CELINA - Life & Luxury Magazine | March 2020 by Cedarbrook Media Group, LLC

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Life & Luxury Magazine™

March 2020 | Issue 72 LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com/Celina

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What’s Inside

Family 8

7 Tips for a Memorable Family Picnic

Community 10 Renovation and Renewal

Life & Luxury Magazine™ March 2020 | Issue 72

City of Celina March Development Report

Marching into the End of the School Year

Celina City Council to Inaugurate New Meeting Space

Celina Person of the Year

Public Library to Undergo Renovation and Expansion

Ground Breaking for Old Celina Park

Homefront 22 Setting the Scene for Selling Success 24

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Benefits of Hiring a Professional

In Good Taste 26 Go Green for St. Patrick’s Day Fashion & Beauty 28 What Animal Prints are Trending this Spring?

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Contribution Contributing Writers Heather Reynolds | Sean Terry Jimmie Gibson | Celso Martinez 6 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

Contributing Photography Municipal Voice City of Celina

CELINA Life & Luxury Magazine is wholly owned and published by Cedarbrook Media Group, LLC. CELINA Life & Luxury Magazine is published 12 times a year. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or copied whole or in part without expressed written permission from the publisher, Cedarbrook Media Group, LLC. ©2020. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. The title and all material are protected by international copyright laws and are reserved. Although the greatest of care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine at time of going to press, neither CELINA Life & Luxury Magazine nor Cedarbrook Media Group, LLC can be held liable for omissions, inexactness or errors.

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7 Tips for a Memorable Family Picnic By Heather Reynolds

Spring is finally here and that usually means that we can’t wait to get out and enjoy the warmer weather and the sunshine. Everyone loves a family picnic in the park…there’s nothing like eating and playing outside with a nice cool breeze and the birds chirping. So, get your picnic basket ready…and since sometimes picnics don’t always go as planned – a little preparation can go a long way. Location, Location, Location: It is truly possible to picnic anywhere. Spontaneous picnics can be a blast, however if you are planning to picnic with a group of young kids then you will want to do some advanced planning. Does the park where you are going have a play structure? Is there a wading pool or splash pad? What about bathrooms…fairly important for kids (and adults). It is best to know exactly what you are getting into ahead of time. Choose your location wisely. Selecting a Time: Setting up for a picnic at your favorite park during the week can look a whole lot different than setting up on a busy Saturday. If you are planning to picnic at a super popular spot, head out early to reserve your space. Don’t forget to eat the most important meal of the day before you head out – breakfast. If planning a midday picnic, fill up yourself and the kids with a hearty breakfast. Kids with full bellies will be much happier when they arrive at the park. The Picnic Basket: I picked up my favorite picnic basket at a local trade days market – a sturdy, wicker, lidded picnic basket. However, you don’t need an actual “basket” to have a fabulous picnic. Pack up a lightweight cooler or plastic tote. It is best if your “basket” has a lid, if only to keep the critters away from the food. Towels for the splash pad can serve double duty, providing insulation in the picnic basket. The Picnic Blanket: Parks can be busy on sunny afternoons and there may or may not be any picnic tables available. Bring along at least one large blanket. The blanket can be used as a tablecloth for the picnic table or on the ground providing a comfortable spot to sit and eat. Reusable felt-backed tablecloths make a great water proof barrier for under a picnic blanket. Sometimes the ground can be a little damp and the tablecloth will keep everyone dry. Food & Drink: A key part of any picnic is the food…so what to eat? Start off by packing plenty of water. Keeping the kids hydrated as they run around in the sun all day, is important. Not all parks have clean drinking water available – another thing to look for when searching for a good location. Bring plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, which are delicious ways to keep kids hydrated. It is best to steer clear of dishes that can spoil easily in the heat. Recipes that use mayonnaise, eggs and fish are not ideal for park picnics. Keep the food cool with lots of ice packs – use frozen bottles of water and juice boxes as ice packs. As they thaw you have plenty of icy cold drinks for everyone. Clean Up: Mealtime in the park is not going to be a particularly sterile environment…our cleanliness standards have to be lowered. Pack a few damp washcloths inside a resealable bag, which can be used to clean a picnic table and little ones’ hands before (and after) eating. Bring along a few cloth napkins too. I like my napkins to do double duty – wrap a napkin around any sharp knife or any cutlery you are bringing. Don’t forget to bring along a plastic bag for any garbage you produce. Toys and Games: It’s time to have some fun! Take advantage of all the awesome parks in your area that have cool play structures, wading pools and splash pads. Be sure to bring along a few simple toys and games for your kids too. Toys and activities that can be played with groups of kids and that invite open ended play are perfect for outdoor play. Pack along a few different sized sport balls, skipping rope, sidewalk chalk, blank paper, crayons, sand toys (which are fun in the water too) and bubbles for blowing. The outdoor play options are truly endless. 8 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

