Lola Magazine September/October 2017

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Geaux Smile

[

for a Cure

[

Help us Geaux Pink! In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, for every patient that chooses pink bands, Dr. Lang will donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation!

Live, Love & Geaux Smile

Morgan Trahant Lang, DDS | GeauxSmile.com | 318.861.0700 SHREVEPORT: 814 Pierremont Rd | NATCHITOCHES: 129 E. 5TH St

Dr. Morgan Trahant Lang


Contents

FASHION

20 Fall Fashion Trends From fun florals to bold black and white. 72 Fashion for the Ages Look your best at every age.

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

63 Integrate your Health An Integrative approach to sleep. 100 Pretty Genius Makeup tips for a fresh look. 79 Cognition Ignition What is Cognition and how does it affect learning processes at all ages.

HOME AND ENTERTAINING

7 Hostess with the Mostess with Jessica Comegys Tailgate like the experts. 34 Home Trends Surprising interior design trends that are making a comeback. 88 Design Therapy with Clinton Downing Harvesting designs for fall. 15 The Island at D’arbonne A local group attracts a huge following flipping an island lake house into a stunning venue. 58 The Boss of Southern Cuisine Hardette Harris’s famous mac-n-cheese.

KIDDOS

59 Are you Sensory Aware? Occupational therapist Amy Papa gives insight on signs to look for. 56 Trick or Treat DIY Halloween costumes. 27 Safety First The importance of protecting our children while playing sports.

72

COMMUNITY

85 Pints for a Purpose Susan G. Komen is more than just pink. 107 Behind the Scenes The making of a movie part two. 108 Must-Attend Events 96 Less about Coffee. More about Community. A closer look at Bon Temps Coffee owner and Shreveport detective Marcus Mitchell.

LOUISIANA LADIES

7

82 Heavenly Acres Honoring the memories of our beloved pets. 12 Sports WOMANS Paradise Ladies who hunt and fish with the best of them. 30 A True Story of Power and Grace Local dance teacher shares her story. 93 Travel Matters Surviving change in your holiday traditions. 110 From Her perspective A look inside the perspective of local pastor Juliet Spencer. 40 Boss Babes of the Food Industry Local women restaurant owners who are rocking the food industry. 69 A Path to My Purpose Tricia Stewart with the Nouveau Wedding finds her calling. 66 Nana’s Story A story of a mother’s faith after great loss.

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shades

471 Ashley Ridge, Shreveport, Louisiana 71106

(318) 861 -4009


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O

ur world is full of negative media coverage this day in time. No matter how hard we try to stay positive, there is so much focus on negativity, division of

race, politics, and religion. It is disheartening to say the least, but there is still so much good in the world. Good deserves the spotlight sometimes, especially today. Lola Magazine hopes to be a beacon of light in darker times. We hope to share stories that inspire, stories of good people doing good things in our communities. This issue of Lola Magazine brings fun fashion for all ages, home design trends,

PUBLISHER

Bevin Sutton Hicks bevinlolamag@gmail.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Carie Cotter Hart Carielolamag@gmail.com

ASSISTANT ADVERTISING ASSOCIATES

Taylor Machen taylorlolamag@gmail.com Ashley Dillard ashleylolamag@gmail.com

PUBLIC RELATIONS AND CHARITABLE EVENTS COORDINATOR

Niki Frank nikilolamag@gmail.com• 318-355-1663 DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Tommy Stow Sutton 318-560-5785

DISTRIBUTION ASSOCIATE

Halloween costume ideas for the kiddos, beauty tips for flawless makeup, how

Carl Hammock 318-607-7106

to tailgate like the experts, but this issue also shares stories of faith, hope, and

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

community. Fall is a time of family and friends. It is a time for things to cool down a bit and a time for celebration. We hope that you enjoy cheering on your favorite football team cozied up with good food and the people that you hold dear. With the anticipation of a crisp breeze and a breath of fresh air, let’s remember the good in the world. Let’s celebrate all the blessings before us, together as one human race.

Love, Bevin Please continue to pray for everyone's favorite compadre Juan Zuniga and his family. Thank you Shreveport/Bossier for showing your love and support to this wonderful family! #allforjuan #elcompadre

Rosemary McMaster Lolamaginfo@gmail.com • 318-230-3967 ART DIRECTION & LAYOUT

Richard Creative

ADVERTISING DESIGN

Nancy-Jane Karam

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dr. Nicole Cotter Donesa Walker Jessica Comegys Clinton Downing Madeline DeBlieux Edward Nadar Kathy Spurlock Rosemary McMaster Amy Papa Dr. Shane Burton Christy Holden Tricia Stewart Lindsay Heard Jaci DeArmond Kelly Matkins Carol Richey Kenya Ross Hardette Harris Juliet Spencer

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brittany Strickland Jo Claire Robertson Soul Rebels Photography Jarrett Warren

FALL FASHION TRENDS: Photographer / Brittany Strickland Models / Taylor Machen / Kenya Ross / Kyleigh Jane Make Up / Michael Angelo / Kelly Lawrence FASHION FOR THE AGES: Photographer / Brittany Strickland Models /Jessica Latin / Rachael McCoy / Tina Martinez Marilyn Flournoy / Shirley Magill Make Up / Michael Angelo / Kelly Lawrence ON THE COVER Photographer / Brittany Strickland FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Call 318-573-6847

*Reproduction of contents without express written permission is prohibited. Lola Magazine is published bi-monthly by Stamper Marketing, LLC. 3811 Youree Drive, Shreveport, La 71105, Phone (318) 573-6847. Lola Magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any advertiser. Distribution of Lola Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products and/or services. Lola Magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the publications content. Nonetheless, we do not guarantee the accuracy of all information, nor the absence of errors. No responsibility will be assumed. Visit us online at readlola.com to subscribe. Lola Magazine is owned by Stamper Marketing, LLC.


Finding the house to call home,

and choosing the best mortgage loan. Whether you’d like to purchase, remodel, or build your home, it’s easier when you start with a free quote, and pre-qualifying for your loan lets you know how to shop. Our Mortgage Lenders work with you to determine the best choice for your needs among available home mortgage options.

One More Reason. Try the advantage of our personal service with our local lending team. Contact Ginger Holton | (318) 651-5043 | gholton@progressivebank.com Or apply online at ProgressiveBank.com

RESIDENTIAL LENDING SERVICES Monroe | West Monroe | Winnsboro | Bossier City | Shreveport All residential mortgage loans subject to normal credit approval requirements. Mortgage loan rates are subject to change without notice. G. Holton NMLS #464560.


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Visit us in

2850 Douglas Drive (318) 549-2442 and

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Hostess WITH THE Mostess

TAILGATE TIME!! WITH JESSICA COMEGYS | PHOTOGRAPHER JO CLAIRE ROBERTSON

Nothing says fall more than food, fun, and football: it’s tailgating season for Louisiana football fans! Tailgating with friends and family before a game can be a blast, which is why we have gathered some of the best recipes as well as tips to make your day easier when it comes to tailgating this fall! Start pulling out the grill and don your team’s colors because football season is finally here!

T-Shirts provided by Simply Chic and Kings Hardware.

Look for this King’s Hardware symbol to see all of their awesome tailgating items!


Prepare as much as possible beforehand.

Make a list of everything you need. • Check out the stadium website for rules and regulations on tailgating. • Get organized and don’t forget to plan your exit! • Stock up on disposable items like paper plates and napkins. • Tip-- Freeze water bottles to use in place of ice in coolers so you have cold water to • Drink after they melt. • Tip— Fly a flag or ballon on a very high pole so friends can find you.

Must haves: • • • • • • •

jumper cables toilet paper trash bags extra ice rain gear first aid kit sunscreen

Buffalo Cauliflower bites

BONUS RECIPES Visit

ReadLola.com

Tomato Basil White Bean Dip

INGREDIENTS 6 cups of fresh cauliflower florets 2 teaspoons garlic powder a pinch of salt a pinch of pepper 1 tablespoon butter, melted ¾ cup Frank’s RedHot hot sauce INSTRUCTIONS • 1 Preheat oven to 450. Spray a baking sheet with cooking oil, or olive oil. • Set aside. • 2 Mix the garlic powder, salt, pepper, melted butter, and hot sauce in a • small bowl. • 3 Add the cauliflower into a large gallon-sized bag, pour the buffalo sauce • into the bag. Shake until the cauliflower florets are fully coated. Spread • on a baking sheet. • 4 Bake for 20 minutes. • 5 Serve with yogurt ranch or blue cheese dressing.


Jambalaya - Serves 10

2 tsp olive oil Cajun seasoning, to taste 16 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 in. cubes 16 oz lean turkey sausage, cut into 1 in. cubes 1 large onion, diced 3 ribs celery, diced 1 green bell pepper, diced 1 yellow bell pepper, diced 1 orange bell pepper, diced 6-7 cloves garlic 1 & 1/2 c brown rice 2 15-oz can no salt added tomatoes

2 c low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth 4 tsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp cumin 2 tsp thyme 1 tsp cayenne pepper 2 tsp black pepper 2 tbs parsley, optional 2 tbs green onions, optional Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 55 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes Yield: 5 servings Calories per serving: 370 Fat per serving: 8.6g

INSTRUCTIONS • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Toss chicken cubes with Cajun seasoning and saute, stirring occasionally, until brown, about 5-6 minutes. Remove to a plate. Saute sausage until brown, about 6-8 minutes and remove to a plate. Reduce heat to medium and add onion, peppers, and celery to the pan. Continue cooking, stirring, until onion is translucent. Add garlic and rice. Saute until rice is opaque and begins to brown. Add tomatoes, broth, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, cover and cook until rice is tender, about 30-40 minutes depending on the type of rice. Uncover and add chicken and sausage. Cook until chicken and sausage are warmed through, and any excess liquid has boiled out. Stir in parsley and green onions. Serve.

TAILGATING TIPS 1. Prep your meats the night before the big game by storing them in an aluminum pan between sheets of wax paper. 2. A cooler doesn’t just have to keep your drinks chilled! Turn your cooler into a warming oven with some hot bricks wrapped in aluminum foil laid across the bottom of the cooler! 3. A windy day can be a pain when it comes to grilling at a tailgate, but the position of your grill against the wind can make a huge difference! If you are using a kettle grill, point the front leg into the wind, and if you are using a gas grill, turn the whole thing perpendicular to the wind. 4. Repurpose a six pack holder by placing condiments in it, allowing for both easy access as well as mobility. 5. Since bathrooms might be hard to come across at a tailgate, set up a handwashing station by filling an empty drink or laundry detergent dispenser with clean water so guest can rinse their hands after a good meal!

