Pinpointe's Coles Crossing by Intown Magazine

3 February | March 2017

PinPointe Magazine

Contents ON THE COVER: Grayson Moss at the Livin’ the Dream event Photo Credit: Patricia Hudson

Serving the Community of Coles Crossing

6 6 Spring Cypress Assisted Living Brings Paris to Resident Through Livin’ the Dream Program

10 The Social Media Cleanup

8 I “Just Love Coffee” Café For So Many Reasons...

14 The Power of Positive Thinking

12 Canine Corner

PinPointe Magazine

PINPOINTE RESIDENT PROFILE

Livin’the Dream

Spring Cypress Assisted Living Brings Paris to Resident Through Their Program:

Story and Photos by Patricia Hudson

rayson Moss moved to Spring Cypress Assisted Living and Memory Care, 16306 Spring Cypress Road, Cypress, in August, 2019. Since his arrival, 96-year-old Grayson has become an integral part of Spring Cypress. An Ambassador on the Welcome Committee, Grayson takes great pleasure in greeting new residents. This spry nonagenarian loves to exercise every day, and takes delight in encouraging others to get involved. “Grayson is such an interesting gentleman, so filled with knowledge and such a pleasure to be around,” explains Shelli Smith, Vibrant Life Director at Spring Cypress Assisted Living. One of Grayson’s lifelong dreams has always been to visit Paris, France. As 6 July | August 2021

VLD, I decided to fulfill his dream by giving him a trip to Paris through our Livin’ the Dream Program. ‘The Dream’ is similar to ‘Make a Wish’ or a ‘Bucket List.’ It is something they have always wanted to do in their lifetime, but not yet had the opportunity to do. While we couldn’t actually fly him to Paris, we were able to bring Paris to him! He was especially pleased that his extended family, numbering more than a dozen, along with his friends, were there to share in his dream.” Arrangements for the Paris themed event held in early May included a stamped passport at the start of the journey, and jaunty French berets donned all around. Intent on making this an extra special event, Shelli contacted

Grayson’s family, some of whom live in the Coles Crossing community, and shared her plans. Smith then connected with Frenchwoman, Veronique Howard of Arts & Crepes Bistro on the Go. Veronique’s sons, Jason and Matisse, dressed to impress in striped shirts, aprons and red berets, and helped to create the mood by setting up a French Bistro, complete with a background reminiscent of a sidewalk cafe in Paris. A 6’ Eiffel Tower enticed patrons to approach their Parisian themed eatery on wheels. Trays of assorted meats, cheeses, and crackers made the rounds. Grayson and his guests were delighted with the pièce de résistance: delectable crepes of Nutella and crème brulee, each topped with decadent dollops of whipped cream, and served with a cool beverage. Delightful bite-sized cheesecakes completed the food offerings. For Grayson and his guests, the entire experience was très magnifique! Grayson loved every minute of it, and still talks about his day in Paris,” reflects Smith. “It was a lovely, lovely evening of great memories,” recalls Grayson fondly.

If you know of an exceptional Greater Fairfield, B r i d g e l a n d / B l a c k h o r s e R a n c h , Towne Lake, Coles Crossing, o r Cypress Creek Lakes individual or family that needs to be featured in an upcoming issue of PinPointe Magazine, please contact me at: texasteacher024@outlook.com. PinPointe Magazine

I “Just Love Coffee” Café for so Many Reasons . . .

The Best of Cy-Fair P L AC E S TO E AT Story and Photos by Metta Archilla-Ishida, Founder, Metta’s Local Eats & Metta’s Local Eats Dine Out for Charity

