Charm Magazine May / June 2017

A P R I L L B R A N D O N | P I C T U R E T H I S ! | FA S H I O N MAY/JUNE 2017Â

COVER STORY

farmhouse

CHIC

APRIL RANGEL

FLIP-the-ISSUE

SO LONG SPIDER VEINS!

ALSO INSIDE

women in business: beauty

90 years of music in 3 hours!

Music through the decades with Senior Circle.

Join us to celebrate the 9th anniversary of Senior Circle.

Enjoy country, blues, jazz, rock-n-roll, big band and pop music.

Friday, June 9 • 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Summit Club, 3700 Judson Rd. For adults 50 and better Dinner buffet • Dancing • Door prizes Complimentary valet parking Entertainment by Disc Jockey Paula Prince Matthews $10 for members • $20 for non-members For an additional $5, non-members receive a one-year membership to Senior Circle.

Separate checks and enrollment forms are required.

Payment must be received by May 26.

Seating is limited.

Mail payment to: Senior Circle P.O. Box 14000 • Longview, TX 75607 Or register at Senior Circle at 3000 N. Fourth Street.

Call 903-232-3878 for additional information.

LongviewRegional.com/SeniorCircle

s t n e t n o C MAY/JUNE 2017

Beauty: So Long Spider Veins!

Feature: Farmhouse Chic

8

10

Cover Story: Farmhouse Chic

15

Women in Business: April Rangel, Beltone Hearing Aid Centers

20

8

without a shadow

of doubt fashion

MoMMy And Me tHIs sPRIng

16

In Every Issue 14

Shop This!

22

Picture This!

M

Farmhouse chic. French farmhouse. Classic modern farmhouse. The terms might be different but the message is the same: this design style isn’t about chickens and cows.

Spot the Charm Due to a technical malfunction, we did not have a charm hidden in the last issue. We apologize for our mishap!

growing in

grace

BOTTOM rch’s com Carr munity ie Moore, also Ferguson : Gregg garden.

Cou , right, Photo of Longview, plant a nty Master

by Kevi Gardene peach n Green.pull bermuda tree at grass First Baprs Larry Feg uson tist Chu rch’s com, left, and his munity garden wife Melone y in Lon gview. mycharm online.com

11

4 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

On the Cover

Tough Enough For Leisure

eloney and Lar ry Fer being as guson close to enjoy the eart can, plan and veg h as they ting and etables that they harvest distribu ing frui – along te to the ts with thei elderly r church “I like and hom the soil – ebound . We hav where . you can e benche sit. It’s s in the get clos peacefu arbor e to God l. You ’s earth,” we hav can kind e comes Larry of says. “Ev from God the eart erything ’s earth. h.”

I like the “And, the feel of wonder simply of natu amazing re,” Me .” loney add Melone s. “It’s y and Larry, master both reti gardene red edu rs who garden cators, help mai at Firs are ntain a t Baptist as at thei commu Church r home. nity of Lon Melone gview Master y is this as well Garden year’s Gre ers pre and wife gg Cou sident served nty and bot as co-p h the hus Melone residen band y has alw ts in 201 and her 6. ays love husban d plan ts, but d were years for both she busy her to really focu as educators taught for man s on gard English y ening. to juni students Melone or high in Hallsvil y and high le, Spr was a ing Hill defensiv school and e tack Kilgore defensiv le coach . Larry e coordin for Lon ator for gview, time off Spring then a from coa Hill. He ching went bac took som to ope k into edu e rate a cation teacher busines as a fou s but in Kilg rth and ore befo fifth grad In 200 re retiring 9, they e . helped Church their chu of Lon rch – Firs gview – the gard start a t Baptist en, the commu church nity gard vegetab grows en. At les. Wh a variety en the distribu of fruits produc COVER STORY ted to and e is har the elde vested, time to rly it is then and hom time whe ebound n the chu donates . From rch has it to non leftove profit org of Discipl r food, anizatio es and it ns, suc Newgate h as Hou “Our goa Mission se l is to mak . them e people with goo feel goo d nutritio d and pro Larry says n at no vide . cost to When them,” the gard Larry say, en first started, food was Melone to till grown soil. Sinc y and in row s and they e its star Not only t, the worked has it gro garden wn in size has cha each yea nged. r, but the with mor way they e crops Today, added they gro garden also has w produc turn allo change e in raised ws them d. TOP: Betty to grow beds, whi Can out of more food the First on, left, of ch in Longvie Baptist s. w and Chu

Flip-the-issue

16

So Long Spider Veins!

a p r i l l b r a n d o n | p i c t u r e t h i s ! | fa s h i o n

ALSO INSIDE

15

Fashion

Aprill Brandon: Am I A Lazy Mom?