6. Starting game day off early? Serve up hands-on breakfasts, such as breakfast burritos, that are easy to eat without utensils. 7. Get ready for some chilly days during the football season by bringing hot soups in thermoses to warm you up at a game! 8. When loading up your cooler for the big game, make sure to place all cans or bottles on the bottom of the cooler, put a layer of ice over those to lock in the chill, and place all bagged food items on the top. 9. A quick and easy tip is to label each cooler with the drinks inside so guest don’t have to look through each cooler to find what they want. 10.Prepack all your silverware, plates, napkins and more into plastic drawers to have easy storage to everything you need for a great tailgate!


LOYAL BLUE WEEKENDS IN RUSTON

There are few things Ruston loves more than football season. Game days and tailgating are a special time when students, alumni, locals and visiting fans come together to eat great food and cheer on LA Tech. Louisiana Tech will play host to seven game day experiences for locals and visitors alike – Loyal Blue Weekends. Loyal Blue Weekends at Rock the Railroad in Downtown Ruston is the newest and best tailgating extravaganza. Friday nights before home games there will be live music, food and brews. Unique pop-up shopping opportunities will be available in Railroad Park, as well as the Tech Bar Bop Band making special appearances in downtown stores and restaurants. Saturday activities follow with downtown shopping and dining, shuttle services and tailgating outside of Joe Aillet Stadium. The first Loyal Blue Weekend will be celebrated September 1-2. LA Tech is up against Northwestern State University and Ruston intends to “Celebrate the State” the way football lovers should! Starting at 5:30pm on Friday, Sept. 1, Rock the Railroad will begin with live music and a pep rally with LA Tech spirit groups. The celebration continues with Louisiana’s favorite food and brews – jambalaya, meats pies, boudin,

cracklins, beignets and Abita Brewing Company on site. On Saturday, Bulldog fans can take advantage of downtown shopping and dining prior to kick-off. Locals and visitors can avoid game day traffic by parking downtown. Shuttle services will be provided from Downtown Ruston to Joe Aillet Stadium and back again, running continuously starting at 1:00 pm until one hour after the game ends. September 8, come out and celebrate “Bulldogs and Brews” as LA Tech takes on Mississippi State. Rock the Railroad will have Josh Madden Band on stage, food trucks on site, and tastings from Flying Tiger, Ouachita Brewing, Great Raft and Red River Brewing. Then on September 29, get a sneak peak of the fall Ruston Makers Fair at “Makers Night.” Food and brews will be on site, along with live music and pop-ups from local artists. Embracing football traditions makes Ruston one of Louisiana’s best college towns. Grab some lawn chairs and blankets and come join La Tech Nation in downtown Ruston for every home game as we celebrate Louisiana’s culture and loyalty to the Bulldogs. For more information and a complete list of events, visit www.experienceruston.com or give us a call at (318) 255-2031.



s ’ n a m o W PARADISE

SPORTSMAN’S

I

Jennifer baxter

started fishing with my daddy when I was a little girl. He fished in tournaments, so I have always been around the sport. I got my first boat when I was sixteen, and when I sold it I still fished in ponds or from the bank. I have two daughters, sixteen-year-old Savanna and twelve-year-old Audrey. When they were younger, finding time for myself was almost impossible. They were involved in softball, cheerleading, twirling, etc. Now that they’re getting older and it’s not softball season, I have more time to fish. I have a pond in my neighborhood that I enjoy fishing in. Earlier this year, my neighbor asked me if I would like to fish in a tournament. That was my first time to fish in a tournament, and I absolutely loved everything about it.

After that event, I bought my own boat and now I fish at least three times a week. I still like to fish tournaments and I feel like I learn something new every time. I love how challenging it is finding fish, figuring out what bait is going to get their attention, and trying to catch them. Catching fish is not guaranteed. Most of the time the conditions are miserable, but I don’t care, I’m still fishing. I have always fished on Caddo, but recently I have ventured out and fished at Lake Fork, Toledo Bend, and Lake O’ the Pines. The thought of catching bass in deep water, 30plus feet, was crazy to me, but now I can’t get enough of it. Some days I might catch twenty, and the next day I might not catch any. There are so many factors that affect the fish, and even though it frustrates me at times, fishing has taught me to be patient. It is my therapy. I am also an avid bow hunter. In 2012, I started bow hunting deer and turkeys in Missouri and have hunted every year until November 2016. I have taken four deer, three turkeys, and one


squirrel down with my bow. Until November 2016, bow hunting was my main passion, but I was no longer able to hunt the property in Missouri. It was right in the middle of deer season, and I was kind of going crazy not being able to hunt. My brother, Cole Hughes, invited me to go on a duck hunt in Jones, LA. I never hunted the Mississippi Delta before, so I was shocked to see so many ducks and geese. I had a few friends invite me to go on duck hunts, but it never really worked out, so I started hog hunting with my brother.

When we hog hunt, we do not use any guns, only dogs and knives. Hog hunting was fun, but then the heat got to me and I wanted to fish. I enjoy shooting in 3D archery tournaments as well. During spring turkey season, you can only hunt until 1:00 pm, so I usually go fishing until dark. After turkey season, the deer usually start to drop their antlers, so then it’s time to shed hunt and prepare for the next deer season. I love duck hunting and I hunt opening day of dove season. I love doing any activity outdoors.

I

Carolyn rainwater

started hunting when I met my husband, Lee, over 12 years ago. He was always either getting ready for hunting season or he was hunting. Lee has such a strong passion for the outdoors and hunting that I knew I had to start liking it or move along. I always considered myself a “hunters widow” during t h e season because he was always gone. My friends called me crazy because I allowed him to be gone all the time, but who was I to tell him that he needed to stay home? Why would I want to take something he was so passionate about away from him? I knew when we got married that this was my new life. I would go with him maybe once a season, but it was not my thing.... at all! I was not raised in a hunting family, nor did I have any desire to hunt. All of that changed once my first son was born, five years ago. My husband was ecstatic that he had a son he could share his love of the outdoors with and pass along

all his knowledge that he learned from his own father. So I decided if I was going to be a part of something they loved, I had to love it too. That began my hunting journey. And I’ll say, after having children (now two boys) I LOVE going to sit on a deer stand and listening to the peace and quiet. It makes you stop and focus on the beauty around you that God created. O ur oldest son, Wilson, goes hunting with us sometimes and this year we are hoping he will get his first deer! I cannot wait to share that moment with him! Wilson and Whitley get so excited when we come get them to head in to the woods to pull our deer out. I leave the skinning to the boys, but I cook every bit of meat from our deer. For me, hunting as a family is so important. We spend quality time together, we are teaching our boys to appreciate the outdoors, and hopefully they will teach their children as Lee learned from his dad and uncle.


CAPTURING THE YOUTH Brittelizabeth.com (318) 990-1597


The

Island

at

D'arbonne

View our website to book your up coming event at “The Island at D’arbonne”. TheIslandatDarbonne

See our series of documentaries on the making of The Island that has had hundreds of thousands of views. So join us and watch.


WRITTEN BY: LINDSAY HEARD PHOTO CREDITS: HAMPTON RUTLAND

n e warm, summer evening the four of us were sitting on the second-floor balcony enjoying the cooling breeze that only a lake can provide during a Louisiana summer and watching the magnificent sunset paint the Louisiana sky orange, pink, and purple. The only words spoken were, “Wow, this place is incredible.” Meet Hampton Rutland: Husband to Tiffany, Dad to two precious boys, Urologist, Video Producer, Hunter, DIY enthusiast, man with a lot of energy and dreams. Meet Richard Heard: Husband to Lindsay, Dad to two daughters who adore him, Contractor, Home builder, Real estate developer, Outdoorsman, Man with a desire to conquer everything before him. The common thread: Both dream big, love the Louisiana outdoors, and have two wives who never get bored of their crazy adventures. Hampton Rutland and Richard Heard met a few years ago while Richard was building a client’s house, and Hampton was making a video of the construction process. Hampton has been making videos that focus on a variety of topics including hunting, DIY projects, and personal life stories for his YouTube channels, Hampton Rutland and Louisiana Wetlands. From these DIY videos came the birth of the pilot called Louisiana River Builds which features Hampton as the host and visionary,

O

Richard as the contractor, and Jeff, a long time friend of Hampton, as the project manager. The team remodels floating camps on the beautiful waters of Louisiana. The pilot has been aired on DIY and GAC. Tiffany and I were acquaintances through church and our children’s school, but we more formally met and grew closer through the production of the TV show. We quickly learned that our husbands were very similar go-getters and adventure seekers, and we had to figure out how to hang on for the ride. Tiffany and I were both pregnant with our second child during the first pilot of Louisiana River Builds and during the beginning stages of the Island House project. We quickly bonded over our husbands’ love for the outdoors and projects, and our love for supporting our husbands in their next endeavors. During the filming for the first pilot for Louisiana River Builds, Richard and Hampton were on their way to the Ouachita River where the camp was being remodeled when Richard got a phone call from another client about a house on Lake D’Arbonne that needed to be remodeled. The client wanted Richard’s opinion on the amount of work and money it would take to remodel the house. Richard told him that it would be a huge undertaking, but in the end could be something extraordinary. The client decided not to invest in the property, but Hampton, without reservation, wanted to


take the leap to give this place new life. It took a little more convincing for Richard to get on board with this massive project. Being a residential contractor, he knew the amount of work that lay ahead. Our families purchased The Island at D’Arbonne in the summer of 2016 and completed the renovation in the spring of 2017. Hampton created the Island House series on his YouTube channel to document the demolition and the renovation of the home and plans to continue his videos to show the many wonderful aspects of The Island. Originally the metal building home had a dysfunctional floor plan, a yard in disarray, and no outdoor living space to take advantage of its prime location and beautiful scenery on Lake D’Arbonne. Richard and I had done several remodel projects together and knew the potential that this place had. Hampton was all in and believed this place was going to be incredible in the end. However, Tiffany was very apprehensive that this place could ever be anything but total chaos. After the intensive renovation, the seemingly chaotic, disorderly metal building had become a gem that had been restored into a comfortable, luxurious home that took advantage of the beautiful Louisiana scenery. The Island is a majestic place with 360-degree views of Lake D’Arbonne, a Louisiana outdoorsman’s dream, a


To Get BONUS VIDEO Visit

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Louisiana woman’s retreat, and a massive playground for kids. The Island offers three stories of living space-seven bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, two living areas, a kitchen, a pool table, a bar, a catering kitchen, a bridal room, a sky bar that is nestled atop as a lookout point to take in even more scenery, and an enormous deck that offers breathtaking views and sunsets. It is available to rent as a vacation home or weekend getaway as well as an outdoor venue for events including weddings, receptions, corporate events, showers, and other social gatherings. The Island is also an amazing place for photographers to take engagement, bridal, and family photos. At a recent photo shoot at The Island, someone said they could not believe this incredibly beautiful place was right here in our backyard! The Island and Lake D’Arbonne offer many outdoors activities including boating, water sports, kayaking, paddle boarding, wind surfing, fishing, and waterfowl hunting. Lake D’Arbonne has been voted one of the top lakes in the nation for crappie fishing and is a stop on the Crappie Masters Tournament Trail.

