Coping with the
HOLIDAYS
Gifts from
THE HEART
Lady Hawks
Repeat Champs
DECEMBER 2017
Tino and Jasmin Patel
Think Of
Castle
Hills As Their Extended Family
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December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 3
4 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS
| December 2017
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 5
So Much
CastleHillsMagazine.com
Wasted Time
Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray
Administration
Managing Editor Jana Melton Sub-Editors Bobbi Byrne Savannah Halfmann
Staff Writer
Susan Neuhalfen
Contributor Steve Gamel
Advertising Manager
Mendy Lea 214.228.5052 mendy@murray-media.com
Production
Art Director Liz Wallace Graphic Designers Stephanie Hansen Caroline Brock
Photography
Your Candid Memories 469. 583.2819 yourcandidmemories.com
Letters
Life in Castle Hills invites reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments.
Email artwork@murray-media.com. All submissions become the sole property of
Murray Media Group. Editorial and Advertising Inquiries Call 972.899.3637
or email artwork@murray-media.com www.Murray-Media.com
Address: 1011 Surrey Lane Building 100, Ste. 101
Flower Mound, TX 75022 Life in Castle Hills is published monthly by Murray Media Group. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Life in Castle Hills is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and its agencies assume all liability for advertising content. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the permission in writing from the publisher. © 2017 Murray Media Group
I
know. You’re expecting me to give you all kinds of gooey language about how the holidays are all about giving and
you should go volunteer your time here and give money there, etc.
That’s all fine and well, but I actually have a different message for you:
If you’re going to give yourself or someone you love a present, give them the gift of time. Tell your spouse to take the day to him or herself and you’ll take the kids. Then you take some time to yourself. Take some time together without kids. Take your elderly parent to
Unplug, unwind and give the gift of time.
lunch. Take your time.
We spend so much of our time in a
We take time every night to recharge our
whirlwind of activity, that when we do
have time off, we usually spend it figuring out which room in the house we’re going to clean or what project we’re going to tackle…because we have time.
to recharge ourselves. You’d be amazed how much of a better parent, spouse and co-worker you would be if you’d take the time to charge your own batteries.
I don’t know about you, but my best
holiday memories didn’t have anything to do with presents. They had to do
Stop feeling like you have to keep people entertained this holiday season. Our best memories are not organized field trips.
with time. Spending time with my
relatives when they came over for dinner. Spending an evening playing games
with my siblings. Spending the afternoon sliding down a snowy hill with my friends with nothing but a garbage bag.
electronics, but we don’t take the time
I’m told that David Cassidy’s last words were “…so much wasted time.” Don’t let them be yours. Take your time and enjoy the holidays.
Sincerely, Susan Neuhalfen
Writer and Editor for Life in Castle Hills, Argyle Living, Lantana Living, Lake Cities Living Susan@murray-media.com 972.899.3637 Ex. 101
Table of
Contents
16
On the Cover: Castle Hills for Kid’s Only
Featured: Tino and Jasmin Patel Think Of Castle Hills As Their Extended Family
Yourself
19 Hebron & The Colony Football
10 Nutrition with Savory Bistro
20 Lady Hawks: Repeat Champions
12 Edit This with Steve Gamel
Family 14 Inside Community
08 Editor’s pick: Coping with the Holidays
22 Child Development with Easterseals
Lifestyle 24 TCHS Culinary Arts 26 Gifts from the Heart
15 Inside Education
28 Gardening with Complete Solutions
18 Counseling with Lifeworks
30 Makeover with Cloud 9 Salon
Tips for Sentimental Gifts on page
26
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 7
Coping
Yourself
Holidays with the
by Susan Neuhalfen Wayne Cagle, MEd, LPC-S Owner/Lifeworks
‘
T
is the season for present-giving, New Year’s resolutions, eating, parties and, of course, family. What should be one big happy couple of weeks can become very stressful. Life in Castle Hills sat down with Wayne Cagle, a licensed professional counselor-supervisor at Lifeworks in Carrollton and soon to be in the Village Shops in Castle Hills.