MARCH/APRIL 2017

Fashion: Tough Enough For Leisure

Beauty

Features 10

Feature: April Rangel, Beltone Hearing Aid Centers

We invite you to spot a special Charm logo in this edition. If you locate it, sign on to mycharmonline.com and click the Spot the Charm link on the homepage.

CHARM / VIEW MAY/JUNE 2017 PUBLISHER Stephen McHaney EDITOR Ric Brack • 903.237.7759 • rbrack@news-journal.com SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS MANAGER Dawn-Renée Rice • 903.237.7725 • drice@news-journal.com MANAGING EDITOR Christina Lane • 903.237.7724 • clane@news-journal.com ART DIRECTOR Katie Case • 903.237.7715 • kcase@news-journal.com PHOTOGRAPHER Chris Lozano • 903.237.7246 • clozano@news-journal.com DESIGNER Rebecca McCallum ILLUSTRATOR Michelle Laverell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS April Barbe • Aprill Brandon • Jo Lee Ferguson Christina Lane • Amy McHaney • Dawn-Renée Rice CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Cavazos • Les Hassell ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Larry Jobe • 903.237.7727 • ljobe@news-journal.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Thomas Bonner • 361.574.1249 • tbonner@vicad.com Chris Dean • 903.237.7719 • cdean@news-journal.com Kerri Esposito • 903.232.7276 • kesposito@news-journal.com Trisha Hall • 903.237.7776 • thall@news-journal.com Ginger Lovelady • 903.232.7287 • glovelady@news-journal.com Jeff Martin • 903.232.7221 • jmartin@news-journal.com Tracy Stopani • 903.237.7726 • tstopani@news-journal.com Brooke York • 903.237.7721 • byork@news-journal.com CIRCULATION Josh Hart • 903.237.7765 • jhart@news-journal.com PRODUCED BY TCM PRINTING Sherri Goodwin • 903.232.7245 • sgoodwin@tcmprinting.com

mycharmonline.com • news-journal.com

6 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

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Monday - Friday: 8:30am - 5pm Saturday: 8am - Noon 314 Magnolia Lane, Longview

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1515 Judson Rd. Longview, TX 75601 (903) 757-2955

Med Spa Dr. Gana Germanwala mycharmonline.com 7

HEALTH & BEAUTY

According to Dr. Douglas Joseph, a vascular medicine specialist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, spider veins tend to be hereditary and are more common as you age. There is also a higher rate of spider veins in those who stand much of the time in their occupation, such as among nurses and teachers.

I have heredity to thank for my spider veins. I am the grateful recipient of many wonderful traits from my mother – good skin, small frame – but she has had spider veins in her legs since I can remember. Thanks, Mom! I should probably also give a shout-out to my four children as well…

So what’s a girl to do about spider veins when it’s time to put on shorts in the hot Texas summer? There are several ways to address the issue, and I am able to report first hand on two different methods.

SCLEROTHERAPY Dr. Randy Morton of Longview Vein Center has been treating spider veins since the late ’90s and recommends sclerotherapy.

Sclerotherapy is a method in which affected veins are injected with a sclerosing solution, which he described as a detergent for your veins. The solution “causes necessary injury to the lining of the vein, ultimately resulting in occlusion of that vein and its demise.”

SO LONG

SPIDER VEINS! Words by AMY MCHANEY

Sclerotherapy doesn’t require anesthesia and can be done in a doctor’s office. Side effects include swelling, bruising, itching and skin color changes in the treated area.

