SUMMER 2019
PINK IS NOW... AND THEN
Multi-generational color
REFRESHING TREATS Lighten up and cool off
I’M
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FRENCH
My family’s a bunch of LIARS!
the white magnolia
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la to geaux
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CONTENTS
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FROM THE EDITOR have a fruitful summer
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CONTRIBUTORS the wonderful people who make it possible
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HAIR CARE REVIEW cruelty-free products
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TIME FOR A CHANGE weight loss makeover
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PINK IS NOW...AND THEN the multi-generational color
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HYDRATE HYDRATE make water your top priority
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FITNESS AND PREGNANCY baby-approved workout routine
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REFRESHING TREATS FOR SUMMER lighten up and cool off
COVER PHOTO: ALEXIS JESTER
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GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK it’s out of your control
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ONE DAY AT A TIME don’t give up
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FIREFLIES let your light shine
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SUMMERTIME MEMORIES the simple things matter most
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HAPPINESS IN HUMIDITY fun things to do this summer
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HEAT UP YOUR FINANCES living financially focused
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ARTIST HIGHLIGHT area talent spotlight
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PICTURE LOUISIANA wildlife refuge
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CONTENTS
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I’M 2% FRENCH my family’s a bunch of LIARS!
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ASK BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE digging up your family history
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LOUISIANA FESTIVALS where to find the fun
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TIMELESS SUMMER DÉCOR don’t underestimate the tried and true
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DESIGN IN BLACK IN WHITE fontenot farmhouse
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SEASONAL DÉCOR IDEAS the louisiana farmhouse
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GARDEN ART fill your yard with style
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F ROM TH E E DITOR
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henever summer comes to mind, I picture laughing with friends and family as we enjoy BBQs, weekend trips, and leisurely fun. I don’t think of the sticky heat, annoying bugs, or the mess left over after everyone goes home. Most people like me, try to remember the good, leaving the rest behind. Why would we want to remember heat, bugs, and garbage? Well, most of us don’t. However, I do want to remember why we tolerate those things… to spend time with loved ones, build relationships, and enjoy life. Unfortunately, life is not always made up of laughter and good stuff. It is a culmination of good and bad, with many seasons of change. In scrolling through social media, often you’ll see one friend who is happy because they got their dream job, while another is suffering because
they just lost theirs. Or a new baby being welcomed into a family in one friend’s post and the next post is sharing pain or paying homage to a loved one who passed away. It certainly reminds us all that life is precious and time together is short. Sad to say that social media, which is meant to bring people closer, often has the opposite effect in several ways. One, it makes the lonely feel that much more lonely. They see all the fun others are having (since we all know we like to post more positive than negative… I am guilty of it myself) which causes them to feel left out and abandoned. Two, when we do see others reach out, either in their suffering or loneliness, we are so calloused by the roller coaster of social media that we often overlook someone who truly needs a bit of acknowledgment.
I am the first to tell you I can easily get wrapped up in my busy schedule. I am a planner; if I weren’t, nothing would get done. So my days are typically planned out weeks, if not months, in advance. However, I have realized, it’s worth putting off work that I can do another time, to experience those precious moments with friends and family that I can’t always put off to another time. One of my favorite quotes is “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter” by E. E. Cummings. And while, I know reasonably we won’t laugh every day, some days we’ll cry all day, we certainly won’t always have good days, I’ll still try. Because I know we won’t always have our loved ones around us. Some will go before, some after. One thing life is, for certain, it is changing every day. In this issue we are rummaging through a timeline of color over the decades in a beautiful reminder that some things are timeless. We are highlighting a woman who made dramatic changes to live a healthier life, because life isn’t timeless. We are spotlighting some refreshing summer treats and relaxing activities, all in an attempt to bring some special elements to your lives and help you make new, joy-filled memories this summer. As you are experiencing your pleasurable summer, please remember the ones who are suffering and maybe ask them to join along. MAKE THE MOST OF EACH OPPORTUNITY, you never know when it might be your last. Sincerely,
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CONTRIBUTORS
N E L DA A R N O L D Food and Home Contributor
A LE XIS J ES TE R Assistant Creative Director Photographer
NICOLE BRICE Fashion and Lifestyle Contributor
TAY LOR VOISIN Art Director Culture Contributor
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SK YE DIX Teen 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
L AC I B R I C E Lifestyle Contributor
TY BRICE Teen Contributor
T.J. B R U N E R Health Contributor
T Y RO N E CA L L A H A N Lifestyle and Photo Contributor
J.C. C O K E R Lifestyle and Photo Contributor
B R IT TA N Y E DWA R D S Inspirational Contributor
A B BY E FA L K N E R Culture and Photo Contributor
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 and Home Contributor
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CONTRIBUTORS
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
T Y H OWA R D Beauty Contributor
E M M A JA M E S Issue Model
L A R RY J E S T E R Reluctant Contributor
DÉ JA J O N E S Fashion Contributor and Stylist
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
L AY D E N L E W I S Teen Contributor
C.J. M I R A N DA Lifestyle Contributor
K AY L A M O RG A N Vegan Food Contributor
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PE Y TO N N O R T H Issue Model
L AU R E N PA R ROT T Model
LO R A H P O RC H E Photo Contributor
JA E LY N PU R N E L L Issue Model
TI A R A PU R N E L L Financial Health Contributor
RO M A N Q U I N N Health Contributor
T R I S TA N R E I D Lifestyle Contributor
K A R E N K . S C OT T Inspirational Contributor
E LIZ A B E T H S E L L A RS Issue Model
L AY N E E S I M O N E O U X Teen Contributor
SARA SIMONEOUX Inspirational Contributor
C H R I S TI N A S T E WA R T Model
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CONTRIBUTORS
A L A N A VO O R H I E S Fashion Contributor
S AVA N N A H WA L L Issue Model
CAY D E N WA L L S Teen Contributor
S E LI N A WAT S O N Food Contributor
A N G E L WAT T S Home and DIY Contributor
Y V E T T E W H IT TI N GTO N Health and Food Contributor
TI F FA N Y W H E AT Photographer
K I RS T E N W I N B U S H Home Contributor
“Life is a journey, not a race. Absorb it.”