Mr. Cagle listed some of biggest
we do. Before you find yourself in this
contributing factors to holiday stress,
situation, take a good look at your
but instead of just discussing the
lifestyle. If this happened, how long
problems that arise, he gave solutions
could you survive? Try to take yourself
as to how to deal with these issues: Loss of work Many people lose their jobs just before the holidays and there isn’t a lot of hiring going on during the holiday season. All hiring decisions are on hold, budgets need to be approved and there are hiring freezes in most companies. This causes an extra amount of stress for people during a time where more money is spent than usual. Solution:
out of debt and, if possible, put some money into an “untouchable” savings account now. If you have lost your job, see where you can cut back. Take some time and make a list of all of your expenses monthly, weekly, annually, etc. What can you do without? How much do you spend eating out? How much are spending on your hair or clothing? Finally, find out if there is a way to “pass” on some of the Christmas presents this year. In some families, the adults don’t exchange presents.
We don’t have control over losing a
See if that is acceptable within
job, we only have control over what
your family.
Loss of Relationships Whether it be divorce, death, or
simply the loss of a relationship,
during the holidays people realize
that something is missing. With the
loss, traditions change and change is
always hard. The thing is, grief doesn’t actually go away, it just changes.
Some may not even go into the grief consciously, it’s the holidays that remind them subconsciously. Solution: The good news is that with the
passage of time, things get better every year. Instead of turning that moment into grief, celebrate the
person you’ve lost. Remember the
good times and start a new tradition in order to remember the best in
that person. This will help everyone to cope.
Family Stress
the latest and greatest toy doesn’t mean
Having to be with family tends to be a
really big stressor for many. One may have to have Christmas dinner at her husband’s house but she hates her sister-in-law, etc. How do you cope with family stress? Solution: Remind yourself that you’re not going
to see the family, you’re going to spend
time with your husband and it’s important to him. Now, pull back and think about whom else will be there. Do you hate all of them? Chances are, you don’t.
Reframe your perception of the idea or activity; stop focusing on the negative
(i.e. your sister-in-law). The stress will not
be eliminated but by not focusing on the negative, you will lessen the stress and make the activity easier. Many times, the things we dread the most
that you have to spend oodles of money on the same thing in order to keep up with the Joneses. Also, if the tree isn’t
perfectly trimmed and the cookies aren’t perfectly baked it isn’t the end of the world. This isn’t a competition. Solution: We have created an entire culture around the business of the holidays and, in many
cases, lost sight of what is important. Think back to your favorite holidays. Were they great because of a gift? Were they great
because the turkey was perfectly cooked? The best gifts are memories. Put down your phone, turn off the TV and spend time with your kids and family. Play
board games, card games, and other activities that involve interaction. That is what your family will
remember; not your perfectly
aren’t anywhere near as bad as we think they will be.
Striving for Perfection
The perception
that you’re a bad person if your
decorated home.
The thing is, grief doesn’t actually go away, it just changes.
The most important
thing to remember, according to Mr.
Cagle, is to focus
on the positive.
Your expectation
automatically assumes
children’s Christmas
isn’t perfect is hogwash.
Do you honestly think your
parents didn’t make a few mistakes? Just
because Bobby’s parents are getting him
reality. Stress cannot
be completely eliminated.
You have to have stress in your
life; the trick is to manage it so it doesn’t manage you.
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 9
Yourself | Nutrition
Soups Save the Season Dear Annette:
Winter months are so hectic with holiday events and parties for my family. Is there an easy way to get through the season of winter and try to keep our immune systems from running down leaving us vulnerable to colds and flus?
Dear Reader:
It is true that when we get tired from a busy schedule our immune systems often pays the price. I have a little trick that works so well and has not failed me for years: EAT SOUP. Broths with ginger, garlic and herbs all are immune boosters. The best thing to do to boost your immune system during cold and flu season is to get more vegetables into your diet. The phytonutrients that keep the cold away are all in our vegetables. Making your own soup from a bone broth is always the best. Make big batches and freeze servings to have on hand for nights you do not want to cook. I am including one of my favorite easy soup recipes for you to try.
Robust Chicken Soup MAKES 6 SERVINGS • PREP TIME: 20 minutes • COOK TIME: 25 minutes
I’m not sure what I should call this dish. It’s
3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh sage, or 1/4 teaspoon dried
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1/4 teaspoon dried
more than a soup, but not quite a stew.
6 cups Old-Fashioned Chicken
but just wait till “stoup” makes its way into
bought organic stock
Maybe it’s a stoup (you’re laughing now, the Oxford English Dictionary). Well, no matter what you call it, I think you’ll find
yourself singing its praises often, as this is really a hearty, yummy recipe.