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Life & Luxury Magazine Community

Renovation and Renewal By Mayor Sean Terry

March will likely be remembered as the month of renovation and renewal in Celina. Three rather significant reconstruction and remodeling projects will be highlighted during the month, giving our residents a chance to see how the City is honoring our past, and preparing for the future. While each of the three renovation/reconstruction projects is important in its own way, the largest of these is the reconfiguration of Old Celina Park. We are breaking ground on Thursday, March 5 at 10:00am, initiating the addition of ballparks, a concession building, restrooms, soccer fields, a large parking lot, and hike and bike trails that connect the new section with the original park area. The additions virtually double the size of the park and make use of the land between the original park and FM 455 that has up to now been unused. It’s a huge undertaking that will take a year-and-a-half to complete, but will make Old Celina Park a model for both the appropriate use of open land, as well as how a city can increase recreational options for its citizens and improve their quality of life. The second project is just as exciting, although much smaller. In late March, the growing popularity of our Public Library is causing it to close for about three weeks so that it can undergo a remodeling and updating. New furniture, new flooring, new shelving, and new books are all planned for the library. More and more residents are making use of the library and its many services, and we want to be sure that we can accommodate all of the heightened interest. The staff at the library has always been extremely helpful to the many patrons that make use of its resources, and the remodeling and renovation is yet another way for us to show our appreciation for the support that our residents have shown to the facility. It will close on March 16 and plans to reopen on April 3. In anticipation of the closure, staff has made arrangements for patrons to check out a few more books than usual, will suspend late fees during the remodeling period, and will maintain the online services. The external book drop will remain open for returns. On March 10, the City Council will meet in its new home – the Council Chambers Building at the intersection of Colorado St. and Pecan St. It’s the former First Methodist Church of Celina building that has been converted to a modern, state-of-the-art meeting facility for Council meetings, board and commission meetings, and community meetings. It’s been completely remodeled on the inside, adding high-tech cameras and microphones, allowing residents and interested parties the ability to watch and listen to Council meetings, either in real time or after the live stream is archived. We’ll have a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony before that evening’s Council meeting. Finally, let me invite all of you to the St. Paddy’s on the Square event on Saturday, March 14. It will be in the downtown area, of course, and will feature an afternoon of Irish dancers, a bagpiper, face painting, bounce houses, and the String Theory Irish Band. It starts at 2:00pm and concludes at 7:00pm. Hope to see you there.

10 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

Planning & Zoning

Sales Tax Revenue: $158,064.55

Building Safety

Permitting

GIS

Code Enforcement

MARCH 2020

Population: 20,070 March 6th Friday Night Market 6-9pm March 14th St. Paddy’s on the Square 2-7pm March 28th Celina Chamber’s Wine Crawl

New Residential Projects

Average New Home Value: $408,692

• Sutton Fields 4B

Code Enforcement Scoreboard

Average Square Feet: 3337

43 Vehicles & Parking 23 Residential Property Maintenance 12 Commercial Property Maintenance

133 New Homes Permitted Construction Inspections

11 Trash & Debris 7 Environmental Health & Animal Control 4 Grass

• Avilla DNT Multi-family • Goddard School • Greenway Amenity Center • Laughlin Lane Construction

Certificates of Occupancy: 1 • Simmons Bank

hborhoods by I g i ss Ne Mustang Lakes

12 13

Sutton Fields

Creeks of Legacy

ermits dP ue

Commercial Projects Issued Permits: 4

TO VIEW RESTAURANT SCORES SCAN THE QR CODE

0 Minor Building Inspections & Health Plan Review

Most A ctiv e

3445

12 Illegal Signs

Lilyana

Bluewood

Light Farms

*All numbers reflect data from the month of February LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com Celina | 11

