfandel.

CORK THIS! WINERY

WINDY WINERY

MESSINA HOF WINERY & RESORT

PEACH CREEK VINEYARDS

Winery Visit x

WINDY WINERY, on Clover Road off Texas 50 north of Brenham is a tiny new winery located on a beautiful farm with two very friendly host owners. Unpretentious and rustic, the best place to taste the wines made from Texas grapes is on the back patio. My favorite wine here: Independence, a red table wine handcrafted from estate grown Lenoir Grapes.

Winery Visit y

PEACH CREEK VINEYARDS on Peach

Winery Visit z

MESSINA HOF WINERY & RESORT, located on Old Reliance Road off Highway 6 in Bryan, is a large winery established in 1977 and now includes a restaurant, gift shop and bed and breakfast. Many wines are produced in all categories and the winery has special events each month. My favorite wine here: Private Reserve Shiraz, a hearty red made with Shiraz grapes grown along the Red River Valley in Denison, Texas.

Creek Road off Texas Highway 6 in College Station is a small, privately owned winery located on family farmland that grows their own grapes, mostly Lenoir and muscadine. The owners sell grapes to other wineries as well as make their own limited wines. Sit outside on the covered patio with their friendly dogs to enjoy your tasting. My favorite wine here: Trail Rider, a dry red made from French Chambourcin grapes.

BERNHARDT WINERY

Although it is fun to go on the wine tour anytime, the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail offers five planned wine trail ticketed events annually. The first two weekends in February feature the Wine & Chocolate Trail, which gets you a commemorative wine glass and a wonderful chocolate delicacy paired with your two tastings at each winery. On the last weekend of March and the first two weekends of April is the Spring Bluebonnet Wine and Cheese Trail, offering the same amenities with the exception of a cheese pairing with your tastings. The added bonus of this trail is the opportunity to see fields of bluebonnets

and other wildflowers as you drive between each winery. In July comes the Harvest Wine Trail, where you receive a special winery- specific wine charm with your tastings. October features a Wine and Sausage Trail, where participants enjoy a sausagethemed snack as well as a commemorative wine bottle tote in addition to your wine glass. In December, enjoy a terrific holiday appetizer with your tastings. Our experience on the trail this past December was excellent, featuring hearty snacks including a delicious chili, a couple of very tasty soups, and a surprisingly good pulled pork slider. Spring forth and plan your wine trail experience. Official hours for the tours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. A designated driver is a good addition to your excursion, especially if you intend to fully enjoy all the tastings or plan to opt for additional ones. If you elect to go on one of the special event tours, tickets may be purchased in advance online and prices vary depending on the tour. LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

LIFE & STYLE

BY IZAMAR LOREDO

TRAVEL

ESCAPE TO

CANCUN

4THE GLISTENING CITY

TOP

~ TIPS for the

best

cancun getaway

In the same amount of time it takes to drive a car to Austin, I found myself landing in the middle of beautiful Cancun, Mexico, almost 2,000 miles away from home. The hot Cancun sun greeted us as soon as we stepped out of the airport. Because Cancun is closer to the equator, the sun there feels a lot more potent than the sun that we feel here in Texas. Take note of this! I read this a lot online before I left Texas, but overconfidently assuming I could take any kind of heat if I could take the Texas heat, I decided to take my chances. Bad move. My widebrimmed hat quickly became my most prized possession as the sun beat down on us with all of its might. The ridiculously strong sun aside, Cancun is an absolute paradise. Its turquoise waters, friendly people and amazing food make it a must-experience destination. As the weather begins to warm up and you start thinking about using those vacation days, consider escaping to Cancun, an affordable gem and one of the most beautiful places in the world. Before you go, check out my top 11 tips for making your trip an unforgettable one. !Buen Viaje!

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

u WHERE TO STAY

When looking to book a trip to Cancun, make sure your hotel is located in the Hotel Zone, which is located on a long stretch of road called Boulevard Kukulcan that is lined with dozens of sprawling resorts. I say this for both safety reasons and because everything in the main hub of Cancun (shopping, dining, entertainment) is located here. Prices for the hotels can range from the double to the triple digits, so finding something that fits your budget is easily done.

v DON’T FORGET YOUR SUNSCREEN

I cannot say this enough. As a person with a darker complexion, I had never experienced a sunburn in my life… that is, until I met the Cancun sun. Like I explained earlier, the sun here is a lot stronger here than the Texas sun. Take care of your skin to avoid spending your vacation with painful sunburn. I highly recommend bringing a hat that will help protect you from the sun… the bigger, the better.

w BEWARE OF

THE TOURIST TRAP RESTAURANTS

If you want a real, authentic and absolutely delicious meal, visit any of the small quesadilla stands along the strip or pay a visit to my favorite restaurant, Tacos Caminero. Located in an alley that connects Boulevard Kukulcan with the club strip, this taco joint serves some of the best tacos I’ve ever had. Buy a pound of Arracherra meat ($16 USD) with tortillas and dig in. It’s enough to share and save for

the next day! The staff there is so friendly that by the end of our stay I was trying hard not to get sentimental over saying goodbye to our new friends. Ask for Miguel and Francisco, simply the best waiters I’ve ever had, and tell them Izamar said hello!

x BUY YOUR BIG TOURS ONLINE

Cancun is mostly dominated by a tour service called “Experiencias Xcaret”. Patrick and I booked their Chichen Itza “Xichen” Deluxe tour ($100 a person for the Deluxe tour and $70 for the basic package) and I can’t say enough wonderful things about it. To guarantee you’ll get a great price, book online and receive a 15% discount for booking more than 21 days in advance. Our deluxe tour included comfortable, safe transportation to the Mexican state of Yucatan three hours away, an amazing tour guide named Omar whose knowledge of the Mayan culture was vast and impressive, a two hour guided tour of Chichen Itza, breakfast and lunch in a beautiful colonial city in Yucatan called Valladolid, unlimited water and adult beverages in the form of Corona Extra, or as Omar called it, “Vitamin C” and a visit to a beautiful cenote (more on them in the next tip). Needless to say, that was among the best $100 I’ve ever spent.

y SEE A CENOTE

I don’t think I can explain what a cenote looks like. I could say it’s like a cave that is also a swimming hole with an entire rainforest surrounding it, but I wouldn’t be doing its beauty any justice. Cenotes are stunning sinkholes that form when the roof of a cavern collapses. They are mostly found in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, and intrepid daredevils can dive into all of Yucatan’s cenotes with Experencia Xcaret’s Xenotes tour.

z BUY A CATAMARAN

TOUR TO NEARBY ISLA MUJERES WITH THE COMPANY CANCUN SAILING CATAMARANS This was probably my favorite part of the trip. The best part? I bought this all-inclusive trip to a tiny, pristine island with buffet lunch, unlimited refreshments, snorkeling and access to a private beach for $35 USD a person from a street vendor (I definitely did a little successful haggling). Along with about 20 others, we sailed through beautiful crystal waters to an island still mostly untouched by the tourism industry. Good music played in the background, drinks flowed, and the cool breeze from the Caribbean Sea gave us much needed relief from the sun.

{ GO TO PLAYA DELFINES FOR A QUIET, CALM BEACH EXPERIENCE AND PLAYA CARACOL FOR THE FUN, PARTY BEACH VIBE

Boulevard Kukulcan is lined with different beaches, but Patrick and I found that we enjoyed the loud, bar-on-the-beach environment of Playa Caracol, right behind the mega clubs, the most. Rhythmic music pulsed across the sand as people of all ages played in the

surf or relaxed on their towels. Vendors randomly strolled by selling Mexican treats for anyone feeling hungry and there always seemed to be someone working for the beach bar that would take your order and deliver your drinks right to your chair. On those rare moments that we felt like escaping the hubbub of the city, we took a short bus ride down the strip to Cancun’s best kept secret: Playa Delfines. Mostly untouched, quiet and pristine, it’s often called the most beautiful beach in the Hotel Zone.

| USE THE BUS

It’s the cheapest way to get around the hotel zone, but be aware of the sometimes not-so-smooth rides and always have the exact amount of money for the bus fare at hand. The routes are very straightforward and it’s almost impossible to get lost, but be careful not to get off too early. That aforementioned Cancun sun can really take its toll if you’ve given yourself a longer than necessary trek. Just be sure to hold on tight and keep an eye on where you’re going!

} USE MEXICAN

MONEY WHEN YOU CAN

Using the Mexican Peso to pay ensures you won’t have to worry about the changing exchange rates and different vendors or businesses using different rates. There

are no shortage of ATMs around the Hotel Zone, so don’t get stressed about getting all the money you will need while at the airport. As a bonus, you get your bank statement printed out in pesos, which really makes you feel like a celebrity on a fancy beach getaway.

~ BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH STREET VENDORS

Cancun’s business is tourism, and many of its locals are ready to sell you a tour package/dinner/trinket at every turn. Remember that a lot of them are just trying to make a living, so if you’re just not interested, don’t be off-put by their exuberant salesmanship and politely decline with a “no thank you” (or “no gracias”) and keep walking.