2 cups cooked cannellini beans, or 1 (15-ounce) can, rinsed
Freshly squeezed lemon juice Sea salt 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 yellow onion, finely diced 2 fennel bulbs, finely diced 2 large carrots, peeled and finely diced 4 stalks celery, finely chopped
2 cups sliced cooked organic chicken 1 teaspoon lemon zest 2 cups arugula leaves 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
| December 2017
reduced by half. Add the remaining 5
1/2 cups of stock, the beans, bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower the
heat and simmer until the vegetables are
tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the cooked chicken, zest, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, arugula, parsley, basil, and another 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and serve right away.
Variation: Spinach or kale cut into bite-size pieces can be substituted for the arugula.
If using raw chicken (pieces), add with the beans and vegetables and simmer until
2 tablespoons finely chopped basil
cooked through.
In a bowl, stir together the beans with a
Reprinted with permission from The
Set aside. Heat the olive oil in a soup pot
2015 by Rebecca Katz with Mat Edelson,
fennel, carrots, celery, and 1/4 teaspoon
Publishing Group, Berkeley, CA.
spritz of lemon juice and a pinch of salt.
Healthy Mind Cookbook Copyright ©
over medium heat, then add the onion,
Ten Speed Press, a division of the Crown
of salt, and sauté until golden, about
15 minutes. Stir in the garlic, sage, and thyme and cook for another minute.
Pour in 1/2 cup of the stock to deglaze
the pot, stirring to loosen any bits stuck
2 cloves garlic, minced 10 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS
Stock or Magic Mineral Broth , or store-
to the pot, and cook until the liquid is
Sincerely, Annette Doody Savory Bistro Owner & Wellness Coach
www.thesavoryteam.com
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 11
Yourself | Edit This
I
f you’ve been thinking about starting a blog for your business, or perhaps you’re already writing and either ran out of ideas or time to put it to good use, give Edit This® a call.
Edit This is a one-stop shop for all your writing and editing needs – including blogging! I have the experience needed to team up with my clients and create a consistent blogging strategy that builds relationships and drives results.
My list of blog services include: • Editing copy you have written • Writing copy from scratch • Interviews/research for your blog topics • Consulting on best practices (SEO,
frequency of posts, sharing on social media, etc.)
clients on the differences between a roofer and a general contractor).
Having a blog that’s updated consistently with searchable, sharable, and value-
added content has unlimited benefits.
A few benefits include setting you up as
the authority as you connect with clients,
increase your website traffic, and convert visitors into customers.
• And more, including fast turnaround times
Blogs give your business an authentic
voice. In this day and age, that is more
What is a blog, anyway?
important than ever.
Blogs are short web articles where people
Is there a downside to blogs?
share ideas, best practices, and whatever else they want about their business or
industry in an informal or conversational tone. A blog is frequently updated like a
journal or diary and tackles a specific topic with each post (maybe you’re a fitness pro sharing 5-10 tips on how to lose weight, or you’re a roofing company educating 12 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS
| December 2017
If there is a downside to blogging, it’s
that many business owners don’t have
the time to do it. Think about it ... we’re all incredibly busy making sure we take care of our clients, and sometimes it feels like
there isn’t enough time in the day. It could also be that they’re simply not confident in their own writing ability.
I see all the time where clients know what they want to blog about, but not how to write it. Rather than blog on your own, bring in a professional, award-winning writer. I’ll make sure your blogs are catchy, error free, and a true representation of your business. My list of blog clients have included everyone from financial institutions to lawyers, lawn care experts, general contractors, and fitness experts. I pride myself on offering a writing and editing service every business owner needs. Thanks for reading! Give me a call today to set up your free consultation. by Steve Gamel Edit This 469.360.3611 www.EditThisLLC.com
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 13
Know
Be in the
Family
Inside Community
12 Days of Winter Break The Carrollton Public Library will host the 12 days of Winter Break with activities to keep the kiddos busy and happy while they’re home. From arts and crafts to movies and board game day, there are great activities every day from December 26 through January 7 at both the Josey Ranch and Hebron & Josey locations. For more information, go to the cityofcarrollton.com.
Harry Potter Yule Ball
OMG Harry Potter!
Attention Harry Potter fans of all ages! Come to the Carrollton Public Library at Josey Ranch Lake in Carrollton for theYule Ball inspired by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire including door prizes, trivia contests, a photo booth, scavenger hunt, dancing and more. Dressing up is encouraged so put on your best wizarding robes! It all happens on December 29 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
ColorPalooza Contest The City of Lewisville is now accepting entries in the 2018 ColorPalooza logo design contest. This competition is open to any Lewisville resident currently in grades 9-12 at any state-certified public or private school, or any student attending a Lewisville public or private school in grades 9-12. The deadline to submit entries is Sunday, Dec. 31. For requirements and more information, go to cityoflewisville.com.
