Stacie Guidry
The Queen of Homecoming Mums
“Stacie is AWESOME!! She graciously invites you in, listens intently to your tiniest details of ideas, and does a magnificent job of creating the PERFECT piece that blesses the recipient!!”
- Cyndy Gusler
By Patricia Hudson
The Southern tradition of Homecoming mums is thought to have started back in the 1930s. In no other place has this tradition grown more than in Texas, where EVERYTHING is bigger and better! From a simple artificial mum from which flowed a few strands of ribbons, the trend has grown to gigantic proportions and reflects the distinctive interests of the recipient. Let’s not forget the young men. Complimenting garters are ordered by the young ladies and bestowed on their beaus where they are worn somewhat self-consciously on the upper arm.
Creating awe-inspiring Homecoming mums is an art not lost on one Cypress Resident. Meet Stacie Guidry, owner of Twinkie Designs and the indisputable Queen of Homecoming Mums.
Stacie, prior to Twinkie Designs, what job experiences have you had?
Throughout high school and college, I worked for The Real Superstore, a grocery store. I was a cashier and then promoted to customer service. I graduated from the University of Louisiana with a Paralegal degree and did that for over 20 years.
From where does your creative nature come?
I have always been a “right brained” girl. I can remember as a young girl going to day camps and Girl Scout camps and really enjoying the crafting activities.
What were the circumstances of making your first mum?
A dear friend of mine, Kay Routh, called me up and said, “You are creative. We have some moms coming over and I want your help making a Homecoming mum.” I had NO idea what a mum was as I am from Louisiana. I did some research online before I went over and created my first mum. I found that I really enjoyed the process and seemed to have a knack for it.
What made you decide to make this your business enterprise? Where did the name Twinkie Designs come from?
8 September | October 2023
PINP O INTE RESIDENT PR O FILE
When I first started my business, I made custom wreaths and t-shirts. After creating that first mum, I could not stop thinking about it. I tested the waters by making mums for friends and I was hooked; there was no going back for me. My sister Tracie came up with the name as we are twins and my mom always called us ‘Twinkies.’
How many mums and garters do you estimate you have made sin ce starting your business?
I have been in the business for over 10 years and have done well over 2,000 mums and garters. I have been truly blessed that my business increases every year and am honored that I have many repeat clients, year after year.
For which schools have you created mums?
My main schools are in Cy-Fair, but with the completion of 99 and its convenience to Fairfield, my reach has expanded into Katy, The Woodlands, Waller, Magnolia and Tomball.
How far in advance do you begin working on them?
Right after the current season ends, usually the end of October, I take off a couple of months for the holidays. Then, around February, I start making braids, and finding and ordering my traditional supplies. During the summer months, I travel around the state gathering inspiration and more specialty items, and start creating the “heads” (crown) and “tails” (skirts) of the mum. This year, I invested in a ribbon cutting machine and it is a game changer!
What are the newest trends for mums?
Themed mums and garters are very “in” right now. I’ve done Candy Land, Star Wars, and Rubber Ducky themed ones, just to name a few. I absolutely love doing them as it really gets my creative juices flowing. Also, ad ding colors to mums that are not school colors for Juniors and Seniors. Rose Gold and turquoise have been very popular. These mums allow the wearer to stand out and express their personalities.
What determines the price ranges for mums and garters?
There are so many factors! The cost of everything has skyrocketed. The mum flowers have increased by at least $1, ribbon rolls have jumped by $3 a roll, boas by $2, I could go on and on. It may not sound like much, but when you use a minimum of 35 yards per mum (that does not include the yardage for the specialty braids), it adds up quickly. We also factor in how long it takes for us to create each mum or garter, including the custom cut outs and braids that go along with them. I am currently working on the largest mum I have made to date, and I have been work ing on it for a solid week. What advice would you give someone attempting to make their own mum?
Watch You Tube DIY videos! There are lots that show how to make braids, how to put the mums together, what to buy, etc. By the time you buy all of the supplies, most realize that it is expensive and lots of work. Many say, “I’m never doing THAT again!”
What role, if any, have your kids and husband played in making the mums?