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B E AU T Y
FASHION HEALTH FOOD INSPIRE LIFESTYLE CULTURE HOME GARDEN
hair care review Alexis Jester
SEA SALT SPRAY I love sea salt spray! I love beach waves, I love a messy look, and I love texture! Some salt sprays can leave your hair feeling totally dry and brittle, but this one gave me gorgeous waves AND didn’t make my hair feel like it was going to fall apart. Yes, of course the texture of the salt is going to be a little rougher than what you’re used to, however it’s gentle and washes out easily and lasted through the Louisiana humidity ALL day!
BODY SPRAY A big recommendation for a one-step morning routine. This texture spray has a little more intense texture than the salt spray, but using it at the roots and crown really made a huge difference in the volume and body of my hair! I didn’t have to fix, style, or spray my hair with hairspray. Shake, spray, and be amazed!
SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER I recently added an intense red dye to the roots of my hair, and if you’ve ever dyed your hair red, you know how hard it is to keep up with! This winning combination kept my blonde ends and highlights poppin’ and helped prolong my red!
Shop these products at Industry Salon
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time for a CHANGE
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PHOTO: TIFFANY WHEAT
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e decided to partner with Industry Salon to do a makeover! Sharon Carroll Green, a native of Baton Rouge, who currently lives in Denham Springs with her nine-year-old son, Dylan, is our first recipient! After learning she had a heart condition, Sharon started her weight loss journey in 2016. She made decisions and life changes that have helped her lose, so far, a whopping one hundred and twenty pounds! Her story is inspirational in other ways that far outshine her weight loss though. At the age of thirty-nine she became pregnant, and learned early on in her pregnancy that her baby likely would be born with Down syndrome. Since then, she has become a regular face in several local organizations as well as The Down syndrome awareness group of Baton Rouge, the Special Olympics at Live Oak High School and Challengers Organization in Walker. If you are near her for long, you’ll hear her say things like, “I really didn’t understand love, true love, until I had Dylan. He loves people the way God intended. No barriers. No judgment.” She knew getting her health under control was important because Dylan needs her. While he may want to live as independently as he can when he’s older, he
will still have to have 24-hour caregivers. She knows the road may be long, but she is unafraid. Admittedly, her first child, Dalton, who she had at twenty-two, was such a blessing to raise that it sometimes made life with Dylan a bit tougher by comparison. She learned early on not to compare the two and gives the same advice to others. Each child is different. Her oldest son has since married and given Sharon a beautiful daughter-in-law, Megan, and two amazing grandchildren, Boogie and Charli Rae. When we asked her what she would say to anyone about having a child with Down syndrome, she replied, “Embrace it. Don’t let fear allow you to miss out on the blessings that come from seeing life through their eyes. It’s an amazing journey, though challenging at times... but so worth it. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world. Dylan is a God-send and truly saved my life.” For those of you who are lucky enough to cross her path, you’ll see that Sharon is just as beautiful inside, as she is outside. Sharon has learned to love without limits, something she shares with everyone. Special thanks to the amazing people at Industry Salon and Sally Beauty.
BEFORE WEIGHT LOSS
AFTER WEIGHT LOSS IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW DESERVES A MAKEOVER, PLEASE EMAIL STORY AND PICTURES TO MODERNGRACEMAG@GMAIL.COM. MODERN GRACE
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FA S H I O N
BEAUTY HEALTH FOOD INSPIRE LIFESTYLE CULTURE HOME GARDEN
Pink is Now...and Then
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omething unusual is happening in the world of color. I've heard it referenced a number of times, however recently the topic seems to be popping up everywhere. So, out of curiosity, I decided to research it and quickly found that no one can quite agree on what the color actually is. Pantone, being the leading authority on color trends for the past forty plus years, surely would have it, I thought. Shockingly, they didn't. So I went on a scavenger hunt through fashion trends, marketing data, graphic design experts, and popular social media icons, only to find Millennial Pink is not a definitive color at all. It’s more a range of colors. And not a clearly defined range, at that. It's an aesthetic made up of an eclectic multi-generational set of colors.
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PALE DOGWOOD
That in turn prompted me to question what generations of pink we are actually looking at. Pink has been elemental in fashion, but it wasn’t always a feminine color. It didn’t reach its height of feminization in until early fifties when Petal Pink kitchen appliances were introduced and became an instant hit. The popular expressive color targeted to women soon appeared in fashion such as the Strawberry Pink aka Coco Chanel Pink suit, which became a fashion statement for women who wanted to portray a strong image of sophistication, intelligence and independence. It rose to infamy when
DUSTY ROSE
POWDER PINK
STRAWBERRY PINK
ROSE QUARTZ
MELLOW ROSE
BALLET SLIPPER
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FLUORESCENT PINK
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (later to become known as Jackie O) wore it on the day her husband President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, November 21, 1963. Ironically, and totally off topic, many current feminists don’t want pink associated with feminism much anymore, even though the original Pink Coco Chanel suit was a declaration of the independent woman. As I reflected into the sixties and seventies, Hot Pink grew in popularity, until several shades, including Fluorescent Pink and Mauve, burst through in the eighties. The nineties brought Strawberry Pink and Dusty Rose back around again and introduced Mellow Rose and Pale
PINK CHAMPAGNE
DUSTY PINK
MAUVE
BLUSH
PINK LEMONADE
IMPATIENS PINK
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Dogwood. The early two thousands pushed another wave of pink shades by bringing the blushes from Pink Champagne and Ballet Slipper to… well, Blush. Then, in 2016 Pantone debuted the astonishing Rose Quartz as its color of the year and it was everywhere. Now, in 2019, we are watching changes in the way color progresses. Until now, popular colors have always been well defined. That says a lot about the generation that is driving Millennial Pink. They are a generation that refuses to be defined. It also says a lot about the way other generations are embracing it, because truly the “color” is a simple fusing of many decades. A sort of coming together. And
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also, a way of being free from constraint. Some say it’s Rose Quartz, with a twist. Some say it’s Pale Dogwood. One thing is for sure, in the almost “anything goes” trends culture this summer from romantic florals and pastels, Athleisure, patchwork, Tartan plaids, animal prints, Neo-Gothic, and bold shades ranging the color wheel, it's easy to still see Millennial Pink fits right in. While Pantone did announce their new Living Coral would be the “it” color this year, it’s telling that we are seeing the unpredictable “Millennial Pink” still trending right along with it. It’s everywhere. Undefined. Unrestrained. Out of the box. Millennial Pink is all of us.