The Island at D’arbonne Vacation home

The Island has quickly become a place special to both of our families where we can enjoy the great Louisiana outdoors and spend some time with friends and family in a stunningly beautiful and comfortable retreat with endless activities at our fingertips. We want to share this 360-degree of lakefront bliss with others. One family who recently rented raved about The Island at D’Arbonne saying that The Island was “the perfect getaway.” The Island at D’Arbonne is much more than your average vacation or event rental. It is a place that has brought two Louisiana ladies together who wanted to create a place of happiness and beauty not only for our families to enjoy, but also for others to experience the beauty of our Louisiana lifestyles. Visit us at TheIslandatDarbonne .


Baton Rouge Acadian Village 3535 Perkins Road, Suite 365 (225) 761-1170

Lafayette Main Street at River Ranch 201 Settlers Trace Blvd., Suite 3009 (337) 991-9980

Shreveport Shoppes at Bellemead 6535 Youree Drive, Suite 406 (318) 798-3265

Vertage Clothing @Vertage_girl @VertageClothing


Hello Fall!

Bracelet Harper House

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRITTNEY STRICKLAND

Bracelet Imelda’s

Ring Harper House

Red & Gold

Go bold with red and gold! A bright gold piece of jewelry paired with a stunning red garment is sure to turn heads this fall.

Romper House of Red Boutique

Earrings Mary Caroline Spano Designs

Necklaces Mary Caroline Spano Designs


Necklace The Place Off Line

Glasses Dr. Russell Van Norman, Ashley Ridge Optical

Outfit The Place Off Line

Outfit House of Red Boutique

Black & White Black and white is always a classic and can be paired for a timeless yet trendy outfit for the fall season. This year will be bringing about patterns of these monochromatic tones including stripes, polka dots, gradients and patterns.

Shoes Imelda’s

Shoes House of Red Boutique

Shoes The Place Off Line

Jewelry The Place Off Line


Pearls Mary Caroline Spano Designs

Floral Dress JAC

Sunglasses Dr. Russell Van Norman, Ashley Ridge Optical

Floral

Warm florals with touches of embroidery or silk are making their way into the trends for this fall.

Shoes Imelda’s

Pajamas Cactus Trading Company Jacket House of Red Boutique

Denim Jacket Rodeo


Sunglasses Dr. Russell Van Norman, Ashley Ridge Optical

Shoes Imelda’s

Plaid

Last fall, plaid flannels took the fashion world by storm, but this year plaid is coming back comeback with dresses, skirts, shirts and more for a stylish yet outgoing look.

Bracelets & Necklace Mary Caroline Spano Designs

Plaid Shirt Cactus Trading Company

Jacket, Shirt, Plaid Skirt Mikey Carlisle with Worth New York


Glasses Dr. Russell Van Norman, Ashley Ridge Optical

Denim

Outfit Rodeo

Denim on denim is quickly becoming one of the hottest trends for the cooler season. Pairing different washes of denim on top of one another can form a monochrome yet trendy look for the fall.

Denim Shirt & Jeans Topps Western World

CONTENT PROVIDED BY MADELINE ROBERTS DEBLIEUX

Shoes Imelda’s


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Safety First

Participation in sports provides numerous benefits for our

children both physically and socially, but with those benefits comes a downside – the risk of a sports-related injury. That shouldn’t keep your child on the bench, though. School-age youth need regular physical activity to enhance and maintain musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health. There are two types of sports-related injuries: acute injuries and overuse injuries. Acute injuries are usually the result of a single traumatic event, with common injuries including wrist fractures, ankle sprains, hamstring strain and shoulder dislocations. Overuse injuries tend to be more common in sports, but they usually occur over time and are subtle, making them more difficult to diagnose and treat. Overuse injuries are the result of repetitive micro-trauma to the tendons, bones, and joints, with examples including tennis elbow, youth pitching elbow, swimmer’s shoulder, jumper’s knee, runner’s knee, Achilles tendinitis, and shin splints. Youth sports injuries are nearly impossible to avoid. They can occur for several reasons including: improper training or technique, equipment failure, and anatomic or biomechanical issues of the athlete. Here are a few suggestions to keep your child in the game for life by helping prevent injuries and avoid or reduce long-term complications:

The importance of protecting our children while playing sports. Preventing Injuries and Complications

• Be in proper physical condition to play the sport. While children and adolescents are often encouraged to participate in aerobic activities, they can also benefit from strength training activities that help enhance muscle and bone health. • See a physician for a preseason physical examination. • Obtain instruction on training and technique, and make sure to follow the rules of the sport. Coaches and trainers are there to teach proper technique, which can help avoid injuries. It is very important for young athletes to listen to their instructions because most overuse injuries occur due to improper technique. Learning how to properly use athletic equipment is also important. • Wear appropriate protective gear and proper-fitting equipment. Make sure your child’s equipment fits properly and is in good condition – a weekly check can help minimize potential for injury. Just a few examples of protective gear include shin guards for soccer, a hard-shell helmet when facing a baseball or softball pitcher, and a helmet and body padding for ice hockey. • Always warm up before playing. Warm-up time should involve low-impact exercise, such as running in place, that gradually brings the heart rate up. Athletes should also stretch their muscles prior to activity, which will help prevent injury. Stretching should go just beyond the point of resistance and should not include bouncing. Hold stretches for 10-12 seconds. • Be sure your child cools down properly after activity. Cooling down after play allows the heart rate to gradually return to a resting level. Once again, stretching may be helpful to avoid injury. • Do not play when in pain or very tired. • Maintain proper hydration with adequate water or other liquids available during activity. Hydration allows muscles to work properly and helps prevent cramps and spasms.


Be sure your child cools down properly after activity. Cooling down after play allows the heart rate to gradually return to a resting level. Once again, stretching may be helpful to avoid injury. While most children will let you know when they are hurt, if you think your kid is prone to “tough it out,” here are a few signs of injury which parents and guardians should be aware: Look Out For • Avoiding putting weight on a certain body part or favoring one side of the body over the other (limping) • Appearing to be in pain when using a particular body part • Inability to sleep • Shortness of breath or trouble breathing during activity • Headaches during or after activity • Appearing to experience stiffness in the joints or muscles • Lightheadedness or dizziness • Trouble sitting and/or climbing stairs • Inability to feel the fingers or toes • Experiencing unusual weakness • Irritated skin and/or blisters

If your child experiences any sharp or stabbing pain while participating in a sport, they should stop the activity immediately. Playing through pain may worsen the injury and will likely cut your child’s season short. If you have any concerns that your child might be injured, speak with a physician or certified athletic trainer immediately. The sooner

an injury is diagnosed, the more effectively it can be treated, and the sooner your athlete can return to the game.

WRITTEN BY: DR. SHANE BURTON

Dr. Shane Barton was named Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at LSU Health Shreveport in March. He has been a member of the LSU Health faculty since 2005, teaching more than 1,000 medical students and directly supervising more than 100 residents in Orthopaedic Surgery, Family Medicine and Rheumatology. Dr. Barton specializes in the treatment of pediatric and adult sports-related injuries, as well as complex shoulder, elbow and knee joint reconstruction procedures. He utilizes state-of-the-art open arthroscopic and open techniques to restore damaged joints, ligaments and bones for patients who suffer traumatic, sports-related or degenerative injuries so they can remain as active and pain-free as possible. Dr. Barton has served as a team physician for several professional athletic teams, including the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox, as well as college and high school teams. His new Center for Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine will open soon in Shreveport.

318.865.0175 | 4832 LINE AVE



A True Story of

Power and Grace WRITTEN BY: CHRISTY HOLDEN


W

hile recently planning for my business’s 25th year, I’ve spent quite a bit of time reflecting on all of the experiences that brought me to this point. Most distinctly, I recall my arrival in Moscow; a long way from home for a twenty-year-old woman from Shreveport. But, surprisingly, that is where I found myself very early in my dance career. As a youth leader for a small group of dancers, I had the opportunity to study and perform with Russia’s famed Bolshoi Ballet, which was both exciting and terrifying. We all arrived in Moscow exhausted and hungry after a very long flight. Admittedly, McDonald’s was the first stop for my group of young dancers as we grasped for something familiar. A couple of bites into my cheeseburger and fries, I worried that I was already making very poor nutritional choices and threw my meal away. Hours later we found ourselves boarding a boat in Kiev with the Bolshoi Ballet Tour. As the ballet company and I cruised down the Dneiper River through the Ukraine, we stopped in each city and performed - a typical summer travel season for the Bolshoi, but an eye-opening experience for a young American ballerina. Most meals along the way consisted of a curds-and-whey style porridge and hot dogs (I traded my porridge for a hot dog as often as possible). The combination of seasickness, Russian food, and bacteria contracted from a spontaneous dip in the river made the experience quite unpleasant for many of us, but performing with one of the world’s oldest and most reputable ballet companies quickly made those issues fade into the background. At the end of our four week tour, I was offered a position as a ballerina to continue dancing with the Bolshoi Ballet. I was overwhelmed by this opportunity, but family obligations and homesickness spurred my eagerness to return to America. Before boarding my flight out of Moscow, I stopped at that same McDonald’s for two cheeseburgers, fries, and a Coke – one of the best meals of my life. Later, I discovered that I was only the second American dancer to be invited into the Bolshoi Ballet. In hindsight, should I have made a different choice? Perhaps, but the Russian experience generated a series of events that would eventually lead me to open my own dance studio and realize a love of teaching that surpassed my wildest expectations. I first discovered ballet while watching television at five years old and announcing to my family my future plans to be a ballerina. Growing up on a small farm in Amarillo, Texas, provided limited opportunities for exposure to and participation in the arts. It did, however, provide a strong work ethic and perseverance that have proven to be two of my most valuable and cherished assets throughout my life. After much prodding from me,

my mother was willing to find a dance school that nourished my efforts and recognized my potential. Walking out of that first ballet class, I knew I had found my dream and I never missed another class. After several years of intensive ballet training in Texas, I returned with my family to our hometown of Shreveport. As an uprooted teenager, I found it difficult to find a dance studio to suit my needs, but as all dancers know, it was something I could not live without. I finally found a school that was willing to allow me to become an assistant teacher in exchange for dance training, and I continued that path throughout high school. I later worked in a local