ust Love Coffee Café owner, Tamara Hamilton, is a remarkable woman that comes from humble beginnings. An endearing and nostalgic memory rests in the wise, hard-working, yet gentle hands of her “Granny,” as Tamara spent the summers learning to cook from scratch. Tamara lovingly reminisces, “That coffee can full of bacon grease was a Holy Grail of sorts; we fried everything in it. It was Southern cooking at its best.” Recalling the nostalgic smells of that kitchen. Tamara’s greatest treasure is Granny’s handwritten recipes passed down to her, as she lovingly makes them for her own family. This hands-on background is exactly where Tamara cultivated her love for food. But what spurred her passion was an instance shared with her husband/co-owner of Just Love Coffee Café, Jon Hamilton. “While on a vacation cruise, Jon and I opted to do the Chef's Table dinner on the ship. Being in the restaurant business, I was in absolute awe of the kitchen aboard the ship; it was expansive and immaculate and impressive!” Pivotal food experiences throughout Tamara’s life paired with those shared with Jon, led to the realization that the food industry is where they would stake their claim. I asked Tamara, “Why Just Love Coffee?” She responded thoughtfully, “After being in the franchise business for over 21 years with a large firm in Houston, it was time to find

something for myself. The Just Love concept combines great coffee, tasty food, and a platform for our passion: to give back to our community.” As franchisees with Just Love Coffee Café, Tamara and Jon are free to customize the restaurant and menu to their liking, affording the pair the most control over product, flexibility over market drivers, a hand in creativity, and an intimate handshake with quality. While most coffee places have great coffee and mediocre food, and restaurants have fabulous food and “eh” coffee, Tamara wanted to offer the best of both worlds. The couple built their home in Cypress about two years ago, after falling in love with the community and its people. Residing at the very edge of Cypress at the cuff of Tomball, they delighted in the many walking and biking trails, but realized that there were no coffee shops or eateries in the area. When a “For Lease” sign appeared in a strip shopping center, Tamara laid it to prayer. Her answer became clear; this would make a great spot for a cafe!

8 July | August 2021

Giving back to the community is one of Tamara’s driving factors as a businesswoman. Her story is familiar and inspiring. Tamara explains, “There was a time in my life many, many years ago that I needed some help. Not much, but just a little help. I was behind on bills and

trying to raise a son on my own and I just couldn't seem to make ends meet. There was a sweet couple that helped me catch up on my electric bill and filled my fridge and pantry with groceries. That was just enough to help me get back on my feet. I think of them often and try to pay it forward as I can because I know that there are so many people out there in the same situation that I was.” I LOVE Just Love Coffee Café. It’s Food and Fellowship as its core of intent, Just Love Coffee Café started a “Love Fund” when the restaurant opened. This fund helps families out with small expenses like a trip to the grocery store, an unexpected prescription, a tank of gas to get to work, clothing, water bill, etc. Bingo Night Wednesdays’ and Trivia Night Thursdays’ proceeds go into the fund. Just Love Coffee Café recently partnered with Metta’s Local Eats Dine Out for Charity, benefitting Cy-Fair Helping Hands in serving the hungry and homeless. Just Love Coffee Café is a family-owned business with a houseful of boys, ages 19, 18, and 7. The 19-year-old runs the kitchen and is training to be a manager. Three

additional locations are planned over the next few years, a legacy for each son. Tamara explains, “I believe in leaving them a future and not just a sum of money. We do have stress; living and working together doesn't leave you with much alone time, and it's hard to leave work at work sometimes.” Tamara and Jon are God-driven; their strength and faith comes from their steadfast beliefs that anything is possible, and Just Love truly is. Just Love Coffee Café 13727 Sunset Canyon Dr. Tomball, TX 77377 281-547-6984 Justlovecoffeecafe.com

For more restaurant reviews visit: www.bestofcyfair.com. And follow us on facebook: Pinpointe Magazines - Cypress

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THE SOCIAL MEDIA CLEANUP U N F O L LOW E V E RY ACCO U N T T H AT D O E S N ’ T M A K E YO U B E T T E R .