Give the Gift of Art If you’re stuck on a holiday gift, works of art from over 25 artists, from painting to photography and sculpture to jewelry, will be for sale in the art gallery of the Medical City Lewisville Grand Theater, 100 N. Charles in Lewisville. Admission is free and the gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the end of December. Tuesday through Saturday with extended hours listed at www.mclgrand.com.
Inside Education Hebron Musicians Honored Hebron High School had 96 band students selected for the Region 2 All-Region Band. Of those who made All-Region, 29 students qualified for Area auditions, meaning those students will now try out for the All-State Band. That is the most students Hebron band has ever sent to the Area auditions. The All-Region Band will perform in concert on the evening of January 20.
Hebron HS Hawk Theatre
Events & News Band Winter Concert Monday, December 18th at 7pm Hebron High School Choir Holiday Concert Tuesday, December 19th at 7pm
Hebron High School Hawk Theatre Co. Troupe 6069 entered six individual events at the Texas Thespian Festival, three of which advanced to the International Thespian Festival. The competitors who advanced are: Alexis Geddie for solo musical, Joseph Hoffman and Caleb Geddie for duet musical, and Elizabeth Reed, Courtney Carroll, Sophia Garcia, Olivia Kahn and Alyssa Biasatti for group musical. Troupe 6069 was also named the Outstanding Troupe of the Year.
Orchestra Winter Concert Wednesday, December 20th, at 7pm Fundraiser Exemption Day Wednesday December 20th The Colony HS Castle Hills Elementary Winter Parties Held Wednesday December 20th
District Champs Killian Middle School’s 7th Grade Division II football team won the district championship with a 22 to 8 victory over Griffin. UIL 7th Grade Football Division 2 Champions finished the season as undefeated district champs with a record of 6-0-1.
*check the CHE PTA website for each grade's time*
TCHS
Orchestra All-Region The Colony High School Orchestras had six students make the Region 2 All-Region High School Orchestra, competing against over 30 other districts. Congratulations to the following students: Eli Lee, Michelle Zugasti, Ryan Hong, Hannah Bruce, Morgan Overstreet , Stephan O’Neal
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 15th, 2018 LISD - No School, LISD - Early Release Friday January 19th, 2018
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 15
Tino and Jasmin Patel Think Of Castle Hills As Their
Extended
Family
by Susan Neuhalfen
They say to sell something well you have to believe in the product. Tino Patel
believes in Castle Hills. He and his wife Jasmin have been married 24 years have raised two beautiful children in the area and
have been a strong part of the community for many years.
Tino has successfully
helped over 5,000 clients buy and sell homes as
well as finance mortgages.
of people,” said Tino. “We can also help
Star Award from the Metrocrest Chamber
you pay off your debt at a very low rate
of Commerce (Addison, Carrollton,
while property values are high.”
“I especially enjoy showing homes in Castle Hills because we love living here.”
It helps to own your
own mortgage company, making the
process much simpler for buyers. He has
As direct lenders they successfully funded over $155M last year. They can also help with inspectors, better insurance rates and everything else a homebuyer needs. Tino is also very involved in his community. He serves on several boards for non-
profit organizations. He won the Rising
Farmers Branch), served on the Capital Board, Planning and Zoning Commission for city of Carrollton, was the N. Texas Director of the India Association of North Texas (IANT) for two years, the president of the DFW CLPS for three years, and a leader in the Patel Organization for three years. “I love being a one stop shop for homebuyers because I’m all about customer service,” said Tino. “I especially enjoy showing homes in Castle Hills because we love living here. “
programs available for all kinds of buyers and because he knows the community so well, it’s easy for him to customize
everything to the buyer’s specifications – from finding the perfect home, to
developing the perfect payment plan.
972.798.2110
“Because we live in the community and
have two businesses here, we know a lot 16 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS
| December 2017
Tino Patel
www.HomeWithLoan.com 4815 State Hwy 121, Suite 2 • The Colony, TX 75056
F
irst there are their families at Castle Hills for Kids Only, the school they started over a year ago. Then there are the many families
they have helped find a home and a mortgage in Castle Hills through their ReMax Experts agency and Homewithloan mortgage
company. Finally there are the many friends and neighbors they’ve known while raising their own family in Castle Hills.
