Charm Magazine - November/December 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 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017Â

spread COVER STORY

CHEER! Holiday Gift Giving

ALSO INSIDE

women in business:

LINDA FULLMAN school:

MERRY BAKING making your own holiday cookies

FLIP-the-ISSUE

Less waiting for emergency care (and a lot more care, if you need it).

In a medical emergency, every minute matters. So, at Longview Regional Medical Center, you’ll find faster care in the emergency room. We work diligently to have you initially seen by a medical professional* in 30 minutes – or less. And, with a team of dedicated medical specialists, we can provide a lot more care, if you need it.

The 30-Minutes-Or-Less E.R. Service Pledge – only at Longview Regional Medical Center.

LongviewRegional.com *Medical professionals may include physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

s t n e t n o C NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017

Beauty: Coal in Your Stocking

Feature: Linda Fullman, Fullman & Lawrence Agency

8

Beauty 8

10

Cover Story: Spread Cheer: Holiday Gift Giving Guide

15

Women in Business: Linda Fullman, Fullman & Lawrence Agency

24

Aprill Brandon: For the Love of Suds!

18

Cozy & Cool

In Every Issue 14 26

Shop This!

Picture This!

F EATU

RE

ALSO INSIDE

women in business:

NINA SISK school

FAUX PUMPKIN

decorating ideas that are perfect for fall

FLIP-the-ISSUE

I

C

& Othehirld Labor Laws Perks o f Pare

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4 CHARM | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

When it comes to giving holiday gifts, you want to find an item that will make the recipient feel special. Longview has many amazing local stores and boutiques that will help you find those one-of-akind gifts that your family and friends feel loved and special this Christmas.

Spot the Charm

COVER STORY

Violating

On the Cover

22

Fashion

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

MEETS

School: Merry Baking: Making your own Holiday Cookies

Coal in your Stocking

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

luxury

18

15

Features

WILDERNESS

Fashion: Cozy & Cool

Our September/October Spot the Charm winner was David Logan and he received a $100 Visa gift card. He spotted the Charm on Page 28 in our last issue!

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.

The

List

The Season is upon us! Here are my favorites for the children on your list.

~Julia

From Melissa & Doug, we found these colorful, durable, woven play rugs in seven themes including Horse, Work Site, Safari, Race Track, Farm and more! Each 36” x 39” theme rug comes with appropriate play pieces providing hours of imaginative play. Ages 3+ $29.99

ThisThe Pee Wee & Junior Composite Passback Football is the perfect innovative training aid for young football players just learning how to throw and catch a football. The smaller size actually ts their hands which improves reaction time and helps develop solid throw ing fundamentals. Just throw against a hard surface and it BOUNCES BACK - great for singular practice!

Pee Wee ages 4-8 $19.99 Junior ages 9-13 $27.99

I am thrilled to introduce THE GIVING MANGER, inspired & developed by three young mothers. These four components interactively focus the Christmas season on Christ, on giving, and on service: A BOOK - a heart warming story to explain the tradition and get your kids excited to start.

W OODEN MANGER - to be placed in a very visible spot in your home, waiting to be lled.

BUNDLE OF STRAW - a piece of straw will be placed in the manger after each act of service.

A BABY JESUS - to be placed in the manger full of service & love on Christmas Day. $34.99 At last, a really great device for young singers! The Sing-along Pro - Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone & Speaker with multifunction design connects effortlessly to smartphone, tablet or computer. The high capacity battery provides hours of wireless portable entertainment and 5 audio lters provide full control & more fun! Loaded with extra features - this is a deluxe model. $39.99 The hallmark of miniature since 1926, from Gurzk, Germany. Distinguished by elaborate details and ruggedness for durability, many at a scale of 1:16.

They are the BEST! And Barron’s keeps a great selection. Shown: Low Loader Truck & backhoe loader $139

The Rock & Roll It! is a exible roll-up piano that has every feature a kid could want - it is WAY more than just a “toy”!

Ages 6+ $49.99 Rainbow Piano $59.99 

When it needs to be

special, you’ll find it here!