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lane regional
lane regional
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H E A LT H
hydrate hydrate
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ummer is here and while we all know the importance of staying properly hydrated, it can be more easily said than done if we aren't in the habit of doing so or if we simply don't care for drinking water. I believe a remedy for not caring for drinking water hinges on a preference for more flavor in comparison to water, which can be boring to some people. Add something to lend more flavor to the water that you drink to help make it a little more fun. Popular examples include adding lemon, lime, and orange slices or cucumber and mint leaves. You can save time by adding them to a large pitcher of water in your refrigerator at home. If drinking water is something that you forget to do throughout your busy day, you might consider buying a reusable bottle that you like and keeping it within reach and in sight at all times. The goal is for your
BEAUTY FASHION FOOD INSPIRE LIFESTYLE CULTURE HOME GARDEN
T.J. Bruner
water bottle to be as much a part of your mental checklist as your phone and keys. In addition to this, many people find that having a glass of water shortly after waking up in the morning helps them to be more likely to drink water during the day. In closing, making proper hydration a daily habit is one of the simplest things we can do to improve all aspects of our health. For maintaining the youthful elasticity of our skin to lowering the chances of heart attacks, it’s actually pretty difficult to think of any part of our body that isn’t made better by drinking water. I hope that this helps you to do just that and I hope that you all have a hydrated summer!
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Fitness and Pregnancy Tabitha Berard
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hen I first found out that I was pregnant, one of my biggest concerns was that I wouldn’t be able to work out anymore. Once I saw the doctor, my fears were put to rest as my doctor assured me that I could still continue most of my regular workout routines with some modifications as my pregnancy progressed. I immediately started researching some of the best workouts for pregnancy and found quite a few that are said to help with labor. Pelvic floor strengthening exercises were found to be the most help for women in labor. Glute bridges help to strengthen the posterior chain (primarily glute and hamstring muscles). Sumo squats are more effective in later pregnancies because the wider stance allows for more balance as the baby grows. Some other effective exercises in helping with labor include lateral lunges, donkey kicks, and planks (reverse and side). Any of those exercises can be beneficial to anyone, not just women who are pregnant. DISCLAIMER: AS ALWAYS, RESEARCH AND CONSULT A PHYSICIAN BEFORE ATTEMPTING A CHANGE IN DIET OR EXERCISE ROUTINE
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Drink
—– F–— O–O D— —
BEAUTY FASHION HEALTH INSPIRE LIFESTYLE CULTURE HOME GARDEN
Refreshing Treats for Summer With the sweltering Louisiana heat already simmering this year we decided to stir up the food section with refreshing treats to lighten up and cool off your summer!
Rosebud White Tea • • • •
4 cups water 8 bags of white tea leaves Honey Small dried rosebuds (buy from any tea shop)
1. Bring water to a boil, remove from heat and steep tea bags in water for 8 minutes. 2. Remove tea bags and add honey to taste. 3. Add dried rosebuds, steep another 5 minutes. 4. Chill in refrigerator for an hour, serve over ice. 5. Rosebuds can be removed or left for aesthetics.
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Grape Blueberry Picnic Punch • • • • •
4 cups blueberry grape Juice 2 cups club soda Handful of blueberries Extra blueberries for garnish 1 tsp. sugar
1. Blend grape juice, club soda, and handful of blueberries together well. 2. Serve over ice and garnish with blueberries rolled in sugar.
Strawberry Thyme Limeade • • • • • •
1 quart strawberries, sliced 1 lemon, sliced 11/2 cups fresh lemon juice 5 cups water 1 cup sugar 8 thyme sprigs
1. Boil 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, and 6 thyme sprigs in medium saucepan until sugar is dissolved to create syrup. Chill in refrigerator for one hour. 2. In a pitcher add remaining water, lemon juice, sliced strawberries, and syrup. Mix well and serve over ice. 3. Garnish with lemon slices and thyme springs.
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Cucumber, Mint, and Rosemary Limeade • • • • • • •
1 large cucumber 2 sprigs of mint 2 sprigs of rosemary Juice of 2 limes 1/4 cup sugar 4 cups water Cucumber spears, mint leaves and lime wedges to garnish (optional)
1. Blend water, lime juice and sugar until mixed. 2. Add mint and rosemary sprigs and sliced cucumbers. 3. Serve immediately over ice and garnish with mint, a slice of cucumber and a lime wedge.
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Apple Pie Punch • • • • •
2 luscious red apples, sliced 1 quart apple cider 2 cups pear nectar 2 cups ginger ale Cinnamon sticks
1. Combine apple cider, pear nectar, ginger ale. 2. Stir well and add apple slices to pitcher. 3. Pour over ice and serve with a cinnamon stick.
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Creamy Root Beer Float • Root beer • Cream soda • Vanilla ice cream 1. Use three parts root beer to one part cream soda and fill glass ¾ full. 2. Add a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream. 3. Enjoy.
Sweet Melon Medley • • • •
1 cup cantaloupe slices 1 cup honeydew slices 4 cups water 3 cups white grape juice
1. In pitcher combine water, grape juice, cantaloupe and honeydew slices. (Can also include watermelon if preferred). 2. Place in refrigerator and chill for one hour. 3. Serve over ice.
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Orange Cherry Fizzle • • • •
2 cups soda water 2 cups orange Juice 1 Tbsp. cherry juice Frozen cherries and orange slices
1. Slice oranges and place in pitcher, add soda water and chill for an hour. 2. Add orange and cherry juice to pitcher,. 3. Place cherry at bottom of glass and add ice. 4. Pour drink mixture over ice. 5. Garnish with orange slice.
Tangy Mango Limeade • • • • •
3 mangoes ¾ cup lime juice ½ cup sugar or honey 4 cups of cold water 1 lime sliced
1. Cut mango into chunks. 2. Place the mango (set aside several slices for garnish) lime juice, sugar or honey, 2 cups of water into blender. 3. Blend until you have a smooth mix, strain (optional, if desired). 4. Pour in remaining water. 5. Serve over ice, garnish with slices of mango and lime.