The great thing is that in all aspects of their lives and businesses, the Patels treat everyone like family. After all, Castle Hills is home.
Castle Hills for Kids Only is a school
It’s not unusual to see the kids hug their
designed to be very family-oriented.
teachers before they leave.
The Patels structured their curriculum to help children make the transition to full-time school by learning life skills from something as difficult as potty training (yes, they teach that) to something as essential as manners. They also have a full academic curriculum that includes English, math, science, history and many electives including sign language, Spanish and much more.
photography by Guy T Photography
“We aren’t corporate, we’re private so we can be a little more flexible and friendly,” said Jasmin, who also discussed how the school is flexible to parent schedules. “That affords us the opportunity to bring in
walks through the door,” said Director Jessica Thomison. “By knowing each
The “Afterschoolers” are helped with their homework and during the summer they
learning methods.”
Included in tuition are nutritional meals
They use the Abecka and Applebaum (ATI) curriculums though they also have added their own creative niche. It all starts with the infants learning to crawl and also learning sign language in order to communicate with the teachers. They help with their first steps and their first words. Toddlers are taught to be respectful, use
including breakfast, lunch and snacks,
something you don’t often find at a school or included in the price.
“We don’t have to follow the corporate
guidelines so we try to make the whole
experience enjoyable for the kids,” said
Tino. “Some of them have such fun they don’t want to leave.”
their words instead of actions, to share
It also means that the teachers and
In the library, they have touch screen
there is a closeness and a family-feel to
classes for a well-rounded education.
take field trips and create fun projects.
and to adjust to structure and routine.
staff are focused on giving students
physical movement, dance, and STEM
child, we can tailor to his or her
new ideas.”
individualized attention. Parents say sponsored content
“We know the name of everyone who
dance, technology classes, piano lessons,
interactive monitors and iPads for the afterschool classes to learn. However they
469.444.5442
are also big fans of tradition – namely
the school that gives them a great deal of
drawing and handwriting on paper. Some
comfort when they bring their children.
other classes offered include music,
5001 Windhaven Pkwy.
Jasmin Patel
Lewisville, TX 75056 chforkidsonly.com
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 17
Family | Counseling
Surviving Family
Holidays
I
f your family is like mine you’re either having lots of family in your home or you’re going to someone else’s home
to be with lots of family. You’ve been
planning, shopping, wrapping, packing
and traveling. Some of us love the hustle and bustle, and some of us don’t.
Well, the holidays have finally arrived! We
may love to be around our families, but it’s not always easy. You can’t
change them, but you can change yourself. Here are some skills to help you
respond and cope with
the many dynamics and enjoy yourself.
Unwanted questions?
from the conversation. Criticism?
Respond with “You might be right”
or “I’ll consider that,” then smile and
excuse yourself to refill your drink, talk to someone else who just arrived, or go to the restroom.
“You are responsible for your own feelings, and you deserve to enjoy the day!”
Respond with “I would prefer not to talk about that today.” If they persist, repeat
18 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS
yourself. You may need to excuse yourself
| December 2017
Gossip or uncomfortable questions about someone else?
Respond with “You’ll have to ask or
talk to him/her about that” or “I don’t
feel comfortable talking about this.” If they persist, excuse yourself from the conversation. You can use one of the excuses listed previously, if needed.
Intoxicated/high family member?
If no one’s safety is at stake, it’s probably
best not to confront the person. This would likely only escalate the unwanted behavior. After any of these unpleasant or hurtful experiences, choose not to take it personally. Instead, focus on yourself and other family members whose company you enjoy. You are responsible for your own feelings, and you deserve to enjoy the day! If you would like help living well, we encourage you to start the conversation. Live well. Let us help. by Julie Orsak, MEd, LPC Lifeworks businessoffice@lifeworkscc.com
Family
& by Steve Gamel
T
hough both Hebron and The Colony’s football season ended abruptly in the first round, each has
plenty to look forward to as they head into
force for Hebron since he transferred from Denton Ryan before his sophomore year. Wide receiver Trejan Bridges caught 62
of Tune’s passes for
the offseason.
843 yards and 13
In Hebron’s case,
touchdowns. Jaren
perennial playoff
passes for 771 yards
the Hawks are a
Mitchell caught 54
favorite regardless of
and five scores.
who they lose each
“Clayton is so
year to graduation.