Dr. Morton recommends wearing compression stockings around the clock for the first 48 hours after treatment followed by several additional days of wear when you’re up and about in order to achieve optimal results. Treated spider veins begin to fade in about four to six weeks, and most patients require more than one treatment to achieve optimum cosmetic results.

I’ve talked about sclerotherapy with several friends and their

I

was in Florida for spring break when the perfect topic for my beauty column occurred to me … two little words that women dread: SPIDER VEINS.

According to everydayhealth.com, a group of researchers

looked at 1,566 people and a whopping 84 percent had spider veins on their right legs alone! With an incidence rate like that, I

top questions are all the same: How much does it hurt? How much does it cost? How good will my legs look?

First, the pain. I had sclerotherapy on my left leg between the birth of my second child and my twins in a land far, far away (South Texas!). I personally found the pain of the injections to be very tolerable – sort of like a particularly sting-y mosquito bite.

Dr. Morton agreed that most of his patients would rate the pain of

know that many of you fall into the unlucky majority, like me, who

sclerotherapy injections as a 2 or 3 on a scale of 1 to 10, with pain

deal with these tiny webs of veins.

generally subsiding by the time a patient walks out of his office.

The medical term for spider veins is telangiectasia. They are

These teeny veins are accessed using a teeny needle. Dr. Morton

superficial blood vessels that have become dilated and sit close to

uses a 32-gauge needle. For reference, Botox is administered with

the skin’s surface and are usually harmless, though unsightly.

a larger, 31-gauge needle.

8 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

The second question – cost – will, of course, vary by doctor.

Quick-Fix Body was extremely easy to use – I applied one coat

Dr. Morton charges $300 per treatment. As mentioned above, most

over my spider veins, then blended with my fingertips. I achieved

patients require more than one treatment. Dr. Morton stated that

truly outstanding results in about 30 seconds.

he can usually estimate the number of treatments necessary at the

In addition to great coverage, Quick-Fix Body wears extremely well. I have worn it through sweaty workouts and showers with

initial exam.

The results? After three rounds of injections, my legs looked really

very little, if any, degradation – and that was with only spotty

great. But there’s a caveat – sclerotherapy is not a one (or three) and

use of powder to set the product.** I did not notice the product

done solution. According to Dr. Morton, the appearance of spider

rubbing off on my clothes, and it’s easy to remove with soap, water

veins is never really cured; it is likely that occasional touch ups will be

and a washcloth. A winning product for sure! C

needed to achieve the best cosmetic result. I am living proof of that.

*Ulta does not carry all 10 shades of Quick-Fix Body in the Longview store

My twin pregnancy resulted in the appearance of new spider veins.

**I did not use the Dermablend Setting Powder – I tried setting the product with two different loose powders I already had and both worked well.

Dr. Morton will be treating my new crop of spider veins, and I’ll write about my experience in an upcoming column. Stay tuned!

DERMABLEND

BODY MAKEUP

QUICK-FIX BODY

If needles aren’t your thing, another effective way to hide spider veins is with body makeup.

I chose to try Dermablend Quick-Fix Body ($29, Ulta) because of its excellent reviews and the fact that Dermablend has been the go-to product line for serious cosmetic coverage needs – think vitiligo – for years.

Quick-Fix Body is a full coverage foundation stick that is available in 10 shades ranging from fair to deep. The packaging states that the product is water-, transfer- and smudge-resistant, and that you can achieve up to 16 hours of wear when used with Dermablend’s Setting Powder.

The Dermablend website features a “Find Your Shade” tool that turned out to be accurate for me. I sampled several different shades at Ulta* and ended up choosing the one that the Find Your Shade

Before

After

tool recommended.

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Hours: Mon-sat 10-9 sun 12-6 mycharmonline.com 9

COVER STORY

chic

farmhouse

Words by JO LEE FERGUSON | Photos by CHRIS LOZANO

Pursuing Eden

Vintage Soul

10 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

Pursuing Eden

F

armhouse chic. French farmhouse. Classic modern farmhouse. The terms might be

Vintage Soul

different but the message is the same: this

design style isn’t about chickens and cows.