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Lavender Lemonade • • • • • •
6 cups water ½ cup sugar ¼ cup agave nectar (or honey) 3 Tbsp. dried lavender 2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 lemon, sliced (for garnish)
1. Combine two cups of water and sugar saucepan over medium high heat, bring to a boil and whisk until dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in agave nectar and dried lavender. 2. Cover for about 15 minutes, allowing mixture to steep. Strain lavender, making sure to squeeze out all juices and syrup. 3. In a large pitcher, combine freshly squeezed lemon juice, lavender mixture and water. 4. Chill for at least 2 hours and serve over ice.
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Light and Fresh Blueberry Lemonade • • • •
5 cups water 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup lemon juice 1 cup blueberries
1. Boil 1 cup water and sugar, stirring until dissolved. Strain and chill. 2. In a large pitcher, whisk together blueberry syrup, lemon juice and remaining cups of water. 3. Serve over ice and add whole blueberries.
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Virgin Bloody Mary • • • • • •
Large bottle of V8® Original vegetable juice 3 Tbsp. lemon juice 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 splashes Tabasco 2 pinches of salt and ground black pepper Celery stalk, olives, cooked bacon slices, cocktail onions
1. Place V8®, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco in a pitcher then stir well. 2. Season to taste with salt and pepper and garnish with celery, olives, bacon, and cocktail onions. 3. Serve over ice.
Strawberry Lemon Spritzer • 12 large strawberries • 1 lemon, sliced • 1 liter lemon lime soda 1. Crush 8 of the strawberries and strain juice into pitcher. Slice the remaining 4 in half and set aside. 2. Add lemon lime soda to pitcher and mix well. 3. Serve over ice with strawberry half on top and garnish glass with lemon slice.
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Grapefruit Rosemary Refresher • • • • • •
1 cup sugar 1 cup water 3 sprigs rosemary 1 cup grapefruit juice Club soda or lemon lime soda Rosemary Sprig, for garnish
1. In a saucepan bring sugar, water, and rosemary to a boil. Cook for 4 minutes. Remove; set aside to cool for an hour. 2. Place 3 tablespoons of cooled mixture in a pitcher and add grapefruit juice and club soda. 3. Garnish with sprig of rosemary.
Southern Sweet Tea • 10 cups water • 12 Community brand tea bags • 11/3 cup white sugar 1. Boil 2 cups of water, remove from stove, add tea bags, cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes. 2. Pour into pitcher and stir in sugar until dissolved. 3. Add remaining water, chill and serve over ice.
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Watermelon Mint Spritzer • • • • •
8 watermelon slices ½ cup sugar 1 tsp. lemon juice 6-7 mint leaves 1 liter soda water
1. Crush 6 slices of watermelon (each should be about an inch thick) and pour to a pitcher. Cut the remaining 2 slices into quarters and set aside. 2. Slightly crush mint leaves to release juices and place in individual glasses. 3. Add lemon juice soda water and sugar into the pitcher and stir. 4. Serve over ice with watermelon slices as garnish.
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Southern Praline Iced Coffee • 4 cups coffee • 8 Tbsp. half and half • 8 Tbsp. praline sauce 1. Cool coffee; mix all ingredients into a pitcher. 2. Serve over ice. 3. Garnish with ice cream or whipped cream, and Praline sauce.
Praline Sauce (good on anything!) • • • • • •
1 cup brown sugar 4 Tbsp. butter 1/2 cup half and half 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans 11/4 tsp vanilla extract Pinch of salt
1. In medium saucepan, bring butter, sugar, and half and half to a boil over med-low heat, whisking or stirring constantly. 2. Boil until the sauce has thickened (approx. 3-4 minutes but can be as long as 5-7 minutes). It will coat spoon once it is thickened enough. 3. Drop the mixture to low and add in the salt, vanilla extract, and finely chopped pecans, cook for additional minute. 4. Remove from stove, allow to cool before storing.
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southern girl designs
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INSPIRE
BEAUTY FASHION HEALTH FOOD LIFESTYLE CULTURE HOME GARDEN
Give Yourself a Break O
ften we are running around trying to be super human, because we feel we need to. Tasks that are never-ending from running errands, cleaning and cooking to basic personal hygiene can take a toll on our bottom line: TIME. That’s not to mention work and taking care of the other humans and animals in our lives. With the responsibility of juggling everything it’s easy to fall into guilt when things slip through the cracks. However, life will go on. Mistakes happen. My kids are grown now, but when they were younger we were lucky sometimes if we made it home in time to eat the hamburgers we rushed through the drivethru to get, before we had to head back out the door for one practice or another. Here’s the good news: we all survived the mistakes. And I learned better time management in the process. I keep a schedule that is made weeks, if not months, out and it stays pretty packed. However, I know not
everything is going to go according to the plan. I learned that’s okay. First, I stopped beating myself up about the things I couldn’t control. Flat tire? Oh well, theatre practice will have to do without one of the kids tonight. I stopped getting frustrated with situations that were out of my control. Second, I learned to better control the things I could. Running late in the morning because that extra fifteen minutes of ironing was disturbing my flow, was an easy fix. I bought wrinkle spray and quickly found that a few spritz on my clothes and a few minutes in the dryer did wonders! Last, I learned to give myself a break. Not to beat myself up over all the mistakes, being late, missed family dinners, or forgotten field trips. Maintaining a balance mentally is far more important to you and your family than making it to every practice on time.
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one day at a time Sara Simoneaux
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y first child was born two days before Christmas in 2003. He weighed almost nine pounds, was beautiful, absolutely perfect and healthy. Our hearts burst with joy. The first time I heard the term “Oppositional Defiant Disorder” was sometime in 2009. Our son, after having trouble following rules and directions in both preschool and kindergarten was shuffled into the office of a highly respected child psychologist for an evaluation to determine what WE could do to foster success in our baby’s school experience. Questionnaires and interviews completed by us and teachers, as well as hours of conversations with our baby all resulted in the same diagnosis: Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). I remember sitting in the psychologist’s office the first time I heard that phrase and my responding “so you mean bad...he’s just bad?” After receiving this diagnosis from several prominent child psychiatrists and psychologists, we started reading countless books and implemented numerous “behavior modification” plans. We’ve brought our son to therapy and sought it for ourselves. We have followed every medical suggestion and old wives’ tale we’ve run across with limited success. We have spent years on school speed dials with countless conferences with school and school board officials. We have left
work when needed; we sought emergency services when we feared that things had escalated beyond our control. Our ODD child has been suspended more times than I can count and has been expelled twice. We’ve sought council from our pastor and prayers from our peers. We have tried and been unrelenting in our search for an answer. We did everything we could for years before even considering medication. At this point you may likely being saying some of the same things we heard often: “he needs his butt tore up” or “he wouldn’t get away with that at my house.” And seriously, God bless the people that make these comments. They’ve never had an ODD or equally difficult child. There is no disciplining into submission with an ODD child. Their brains work in quite the opposite way. They are so incredibly optimistic that even if they’ve been caught and punished 200 times, the 201st time will be their lucky number. They are also overly patient, beyond anything you can imagine. Our son has gone two years without video games only to get them back and immediately break rules he considered “stupid” (i.e. talking to strangers online) and eventually losing access to video games for good. We are now several years passed removing all gaming systems from our home and he is truly a different kid without them. But he still asks for them, because he doesn’t give up.