LOOP 281 @ MCCANN • 903.663.2060 • MON-SAT 10-6 HOLIDAY HOURS BLACK FRI - DEC 23: MON-SAT 10-8 SUN 1-5 /BARRONSLONGVIEW

@BARRONS_CAFEBARRONS

LOL&M

Lots of Laughs and Music

CHARM / VIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 PUBLISHER Stephen McHaney EDITOR Ric Brack • 903.237.7759 • rbrack@news-journal.com

Building 429

MANAGING EDITOR Christina Lane • 903.237.7724 • clane@news-journal.com

11.2.17 • 7pm Sponsored by Chick-Fil-A

ART DIRECTOR Katie Case • 903.237.7715 • kcase@news-journal.com

Charlie Daniels Band 11.5.17 Sponsored by Longview News-Journal

Photographer Michael Cavazos • 903.237.7748 • mcavazos@news-journal.com DESIGNER Sara Bryan ILLUSTRATOR Michelle Laverell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS April Barbe • Becky Bell • Aprill Brandon Jo Lee Ferguson • Christina Lane • Amy McHaney Dawn-Renée Rice • Meredith Shamburger

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker 11.17.17

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Courtney Case • Les Hassell

Rhythmic Circus 12.2.17

Sponsored by Pelaia Law Center Friends of the Belcher Center

2017-2018 Season and Individual show tickets on sale Now!

Buy all 5 remaining season shows, save 11%

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Larry Jobe • 903.237.7727 • ljobe@news-journal.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Thomas Bonner • 361.574.1249 • tbonner@vicad.com Sylvia Darden • 903.237.7721 • sdarden@news-journal.com Chris Dean • 903.237.7719 • cdean@news-journal.com Kerri Esposito • 903.232.7276 • kesposito@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 CIRCULATION Josh Hart • 903.237.7765 • jhart@news-journal.com PRODUCED BY TCM PRINTING Sherri Goodwin • 903.232.7245 • sgoodwin@tcmprinting.com SPECIAL THANK YOU TO Models: Casey Ardoin, Raylynn Henry, Madison Montoya and Victoria Parker Raylynn's makeup was provided by Makeup by Mindy of Longview.

Season Sponsors: Martin Midstream Partners, KLTV Marquee Sponsors: Joy Global Foundation, Carol and Richard Manley, Transet Co. 6 CHARM | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

mycharmonline.com • news-journal.com

NEW LOCATION! Opens November 9th!

Tell ‘em Frankie Sent ya!

MON - FRI | 8AM - 8PM SAT - SUN | 8AM - 6PM

CHRISTUS Good Shepherd NorthPark Medical Plaza 323 E. Hawkins Pkwy | Longview | TX 75605 | 903.297.1733 Outpatient Department of CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center

17-1953

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www.casafloraflowers.com 903.753.4492 mycharmonline.com 7

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Activated charcoal is the byproduct of a variety of substances – peat, coconut shells, bone char, petroleum coke, coal, olive pits or sawdust – processed at very high temperatures that changes its internal structure.

The resulting activated charcoal is highly porous and nonpolar. The activated charcoal adsorbs – or binds to rather than absorbs – toxins and odors from gases or liquids. It can actually adsorb up to 1,000 times its weight!

Activated charcoal has been used for medicinal purposes for years – namely in the treatment of drug overdoses – with incorporating it into beauty treatments being a more recent phenomenon. It’s worth noting that the results of products containing activated charcoal are mostly anecdotal, but it’s fun to try out a low-cost beauty fad every once in a while. Here’s what I learned …

TOOTH WHITENING Activated charcoal powder has long been used for teeth cleaning in Africa and southern Asia; new to the market, however, are charcoal toothpastes claiming to whiten teeth naturally.

A paste with high ratings online is My Magic Mud Whitening Toothpaste (Natural Grocers – $8.65). And muddy it is; the packaging should warn you of the freaky black toothpaste inside. I guess that detail might seem obvious to some, but it still shocked me the first

COAL

IN YOUR STOCKING Words by AMY MCHANEY

If you find yourself on the Naughty list this Christmas, you can put that coal to work in your beauty regimen!

As I was walking the beauty aisles of local retailers looking for inspiration for my column, I couldn’t help but notice all the charcoal!

From face masks to toothpaste – and at all price points – charcoal seemed to be everywhere.