Farmhouse chic is really a blending of decorating styles, of old and new, of traditional and a twist on traditional, and it found its place in East Texas years before Joanna Gaines and her HGTV hit show “Fixer Pursuing Eden

Upper” made it widely popular.

In Longview, Pursuing Eden owner Kristal Childs uses the term “classic modern farmhouse” to describe

Vintage Soul

her store’s focus.

“Right now, it’s very trendy, which is great. In the East Texas community, we’ve kind of always been ahead of the trends,” she says.

Her retail store and specialty event rental business are located on Henderson Lane in Longview. (The rental side of the business was hired to provide items for two weddings of Duck Dynasty family members.)

Many women in East Texas have old family artifacts that they incorporate into their homes.

“A lot of ladies now find freedom using décor in more of an upscale way that reflect their heritage, their family,” Kristal says.

Her store found its start in her roots as a “third generation picker.” She grew up following the rule to always carry cash and a flashlight as she knocked

Pursuing Eden

on doors around East Texas with her “Temah (her grandmother) and mom” searching for treasures.

Pursuing Eden launched after her wedding in

Vintage Soul

2006 drew attention from other people who wanted her and her mother’s help staging weddings and other events. She and her mom, Deadre Arden, started the business in 2010 by participating in Canton First Monday Trade Days and booths at antique malls. The Longview storefront opened in 2012. Her mother has since stepped back from the business.

At

Vintage

Soul

on

Fourth

Street

in

Longview, owner Jeretta Ivey likes the term “French farmhouse.”

“It’s a blend of farmhouse, industrial and shabby chic,” she says. When people hear the term “farmhouse,” they think chickens and cows.

continued on pg. 12  mycharmonline.com 11

Pursuing Eden

“That’s not it at all,” she says. It’s white pops of furniture, creams and grays – “a softer, chicer look” than just barnwood.

Vintage Soul

“Right now, that’s real hot. That’s the majority of what you’re going to find in the shop right now,” Jeretta says of the French farmhouse style.

Jeretta opened her multi-vendor shop about six years ago. The store’s style is something the women share.

“We all laugh and say we’re all old souls,” she says, adding she was worried when she opened the store about whether people would “get” the store’s style. They’ve embraced it, she says.

The store, like Pursuing Eden, features new and old items – “found items” as Kristal describes them.

The “shabby chic” style has been around for

Pursuing Eden

Pursuing Eden

Vintage Soul

Vintage Soul

years, Jeretta says, and the French farmhouse style is a different spin on that.

“People just didn’t know how to mix it,” Jeretta says, explaining that “shabby chic” looks better when it’s blended with something new. “It’s a lot of older classic styles that have come together, but it’s a mash-up of styles.”

People are afraid of a rustic farmhouse look, she says. She used barnwood signs as one example.

“You can blend them so you take away from that country rustic feel but still get a clean, classic traditional look,” she says.

Kristal’s store specializes in helping people blend pieces into their existing furniture and décor to implement the “classic modern farmhouse” in their homes.

“We like to have the pieces that have a hint of farmhouse elements, but yet they’re not too trendy,” Kristal says. “You might be able to find this really neat piece of wall art that has this hint

Pursuing Eden

of what you’re looking for, but it would work immediately in that space that has more traditional décor. They’re very easy to transition into a space without doing the whole thing unless you want to.”

When she’s “picking” for pieces for her store, her tendency is to focus on neutral colors.

“That way … it’s easy to just slide in a piece from the store that doesn’t compete (with what a homeowner already has in his or her house),” she 12 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

Vintage Soul

says. “It enhances the furniture and fixtures in the home.”

Both stores offer design services as well. Jeretta says building the French farmhouse look into a house might include hanging a “rusty farmhouse” sign that says “fresh eggs.” White wood instead of barnwood is another element that might be used.

The store is working on windmills, painting them white and distressing them, Jeretta says. She also described giving an old, corner hutch new life by taking the glass out, painting it an antique white, before distressing it and decorating it with galvanized pieces.

“There’s something about the finish and the shape – it’s the first thing you see when you walk into a space,” she says.

The jugs can be used for fresh or artificial blooms, and they can be used in various seasons.