BY ALLISON OKUNEYE

nsecurities, we all have them. Some are self induced, others are generational gifts from our family, and some are brought on by society. We can’t avoid feeling it completely, but we can control what we consume in regards to our social media accounts. Being intentional about the people we let into our social worlds can make a huge difference on our daily mood and overall sense of worthiness. I don’t typically wake up and instantly start feeling bad about myself. It can take only 5 minutes of scrolling Facebook or Instagram and the insecurity, mom guilt, and shame starts to creep in. Over the last year, I made a choice to unfollow ANY account (friend, family, acquaintance, or stranger) that was not adding value or positive energy in my life. Setting this boundary was a game changer. My social media became a place of joy, positive vibes, good energy and a bright spot in my day. It is no longer a daily reminder that I am not a good (or crafty) enough mom, or a savvy enough business woman, and I don’t feel the pressure to be the woman “doing it all flawlessly.” Even the Mom Blogger accounts that claim to be “authentic” and “transparent” and “hot mess moms” are still doing it all while having makeup/perfect messy bun/clean clothes/ showered all while taking photos of their kids that magically fall into their online aesthetic.

What we forget in this socially connected world, is that we CAN have someone in our lives, and still NOT follow them on social media. It IS possible to be friends in real life, and NOT

10 July | August 2021

on Facebook. Having a relationship with someone DOES NOT MEAN you also have to subscribe to their 2AM thoughts. I know this may seem harsh, drastic and controversial and in doing this I have had to have that awkward conversation about if and why I unfollowed.

My response has been this, “Yes I did unfollow on social media, the (political/emotional/negative/argumentative/mom guilt/constant sales) posts were just too much. No hard feelings, I just had to minimize and be more intentional with the content I am consuming”.

Guess what? The world didn’t end. Solid relationships are still fully intact, and my social media is now a more positive and fun place to be! My hope is that you find the courage and confidence to set boundaries for yourself and choose to follow accounts and people that are adding value to YOU, and encouraging you to grow!

Don’t forget that giving someone unfiltered access to your free time and mental space is an HONOR. You should be selective about who and what has access to that space. Stay fearless, and SELECTIVE friends!!

PinPointe Magazine

Canine Corner

By Patricia Hudson and Sophia Hudson, the Rescue Yorkiepoo

Harris County Seeks Pet Fosters, Adopters, and Funds for Heal a Heart Program

“Like so many other shelters across the country, Harris County Pets has faced an increase in its animal population over the last several months, as this is typically the time of year that many cats and dogs are breeding,” Eddie Miranda, Senior Public Information Officer reports. “Our facility is over its capacity to comfortably house our cats and dogs on a daily basis since May, and we are encouraging everyone to foster, adopt, volunteer or donate to Harris County Pets.” For information, as well as photos of adoptable pets, go to: www.countypets.com. Appointments are required, and may be made by calling 281-999-3193. Interested fosters should call the main number or email foster@phs.hctx.net.

Julia

ID# A576584

Donations of canned and dried pet food are needed. A list of additional items can be found on the webpage: www.countypets.com/donate/.

Heal a Heart: Harris County Pets Counts on Community Support to Sustain its Life-Saving Program for Heartworm-Positive Dogs

Summer is the time when heat, humidity, and wet conditions combine to create the perfect storm for mosquito breeding in a coastal area like the Houston region. Mosquitoes are capable of transmitting numerous diseases to both humans and pets. For dogs, no other mosquito-borne illness is more prevalent than heartworm disease.

Currently, about a quarter of the dog population at the Harris County Pets facility is heartworm positive. Heartworm disease can be fatal to animals, especially dogs, but it is highly treatable with a 95% success rate, according to Veterinary Centers of America Inc. At least one out of every three dogs currently at the Harris County Pets Resource Center is heartworm positive. Monetary donations to the Heal a Heart program provides free heartworm treatment to select heartworm positive dogs adopted at the facility. Friends of County Pets, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit, administers the funds for this program, made possible by the support of caring residents. The program covers the cost of heartworm treatment at the Harris County Pets Clinic. Typical cost for heartworm treatment can range from $300 to over $1,000. “We have numerous heartworm-positive dogs at our facility that are highly adoptable and would make great companions in a forever home,” said Michael White, DVM, MS, director of the Harris County Veterinary Public Health Division, which operates HCP. “The Heal a Heart program removes this costly barrier to adoption by funding the treatment of many deserving heartworm-positive pets in our shelter.” 12 July | August 2021