“They continue to be my mentors and friends, as well as incredible influences...”

photography studio each morning and continued to teach dance classes each afternoon and evening. The combined income from both jobs allowed me to pay my rent and also dance in the studio on Saturdays and Sundays, a perfect combination. It eventually led to that opportunity to travel to Russia and study with the Bolshoi. Suffering a personal loss at age twenty-two forced me to take some time off from dancing and begin considering my future. In 1992, an opportunity arose to begin my own dance school, and I decided to take that leap. Being responsible for working with so many little bodies every day, I quickly realized the need for more education on my part. There is tremendous potential for harming a growing child’s body with improper teaching techniques and a lack of knowledge of anatomy. I sought a personal coach who suggested I train and teach the Cecchetti method of ballet. My first serious dance school in Amarillo was a Cecchetti school, an Italian ballet method known for meticulous, rigorous training with consideration of human anatomy. The Cecchetti method teaches ballet students to become selfreliant in their movements and, therefore, more adaptable to different styles of classical ballet. For the next four years, I spent my summers and Christmas holidays in New York, Connecticut, and California gaining as much knowledge and training as I could, and finally I was examined by the board of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance and certified as a Cecchetti instructor. I began teaching the Cecchetti method and eventually incorporated some of the Vaganova (Russian) ballet method into my curriculum. There is no regulatory organization to oversee dance schools or studios, making it difficult for parents to recognize a difference among studios within their city. It has always been very important to me that I provide the best quality of training and safest environment that I could for my students. During my pursuit of instructor certification, I was asked to audition for City Ballet of Houston and perform as a professional ballerina. I was eager for this opportunity, but also responsible for my own dance school by now.

After teaching dance classes in Shreveport during the week and on Saturdays, I drove to Houston on most weekends to rehearse and perform, then drove back to Shreveport on Sunday nights or Monday mornings to begin teaching again. My association with the City Ballet of Houston brought about opportunities to meet many of the great ballet dancers and master teachers of our time, ironically including the first American ballerina offered a position with the Bolshoi Ballet. I was unbelievably fortunate to be able to dance with them, learn from them, and observe their teaching methods. Many of these teachers and dancers from all over the world now visit Power & Grace each summer and work with my own students. They continue to be my mentors and friends, as well as incredible influences and connections for my students. After twenty years of dancing professionally, I retired from performing to focus on my teaching. Watching a shy three-year-old slowly blossom into a confident young person brings me immeasurable joy. I have watched my students become doctors, lawyers, accountants, businesswomen, and mommies. Many have attended college through dance scholarship opportunities and some have danced and performed professionally over the years. All of them have gained self-confidence, self-discipline, and an appreciation for the arts, particularly dance, which will remain a part of their lives forever. As we celebrate Power & Grace’s 25th year, I look forward to seeing many of those former students and their families again while I now enjoy teaching a new generation of “grand-students.” Dance changed my life. It provided goals, passion, successes, failures, confidence, humility, lifelong friendships and, in my case, a beloved career. In hindsight, would I have made different choices along the way? Maybe, but I have loved every hour of every day that I’ve spent inside the dance studio, and my mission for the past twenty-five years has been to share that love with my students.


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Home Trends Written By: Edward Nadar

D

esigners create collections well in advance of the coming year, allowing those of us in the home furnishings industry a sneak peek into the future! Trends generally reflect the collective mood of the world, and like Switzerland, design color experts are staying neutral. We see a move toward calming natural colors with neutral browns anchoring vibrant accent colors. Pinks, blues, purples and vivid yellows brighten our lives with mixed metallic adding some sparkle!


Brown as the Anchor From lighter camel tones to dark chocolate, brown is now showing up as the anchor in almost all collections. Grey isn’t over but the newest trends in color make grey the secondary neutral rather than the lead. Greys are warming more and moving toward warm sand and concrete. Never fear though, die hard grey fans; there are still tones of cool options with something to be comfortable. I am also seeing plenty of beige and ivory mixed with gold for the latest trends. With brown in the spotlight, the entire home furnishing and design pallet has been influenced to warm up. When it comes to color, design experts are moving from bright “in your face� wow factor colors, to calming natural colors. Think subdued. The colors are modified just enough to spike interest, but not to shock or wow you.

Blush, the Millennial Pink Currently, I am crazy for blush and note that millennial pink not going away any time soon. Mixed with lighter colors, blush makes everything fresh and calm. With a lot more yellow influence, warmed up greens mixed with pink is a fresh more vibrant balance. With the green and yellow combinations popping up, think fall. Greens are rising through 2019 and becoming warmer. Bright green is taking a back seat to more natural and organic shades of green. Dark green is pairing with darker shades and appearing in jungle themes. And keep in mind, African and jungle pallets are going to be around for a while. Warmed green mixed with blues is more of a calming combination. And in contrast, bright blues mixed with green creates a livelier combination.


Blues are warming as well These are becoming more yellow like sky, turquoise, and aqua. Navy is still strong but less dull - more intense and clear while remaining dark. Deep value blues are mixed with rich jewel tones and sprinkled with gold for a classic and timeless regal look. Pastels are led with blues, pinks, and yellows in a classic upbeat mix. Watch for peach to begin to become in the forefront, and pinks are blushing not far behind. Watch for a little purple and lavender. With dark rich opulent purples in velvets to bright pink inspiredpurple in florals to light lavender mixed with whites for a hint of color, there is no wrong way to use purple. But use it in moderation to keep your environment from looking garish. Any of the purples are following suit and are leaning to the warmer side of the spectrum. Speaking of warm colors, let’s not forget orange. It isn’t appearing much. When orange does, it is more of an apricot or yellow orange and less of a true primary orange.

metals on the rise Mixing and contrasting of metals is on the rise with detailing playing a key role. Polished and matte are equally strong and often being seen juxtaposing in the same piece. While texture and finishes are contrasted, so are colors. Many pieces are mixing sliver and brass, and silver and copper. This is a nod to Art Deco which is on the rise. The Art Deco style interpretation is definitely cleaned up and tailored. It is more influenced by basic shapes and less by the curvy more familiar persons of the classic. Think more about the detail and finish and less about the shape of the piece. You’ll see small detailing patters of herringbone and intricate repetitive and rhythmic designs. Geometrics are the basis of this style and movement. Circles and square seem to dominate. Silver is not going away; it just gave up a share of design to gold. Gold is as strong as ever and is not giving up the lead. It is often paired with navy and purple for a rich jeweled palette.

Watch for bronze. It is the perfect metal that is warm without the bling. We are seeing it fresh and with warm red undertones in lieu of super dark heavy bronze from the past few decades. Watch for copper, too as it is still on the rise. Finishes aren’t just metals, but shagreen and natural skins like vellum and parchments. Leather is never wrong if it used right. It is so tac tile and warms up a space so effortlessly. Leather is showing up on everything from small boxes to all sorts of case goods (dressers, chests, side tables). Also keep in mind, animal skins are mixing in naturally with the jungle themes with textiles having big oversized leaves creating a hidden garden feel.


concrete & stone Concrete is pretty solid not only in material, but as a very basic element that can be dressed up or down. Because of the elemental characteristic of the material, it seems to work everywhere. Concrete surfaces offer a modern feel that blends with any style for both interior and exterior designs. Concrete benches are being utilized in commercial interiors and personal gardens. Concrete tables are seen inside and out, high end and industrial. It is a surface that is easily mixed with other design ideas. Other hard surfaces like stone are still huge. These are resilient surfaces with mid-tone peach and green, but deep brown or green still lead. Black and white are always best sellers. Dark red marble is the primary trend at this time. BOLD veins are leading over light veining. Stone is an easy statement piece that can have much to say. More solid materials include semiprecious stones. Agate, amethyst, and black tourmaline will take the lead. Glass with organic textures to mimic are a hot topic as well as reverse painted glass. This is sometimes gold or silver leaved, with take on all kinds of designs including traditional Églomisé. A mirror finish is produced from applying a design a gilding to the rear face of glass. Jumping from glass to acrylic is not a giant leap. Acrylic is still strong in all kinds of categories. It continues to be popular for its function without adding more design elements and its ability to

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Wriiten By: Edward Nader

‘clean up’ a room. A great example is the purposeful coffee table that does not add visual clutter or the forever famous “ghost chair.” Furnishings cannot only be acrylic but can also be wood such as royal ebony and exotic wood or 3D texturing of wood can make for a unique and rich dining set. Woods are sporting a more defined grain. A celebration of the distinctiveness from each piece of nature is a narrative in some designs with defined grains taking

center stage. At the end of the day, there are trends that rise and fall. Whether it be green or blush or blue or concrete or wood or semiprecious stones, you have to choose what is right for you. The only way to decorate your space is to connect with a style and palette that evokes emotion in your deepest core. That is the part that delights your spirit and lets you know that you “are home.”

Edward Nader along with his sister, Margaret Love, have been owners of one of North Louisiana’s most successful and progressive design and custom framing galleries for over 30 years. Always on the cutting edge of developments in their industry, Nader’s Gallery was among the first to be awarded certification from the Professional Picture Framers Association, and is still the only certified picture framer in the region. Edward has worked on numerous residential and commercial projects acquiring global resources and developing relationships with many well known designers. Edward’s years of education and experience, and his keen eye for spotting trends, are evident in the beautiful home furnishings displayed on Nader’s Gallery Showroom floor. Three and a half decades later, Edward, Margaret, and the Nader’s team are having as much fun as when they started. Visit NadersGallery.com for more information. Edward Nader is certified by the American Lighting Association as a specialist and the only framer in the region certified by the Professional Picture Framers Association. He is also certified in art conservation and has been awarded one of the top 100 Art & Framing Retailers by Décor magazine, several consecutive years. With his experience and expertise, Edward Nader is an asset to any design project big or small.