“It’s one of those pieces – it looks like it’s something that would have been found in a barn, but it’s new,” and it’s not broken, she says.

“It’s water tight. If you found it in a barn, it probably wouldn’t have been as useful.”

“It’s a piece that used to be a true corner farmhouse piece, and

Both women say they see people come to their stores, looking

now it’s something you can put into a clean new home and it not look

for items like what they see on “Fixer Upper” and similar shows.

country or rustic,” she says.

Pinterest has helped spread the style as well, Kristal says.

She and the other vendors in her store have lately used “pops of

“I think that the younger generation really didn’t understand

gold” in the used items they repurpose. It “pops in” with the clean

what we were trying to do,” Jeretta says. “I think they’ve gotten

whites, grays and greens.

“That’s where you get farmhouse chic,” she says.

Vintage Soul hosts an annual Summer Gathering, a miniature flea market in a lot next to its building. This year’s event, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 13, will focus on the French farmhouse look.

on board.”

Most of the store’s shoppers, though, have been frequenting it for a while.

Kristal saw a transition in new shoppers as well at Pursuing Eden.

Kristal says farmhouse jugs have been popular in her store lately,

“At the same time, we have had shoppers before the show came

explaining that Pursuing Eden carries new farmhouse jugs that

on who have always loved that style,” she says. “It’s fun to see the

look old.

reoccurring shoppers plus the new surge.” C

mycharmonline.com 13

Shop this!

Farmhouse Chic Home Accessories

Kettle $16 Vintage Soul

Farm House Jugs $35, $24, $22 Pursuing Eden

Flower Pitcher $14 Vintage Soul

Square Potted Succulent $5.99 Pursuing Eden

Cactus Vase $15.99 Pursuing Eden

Set of Three Owls $30 Vintage Soul

Suitcase $36 Vintage Soul

14 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

Blue Vase $16 Vintage Soul

Birch Candle Set $12.99 Pursuing Eden

Terra Cotta Small Vase $10.99 Pursuing Eden

45inx14in Sign $65 Vintage Soul

F EATURE

WOMEN in business: APRIL RANGEL Beltone Hearing Aid Centers Words by DAWN-RENÉE RICE

A

t Beltone Hearing Aid Centers in Longview, owner April Rangel says

approached to take over the practice.

“At first I said no, I really enjoyed working

April credits her mother, whom she recently lost, for helping her become the

customers are treated like family.

for the previous owners. They made me and

April enjoys educating patients about

others who worked for them strive to be better

“I was raised by a single mom and she

innovative changes in hearing aids and looks

people,” she said. They decided to become

let me know that things are not going to be

forward to seeing them come back for follow

franchise owners in 2004. At first, April and

handed to you. You want it? You have to fight

up appointments to find out how getting a

her husband continued in their respective

for it. And you should want to fight for it,”

hearing aid has helped them have a better

roles; he served as a practitioner and she as

quality of life. “Our patients are our extended

the business administrator. However, she

she said.

family. I don’t feel there’s enough compassion

realized that in order to own a hearing aid

and love shown on a genuine level in this

business in Texas, you have to be licensed.

world,” she said. “Yes, there are nice people

“My husband always said that I’m a

in the world, and yes we try to do kind things

natural, visiting with patients and taking

for one another, but it’s the little things

care of their needs. I knew how to clean and

(that matter).”

service a hearing aid, I knew how to program

April got her start at Beltone in 1998,

a hearing aid, I knew how to run the business

when she began working there as an

side of our business but I didn’t know how

accountant. She and her husband, Jesse, took

to do the testing and fitting of hearing aids.

over as owners of the company in 2004. The

So I ended up getting my license in 2006,”

couple have been married for almost 26 years

April said.

successful business woman she is today.

April believes that if more people took pride in their work, the world would be a better place. She encourages others not to be afraid and reach for their dreams.