Amelia

ID# A571856

Rocko

ID# A575242

Harris County Pets & Harris County Public Health 612 Canino Road • Houston, TX 77076 (832) 927-1133 • www.countypets.com

Using Positive Affirmations to Improve Our Well-Being by Liz Arrington

fter a year and a half of a life put on hold, we have found ourselves in a position of looking forward for the ﬁrst time in a long time. And, personally, I have found it to be a struggle. It’s been hard to make decisions, re-engage in social interactions that are entirely diﬀerent now, and cope with daily reminders of our changed society.

I wouldn’t even be sharing this in such a public way, except I have a feeling that I am not alone in this. I see this exhaustion, weariness, overwhelm, all around me. Studies are showing that parents are burned out, exhausted, uncertain, and weary. Cautiously optimistic at best. And, to be honest, it's a feeling that has dominated so much of my mental space that it’s really hard for me to be compelled to write about anything else. So, if you’re like me and looking for a little help in turning the negatives into positives; read on, friend. Going into this summer, I felt deeply disaﬀected and discouraged. I found myself back in the position of balancing responsibilities as a mom of two boys on a summer schedule, a wife, a business owner, friend, 14 July | August 2021

and just my own SELF. I felt like I was spinning way too many plates, and dropping all of them. I needed a mindset adjustment. When a friend reached out about setting positive affirmations for a new month, I took that as my sign to recharge my mindset. I spent some time exploring the areas of my life where I felt like I was drowning, and created a list of about 8 affirmations to focus on over the course of the month. I attempted to be realistic and specific, I knew that if I took on too much at once I would become overwhelmed immediately and give up. I challenged self-defeating beliefs by replacing “I can’t...” with “I Am...” I focused less on what I couldn’t control, and more about what skills I possessed to manage my circumstances. Here’s the crazy part. This shift in thinking actually worked! Out of the blue, several opportunities fell into place. I was prepared with a plan for balancing out the different areas of my life in a way that worked so much better for me and my family. I was happier, less stressed out, and seeing actual results. Was it perfect? Not at all. But, it was so much better.

Before I dive into the specifics of setting intentions and affirmations, I want to be clear about one thing. It’s part of my nature to be a generally positive person, I tend to just look for ways to see the bright side. However, I am extremely cautious about oversimplifying positive thinking. Toxic Positivity is an extremely harmful way to avoid or minimize “bad” or “negative” feelings, and is not a valid solution to your problems. If you are struggling at this moment, there is most likely a valid reason for this. The last thing any of us needs is some stranger telling us to just “be happy and look on the bright side!” I would literally be tempted to start a fight with that stranger. So, if we know that having a positive outlook improves our mental health and well being, and even opens us up to opportunities for growth, how do we incorporate a positive outlook in a healthy and supportive way? For myself- I started with positive affirmations. Positive affirmations are defined as statements that affirm something to be true. Affirmations allow you to elevate your level of optimism, without having to immediately change your circumstances. The more specific you can be about setting affirmations, the

greater sense of control you begin to gain over your own experience. You open yourself up to reconnecting with your strengths, rather than ﬁghting against your weaknesses. There is an art to this process. There are so many resources to guide and support you in the practice of setting positive affirmations, created by people who are much more qualified than myself. I’m here to encourage you to explore and set your own affirmations, focusing on the messages you need the most in your life to reignite your energy and point you in a positive direction. Start as small and specific as you need to be, share the journey with trusted friends or your partner. Together, we can move ourselves forward through this period of time, with our own sense of autonomy and growth. We can do this! Liz Arrington combines her background in working with children and families with her love of music, to provide early childhood music and movement classes to the families of Cypress. Online music classes also available. See more at www.songfulbeginnings.com.

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Find Your Place in the World ANDREA CURRAN Realtor® 832-707-4900 andrea@andreacurran.com

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