It is a total family enterprise! My husband Troy is my rock. We have been married for 30 years; I could not do life without him. He cooks, cleans, buys groceries and basically takes care of EVERYTHING during the 3 months of sheer
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insanity. He makes sure I eat a good meal. He will come in and turn off the lights in my craft room and insist I come to bed when it gets too late, and has even been known to cut ribbon when necessary. My kids, Madison, 23, and Peyton, 19, are my “go pick this up” for me because I need or have run out of something. Also, if I’m doing something super custom, they research where I can buy 10 rubber duckies or a Harry Potter wand.
When I am not creating mums, I like to…
Shop for deals, watch some tv, and I always make time for my weekly prayer group with some wonderful girlfriends; it really keeps me grounded.
If you know of an exceptional Greater Fairfield, Bridgeland/Blackhorse Ranch, Towne Lake, Coles Crossing, or Cypress Creek Lakes individual or family that needs to be featured in an upcoming issue of PinPointe Magazine, please email: texasteacher024@outlook.com.
10 September | October 2023
Matt Woods with his Senior Mum
Photo Credit: Patricia Hudson
Cypress
HAPPENINGS
2023 Shop ‘til You Drop Marketplace
Saturday, September 9, 2023 • 9am-5pm
The Berry Center, 8877 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress, Texas. 2023 Shop ‘til You Drop Marketplace
Annual fundraiser for Scholarships and nonprofits in our community. 300+ booths & 250+ vendors. Free parking and free admission. No strollers, wagons, rolling carts. cy-fair-womens-club.portalbuzz.com
“Bet” Against Child Abuse Poker Tournament
Saturday, September 9, 2023
18224 KZ Rd. • Cypress, TX 77433
Wine tasting, delicious food and more! Buy your table at www.familytiesfrs.org/casino-night. Family Ties, Family Resource Services is a children’s and family crisis center providing services to address child abuse issues.
2023 Tunnel to Towers 5k Run & Walk
Saturday, September 9, 2023 • 7am-4pm
John Paul Landing Park, Environmental Education Center
9950 Katy Hockley Rd. • Cypress, TX 77433
Join the Greater Houston Community as we come together to NEVER FORGET those we lost on September 11th, 2001, our first responders and military who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and our heroes who continue to make extraordinary sacrifices in the line of duty every day! runsignup.com/Race/TX/Cypress/TunneltoTowers5KRunWalkCypressTX
34th Annual BBQ Cook-Off
HLS&R Houston Metro Go Texan Committee/Cy-Fair Subcommittee
September 29, 2023 • Noon-10pm, September 30, 2023 • 8am-8pm
The Parking Lot • 850 US 290 Business • Hempstead, TX 77445
Vendor Booths, Live DJ, Live & Silent Auction. For info contact Christy McCarthy at 832-381-4080 or metrogotexancookoff@gmail.com
Fairfield Family Night Out
Sunday, October 1, 2023 • 4-7pm
Fairfield Central Park • 15015 Heath Green Circle • Cypress, TX
Bounce Houses, Live DJ, Food Trucks, Face Painting, Games, Fire Truck
Cy-Fest 2023
Saturday, October 7, 2023 • 10am-2pm
Lone Star College-CyFair • 9191 Barker Cypress Rd • Cypress, TX
Cy-Fest, a free family-friendly community celebration for all ages, returns with a pumpkin patch, arts and crafts, book mobile, bounce houses and food trucks, just to name a few. www.lonestar.edu/cy-fest
5th Annual A Taste of Cy-Fair
Saturday, October 7, 2023 • 5-8pm (4pm VIP Entry)
Lakeland Village Center • 10615 Fry Rd. • Cypress, TX 77433
Loads of food, wine, beer, music, a silent auction, and festivities! Proceeds will be donated to Cy-Hope to help local families and residents in need. Purchase tickets at: atasteofcyfair.com
Cy-Fair Fire Fest
Saturday, October 7, 2023 • 10am-2pm
Cy-Fair Station 11 • 18132 West Rd. • Cypress, TX
Join us for a fun-filled day for the family with live demonstrations, Kidz Zone, Smoke House, Local Vendors, Food Trucks, and more!
12 September | October 2023
Best of Cy-Fair
Lini and Martin grew up in their native country of Columbia; Lini has lived in the Cypress area for over 10 years. While this is not Martin’s first business enterprise, it is their beloved flagship. In time, they have plans to replicate this eatery throughout Houston and surrounding areas.
