2018 OCT-DEC by Modern Grace Magazine

OCT-DEC 2018

FASHION FORWARD from prom gown to night on the town

LOUISIANA FARMHOUSE RUST IS A LIVING THING a peek inside local artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshop

holiday inspiration for your home

MODERN GRACE

CONTENTS

FROM THE EDITOR welcome to Modern Grace

CONTRIBUTORS the wonderful people who made it possible

DID YOU KNOW? unexpected uses of epsom salt

BLACK AND WHITE AND ROUGE ALL OVER Ty and Alexis review makeup from Ulta Beauty

LIPS DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T LIE five lip shades for every skin tone

FASHION FOOTPRINT recycling on trend

FASHION FORWARD upcycling for the holidays

18 ON THE COVER Back: Chandler Hollingsworth, Adaline Griggs, Michael Brignac, Madison Buratt, and J.C. Coker Front: Curtis Green, Marissa Stone, Ashton Clutter, and Ty Howard

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HOLIDAY LOOKS styles by Derra Howard

FASHION SPOTLIGHT showcasing two LSU students

22 31

LEADING THE MIND the body will follow

MEETING IN THE MIDDLE improving our relationships

LEADING THE BODY effective dieting

TIGHTEN THAT TUMMY attacking holiday pudge

SOUTHERN FAVORITES recipes for the holidays

HOLIDAY DESSERTS see page 34

VEGAN EATS local vegans weigh in

TURNING THIRTEEN being present is important

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER pass it forward

JOY IN THE JOURNEY it’s a decision you will have to make

RUST IS A LIVING THING a peek inside local artist’s workshop

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CONTENTS

DEW ART art, inspiration, and Afghanistan

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT Margaret “Maggie” Burtner

PICTURE LOUISIANA photography highlight

SWAMP TOURS journey with the Traveling Crawfish

LOUISIANA MAP the five regions of Louisiana

LOUISIANA FESTIVALS October 15 through January 14

THRIFTY CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA! gifting on a budget

HOLIDAY DÉCOR IDEAS the Louisiana Farmhouse

COOL BEDDING PLANT SEASON it’s here!

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F ROM TH E E DITOR

In this, the first issue of Modern Grace Magazine, the contributors pulled together some of the best of Louisiana. One comment visitors always seem to have or repeat about our amazing state is that the people here are positive and welcoming. Another is that we know how to enjoy family, food and fun. Louisianians bring a unique and relaxed atmosphere with them to every gathering; whether a crawfish boil or a neighborhood barbeque. When we get together for the holidays it is an event where strangers are made to feel like family. I believe positivity is one of the most important things we can give each other, which is why it is my pleasure to be able to share this lifestyle with you. Also, a special thank you to my husband who tolerates me while I sneak around with my camera and document some of his amazing projects! Although he is a reluctant and unintentional contributor, I have listed him anyway. I hope you enjoy!

A LE XIS J ES TE R Creative Director Beauty and Photo Contributor 8

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TAY LOR VOISIN Art Director

CONTRIBUTORS

N E L DA A R N O L D Food and Home Contributor

M E G H A N AU TI N Lifestyle and Photo Contributor

TA B IT H A B E R A R D Health Contributor

A N N A BOY T E R Vegan Food Contributor

NICOLE BRICE Fashion and Lifestyle Contributor

M I C H A E L B R I G N AC Issue Model

T.J. B R U N E R Health Contributor

M A D I S O N B U R AT T Issue Model

T Y RO N E CA L L A H A N Lifestyle and Photo Contributor

AS H TO N C LU T T E R Issue Model

J.C. C O K E R Lifestyle and Photo Contributor Issue Model

A B BY E FAU L K N E R Culture and Photo Contributor

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CONTRIBUTORS

CA M F E H R Teen Contributor

K R I S TI W I L LI A M S FO N T E N OT Inspirational Contributor

J E R E M Y G H AWA LY Inspirational Contributor

C U R TI S G R E E N Health and Culture Contributor Issue Model

A DA LI N E G R I G G S Issue Model

C H A N D L E R H O L LI N G SWO R T H Issue Model

D E R R A H OWA R D Fashion Contributor

T Y H OWA R D Beauty Contributor Issue Model

L A R RY J E S T E R Reluctant Contributor

M E RCY J O N E S Lifestyle Contributor

T E V I N L A N D RY Lifestyle and Photo Contributor

A M B E R L AV I O L E T T E Culture and Photo Contributor

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EYE WANDER PHOTO

M I S S I LI G H T FO OT Lifestyle Contributor

C.J. M I R A N DA Lifestyle Contributor

K AY L A M O RG A N Vegan Food Contrinutor

LO R A H P O RC H E Photo Contributor

T R I S TA N R E I D Lifestyle Contributor

K A R E N S C OT T Inspirational Contributor

L AY N E E S I M O N E O U X Teen Contributor

SARA SIMONEOUX Inspirational Contributor

M A R I S S A S TO N E Issue Model

TI A WA D E Issue Model

A N G E L WAT T S Home Contributor

KRISTEN WINBUSH Issue Model

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B E AU T Y

FASHION HEALTH FOOD INSPIRE LIFESTYLE CULTURE HOME GARDEN

did you know?

Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt products are cruelty-free.

Soaking Solution with essential oils • Add to your bath to relax muscles, aches, pains, and bruises • Place in a sachet to scent a room • Use in the wash as a fabric softener

Pure Epsom Salt • Add to shampoo to volumize hair • Use as facial wash • Great exfoliator • Use as food for house plants

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black and white and Rouge all over Ty Howard

NY X CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP FOUNDATION The shade range is amazing with 45 shades especially for a drug store foundation. There was a shade light enough for Alexis and dark enough for me, and even darker shades which is hard to find. and it’s only $11.99! The coverage is amazing, it covers blemishes and hyperpigmentation and it gives a natural finish. It’s super light weight it feels like I’m wearing nothing. It photographs amazingly with no flash back. I really love this foundation, great for the Louisiana humidity.

NY X HONE Y DEW ME UP It’s affordable at only $16 a little bit goes a long way. It really fills in the pores and gives the skin a smooth look. I have really bad smile lines and it doesn’t make my foundation settle there. Everything went on smoothly.

MORPHE BRONTOUR PALETTE Finding bronzer dark enough for my skin tone is a struggle but Morphe has a great affordable option. at $14 this bronzer packs a pigmented punch. I had to use it sparingly because it can get pretty dark, but that’s a great thing because people with an even darker complexion can use this. It comes with a matte side and a shimmer side that gives the face dimension. It comes with a huge pan size and a nice mirror. This is going to be one of my everyday staples.

RE VOLUTION HYALURONIC FIX Honestly, I could use this before and after application. The spray was a perfect mist, so refreshing! And the finish this spray left on my highlight was stunning!

Shop these products at Ulta Beaut y!