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LOUISIANA LADIES

Chefs and Restaurateurs W

e all know that North Louisiana is packed with great local restaurants,

but what goes on behind the scenes? From bakeries to wine bars, we found six restaurants owned by women of North Louisiana! We asked them everything from where they found the inspiration to open their own business to what their favorite items on the menu are! Every restaurant has a story and every story starts with a dream, so check out these Louisiana ladies and their local restaurants to find some great food and great stories!


Lacy Galligan

Another Broken Egg Chicken Salad Chick We always ate at Broken Egg in Destin on every family vacation, and it was my very favorite. My Dad had always been in business for himself and had inspired me to do so. I was constantly looking for new business ventures. We decided that we wanted to open Another Broken Egg. My brother Ray has his degree in business from Louisiana Tech, and we recruited him to open and operate the restaurant. We are from Leesville, Louisiana, and we needed a larger city to open Another Broken Egg. With both Ray, my brother, and myself graduating from Louisiana Tech we were very familiar with Shreveport and knew it was the perfect fit. We felt Shreveport needed an upscale breakfast, brunch lunch concept that served exceptional food and signature cocktails; therefore, we uprooted our entire family to Shreveport to pursue our Broken Egg dream. It was a huge risk, but the folks

in Shreveport took us in like family, and we’ve been serving the area for seven years. Summer 2016 I ran across some chatter about Chicken Salad Chick on social media. My brother and I are chicken salad fanatics; so, I had to find out about this concept. My whole family drove to the closest Chicken Salad Chick in Lafayette. We tried everything on the menu; we were in love!!! We knew immediately that this concept had to be in Shreveport, not only for the people of Shreveport but for us too!! We literally craved the food since we left that summer day in Lafayette until we opened our doors in May 2017.

Serving quality food brings joy to others, and that is why I feel so lucky to do what we do. It’s amazing what a good meal means to people. It can turn their whole day around! You must bring your “a game” every day running a restaurant, and sometimes that is a challenge. The service industry is a team effort. This team effort requires everyone, every day, to be at their best. We are all human, and it is tough to be 100% everyday, but our team is amazing and we give it our all. To anyone who wants to go after a dream, do not be afraid to fail! It’s worth the possibility of failure to not wonder your whole life what could have been. The real failure is not falling short of


your goal, but never trying to reach it. Eighty percent of restaurants fail; we are very blessed to have two concepts that are NOT in this category and continue to gain the love and support of our amazing guests! Come see us at Another Broken Egg and try my personal savory favorite, Black Bean Benedict, or for a sweet tooth our Lemon Blueberry goat cheese pancakes are oh so good! Also, if you have not been by Chicken Salad Chick, The Chick- Olivia’s Old

South – try it. It’s the deviled egg of Chicken Salad!!! Someone take the cracker away; I can’t stop, and you won’t be able to either!

Kim Hand Buttercups

When I was pregnant with my daughter (Annabelle) I had a major sweet tooth. I was at home one day watching Barefoot Contessa on Food Network. She was making the most decadent

looking chocolate chip cookies. I went to my kitchen and whipped up a batch using her recipe. They were amazing! At that moment I realized how much yummier baked treats are made from scratch verses packaged or box mix. I quickly became obsessed with baking all things sweet, cookies, cupcakes, cakes. I was equally obsessed with developing my own recipes & learning the science of baking. At the time, I was working as a makeup artist for Lancome cosmetics. I would take my cupcake experiments to work to give to my friends and coworkers. Their feedback is ultimately how I tweaked my recipes and developed what we use in the kitchen at Buttercups today. Cupcake orders started pouring



in! I found myself staying up all night baking just to fulfill orders. I made the decision to leave my day job to pursue baking. After a couple years of supplying cupcakes for local cafes, I made the choice to open Buttercups. We opened in 2009, and after being open for about a year I received a call from Food Network inviting us to come to Los Angeles to film an episode of Cupcake Wars. It was such a great experience. Over the years we have added new items to our menu, like cake pops, French macarons, and now cakes! When I decided to start making cakes, I enrolled in the Peggy Porschen Academy in London. Peggy Porschen is an award winning British cake designer and author. She has the cutest cake parlor in London and I learned so much from her. Back in the states I worked on my own cake recipe until I found the perfect taste and look. My team of bakers and I started working on the decoration styles we wanted to offer and in November of 2016 we launched our cakes. We have received an overwhelming response to them. We are so happy that so many


people order our cakes and cupcakes for special celebrations in their life. It is crazy to look back on how this all came to be. I now have a team of 11 employees, who are all such hard workers and dedicated to excellent quality. It takes a lot of work to produce the volume we do and we are always focused on consistency in our quality of treats as well as excellent customer service. We will be celebrating our 8th anniversary in November. We always do a big giveaway on our anniversary. Be sure to follow us on Facebook & Instagram for a giveaway announcement and daily photos of our sweet treats made from scratch with love.

TinaMarie Palmisano Cloud 9 Cafe

The inspiration behind my café was simple. I walked into the always nostalgic Shreveport Downtown Airport. The door was opened for me, I walked in, and that

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was all it took. I say that my spirit was waiting here for me to arrive! As someone who had worked fine dining with my husband at Ernest’s Orleans Restaurant for ten years and then worked on my own food truck (Jester’s) for over five years, I was totally against brick and mortar. This vintage little café took me back to the sweetest time and place in my mind, and I wanted to share its love with everyone else! I feel that what sets me apart from the rest is my spontaneous creativity. I am a dreamer and a visionary. I love to make people feel and see what I do. It can really be felt in every dish that is prepared by me. My menu is inspired by the love that I have for the unity of people as one. You can find a hint of different international fares and flavors. It can be experienced with the deliciousness of many of my foods from the French seafood crepes and bananas foster crepes, to the “Cuban” sandwich, to the perfected Acadiana style cooking which is known as known as Cajun to most! My


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specialties include my “Famous” Hot Tamale Tina brand tamales that I have turned into quite the gourmet challenge preparing beef, pork, sweet potato with praline sauce, chicken chilies, and cheddar, and super cheesy black bean tamales for the vegetarian at heart, to name a few! My motivation to continue with the future of Cloud 9 Café is because I want to show others that it’s possible to live outside of the box to the fullest with business and cuisine, yet still possess the old-fashioned courtesy and respect for customers. Our customers are considered our guests as if they were guests in our own home. Around here, everyone gets a warm and a welcoming Cloud 9 kind of hug to brighten their day!

Jodi e Morphew and Olivia Stinson Crumbs

Chef Jodie Morphew graduated from Louisiana Tech then moved to Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh with a degree in culinary arts. Her first working experience was at the Duquesne Club, a private and upscale society club in downtown Pittsburgh. After spending two years away in the cold northeast, she returned home to Ruston where, alongside award winning Chef Nick Oskian and Chef Corey Bahr, she smartened her craft. At home, she is a wife to Reece Morphew and mother to her two-year-old daughter, Heidi, and her baby girl, Nora, who is coming September of 2017.


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Olivia Stinson had a love of baking from an early age when watching her great grandmother and mother in the kitchen. She studied business at Louisiana Tech University, so soon after she decided to turn her passion in to career. She managed a bakery in her early years of cooking professionally. In this time, she developed her baking and cake decorating skills. She had a desire to learn more culinary techniques. She joined the team at Restaurant Cotton where she worked hand in hand with Chef Cassie Kacvinsky and helped produced all desserts for Chef Corey Bahr’s culinary ventures. Other than cooking, Olivia’s other passion is her son, seven-year-old son Dawson, and her finance, Zack Garner. Crumbs Catering was conceived in November of 2014 when these women saw a need for an upscale catering business in their hometown of Ruston, Louisiana. With the help of their families

and extended families, the dream became a reality. Crumbs is a true labor of love and a true family business. Often, the ladies solicit there sisters, husbands and parents to do a variety of tasks; anything from waiting tables to washing dishes. No better “help” than your own family! Being a chef-based catering company allows Crumbs to truly customize a menu for each customer’s needs. The Crumbs’ chefs have a true love of cooking and thrive on becoming part of your family when helping you plan your event. The satisfaction that comes from seeing a happy bride on her wedding day, or the sight of relief of the nervous dinner party hostess, is unmeasurable. Crumbs understands that nothing is more personal than what you serve your family and guest. Corporate events, private home soirees, and all events in between are never too big or too small for our services. It is our strict attention to every detail and high quality

standards that ensure your event will be a success. Crumbs prides itself in a vast menu offering from traditional fares to more contemporary services. Crumbs offers both savory and sweet creations, party rentals, wait and bar staff, cooking classes and children’s birthday parties.

Virginia Calhoun We Olive

“I want to be a business owner.” This thought first came to mind as I was walking around a gift shop in my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, as a teenager. Something about the organization and structure of how the business was run really appealed to me. My dream of business ownership rubbed off on my husband, Kevin, and also became his dream. We had the opportunity to open the business in other cities, but we wanted to open our


business in our home of Shreveport. And I couldn’t be more thrilled to be living out my dream among family and friends! The dream became a reality… June 24th, 2017. The opening day of We Olive had a wonderful turnout and business has continued to flourish. We receive a lot of positive feedback, and many guests claim this is the business for which Shreveport has been waiting. My hope is that We Olive becomes somewhere people can try new things. It is our goal for each customer to get the ultimate olive oil experience along with warm Southern charm! I want customers to leave being educated about the products we offer and how to use those products to enrich their family’s mealtimes. Often, guests will share how much our relaxing and friendly environment in our elegantly casual wine bar serves as

an escape from their busy schedule. When it comes to the oils themselves, I have oh so many favorites which range from the Tuscan, Sonoma Smoked & Jalapeno olive oil to the Pineapple, Peach White & Blood Orange Vinegars! I love to use our extra virgin olive oils for Italian dishes and robust veggies. My husband loves the Sonoma Smoked gold medal winning olive oil; it adds a unique smoky flavor to options such as tuna steak salad or mac n’ cheese. We also like to drizzle Jalapeno Olive Oil on top of simple side dishes like broccoli, black-eyed peas, potatoes, and spinach to add that Cajun spice. Finally, the unforgettable product I love to share with our guests is the Blood Orange Olive Oil. I look forward to seeing that intriguing look in guest eyes after one taste of a brownie made with the Blood Orange Olive Oil. It’s a must try!