Life & Luxury Magazine CISD News

Marching into the End of the School Year By Rick DeMasters, Superintendent of Celina ISD

he month of March seems to hold much frustration in all of us due to the fact that it is not yet spring, but at the same time, winter is still beckoning at our door. Of course, if you’ve made the move to Texas, you are now fully aware that in one day, you can experience every season’s attributes with no day resembling the next. This can also be said about the March calendar. You will find an array of activities happening throughout the month that make scheduling events without conflicts almost impossible. Each year, we do our very best to minimize these conflicts, but we have only so many days to work with due to spring break taking a full week away from the schedule. In regard to spring break, Celina ISD will not be in session starting Monday, March 9th through Friday, March 13th. While many of you will be embarking on spring break trips, our CHS Theatre Department will once again host the District One Act Play/OAP competition on Saturday, March 9th. For those having “staycations,” you can experience a great day of theater productions and possibly witness future Academy Award winners honing their craft. Performances are free to the public and will be held at the Celina High School Auditorium. The spring semester is also a time for looking ahead with many of our extra-curricular activities hosting tryouts. Our CHS Cheer squads for the 2020-2021 season were announced at the end of February. Our CJH Cheer squads will begin their cheer clinic during the first week of March, as well as those trying out for a position on the CHS Las Gatitas Drill Team. CJH Cheer and CHS Las Gatitas tryouts are both scheduled for Friday, March 6th. The Celina Junior High Belles will host their Kick It Clinic starting Monday, March 16th, with tryouts scheduled for Friday, March 20th.

12 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

Monday, March 16th signals the beginning of the 4th and final quarter of the year, making graduation coming more into view with each and every day. Our seniors will be pulling those caps and gowns out of their packages for photos on March 4th, which also makes graduation a reality to not only their parents, but to themselves knowing that in just a few short weeks they will embark on a new adventure, leaving their high school days behind. The District UIL Academic competition for High School will be held on Saturday, March 28th at Melissa High School. We wish good luck to all that will be competing with hopes that we will retain our District Champion status for another year. The teams have been working hard and have attended numerous practice meets leading up to the district competition. The Junior High Band program will also be competing in the UIL Concert and Sightreading contest on March 26th, at Pottsboro High School. The UIL High School Band contest will be held in April. We also want to congratulate our Winter Guard on a great season and hats off to our CHS Drumline that competed for the very first time in the history of the CHS band program. As our days grow longer, we will begin final preparations to draw to a close the 2019-2020 school year. With dramatic changes in weather expected during the spring season, unfortunately there will be times when we have to postpone events at the last minute. Knowing that Texas weather can be unpredictable, you can stay on top of any cancellations or delays to our extracurricular activities, by referring to the district calendar located on our website at www.celinaisd.com and/or by visiting our district social media pages for any changes and/or updates to the schedule.

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Community Life & Luxury Magazine

Photo by Jason Reynolds - Cedarbrook Media Group

Celina City Council to Inaugurate New Meeting Space

n a very visible and public display that adds credibility to the City of Iit easier Celina’s commitment to its tagline, “Life Connected,” the City is making for residents to attend and follow municipal meetings, including

the City Council’s monthly meetings, thereby strengthening connections with elected and appointed officials and their decision-making process. Starting with the City Council meeting of Tuesday, March 10, the Celina City Council will meet in the newly-renovated Council Chambers Building, 112 N. Colorado, site of the former First United Methodist Church, next door to the Celina Police Department headquarters. The Council meets on the second Tuesday of the month starting at 5:00pm. The new Council Chambers facility becomes the permanent meeting location for the Council after the governing body long met at the Celina ISD’s Board Room for their regular meetings. A brief ceremony will help inaugurate the new Council Chambers facility prior to the March 10 City Council meeting. The ceremony will include an expression of thanks to the Celina ISD for the use of their facility. In addition, the renovated facility, converted by the contracting firm of Hill and Wilkinson, is also outfitted with electronic equipment including various wall-mounted cameras and individual microphones that serve to provide a video stream via the internet to anyone wishing to follow meetings either in real-time or at a more convenient time via the video archiving of meetings that will be available. “We’ve been talking for some time about expanding the ability of residents to participate in not just Council meetings, but in as many public meetings as possible,” says City Manager Jason Laumer. “This renovated facility is not only a part of Celina’s long history, it has now been converted to a state of the art facility in every respect, and we 14 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

believe it will allow our residents to better connect with Council and the various boards that serve Celina.” Meetings of the various boards and commissions that serve in advisory capacities to the City Council in areas such as Planning and Zoning, and Library Services, among several others will also use the facility to conduct their public meetings. Significantly, the facility has been designed to serve the community for public meetings and special events. For example, if rain threatens Movie Night on the Square, the facility can serve as an alternative venue. Moreover, the Council Chambers facility will also accommodate numerous City of Celina employees who have been officing in the modular building on the south side of the Police Department headquarters. Employees in Development Services, Engineering, Building Inspections, and other support functions will be moving into the newly-refurbished building over the next few weeks.