Alexis Jester

NY X CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP FOUNDATION The range of shades and tones made it easy for both of us to find a PERFECT shade. Now, I’m one to really pack in my foundation because I hate color correcting creams and concealers, but I have redness and dullness on my face. I’m also used to the lightest possible shade of any foundation to be too dark, so I have to use a lot of concealer and blend, which typically gives me ghostly flashback... But applying this foundation was like an angel chorus singing. I only had to use 3 pumps total for complete full-coverage over my entire face. All of my blemishes and discoloration were perfectly covered without being caked.

RE VOLUTION BAKING OIL This oil is a HEAVY DUTY moisturizer. I over used it the first time I tried it. You only need a drop or two of this product! It had a very bright, citrusy scent that was invigorating. The oil itself made for a nice moisturizer and left me with a dewy finish!

MORPHE 35M BOSS MOOD PALETTE AMAZING. AMAZING. AMAZING. This palette was one of two that were brand new by Morphe, but this one caught my eye. The eyeshadows ticked EVERY BOX for me. Creamy, pigmented, smooth, blend-able, and gorgeous! The greens were a HUGE plus for me. For a fair skinned redhead with green eyes, I wear tons of green... but green eyeshadows are typically drab and dirty looking, or bright enough to be Wizard of Oz stage makeup. However, these greens were popping but practical. I’m a HUGE fan of this palette. Especially for the fall!

RE VOLUTION SPORT FIX This is the best setting spray I have ever, personally, used. I loved it so much I made Ty buy it AND it got me to try the Hyaluronic spray. I did a full faced look and went out on one of the hottest, stickiest nights of the year... and my face stayed on PERFECTLY all night. And it was so affordable!!! I am a new die-hard Makeup Revolution fan. MODERN GRACE

Lips Don’t Lie Alexis Jester

s an advocate for intersectionality and a makeup fanatic, I wanted to do something that was useful and relative to as many people as possible! Lips and brows are more important now than ever, but everyone has their own specific way of doing brows… So this article is all about LIPS! Personally, my favorite “life hack” to long lasting, matte 16

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lips is NYX Cosmetics Suede Matte Lip Liners! These $4 miracles are bold, smooth, and come in a huge variety of color. NYX is a cruelty-free and inexpensive brand that I stand by wholeheartedly, so I solely used them for this haul, and use them almost exclusively on a daily basis. When it comes to lip liners, you usually can’t swatch them in stores like you can lipticks, and it’s always so

disappointing when you get home with a light color that makes you look totally dehydrated or a dark color that washes you out like Frankenstein’s Bride!! Everyone has different undertones and certain colors that just don’t work for them, but I found these five shades that I found to be extremely versatile and f lattering on all the shades of Queen. PHOTOS: ALE XIS JESTER

STOCKHOLM A peachy nude to avoid that dried out, dusty look.

MAUVE THE UNIVERSAL COLOR! My absolute favoriteâ&#x20AC;¦ of all time.

KITTEN HEELS A bright red that is a great medium tone without being NEON.

CHERRY SKIES A deep, cooler red for that sensual smolder.

REVAMP A plum for us all! This could be used for a bold, vampy look or a mild and fresh faced look with a POP! of color. MODERN GRACE

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FA S H I O N

BEAUTY HEALTH FOOD INSPIRE LIFESTYLE CULTURE HOME GARDEN

Fashion Footprint Recycling on Trend

owadays, it’s no secret that buying clothes from thrift shops can be cheap AND trendy (thank you, Macklemore), but did you know that by thrifting clothes you are also doing a small part in helping the environment? The average American throws away about seventy pounds of post-consumer textile waste just by themselves. 85% of those clothes (about 21 BILLION pounds) are not recycled, donated, or

reused; just taking up more and more space in our landfills, more than 5.2%. weardonaterecycle.org I know statistics like this can be boring and sometimes disheartening… So, we did a little experiment to see just how practical it could be to thrift and upcycle clothes and still be up-to-date with modern fashion trends. We looked into spring and summer trends according to Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Elle to find the “it” looks for 2018.

With a budget of a little under $100, we were able to dress five women in four outfits each to get them through the cool spring nights to the warm summer days of Louisiana. That led us to do this article and photoshoot on UPCYCLING those old evening gowns for the holiday season. Hope you enjoy! (To see more of this photoshoot and the Spring/Summer Recycling photos go to moderngraceonline.com). MODERN GRACE

Fashion Forward Upcycling for the Holidays

n Louisiana summers are active and fun; however it’s the holiday season that takes socializing to new levels. In this section, we wanted to help you take that old dress tucked away in the closet and repurpose it for the holiday festivities ahead! By using a dress you already own and making a few changes, like shortening the length and adding or taking away embellishments you turn a one-time use into a new holiday favorite. We tried to keep this simple so those who don’t use sewing machines can

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still create something fresh and new. Cutting off a formal gown can sound scary, however as long as you follow a few guidelines you’ll find converting that beautiful gown from a one-time use garment to a fun dress for the holidays can be easy. Mermaid or fishtail gowns are usually simple converts because they typically have a seam that joins the tail to the rest of the dress. Most often you’ll find that it falls at the perfect length. Dresses with netting can be a bit more work, however they may not all require a

new hem, only the underskirt will need it. Others will demand a hem and it can be done with a washcloth, water, a few standard items like scissors and an iron, and a “tape” used for hemming that you can find at most big box stores. Here are our upcycling examples with dresses that were either stuffed in a closet or bought for around six dollars through thrifting! Most important is preparation. With more time you can also add or remove different elements to make it unique!

PHOTOS: ALE XIS JESTER

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PHOTOS: ALE XIS JESTER

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NEEDED: SEAM R IPPER, SCISSORS, FABR IC PINS, STITCH WITCHERY, CLOTHING IRON, WASHCLOTH A fishtail gown like the orange one is easy to do. You simply take a seam ripper and carefully take out the stitch that joins the two pieces of the bottom as shown.

With dresses that have frills like the black one and the blue one you must be careful to cut UNDER one of the frills on the base fabric about a half inch longer than the length you want.

Cut the gown to your desired length. Don’t rush, because if you cut too short it could be ruined. Put the gown on and place a pin about an inch lower than you actually want the hem. Then you can decide where to cut.

Once you’ve cut, prep the seam by turning the dress inside out. Cut strips of the Stitch Witchery, place at the edge of the fabric and fold. Pin it and move along until you’ve pinned the entire seam down.

Set iron to a low-medium heat. I have found this works all on types of fabric. Get your washcloth and dampen it. (I like to have it on the wetter side; however the dress will need time to dry).

Place the cloth over the seam and iron for 10 seconds, lift, and then repeat. Move along the seam repeating these steps, being sure to dampen your washcloth throughout, until the hem is secure.