What in the world can a black, sooty substance do for you? From skin cleansing to facial masks to tooth whitening, charcoal appears to be the “it” ingredient.

It turns out that the charcoal used in beauty products is “activated charcoal.” Activated charcoal is not the same as regular charcoal, which is a known carcinogen. What is activated charcoal, you ask?

8 CHARM | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

time I used it. As did the way it made my entire mouth turn black. And my entire sink when I spit it out.

Aside from the unusual hue, the paste contains no toxic ingredients, no fluoride, no cruelty and no gluten, among other attributes. The wintergreen flavor was not unpleasant, though not fresh and minty either. My teeth felt extra clean after I brushed with the Magic Mud. The jury is still out on just how well it whitens, though; in hindsight I’m not sure I’m the best candidate for a good test of this paste. I don’t use any of the substances Magic Mud claims to remove from teeth – in this case coffee, wine and smoke stains. If you’re looking for a natural way to rid your teeth of these types of stains, Magic Mud may be just what you’re looking for.

SKIN CARE The skin care arena is where the activated charcoal offerings are staggering; I challenge you to walk down the skin care aisle at Target without a mask or cleanser clad in black packaging catching your eye.

As I mentioned above, activated charcoal absorbs substances.

Activated charcoal in skin care is often used to pull away oil, dirt and debris. There are many facial masks on the market promoting purifying qualities; one to try is the Merle Norman Purifying Peel-Off Charcoal Mask. In addition to the purifying function of activated charcoal, this mask utilizes green tea and soybean extracts to soothe skin.

The Biore skin care line, known to teenagers everywhere for its pore-cleansing, peel-off strips, offers a charcoal version to “target the root of all skin problems – the evil clogged pore.” The Biore Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips (Target – $13.99 for 18) claims to draw out excess oil for “the deepest clean.” My friend Lily tested these pore strips on her one clogged pore (!) and gives this product a thumbs up – along with many happy customers who have rated the product online.

HAIR CARE Activated charcoal can also help those looking to extend their blowout – the oil in your hair can just as easily bind to charcoal as the oil on your face. Nancy Twine founded Briogeo, a line of hair care products she worked to develop with a natural product chemist with a goal of providing a holistic approach to scalp healing that’s simple and effective.

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo (Briogeo.com – $24) utilizes binchotan, a hyper-porous activated charcoal from Japan, to draw impurities from the scalp and detoxify the scalp and hair. It also claims to normalize oil production, providing a long-term fix for an oily scalp. The dry shampoo is safe for color treated, keratin treated, chemically-treated and relaxed hair.

FINALLY… It’s worth noting that part of the charcoal mania are detox drinks that claim to do everything from cleanse your body from toxins to cure hangovers. This might be one application to skip given that activated charcoal can bind to vitamins and nutrients, actually removing the

LILY DANIELSON

good stuff for your body. Even worse, there is potential to bind to medications, possibly reducing their effectiveness. C

wonder-full

WINTER Welcome the holiday season joyfully with a free winter makeover.

Located in: Longview Mall 3500 McCann Rd, Longview, TX 75605

903-753-0041

Hours: Mon-Sat 10-9 Sun 12-6 Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios have been independently owned and operated since 1931

mycharmonline.com 9

COVER STORY

r e e h C D A E R P S

DE I U G G GIVIN

L GIFT HASSEL Y A S & LES O Z D A I V A L C HO ICHAEL otos by M NE | Ph

TINA LA

y CHRIS Words b

10 CHARM | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

W

KENDRA SCOTT JEWELRY AT ELLIE BEE'S

hen it comes to giving holiday gifts, you want to find an item that will make the recipient feel special. That can be hard if you’re shopping at a

mass market retailer where the same items are available across the rest of the country. But, Longview has many amazing local stores and boutiques that will help you find those one-of-a-kind gifts that your family and friends feel loved and special this Christmas.

“Holiday shopping can get out of hand quickly as you search for unique gifts. We offer many unique things that are also affordable,” said Lindsay Crenshaw, owner of Ellie Bee’s.

Lindsay opened Ellie Bee’s seven years ago as a paper and gift shop where, over the years, she has worked to create unique cards and to offer different items to the community.