“The Council Chambers facility has maintained its impressive exterior, and now stands poised to enter its new phase of service to Celina residents. It also sends a very clear message about the City’s unqualified commitment to investing in downtown.” - Jason Laumer.

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LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com Celina | 15

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Celina Person of the Year 16 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

e are so excited to announce this year’s Celina Person of the Year!! Our first year, we were thrilled to recognize Starla Martin as our first recipient of this award. Last year, the award went to Justin Steiner. There are so many people in Celina that are deserving of recognition – and we wanted this recognition to continue to be a true representation of what the Celina community believes this person personifies. So, we asked y’all to nominate your favorite Celina resident and to tell us WHY you believe they are deserving of this honor. We received tons of responses and narrowed down the nominees for this year’s Celina Person of the Year award to nine. We then asked y’all to vote for your favorites…and we received THOUSANDS of votes!! Our selection committee then read through the nomination reasons, looked at the online voting results and read through the nominees’ answers to our questionnaire to select this year’s winner. Due to the pool of amazing nominees, the selection committee had their work cut out for them…but we are pleased to announce this year’s winner…Mrs. Lori Gibbs!!

LORI GIBBS – CELINA PERSON OF THE YEAR

Please tell our Readers a little bit about yourself and your family: My husband, Guy, and I have lived in Celina for 17 years. We have boy/ girl twins, Gage and Grace, who will be graduating from Celina High School this year. They both plan to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall. I am currently an assistant principal at Celina High School. The things I enjoy most in life are God, family, friends, laughing, my sweet dog named Sugar, and Mexican food! What do you LOVE about Celina? There are really too many to name, but I think what I love the most is how the people of Celina pull together when someone is in need. Everyone stops what they are doing to see that the needs of people are met. There is a great sense of community here that you can’t explain unless you’ve been part of it! What makes Celina unique? Celina is unique in that, although we are growing, we still have that small-town feel. Newcomers to Celina are welcome and folks still wave when you pass them on the street! What is your VISION for Celina? My vision for the future is the same is that of the past – My hope is that Celina will continue to honor Faith & Family! How did you feel when you heard the news about your nomination? I was honestly shocked, especially when I saw the names of the other nominees. We have so many people in Celina who are deserving of this nomination. Each day I try to be the best person I can be, and to be recognized for that is incredibly humbling.

LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com Celina | 17

Community Life & Luxury Magazine

Public Library to Undergo Renovation and Expansion Facility to Close for Three Weeks

or three weeks beginning on Sunday, March 15, the Celina Public Library will be undergoing an expansion and remodeling. It is scheduled to reopen on Friday, April 3. To accommodate the freshening up, the facility will close for that period, according to Director of Library Services Linda Shaw. Should there be a delay or postponement of the reopening, officials will communicate the new date. “The library will undergo a slight transformation during the time it’s closed,” she said. “We will be updating the furniture, changing the flooring, adding tables, and making room for an additional 1,000 books. Although the library has always been a welcoming place, the new surroundings will make it even more comfortable and accommodating.” During the closure for the renovation, library patrons with books and other materials may return them to the external book drop. Fines or penalties for delayed returns during the construction will be waived. Books and other materials placed in the external book drop will be retrieved daily and checked back into the library’s collection. Notwithstanding the closure, library patrons will have uninterrupted access to online services such as Overdrive for e-books and other similar online services, including the Inter-Library Loan program. If any InterLibrary Loan requests are made during the construction period, patrons may pick up the requested material as soon as the library reopens after the renovation.