What I’m most excited about this newly sculpted eatery are the Chefs: Executive Chef Osman Moya and his Sous Chef and Leamsi Granadilla. One can describe this dynamic duo of lifetime friends as two peas in a pod. Executive Chef Moya packs an impressive culinary track record with over 22 combined years in the industry with his formal training from the Venezuela Culinary Institute to Florida, and now they’ve landed in our humble Cypress community. While Moya and Granadilla share an expert eye in culinary presentation and elevated flavor design, their passion is truly in crafting big flavor essence from natural local ingredients.
This high-end little gem in the middle of an older established neighborhood is the perfect people temperature for Chef, and he adds, “I bring my Sous Chef with me always, we’ve been together since grade school, and I trust him in the kitchen. His nickname is ‘Chickie,’ like the little bird.” This drew a fond laugh from Moya.
What’s most impressive in my honest opinion, is that Chef Moya dropped out of high school and spent his time doing nothing for nearly a year. He was watching Gourmet TV when a commercial for the Venezuela Culinary Institute flashed across the screen. A lightbulb flashed on and he ran to tell his parents that THIS was what he was going to do, that he was going to be a Chef. His parents made him promise to finish his culinary training. Chef not only finished, but that light bulb has burned brightly every second since. Moya finished his culinary training before looping back around to finish his high school diploma. He’s been
16 September | October 2023
commanding and orchestrating mainstream kitchens ever since.
When I asked Chef if he could do anything else in the world, what would that be, and Chef replied with conviction, “A Chef, every single time.”
Go and check them out folks, and welcome the Salt & Sugar team to the neighborhood. Kaylynn, a phenomenal staff waitress, recommends the Angus Tenderloin, it’s her personal favorite. But to explore their food and craft cocktail menu of offerings is to take a journey into the realm of sophistication, without having to drive into downtown Houston. Full Menu: saltandsugarhtx.com.
Metta Archilla-Ishida is a contributing PinPointe Magazine writer and founder of Metta's Local Eats FB group. On Metta’s Fork is a local Mom and Pop commercial kitchen that brings a touch of Southern comfort dinners incorporating fresh local ingredients to your table. The creator of “Mah Pahs” (a savory spin on a crusted pie) with local favorites such as the Sausage or lem-Chicken Mah Pah topped with a loaded smashed potato. But what steals the show are her ANYTIME Quiches from a Pulled Pork and Potato Hash, to Garden Vegetable and Feta, and all between. The Quiche menu rotates weekly as do their hearty Stews and Soups. This is family mealtime at its finest where all you do is heat and eat. On Metta’s Fork can be located on Facebook and services the Cypress and surrounding areas. Or you can reach out to Metta Archilla directly via her Facebook social media page. #onmettasfork
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18 September | October 2023
Finding Community and Support With MOMS Club
by Liz Arrington
Recently I’ve seen and heard from a lot of local moms who are looking for some very important things for their children. Community. Support. Friends! This need for connection is an experience that each generation of new mothers face- and one of the most common things I talk about with the moms I see every day.
I sat down with Karen Bastian, president of MOMS Club of NW Houston, to talk about this need and how she found her community in MOMS Club.
I’m not sure a lot of moms in our area know that groups like this exist! Can you give us a little background?
MOMS Club stands for Moms Offering Moms Support. It was founded in 1983 by an at-home mother in California, as a way to connect with other at-home mothers and organize activities for moms and kids to participate in together.
The mission of MOMS Club is simply getting support from other moms. To have a place to meet, build new friendships, get support and help when needed- all with the kids included. Each chapter is boundary based, so you don’t have to go far for playdates and activities, and the kids get to grow up together!
How did you first find MOMSclub and what initially made you want to get involved?
A friend told me about it when we were moving from South Carolina to Philadelphia for my husband’s job. We didn’t know anyone, and I was desperate to feel connected and make new friendships for me and my son. What I didn’t expect were the fun playdates and activities in the area that we never would’ve known about otherwise! When we found out we were moving to Cypress, I immediately looked up the local chapter here and joined! Since then I have added two more children to my family, and MOMS Club has been there for me through it all!