“I tell people that all the time not to be afraid to go for your dreams or try a new career,” she said. “Whatever you do there needs to be some pleasure or joy in it, because if you’re not just a little bit happy you need to move on. You’re not doing anyone any service. I just want to provide a little love, a little patient care.”

and has two children. Their son, 25-year-old

And she’s been hitting the ground

Alec, serves as a hearing instrument specialist

running ever since, reflecting on the fact

Aside from running her own business,

at their Bossier City Beltone office. Daughter

that it’s now been 18-plus years she’s been

April enjoys running as a hobby and as a stress

Sierra, 23, is finishing up her bachelor’s

serving the hearing aid needs of the East

reliever. She’s been running since 2004 and

degree in nutrition at the University of Texas.

Texas community.

competes in half-marathons. April is also a

April said Beltone’s previous owners

“They truly say time flies, but time

sustainer with the Junior League of Longview,

retired in 2000 and their son took over. In

flies more when you’re having fun and I’m

a member of ACTS Retreat and the Christus

2001, she and her husband – who came

definitely having fun. I enjoy my patients,”

Good Shepherd Guild, and attends St. Mary’s

on board two years after she did – were

she said.

Catholic Church. C mycharmonline.com 15

F ASHION

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16 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

TOP: Alo High-Low Muscle Tank $45, Move Athletic; LEGGINGS: Trina Turk $104.00, Move Athletic; SHOES: Adidas Ultra Boost $180.00, Racquet and Jog;

mycharmonline.com 17

TANK: Trina Turk $86.00, Move Athletic; SKIRT: Trina Turk $94.00, Move Athletic; SHOES: Hupana $115.00, Racquet and Jog;

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18 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

YOGA CLASSES AVAILABLE

716 Glencrest Lane Ste D • Longview, Tx 75601 903.230.MOVE • www.moveathletictx.com

903.663.1515

303 W. Loop 281 • Suite #105 • Longview, Texas 75605

An event to Recognize

HIGH SCHOOL

ATHLETES mycharmonline.com 19

F EATURE

into just a terrific human being, if with a bit more smart-assery than I’d

MOM? Words by APRILL BRANDON Illustrations by MICHELLE LAVERELL

You

know those brief moments in time when, as a parent, you finally feel like you have

like (although, to be fair, he gets it honest). We have a good daily routine down and I haven’t had to hide in the basement stress-eating baking chocolate in at least a week.

Finally. Finally, I got this, I told myself. I can do this. I am doing this.

What was I stressing about in the first place? Parenting is a breeze. A gentle, stinky, diaper-scented breeze.

And this amazing feeling lasted for all of 30 seconds.

It was a beautiful 30 seconds.

Because, of course, I then logged online like an idiot.

Where I was immediately inundated with pictures of all my friends and their kids at preschool, and in swim lessons, and

it all together? All the balls are in the air but for

banging a drum at baby music class, and wearing matching

once you feel oddly confident you can keep them

outfits while doing Mommy and Me yoga, and hanging out

there? Maybe you even have a whole extra second

at craft workshops, and cheering on the sidelines as hordes

to use one of your hands to gulp down a glass of

of pint-sized athletes descended on a soccer ball like tiny

wine (or five) because you are a parenting goddess and you’ve earned it?

This was me a few days ago. My youngest is finally sleeping(ish) through the night. My oldest is developing 20 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

adorable zombies.

BUT SINCE I WAS A BILLION MONTHS PREGNANT, OUR SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES PRETTY MUCH JUST CONSISTED OF GOING OUT FOR ICE CREAM.

every single day. at 10 a.m.

My kids are enrolled in zero classes. None. Zip. Worse yet, they go to

The local school district also has a drop-in playgroup I’ve been

zero organized playgroups. Ditto for casual play dates. Double ditto for

meaning to look into. Which I’ll do. Soon. I promise. It’s just … pants,

anything with the word “team” in the title. Basically they are involved

you know?

in nothing that even has a whiff of a nurturing learning environment.

Sometimes (all the time) I worry that they’ll fall behind their peers,

And that’s when I started to panic.

who can already speak Mandarin and know computer code and play

Oh god, am I a lazy mom?

on no less than four sport teams. I mean, he’s almost 3. She’s heading

I mean, I’m not a complete monster. I take them to storytime at the

toward 7 months. And neither one has developed an app, let alone sold

library. Occasionally. Or, to be more accurate, erratically. Three weeks in a row! Followed by a four-month hiatus! Cause Momma is going through a “pants are too complicated” phase!