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holiday looks Derra Howard /derra.l.howard /derrahoward

So y'all are looking to buy something BLACK? Look no further?! This is a chill dress outfit-& comfy too!!!. It's the perfect outfit on the town or to hang around your family. These outfits are chill & comfy to where. You'd miss out if you didn't have one. OUTFIT + SHOES Liz Claiborne PHOTOGRAPHY Ashley Henderson @ashlanephotography

If “plan A” doesn’t work, there are 25 more letters. 28

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I am completely in the Christmas spirit! This comfy dress from Koko Kouture is perfect for spending time with the family or just a Sunday Funday. I decided to pair the dress with grey knee boots. It definitely is the perfect contrast for this burgundy dress and my yellow oversized purse. DRESS Koko Kouture @koko_Kouture BOOTS New York & Co PURSE H&M PHOTOGRAPHY Ashley Henderson @ashlanephotography

This is one of my favorite looks. And these colors get me in the mood. To me it says "let the festivities begin!" This is the perfect holiday look for a party or out with the girl. I love the way this black sequin top fits me! And I love movement in this red skirt-its fun! TOP Vintage @linebydee SKIRT New York & Co. SOCKS New York & Co. SHOES Target shoes PURSE Vintage PHOTOGRAPHY John Bogan @johnbogen45

fashion spotlight Divya Patel /divpatel

Madison Buratt /madisonburatt

PHOTOS: ALE XIS JESTER

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H E A LT H

BEAUTY FASHION FOOD INSPIRE LIFESTYLE CULTURE HOME GARDEN

leading the mind T.J. Bruner

e often hear that “where the mind leads the body follows.” While this is certainly true, the mind is also very obedient to the suggestions of the body as well. Think of it as a closed feedback loop. You feel happy, so you smile more because you feel happy, and then because you’re smiling you feel happier. So you smile more! Rinse and Repeat. If I may, I’d like to ask you to do something for me. Smile! Give me your biggest and brightest smile as if you’re greeting an old friend. Do you feel any different than a few moments ago? Do you feel happier? Now, mentally scan your body right now.

What is your current facial expression? Do you feel tension in your shoulders or neck? How is your posture? All of these can contribute to your current mood. If you’ve adopted the facial expression and posture of an anxious person for example, then your subconscious mind will rationalize that you must be feeling anxious because you’re experiencing the physical reactions of someone who is anxious. This is true of all emotions because each of them, from fear and anxiety to confidence and happiness, make themselves apparent across your body. The fascinating truth about being aware

of this cycle is that you can begin to apply it in proactively creating the emotion that you wish to experience! Simply adopt the expression and the posture of the emotion that you desire. If you wish to feel happier or more confident than you may currently be feeling, smile! Stand up tall. And see if you begin to feel the way you want to feel. Happiness is a skill and like all skills it is something that can be practiced. Leading the mind with the body is a quick and simple way to begin to take responsibility for your happiness. I invite you to practice this trick and let us know your experience! We’d love to hear it. Oh! And don’t forget to smile. MODERN GRACE

HI!

e can learn a lot about ourselves and improve our relationships with others when we understand the base personality traits better known as “The Big Five.” While it seems oversimplified, it can help us understand the actions of others. Sometimes, we tend to feel that actions are only in reaction, when in many cases it is simply opposing forms of communication and personality.

High-level Extraversion Talkative Uninhibited in social situations Finds it easy to make new friends Fond of being the center of attention More involved in the social world, enjoys interaction Has a large circle of friends and acquaintances Solves problems through discussion Open and willing to share Speaks freely

Extroverted

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Meeting in the Middle The five (which you can research on your own) are: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. However, we are going to focus on the Extraversion Trait. Of the five personality traits, this one has a love-hate relationship that lies on opposite ends of the spectrum. Extroverts are people who have high levels of the Extraversion trait. They are energetic; tend to be easily

Low-level Extraversion Reserved in social situations Finds social interaction draining Aversion to being the center of attention Less involved in social world, enjoys solitude Has a small circle of friends and acquaintances Seems quiet Self-aware Speaks deliberately

Introverted

excitable, talkative and very social. They are outgoing and thrive in social settings. Introverts are people who have low levels of the Extraversion trait. They are reserved and deplete energy in social situations. They are not talkative and tend to need periods of solitude on a regular basis. Being introverted is often attached to being highly emotional or sensitive, vulnerable, reflective, anxious in social situations, and having negative views; none of which are true. Whereas being extroverted is attached to being thickskinned, arrogant, and self-important; again, none of which are true. In understanding the extreme opposites of Extraversion, we also know many people fall somewhere in the middle. So, when you invite that best friend of yours to a holiday ball and he or she declines, don’t take offense, instead realize that maybe that type of activity is only draining to them and they don’t enjoy it like you do. Or, if you are the one who leans more to the introverted and always has that friend asking you to go places, realize that friend likely thrives on social interaction and only wants to spend time with you. Instead, maybe you should suggest doing something in the middle and meet out to dinner one night. By better understanding other personalities we can build strong, healthy relationships.

leading the body T.J. Bruner

think we can all agree that there are a lot of diets. Every couple of months the next â&#x20AC;&#x153;bestâ&#x20AC;? nutritional strategy will emerge to take the place of the last. Interestingly, these diets can often vary greatly from one another in many ways. This can become a little confusing as to which nutritional strategy is correct. How can we know which is the best diet? The good news is that if your goals include fat loss then there are a couple of similarities between all effective diets that I have seen over my time coaching ladies and gentleman who want to drop a few unwanted pounds. The most notable similarity is that all effective fat loss diets optimize something called your insulin sensitivity. To put it as simply as possible, insulin can be described as a hormone that your body produces in response to the introduction of carbohydrates into your body. In other words, more carbs equal more insulin. This can become a problem when your insulin receptors are exposed to excessive levels of insulin on a frequent basis. This desensitizes them over time and can lead to weight gain and poor

metabolic function. If this continues, it can lead to type 2 diabetes. The opposite of this condition can be described as having great insulin sensitivity which seems to lead to a more efficient metabolism. With this in mind, it would be understandable to draw the conclusion that reducing or eliminating carbohydrates from our diet would be the solution. You may have even tried this yourself. While this is certainly one option, it is probably the approach that I have seen people struggle with the most. There are a few other options that may be worth consideration. A few of the most popular strategies include limiting carb intake, intermittent fasting, carb cycling and simply replacing the carbohydrates in your diet with carbs that break down slower in order to keep your insulin production low over time. All of these strategies can be useful so the trick is simply to find the one that suits your lifestyle and personality the best. Please let us know what diet you have found to be the most successful for yourself. Also reach out to us with any questions you may have and we will be excited to answer!

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tighten that tummy

Tabitha Berard

During and after the holidays we all pack on a few pounds. Here are two quick and easy exercises you can do!

LEG RAISES

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Also, a quick tip on tightening that tummy during an average day: Set the alarm on your phone for every hour during the day. When the alarm goes off suck in your tummy as tight as you can for 30 seconds! You’ll see a difference within a couple of weeks and it’s an exercise anyone can do anywhere!