This season was no
exception as Hebron won eight games,
finished second in a tough District 5-6A, and made it to the first round before
losing to Allen 48-17. Despite that loss, the Hawks finished the year averaging
just more than 400 yards of offense. That
includes throwing for more than 226 yards per game – good for sixth in the area among Class 6A teams.
confident in what he
does out there, that he makes everyone else around him that much more
confident,” head coach Brian Brazil said
prior to the start of the season. “His ability to improvise when plays break down
makes him a special player, and it wins a lot of games for us.”
Hebron has had a history of
producing quarterbacks, so expect Brazil to find a solid
Some of the jaw-dropping individual
replacement for Tune
Clayton Tune. The Kansas commit finished
Meanwhile, The Colony
performances include quarterback
sixth in the area with 2,416 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. He threw just six
interceptions while completing 67 percent of his passes. Tune has been a guiding
this offseason.
built its success this season
backs Jadan Abdallah, Myles Price, and
Andrew Nelson. The running game was huge considering the Cougars lost star
quarterback Jemel Jones Jr. to a seasonending injury before the season started.
Abdallah rushed for 863 yards and nearly seven yards per carry while scoring eight times. Price wasn’t far behind with 635
rushing yards and seven scores. Nelson
and Javontae Thomas combined for 554 yards and seven scores.
That running game lifted the Cougars to a 5-2 record in District 14-5A. One of those
wins was an impressive 14-7 decision over Prosper as Abdallah rushed for 101 yards
and quarterback Mickey Harrington threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns. The
Cougars closed the regular season with a 48-0 win over Carrollton R.L. Turner.
Unfortunately, that luck ran
out in a 41-16 loss to stateranked Frisco Lone Star in the first round.
behind a beefed-up
Both teams will undoubtedly
run game with running
next season.
offensive line and a powerful
be back in the playoff race
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 19
Family
Lady
Hawks: Repeat Champions by Steve Gamel
T
he Hebron volleyball team had been unstoppable all season long. No matter how many top-ranked opponents stood in their way, the Lady Hawks made winning look easy while inching closer to yet another state championship.
On November 18, in front of a packed
quarterback position is to football. Having
Hebron rolled with a win over The
Center in Garland, Hebron (41-7) won its
the setter not only provides leadership,
beating Seven Lakes.
25-14, 25-15 sweep of Katy Seven Lakes.
operates on the court.
crowd of 1,783 fans at the Curtis Culwell third straight Class 6A title with a 25-17, The championship was Hebron’s fifth
overall since opening its doors in 1999.
Even more impressive than that, Hebron is
one of only two teams in the state’s largest classification -- the other being Amarillo
the right person in that spot is critical, as but ultimately controls how everything
Not having McLaughlin was hard at first as the Lady Hawks lost seven matches in the first three weeks of the season. They won their final 24 to close out the season.
-- to win three straight state titles.
Outside hitter Adanna Rollins, a Minnesota
“It’s unbelievable,” head coach Karin
All-American, was named the MVP of the
Keeney told the Dallas Morning News
following the win. “If you had told me that at the beginning of the season, I wouldn’t have believed you, because we were a little rough this year.”
Keeney didn’t mince words earlier this
season when she said the loss of four-year starting setter and Gatorade Volleyball
Player of the Year, Kylee McLaughlin, was a tough spot to fill. For those who don’t
know, the setter is to volleyball what the 20 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS
| December 2017
signee and first-team Under Armour
state final as she finished with 18 kills.
Sophomore Nicole Drewnick finished with 11 kills.
And the win truly was dominating. On a stage where every team you face is the best of the best, Hebron’s finals match
with Katy Seven Lakes took just more than
an hour to finish. Seven Lakes was making its first state tournament appearance,
but was coming off a huge win over San Antonio O’Connor in the semifinals.
Woodlands in the semifinals before The biggest test will come this offseason
as Keeney prepares to replace 13 seniors, including Rollins and libero Annie
Benbow. Not only was Rollins one of 23 players from Texas to make the Under
Armour list, but Benbow was listed as an honorable mention.
The duo were also selected to the 2017 American Family Insurance All-USA
Preseason Girls Volleyball Team. The teams were chosen by John Tawa of PrepVolleyball.com.
Rollins was a first-team selection. Benbow made second team.
But if anyone knows how to work with
new talent and win at the highest level, it’s Keeney – and the Lady Hawks.
With five state titles under their belts, who’s going to question them?