Like Ellie Bee’s, that’s the philosophy for many of Longview’s other new and long-time stores and boutiques. Celebrating its 45th year in business, Barron’s has always had one focus in mind at its store: Making customers feel special. That’s especially true at the holidays as the store carries a unique selection of items that will not only make customers happy but are certain to leave the gift recipients with a smile on their faces as well.

“We believe that’s important and we believe our community

ITEMS BY JON HART AT ELLIE BEE'S

is important. Jim and Julia (Barron) have always wanted to make sure people remember how special they are,” said Lacy Barron, who works at Barron’s with the family.

And when you shop local, not only will you see unique gifts but your money will stay in the city.

“All of that money stays here in Longview. We all live together, we work together, we play together. We’re supporting Longview when we buy local,” said Kathi Holbert, of Louis Morgan No. 4.

So what are the hot items to look for at locally-owned Longview stores this holiday?

Well, at Ellie Bee’s you’ll find a wide array of seasonal items, such as holiday-themed gift towels, decorations, hand soaps and more. Not only do those items make great décor, they also make excellent gifts. Ellie Bee’s is the only store in Longview at which

KENDRA SCOTT EARRINGS AT ELLIE BEE'S

you can buy Kendra Scott jewelry. From her bold geometric earrings to chunky pendant necklaces, much of Kendra Scott's jewelry line is priced at less than $100. Having affordable items is important to Lindsay, especially at the holidays when families are already spending a lot of money on gifts.

At Louis Morgan, you can find loungewear and a variety of specialized children’s toys, even though the location is not specifically a clothing store or a toy store. Louis Morgan carries NEST candles and LAFCO candles, each of which come in a variety of fragrances and each of which make good holiday gifts. continued on pg. 12 

mycharmonline.com 11

PRODUCTS BY MICHAEL ARAM AT LOUIS MORGAN NO. 4

The store also carries an array of jewelry lines, “and we have wonderful tabletop lines,” Kathi said, noting such brands as Michael Aram, Juliska and Vietri (an Italian dinnerware line).

Each brand carries serving pieces and dinnerware and each is great for building a collection of fine dinnerware.

The store also has unique Christmas accessories for sale during this time of year.

In existence since 1969, Louis Morgan No. 4 is well-established in the community and that means Kathi has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to understanding her East Texas customers.

“We have the advantage of knowing so many of our customers.

It’s much easier to buy things when you know your customers

RONALDO DESIGNER JEWELRY AT LOUIS MORGAN NO. 4

– when you know their interests and their likes,” she said. “We really pride ourselves on our customer services. That’s what has made us successful after all these years and that’s one thing that we think makes us stand above some of the big stores.”

Julia Barron, who with her husband Jim, has owned Barron’s for 45 years echoed that sentiment.

“We live here. We know our customers. We know the value system of our community, and we go and shop at different markets for our customers,” she said.

Julia and Jim have traveled all over hunting for unique items to

PRODUCTS BY LAURA ZINDEL AT LOUIS MORGAN NO. 4

bring back to East Texas. At her store, you can a variety of items made across the country. For example, 3D puzzles in the shape of animals, such as bears and dogs, were made in Atlanta. The puzzles were created with a 3D printer, Julia said.

Also in Atlanta, Julia discovered Houston Llew Spiritiles. She followed the company for several years, eventually deciding to sell his items in her store. Spiritiles are glass on copper artwork that features a design on the front with a quote around the edge. For example, a Spiritile showing a woman in a black dress features a quote by French fashion designer Coco Chanel. Julia initially was attracted to the Spiritiles because of the design but then read the quotes and realized they bear a lot of depth.

JEWELRY BY JULIE VOS AT LOUIS MORGAN NO. 4

12 CHARM | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

PRODUCTS BY LAURA ZINDEL AT LOUIS MORGAN NO. 4

LASER ENGRAVED PRODUCTS AT BARRON'S

HOUSTON LLEW SPIRITILE AT BARRON'S

TEXAS-THEME THROW PILLOW AT BARRON'S

“It’s a really nice way to express a sentiment,” Lacy said.

For children, Barron’s carries a variety of unique gifts this season. Melissa & Doug toys are a modern nod to classic toys with such items as a road rug with maps and a Latches Board that is designed to teach children colors, shapes and numbers.

“It’s hands-on and interactive,” Julia said.