CRUNCHES

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FIND US ONLINE moderngraceonline.com @moderngracemag

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FOOD

BEAUTY FASHION HEALTH INSPIRE LIFESTYLE CULTURE HOME GARDEN

Southern Spinach and Artichoke Dip • • • • • • • •

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature 1/4 cup sour cream 1 tsp. Tabasco Pepper Sauce 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, divided in half 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. black pepper 14 oz. can artichoke hearts drained and chopped • 1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained • 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. 2. Mix together all ingredients except 1/4 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese together until well mixed. 3. Pour into an oven safe casserole dish 4. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes. 5. Top with Parmesan cheese and serve with toast or crackers

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Cajun Crawfish and Grits Dressing • • • • • • • • • •

1 lb. peeled crawfish tails 3 cups chicken broth 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. Louisiana Cajun Seasoning 1 cup uncooked 5-minute grits 3 eggs slightly whisked 1/2 cup onion, bell pepper, and celery seasoning blend 1 cup dry breadcrumbs 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (grated or powdered) 1/2 cup butter

1. Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees. 2. In a large saucepan sauté onion, bell pepper, and celery until onion is semi-translucent. Set aside. 3. Bring broth, salt, and Louisiana Seasoning to a boil in the large saucepan. 4. Stir in grits, quickly whisking, and return to a boil. Reduce heat to low and stir in butter. 5. Cover skillet and simmer for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. 6. In large bowl stir together eggs, seasoning blend, bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese. 7. Slowly add about a third of the grits to the egg mixture, stirring to mix well. 8. Add to the saucepan of grits and blend. 9. Stir in Crawfish and pour into a lightly greased 7 x 11 baking dish. 10. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. 11. Serve as you would traditional dressing.

Quick and Easy Vegetable Soup • 1 lb. ground beef • 1-2 cups onion, bell pepper, and Nelda Arnold celery seasoning blend • 1 can beef broth • 1 can V8 • 1 can stewed tomatoes • 1 can Veg-all mixed vegetables • 1 can petite green peas • 1 can cream style corn • 1 can water • Salt, pepper, Tony Chachere’s, and Garlic powder to taste 1. Brown beef in a little olive oil. Drain drippings. 2. Add onion, bell pepper, and celery seasoning blend and sauté until tender. 3. Add broth, tomatoes, V8 and cook for 15-20 mins. 4. Stir in the cans of vegetables with their juice along with the 1 can of water. 5. Simmer for around 30 mins. 6. Serve with bread or crackers. 42

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Creole Crawfish Cream Sauce • • • • • • •

1/2 lb. peeled crawfish tails 2 tsp. Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning 1/2 cup onion, bell pepper, and celery seasoning blend 1/2 tsp. Tabasco 2 oz. cream cheese 1 cup heavy cream 1 tbsp. butter (separate)

1. Sauté seasoning blend in a skillet over high medium-heat with 1/2 tbsp. butter until onions appear semi-translucent. 2. Combine crawfish, Tony’s, and Tabasco to the skillet mixture and cook for about a minute longer. 3. Add cream cheese and slowly stir in the heavy cream and bring to a boil, cook for around 3 minutes, stirring frequently. 4. Toss in the remaining butter and fold sauce into itself until the butter is melted and dispersed throughout. 5. Serve immediately over baked potato, catfish or pasta.

Easy Louisiana Gumbo • • • • • • • • •

2 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. black pepper Larry Jester 1/2 tbsp. salt (to taste) 1/2 tsp. Tabasco (to taste) 4 cups onion, bell pepper, and celery seasoning blend 1 qt. chicken broth 3 qt. water 2 package Oak Grove Gumbo Base 2 lb. boneless chicken, diced (smoked if you want a deeper flavor) • 2 lb. of Green Onion sausage, sliced 1. Dissolve Oak Grove Gumbo base into chicken broth in a bowl. 2. Place meat and butter in skillet with seasoning blend and cook until everything is sticking to each other (or until the onions become transparent). 3. Stir in chicken broth mixture. Add water slowly while bringing to a boil. 4. Add the other ingredients, reduce heat and simmer for 30 mins to 3 hrs. 5. Serve over rice or potato salad. MODERN GRACE

Holiday Fudge Peanut Butter Fudge • • • • • •

1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 1/2 cup milk 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 tbsp. vanilla extract 1 glass of cold water (for observation)

1. 2. 3. 4.

Mix white and brown sugar with milk in pot and bring to a boil. Stir in peanut butter and reduce heat to medium. After mixed well bring back to a boil. Fudge is done cooking when a drop forms a ball in glass of cold water or until candy thermometer reaches 228 degrees. 5. Take off stove and quickly stir in margarine and vanilla until fudge hardens. 6. Pour fudge into lightly greased dish and let cool before cutting.

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge (large batch) Chocolate Fudge • • • • •

1 cup sugar 1/4 cup cocoa 1/2 cup milk 2 tbsp. butter 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Blend sugar, cocoa, and milk in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Be sure to stir constantly. 2. Reduce heat and simmer until a drop forms a ball in a glass of cold water or until candy thermometer reaches 220 degrees. 3. Take off stove and quickly stir in margarine and vanilla until fudge hardens. 4. Pour fudge into slightly greased dish and let cool before cutting. 44

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FUDGE • 1 cup coconut oil • 1 1/2 cups peanut butter • 1/2 cup maple syrup • 1 cup cocoa powder • 1/2 tsp. salt (if peanut butter is unsalted) 1. In a saucepan, melt coconut oil over medium-low heat. 2. Blend in the peanut butter, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and salt into the melted coconut oil until smooth. 3. Pour fudge into lightly greased dish and add peanut butter topping. PEANUT BUTTER TOPPING • 2 1/2 tbsp. coconut oil • 2 1/2 tbsp. peanut butter 1. Melt the peanut butter and coconut oil together in a small saucepan and drizzle over the chocolate. 2. Use a fork or toothpick to make design. 3. Let cool in refrigerator before cutting.

Snickerdoodle Cookies Easy Snickerdoodles (large batch) • • • • • • • • • •

3 cups flour 1 ½ tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1 ½ cups sugar 1 cup butter 2 tbsp. milk 1 tsp. vanilla 2 eggs 4 tbsp. sugar 2 tbsp. cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees 2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. 3. Mix 1 ½ cups sugar butter, milk, vanilla, and eggs together in a different bowl. 4. Add flour mixture and stir until a soft dough forms. 5. Roll into small balls around 1 or 1 ½ inches, then roll in cinnamon sugar until coated (4 tbsp. sugar, 2 tbsp. cinnamon). 6. Bake for 11-13 minutes (11 on dark coated pan) 7. Makes about 3 dozen cookies. Split recipe in half for smaller batches.