I also take them on a fairly regular basis to one of the two playgrounds that are within walking distance from my house, where my toddler speaks gibberish to the other kids and they look confused, and I make awkward jokes with the other parents and they look confused.

We also have casual friendships with a small smattering of other neighborhood parents. But getting together and syncing up nap/food/ not sick/regularly scheduled meltdown times requires spreadsheets, that computer from “Jeopardy” and an abacus or two.

I always have good intentions. This past summer, I planned on signing up my toddler for swimming lessons. But since I was a billion months pregnant, our scheduled activities pretty much just consisted of going out for ice cream.

it for millions.

So, I torture myself daily with the question of whether I’m an underachieving slacker mother or everybody else is just an annoying overachiever.

In my rare saner moments, I remind myself that we read books daily. We have music dance parties. We do violent circles with crayons and/or chalk and call it “art.”

We go to parks and take long walks along the river by our house and do impressions of our favorite SNL characters and Skype with grandparents and do “pretend” math lessons (since my skill and my toddler’s skill are pretty much on par with each other). Our day is filled with activities. They just happen to be mostly activities you can do in your underwear and a ratty Miami University sweatshirt.

But most importantly, I remind myself in these moments that my kids are happy. They’ll spend the rest of their lives in classes and organized activities and casual gatherings and not casual meetings

Every single day.

and ...*shudder*… group work. Why not just relax and enjoy this

At 10 a.m.

unorganized and messy and chaotic and beautiful yet fleeting time in

(On the plus side, if he’s ever drowning in ice cream, I have the

their lives?

utmost confidence he’d survive.)

Once my daughter was born, I’d casually Google local Mommy and

And I take a deep breath and calm my frazzled mind.

They’re fine. They’ll be fine.

Me things or whatever. And they looked great. And they looked fun.

And that good feeling lasts for all of 30 seconds.

And they looked expensive.

Ah, but what a 30 seconds. C

Jen’s Kids Boutique www.jenskidsboutique.net

1610 N. Hwy 259 Ste 6 Kilgore, TX 75662

903.981.0075 Tues-Sat 10-6 p.m.

Layaway Available

mycharmonline.com 21

PICTURE

This!

2017 BRIDAL SHOWCASE LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 2/26/2017

FRONT ROW: KERRY HANYKA BROWN, LAUREN HANYKA, BACK ROW: LACEY WILSON, CAROL NOLAN

Photos by CHRIS LOZANO

Brides- and grooms-to-be visited Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center for the annual East Texas Bridal Showcase. The event featured an exposition of wedding vendors and a live wedding in which Brittny Peden and Joseph Fletcher married.

SAMANTHA COOPER, JASON BAKER

LISA GALLANT, MELISSA ROSSON

22 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

ERIN MCPHERSON, CASSIE WEAVER

CALLI CLANTON, DENNA MILLER

P ICTURE THIS

WAGS TO RICHES SIAN MANKIN, MICHELLE ENLOWE, TRACEY CHEEK

LONGVIEW | FLYIN’ FEATHERS RANCH | 4/1/2017 Photos by CHRIS LOZANO

Dozens of people visited Flyin’ Feathers Ranch for a casino-themed fundraiser that brought in money for an animal shelter. Wags to Riches raised funds for Upshur County Hope House For Pets, a volunteer-run shelter that seeks to find a home for stray animals in the area.

KATHY REYNOLDS, TRACEY CHEEK , CINDI COMPTON

DIANNA BERGE, FRED CONSTATINE, FRED BERGE

MANDY FAUGHN, ALICIA NOLTE, CHAD BINGHAM, CARLY LOTT

WILL AND TARYN MACINTYRE

JIM AND AIDA LACAZE

JARRED AND MORGAN WOLFORD

ROBERT AND KATHY ROUSE

mycharmonline.com 23

P ICTURE THIS

LONGVIEW SYMPHONY LONGVIEW | LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY BELCHER CENTER | 2/17/2017 Photos by CHRIS LOZANO

SCOTT LAVERN, MARIAN GURAL, JOSH FRAZIER

The public came out Feb. 17 to enjoy the sound of the Longview Symphony as Ron Raines joined the orchestra for a performance. Raines is a critically-acclaimed Broadway artist, a Tony Award nominee and a three-time Emmy nominee for his role on “Guiding Light.”