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 21
Family | Child Development
Carrollton Welcomes
EASTERSEALS
North Texas T
We are currently enrolling for
all four classrooms:
Koalas’ Treehouse (6 weeks-17 months) Our trusted and loving staff members are sensitive to the individual needs and routines of infants. We support exploration and learning in a safe, caring environment. Doggies’ Den (18-35 months) Our staff provides toddlers warm, nurturing care and uses thematic activities to promote socialization and exploration in a fun and stimulating environment. Turtles’ Cove (3-4 years)
Our staff members are specially trained in teaching those skills, with hands on involvement and supervision from former elementary school teachers and Master’s-level individuals. We use state recommended curricula to prepare students for success in kindergarten. Our 1:4 staff to student ratio creates specialized attention, conducive to working on those skills.
Children participate in more handson activities that build self-image, independence, and a child’s ability to make positive choices in a fun, engaging environment. Armadillos’ Dugout (4-6 years) We prepare children for a successful transition from preschool to kindergarten with emphasis on bettering their social, academic and problem-solving skills, while building their life-long love of learning alongside their friends. by Easterseals North Texas 972.939.3930 www.Easterseals.com/NorthTexas Childcare@ntx.easterseals.com
22 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS
| December 2017
photo courtesy of Easterseals North Texas
he childcare program at Easterseals North Texas is now open in Carrollton. We have a beautiful new space where children, ages 6 weeks - 6 years learn in a fun, safe, and happy setting. Our teachers create a welcoming environment where our kids build important foundational skills that help them be successful in school. We emphasize not only academic skills but also communication skills, friendship building, problem solving skills, and independence.
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 23
Lifestyle
S
eniors Antonio Cauich and Payton Ouellette of The Colony High School’s Culinary Arts
Class landed four of the six new
menu items at Medical City Children’s Hospital Kids’ Fit Menu Challenge. This is the first time in the five-year history of the national contest
that all of the dishes that were
submitted by the two students at TCHS were chosen.
“I’m really proud of them. The
nutrition factor is a big undertaking for the students,” said Amanda
Bensley, Culinary Arts Teacher at
TCHS. “I have a bachelor’s degree
and a culinary degree and it’s hard for me.”
Antonio made gluten free Confetti
Spaghetti Pasta and Turkey Pinwheels while Payton submitted Buffalo
Chicken Tacos and Cheeseburger Zucchini Boats. The menu items
included sides and dessert and had
to adhere to nutritional guidelines
including keeping the dish under 550 calories and including at least ½ cup of fruits and vegetables.
TCHS has participated in the program for the last few years. Though the menu items were awarded in the spring, it wasn’t until recently they
“They would create something,
were added to the Neiman Marcus
and then they’d have to make
recently learned their newly created
in her third year teaching at TCHS.
Golf menu.
we’d put in the nutrition guidelines
menu. A new team from TCHS just
adjustments,” said Ms. Bensley who is
menu item may be added to the Top
“It’s challenging.”
In an effort to help kids develop
better eating habits, Medical City
Children’s Hospital and the Greater
Dallas Restaurant Association (GRDA) partnered with Texas ProStart®
high school culinary students to
create kid-friendly, fun to make, fun to eat recipes featuring fruits and vegetables. They then partnered with restaurants to include these
“The Aloha Aloha Slider is the slider so nice you have to say it twice,” laughs Ms. Bensley about the honey soy chicken slider, served with apple carrot fries and a raspberry drizzle. Ms. Bensley said that one thing is for sure: they couldn’t have done it without the help of the Medical City Staff, Ryan, Amy and Jill.
items created by the students in their
“I couldn’t ask for a better team
added to the Neiman Marcus kids’
motivators,” said Ms. Bensley. “We
menus. All four items from TCHS were
to help my kids, they are great
menu and are doing very well.
couldn’t do this without them at all.
photos courtesy of TCHS Communications Staff
Antonio Cauich (left) made gluten free Confetti Spaghetti Pasta and Turkey Pinwheels. Payton Ouellette (right) created Buffalo Chicken Tacos and Cheeseburger Zucchini Boats. The dishes, which included sides and desserts, had to be under 550 calories.