Vegan Snickerdoodles (large batch) • • • • • • • • • •

3 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup sugar 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp salt 8 oz. applesauce 2 tbsp. vanilla flavored almond milk 1 cup vegetable oil 2 tbsp. vanilla extract 4 tbsp. sugar 2 tbsp. cinnamon

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, 1 cup sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Mix applesauce, vegetable oil, almond milk, and vanilla extract in a different bowl. Add flour mixture and stir until a soft dough forms. Roll into small balls around 1 or 1 ½ inches, then roll in cinnamon sugar until coated (4 tbsp. sugar, 2 tbsp. cinnamon). Bake for 9-11 minutes (9 on dark coated pan) Makes about 3 dozen cookies. Split recipe in half for smaller batches MODERN GRACE

Pecan Pie CRUST • 1 cup flour • 5 tbsp. Crisco • 1/4 tsp. salt • 1 tsp. sugar • 5 tbsp. cold water

Nelda Arnold

1. Cut Crisco into flour, salt, and sugar until it looks like coarse meal. 2. Stir in very cold water. 3. Pour onto floured paper towels and roll out. 4. Place in bottom of greased pie pan and trim to fit. Take care that there are no leaks in the crust. PIE FILLING: • 3 eggs slightly beaten • 1 cup sugar • 1 cup white Karo • 3 tbsp. butter melted • 1 tsp. vanilla • 1 1/4 cups of pecans 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Mix together and pour into unbaked pie shell. 3. Bake for 50 to 55 mins or until knife inserted halfway between center and crust comes out clean. 4. Cool on wire rack. Tip: a pecan pie, to me, is the most unforgiving thing to make. Follow the recipe exactly or it just will not turn our right. Watch time carefully and don’t over bake. Don’t double recipe. 46

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Busy Day Peach Cobbler • • • • •

1 stick butter 1 cup self-rising flour 1 cup sugar 1 cup milk 1 large can sliced peaches

Nelda Arnold

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Place peaches and butter in a baking dish and bake for 10-15 minutes. 3. Mix other ingredients together in a bowl and pour over peaches. 4. Bake until golden brown.

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A-maize-ing Street Corn • • • • • • • • •

32 oz. of fresh or frozen corn 10-12 quartered or halved cherry tomatoes Kayla Morgan 2 diced avocados /aggresive_arugula 1/2 lime juice 3 heaping tbsp. vegan mayonnaise 1/2 diced red onion 1/4 cup of roughly chopped cilantro Tbsp. Tajin seasoning Violife parmesan cheese (Can be found at Whole Foods)

1. I used a large 32 oz. bag of organic frozen corn. Feel free to use fresh corn as well. 2. Coat your pan in olive oil and add corn until thawed and cooked. 3. Set aside and allow it to cool down. 4. Separately cut up your tomatoes, avocados, red onion, and cilantro. 5. Once corn has cooled, add mayonnaise. 6. Once mayo is added, mix in your veggies and such, lime juice, and Tajin seasoning. 7. Grate up your parmesan cheese and top it on a big bowl of this stuff! Tip: If you can’t find this cheese, you can substitute! Just add cashews and nutritional yeast in a food processor. Feel free to add more or less – this whole thing is about preference! If you are bonkers about avocados…put three in there! If you hate cilantro…skip it! If you think adding black beans is a rock star plan.

Couscous and Veggie Bowl • • • • • • •

1 cup pearl couscous 1 cup baby carrots 1 cup chopped broccoli 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon Julio’s seasoning 2-3 tablespoons olive oil Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Cook couscous according to package instructions. 2. Heat olive oil in frying pan. Cook carrots and broccoli until tender. 3. Add salt and pepper to taste. 4. When couscous is cooked, add teaspoon of Julio’s seasoning. 5. Place in a bowl and enjoy!

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Anna Boyter /louisianavegan

Roasted Chick Peas (healthy snack) • • • •

1 can of garbanzo beans or chickpeas 2 tablespoons olive oil Chili powder to taste Salt and pepper to taste

Anna Boyter /louisianavegan

• Drain and rinse chickpeas. • Dry them on paper towel to remove as much liquid as possible. • Heat olive oil in a pan. Add chickpeas, salt, pepper, and chili powder. • Cook until desired crispiness.

Pumpkin Chili • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1 onion 1-2 carrots 1 green bell pepper Kayla Morgan 1 tsp. olive oil /aggresive_arugula 2-3 gloves of garlic 1 jalapeno 2 ½ tbsp. of chill powder 1 tsp. dried oregano 1 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. onion powder 1 tsp. paprika 1 can of diced tomatoes 2 ½ - 3 cups of pumpkin puree 2 cups vegetable broth 3-4 cups of cooked beans of your choice (black, pinto, kidney, white) 1 tbsp. lime juice Toppings: cilantro, jalapeno, avocado, onion, cheese, sour cream, or tortilla strips

1. 2. 3. 4.

Start off by dicing up your onion, carrot and green bell pepper. Coat the bottom of your pot with olive oil and sauté your veggies until they begin to brown and crisp up a bit. Mince your garlic and jalapeno and throw those in next! Add your seasonings, tomatoes, pumpkin, vegetable broth, and beans to the pot and simmer for about 30 minutes. 5. When you have tasted your chili and you are happy with it add your lime juice and serve with whatever toppings you want! Tip: If you like your chili more on the soupy side, add an additional cup or two of veggie broth – because it will soak up/thicken overnight.

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Turning Thirteen Sara Simoneaux

y daughter, Laynee, just turned thirteen and we celebrated by having a hotel sleepover with five of her besties. I picked the girls up from car pool on a Friday, went home so everyone could get changed and we loaded up and headed to Baton Rouge. Friday traffic makes for a long drive, but thirteen is funny and giggly, so I don’t think the girls even noticed how long it took us to get downtown for our scavenger hunt. “Mom, tell your two-butts story,” my daughter yells from the backseat. That’s right, I have a two-butts story. My mom loved to tell this story about me getting out of the bath when I was five or six, drying myself off in front of the mirror and exclaiming “Look Mom, I’ve got two butts!” She told that story constantly and I always hated it. But my daughter loves to hear me tell it, so I shared it with this group of thirteen year old girls who all found it as funny as my daughter does. This led me to my favorite story about Laynee from when she was little. My sweet girl was just starting to potty train and I walked into the bathroom one day to find her stripped down, standing up trying to use the toilet like her brother, who is only a year older. This is still one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. At two years old, she disliked the idea of not doing everything just like him (Lord, how that’s changed), so it took

some convincing on my part and one messy attempt to prove me wrong, for her to sit. Laynee likes when I tell that story too. It wasn’t until I had kids of my own that I understood why I hated to hear my mom tell the two-butts story. It’s because she only had a few stories to tell, so she told them repeatedly. My brothers and I were adopted and raised by our grandparents, with our mom dropping in and out throughout our lives. For my own thirteenth birthday, which most anyone knows is a milestone birthday, my mom left a gift on the doorstep in the middle of the night for me. She missed a lot. So I resented hearing her share a memory from my childhood as though she played an active role in it. My mom had a lot of issues, but she loved us. I know that she carried around a lot of guilt over everything she missed and I believe it contributed to her death from a massive heart attack at an early age. My daughter loves to hear my two-butts story, her standing up at the toilet story, and every other story. She loves to hear them because they are endless – because we’re here every day making more memories with her. We show up. Parenting is tough and I know that I make mistakes and get it wrong a lot of the time, but I’m here in all of my domestically challenged bliss, showing up anyway.