Our child, as with any child who has a disorder, has suffered. He has suffered when we’ve failed to find answers and provide solutions. He’s suffered at the hands of teachers and administrators that have dismissed him as trouble and moved on. He has suffered in ways we still don’t understand because we’ll never truly understand just how his brain works. He has also, thankfully, excelled under the guidance of teachers and administrators who have fought for him. He has blossomed because of their belief and encouragement when he felt like he was incapable of success. These same boundary-pushing characteristics are the reason we didn’t allow him to have a cell phone until high school. He had one for about three months before losing it because of his grades and behavior almost seven months ago. He waited us out all year believing we’d cave and ease the rules. As we approached summer, he spent the last few weeks buckling down and bringing his grades up for the final report card, since we still hadn’t caved. Here is the kicker, our son is brilliant. He’s had teachers over the years that have recognized this and squeezed it out of him. He’s also had teachers that sent him out of the classroom or punished him from reading because books were all they could find that he cared about. He’s so intelligent that in two weeks he’s brought four Fs up
to Bs and Cs. His test grades are mostly As, he just never turns anything else in. He’s as smart as he is academically lazy. Our son is finishing ninth grade and this is the first year since kindergarten that we haven’t been called to school for a conference over his behavior. For the most part he is “behaving” at school and we are still learning how to navigate high school with an ODD child. It’s difficult to keep our boundaries pulled so tight at an age where kids are naturally becoming more independent and starting to gain some freedom. We’ll never be able to loosen the reigns as much as others parents might. Our son requires intense structure to be successful. We are the parents that almost always say no. And over the years this has certainly affected his friendships because he’s spent so much time being grounded and not allowed to attend birthday parties, football games, or other social activities. But we’re talking about a kid that doesn’t connect consequences with actions and who has little to no impulse control. Dr. Mona Delahooke is a clinical psychologist that I have followed for a few years. Her views on Oppositional Defiant Disorder from a neuroscience perspective have helped me better understand the way my child’s brain works. In a 2017 blog post on her website, Dr. Delahooke wrote “Too often, we assume that what a child or teen needs is better behavioral management, more consistent parenting, or better
medication. But current neuroscience shows otherwise: the behaviors we label in ODD are likely ways of responding to stress. They indicate a pattern of underlying emotional dysregulation that regularly sends the child into a fight/flight response.” Our son has always had trouble regulating his emotions-he is either at 0 or 100, whether happy, sad, angry or excited. His reactions and responses to things are frequently disproportionate to what is going on. He has gotten better over the years at keeping this in check, but at times it still gets away from him. I spend a lot of time worrying about whether we’re doing too much or not enough. If we’re being too hard or too easy on him. If we’re helping or hurting. What I know is that he’ll be eighteen in three years, and all of our restrictions and boundaries will no longer carry the same weight. While we’ve seen so much improvement over this last year in terms of his behavior at school, he will always be a boundary pusher. Many doctors have assured us that this will serve him well as an adult-that one day he will be a leader. We hope and pray this turns out to be the case. We hope that one day he’ll find something that he’s so passionate and excited about, these oppositional characteristics will begin to serve and not hinder him. My prayer for him is always the same. Lord, calm his heart and mind.
**FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY AT: WWW.AACAP.ORG**
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Fireflies O
ne of my favorite memories as a child is being outside at night and seeing the fireflies light up! As an adult I can still remember catching fireflies on those hot Louisiana summer nights. My best friend and I would try to catch as many as we could with hopes of filling our pickle jar. It was always neat to catch them and peek through our fingers to see them lighting up in our hands. Even now when I see them it brings me back to a place of joy. Catching fireflies is one of the many things I loved about living in the country! While a firefly’s fire gives light to see, it also draws other fireflies closer to them. In the same way, God has given each of us a light. It isn’t something we possess on our own, but given to us by the Holy Spirit to be a “light of the world.” It is that light that will draw people closer to us, but more importantly draw people closer to Christ! So, how do we go about being a light to the world? As our walk with Christ grows, we begin to produce the fruit of the spirit. Those fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As we become more like Christ our lives become a reflection of who He is and in turn draws people closer to Him.