~ DON’T FORGET TO TIP

A lot of the service in Cancun is exceptional- tour guides are incredibly informational, hospitable and will always make sure you are having a great time. A lot of their pay is dependent on tips, so be prepared to tip if you are pleased with their service (more than likely, you will be!) LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

LIFE & STYLE

NONPROFIT

A Life Worth

Knowing BY IZAMAR LOREDO

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and Easter Seals Greater Houston joins me in highlighting this complex condition.

I’ve come to think of my life as divided in two parts: my life before I discovered Camp MOST, and my life after. It’s difficult not to notice the difference in my quality of life before and after that moment and even harder not to see the changes that have happened in me. Before that weekend my exposure to people with disabilities had been little or none, so when I was asked to volunteer at a weekend camp for teens with cerebral palsy, I panicked. I thought, very foolishly, that our worlds were very different. The notion that I could know how to help them or even talk to them seemed strange. Yet I agreed, if only to be in the good graces of the person who asked me to do it. As soon as campers began to arrive that weekend, I was told my assigned camper was outside. Nervously, I approached her. A slight, smiling girl in a manual wheelchair, she was off and away before I could even open my mouth. As she introduced herself, told me how excited she was to be at camp and filled me in on what I needed to do to care for her that weekend, my preconceived notions shattered. It was at that exact moment that I realized my life was about to change. I know this isn’t a statement to make lightly, but thanks to all of the amazing kids and adults I’ve met through the camps at Easter Seals Greater Houston, I can say it’s true.

The rest of the weekend went by in a blur of activities, laughter and on my part, an incredible amount of learning. It wasn’t until camp was over that I had time to slow down and process my experiences. I was brimming with emotions anxious to come out, and sure enough, as soon as I started my drive home, I became overwhelmed. Never in my entire life had I been so conscious of me. Never had I been more aware of how my legs moved, how my nimble fingers and hands worked so perfectly and were so… capable. I never appreciated how they helped me write, something I love to do so much. How I could run, walk, talk, eat and express myself independently. How I could date, study, work, travel and simply take part in this beautiful life when a lot of others couldn’t so fully. This knowledge alone was earth-shattering. At that moment, I learned an invaluable lesson. These kids, these humans with disabilities, were just like me: angsty, funny, temperamental, clever, intelligent and ambitious. They loved, they disliked, they had opinions (lots of them) and they had hopes and dreams… a lot of the same ones I had, too. In more ways than one, we were completely the same. Camp MOST was all about them and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. These kids were tireless, full of energy and a will to live so contagious

that I found it impossible to understand how every human being didn’t share their love of life. Bogged down with the daily stresses and “problems” I thought I had, I realized I had only been living my life halfway. March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness month, and this is the story of how Cerebral Palsy changed my life. A largely misconstrued condition, too many beautiful souls and great minds go undiscovered because of the lack of understanding and awareness surrounding disabilities. The next great mathematician could need braces to walk. The next most popular author may not be able to speak. There is so much talent, intelligence and personality waiting to be discovered. The lives of the people dealing with these immense hurdles are worth knowing- all it takes is the courage to look beyond the surface.

*** Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS, CP refers to any number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination, but don’t worsen over time. Even though CP affects muscle movement, it isn’t caused by problems in the muscles or nerves. It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movements. The majority of children with cerebral palsy are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later. The early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before a child reaches three years of age. The most common are a lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements, stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity), walking with one foot or leg dragging, walking on the toes, a crouched gait or a “scissored” gait and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy. A small number of children develop cerebral palsy as the result of brain damage in the first few months or years of life, because of brain infections such as bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis or a severe head injury. Although CP can’t be cured, treatment can often help improve a child’s capabilities.

Generally, the earlier treatment is started, the better chance children have of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks that challenge them. Treatment may include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, drugs to control seizures, relax muscle spasms, and alleviate pain; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers. CP doesn’t always cause profound disabilities, and its effects differ with every person. While one person with severe CP might be unable to walk and need extensive, lifelong care, another with mild CP might not require much, if any, special assistance. Supportive treatments, medications and surgery can help many individuals improve their motor skills and ability to communicate with the world. The biggest misconception about those with CP is that they are not cognitively on par with others their age. CP’s cognitive and intellectual effects differ between people and while some children and adults do have severe cognitive and intellectual disabilities, a lot of them don’t. Oftentimes people might find themselves uncomfortable when talking to a child or adult with CP in the fear that this person is not fully cognitively aware. The assertion that having CP or a disability is the same as having a mental impairment is a stigma CP advocates hope to eradicate with awareness and education.

*** For more than 68 years, Easter Seals Greater Houston (ESGH) has been offering help, hope and answers to children and adults with disabilities and their families. Through therapy, training, education and support services, ESGH creates life-changing solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities. From a small, nondescript office in the middle of Houston, Program Coordinator and Camp Director Lindsey Holton works diligently to continue ESGH’s work and accommodate the needs of one of Houston’s most vulnerable populations.

LIFE & STYLE NONPROFIT CONT.

Along with the 25 adults she helps through ESGH’s LEAD (Life Enrichment for Adults with Disabilities) programs, Holton is also the head organizer of three camps dedicated to helping kids with CP and other disabilities enjoy real, unique and unhindered camp experiences. While for a healthy child camp might just be a normal part of growing up, for a child with CP going to camp is unprecedented and vital to helping them feel included. “Many recreational activities are not very accessible for kids and adults with CP,” Holton explained. “Some camps may not have activities that are adapted for children with disabilities, which oftentimes makes them feel left out. A child attending one of our camps is able to participate in any camp activity because our activities, play groups and adult programs are specifically designed and adapted so that a person with any type of disability can contribute. Knowing that our campers and adults can attend a camp or program where they will feel accepted and encouraged while enjoying life just being themselves is the best part of our programs.” Camps are available in the fall and spring for teens (Camp MOST for ages 14-18) and during the summer for the younger crew (Camp Buckaroo and Camp Smiles for ages 6-14). For Camp Smiles and Camp MOST, kids from all over Texas and the U.S. convene at Camp for All in Burton, Texas, a campground especially built for those with disabilities. There, they can enjoy fishing, archery, canoeing, campfires and all of the usual experiences that come with going to an ordinary camp. Additionally, Camp MOST includes “Jam Sessions”, which are hour-long discussions where campers can voice what it’s like to be a teen-

ager with a disability and share advice with their peers. Short workshops on vital social skills and social lessons are often included, such as learning how to ask for help, explaining your disability to others and knowing the best ways to respond to negative comments. After camp sessions are done for the year and the dust settles, what’s left is the harsh reality of the everyday. While kids and adults feel included during the programs and camps, their life outside of these events is often not as welcoming. For Holton and other disability advocates, the biggest challenge in raising awareness is changing how others perceive and understand these children and adults. “It’s sad to know people are still first being judged or defined by their disability, especially on what that disability ‘looks’ like,” Holton said. “CP is too complex and affects individuals in too many different ways to define someone based on what we see on the outside. One of our frequent campers has limited gross motor control and utilizes a DynaVox, which is a machine that uses eye gaze recognition to speak for her. Every time she attends camp, I learn something new and exciting about her life. She is incredibly talented, has a wonderful sense of humor and through eye gaze, she’s able to digitally paint beautiful pictures. I wish more people would see through eyes of the heart and recognize the potential and capability each person with a disability has. It is better to first assume that someone is capable than to limit them from the get go. Working with these great kids continues to teach me patience, how to see the positive in any situation, and to find new reasons to be happy every day. It is such a rewarding experience… I wouldn’t trade my job for any other!”

Want to go to camp? ESGH camps aren’t just open to Houston residents. Holton invites kids from Dallas or anywhere outside of Houston and Texas to apply for one of the camp sessions. For more information, to enroll, or volunteer, please call 713.838.9050, ext. 309 or email lholton@eastsersealshouston.org.

DATES AND LOCATIONS FOR THIS YEAR ARE:

Camp Buckaroo »» June 1-5, Houston SPCA

Inclusion Camp »» June 8-12, Shepherd of the

»» »» »»

»»

Heart United Methodist Church (Pearland) June 15-19, Westbury United Methodist Church (Houston) June 22-24, St. John the Divine (Houston) July 13-17, Woodlands United Methodist Church (Woodlands) July 20-24, Sugar Creek Baptist Church (Sugar Land)

Camp Smiles Easter Seals Greater Houston is a non-profit corporation established to provide comprehensive services to individuals of all ages with all types of disabilities and their families. To donate or find out more, visit www. eastersealshouston.org.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

July 5-10, Camp For All

Camp MOST Dates TBA, for more information or to request an application, e-mail Lindsey at lholton@eastsersealshouston.org.

LIFE & STYLE NONPROFIT CONT.