18 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

Patrons with checked books and other material may also extend their book check-in date online. At the same time, to accommodate the closure, library patrons may check out a higher number of items than usual, with the approval of the dispensing librarian. “We, of course, want the renovation to have as little impact as possible on our patrons,” said Shaw. “That’s why we’re relaxing a few of our standing rules and regulations. Our patrons have been exceptional, and we want this renovation to be a way for us to say, ‘thank you’ to them for their continued membership.” Among the changes will be flying book displays; renovated and upholstered chairs; updated furniture; new tables in the children’s area; a book-drop under the counter; new carpeting, seating, and shelving along the walls to accommodate the new materials. A formal ribbon-cutting will be scheduled after the renovations are completed. Questions may be directed to the library at 972-382-8655 prior to March 15. During the renovation, patrons may call 972-3822682, est. 1101 with questions.

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Community Life & Luxury Magazine

Ground Breaking for Old Celina Park Additions

he groundbreaking for the expansion of Old Celina Park took place the morning of March 5th at the intersection of FM 455 and FM 428, southwest of downtown. Mayor Sean Terry, members of the City Council, the Parks and Recreation Board, City staff, and officials with the expansion’s designers and contractors turned the first shovelfuls of dirt to signal the start of the park’s major reconfiguration. The park’s footprint has been enlarged with the acquisition of the area north of the original park, all the way to FM 455. It’s that specific area that will accommodate the new construction of additional amenities. Slated for construction is a confluence of outdoor play spaces that will provide game and practice surfaces for soccer, baseball and softball. Restrooms and a concession building will be constructed within the baseball/ softball fourplex. 20 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

Photos Courtesy of the City Government of Celina, Texas

Trails that connect the new construction with the existing facilities along with parking that will accommodate up to 400 vehicles will also be added, making Old Celina Park among the most modern and spacious recreational parks in the region. The two baseball and two softball fields will be outfitted with synthetic grass and infields, making them playable in any weather, and avoiding the costs of remediating sod following play, adding fertilizer and aeration, and mowing equipment. The soccer fields, on the other hand, will remain as natural grass spaces. The connected trials will be concrete making them available year-round for walking and biking.

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A typical day is comprised of an english style lesson, horse grooming, arts & crafts, swimming & educational discussion regarding horse care, horsemanship and equipment. Ages 7-13 Beginners thru Advance Horse show The two baseball fields, with 250-foot outfield arcs, and the two softball fields, with 200-foot outfield arcs, will be lighted for evening and nighttime play. The concession and restroom building will likewise be fully functional for daytime and nighttime use. In addition to spectator bleachers for each of the four diamonds, picnic tables will be added to allow for comfortable dining under the breezeway between the concession building and the restrooms. The 400-space parking lot will have a concrete base and will also be fully lighted and striped. Entrance and egress from the parking facility will be along FM 428. Design of the new additions to the park was under the direction of architects Dunkin Sims Stoffels, Inc., and the construction contractor is AUI Partners, LLC. Completion of the project is slated for late summer 2021.

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Homefront Life & Luxury Magazine

Setting the Scene for Selling Success By Stacy Cate

ost of the time the thought of putting your home on the market to sell is also surrounded with many strong emotions. You are filled with excitement and anticipation about the next nest that you will make into a home. But, at the same time, you are also filled with the stress and fear of the unknown and the overwhelming question of how to sell your current home quickly and for the most money. This is the best point in time to reach out to a professional Realtor to help you sort through all of these strong emotions and create a strategy for how to tackle these issues and sell your home. There are many steps in the road to successfully preparing your home to sell. One of these steps is preparing the home for the potential buyers. Today’s buyers are more ‘educated’ about what they want in a home… thank you HGTV! Buyers’ expectations about what their home should look and feel like from the moment they step foot into the doorway are higher than ever before. In addition, a recent study by the National Association of Realtors reports that 44% of buyers start their home search online and 98% of buyers frequently use the web to search for homes.

22 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

Therefore, your home must be prepared properly and have exceptional professional pictures and video created before the “For Sale” sign is in the yard. Essentially, home staging is the art (and the science) of maximizing the appeal of a home to prospective buyers. The goal is to help a home sell as quickly as possible, for as much money as possible. Successfully staging a home has proven to work. Studies have shown that while staging requires an investment of approximately 1-3% of the home’s asking price, it will typically generate an 8-10% return. The goal of staging is never to create the ‘perfect home’. Why? Because no two buyers have the exact same preferences. Instead the goal is for the prospective buyer to be able to immediately visualize how he or she would personalize the home. It’s helpful to think of home staging like the packaging of a product. The right packaging works to attract buyers. By staging a home, you make it stand out from the competition, tap into the buyer’s psychology, and give buyers the confidence to make an offer.