As you can see, We Olive offers so many delicious options that enable you to explore a variety of ways to enhance your dishes. There are so many great quality products, so why limit yourself to just one or two favorites? One of the most underestimated items on the menu is one of my favorites, the Charcuterie Plate. It’s full of delicious meats and served with Gambino’s bread from New Orleans brushed with our Garlic Olive Oil. It pairs well with a glass of our Rabble Tempranillo or LaStoria Zinfandel. The most popular item on our menu seems to be the Barbeque Chicken Flatbread, which is full of flavor and only a hint of barbeque sauce. It has our red onions which are pickled in our Peach White Balsamic Vinegar, cilantro, and finished with Jalapeno Olive Oil. This dish pairs well with our Y Rousseau Rose. We’ve only been open a few months, and it’s off to a great start! Don’t get me wrong; it is HARD WORK! Many people don’t get to live out their dreams, so I’m enjoying every moment! Come in and try our products to see for yourself what We Olive is all about. I look forward to seeing you soon!


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Southern Cuisine

CHEF H.D. HARRIS | PRIVATE CHEF SERVICES

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter 1/4 teaspoon white pepper ½ teaspoon salt and pepper 1 cup milk 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup Colby jack cheese, shredded 1/2 cup grated parmesan 4 ounces sharp Cheddar, shredded 1 pound elbow pasta, cooked

Instructions • In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and stir in milk and cream. • Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook just until it thickens. • Add the cheeses and stir until melted, then remove from heat. • Stir in cooked pasta and toss until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. • Transfer to a serving bowl and serve warm.

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Creamy Mac &Cheese


Yes Way,

Rosé! WRITTEN BY JORDAN STEPP

C r owd P leaser

S

ince we’re nearing the end of Louisiana’s six months of summer, I decided to enlighten those of you who are skeptical of rosé. Rosé, meaning “pink” in French, became famous in Provence where it was first created and greatest produced. Allow me to debunk the most common misconception surrounding this glorious wine: rosé is not made by mixing white wine with red wine. Just, no. All grapes produce clear juice when pressed. The color is achieved by allowing grape skins to soak in their juice, a process called maceration. Red wines can soak anywhere from weeks to months while rosé will soak between a few hours to a few days. I’ve chosen three rosés that will cover just about everyone – we’ve got the crowd-pleaser, the newbie, and the know-it-all.

Milbrandt Rosé--Columbia Valley, Washington $14 75% Syrah 25% Tempranillo

Opening the bottle, I immediately smell watermelon and grapefruit. Milbrandt pours like a fresh peach, soft and fragrant. The first taste is crisp, clean, and thirstquenching. A few friends come over and try it out (most being die-hard red wine drinkers). Everyone is shocked to find this “pink wine” so alluring. We paired the rosé with a cheese plate and decided that Rosemary Manchego and Comté were the favorites.

Ferry Lacombe Mira Rosé– Mediterranean PGI, France $17 80% Grenache 20% Grenache Blanc

New bie

Ferry Lacombe Mira Rosé has been my go-to wine for the past few months. This wine pairs well with everything – grilled fish, chicken, pork and summer salads. The nose is citrusy and crisp and while those flavors come through, there are notes of red berries and a delicate minerality. Simply said, it’s an easy wine. As my neighbor puts it, “No beer can cool me down after cutting the grass like this (Ferry Lacombe) Rosé can”. To all the fellas out there, my neighbor is a guy – so maybe rosé is for you!

Know-ItAl l

Marchesi Incisa Futurosa Rosé– Piedmonte, Italy $15 50% Barbera 50% Merlot

Futurosa is built for those who want to breakdown and dissect the characteristics of wine, more so than getting a buzz. These grapes are an unusual blend but create a bright yet smooth rosé. The nose is bursting with strawberries, almost matching the color. Out of the three wines, this is the darkest in color. Darker rosés tend to be fuller-bodied, not sweet, but fruity with more diverse flavors. I highly suggest pairing this beauty with your pasta of choice.

If you’re stuck in the store and don’t know where to start, look for rosé from Provence. Rosé is meant to drink while it’s young. Newer vintages represent the brightest and freshest wine. Don’t let the color fool you, drink pink! Cheers!


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TRICK or TREAT:

DIY

Halloween Costumes

WRITTEN BY ROSEMARY MCMASTER

Weasiest way to get your kiddos their costumes is to run ith Halloween just around the corner, the quickest and

down to your local party store and pick up the latest Disney Princess or Marvel Superhero attire. While store-bought costumes can save parents a ton of time, there has always been something heartwarming about making the kids their costumes at home. We reached out to our readers and asked them how they created their own children’s DIY Halloween costumes, so here are few tips and tricks to make crafting your child’s costume this year easy yet still unbelievably cute! PHOTO SENT IN BY KRISTEN KING HOLMES

PHOTO SENT IN BY SARAH GARRETT

No-sew DIY tulle skirt

One of the easiest, go-to costume methods is the no-sew DIY tulle skirt! Simply take a length of ribbon

or elastic, long enough to fit around your child’s waist, and a large amount of tulle strips. Fold each piece of tulle in half and loop it around the ribbon or elastic strip to form a tight knot. Push each tulle knot together so you don’t spot any elastic or ribbon in between the pieces, but make sure to leave some excess ribbon at the back to tie around your child’s waist! This simple method can be used to create so many costumes, from princess to ballerina or even to add a girlish flair to a cute puppy dog outfit!

PHOTO SENT IN BY ELVA ROMERO


Cardboard

Cardboard can become a parent’s best friend when it comes to crafting Halloween costumes! This

inexpensive material can be used to build all kinds of elaborate ensembles. Simply cut a hole in the top of a cardboard box and glue on some straps to sit on your child’s shoulders, and then you can transform that box with some paint or construction paper into your child’s favorite vehicle! From cars to boats to even trains, cardboard boxes can go a long way with a little bit of imagination! Another fun and easy costume to create is your child’s favorite toy. Turn your children into a classic set of Lego pieces by gluing plastic containers to a cardboard box and then covering the whole thing in a glossy coat of spray paint!

PHOTO SENT IN BY HEIDI YORK GERKIN

PHOTO SENT IN BY CHANDA PRICE

PHOTO SENT IN BY LINDSEY FAITH

Felt

Some of the most popular costumes of 2017 can also be some of the easiest to make!

Create your children’s favorite video game characters by gluing felt details onto inexpensive clothing such as t-shirts or leggings. This method can be used in the simplest of ways, such as gluing two eyes on a pink t-shirt to be a Pac-Man character, or in a more elaborate fashion, such as gluing small squares of felt to your child’s clothing to achieve that pixilated look of their favorite Minecraft character. Halloween can be fun for parents and kids alike, and creating your child’s costume can be just one of the many fun activities when it comes to this time of year!

PHOTO SENT IN BY HEIDI YORK GERKIN


St. Joseph Catholic School

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. St. Joseph Catholic School offers: 

 

Rigorous academic standards in a faith-based environment.  Curriculum based programs starting in Pre-K3.  Advanced middle school Math classes, including Algebra I. Study Hall for all middle school students Monday - Thursday, and Tri-A (Advisor, Advisee, Advocate) on Friday. A state-of-the-art Computer Lab and Technology classes for Grades 5 - 8. 9 - 11 a.m. and 5:30 - 7 p.m.

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WRITTEN BY AMY PAPA PHOTOGRAPHER JO CLAIRE ROBERTSON

ctober is National Sensory Awareness Month. I know, I know….. every other day celebrates awareness about something! But this is an important one for me and for many kids in our community. I’ve been an occupational therapist for 17 years, and I can say that even some of my closest friends and family have no idea what I do much less what sensory awareness means! I might not either if I hadn’t changed my mind about wanting to be a child psychologist during my last year at LSU. At that time many people encouraged me to look into physical therapy, but while observing a pediatric physical therapist, another therapist playing dress-up and eating Cheerios with clothespins caught my attention. The therapist and child appeared to be having so much fun! I had never heard of occupational therapy (OT), and it certainly didn’t sound like anything you would do with children! I always associated the word “occupation” with the word “job” as in what someone does to make a living. However Webster defines an occupation as “an activity in which one engages”. The primary occupations for a child are playing, learning, self-care and interacting with peers. An OT assists the child with improving skills such as fine motor, gross motor, visual motor,

sensory motor, and social so he can be successful in these occupations. I went back to that clinic to observe the OT with several other children and was hooked on this profession. I completed my psychology degree that year and was accepted into Texas Woman’s University for their Masters of Occupational Therapy program the next semester. I loved my first job at the children’s

hospital, but it was at a specialty clinic in Dallas where I discovered my true passion. My co-workers, who were certified and incredibly talented, trained me in treating children with Sensory Processing Disorder (also known as sensory integration dysfunction). Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological disorder in which the child receives information from his senses but either perceives, modulates, or interprets it incorrectly and therefore produces a response that is inappropriate to his situation. While many of us have occasional difficulties processing sensory

information (my husband still cuts the tags out of his shirts), for those with SPD, these difficulties are chronic, neurological and they disrupt everyday life. Because there is a lack of awareness by parents, teachers, and some medical professionals, the child’s symptoms often go untreated. Untreated SPD leads to developmental delays and difficulty in normal childhood activities at home, school, and the community. I specialize in the treatment of children with SPD and know that knowledge leads to early diagnosis, which leads to early intervention, which results in an increased chance for success. So in honor of National Sensory Awareness Month, let me give you a closer look at what SPD really is and looks like. I am sure you know about the five basic senses as most of us learned about these in grade school: hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, tasting. Although, you may not be familiar with the vestibular, proprioceptive, and interoceptive senses that play a major role for the child with SPD. The vestibular sense tells us where the body is in space by giving us information about