DATES AND LOCATIONS FOR THIS YEAR ARE:

Camp Buckaroo »» June 1-5, Houston SPCA

Inclusion Camp »» June 8-12, Shepherd of the

»» »» »»

»»

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

July 5-10, Camp For All

Camp MOST Dates TBA, for more information or to request an application, e-mail Lindsey at lholton@eastsersealshouston.org.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

MARKETPLACE v w u y

x z 1. ARK COUNTRY STORE Whether you’re planting or canning, we have all of your gardening essentials from start to finish. 209 S. Highway 77 Waxahachie 972.937.8860

2. L & J MANUFACTURING Restyle, renew and repair outdated pieces into fresh, new styles. Come in and create your own ring with your style! Men and women’s jewelry store. 130 N. Hwy 77, Suite D Waxahachie 972.938.0504

ArkCountryStore.com

3. MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS & BOUTIQUE

4. OLD TOWN VILLAGE ANTIQUES & UNIQUES

200 Shades; 15 Formulas; 5 Finishes; 1 Perfect You! We’ve got you totally covered! Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ MerleNormanWaxahachie 401 N. Hwy 77, Ste 8 Waxahachie 972.937.9696

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 OldTownVillageAntiques.com

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

5. HOUSE OF TEES Take me out to the ball game blinged out in customized fan gear for the whole family! Let everyone get in on the action. New location: 509 George Hopper, Suite C Midlothian 972.723.9820 HouseofTeesOnline.com

6. WELL INKED CUSTOM INVITES Looking for a unique invitation for your wedding or event? Well Inked designs and prints your one-of-a-kind creation on site! We also offer hand addressing and stuff, seal & send packages. Stop by today or visit us on Facebook for details! 214 S. Rogers Street Downtown Waxahachie 469.733.0114

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7. BRIARPATCH #2 With lots of great home decor, Vera Bradley gifts and baby gear, there's something for everyone! 405 Water St. Waxahachie 972.937.1441

8. THE STUDIO

9. MOSAIC MADNESS

10. THE SHOP

11. EMBROIDME

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

Spring is the time of rebirth and inspiration. We encourage you to tap into your creative side this season! Drop in to our studio anytime to create your own mosaic masterpiece. 211 S College St. Waxahachie 972.937.5797 www.mosaicmadness.net info@mosaicmadness.net Find us on Facebook!

Make a pit stop at The Shop to choose from our wide selection of riding gear. We will have you cruising in style. 315 W. Main St. Suite 13 Waxahachie 972.937.9777

Give a great first impression before getting through the door with the pefect doormat for your home or business. Order a custom doormat today! We also offer embroidery, screen printing and promotional products. 1585 N. Highway 77 Ste E Waxahachie 972.923.0970

12. CHECK IT OUT Lounge in style! We design custom throw pillows for your indoor and outdoor needs. 212 S. Rogers St. Waxahachie 972.938.2403 CheckItOutFabrics.net

Embroidme-Waxahachie.com

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

HOME & GARDEN

Gardening

ELLIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION

Scholarship for Disciplines which Relate to Horticulture The Texas Master Gardener Association program is an educational volunteer program conducted by the Texas Agrilife Extension Service of Texas A&M University. Master Gardeners have special training in horticulture and then contribute time as volunteers to provide horticultural related information to their communities. The Ellis County Master Gardeners Association (ECMGA) was founded in 1997. In 2003, ECMGA decided to make college scholarships available to local graduating high school students. We wanted to provide opportunities for graduating high school seniors in Ellis County to study horticulture and/or related life sciences. Since then, we have awarded college scholarships to 29 high school students totaling $42,500. Horticulturists can work in industry, government or educational institutions or private collections. They can be wholesale or retail business managers, landscape architects, water and irrigation specialists, arborist, turf grass specialists, propagators, crop production advisers, crop inspectors, cropping systems engineers, green house growers, extension specialists, plant breeders, research scientists, and of course teachers. Other disciplines that relate and

complement horticulture include: agriculture, biology, botany, chemistry, entomology, environmental sciences, plant genetics, landscape design, physiology, statistics, sustainable agriculture, urban planning and geography. ECMGA scholarships are open to students who are graduating high school seniors from an Ellis County High School, Ellis County Charter High School, Venus ISD or Cedar Hill ISD or Ellis County Home School Program. Students applying for the Ellis County Master Gardener Association Scholarship are invited to visit our website - www.ecmga.com and download the application form found under the “What’s Happening” tab and then submit it by mail or in person to the ECMGA office located at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service Office, 701 South I-35, Suite 3, Waxahachie, TX 75165. Completed applications should be mailed “Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested”. All applications must be submitted no later than 4:00 P.M. - April 1, 2015. If you need further information, please call 972-825-5175.

14th Annual Ellis County Master Gardener’s

LAWN & GARDEN EXPO Saturday, March 28 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m | Waxahachie Civic Center »» Over 100 Exhibit Booths »» Adult and Children’s Workshops »» Keynote Speakers

»» »» »» »»

Ask the Experts Door Prizes Plant Sales 4-H Food Concessions

Visit ECMGA.COM for more information about the Expo.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

IN THIS SECTION:

DIRT THERAPY 41 ROSE HIPS 42 DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DRINK THAT? 44 POLLINATORS AND NATIVES 45 TO TREE OR NOT TO TREE? 42

Children’s WORKSHOP ROOM

The Children’s Workshop Room has become a favorite area at the annual Ellis County Master Gardener Lawn & Garden Expo. Children and adults all enjoy the educational exhibits, hands-on activities and lively atmosphere. Texas Discovery Gardens will be joining us with their exciting nature-themed displays. Smokey Bear will be making appearances for pictures with your children after each reading of the Smokey Bear story. A representative from the Junior Master Gardener program will be on hand to talk with teachers and parents of homeschool students. Master Gardener volunteers will be available to assist children with activities and answer parent questions about gardening with children. The Children’s Workshop Room is always abuzz with several educational craft activities children can participate in. Plan to visit for a fun time and always a surprise or two!

seed savers At the 2014 Ellis County Master Gardener Lawn and Gardener’s Expo, Master Gardeners Susan Knapp and Monica Nyenhuis will be presenting the adventures of seed saving from your own garden. Whether it’s saving an heirloom tomato seed or saving seeds from your favorite annuals, we will take you through the journey of the plant from seed to seed. Did you know that most seeds could last from 3 to as much as 10 years without freezing if stored properly? Or that different varieties of squash can cross-pollinate? If you save their seeds there is no telling what you are going to produce! Although seed saving has been going on since the beginning of time, it diminished in popularity through the centuries and the advent of the industrial revolution. Now it’s making a comeback and there are many seed libraries around the country you can share with and receive seeds from, not to mention many seed companies that are selling heirloom seeds, which of course, are the only seeds that will reproduce the same variety! These topics as well as how to properly harvest and store seeds will be discussed. Just remember: Don’t pick the Bluebonnet seeds on the highways! You can purchase those from various seed companies and right here in Waxahachie at Boyce Feed. Just a warning: seed saving can be addicting. See you at the Expo!

F.A.R.M., or FARMERS ASSISTING RETURNING MILITARY, is a nonprofit

BY SUSAN CLARK,

ELLIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER

DIRT

THERAPY Although not a new idea, gardening for food is experiencing an unexpected popularity surge. Factors such as the lack of nutritious, clean food are inspiring people to take more control of their food sources. Whether it’s a container garden on an apartment patio, raised beds in a yard or a garden vertically growing up a wall, novice gardeners of all walks of life are finding they can grow fresh, organic produce wherever they live. Two particular individuals embracing this movement are Iraq War Veterans James Jeffers and Steve Smith, owners of Dallas urban farming business Eat the Yard. A proud combat veteran who served nine years in the Army as an infantryman, James Jeffers joined the ranks in 2000 and served two tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in Iraq, James and his platoon experienced several attacks that would impact their life forever, such as a near miss from a suicide car bomb and the loss of eight of their brothers to combat. Jeffers’ war injuries led to an early medical retirement in 2009. He moved to Dallas and attended a green building course at Cedar Valley College, where he started gardening and fell in love with it. Learning all he could about sustainable farming and urban agriculture, he began scaling up his garden and selling fresh produce to local restaurants and grocery stores. In turn, he took their vegetable waste and made compost to grow more vegetables, which he sold back to the businesses. Steve Smith joined the army in 1998 for four years and returned in 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. After exiting in 2009, he started to note the pitfalls in the food system and began his own journey into organic agriculture. Health reasons and a growing desire to provide quality food for his family pushed Smith to start vegetable gardening at his home in Oak Cliff— coincidentally in the same neighborhood Jeffers lived in.