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There are many options to tackle that initial investment for setting the scene. Be sure to ask your Realtor what options they may offer for such services. Some brokerages offer specific programs to assist the seller with preparing their home. Compass, with real estate offices across the country, offers a customized concierge program, Compass Concierge, to make the process nearly painless. The program will front the seller the cost of home improvement services such as de-cluttering, staging, flooring, painting, landscaping and more without fees or interest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ever. Any costs accrued for such seller approved services are simply deducted once the property sells. Setting the scene for a successful sale is crucial and a professional Realtor will bring to you great value in evaluating your home and identifying where the biggest improvements should be made to get the biggest return on your time and investment. Then partner with a professional stager to implement these strategies. All it takes is a small investment and a little bit of effort to make your property stand out.

REALTORÂŽ stacy.cate@compass.com 469.667.2641 stacycatesellshomes

LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com Celina | 23

Life & Luxury Magazine Growing Celina

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Landscaper

hould you hire a professional landscaping company or not…that is the question. You have to weigh the pros and cons, use some common sense and ask yourself some important questions first. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Is this my first landscaping project? Am I planning on doing a little area or a big area? Do I understand such technical things as drainage, pitching and so on? What kind of plants work best for what I want to do? Do I understand how plants work together in landscaping? Do I want just flowers, flower and bushes, flowers and trees or all of them? What kind of landscaping would be best for my lifestyle? How much work and time do I want to put into working in my yard?

There is a lot of information you need to know if you want your landscaping to last a long time. One good rainstorm could wash away all your hard work. Your best bet is to either do some research online or go to your local garden center or local landscaping company. It’s better to go to professionals that make this their life’s work than your local chain stores for this type of information. If you would like to try some landscaping yourself, it is suggested that you work with a small area first. Do you want a small rock garden, a flower bed or a flowerbed with built up levels? To get the most out of your garden creation, you need to research the type of plants you would like to implement in your garden. Some plants flower all summer long. Some only in spring, early summer, late summer and fall. You can arrange your plantings so that you have different colors for their prime part of the season. This can keep your garden exciting and colorful. 24 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

You also need to plant flowers in accordance to their height and spread. Some plants grow taller than others, so they need to be planted accordingly. Some of your plants are ground plants that spread along the ground, so those would most definitely need to planted in the very front of your garden or they would never be seen and probably die because the other taller plants would rob them of much needed sunlight. There really is a lot of pre-planning and research to be done before you start planting. Now, if you want to go for a bigger project and have never landscaped before, you should hire a professional. You might not like spending the money, but if landscaping is not done properly, you could end up with some serious consequences. Some of these consequences could end up costing you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. To give you one of the worst case scenarios, if you have landscaping done around your house and the pitch for drainage incorrect, this could case foundation damage to your home…leaving a very costly bill. If you hire a professional landscaper, they should understand all the techniques to avoid these kinds of situations. Please make sure you get references, do some checking on their other completed projects, and check with federal and local business resources on their qualifications. We are talking about your home here and you need to protect her and keep her safe. When you do make a decision on a professional landscaping company you should be rest assured that they will make all the appropriate choices regarding your home. You should also be able to tell them exactly what you want, and they will be able to tell you if that is attainable. Whatever route you decide to take, just make sure that your end result is spectacular and that is will be something you will enjoy for a long, long time.

Question: Jimmie, I know you have been in business for like 40 years and have seen it all!! We are considering finally installing a pool this year, can you recommend a reliable, ethical pool company to use? I understand if you don’t want to recommend one publicly. You can email some of your choices if you can.

Now Open in Celina!

Answer: THE BEST POOL IS YOUR NEIGHBOR’S POOL! LOL!! Question: Jimmie, I have been having trouble with rabbits eating my pansies and other tender winter plants. Do you have any suggestions for me? Thank you so much for your time! -Nancy P. in Celina Answer: Hi Nancy! Like most active animals, your friends were getting hungry due to lack of food sources that time of year. With rabbits, it often helps to have a small amount of annual Ryegrass planted nearby which they prefer. It might be over-seeded turf or used as a winter cover crop for your vegetable garden. Blood Meal can also help, it is a good source of slow release nitrogen, but if you have dogs, they love to roll in it and do sometimes do even more damage than the rabbits! Other products now on the market that help are SCRAM!, although you need to reapply after big rains. Sometimes more cost-effective products can be effective too…like red pepper or sinking moth balls in the soil near your flowers. You might also consider planting your winter annuals in large containers. Not only would that lessen the likelihood of rabbit damage but would also make it easy to cover during extreme cold. Until next time… Happy Gardening!! Jimmie