What are some of the benefits of being a member of an organized group like MOMS Club versus just parenting in the wild?
There are so many! One major benefit is it’s not all up to you. Every month, we fill the calendar with new and fun activities and playdates. Everything we do includes our children, with the exception of a monthly Moms Night Out (which is so important too). Aside from the activities, the support is the other huge benefit. To be able to discuss any issues you may be having with your children, to ask for advice, to know that many of us have experienced the same thing. I have personally received so much support over the years in different stages and challenges of my life as a mom, knowing that I have the support of that community is the best gift ever! Do you have any advice for new moms out there who might be looking for community, or are interested in getting involved in a group like MOMSclub?
Don’t hesitate and wait. Don’t worry that you won’t be accepted. Don’t worry that your kid is too “fill in the blank” for you to join. Everyone is welcome, and we are all moms! We get it! Odds are someone else in the group has experienced or dealt with the same things you might be dealing with, whether that be parenting related, relationally, mentally, etc. Send an email to momclubfnw@gmail.com and let us know you’re interested and we will be happy to connect with you!.
Thank you for your time, Karen!
Liz Arrington and Karen Bastian are mom friends and neighbors in Cypress.
Liz Arrington combines her background as a professional children’s therapist with her love of music to provide early childhood music and movement classes to families of Cypress. Outdoor, Weekday, and Saturday classes available. See more at songfulbeginnings.com
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Colton Cowser Called Up To the Majors
The Baltimore Orioles promoted outfielder Colton Cowser to the major leagues Wednesday.
A Cy-Ranch graduate, he 23-year-old Cowser was batting .330 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs for Triple-A Norfolk this year. He was the fifth pick in the 2021 amateur draft.
“I don’t think it’s really, truly hit me yet,” Cowser said after joining the Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
With his parents smiling in the stands, Cowser made his big league debut against New York, starting in left field and batting seventh. He laced a line drive up the middle his first time up that was caught by Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe.
“It was awesome. A cool ballpark, kind of soaked it in and once I did that, I took a moment and then was like, all right, let’s go,” Cowser said after his team’s 6-3 win. “Honestly, I was more nervous the wait before the game. Once I got through my daily schedule, I was like, same game, just go out and play.”
Cowser got his first hit with an RBI single in the sixth inning off reliever Nick Ramirez that trimmed Baltimore’s deficit to 2-1.
Cowser scored the go-ahead run when fellow rookie Jordan Westburg followed with a two-run triple, sending the secondplace Orioles to just their second victory in eight games.
Former Cy-Woods Baseball Standouts 2023 MLB Draft
Cypress Woods High School 2019 graduate Justin Wishkoski and 2023 graduate Ethan Farris were both selected during the third day of the 2023 Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft.
Wishkoski was selected in the 16th round by the San Francisco Giants. The Sam Houston State third baseman was the 480th overall selection in the draft and among 20 picks made by the Giants.
Farris was selected in the 18th round by the Detroit Tigers. Also a standout third baseman, Farris was the 530th overall selection and among nine 2023 high school graduates in Detroit’s 20-member draft class.
Wishkoski attended Howard College for the 2021 season, helping lead the Hawks to the Western Junior College Athletic Conference championship and earning all-conference honors. He transferred to Sam Houston State, earning all-Western Athletic Conference honors in 2022 at first base.
As a junior third baseman in 2023, Wishkoski hit .332 with 64 runs scored, 11 home runs, 54 runs batted in and a team-high 16 stolen bases. He earned a second consecutive allconference accolade.
Farris helped lead Cypress Woods to the UIL Baseball State Tournament for the first time in program history, a No. 1 state ranking to end the regular season and two national top-10 rankings.
He was voted unanimously as the District 16-6A Most Valuable Player, was named the Houston Chronicle’s All-Greater
Houston Hitter of the Year and made the first-ever Texas High School Coaches Association Class 6A Baseball Super Elite Team as t he Slugger of the Year. Farris, who signed with Texas State University in November, hit .477 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs, 47 runs batted in and 42 runs scored.
22 September | October 2023
Colton Cowser
Ethan Farris
Justin Wishkoski
By Patricia Hudson and Sophia Hudson, the Rescue Yorkiepoo
Story & Photos by Metta Archilla-Ishida
By Patricia Hudson