Together, Smith and Jeffers found gardening to be therapeutic and productive. What began as a way to heal and put organic produce on their family’s tables turned into a business called Eat the Yard, an urban farming operation that not only provides fresh, organic produce for the residents of Dallas, but also works with restaurants to minimize their vegetable waste by composting it and using it to grow more vegetables. The benefits of farming as a healing therapy after war trauma is something Smith and Jeffers learned more about over the next few years. Realizing how therapeutic farming had been, they began doing veteran outreach to pass what had worked for them along to their fellow veterans, some of who were being lost to suicide at an alarming rate. Together with some solid senior leadership from their old unit, they formed Farmers Assisting Returning Military (F.A.R.M.), a nonprofit veterans organization aiming to rehabilitate and mentor returning military veterans. Smith, Jeffers and their partners are now working on a project in downtown Dallas that will develop into an urban farm park. Smith is also on a committee working to change the zoning and code restrictions on urban agriculture while creating a sustainable food system in Dallas. Smith and Jeffers will be speaking about these endeavors and their urban farming experiences at noon in the Crepe Myrtle Room during the Master Gardener’s Garden Expo at the Waxahachie Civic Center on Saturday, March 28th. Their booth will also be open for anybody who would like to meet them.

veterans organization established to assist at-risk veterans transitioning from military service to civilian life. F.A.R.M. provides veterans with a therapeutic setting where they can connect with other veterans in a peer-topeer environment and strives to provide inspiring, meaningful work, rest, play, and therapy to each veteran. “We like to say we provide ‘dirt therapy’ and that’s therapeutic in itself,” Smith said. “However, [F.A.R.M.] also facilitates another remarkable thing: It allows veterans to create personal connections with other service members while doing meaningful work. This is everything they look for when they go to the VA [Veterans Affairs] for help, only there they might not necessarily find a receptive ear or the care they need or deserve because of how overwhelmed the VA often is.” F.A.R.M. believes in a multi-tiered therapeutic approach for transitioning veterans: agriculture therapy, recreational therapy and professional medical treatment and therapy. They have worked to secure the institutional and grassroots support needed to properly serve the veterans in their program and one day they hope to purchase, lease or partner with another working farm or ranch property that can house and accommodate as many vets as possible. To continue serving our veterans in such an in-depth and remarkable way, F.A.R.M. needs your support. Donations can be made on their website www. farmvet.org, where you can also find a breakdown of their fundraising goals and objectives, or can be sent in by check. Volunteers are also always welcome and appreciated for activities such as working in the garden (tilling, planting, harvesting, etc.) to helping setup for events and marketing for the organization. Please send checks payable to “F.A.R.M. A Veterans Organization” to: 2744 Woodmere Drive Dallas, Texas 75233 LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

HOME & GARDEN

Rose Hips More than just the fruit of the rose plant BY ARLENE HAMILTON

The rose is considered the queen of the flower garden and has been a symbol of love and beauty for more than 3000 years. Its petals have been used in potpourri and perfume as well as candies, syrups, medicines and cosmetics.

after a light frost helps convert some of the starches to sugar (but they are not edible if allowed to freeze solid). Avoid rose hips that have been sprayed with pesticides or contaminated with toxins such as automobile exhaust.

The rose hip, or rose haw, is the fruit of the rose plant that forms below the flower and ripens to a shiny, hard, red-to-orange seed container. Rose hips begin to form in spring and ripen in late summer through autumn. Hips are full of seeds, but the larger ones also contain pulp which is the part used for food and medicine. Important: If you remove the spent blossoms from the rose bush you have lost the hips. Only prune the rose plant in the early spring before flowers have begun to develop.

To preserve their vitamin C content, keep rose hips cool after picking and process them as soon as possible either by stewing, drying or freezing. Wash the hips and cut off the stems and blossoms. Cook them, covered, in a nonreactive pot over low heat. Cook for 15 minutes, steep in a covered pot for 24 hours, then strain. Use the strained juice immediately or freeze for as long as a year. You can also freeze fresh hips in plastic containers after washing and removing stems.

Almost all roses will produce a hip, but my favorite is Carefree Beauty, which grows beautiful, large, fat orange hips. Another favorite is Old Blush. For more rose choices, check out Antique Rose Emporium’s catalog. They list many varieties that thrive in Texas and are noted for their hips.

To dry large rose hips wash them, remove the blossom and stem ends, cut them in half, remove the seeds, spread on a tray and dry in an oven or dehydrator set at 110 degrees until brittle. To dry small hips leave whole or slice without removing seeds. When thoroughly dry, store in airtight jars and keep in a dark pantry or cupboard.

Rose hips are a superb source of vitamin C and contain 20 times as much as an orange of the same volume. They are used for herbal tea, jams, jellies, syrups, soups, beverages, pies, breads, wines and marmalades. Hips are ready to pick as soon as they have reached their mature color. However, they become sweeter

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

When ready to use the dried hips, cover them with water and simmer until soft or for at least fifteen minutes, then press the pulp through a food mill. When using simmered and seeded hips for jams and jellies, measure the proper amount after simmering but before seeding.

Fresh Rose Hip Jelly Ingredients: »» 4 quarts ripe rose hips »» 2 quarts water »» 1 package pectin »» 5 cups sugar »» 1/2 cup lemon juice Instructions Simmer rose hips in water until soft. Crush to mash, and strain through a jelly bag. This should make about 4 cups of juice. Add sugar and lemon juice, stirring until mixture comes to a hard boil. Stir in pectin all at once. Bring to a full rolling boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove jelly from heat and skim off foam with spoon. Pour jelly into hot sterilized jars and seal following directions on the pectin box. Yield: about 5 cups Caution: When using rose hips for cooking you should remove all the seeds or strain through a jelly bag. They are covered with fine hairs that can irritate the digestive system.

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All loans are subject to program guidelines and final underwriting approval. See local branch for details. LIVING-MAGAZINE. LIVING-MAGAZINE. OM C//OM JANUARY-FEBRUARY // MARCH-APRIL 2015 Gateway Mortgage Group is a registered service mark of Gateway Mortgage Group, LLC NMLSC7233.

43 49

HOME & GARDEN

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO

DRINK THAT?

BY GINGER COLE

Spring is the time of year many homeowners are out sprucing up their lawns. Fertilization and the application of other lawn and garden products are a part of their regimen. When making a decision on what lawn care products to use, we need to remember that wherever we live, we live in a watershed.

So, what’s a watershed?

A watershed is more than just a stream, river or lake. It consists of the land that drains into the surface and groundwater in the area, as well as the soils, vegetation, and animal and human activities within the watershed. All of us impact the watershed by the way we use water and the space we inhabit. In other words, what the “collective we” responsible for our own little watershed put on our land can end up in our drinking water. As citizens living in a watershed, we can help maintain or improve water quality by knowing what effect our daily actions have on water quality and helping inform others.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

In our homes, we can purchase household products that are low in phosphorus. We can manage our landscapes by planting native plants and grasses that use less water, fertilizer and pesticides. Keeping storm gutters and drains cleaned of leaves and yard trimmings can help. Yard waste can be composted for a great source of nutrients to be used again on our lawns. EUTROPHICATION is the term used to describe an increase in the concentration of chemical nutrients entering an ecosystem. Depending on how much eutrophication occurs in surface and ground water, negative environmental impacts like depleted oxygen levels (anoxia) and decreases in water quality, fish and other animal populations may occur. Using more toxic lawn and garden products as well as not following label instructions contribute to this eutrophication of our

waterways and may ultimately end up in our drinking water. According the TAMU Earth-Kind research, when it comes to lawn fertilizers, NITRATE, originating from nitrogen fertilizer compounds, is the leading cause of concern. This nutrient (when present in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm) poses a potential threat to human health, especially infants, causing a condition known as methemoglobinemia, or “blue baby syndrome”. This condition can affect long-term child development. Chronic consumption of high levels of nitrate has also been linked to other health problems including cancer. PHOSPHORUS is another nutrient component of lawn and garden fertilizers creating some concern. Phosphorus is very insoluble and over time, tends to accumulate in soils. This may lead to runoff high in phosphorus. Threats to human health and environment related to long-term exposure to phosphorus are currently not well understood. However, concentrations of phosphorus are on the rise in many surface and groundwater ecosystems throughout Texas and the US.

Watershed management is the first, and often the most cost-effective, step to ensure a safe and reliable public water supply. We can all do our part to have an Earth-Kind “water shed” and help keep our drinking water safe. For more information on how to be Earth-Kind visit http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/.

Tips »» Do I need to fertilize? Start with a soil test. Contact The AgriLife Office (972) 825-5175 or visit http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/ webpages/forms.html »» Avoid weed and feed products! The best time to use a fertilizer is not the best time to use an herbicide. Spreading herbicides over the entire yard is usually overkill. Hand-pull or spot treat instead. »» Use organic fertilizers, which are naturally slow release. They provide a good quality turf and healthier water. »» Never fertilize before a rain. This increases the risk of washing the fertilizer off your yard and into the watershed. »» How much fertilizer do I need? Use the online urban fertilizer calculator: http://soiltesting.tamu. edu/calc/UNCalc.htm »» When to fertilize? Spring fertilization should be done after the turf is actively growing. That means after the second mowing of the season. »» Use a mulching mower blade and let the grass clippings decompose for a natural fertilizer.

AVOID WEED and FEED PRODUCTS!