• Eating problems; extremely picky

• Floppy or stiff body; motor delays

• Bites toys or people for no reason

• Walks on toes

• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep • Irritable when being dressed; seems uncomfortable in clothes

notice pain • Easily startled

• Rarely plays with toys

our movement and head position. This is essential to develop good balance and coordination. The proprioceptive sense gives us information from our muscles, joints, and ligaments for motor control and posture. It tells our brain where the body is in relation to other objects and how to move. The interoceptive sense tells us about our breathing, hunger and thirst, heart rate, and the need to use the bathroom. Within this diagnosis, the child can either be hyper or hypo sensitive to sensory information or a combination of the two. The hypersensitive child is more sensitive to sensation and typically avoids those sensations. The hypo sensitive child is less sensitive to sensation and therefore craves excessive amounts of those sensations. Here are just a few examples. A child who is hypersensitive to touch may only want to wear “soft” clothing such as sweat pants so he certainly throws a fit about his itchy school uniform. If he is hypo sensitive to touch then he may touch everything and everyone to the point of irritation. A child who is hypersensitive to vestibular input may be clumsy and avoid riding a bike or swinging at recess. If the child is hypo sensitive to vestibular input then it

• Slow to respond when hurt; does not

• Resists cuddling; arches away when held

• Little or no babbling, vocalizing

• Cannot calm self

• Extremely active; in constant motion

• Over-sensitive to touch, noises, smells, or other people • Difficulty with grooming tasks such as hair or nail cutting and tooth brushing • Difficulty making friends; overly aggressive or passive/withdrawn • Clumsy; poor motor skills; weak • Constant roughhousing, climbing, jumping; in everyone’s “face and space” • Makes constant noises • Fearful of movement; scared of playground equipment • Frequent or long temper tantrums

w i l l seem as though he is in constant motion as he desires more movement than is typical. A child who is hypersensitive to proprioceptive input may hold himself in awkward positions. If he is hypo sensitive to proprioceptive input, he may crave jumping and crashing into things. His handwriting may be very dark on the page from the excessive pressure he applies with his pencil. If he is hypersensitive to interoceptive input he may not like the feeling of hunger so he eats all the time to avoid hunger pains. If he is hypo sensitive to interoceptive input he may not feel the urge to use the bathroom in time and have accidents. The child with SPD often produces what we call a “flight-or-fright” response to sensory overload. They either become aggressive or cry (fight), run away (flight), or freeze when their brains panic in response to everyday sensations that the rest of us may not even notice. While the fight-orflight response is normal when a child is

• Difficulty toilet training • Difficulty learning new tasks • Avoids fine motor tasks such as using crayons and fasteners on clothing • Difficulty with transitions or changes in routines • Prefers sedentary activities • Hard to understand speech • Constantly biting or chewing on nonfood items • Doesn’t seem to understand verbal instructions or slow to respond

approaching real danger, it becomes a problem when it is elicited in response to something as simple as entering a busy grocery store. The child with SPD does not typically develop motor skills appropriately. When his gross motor skills are delayed, he may struggle with activities requiring coordination such as catching and throwing balls. He may lose his balance easily or have decreased strength and endurance. This in turn can make it difficult for him to be successful at recess or team sports, which also may result in poor social skills and self-esteem. When his fine motor skills are delayed, he may lack the dexterity required to hold a pencil correctly for good handwriting. He may struggle to manipulate buttons and zippers for dressing or have difficulty using a spoon or toothbrush effectively. Having delayed fine motor skills decreases the chances he will


have a successful start in school. The child with SPD typically also has difficulty with praxis. Praxis is a complex concept that involves many processes, although simply put it is the ability to translate an idea into action. Poor praxis, or dyspraxia, makes it difficult for the child to plan and coordinate physical movement which leads to struggles with many developmental tasks. Every child I see in my practice loves coming to OT! Through active play, I guide them in fun, structured activities that are challenging while at the same time allowing them to be successful. Over time, the child is able to produce these appropriate responses in other environments as well. I like to focus my intervention on younger children as their immature brains have more plasticity which makes it easier for them to change and intervention more effective. Although, older children can certainly benefit from therapy! If you spot red flags of SPD in your child or a child you know, please seek out an OT with extensive knowledge and special training in this area.

Amy Papa, MOT, LOTR Occupational Therapist (318) 218-2311 amypapa17@yahoo.com

Specializing in therapy services for preschool children with Sensory Processing Disorders in the home, school, or clinic environment.


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An INTEGRATIVE APPROACH To

A

p e e sl

good night’s sleep: easily obtained by some, a rare commodity for others. It has been estimated that 60 million Americans have chronic sleep disorders and 10% of adults report a regular lack of sleep. Considering the consequences of sleep deprivation, these statistics are concerning. We all know that we feel better when rested, but sleep is about more than how we feel when awake. Sleep deprivation has been linked to health problems including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic pain, and depression. Without good sleep, productivity decreases at work and school and reaction times slow leading to accidents. It has been reported that if a person goes without sleep for twenty-four hours, their body performs as though they were legally drunk. There is a belief that we can adapt and learn to live with less sleep, but this is simply not true. Without good sleep, we will get sick. So why are Americans not sleeping? The most common reasons have to do with lifestyle. Stress tops the list. Substances, such as alcohol and caffeine, are common offenders. Medications, such as statins and corticosteroids, and conditions associated with pain or discomfort, such as acid reflux, are disruptive to sleep. Shift work and jet lag have negative consequences. Circadian rhythm, the twenty-four cycle

INTEGRATE YOUR HEALTH

that tells our body when to sleep and with Dr. Nicole Cotter wake, is disrupted by overexposure to light and electronics which is pervasive in our modern world. The list of possible interferences is long, which helps explain why correcting poor sleep patterns is not always an easy fix. People often turn to pharmaceutical drugs to help with sleep, but these medications do not necessarily provide a healthy sleep equivalent. Most sleep aids are recommended for short-term use, but often people use them as a long-term solution. In addition to the side effects of these drugs, longterm use can result in dependence and tolerance, meaning they are not as effective over time. More importantly, they mask sleeplessness rather than addressing the root cause of the sleep disorder. An integrative approach to Sleep Health involves a comprehensive plan to address all aspects of life. It is important to treat medical problems that can be the cause of sleep disturbances, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Look over medications to see if sleep interference is a side effect and talk to your doctor. Because common causes of sleep troubles


10 WAYS TO REDUCE THE “NOISE” IN YOUR LIFE AND PROMOTE HEALTHY SLEEP 1. Maintain a regular sleep-wake schedule,

6. Stop drinking caffeine. The very substance

going to bed and waking at the same time,

used to stay awake during the day is

even on weekends. 2. Create

a

safe

disrupting sleep at night. and

healthy

sleep

7. Don’t smoke. Nicotine, too, is a stimulant.

environment in your bedroom. Keep the

8. Limit alcohol use. Alcohol may initially

clock out of your immediate view. Put

seem like a sedative, but later in the night

your phone in another room. Keep your bedroom quiet, dark and cool (around 68 degrees F). Use a HEPA filter.

it acts as a sleep-disrupter. 9. Exercise during the day to balance your nervous system.

3. Have a relaxing routine prior to bed.

10. Eat a balanced, healthy diet. Nutrients,

Unplug by limiting the use of electronics

such as B vitamins, are necessary for

in the hours prior to bedtime, minimizing

production of sleep hormones. Proper

blue light exposure.

nutrition will balance blood sugar and

4. Have a daily relaxation practice, such as meditation. 5. Do breathwork, like the 4-7-8 breathing exercise.

are related to lifestyle, most people will have improvements in sleep with lifestyle changes. First and foremost, make sleep a priority. Determine how many hours you need and be protective of that time. There is a term known as “noise reduction”, the premise being that we have trouble sleeping not from a lack of sleepiness but from excessive wakefulness. Noise reduction aims to manage excessive stimulation and support our innate capacity for sleep. I am frequently asked about supplements for use as sleep aids. As with any sleep aid, supplements should only be used as one part of a comprehensive plan for sleep. Supplements won’t have the “knock-out” effect of pharmaceuticals but rather gently assist a person to sleep with use over time. Melatonin is a hormone that our bodies make that is involved in maintaining our circadian rhythms and it is a commonly misused supplement. When it comes to sleep, more melatonin is not better, as lower supplement doses seem to be more effective. A reasonable dose for an adult would be 1-3 mg taken two hours before bedtime. Valerian is a sedating herb that can be consumed as a tea, capsule, or extract 30 minutes before bed to help with sleep. Hops, best known in the brewing of beer, has soothing and sedating effects. Hops, often used in combination with valerian, can be used for sleep when taken as a tea 30 minutes before bed. Magnesium, a mineral important to many functions in the body, has a

give you the nutrients you need for healthy sleep. Avoid large meals and sugar at dinner and give yourself a couple of hours between dinner and bedtime.

relaxing effect. Deficiency is common and supplementing magnesium may also help with sleep. Supplements can interact with medications, so it is important to speak with your doctor before starting to take them. If you are combining botanicals, work with a herbalist or integrative medicine doctor. Aromatherapy is also a useful tool for sleep. Essential oils of lavender or rose applied topically with a carrier oil or inhaled via a diffuser can promote relaxation and sleep. Sleep difficulties are common and management works best through an integrative lens. There is no magic pill. Take a step back and look at all the areas of life that could be negatively affecting sleep. The good news is that we are inherently wired to sleep at night. Reduce the noise, slow down, and allow your body to get the rest needed to function and stay healthy.