Kristi Williams Fontenot
Scripture tells us that the world will know we are His by our fruit! You see, being a light doesn’t require much work. It simply requires a love for the One who gives us the light. Just like a firefly gives light to things around it, so will our light give light to those around us. Did you know that a jar full of fireflies can put off enough light that you would be able to read in the dark? It’s truly amazing that those little insects produce something so powerful! In the same way God has given us something so powerful! Can you just imagine what a difference we can make when we all use the gifts God has given us be a light to a dark world! Ask God to show you what your gifts are (we all possess them) and how He wants you to use them! James 1:5 tells us that if we ask for wisdom, God will give it generously! If we allow it, the light within us will shine so bright it cannot help but point others towards God! “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
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lorah porche
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LIFESTYLE
BEAUTY FASHION HEALTH FOOD
INSPIRE CULTURE HOME GARDEN
summertime memories
THANKS TO THE FEHR FAMILY FOR THE HANGOUT PHOTOS
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uring the summer, it’s normal to scroll through hundreds of vacation posts on social media, watching as families go off on the planned escapes out of state. We end up spending lots of time and money creating the best experience possible for each member of the family. I’m sure we all have our own memories of our favorite family getaway that pop up every now and then: camping trips to Arkansas, treks through Disney World, or the rush at looking over Niagara Falls for the first time. However, when we think of our greatest summertime memories, they are often the relaxing times we spent hanging out with friends. Whether we were in somebody’s backyard or a neighborhood creek, it was the casual time with friends that form our most nostalgic flashbacks. I grew up on
hearing my mom’s stories about spending warm, lazy days on Lake St. John with her friends; my dad reminiscing often about summers that were filled with repairing cars and solving the world’s problems with his best friends, and cousins, in their backyards. Some of the best summertime movies are about friends experiencing life together. Figuring it all out and even getting through difficulties, together. Those movies remind us of our own time spent creating a bond with people who were all going through some of the same issues we were. Those moments locked in our memories helped us to learn to socialize better and also to see the world through different perspectives. Even the flashbacks of casual summer weekend trips to the beach or lake retreat
where we could bring our friends along count. It’s all wistful and carefree. Some of the best summer memories I have are of spending time with friends at our house or weekend trips that mom and dad took us on. All for the purpose of doing nothing extremely timely or important, except building some of the memories I will treasure forever, just like Mom and Dad’s treasured memories they shared so often. In the summer frenzy to spend time as a family and decompress, don’t forget that simple things can make for some of the best times. Building a special backyard hangout together for the neighborhood kids or taking a quick weekend trip to that special state park lake retreat or a nearby beach (and letting their friends tag along) are building memories that will be treasured for life. MODERN GRACE
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Happiness in Humidity L
ouisiana offers an array of picturesque choices for outdoor summer fun! From lying out on warm, sandy beaches to relaxing the day away on calm, lazy rivers, our state gives choices that can check off your entire summer bucket list!! Fontainebleau State Park located on Lake Pontchartrain in Mandeville is a favorite retreat that houses two thousand eight hundred acres of breathtaking scenery. Feel free to rent a cabin in the woods, go canoeing, hiking, or simply relish the sunset on the breathtaking beach! Not far from Fontainebleau you can find FairviewRiverside State Park filled with fishing piers and a boat launch, where it’s easy to enjoy the tranquility of the Tchefuncte River or Lake Pontchartrain’s exciting span, which gives the choice of freshwater 50
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or saltwater fishing. The park also offers quiet campgrounds and swamp trails. Check out one of the twenty-one Louisiana State Parks (pg 54) and find the perfect fit! Louisiana fascinates throughout the summer with its waterfalls. Clark Creek Natural Area, Kisatchie Falls, Little Bayou Pierre Cascade, Odum Falls, Rock Falls, St. Mary’s Falls, Tunica Hills, and Woodriff Falls all boast spectacular scenery and range in difficulty to get to for all fitness levels. Of course Louisiana is also home to a range of swamp tours as well as historical preservation tours. No matter where you spend your time, whether you are at a pool with friends, playing sand volleyball, or floating down a river, we hope you all enjoy your summer time with friends and family.
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SPECIAL THANKS TO BEACH BUMS SPORTS COMPLEX MODERN GRACE
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Louisiana State Parks Bayou Segnette, Jefferson Parish Bogue Chitto, Washington Parish Chemin-A-Haut, Morehouse Parish Chicot, Evangeline Parish Cypremort Point, St. Mary Parish Fairview-Riverside, St. Tammany Parish Fontainebleau, St. Tammany Parish Grand Isle, Jefferson Parish Jimmie Davis, Jackson Parish Lake Bistineau, Webster Parish Lake Bruin, Tensas Parish Lake Claiborne, Claiborne Parish Lake D'Arbonne, Union Parish Lake Fausse Pointe, Iberia and St. Martin parishes North Toledo Bend, Sabine Parish Palmetto Island, Vermilion Parish Poverty Point Reservoir, Richland Parish St. Bernard, St. Bernard Parish Sam Houston Jones, Calcasieu Parish South Toledo Bend, Vernon Parish Tickfaw, Livingston Parish
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heat up your finances Tiara Purnell
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o you naturally connect summer to exciting festivals, distant travels, and deliciously smoking barbeque pits? We all do! Wouldn’t you also love to connect summer to savings, instead of associating it with breaking the bank? I would like to share with you how you can “Heat” up your finances this summer. 1. Revisit your Budget. Remember, you should write down and make a plan. If you haven’t done that first step, then you are still spinning your wheels. Hopefully, you started the year off right by creating a budget. Did you hit your quarterly financial goals? If yes, excellent, you are a financial trailblazer. Your finances are “heating up” in all the right directions. It is so rewarding when you can say I’m checking all of my financial boxes this year. If no, make the necessary adjustments. Get on your grind by sacrificing the smaller of life’s many pleasures and let it pays off by the beginning of fall. Revisiting your goals will keep you on track in staying financially focused.
2. Get Paid while You Lounge. Lounging around may be what most of us do best. Sipping on a flavored latte on Magazine Street and enjoying all things “Vintage” as I soak up Louisiana heat, describes a perfect summer to me. However, while doing so, my investment account is growing. Investments I made during the spring will begin to reap an excellent reward by the end of the summer. If you don’t have an investment account yet, start one today. It is easier than you think. Investment apps can walk you through the process and typically have low fees. Some of the best investing apps (just to name a few) are Stash, Acorn and the Vault. Remember, you could be getting paid while you lounge this summer. 3. Travel on a Dime. Travel “the four corners of the earth” on a dime. There are so many ways to travel for free or little-to-nothing. My favorite way to travel for less is with my travel miles. Using travel miles to travel is
so versatile. You can use travel miles to book a flight, pay for your hotel, and get a rental car for the weekend at no cost to you. I will be soaking up DC vibes and Florida’s beaches for absolutely free. If you are the spontaneous person and have a few dollars tucked away for that lastminute trip, you can find extremely affordable tickets. Airlines such as Spirit and Frontier, especially if you are willing to book a flight within a day or so of leaving, offer cool roundtrip destination flights for around $50. Or for the planner, find a nearby beach or lake that you can drive to, save yourself expensive travel, tourist pricing, and have fun all while building your investments. Inspire yourself for financial success. Your summer will be mixed with “Funds” and “Fun” as it should. We do not have to lose it all as we build wealth. By revisiting your budget, getting paid while you lounge, and traveling on a dime you are exercising excellent ways to “Heat” up your finances this summer. Living Financially Focused MODERN GRACE
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Artist Highlight Alexis Jester
Alexis & the Samurai The duo of Alexis Marceaux and Sam Craft initially teamed up for Alexis’ second solo album, Orange Moon. After the project, the two figured out ways to make big live arrangements with just the two of them and began writing songs as a team. On any given song, you may find Craft playing a violin with one hand, a piano with the other, and drums with his feet, all the while Marceaux plays guitar, drums and both of them sing. Since teaming up, Alexis & the Samurai have been featured on HBO’s Tremé, NBC’s The Voice, and CSI New Orleans. Additionally, they have been nominated for Best Rock Band in New Orleans by Offbeat Magazine and have been nominated individually for Best Female Vocalist (Marceaux) and Best Violin/ Fiddle (Craft) by the magazine as well. At the moment, Marceaux and Craft are hard at work recording their major label debut on Verve Records for their other musical project, Sweet Crude. That said, you can still find Alexis & the Samurai gigging around New Orleans several times a month.