1. The best time to use a fertilizer is not usually the best time to use an herbicide 2. Spreading herbicides over the entire yard is usually overkill hand-pull or spot treat

Pollinators and Natives An Ancient Marriage BY ARLENE HAMILTON, ELLIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER

Did you know that monarch butterflies will only lay their eggs on milkweed or that sunflowers are more attractive to aphids than other plants in your landscape? Mother Nature designed a checks and balance system to preserve species, but humans are destroying that balance. You as a homeowner can establish a sanctuary for native plants to preserve species that otherwise might be lost. If you are a homeowner or just someone who enjoys watching birds, bees and butterflies flitting about the neighborhood, it’s time to think about incorporating native plants into your outdoor design. Native plants are the flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees that are indigenous to a geographical region such as North Texas. Beneficial insects such as lady beetles, garden spiders, soldier beetles and green lacewings are attracted to organic landscapes and help keep harmful pests in check. Landscaping nature’s way brings many benefits. Being naturally suited to the area, native plants require minimal maintenance and watering once established. With the continued drought in Texas this can significantly reduce your dollars spent on water. In addition, most plant species are perennials or self seeding annuals. Using native plants to create attractive, diverse areas can attract songbirds, honey bees, butterflies, insects and other wildlife in search of shelter and food. Native plants often attract beneficial insects which prey on pests, thereby decreasing the need for chemical pesticide use. By landscaping in an ecologically diverse manner you can bring hours of pleasure and enjoyment into your backyard.

With a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M and as past Director of Horticulture at Texas Discovery Gardens in Fair Park, Randy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on growing native Texas plants and managing garden pests. Randy’s presentation will offer insight into the ancient relationship between pollinators and native plants. The role that pollinators play in ecosystems and the flora will be explored. Randy states that the challenges facing native flora and fauna are at a critical level. We are fast losing native habitat and the associated faunal biodiversity. Diversity is the key to a healthy ecosystem. Understanding the role of native plants, what they are and how to incorporate them into your landscape will make you a part of the solution to many of the environmental issues facing all of us today. Come join the Ellis County Master Gardeners as we welcome Randy to the Lawn and Garden Expo at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, in the Crape Myrtle Room of the Waxahachie Civic Center.

On Saturday, March 28 Randy Johnson will bring his knowledge and experience to the Ellis County Master Gardeners Lawn and Garden Expo. Randy is the Horticulture Manager at the Dallas Zoo. LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

HOME & GARDEN

BY ROSS ANDERSON

Planting trees in Ellis County is a wonderful way to accent your property. Adding shade and mature trees to a property is a surefire way to increase curb appeal, make it more enjoyable for outdoor activities and increase value. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a tree: the look you are trying to achieve, how much space you want to fill or shade you are trying to create, or how close is close enough to safely plant near a structure, among many other considerations. There are some amazing local nurseries with knowledgeable staff that can help you when it comes time for you to choose and plant a tree in your yard. Here are some popular and trending options that are proven successes for our area.

Ross is a local landscaper from a family of landscapers, an avid outdoorsman and purveyor of all things Green. He can be contacted at jrossalandcapes @gmail.com

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

Native:

PECAN, LIVE OAK, RED OAK, BURR OAK Native trees are a guaranteed way of achieving size with stability. Any tree native to Texas is used to our frenetic climate and generally has no trouble with the weather. PECAN TREES are the giants of the bunch, growing over 100 feet in height. LIVE OAKS are a great choice because they do not shed their leaves in the fall, giving them an evergreen appearance that is unique and stands apart in the winter. RED OAKS and BURR OAKS are also wonderful choices, providing lots of shade and a beautiful shape that will fill in any empty space wonderfully.

Fruit:

PEACH, FIG, BRADFORD PEAR PEACH TREES are hearty fruit trees that can be grown with much success both with fruit yield and growth rate. They do not require cross-pollination, so more than one tree is not required to bear fruit. However, it can sometimes take a tree two to four years to bear fruit after it’s planted, so don’t be alarmed if you don’t see any right away. As a bonus, the early spring blooms of peach trees appear before the tree’s leaves bud and are a beautiful early spring spectacle. FIG TREES are a unique option with a particularly sweet and delicious fruit. The Brown Turkey and Celeste Fig varieties are proven winners in our climate. I also wanted to include the BRADFORD PEAR because it is a popular option in situations where fast growth is needed. Bradford Pears do not actually bear fruit but grow at an amazing rate, providing fast shade in a pinch. The life expectancy is significantly lower in Bradfords compared to other trees, but the shade provided in the short amount of time makes it a popular choice.

Ornamental: RED BUD, CRAPE MYRTLE, JAPANESE MAPLE

THE TEXAS REDBUD is an extremely drought-tolerant tree that grows to a small to medium size (15’-20’ tall x 12’-15’ wide). This size and the abundant adornment of magenta-colored blooms before the tree leaves bud make it a wonderful accent piece to a landscape or flower bed. The Eastern Redbud is another fine option, although the native Texas Redbud is more commonly used. Now, for CRAPE MYRTLE, we are the Crape Myrtle capital of the world right? With tons of options ranging in size and color there is most certainly one to fit your need. The Natchez (white blooms) and the Muskogee (lavender blooms) are the kings of the large varieties, growing tall and with prolific blooms. There are local nurseries and tree farms growing Crape Myrtles that can provide a wealth of knowledge on the vast amount of Crape Myrtle species. JAPANESE MAPLES are a special tree originating from Japan (hence the name). They have a unique shape, usually growing small in size in a variety of colors, leaf shapes, and bark textures. Japanese maples are usually a bit tender and require more attention depending on the variety, but make for a wonderful one-of-a-kind tree for the person looking to add something truly special. These are just a small taste of the thousands of trees out there. All trees are beneficial and worth planting, so get out there and grow something beautiful! REMEMBER: There are a lot of online resources and wonderful local nurseries to consult should you have any questions.

Happy Planting!

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

HOME & GARDEN

DIANE, 7, WITH BROTHER CHUCK, 12, BROTHER LEON, 9, NEAL, 4 AND GLENDA, 2, ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1954.

INTERIOR DESIGN

SPRING BEGINNINGS BY DIANE JOHNSON COLLARD

I‘m not sure when or why the term “spring cleaning” came to be, but it has a very special meaning to me. It was my beginning. I didn’t know that at the time, but it is clear to me now that God had my destiny in His hands and it all fell together.

Being the oldest girl of five children, I had a lot of household responsibilities when I was young. My mother started working outside the home when I was about ten, and I started taking on more of her chores. Saturday was cleaning day. All of the linoleum floors were mopped and waxed, the furniture was dusted and all of the nasty ashtrays were emptied and washed. Everyone smoked back then, so ashtrays were necessary accessories always needing attention. I made dinner for the family every night and it was on the table when Mother got home from the bus stop. My cooking days started when I was seven. I decided one Sunday morning that I was going to make biscuits and have breakfast ready for the family when they got up. I’d never made a biscuit (or anything else for that matter) but I had watched Mother every day of my life, so surely I could do it. What I actually made was a terrible mess and some really bad biscuits, but eventually I was forced to get it right and grow to love cooking. Every once in a while we would do some

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

deep cleaning. As the cold Illinois winters passed and we could actually start to see the ground, we always felt the need to air things out and freshen the house. The house had been closed up all winter and would smell stuffy and stale. Between our floor furnace and the nicotine, the windows had accumulated a dingy film that needed to be cleaned so the sun could shine in. All of the furniture needed to be moved so the floors could be cleaned thoroughly. The rugs were beaten and the cushions fluffed. Anything that could be taken outside to air was set out on the back porch until the floors dried. I never realized until many years later that I always had a designer locked inside me somewhere. We had plastic curtains and linoleum floors, so things were not exactly high-end in our house. As a matter of fact, everything we had was secondhand, including our clothes. Our furniture was a mixture of hodgepodge, but we had a library table that I thought was just beautiful. It was the one piece of furniture I loved polishing. It wasn’t anything special, but it was our best. I’m sorry I don’t have that piece today.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

HOME & GARDEN

I must have really been proud of my Saturday cleaning to

take this picture of our living

room.

Since I included the old

library table, it was probably

the prettiest spot in the room!

DIANE, 16, ANNUAL PICTURE. ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS

There was also an old cabinet-style radio with a record player in the top that I listened to as I cleaned. It only played the 33 speed records that weren’t even made anymore, but we had a few that had come with it. I loved that radio. I danced a thousand miles around my living room to that music. The linoleum rug in our living room was actually supposed to be for a child’s room. It was green and had a city with roads and buildings all over it. Someone had given it to my dad and we were thrilled. We spent lots of winter hours driving Matchboxes and rocks across that floor. Thank heavens it was replaced with asbestos tile by the time I got to high school. When deep cleaning day arrived I would rearrange everything in the house. All the furniture that was pulled out never went back in the same place. Somehow, I thought moving it around made it look newer. I started working outside the house some when I was thirteen. After school I would go to an elderly man’s house, do a little housework and prepare him something to eat. Then I’d go home to make our dinner. I didn’t make much, but I put most of my money towards buying new things for our house. I know that was an odd thing to do, but I was embarrassed about my house and wanted to make it look better. Slowly but surely, my design career had begun.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

Before I graduated from high school I had purchased new end tables, a coffee table, lamps, real fiberglass curtains and a recliner for my dad. Although the end tables, lamps and curtains came from Walgreens, where I was a waitress, I worked hard to pay for them. With every addition to our living room, I became more encouraged. I took pride in keeping our home as clean as I could. After all, that is what Donna Reed would do, and I wanted to be just like her. After high school I had no idea what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted an occupation. I wanted to be somebody, but with no money for college it seemed that my destiny was to work in a factory. Determined to find a way to rise above it all, I set out to find a job where someone would offer to educate or train me for something, anything, but working in the factory. I didn’t care what occupation it was. I was fortunate enough to meet a dentist that fall that, upon deciding I was not cut out to work in his field, saw potential in my determination. He introduced me to a man who owned a very elite

furniture store. Those men changed my life forever. I walked into that furniture store in awe. It was filled with beautiful things I had never seen before. I felt like Ellie Mae Clampett on the red carpet. I knew then I had found my niche. That was where I was destined to be. My first responsibility was that of a receptionist. I was told I would be trained in all phases of the office, and if they felt I had any potential for the design studio, they would train me as an interior designer. I didn’t even know what that was, but it sounded good to me. The rest is history. I went from spring cleaning and rearranging our humble old furniture to redesigning homes and businesses. Here I am, 40 years later, still rearranging furniture and trying my best to make things look better. It has been a great run!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

Happy Spring Cleaning!