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 25
Lifestyle
from the
S
o often we find ourselves trudging through malls looking for the “perfect” gift when the best gifts aren’t really gifts at all; they are memories. They are that time your friend made you laugh until you spit your drink all over the table at the ice cream parlor. They are the fun you had building a sandcastle at the beach with your kids. They are the band that you and your husband saw one night in concert. The next time you have to buy a present for a friend or family member, consider a gift that can’t be duplicated by anyone else. It’s a memory you share with that person. Here are some ideas from readers as to how to give a gift that will be cherished for a lifetime: Letter book: When my husband and I were still dating, I wrote to ten important people in his life, asking them to write him a letter. I sent the request with a self-addressed stamped envelope and, to my surprise, only had two no-shows. I placed the letters in an album, complete with pictures of my husband with those people throughout his life. To this day, he pulls out that album and reads the letters.
26 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS
| December 2017
Vintage Pictures: My mom had a box full of old pictures that were barely surviving the Texas heat. I took a few of them and had them restored and then framed for her. You’d thought I’d bought her a new car she was so happy. Shadow Box: My friend and I went to Jones Beach to see the B-52s in concert. I put together a shadowbox with a vial of sand, the ticket stub and a picture of us at the concert. She still has it displayed proudly in her house, despite our out-of-date bi-level haircuts. 8MM Film to DVD: After my mother died, my dad found 8MM film stored away and took them to have them transferred to DVD. The result was getting to see my mother again, on films I didn’t remember. The best part was seeing how much my son looked like my five year-old self.
Engraved pie plate: I gave my sister a pie plate that had our mother’s recipe for apple pie, in her handwriting, engraved into the plate. That way she can’t lose the recipe and the familiar handwriting always reminds us of our mother. Music video: Instead of buying my husband another power tool for our wedding anniversary, I made a music video using our wedding song and put together pictures of us over the years. I catch my husband watching it sometimes.
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 27
Lifestyle | Gardening
Winter
Lawn Care T
his time of year always seems like it’s one of the busiest as we move through the holiday season and
toward the end of the year. Remodels that need to be completed before guests arrive, patio builds to finish, customer staging, shopping to wrap up and a laundry list of office items we need to get taken care of before 2018 arrives. As you’re preparing for Christmas and your own “end of the year deadlines” don’t forget to get outside and take care of some wintertime maintenance. As the trees are losing leaves, it’s an ideal time to get them trimmed up and thinned out. Along with helping to strengthen the tree, trimming will allow more sunlight to your shady turf areas thickening them up come spring, slowing the soil erosion and keeping your lawn looking healthier. Out in the Lantana and Argyle areas, we’ve noticed what seems to be an increase in mice and squirrels this year, so getting those limbs back off the house could also eliminate one of their routes back inside.
28 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS
| December 2017
As the last lawn cuttings (scalpings) of the year should be happening here in the next week or so (if not already) take advantage of the ground exposure and look for areas where water is either eroding or pooling up. Winter is a great time to get drainage work done now that the grass is so short and everyone can see exactly how the ground lays out. French drains along with downspout / gutter drains are a great way to help dry out around your property. Eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, foundation issues and muddy backyards should be high on our homeowner to-do lists, ensuring yearround use of our outdoor spaces. We hope everyone has a great Christmas season and doesn’t get too overwhelmed by one thing or another. Enjoy visiting with your family and friends and invest your time in what really matters.
by PJ Kratohvil of Complete Solutions completesolutionsdfw.com
December 2017 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 29
Lifestyle | Makeover
Makeover of the Month
Jentri Carter
I
f anyone deserves a makeover, it’s Jentri Carter. This single mother of two toddlers has had a trying 2017. Within months of her divorce, she had a double mastectomy, and is only now recovering after plastic and reconstructive surgery. Having major surgery while taking care of her kids has taken a toll on her work life and personal life. The reduction in hours has been difficult financially, but she is doing everything to make sure her bills are paid and her children are well cared for. Luckily, the staff at Cloud 9 was ready to give her a much-needed break. Hair and Makeup by Hannah Hannah really kept things simple by cutting about an inch off, giving her some fun layers and changing the tone of her hair to a nice, icy blonde. Jentri’s natural beauty made makeup very simple as well. Hannah added some color to her eyes with a dark brown cut crease and a bright white lid color. Hair Removal by Lauren Reyes Lauren performed an eyebrow wax and Brazilian wax. While many women find the Brazilian wax painful, Lauren is the queen of making it simple and relatively pain free.
30 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS
after | December 2017
214.415.4806 www.cloud9salon.com Want to be the next Makeover? Email cloud9salon@cloud9salon.com and tell us why you deserve it!
photography by Jen’s Lens Photographs
Before
Makeover and clothes provided by