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McKenzie Knapps After winning VH1’s “I Know My Kid’s a Star” in 2009, McKenzie, who could’ve followed that path to Hollywood, decided to move back to her home town in Louisiana. During this time, she began to cultivate her songwriting abilities and develop focus on her growth as a singer. Currently in Nashville pursuing music full-time, the 21-year-old singer has recently found herself in an evolution because her music tended to crossover from Country to Pop. Her versatile range and soulful timbre reflects musical influences such as Macklemore, Maggie Rose, and Elvis Presley. With the production of her first pop EP “Transition,” and having assembled a phenomenal group, McKenzie emphasizes the importance of teamwork. Pulling from her personal experience of moving from a small town to a big city, “Transition” focuses on the challenges that came along with that life-changing move. Even more, this five-song EP also addresses relatable topics such as friendships, romance, temptation, and selflove. Her first single “Friends w/ Money” is expected to be released in August followed by the EP later this fall.
Megan Diana Born in South Korea, Megan spent time all over the world as a child while her dad served in the Army. She lived in Italy for four years before moving to Portland, Oregon and attributes those moves in why traveling throughout the states for her music comes naturally. Since coming to NOLA, she feels it is a city that she will always come back to. It’s a fertile ground of grit and joy, music and unlikely connections, friends-old-and-new - but most of all she knows it’s a place that can accept people as they are and create an incredible awakening of change. “NOLA brings out a side of me that doesn’t exist in other spaces, I feel like people have open minds, ears and hearts here. They listen and appreciate music in a way I haven’t felt elsewhere. They wanna see you make it in front of them. Not a record or a download. Live in person, filled with your soul, your stories, your musical pictures and share it with them.”
MeloMania What started out as a local college band in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has now developed to be an international sensation. Very rarely does music touch your soul at first listen, but MeloMania’s music cannot be denied. MeloMania in its literal definition means “to be obsessed with music,” and this duo embodies exactly that. Each born from a region known to produce talented musical artists, the band’s sound brings together a unique blend of musical styles; redefining rock & soul on the popular music scene. Jordan Michael, New Orleans native and lead singer of the band, is the heart and “soul” of this group. His amazing vocals and powerful lyrics, sang over the musically superior guitar play of Jacob Cobb creates a powerful and dynamic sound. The obsession with MeloMania’s music will continue to spread throughout the hearts of millions.
LYON Band Creative freedom and the joy of motion are the driving forces behind the six-piece genre-dancing band LYON. Standing for Love Your Own Noise, LYON personifies this affirmation by creating colorful musical journey for their audience. The group was formed in 2018 by guitarist T.J. Nathan and songwriters/ music artist Akeem and Hifey Gallivant. The two also hold it down on keyboard and bass, respectively. Woodwind expert and keyboardist Connor Bigelow was also a key ingredient to the formation of the group. Vocalist Kamara Landry and drummer Jamiles Lartey were added later to round out the group’s sound. LYON Band is influenced by neo-soul acts such as D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, jazz fusion greats such as Robert Glasper and Butcher Brown to hometown heroes Ledisi and Tank and the Bangas. You can catch LYON playing as a group or separately in other projects around the city of New Orleans. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A FUTURE ARTIST HIGHLIGHT PAGE PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION TO: MODERNGRACEMAG@GMAIL.COM. SUBMISSIONS ARE NOT GUARANTEED PLACEMENT.
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Abbye Falkner /abbyefalkner
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C U LT U R E
i’m 2% french
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BEAUTY FASHION HEALTH FOOD INSPIRE LIFESTYLE HOME GARDEN
Mom
Pop Pop
Grandma
Dad
Paw Paw
Maw Maw
Taylor Voisin
ll my life, I thought I knew what I was. My dad and his family are Cajun French. They lived “on the bayou” for many years, though they descended from France. My mom is half Mexican and half Polish. Her father’s family immigrated to New York from Poland before settling in Pennsylvania for several years. Her mother was from Mexico. Life brought her parents together in New Jersey, and then work brought them to Louisiana. Even though I knew my family’s story, I just wanted reassurance. I purchased a DNA kit from Ancestry to give myself peace of mind. Waiting for the results was the longest three weeks I’d ever experienced. I checked my email daily. While I’ve never actually had a discussion with any of my grandparents about where they were from, I still remember hearing pieces of our history. Here’s what I thought I knew: my surname, Voisin, is French. Voisin is the French
word for “neighbor.” My Cajun family says “VO-zan.” In France, it’s pronounced “VWEH-zuhn,” but with that slightly silent “n.” Y’all know what I’m talking about. My paternal grandparents claimed to be Cajun French. I knew they were. My maternal grandmother’s name was Irene Tisnado Romero—she was Mexican. My maternal grandfather’s name was Zigmont Andrew Molesky (Chmielewski before immigrating). I knew he was Polish. I had no reason to doubt anything I’ve been told. It all made sense. Well, my email had finally come. On December 10, 2018, I saw “Your AncestryDNA results are in!” sitting in my inbox. I was excited that the wait was over, and I could finally solidify my family’s origins—with the DNA results to back it all up. I can’t begin to explain the look on my face and the feeling in my stomach when I saw “58% Germanic Europe” staring at me. I wasn’t one-fourth Polish. I wasn’t one-fourth Mexican. I was barely French at all! I knew I would have a few smaller percentages of other ethnicities mixed in, but I certainly did not expect my results
to show that I was over half German. Did Ancestry lose my DNA sample? Was my father really my father? How could this happen? Cue the identity crisis. Here’s my full breakdown: • 58% Germanic Europe • 14% Eastern Europe and Russia • 12% Native American • 10% Baltic States • 3% Ireland and Scotland • 2% France • 1% Sardinia After the shock wore off, I became intensely interested in what my real lineage was. I wanted to know: who was German? Who was Russian? Who was Lithuanian? How was my maternal grandmother anything but Mexican when she’s from Mexico, with Mexican parents? I needed to figure out who was what and what percentage. All of these questions led to me creating an ancestry tree, with 352 members and counting, on a search for my distant relatives and their true origins. I shared the results with one of my older sisters and asked if she’d ever tested her DNA, so she bought a kit too. I’ve spent many hours late at night researching and gathering documents, and trying to put the pieces together. Have I jumped down a rabbit hole? I’m super interested in everything I’m finding, but I am still searching. I haven’t been able to pinpoint where the German came from, on either side. Basically the point of this all is… I want to encourage everyone to talk to your grandparents while you still can. Ask about your lineage. Dig up old documents. Learn about yourself. You may not find what you’re looking for, but that’s okay. The journey and discovery are worth it. MODERN GRACE