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.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

HOME & GARDEN { DIY }

No Yard? No Problem

Tips for starting your very own organic container garden BY JOSEPH G. MASABNI OF THE TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION, TEXAS A&M SYSTEM

4If insufficient space

or an unsuitable area limits your vegetable gardening, consider raising fresh, nutritious, homegrown vegetables in containers. A windowsill, patio, balcony or doorstep will provide sufficient space for a productive mini-garden. Problems with soilborne diseases, nematodes or poor soil conditions can be easily overcome by switching to a container garden. Ready access to containers means pest management is easier. Container vegetable gardening is also a sure way to introduce children to the joys and rewards of vegetable gardening.

Crop Selection Almost any vegetable that will grow in a typical backyard garden will also do well as a container-grown plant. Vegetables ideally suited for growing in containers include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, green onions, beans, lettuce, squash, radishes and parsley. Pole beans and cucumbers also do well in this type of garden, but they do require considerably more space because of their vining growth habit. Variety selection is extremely important. Most varieties that will do well when planted in a yard garden will also do well in containers. Burpee Seed Company has a new hybrid corn “On Deck” which is bred especially for growing in containers. It is a sweet corn with maximum height of five feet. “On Deck” is reported to yield two to three full sized ears of corn per stalk.

Containers Almost any type of container may be used for growing vegetable plants. For example, try using bushel baskets, drums, gallon cans, tubs or wooden boxes. The size of the container will vary according to the crop selection and space available. Pots from six to ten inches in size are satisfactory for green onion, parsley and herbs. For most vegetable crops such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, you will find that five-gallon containers are the most suitable size, while one to two-gallon containers are best for chard and dwarf tomatoes. Smaller container sizes are appropriate for herbs, lettuce, and radish crops. They are fairly easy to handle and provide adequate space for root growth. Container materials are either porous or nonporous. Glazed, plastic, metal and glass containers are nonporous. Regardless of the type or size of container used it must drain adequately for successful yields. Adding about one inch of coarse gravel in the bottom of the container will improve drainage. The drain holes work best when they are located along the side of the container, about 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch from the bottom. To expand your growing area, consider placing a container where vining plants such as pole beans, vining squash, melons or cucumbers can climb up a trellis.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

HOME & GARDEN

Harvesting Watering

Seeding and Transplanting For instant gratification transplants may be purchased from local nurseries, but starting your own plants from seed can also be fun and rewarding. Either plant the seeds in the container in which you plan to grow them or start them for transplant in a smaller container. Follow the instructions on the seed package for germination temperatures and planting depth. For starting small seeds such as lettuce or spinach, an empty plastic clamshell package (the kind spinach, strawberries or other fruit comes in) from the produce department makes a wonderful mini greenhouse. Fill the container halfway with potting soil, space seeds on top of the soil, moisten the soil and then cover with a very fine layer of more soil. Place the sprouting container in a windowsill and keep the seeds covered until they sprout. Once the seeds have sprouted uncover the plants so they get plenty of air circulation. When the new sprouts are a few inches tall and the weather is warm, transplant your seedlings.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

Proper watering is essential for a successful container garden and one watering per day is usually adequate. However, poor drainage will slowly kill the plants. If the mix becomes waterlogged, the plants will die from lack of oxygen. Avoid wetting the foliage of plants since wet leaves will encourage plant diseases. Remember to use the nutrient solution for each watering except for the weekly leaching when you will use tap water. Water-holding gels are becoming popular for use in container gardening. These starch-based gels are called hydrogels. They absorb at least 100 times their weight in water and slowly release that water into the soil as it dries. To be effective, they should be incorporated in the soil mix before planting. Mulches can also be placed on top of the soil mix to reduce water loss. Compost, straw, pine needles, grass clippings, shredded bark and moss are examples of mulches and vary in their effectiveness.

Light Nearly all vegetable plants will grow better in full sunlight than in shade. However, leafy crops such as lettuce, cabbage, greens, spinach and parsley can tolerate more shade than root crops such as radishes, beets, turnips and onions. Fruit bearing plants such as cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and eggplant need the most sun of all. One major advantage to gardening in containers is being able to place the vegetables in areas where they can receive the best possible growing conditions.

Harvest the vegetables at their peak of maturity when full flavor has developed. Vine-ripened tomatoes, tender green beans and crisp lettuce will have the best flavor. At the end of the harvest season, discard the plant and soil from the pot. Do not reuse the same soil for a second season of production. Infected soil or mix will spread disease into the second season unless it is properly composted. Properly composted planting media can be reused.

Container Gardening Success Container gardening can be successful if you follow the guidelines above. Plant growth and vigor will vary depending on the location and attention you give your plants. The following are golden rules for any home vegetable garden: 1. Inspect your plants daily and, if necessary, water, trim, train or prune. 2. Check your plants daily, remove pests and weeds and treat diseases. 3. Continue your education by soliciting advice from experienced gardeners. 4. Make time to sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor. For more information on growing flowers or vegetables in containers, visit our Master Gardener expert booth at the Lawn & Garden Expo March 28th.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

HOME & GARDEN { GARDENING }

March PLANTING »» Plant tomatoes, peppers and eggplants from pots after March 15th. They should be hardened off (gradually exposed to outside temperatures) before putting them in the ground. Cover if a freeze or frost is predicted. »» Plant seeds of warm-season vegetables such as beans, corn, squash, melons and cucumbers in mid to late March. Wait until the soil warms in April to plant okra. »» Install a drip irrigation system in your vegetable garden and mulch areas of the landscape. »» Plant herbs in raised beds with soil that has been amended with organic matter. »» Vines (including hyacinth bean, Cyprus vine, black-eyed Susan vine, morning glories and Malabar spinach) can be planted from seeds sown directly into well-prepared soil. »» Annual flowers and herbs started from seed in January can be planted in late March. They should be hardened off (gradually exposed to outside temperatures) before putting in the ground. Cover if frost or freeze is predicted. »» For sunny areas plant zinnias, fire bush, pentas, petunias, moss rose, purslane, cleome, butterfly weed and Dahlberg daisy. Cosmos and four o’ clocks are self-seeding and will usually return each year. For shade, plant begonias, parilla, coleus, impatiens and ferns. »» Plant perennial flowers in amended well-drained soil. Spread compost around perennials and add mulch. See the planting guide which shows the best native and adapted perennials for Ellis County at www.ecmga.com.

FERTILIZING AND PRUNING »» Remove the dead top growth (Bermuda grass only) by lowering the blades one to two notches so the grass can spread faster and thicker, which helps to choke out weeds. Bag clippings and use in the compost pile or as mulch.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

»» Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer to pecans and again in April and May around the tree’s drip line at the rate of 1 pound per inch of trunk diameter. »» Begin fertilizing roses with a balanced fertilizer or a specialty rose food. »» Prune spring-flowering shrubs and vines such as quince, azaleas, forsythia, bridal wreath (Spiraea), Lady Banks Rose, Carolina jessamine and coral honeysuckle immediately after they finish blooming. »» All trees, shrubs, vines and groundcovers can be fed with high-nitrogen fertilizer or compost. »» A pre-emergent can be applied on lawns to help control spring and summer broadleaf and grassy weeds if necessary. A weed and feed fertilizer is not recommended because it is too early to fertilize lawns.

GARDEN WATCH »» Control black spot, powdery mildew and thrips on roses with an appropriate fungicide or systemic insecticide. Use a stream of water or an insecticidal soap on aphids. »» When a pesticide is needed always use the least toxic one first. »» Inspect the irrigation system to make sure it is operating properly. Look for leaks; replace or repair sprinkler heads and adjust spray patterns as needed to reduce run off.

ELLIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER’S

Lawn and Garden Expo MARCH 28TH The Waxahachie Civic Center will open its doors for the 15th annual Ellis County Master Gardener’s Lawn and Garden Expo Saturday March 28th. Exhibitors will pack the center with all outdoor living necessities, plants, machinery, yard art and landscape project materials. Workshops for adults and children will be taught by Master Gardeners. The kids will learn how to grow their own plants and make a variety of take-home projects while the adults can attend sessions on gardening topics, new techniques or ask the experts questions about specific gardening challenges. One of the most popular attractions continues to be the Master Gardener plant sale with a big variety of plants suited for the landscapes of North Central Texas. Support the Ellis Co. 4-H by visiting their concession stand for lunch and snacks and register for the many great door prizes donated by the exhibitors. Come enjoy a day at the Ellis County Master Gardener’s Lawn and Garden Expo with your family! Pick up FREE tickets by visiting an Expo sponsor. A list of sponsors is available at: www.ecmga.com.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

HOME HOME&&GARDEN GARDEN { GARDENING }

April PLANTING »» Soil purchased for use in beds, low areas and containers should be examined closely. Often, nut grass and other weeds, nematodes and soilborne diseases are brought into the yard through contaminated soil sources. »» Seeds of amaranthus, celosia, cosmos, marigold, portulaca, zinnia and other warm-season annuals can be sown directly in the beds where they are to grow. Keep seeded areas moist until seeds germinate. Thin out as soon as they are large enough to transplant. Surplus plants can be transplanted to other areas. »» Many flower or vegetable seeds left over after planting the garden can be saved for the next season by closing the packets with tape or paper clips and storing in a sealed glass jar in your refrigerator. »» You can still plant cucurbits like squash, cucumbers and melons. Many herbs can also be planted from transplants (for example: dill, parsley, fennel, mint, oregano and thyme).

PRUNING AND FERTILIZING »» Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer to lawns. Frequent mowing will keep an established lawn thick and healthy, but avoid removing more than one third of the leaf surface each time. »» Prune spring-flowering shrubs soon after flowering. Keep the natural shape of the plant in mind as you prune and avoid excessive cutting except where necessary to control size. »» Roses have high fertilizer requirements. For most soils, use a complete fertilizer for the first application just as new growth starts, then use ammonium sulfate or another high nitrogen source every 4 to 6 weeks, usually just as the new growth cycle starts following a flowering cycle.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

POTATO SOUP

GARDEN WATCH »» Attempt to check the progress of vegetables such as lettuce, greens and potatoes daily to find the first signs of insect pests such as caterpillars, sowbugs or “stinkbugs” feeding on the tips of potato stems. »» Check new tender growth for aphids. A few can be tolerated, but large numbers should be controlled. Always follow label instructions on approved pesticides for control. Washing them off with a strong spray of water may be all that is necessary for adequate control. »» Eliminate fire ants in your landscape by broadcasting labeled bait while temperatures are between 70 and 90 degrees. Follow label directions closely to achieve best results. Contact your county extension office at 972-8255175 for more information.

CHIVES Onion, Perennial: 18” clumps Hollow green leaves that grow up from tiny bulbs, chives have a delicate onion flavor. Add chopped leaves to soups and salads; use in cottage cheese, cream cheese, omelets and baked potatoes. Pretty purple flowers are edible and add zing to green salads. Plant seedlings or seeds early spring in full sun or in part shade. Chives make a good border plant and are a companion plant for roses and tomatoes as a deterrent to black spot and mildew.

BY JUNE AND RON GARRETT

»» 6-8 potatoes, boiled or baked (reserve cooking water) »» 1 lg. onion, or more »» 4-6 cloves garlic »» 4 stalks celery »» 2 carrots »» 4 cubes chicken bouillon »» Pepper, thyme or other spices »» 1 cup sour cream »» A few tablespoons flour, dissolved in water »» 3-4 cups cooked navy beans, optional Chop potatoes, onion, garlic, celery and carrots. Place back in potato water along with the rest of the ingredients. Simmer all. Mash a portion of soup to consistency you want.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

MEDICAL

GOODNIGHT

MOON

MARCH IS SLEEP AWARENESS MONTH.

Is your child getting the best sleep they can? BY MARIE RAMOS, M.D., PEDIATRIC CARE OF ENNIS

It’s important to make sure your child gets enough sleep and sleeps well. The value of sleep can be measured by your child’s smiling face, happy nature and natural energy. Lack of sleep can cause irritability and behavioral problems.

Why is sleep important?

Sleep is important for growth because our body produces a chemical called growth hormone during deep sleep. Sleep also helps you fight off sickness, as your immune system weakens with sleep deprivation. Furthermore, getting good sleep improves your mood. It is easier to get angry when you are sleepy and in younger children you will notice irritability as a sign of lack of sleep.

How much sleep does a child need?

Many parents are unsure of how many hours in a day their child should sleep. Experts recommend your child get the following amount at each stage of growth:

NEWBORNS (0-3 MONTHS): 14-17 HOURS INFANTS (4-11 MONTHS): 12-15 HOURS

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

TODDLERS (1-2 YEARS): 11-14 HOURS PRESCHOOLERS (3-5): 10-13 HOURS SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN (6-13): 9-11 HOURS TEENAGERS (14-17): 8-10 HOURS There are several tips to help your child attain good sleep habits. At as early as two months of age, put your baby to bed drowsy but still awake so they learn how to fall asleep on their own. Rocking or holding your baby until they are completely asleep may make it hard for them to go back to sleep when they wake up during the night, as they will associate the rocking with sleeping.

Make sure to establish a consistent bedtime.

Set aside 10-30 minutes to get your child ready to go to sleep each night and encourage relaxing activities before bedtime. Reading, playing quietly or watching a television show are some examples of restful activities before bedtime.

Establish a regular bedtime routine.

Have your child do the same things each evening like bathing, brushing teeth and reading a story. Make their room ready for sleep. Shades to block outside light are important, especially in the summer. A favorite toy or special music will help kids calm down and relax. Allow your child to take a favorite thing to bed each night such as a teddy bear or a special blanket.

Once you tuck your child in, do not allow them to get out of bed.

If they come out of their room, return the child to the room and do not engage in arguments. A child most often will test limits. When they learn that you will constantly enforce the rule, they will stop resisting, especially if you redirect them in a firm and consistent manner.

Encourage relaxation techniques.

Help them visualize a peaceful scene or help them focus on serene, happy thoughts.

Avoid giving your child caffeine

before bedtime. Remember that chocolates and hot chocolate contain caffeine. Some physicians recommend over-thecounter Melatonin to help with sleep, which is a natural hormone in our body that helps us sleep. Make sure to consult your pediatrician for dosing and questions. Keep in mind that over-thecounter Melatonin is not FDA regulated, so not all will contain pure Melatonin and you may need to try different brands. A child who sleeps well and gets enough sleep is more likely than not to be cheerful all day. The better the child sleeps, the happier the entire family can be. If your child has an ongoing sleep problem, talk to your child’s doctor. DR. RAMOS is a pediatrician at Pediatric Care of Ennis and accepts most insurances including Medicaid and non-traditional Medicaid plans. Dr. Ramos and her family live in Ennis.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

MEDICAL

TRAIN YOUR

BRAIN DEAR DR. DONALDSON, I HAVE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT BRAIN FITNESS. WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO WE MAKE OUR BRAINS FIT?

Brain fitness refers to our ability to meet our daily cognitive demands. This includes understanding and remembering information, seeing patterns and relationships between events, formulating plans and developing conclusions. As a psychologist doing neuropsychological testing, brain fitness is evaluated by performance on tasks that measure memory, attention, decision-making, concentration and mental flexibility, among other abilities. Our education plays a big role in developing our brain fitness, but we can do things after our formal education ends to continue to learn and challenge our cognitive capacities. A big part of brain fitness is neurogenesis (the development of new neurons and increased connections of neurons). Research suggests neurogenesis and overall brain fitness are facilitated by the following activities:

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

1. Learning new things, such as a language or new skill. Take up painting. Learn to play a new instrument. These activities improve the connections in our neural network and use multiple parts of the brain. Physical exercise has been shown to improve cognitive functioning by increasing nerve growth factor and improving spatial skills. Learn a new sport or take up dancing.

2. Physical exercise has been shown to improve cognitive functioning by increasing nerve growth factor and improving spatial skills. Learn a new sport or take up dancing.

3. Play cognitive training games. There are a lot of games for computers, smartphones and tablets that are easily accessible to develop brain fitness.

4. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

5. Practice good relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, yoga, pilates, meditation or visualization.

6. Get enough sleep. Not too long ago we thought it was okay to get by on only a few hours sleep a night, but more recent research suggests most of us need eight to nine hours of sleep for optimal functioning.

7. Engage in activities that involve planning, as they stimulate the frontal lobe area of the brain. Conversely, health problems, pollution and prolonged elevated cortisol levels (that come with chronic stress) have been shown to have a negative effect on brain function. Aging impacts our brain fitness, but we can minimize its impact by practicing these brain fitness techniques.