MAUREEN MAULDIN, JAY AND ELLEN GORDON

NANCY STARR, JIM MAULDIN, BARBARA MCCLELLAN JOANIE RUSSELL, PAYTON SCHAAP

GRACIE RUSSELL, BILL RUSSELL, JANICE CANYON, GINNY RUSSELL

24 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

JAYLA MOORE, MATT MCCLELLAN

ZACHARIUS NASH-KELLY, MADISON DARWISH

P ICTURE THIS

BLUE JEANS and BALL GOWNS LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 4/1/2017 Photos by CHRIS LOZANO

Local celebrities danced the night away with professional dancers MICHAEL SIMS, SAMANTHA GUNN

during the Blue Jeans and Ball Gowns fundraiser on April 1. The event raises funds for East Texas CASA. Court Appointed Special Advocates serve as a voice for abused and neglected children in the court system.

BUFFY DYESS, MISTY AMAYA, JANA CLUBB

JACKIE MOSLEY, CHRISTINA JANECKA, GREG COLQUITT, KIM GRAHAM, DANETTE HEFFNER, KATRINA HOOKS

KELSEY RUNGE, STEPHANIE ADAMS, KRISTEN AND JASON RAY

CARYN AND JEFF JOHNSON

JOHN FONTENOT, MICHELLE AND ALEX AZAR, TAMMY MITCHELL

mycharmonline.com 25

P ICTURE THIS

TRINITY SCHOOL OF TEXAS

SPRING GALA

VALERIE AND ANTHONY BROOKS, ARIADNA BORY, JEFF RAMSEY

LONGVIEW | SUMMIT CLUB | 3/25/2017 Photos by CHRIS LOZANO

East Texans brought Gatsby back March 25 as Trinity School of Texas held its spring gala at The Summit Club. The Gatsby-inspired evening raised funds for Trinity School, a private school in Longview that educates children up through the 12th grade.

BLAKE AND LISSA GORE

HEATHER AND SCOTT NEWLAND, AMY AND CHRIS LEWIS

ANGIE AND MATTHEW ALDREDGE, BECKY HOWELL

RACHEL ZHORNE, RANJIT KODALI, LARRY AND DONNA COURINGTON

LYNN AND JEFF JACKSON, CODY AND SARAH KLOTZ

26 CHARM | M AY / J U N E

DELFINA AND GARY WHITWELL

P ICTURE THIS

CHARM/VIEW

COVER REVEAL PARTY TRACEY EDWARDS, LINDSEY NICOLE LAMBERT

LONGVIEW | PURPLE MONKEY INTERIORS | 2/20/2017 Photos by CHRIS DEAN

There was a great turnout Feb. 20 at our first Charm/View Cover Reveal party, hosted at Purple Monkey Interiors on McCann Road in Longview. More than 50 people attended to get a sneak peek of the March/April issues of Charm and View. The event was catered by The Cace Kitchen and sponsored by ExcelER. Tracey Edwards, owner of Purple Monkey Interiors, said, “I thought it DAWN-RENÉE RICE, GAI BENNETT

went really great! You don’t know what to expect the first time that you have an event but I was very pleased with the turnout. Very pleased that there were so many people that I didn’t know, that didn’t know about my store that came.

I’ve had people come in after (to shop).

I had sales that night as well. I would definitely consider hosting another cover reveal party in the future.”

The next Cover Reveal Party will be hosted and sponsored by ExcelER from 5 to 7 p.m. June 15 at 120 E. Loop 281 in Longview. Catering will be provided by Perfect Catering and door prizes will be awarded throughout the evening.

For businesses interested in either hosting or sponsoring a future cover reveal party, contact Gai Bennett, event

LINDA FULLMAN, MARY RAMOS

coordinator, at (903) 232-7206 or email her at gbennett@news-journal.com. mycharmonline.com 27