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Ask Before It’s Too Late Nelda Arnold
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any people these days have become interested in delving into their ancestry. In my opinion, the most valuable first step for anyone who believes that they may one day be interested in beginning their ancestry journey is basically asking questions, listening and learning from older family members. Having appreciated this hobby for several years and having discussed my shared passion with other avid researchers, the statement I hear most often is “I only wish I had asked more questions of my father…my mother…my grandmother… my grandfather” while they were still living. Now they are gone and it is too late.” This is the same observation that I, myself, have made many times. My father could have shared a wealth of information with me before he passed away in 1996, and he would have relished doing so. He was known as the “storyteller” of his family and he had so many funny stories. Although I remember some of his “tales,” there are others that I have forgotten parts of. Many years ago, while attending the funeral of one of my father’s eight brothers, a cousin mentioned that she would love to one day place a tape-recorder in the room as the remaining brothers were rehashing some of their old stories of days-gone-by. That was a great idea but regretfully, we did not follow through with the plan. My advice for future amateur genealogists is to listen and to jot down or somehow record the older folks’ memories. Do not just rely on your own memory, but do record them. They are priceless... you can not buy those precious memories on any computer program. Ancestry.com and the other wonderful programs deal with facts and figures but do not often provide the treasured anecdotes about our forebears. Several years into my exploration, I began to wish that I knew more about the actual personalities of my ancestors. My paternal grandmother had passed away
when I was only six, therefore I had very few memories of her. My cousin, Betty, however, had grown up near my grandmother. Since Betty was several years older than I and lived in North Louisiana while I lived in the southern part, we were barely acquainted. After my initial contact with her, we began a friendship that lasted the rest of Betty’s life. She sent me emails in which she shared her sweet and often humorous memories of our grandmother and our eight uncles and one aunt. Also, at that time our one surviving aunt, in spite of having suffered a debilitating stroke, sent a reply to my letter that I had sent to her home in Albuquerque, requesting her recollections of her mother and brothers. Equipped with that delightful information that I had garnered from the two wonderful ladies, as well as my own memories; I added a chapter to my autobiography that I had been writing for my children and grandchildren. In the chapter I quoted from my elderly aunt’s letter and my cousin’s emails. Later, I took vignettes from the chapter and uploaded into each deceased relative’s “gallery” in my family tree so that the information can be shared with other “kith and kin” for generations to come. They have been copied numerous times to other family trees on ancestry. com. It gives me so much gratification that these glimpses into the personalities of my ancestors will be carried on—all because of the cherished memories that I was able to glean from two elderly relatives while they were still with us. When I have my next opportunity to share about ancestry research, I will tell about the next two most valuable tools available for researching one’s roots. In the meantime, if you are interested in starting your ancestry journey, there are several helpful online databases available for these pursuits, including ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com and others. Ancestry.com is a bit pricey, but MyHeritage.com can be used at no cost.
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Louisiana Festivals
SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE • CROSSROADS • CAJUN COUNTRY • PLANTATION COUNTRY • GREATER NEW ORLEANS
For information on festivals and fairs in Louisiana, explore these websites: shreveport-bossier.org/event-overview natchitoches.com/annual-events-festivals lafayettetravel.com/events/festivals visitbatonrouge.com/events neworleans.com/things-to-do/festivals louisiana-destinations.com/louisianafestivals-events-2019 louisianatravel.com
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HOME
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Timeless Summer Decor A
lthough not everyone loves checks, the pattern never goes out of style. The colors may change over the years, but some solid staples are always going to be black and white, and red and white. If you are thinking checks are an outdated “country” pattern and have already decided you will never attempt to use them, you could be missing out on your best décor idea yet. You can dress up checks or dress them down depending on the occasion and color. Adding fruit or decorative glass items to checks can often set a totally different mood. You can go chic or Victorian! Check out The Fontenot Farmhouse and The Louisiana Farmhouse on the following pages to get some ideas for trendy uses of checks in your everyday décor.
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design in black and white Kristi Williams Fontenot /fontenotfarmhouse
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seasonal dĂŠcor ideas Angel Watts /louisianafarmhouse
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GARDEN
BEAUTY FASHION HEALTH FOOD INSPIRE LIFESTYLE CULTURE HOME/DIY
Garden Art
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n interesting idea for your garden or bedding areas this summer is to place garden art in your landscape. It not only offers an exquisitely visual addition to your plants and flowers; it also provides a resting perch for dragonflies, butterflies, birds, and other small yard creatures. Boutique gift shops such as Southern Girl Designs (ad page 41) or larger retail outlets like Kirkland’s carry a wide variety of lawn art to dress up your scenery and make it a charming place for nature to coexist! Find the perfect little piece of art that expresses your personality this summer!
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You are
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alone. On average, one person dies by suicide every 13 hours in Louisiana. In the United States average of 123 suicides per day. Average of 44,965 suicides a year. Only 1 in every 25 attempts, Which means that in America alone, 1,124,125 people attempt to commit suicide each year. Globally, 800,000 suicides every year, one every 40 seconds. Thought to be only 1 in every 20 attempts, Which means around the world 16,000,000 people attempt to commit suicide each year.
CALL THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE: 800-273-TALK (8255) OR VISIT ONLINE: WWW.SUICIDEPREVENTIONLIFELINE.ORG info: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, World Health Organization 76
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