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LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com Celina | 25

Life In &GLuxury ood Magazine Taste

Go Green for St. Patrick’s Day By Heather Reynolds

St. Patrick’s Day is the one day a year that people flock to the grocery store in search of ingredients for a corned beef dinner. Corned beef is a beef brisket that soaks in brine and then cures with salt and seasonings. This cut of meat has a distinctive pink color from sodium nitrate which is an ingredient in the curing process. Corned beef comes in multiple cuts, and it’s always best to cook corned beef for a long period of time so that it becomes tender. Typical cooking methods include boiling, slow cooking or oven roasting the meat. The first step to this recipe is to choose your meat. Most stores sell preseasoned corned beef, especially in March. There are a few different cuts of corned beef to choose from, including corned beef round roast, flat cut brisket, and point cut brisket. The round roast tends to have the least fat but is also much more prone to drying out for that same reason. Flat cut brisket and point cut brisket tend to be the better corned beef options. Point cut brisket is the fattiest cut but can also sometimes be the most tender. So, it’s really up to you which cut you use! Serve with some green beer or a perfect Shamrock Shake for a delicious St. Patrick’s Day feast! IRISH CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE 1 corned beef brisket (about 4 pounds) with spice packet 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 bay leaves 3-1/2 pounds small potatoes (10-15), peeled 8 medium carrots, halved crosswise 1 medium head cabbage, cut into wedges HORSERADISH SAUCE: tablespoons Kerrygold butter 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 to 1-1/2 cups reserved cooking juices from corned beef

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1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 1/4 cup horseradish MUSTARD SAUCE (optional): 1 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon sugar Place brisket, contents of seasoning packet, brown sugar and bay leaves in a large Dutch oven or stockpot; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 2 hours. Add potatoes and carrots; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, just until beef and vegetables are tender, 30-40 minutes. (If pot is full, remove potatoes and carrots before adding cabbage; reheat before serving.) Add cabbage to pot; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until cabbage is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove vegetables and corned beef; keep warm. For Horseradish Sauce, strain and reserve 1-1/2 cups cooking juices; skim fat from reserved juices. Discard remaining juices. Prepare sauces as desired. Cut beef across the grain into slices. Serve with vegetables, Horseradish Sauce and, if desired, Mustard Sauce. Horseradish Sauce: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in 1 cup reserved juices. Stir in sugar, vinegar and horseradish; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until thickened. If desired, thin with additional juices. Season to taste with additional sugar, vinegar or horseradish. Mustard Sauce: Mix all ingredients.

PERFECT SHAMROCK SHAKE 2 cups mint chocolate chip ice cream 3/4 cup whole milk 5 drops green food coloring Mint Oreos, crushed Chocolate sauce, whipped cream, chocolate chips, mint oreos, mini ice cream sandwiches Place the ice cream, milk, crushed oreos and food coloring in a blender. Blend until smooth. Spread chocolate sauce along the rim of two glasses and then cover with additional crushed oreos. Pour the shake mixture into the glasses and top with a scoop of mint chocolate ice cream. Garnish with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, an oreo, ice cream sandwich and chocolate chips. Serve immediately.

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Life & Luxury Magazine Fashion

What Animal Prints are Trending this Spring?

hey’re daring, elegant and instant style-makers. Animal prints might be very in this season, but they’re also a timeless fashion staple. The best thing about prints? They’re entirely man-made, so they’re also an animal-friendly choice. Since we don’t see them going anywhere anytime soon, we’re giving you a timely fashion brief for your styling convenience.

WILD FELINES The feline family includes a wide array of species, but only three of them are actively strutting the runway. While these prints are similar in appearance and can be styled in the same way, they do have some distinctive differences: Leopard Print: Black “rosette” spots made of thick-edged circles with a clean center Jaguar Print: Black “dirty rosette” spots, so-called because of the thick-edged circles with tiny spots in the center Cheetah Print: Thick, solid black dots Get spotted in a leopard-print dress and finish with sleek, black accessories for an elegant approach; or, leverage your LBD with a structured cheetah-printed satchel. Cat-inspired prints also look extra chic on a slinky midi skirt paired with a mustard pullover and ankle booties…Did someone say desk-to-dinner? Stylist Tip: Take your fashion game to the next level by pairing your animal print with a faux-fur coat or a sherpa-trimmed jacket—or get an animal-print coat to jazz up any outfit.