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ENCOUR AGE ONE

ANOTHER

Karen Scott

believe encouraging people is the most important thing we can do. When I was young my parents divorced and it impacted my life greatly. I went from a two parent home to a single parent home, then to a multi-family home. I’ll never forget the feeling of uncertainty I had. After my parents split, my mom did the best she could to raise my brother and me. It was hard and she struggled. I remember at certain points she worked three jobs. With her job experience and skill set it was something nearly impossible to do alone, especially since she wanted the best environment for us. We lived in low income housing for a while and my mom made the tough decision to move in with family: my grandmother, my aunt, and my two uncles. However, by doing so my mom had childcare and she could go to work in peace to provide for my brother and me. All of those changes were difficult. My grandmother instilled in all of her grandkids that God is the ultimate provider. I remember a song my grandmother

used to sing, I Shall Not be Moved, Like a Tree Planted by the Water. I’ll never forget the feelings of unease, hurt, and disbelief when my grandmother passed. As I was writing her obituary I suddenly realized that it was okay. She’d been preparing me for this all along by encouraging me to trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In addition to my grandmother influencing my faith, I would have to add my mom and a host of strong women in my family, church, and the community also. Again, I believe encouraging people is the most important thing we can do. When you offer someone a smile, a word of hope, or sincere concern, it could be the deciding factor on their outlook, mood, and how they may treat the next person who needs encouragement. I know it helped me years ago when I felt so uncertain. I also know it was encouragement that got me where I am today.

I'LL NEVER FORGET THE FEELINGS OF UNEASE, HURT, AND DISBELIEF WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER PASSED.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up...” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 52

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Joy in the Journey Kristi Williams Fontenot

e are all on our journey in life… a very intricate journey with highs and lows. My journey looks different than yours, but one thing we all have in common is deciding how we will embrace the voyage. We all will have times of great joy; times when we feel like we are on the mountain top and nothing can possibly take away our happiness. But what about those times where we are in the valley low; times when we wonder how we will face another day? We all experience pain, trials or heartache, but how is it possible to find joy in the difficult times? Earlier this year, my family and I walked through one of those valleys. One second, I was on the top of the world, within a moment I found myself suddenly in one of the lowest places of my life. My husband and I found out we were expecting a sweet bundle of joy, unexpectedly! It was a complete shock to us and our four children, who range from ages nine to nineteen, but none the less we were excited for the surprising blessing we would soon welcome into our family. Like clockwork, within a month the dreaded morning sickness had set in. As a mother of four, who runs a household and also a business, it was very difficult to function. Thankfully, as I neared my second trimester the sickness

started getting easier by the day. When I went for my three month checkup I was devastated when the doctor couldn’t find a heartbeat. My heart broke into a million pieces that day as I saw my unborn baby on the monitor without a heartbeat. Having to come home and tell my children was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Watching them hurt and cry for me is something I pray I never have to see again. When friends asked how I was doing, I would tell them that I was thankful that through this experience my family learned true empathy. Empathy isn’t something you can teach, it is only learned through real experiences. After I told my kids the news, I watched also as my children truly understood and felt the pain and hurt I was feeling. They felt true empathy for me. We are closer now than we were before the loss of the baby and for that I am so very thankful. In our valley, we were reminded that joy comes from the love that we have and show for each other. It comes from within and we can choose it each and every day of our lives no matter what we are walking though. In those days of hardship, we choose joy over our circumstances. Joy in knowing that even through the pain, there is love. It won’t always be easy and it’s a decision you will have to make. I hope you choose joy in your journey.

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 MODERN GRACE

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Rust is a Living Thing Larry Jester

a peek inside local artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshop

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Well known as “Micro” in the tattoo world since the early 1990’s, Michael Perault enthusiastically greeted me at the door surprised that the artwork we would be discussing was not for my skin. I was equally shocked when Mike informed me that he had recently sold the shop to his long-time partner and friend, Corey Nichols, in order to focus more on his art! The conversation flowed easily despite the fact that this was my first time interviewing for an article. Jokes and jabs peppered the conversation via the customers and staff alike. Though we were standing at the counter of an immaculate tattoo shop that looks more like an art gallery than anything else, the atmosphere was as relaxed and as friendly as a backyard barbeque. I clumsily jotted down notes about everything from the first time his mom framed one of his finger paintings to the inspiration of his second grade teacher, Ms. Morgan. However, I got lost in the story as he described growing up in a workshop with his grandfather, Mr. Achille K. Behrnes. Captivated by his recollection of operating table saws and other power tools, often unsupervised, at the age of 10 and hours of exploring Greenoaks Cemetery, it was clear: This was going to take a little more time. Mike was gracious enough to invite me to visit his personal workshop to follow up. The mere sight of his shop was almost overwhelming. A nostalgic vibe draws you in with front ends from each generation of vintage Chevrolet truck hanging overhead. (Working headlights and all!) Neatly organized tools for virtually any job are perfectly placed for their purpose. Safety gear is conspicuously displayed and intended for use. The last sentence makes me laugh as I watch Mike welding with bare hands, cargo shorts and flip flops. Michael Perault is a self-taught welder, and is apparently better for it. In one of his many vintage band T-shirts, Mike artfully tacked small screws to an antique tool. After inspecting each weld, he carefully placed the wrench into a beautiful “shadow box.” The museum quality display case contained 56

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an odd assortment of treasured mementos from his grandfather’s workshop. It was then that I learned that Mr. Behrnes had passed away on the previous Wednesday. Mike ensured that each treasure, be it a fishing lure or a pipe wrench, was preserved in his grandfather’s memory to be shared with generations of family. The display cases follow Mikes vision of repurposing little pieces of history which otherwise would have rotted away in an old barn or ended up in a landfill. His mantra of “Rust Is a Living Thing” rings through when you see creations such as a lamp fabricated from various engine parts or a piece of furniture fashioned from the tailgate of an old truck. His artwork is as varied as his customers. The Michael Perault Tailgate Bench has been a hit since its debut, last spring; however it has evolved into a sensation. Mike creates the benches individually around a vintage truck tailgate while maintaining the patina and character. He invited me back, to not only work with him on one of them, but build my own with him! Mike acquired the tailgates of two trucks from the mid 70’s and gave me the Chevy. Outside of my comfort zone, Mike showed me some of his preferred tools and techniques. Afterward he graciously watched my back (and gave me a hand more than I’m proud to admit) as I gave it my first shot. I got a heavy dose of what it takes to create these works of art and I accept that I don’t have it! With his wife, Phoebe, Mike has donated six of these to charity, to date. Without accepting a dime of cost, 100% of the sale goes directly to the organization. Michael Perault Art is unique in its authenticity. From technique and talent to sheer vision, the artist preserves pieces of history with a raw honesty. I’ll leave you with a photograph of his favorite work of art, which was displayed at the prestigious Arc Gallery in San Francisco, CA for several months and recently returned to its permanent home. (His own) Believe it or not, the Tom Waits Painting is actually painted on a vintage radiator! MODERN GRACE