German company Bruder makes a line of emergency, commercial, construction, forestry, agriculture and leisure vehicles that Julia said are designed to be 1/18 or less to scale of the real thing. Barron’s also carries holiday books for children.

For the young at heart, Lacy recommends a Sing Along Pro, a microphone with a speaker so you can karaoke at home. It connects through Bluetooth for you to download karaoke songs and sing along.

To that end, Barron’s sells everything from Texas coasters and whiskey rocks to Cat Studio pillows and frosted glasses that pay homage to the Lone Star State.

Barron’s offers Swig and Corkcicle cups, which are glasses designed to keep wine cold for up to 24 hours (a similar concept to Yeti tumblers but for wine lovers). Cups sold through Barron’s can be monogrammed locally as part of a partnership Barron’s has arranged with an individual in town.

“You can also use the wine tumbler as an ice cream cup for a child to keep their ice cream cold,” Lacy suggested, offering a dual purpose for the cups.

In terms of Christmas themed décor, Barron’s carries Christopher Radko ornaments, which are hand painted in Poland.

“We also wanted to make sure we offer a lot of Texas theme

So as you begin your holiday shopping, consider local stores

gifts,” Lacy said. “We have a lot of people who visit from out of

and boutiques to find those gifts that you aren’t likely to find

town or people returning home for a visit, and they want to take a

anyone else. It’s certain to make your loved ones feel extra special

little bit of Texas back with them.”

this holiday season! C mycharmonline.com 13

Shop this!

Winter Wants

Rustic Cuff Brandi Bracelet $38 TRENDY CHICKS

Pink Panache Earrings $29.95 TRENDY CHICKS

Shiraleah Evening Bag $36 BARRON’S MIA Cameo Embroidered Mule $52.95 THAT GIRL’S BOUTIQUE

Klutch Buckle Bag $36.95 THAT GIRL’S BOUTIQUE

Berkley Plaid Reversible Scarf $22 THAT GIRL’S BOUTIQUE

14 CHARM | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

Echo Chenille Scarf $49 BARRON’S

F EATURE

WOMEN in business: LINDA FULLMAN Fullman & Lawrence Agency

Words by DAWN-RENÉE RICE | Photo by MICHAEL CAVAZOS

L

inda Fullman is a woman with a passion

As a young college student at the University

Against Drunk Driving) of East Texas. Between

to help others, whether it’s through

of Arizona, Linda was in a severe car wreck

losing two close friends in high school due to

her insurance business, Fullman &

caused by another driver who was uninsured.

a drunk driving accident and seeing multiple

Lawrence Agency, or her volunteer work.

“I was a paraplegic for a year and finished

insurance claims come in related to drunk

The road that took her to owning her own

my senior year, part of it in a wheelchair and part

driving, she felt compelled to volunteer her

insurance company wasn’t a straight shot. There

of it starting to rehab and get back with being

time and services to that specific cause.

were many twists and turns along the way.

ambulatory with a cane. I wasn’t supposed to

But where it led her to is a successful, thriving

walk again,” Linda said.

business and as a helping hand within the Longview community.

“Essentially, I like to say that we do anything that has to do with the three W’s – wheels, walls and wealth,” Linda said.

“I’m also part of 100 Women Who Care in Longview, I serve as an ambassador for the

She learned a lot about insurance during

(Longview) Chamber of Commerce, and I

that time period, about being underinsured

volunteer with CASA for the Blue Jeans and

and what happens when someone is driving

Ball Gowns committee,” Linda said.

with no insurance.

She also does her part to help people in

“That impacted me financially and was really

the community. She looks for and supports a

As owner of Fullman & Lawrence Agency, she

devastating. That stayed with me for quite a while,”

local person in need through her Community

works as an Allstate agent, helping people insure

Linda said. She added that she was fortunate to

Causes program.

everything from their personal vehicles, homes

have a kind benefactor who helped with her bills.

and motorcycles to recreational vehicles and commercial businesses and vehicles.

After the death of her brother a few years later, she took on the responsibility of taking care of her

“We go out in the community and find someone who might be under the radar or needs extra assistance,” Linda said.