SNAKESKIN PRINT Take it from the masters of renovation: adding a snakeskin pattern (or texture) can elevate your closet from rattled to renewed in no time. Slide into the trend with snakeskin-print booties to anchor your trusty work look. Feeling bold? Then snakeskin-print pants should be next on your list. Pair them with colored shoes and layers for an instant upgrade. Stylist Tip: Animal prints get along with other prints. As long as the prints are different in size, try your animal prints with plaid, stripes or moody florals.

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? When it comes to how many animal-printed pieces to add to your wardrobe, it depends on your personal style—and how obsessed you are with the print, naturally. Whether you’re making it the main feature or just adding a touch, stick to one animal-printed piece to avoid overwhelming your outfit. Embrace the Trend Invest in core pieces that will be the center of your looks. To get started, choose one animal-print bottom piece (pants, jeans, leggings or a skirt), one top piece (blouse, knit top or sweater) and one layering option (cardigan, jacket or coat). You’ll want to create separate looks around each one of these pieces… all at once can be a bit much! Need a little nudge? Start out with a deceptively easy dress. Test the Print Treat yourself with finishing pieces to sprinkle on your outfits. Try printed accessories such as belts, bags and shoes to mix up your daily looks. These are easy to blend into any wardrobe and add a sophisticated finishing touch when you’re on the run and need a quick fix. Not just runway favorites but also stars on film sets, animal prints have made a long-lasting impression across the fashion industry board. They may have wild origins, but play well with others, thus lending themselves to endless styling possibilities. Article compliments of Stitch Fix. Ready for date night? Tell your Stylist what your plans are. Visit http://www.stitchfix.com to schedule your fix!

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LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com Celina | 29

Life & Luxury Magazine Travel

Plan Ahead for Peak Travel Seasons

A family getaway is the perfect chance to unwind and reconnect with loved ones away from the distractions of daily life. However, peak travel times like Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekend are some of the busiest times of the year, which can mean limited options. Booking travel early not only gives you more time to get excited leading up to your trip – it gives you more time to plan, helping take some of the stress out of family vacation. “The key is to book vacation homes before traffic peaks, so you’ll find the best selection for the amount you want to pay,” said Melanie Fish, Vrbo family travel expert. “There are clear times when demand surges. Booking your stay before that surge ensures you’ll get that house with a pool right on the beach or that mountain cabin with enough beds for all the cousins.” If you’re considering one of these high travel periods for a family trip in 2020, get ahead of the curve with these tips for advance booking dates from the travel experts at Vrbo. Memorial Day Marking the beginning of summer, Memorial Day is an ideal time for a beach getaway. Two of the top destinations are on the shores of Alabama alongside Santa Rosa Beach in Florida’s Emerald Coast. Make travel plans by mid-April so you can soak up the sunshine and get away from it all to celebrate the long weekend.

30 | Celina LifeAndLuxuryMagazine.com

Summer Summer is the ultimate time to take a family beach vacation, and for the best selection you’ll want to make reservations before the end of April, especially if you’re considering a vacation home. Staying in a vacation home can take the stress out of a family summer vacation, particularly as extra space means extra bedrooms for the adults to relax after the kids go to bed. Top destinations with many vacation homes to choose from include Panama City Beach, Florida; Gulf Shores, Alabama; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Fourth of July Fourth of July falls on a Friday this year, which means families from coast to coast will be enjoying a long weekend together, whether it’s the immediate clan or extended relatives, too. Be sure to make travel arrangements by late May for the best selection and rates. The Florida and Alabama coasts are popular choices for a mid-summer getaway. Labor Day Often considered the final hurrah of summer, Labor Day weekend is the perfect time to kick back and relax. A vacation home at the lake or beach can allow you to take advantage of amenities like outdoor grills so you can enjoy one last sun-kissed meal with the family. Make plans by the end of July, especially if you’re considering a popular destination like Myrtle Beach. Find more travel tips and start planning your family getaway at vrbo.com.

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