DEW ART Louisiana Artist talks Art, Inspiration, and his love for Afghanistan

Nicole Brice

hen I was first approached by Modern Grace Magazine, to which I am a fashion contributor, to interview my dad, a local artist by the name of James “Dewey” Dewhurst, I was excited. I was asked to try my best to interview him as a stranger. I know of his work because it’s been showcased in his house for as long as I can remember, but to be honest, I didn't know much else about the art or the stories behind the pieces. I, honestly, didn’t know much about my dad as I later found out. In talking with him, I was amazed to learn of another depth to the man I call Dad. If there were a contest to determine who could be considered the most interesting man in the world, Dewey would definitely be a contender. Born in San Diego, California and in an Air Force family, Dewey moved around a good bit as a child. His dad's tour assignments exposed him to life in Japan for over a year until his parents finally settled down 58

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in Papillion, Nebraska where he graduated from High School. Upon graduating, he joined the United States Coast Guard and was stationed in Ashtabula, Ohio, where he met my mom. After getting married, my mom and dad moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where they started a family, and as they say, for me at least, the rest was history. For the interview, we agreed to meet at his home in Prairieville. When I first arrived, I noticed the same limestone statue in his front yard that had been there since my childhood. As I walked up the driveway, his signature on the side of the statue caught my eye for the first time. After all of these years, I had never noticed that before. Even now, I still can’t believe he carved that! I suddenly wanted to know more about this piece and I was ready to learn more about the man and his art, because to me, he's always just been my dad. When Dewey opened the door, he was wearing one of the Hawaiian shirts he likes to wear and was very relaxed. “Come on in!” he said, and he gave me a big hug, as usual. We sat down in the living room and I started taking notice of several new paintings hanging on the walls. I felt like I was seeing so much for the first time. The statue in your front yard is remarkable! Tell me more about its history. Dewey: Oh, yeah, the limestone man. I carved that in college. The limestone came from the old Paramount Theater, downtown. The year was 1986 and I was at LSU. A professor of mine actually gave me that limestone. It took me about three and a half months to carve. Where did you get the inspiration for the

design? It's so unique! Dewey: Well, I had no plans on what I was going to carve when I started. I actually imagined myself as a guy sitting on a wave on the beach and started the design based upon what I was feeling in my life at the time. If you notice, when you go back outside, the hands on the statue are extra big. I did that to symbolize me working on the statue because I was using my hands to do it. On a side note, limestone is relatively easy to shave and I actually used a pneumatic chisel on it. It made the process quicker and it cut away at the stone much easier. That is amazing. All these pieces here as I'm looking around, they are all so different. No two paintings are alike. Dewey: No, none of my paintings are the same. Each one tells a story and each one is different. A lot of thought goes into each piece. When did you first discover you had a gift and a love for art? What inspires you? Dewey: Well, I started out in second grade drawing pictures of battles in pencil. That kind of progressed to art classes later on in 7th grade and then a poster contest that was put on by the American Red Cross in 1969 I decided to enter, and actually ended up winning. I have a picture of it here. These are the actual stamps that were printed. My inspiration is what's going on around me. My life. Pop culture. You know, just everyday happenings. Media is just a vehicle to get to the expression or thoughts. I know you spent time in Afghanistan both in the military sector and on the civilian contractor side. Tell me a little more about that. Dewey: Yes, it was 2002 and I got deployed for the Louisiana Army National Guard to Bagram, Afghanistan. I went over there and did my tour and then came home after. I was home, maybe two months, I got offered a position back over there as a civilian contractor. Afghanistan gets in your blood. I don't know what it is about the atmosphere or the people, but I just didn't want to be

back in the U.S. and back at my normal job. I jumped at the chance to go back overseas and didn't come back home until March 2013. All that time in Afghanistan? Dewey: Yes, all that time in Afghanistan and then, can you believe it, I still didn't retire! I actually took a job in Ohio working for G.E. after my time overseas and I did that until January of this year when I finally decided it was time to officially retire and focus on my Art 24/7. Fascinating! Did you draw any inspiration from Afghanistan for any pieces? Dewey: Oh, no doubt. I have this piece here that I did in pen and ink of a little girl in Afghanistan. I was in Salerno on the far west end of the base and we were surveying the land near a cemetery. There was this fence up and this little girl had come to the fence to show off her new book sack and books because she was going to school for the first time. I decided to take a picture of her and then did the drawing from the picture. I actually worked on the drawing while I was in Salerno working the night shift. It took me about a month or so to complete working on it almost every night. I actually don't have those pictures anymore either, which is a bummer. My external hard drive with almost all of my pictures from Afghanistan ended up getting

ruined while I was over there. I have the memories, though. I see that a good bit of your paintings have very interesting looking frames. Did you make those yourself? What kind of wood is that? Dewey: Yes, I make the majority of my frames myself for the paintings. This one over here with the hand going up to the tree is made of cypress out of the bayou. This one over here, called Maurepas Moon, also is made of cypress and as you can see, I've carved the name of the painting into the wood. I put a lot of dedication and time into everything I make. Which do you prefer, painting or sculpting? Dewey: I like them equally as well. All take time and all take inspiration. Are you working on anything currently? Dewey: Yes, this painting here. I'm just about done with this one. Just a few more touches. This is a painting that is a reflection of saving the Louisiana coast. You can see the coastline here and then the light switch and I'll let you figure out the rest. Do you feel that your life experiences have inspired your art? Dewey: Definitely, it's my life that I draw from. I can look at older pieces of mine

and reflect immediately as to what was going on at that time. Then again, sometimes I just want to express a feeling. A painting I have hanging in the hallway, called Election 2016, is the feeling of the circus atmosphere in the election and my sentiments about what I felt were poor choices for the candidates. I inserted poppies to symbolize the blood of soldiers that have fought to preserve that right to elect our government. Wow, look at this piece! You made this frame, too, I take it? Dewey: Sure did. I like to make my own frames to go with my paintings. It completes the piece. Do you plan to sell any of your art? I see that you have a good bit of it displayed here throughout the house. Dewey: Yes, everything is always for sale. I've just never had the chance to really get my name out there or to even attempt to sell it. I've spent so much time working and living life that it just wasn't a focus of mine. Now that I'm retired, though, I plan on travelling and taking part in more art shows. I may even bring the wife along with me. I'm sure she'll just love me saying that. [laughs] His art is now for sale at: /bayouantiquesandgifts

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Go for it! In the end, we only regret the chances we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take.