But that’s just scratching the surface.

mother, who developed dementia. Eventually,

Volunteering is something she is truly

“We go into wealth as well – retirement

she found herself in Longview, partnering with

passionate about and it shows through her time

strategies, helping families prepare for college

Gary Lawrence Insurance. She took over the

and efforts with the multiple causes she supports.

savings, IRAs, 401k rollovers, mutual funds,

insurance practice altogether when he retired and

“I have had a lot of loss and changes in my

long-term disability and long-term care, as well

rebranded under the name Fullman & Lawrence

life and one thing is, nothing is constant. The

as life insurance, which is something very near

Agency. Recently, she was named as 2017 Small

only thing that is constant is change,” Linda

and dear to my heart,” she said.

Minority Business of the Year.

said. “Tomorrow is never guaranteed. So live

Linda has faced several situations that made

Aside from her work, Linda also volunteers

your life on purpose and with passion. It’s too

her have to deal with insurance, and one aspect

in the community, holding positions as board

short to do things you don’t love. I genuinely

she saw was the need for people to be educated

chair of the American Red Cross serving East

love helping people and feel like I’m making a

about their choices.

Texas and as president of MADD (Mothers

difference in someone’s life.” C mycharmonline.com 15

White

DREAMING OF A

PHOTOGRAPHER: CHRIS LOZANO BOOTS/JACKET PROVIDED BY CAVENDER’S MAKEUP BY MINDY

@PETERSLONGVIEW

s a m t s i Chr

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S CHOOL

MERRY BAKING:

MAKING YOUR OWN HOLIDAY COOKIES

Instead, you are laughing about the mistakes with the person who is with you,” Danielle said.

For the Christmas cookie newcomer who wants to try making holiday cookies with their family, Danielle recommends cookie cutters to get the right shapes. She also recommends making a type of cookie that doesn’t spread out too much during baking for home projects.“Sugar cookies are what most people like because

Words by BECKY BELL

D

they are easy to decorate, but I think snickerdoodles hold up well and lemon cookies,” she said.

anielle Kirby, cake decorator and bakery manager

An example of a cookie that does not work well for decorating

at the Butcher Shop in Longview, has many childhood

is the all-American favorite, chocolate chip, she said. Making

memories of decorating Christmas cookies with

gingerbread men — at least the decorating part — is not hard

her mother.

Now, as an adult, she gets to share something that has always given her joy with her customers.

“Snowmen, stars, Christmas trees, those are the basic, easy ones to do. Candy canes are always simple,” Danielle said.

These days Danielle’s mother, Barbara Kirby, bakes the cookies and saves the decorating to do with her daughter.

because all you have to do is to make a face on the cookie and give him a scarf, if desired.

Another mistake many rookie bakers make is melting butter in the microwave when the recipe calls to simply soften the butter.

Another must is to make sure to add sprinkles to cookies before the icing sets; otherwise, the sparkly sprinkles will not adhere to the cookie and will end up making a mess.

Denna Miller, one of the owners of La Cabane de Dessert, said

“It makes the experience more light-hearted and fun instead

a good tip for making Christmas cookies is to refrigerate the dough

of feeling like you are stressed and trying to get a product out.

for about 30 minutes before you roll it out. Her next tip is to flour

22 CHARM | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

the surface you are going to work on and flour the rolling pin, then use a cookie cutter to cut the dough into the desired shape. Make sure you have a spatula to pick up the cookie and make sure the spatula has been sprinkled with flour.

When getting ready to bake, consider how close together you place the dough on the pan.

“I always say at least an inch and a half of space between each cookie, and depending on how thick your cookie is will be how you roll out the dough,” Denna said. “You don’t want to roll it too thin, but if you do it too thick you will distort the cookie. A quarter-inch thick is a good measurement.”

For those nervous about shapes, circular cookies (such as for holiday ornaments) make for an easy start. Denna said there is more room for error in the thickness of the dough when you are making a circular cookie.

After the cookies bake allow them to cool for 15 to 20 minutes, then pick them up with a spatula and lay them on parchment paper to decorate. When you touch them, you do not want them to be warm or they could crack, she said.

Wilton icing, which is available in the baking section at most stores, is a good option to decorate with as it is piped, she said.

Another option is to use a can of icing.

Those who want to decorate cookies without the mess of baking them, can purchase plain cookies from a bakery and take them home.