DR. DONALDSON is a clinical psychologist practicing in Waxahachie. She can be contacted at donaldsonpsyd@aol.com or by visiting donaldsonwellnesscenter.com.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

MEDICAL

CREATING A HEALING ENVIRONMENT ATTENTION TO DESIGN AND DETAILS CAN REDUCE STRESS AND IMPROVE RECOVERY

PHOTO BY MARK TREW

BY SUSAN YOST FOR BAYLOR SCOTT AND WHITE

A healing environment takes more than just medicine. Over a century ago, Florence Nightingale, known as the founder of modern nursing, was the first documented healthcare professional to evangelize the concept of a healing environment and how it affects patients’ restorative powers. According to her, “It [nursing] ought to signify the proper use of fresh air, light, warmth, cleanliness, quiet, and the proper selection and administration of diet - all at the least expense of vital power to the patient.” A growing trend in hospitals and healthcare facility design is to let history, nature, patients, staff and community contribute to blueprints. This can apply to our homes, too. Calming colors, noise reduction, art, natural light and materials, views of town and indigenous landscapes all culminate into spaces for improved patient recovery and work environments, home environments for post-operation or just simple prevention for every day living. According to the Samueli Institute, the concept of an Optimal Healing Environment is where all aspects of the patient experience – physical, emotional, spiritual, behavioral and environmental – are optimized to support and stimulate healing.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

As more data provides positive results, healing environments can continue to grow and be one of many tools used to address the challenges of healthcare reform and consumer-driven healthcare. From the initial layout of today’s healing environments, exterior and interior design includes natural elements from a building’s regional landscape and climate. Another important element of healing environments is natural light. “There is a lot of evidence around natural light and the patients’ ability to control light and noise,” said Miles Hersey, senior project manager for CBRE. “If patients want to take a nap, they need to be able to do that. These factors can help someone heal quicker and help overall wellness.” Products used in healing environments include natural stone, wood and nature-scene art. As for patient rooms, they should be private and comfortable. Furniture can be covered by durable, stain-resistant fabric and the sofas easily morph into beds. Patients recover better if they’re surrounded by the comforts of home, and such comfort is a top design priority for many new hospitals being constructed. For the new Women’s Health Center at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Waxahachie (BSWMCW), for example, shades of green representing

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

MEDICAL

CREATING HEALING ENVIRONMENTS

cont.

Healing and the Charlson Meadows Renewal Center (The Centers), the best way to build these healing spaces is to look for ways to reduce stress in your environment. Research from the field of psychoneuroimmunology shows how emotional stress impacts our bodies in multiple ways. It does this because our brain and nervous, endocrine and immune systems are constantly interacting. B BROWN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

rebirth and growth were used, as well as stained glass, artwork and photographs of babies, which are all calming. Rooms often include warm wood tones, and elements like stone can be used in the seated showers with spray jets. Other common comforts are refrigerators and safes for personal belongings.

Decrease Noise, Increase Rest

From outside traffic to inside activities, noise is a challenge for hospitals in general. Highway traffic, nurse conversations, carts rolling loudly down hallways – all are reasons patients say they feel sleep deprived during their hospital stay. Newer hospitals like BSWMCW will upgrade the exterior envelope of their buildings with a sound seal, which is additional insulation to keep noise out of the patients’ rooms. To help builders understand where and how much sound insulation is needed, they often hire an acoustician to come to the hospital site and assess noise levels both inside and outside of the hospital. According to the article “What Can I Do to Create a Healing Environment?” from Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing, a website collaboration between the University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality &

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

Just like at home, clearing clutter and organizing a simple, walkable flow helps reduce chaos and stress. Here is a sampling of ideas the professionals from HKS Architects, CBRE and BSWMCW recommend and have in place at various healthcare facilities: »» To keep patient views clear, hide chords and equipment behind sliding partitions on walls. »» Place flat panel TVs in indentions to become flush with the wall. »» Create high contrast between walls and floors, an orientation device used in healthcare facilities for elderly people so they can better differentiate between the wall and floor. »» Calming, seasonal graphics on TV screens can add to the soothing environment. For example, a roaring fireplace on the screen in winter, and beach waves, waterfalls or fish tanks in the summer can make a difference for patient recovery.

»» Let there be natural light. Remove

dark shades or window coverings and add lamps. »» If you like the sound, add a water element. »» Use a diffuser or vaporizer with essential oils. For example, peppermint oil is thought to be invigorating. »» Set a positive intention for your interactions in the space.

At home, The Centers suggest: »» Assess your limitations and the

preferences of other people at home and budget to make changes. »» Choose a room or corner that you can make into a healing space. »» Consider activities you find most healing and adapt a space for them.

Healing Designs Today, Healthier Community Tomorrow Now is the most exciting time in healthcare. Best practices can inspire healing spaces beyond hospital doors and carry over into our work and home lives as well. By changing our environment and bringing more calming, natural elements inside, we are able to further encourage healing and recovery for a healthier, stronger community.

In the work environment, The Centers recommend:

»» Paint your office walls a calming color and choose art and furniture that is comfortable with soothing colors and fabrics. »» Bring nature into the space. »» Bring photos and objects with special meaning to you.

Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie or Baylor Scott & White Health.

Sudoku is a logic-based number placement puzzle where the objective is to fill 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 // MARCH-APRIL 2015

LA FIN 2015 2015 OPENING OPENING DATES DATES

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WHIMSEY CHRONICLES

Blue Hills MARCH 21

WWW.BLUEHILLSATROUNDTOP.COM

Zapp Hall MARCH 28 WWW.ZAPPHALL.COM

Marburger Farm MARCH 31

WWW.ROUNDTOP-MARBURGER.COM

The Original Round Top Show PHOTO BY KELLIE CA

Camp Round Top What attracts thousands of people twice a year, takes place in the middle of nowhere, has no official name and no one person or organization running it? It’s Round Top of course. On the last weekend of March and September you will find dozens of circus-size tents selling decadent period furniture, old barns full of crumbling grandeur and open fields where thousands of people gather for not only the largest antique show in the country, but an unparalleled Texas experience on a two-lane country road between Austin and Houston. “Camp Round Top”, as my husband calls it, began over thirty years ago at the Rifle Hall in Round Top, Texas. Originally founded in 1968, the crème de la crème of antique dealers began setting up shop for a weekend event, which quickly expanded outside of the hall and under a big tent. Over the years other shows have set up, and Round Top has grown to include 52 separate locations down Highway 237.

One of my favorite stretches to trek is between Round Top and Warrenton. I thrive on hiking through the fields and negotiating with seasoned collectors for that funky treasure I’m sure I can’t live without. In Warrenton our friend Edward Foster, known as the “Rug Man”, displays turn of the century oriental carpets on a two-lane road that on a normal day only has an occasional cattle trailer zooming past. Next to the rug booth is the historical Zapp Hall, where Ellis County’s Brandi & Kevin Harper set up their Spellbound Collection tent amongst a wonderful mix of eclectic finds. Down the road is another favorite stop called Blue Hills. I always find a truckload of treasures in their field. Not only do they have a great mixture of European and American pieces, but they open their show almost one week before the rest so you can get a jump on goods before the masses start arriving. The mother of all antique shows on Highway 237 is at Marburger Farms. With over 300 dealers from around the world, you simply have to see it to believe it. On opening day hundreds of diehard buyers with trailers in tow file onto the farm like welltrained soldiers, paying $25

APRIL 1

WWW.ROUNDTOPTEXASANTIQUES.COM

per person for the privilege of early buying. I swear every year I’m not going to do it, but I just can’t resist. I pay the fee and worm my way behind the security ropes next to wealthy trophy wives, fellow shop owners, top designers and even celebrities. There are store owners who come strapped with walkie-talkies, dividing their staff among the ten large circus tents and ready to grab the best of the best. It doesn’t matter if Martha Stewart is standing next to you... opening morning is serious business. If I can’t make my mind up fast enough, someone will swoop up my newfound treasure before I can even ask the price. Our base camp is always at The Prairie. Sitting on a beautiful 48-acre compound is an oasis owned by the British queen of Shabby Chic fame, Rachel Ashwell. As you drive down the long gravel road entrance Old Glory, Union Jack and the Texas flag fly from the pole at the main farmhouse. Nailed on a tree is a simple sign directing you to check in at the Rangers Lounge, the big communal barn where guests gather in the mornings for a cup of English Tea with Rachel herself, not to mention the best breakfast this side of the Pecos. Shabby Chic Couture

bedding and comfy slipcovered furniture fill the vintage wallpapered rooms along with peely paint armoires and crystal chandeliers. A trip to Round Top is not complete if you don’t eat at Royers Round Top Café. The family-run restaurant is half the fun of going to the show. After a long day of antiquing you grab a bottle of beer on the honor system, sit on bales of hay in front of the café and wait for a table. It looks like the kind of place that only serves chicken fried steak and greasy hamburgers, but behind the old screen door the Royers can dish out one of the best steaks around, with a great wine list to boot. Spring is a great time to drive down to Round Top. The bluebonnets are in full bloom, the weather is mild and the ultimate antique road show is simply a Texas-sized fun time. This year is even more special for me as I will be featured in the spring issue of Where Women Create Business. The magazine will debut at the show and I will be there for several book signings. See you at camp!

Cindy Burch

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.

LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM // MARCH-APRIL 2015

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