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Business Highlight Missi Lightfoot

f you have ever needed housing in Baton Rouge or the surrounding areas, you may have had the pleasure of working with Margaret “Maggie” Burtner of MB Management. This PHOTOS: bubbly entrepreneur has withstood the test of MICHELLE JESTER time in the brutal market of real estate management thanks to her fairness and efficiency. She stands ready to answer the tough questions. As I listen to Maggie recount the years of her professional life in leasing, I realize finding homes for people is a passion for her. As she described the look on a family’s face that recently found the perfect place to call home, her eyes lit up. I could feel the passion she has for her job and the intrinsic reward it brings her. Maggie’s fulfillment in her career comes full circle when she is also able to lease the homes of her owners. Maggie’s savvy, yet ethical sense in business earned her a 2005 Better Business Bureau nomination of the year. Her entrepreneurial wheels spin in constant motion. She does not stop with real estate; she has also opened a travel company, MB Travel. You would never know it, since Louisiana has been home for more than 15 years, but this pint-sized package is originally from New York. She says, “Louisiana has given to me what I’ve always wanted, love of family, love of culture and love of life. Louisiana is home forever.” She visits family in New York as often as she can, but is happy to not be shoveling snow in December! That love of family, culture and life is what keeps Maggie busy and successful. Stay tuned for the next chapter, as I’m sure this woman’s story does not end here.

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Tyrone Callahan /tyronecallahan

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J.C. Coker /tentex12

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Amber Laviolette /thetravelingcrawfish

ave you ever wanted to spend the day outdoors enjoying a boat ride, photographing the beautiful cypress trees, bird watching or even seeing an alligator up close and personal? A Louisiana swamp tour is just the right thing for you! Louisiana swamps are also home to beautiful cypress trees because they grow in shallow water as well as on land. Common residents you will find along your swamp tour will be alligators, turtles, egrets, owls, pelicans and bullfrogs. Visitors should always be alert and careful when exploring the swamps. Swamp tours are growing in popularity because of the

swamp tours comfortable way of enjoying the swamp and the safety it provides. Guides are on the lookout for any danger or potentially harmful wildlife. Some popular places to find swamp tours are Lake Martin and New Orleans. Lake Martin located in St. Martin Parish offers several options for swamp tours. Most are about two hours long and will cost you approximately $20.00 for each adult. You will be on a boat tour in a group of approximately 10 or more people. Many of the local tour companies also offer a kayaking tour or offer private photography or a night time packages as well. MODERN GRACE

SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PARADISE CROSSROADS CAJUN COUNTRY PLANTATION COUNTRY GREATER NEW ORLEANS 66

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Louisiana Festivals

SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE • CROSSROADS • CAJUN COUNTRY • PLANTATION COUNTRY • GREATER NEW ORLEANS

Calcasieu Cameron Parish Fair Sulphur // October 17-21

Greater Baton Rouge State Fair Baton Rouge // Oct 25 - Nov 8

Port Barre Cracklin Festival Port Barre // November 9-11

Washington Parish Free Fair Franklinton // October 17-20

State Fair of Louisiana Shreveport // October 25 - November 11

River Parishes Fall Festival Norco // November 9-11

Tour de Jefferson & LiveWell Fest 2018 Metairie // October 18th

South Louisiana Blackpot Festival Lafayette // October 26 – 27

Atchafalaya Basin Festival Henderson // November 10

International Rice Festival Crowley // October 18-21

French Food Festival Larose // October 26-28

Thibodauxville Fall Festival Thibodaux // November 11

Annual Fall Festival Corn & Corn Maze Elm Grove // October 19

Maringouin Fall Festival Maringouin // October 26-28

Falaya Fest Covington // November 17

Bayou Round Up Lafayette // October 19-20

Sabine Free State Festival Many // October 26-28

Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival New Orleans // November 17 – 18

50th International Acadian Festival Plaquemine // October 19-21

Holy Smoke BBQ Cook-Off & Praise Festival DeQuincy // October 27

Natchitoches Christmas Festival Natchitoches // November 17 - January 6

Harvest Festival New Roads // October 19-21 Oyster Festival Violet // October 19-21

21st Annual Bucktown Seafood Festival Metairie // November 2- 4 Louisiana Pecan Festival Colfax // November 2-4, 2018

St. John the Baptist Parish Andouille Festival LaPlace // October 19-21

Louisiana Swine Festival Basile // November 2-4

Louisiana Food & Music Festival Monroe // October 20

New Orleans Accordion Festival New Orleans // November 2-4

Hammond Northshore Regional Airshow Hammond // October 20-21

Giant Omelette Celebration Abbeville // November 3-4

Rougarou Fest Houma // October 20-21

Louisiana Renaissance Festival Hammond // November 3-4

Plaquemines Parish Orange Festival Fort Jackson, Buras // December 1-2 Lighting of the Village Opelousas // December 7 Cottonport Christmas on the Bayou Cottonport // December 7-9 Festival of the Bonfires Lutcher // December 14-16 NOLA ChristmasFest New Orleans // December 22- 31 Louisiana Fur & Wildlife Festival Cameron // January 11-12 MODERN GRACE

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Thrifty Christmas Gift Idea! U

sing Rust-oleum Painters Touch 2x Heirloom white (or any color) spray paint and Rust-oleum Transformations Decorative Glaze we created these beautiful frames from an old set of we bought at a thrift store for four dollars. (Using these techniques you can apply it to limitless amount of home DIY projects). • Clean surface of frame. • Follow directions on can of spray paint. • After paint dries, apply glaze liberally, making sure to fill in all creases and cracks. • Wait a few minutes and take a cloth, wipe glaze off as much or as little as you want until you reach your desired effect. • It’s simple and can be used over most any color! MODERN GRACE

holiday dĂŠcor ideas Angel Watts /louisianafarmhouse

Decorating for the holidays helps us and our families get into the spirit of thankfulness and giving!

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Cool Bedding Plant Season is Here! Y

es, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cool bedding plant season again and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always nice to refresh the landscape with a little color. Local garden clubs are a good resource for finding wonderful plants and gardening techniques for our region. They can provide seasonal plants at a low cost and a host of information. Usually when people think of garden clubs they picture themselves forced to go to meetings, getting dirty as they plant and cultivate cuttings or clippings, however that is not the case. One of our local favorites, Central Bloomers ( /thecentralbloomersgardeningclub) post tidbits throughout the year to help you maintain a beautiful yard. They also host plant sales periodically which are good times to meet and ask questions. Most garden clubs are generous with sharing information and are great at suggesting the perfect plant or flower for you, whether you live in an urban area or rural setting. A few cool-season bedding plants to look for are delphiniums, dusty miller, forget-me-nots, foxglove, hibiscus, pansies, petunias, snapdragon, blue thunbergia, and violas. Look for a garden club near you!

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2018 OCT-DEC

Articles inside

Thrifty Christmas Gift Idea!

Tighten that Tummy

Fashion Forward