“They order different shapes and then just come and pick them up,” Denna said. “Most of the people who order them are grandmothers. During Christmas we always have some in the case, but we usually ask for a week’s notice.”

Debbie Fontaine, owner of Edible Art Specialty Cakes and Cookies, also gives props to royal icing. She recommends bakers go online to wilton.com for recipes for royal icing.

“It’s an excellent, excellent recipe,” Debbie said. “I highly recommend it for the home baker who wants to make pretty cookies. There is even a tutorial video about the keys to icing consistency.”

Debbie agrees circular ornament cookies are great to decorate with children. She said decorating cookies is also a good idea for a retirement home. Traditional Christmas shaped cookies, such as snowmen, can be cut quickly with a cookie cutter.

“They could have their chefs cut them out and they could sit around big tables and ice cookies and eat them. They could have some coffee and each one decorate two to three cookies,” she said.

Although wedding cookies, also known as Italian wedding cookies or Mexican wedding cookies, may not be the best to decorate, Fontaine recommends them for a quick cookie that is delicious and easy to make for the holidays. C mycharmonline.com 23

F EATURE

FOR THE

ey. Hi. How are you doing? Busy? Yeah, me too. But if you have a minute, could you come over here? *pats couch* Oh, you’d rather stay there? Sure, no problem.

We can just do this right here in the kitchen then.

Look, I know this won’t be easy. But it’s time. We’ve put this off for

OF

long enough. I know, I know. I’ve been dreading it too. But ... sigh...

We need to talk.

How long have we been together now? Going on seven years, isn’t it? And, hey, I’ll be the first to admit it hasn’t been perfect.

I’ve said and done things I’m not proud of. Flipping you off and throwing spaghetti at you was not one of my finer moments. Nor

Words by APRILL BRANDON Illustrations by MICHELLE LAVERELL

was that profanity-laced tirade last month when I unfairly blamed you for breaking my favorite wine glass. You know, the giant one that can fit an entire bottle of wine in it? But you’re far from perfect, too. You’ve flooded my kitchen. Twice.

We’ve made it work though. Somehow, through it all, we’ve made it work.

Oh, but Dishwasher, lately it seems you are trying to hurt me on purpose. Every night, no matter what was cooked or what was eaten, there is always that one dish left over on the counter that simply

24 CHARM | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

won’t fit inside you. I rearrange, and rearrange, and rearrange again. But it just won’t fit. Sometimes it’s a plate, sometimes a pan, sometimes a sippy cup or two. It doesn’t matter what. All that

I MEAN, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? WASH IT BY

matters is that it’s always SOMETHING. And I don’t feel I’m exaggerating when I say that the one thing that won’t fit inside you is ruining my life.

DOES THE TECHNOLOGY TO DO THAT EVEN

Now wait, wait, wait. Don’t get mad. Just listen. Because I know I’m asking a lot more of you these days. We have two kids now. We basically doubled the size of our family in just a few short years.

And even though it’s only two kids, it pretty much tripled your workload. I’ll be the first to admit those tiny, adorable creatures are super gross, especially when it comes to food. The sheer amount of leftover ketchup we force down your throat now ... I mean, just

ANYMORE?

gallons of it. You really have been a champ about all of it.

But that is no reason to start slacking off. To start being petty and refusing to fit ALL the dinner dishes inside your, let’s be honest, cavernous insides. No, no, no. I don’t mean anything by that. Only that there seems to be ample room in there. Yet, there’s that one pot still sitting on the stove. Unable to fit. I mean, what am I supposed to do? Wash it by HAND? Does the technology to do that even EXIST anymore?

Sigh... look, we’re getting off track here. Let’s just breathe and regroup.

I just want the kitchen clean. For once. Can you understand that

Oh, well yes, if you must know, I have had a few glasses of wine

desire? Just completely, undeniably clean when I wake up in the

already, but that has nothing to do with this. And you can take that

morning. It’s a small thing, but thanks to those beautiful ketchup-

judgmental tone out of your voice, DISHWASHER. Who are you

guzzlers I gave birth to, my life has devolved into utter chaos. There

to judge me? I wouldn’t even let my smartphone talk to me like that

are days where I am barely holding on. I need just one little, small,

and it’s my best friend.

tiny area of my life that is orderly and tidy, especially since I have ceded the rest of the household territory to my savage heathen offspring and their army of toys. They’ve even laid siege to the bathroom with their giant militia of bathtub duckies.

So, that space, MY space, has to be the kitchen. But when I wake up in the morning after yet another night of not enough sleep and see there are still dirty dishes, it pushes me into an IRRATIONAL RAGE that I find hard to CONTROL because I spend all day trying to be Mary FREAKING Poppins, only without the paycheck, and since I SWALLOW MY ANGER ALL THE TIME IT HAS TO BE UNLEASHED SOMEWHERE AND RIGHT NOW THAT IS ON YOU, DISHWASHER. *heavy panting* Sorry. That was uncalled for. Let’s just calm down and try this again. I’ll move this plate over here...and put this up here...flip this skillet the other way...and...ahhhhhhh...JUST FIT ALL THE STUPID DISHES INSIDE YOU, DISHWASHER! JUST DO IT! Do it, do it, do it!

And by the way, I know it was you who broke the wine glass! *grabs bottle of wine and storm out in a huff* C mycharmonline.com 25

PICTURE

This!

CHARM/VIEW

COVER REVEAL PARTY

JULANE SULLIVAN

LONGVIEW | MERLE NORMAN COSMETIC STUDIO | 8/17/2017 Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS

There was a great turnout at the Charm/View Cover

KAYLEIGH MAYHALL, JASON BAKER, POONAM PATEL, LISSA BROWN

Reveal party on Aug. 17, hosted at Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio located inside Longview Mall. ExcelER sponsored the cover reveal party and Perfect Catering provided catering services.

“We were very excited to host,” Judy Kennemer, owner of Merle Norman, said. “It was a lot of fun, and it was a great way to introduce people to my store. My staff also had a great time!”

The next Cover Reveal Party is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at Barron’s, 405 W. Loop 281 in Longview.

ExcelER is sponsoring the event. Café Barron’s will

KIM PILGRIM, CLAIRE STOPANI

SHARLAN WARDLAW, BONNIE BEADLES

provide catering and door prizes will be awarded throughout the evening.

“This will be a great Christmas shopping opportunity,” event coordinator Gai Bennett said.

For businesses interested in either hosting or sponsoring a future cover reveal party, contact Bennett at (903) 2327206 or email her at gbennett@news-journal.com.

SUSAN CLARK, JUDY KENNEMER

26 CHARM | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

DYANNE SHEPPARD, GEORGIA GRANT

P ICTURE THIS

MERCY MANOR’S

RECIPE FOR LIFE BANQUET LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 8/27/2017 Photos by COURTNEY CASE

The fourth annual “Recipe for Life” banquet raised money for Mercy Manor, which offers a safe environment to teens in crisis pregnancy. Mike MIKE G. WILLIAMS

Williams served as the guest speaker, entertaining a crowd with his humor.

VENITA HOWARD, MARY DOUG BAKER RHONDA & LANCE NOLL, LAURA & JOHN BORENS

BO SHERIDAN, MISTY ORMS

AMY & BRANDON HEIM, KEN & GINA TERRY

KEN & BECKY HUMPHREY, STEPHANIE FEARS

mycharmonline.com 27

P ICTURE THIS

BAGS, BLING & BINGO LONGVIEW | EAST TEXAS BUILDERS ASSOCIATION EVENT CENTER | 9/12/2017 Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS

Dozens of women attended a Sept. 12 fundraiser that will help with Longview Habitat for Humanity’s annual Women’s Build. Bags, Bling &

CAMMIE & ASHLEY CAMP

Bingo allowed women to play bingo for prizes of fashion jewelry and designer handbags, all while contributing money to a good cause.

SHARON DENTON, TAYLOR COE, ALICESON HOWELL, DEBBIE BRAUNE

SOPHIA BORENS, EBONY WILSON

AMANDA SAXON, SHANTANA DUKE

28 CHARM | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

SUZY MCCHESNEY, SHIRLEY GRIFFIN

CRYSTAL GEORGE, LEXIE ARNOLD, JUANITA LEBLANC, LORI WILCOX

TRACY MCCORMACK, BECKY COOPER