Dr. Nicole Cotter is a board-certified Integrative Medicine doctor in Shreveport, Louisiana. She graduated from LSU School of Medicine. She completed residency in Internal Medicine and fellowships in both Rheumatology and Integrative Medicine. She is the owner of Integrative Medicine of Shreveport-Bossier (www.integrativemedicinesb.com), a consultative practice where she partners with patients to create personalized health plans that integrate complementary medicine with conventional to care for the whole person.



y r o t S s ’ ana

N

A story of a mother’s faith after great loss. WRITTEN BY: BEVIN HICKS PHOTOGRAPHER: BRITTANY STRICKLAND

She has an undeniable sparkle in her eye; a youthful sparkle,

although her youth has passed there have been many circumstances

that would have dimmed that light in anyone but Nana. Marian Muse, fondly known as Nana, was born in Virginia in 1933. She moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, at the age of eight and has lived in north Louisiana the majority of her years. Nana has lived a “normal” life by an everyday notion of normal, but Nana is anything but ordinary. It only takes a moment with her for you to feel her spirit. Her giggle is contagious. She has a great love for a few things that has kept her

her most significant job was being a mother to Donette, Tondra, and Lynda. In 1998 the normal life of this faithful woman began to change. The change came quickly. The loss came in droves. Nana’s middle daughter Tondra was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1998. Tondra was very ill and knew that her time on earth would be short. The sicker that Tondra got the more she would worry about Nana. Nana has such a fierce love for her girls, Tondra feared for Nana’s wellbeing once she passed. She asked Nana one day, “Mom, will you be ok after I am gone?” Nana says that the response she

spirit so inspiring. First and foremost is her

gave her dying daughter was nothing that

unshakable faith in the Lord. She will proudly tell you, “Even as a young girl, God has been a big part of my life”. Her second love is that of family and that love is something fierce, followed by her third love, Elvis Presley. She is a huge Elvis fan, particularly his movie Blue Hawaii. She will let out her infectious laugh talking about her favorite part of Blue Hawaii, “ I love it when Elvis gets married and floats

“Mom, will you be okay after I am gone?”

away in a little canoe. I want to float away in that canoe like that.” Nana is lighthearted and sharp as nails, even after suffering great losses in her life: time, after time, after time. Nana was the mother to three beautiful daughters. Donette was born in 1957, named after her father Don. In 1960 her second daughter Tondra was born. On Tondra’s first birthday Nana was in the hospital giving birth to her third daughter, Lynda. Nana as always gives the credit to God in raising her three girls, “Only with the help of the Lord was I able to raise my girls to be special women.” Nana raised her children to be strong and independent. She was insistent that they got up each day putting the Lord first and always applying their makeup before leaving the house. She spent her career as a telephone operator, but

she could have come up with on her own, “It was straight from God,” she said, “Tondra, you were God’s before you were mine. If he chooses to take you home, I will be grateful for the time I had you here with me. I am at peace.” Nana says that most people don’t understand that. Tondra went home with the Lord in 2000. Nana’s grandchildren will tell you that going to stay at her house was equivalent to The Ritz Carlton. She would serve them croissants

and Perrie water. Her roast and smashed potatoes, followed by lemon meringue pie would put any five-star restaurant out of business. Nana does admit that after losing Tondra she quit cooking for a while. Her faith never failed, but human heartache still hurts. After some time, she picked back up and started cooking again. Then in 2003 cancer struck her family again. Lynda, her youngest, was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2007 Donnett was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It did not seem possible to Nana that she was to face such struggles, but as Nana does, she put her faith in the Lord and held on tight. Lynda passed away in 2010 and Donette in 2014. All three of her girls were taken by the beast called cancer-a mother’s greatest heartache


time, after time, after time. When she is asked, “How do you still get up every morning?” This pillar of faith so matter of factly states, “Because I know my girls are together, and I know where my girls are. I will see them again. God says so and I just don’t know how people go on without the Lord. He will always see you through.” After Donette passed away her preacher came to the house and asked her, “What are you going to do now that all of your girls are gone?” Nana was not quite sure for a while. As I sat across the table from Nana listing to her story, her eyes sparkling, she said you know… “This may be what I was supposed to do. I was supposed to sit down with you and tell my story. Maybe someone out there who thinks they can’t go on will read my story and know that they can go on with faith in the Lord.” She said, “Even though God has taken my girls to be with him, he has blessed me with four wonderful grandchildren, two precious great grandchildren and one on the way.” After inconceivable loss, Nana sits and giggles, her spirit intact, and her faith exuberant. Nana knows that when the time comes, she will be with her girls floating away in little canoe, just like Elvis in Blue Hawaii. Until then, she will get up each day, put on her makeup and enjoy the blessings in front of her. Thank you, Nana. Your beauty and faith inspire us all.

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PHOTOGRAPHER BRITTANY STRICKLAND ello. My name is Tricia, and I’m an introverted event planner.” Set this fact aside, and we will come back to it later. At age 43 I’ve dabbled in my fair share of careers and side projects. In no particular order, I’ve owned a maternity and children’s clothing store and a BBQ restaurant. I’ve made jewelry, arranged flowers, made pottery, and taught prenatal yoga. You might recognize me as the girl spinning organic cotton candy at neighborhood festivals or selling produce at the Shreveport Farmer’s Market. The most bizarre job I’ve ever had was in trucking logistics, which by the way, was where I learned that I am not the least bit competitive. Lastly, I’ve been on every side of event planning possible, from venue manager, to florist, to catering director, to wedding planner. Every business venture sprung from passion and an overwhelming desire to be self-employed. I knew at an early age that I thrived in a flexible environment that challenged me artistically. Unfortunately, each business required me to sell something. Let’s face it. If you’re not making money, it’s a hobby, not a career. Little did I know, I was horrible at sales. So horrible that I would actually find myself talking customers out of purchasing whatever product I was selling at the time. I can clearly remember guiding a potential customer to an online resale shop for the exact same product I had on my shelves, simply because I knew they were available for half the price. Another valuable lesson that I learned about myself is if you are under the age of 12 and you ask me for something, chances are, I’ll give it to you. You try telling a precious, little four- year- old he or she can’t have cotton candy for free. However, above and beyond m y weakness to sell a product, rose my anxiety of dealing with the public. At the time I shrugged it off as being introverted, not quite as comfortable in my own skin as I should be, which I was told was

common in women in their 20’s. I also had a lingering fear of failure, because let’s face it, I am the type to jump in with two feet and figure out the rest as I go. I don’t know if this is courageous or down right idiotic, but it has served me well, and I’ll continue to do it this way as long as it does. Fast forward 20 years and 20 jobs later, and I am enamored with event planning as much as I was in my early twenties. My career in event coordinating started at age 22 with a Certificate of Event Planning that proved I knew what the heck I was doing. I launched my first Wedding planning business in Dallas, Texas, and waited and waited. Then reality hit and I had to find a “real job”. I was lucky enough to find someone who didn’t shy away from this 22- year - old kid who thought she knew the industry because her certificate said so. This was truly an opportunity of a life time. I travelled all over the U.S. planning events. I met some of my greatest mentors, and I was put into a position to sink or swim… which suits me just fine. I currently hold three positions within the event planning industry which include the following: Event Manager, The Remington Suite Hotel; Event Manager, Shreveport Aquarium; and most recently, Owner and Creative Director of The Nouveau Wedding. If it sounds as if I’m bragging a bit, well I am. Event planning is not for the weak. It means starting at 5:00 a.m. and finishing at 5:00 a.m. It involves sleep deprivation for days on end. It’s working in 95-degree heat or in the pouring rain and everything in between. It’s heavy lifting, cuts, bruises, sunburns, climbing stairs, ladders and trees. It’s playing with flowers, fabrics, timber and paint. It’s serving as a therapist, a surrogate mom, a mentor, a motivator, and providing a shoulder to cry on. It’s what I live for and what I love. So, yes, I am proud to have sustained a career in a field that challenges me in every way possible. Every sleepless night is


THE NOUVEAU WEDDING

forgotten when the elevator opens, and I see the look on the mother of the bride’s face at the start of the wedding reception. I wink and smile and she knows that I am there to take care of their every need, because after seven to nine months of working together, I’ve been able to gain their trust and friendship. After 16 years in the industry, I now feel that being introverted has enabled me to connect with my clients on a much deeper level. The interest that I show in their personal life is authentic. It’s so rewarding to witness the beauty that exists in genuine moments of connection between people and their surroundings. The anxiety of being in the midst of chaos subsided years ago. Granted, I feel like a hawk, scanning every square foot of the room in search of possible issues, but the reason for the celebration and the beauty in the unity of the guests are not lost on me. The wedding industry is constantly evolving, just as I am. If you are interested in learning more about my adventures in the wedding world, visit my website at thenouveauwedding.com.

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Page 1 | LOLA MAGAZINE | November-December


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Outfit Absolutely Abigail’s Brooch The Enchanted Gardens


T

his fall season, leather or pleather pieces are coming back into style from women in their 20’s. Add a leather piece such as a jacket or leggings to any looks can give it an edge for any twenty-year-old. Women in their 30’s can dress up a simple pair of jeans and a tee with bright and bold jewelry. Althetic wear turned casual is also a big trend this fall: try out some sneakers or leggings with dressier pieces for an out-ofthe-box look. The up and coming trend for women in their forties includes deep shades of blues, bold jewelry, and classic white button downs. Neutral tones layered with one another can be a great look for any woman in her fifties. Add some chunky jewelry or animal print to dress up those neutrals. For women in their sixties, blushing pinks and deep blacks can be paired to match any skin tone. Block heels are also a stylish yet sturdy staple for any look as well as they can easily transition any look from day to night. Women in their seventies can always work with black and white, whether in a simple and chic look or something with a fun pattern. Dress any look up with some statement jewelry and bold broaches for some great details to a great outfit. MADELINE ROBERTS DEBLIEUX

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COGNITION IGNITION WHAT IS COGNITION & HOW DOES IT AFFECT LEARNING PROCESSES AT ALL AGES?

WHAT IS COGNITION?

Cognition is the umbrella term for your learning skills— your ability to process information, reason, remember, and relate. In short, your cognitive skills are your thinking skills. When you struggle to process or think through information, this causes a weakness in your thinking efficiency and this is known as a cognitive deficiency. Cognitive skills impact the way we learn, the efficiency of the learning process and what we do with the information that we have learned.

WHAT IMPACTS COGNITION?

Many factors play into your growth of cognitive skills such as genetics, proper hydration & nutrition, overall health, and aging are among those that have the highest affect as well as activities that impact the brain such as playing sports or getting concussions. Strengthening or weakening of cognitive skills happens sometimes by choices we make in lifestyle as well as things that are outside our control but there has never been a better time to be aware of our own cognitive function that in the high stress, fast paced world full of technological advances & pitfalls.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT OUR LEARNING PROCESSES?

Examining some of the ways we can make better choices to take charge of our own brain health starts when we are young and continues through all ages. Being aware of our own brain fitness is imperative to having the best in our society. Statistics state that those with higher cognitive function actually have higher income over their lifetime and this makes brain health a high priority. Dr. Sandra Chapman with University of Texas at Dallas Center for Brain Health coined the term “Brainomics” to define the high economic cost of poor brain performance, and she sees brain health and enhancement as the most significant path through which to raise the standard of living globally. As quoted in the Reader’s Digest in August 2017 & on the UT brain health website, “Although the origins of intelligence are still being researched, it does seem clear that IQ, or intelligence quotient, is not fixed—it can change throughout your life. Studies show our nutrition and other environmental factors may also impact brain power. We used to think that once smart, always smart and vice versa—we now know that is wrong,” says Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD, founder and chief director of the Center for Brain Health at The University of Texas at Dallas. “Science clearly reveals that the brain and our ‘smartness’ are anything but fixed. We

continuously shape and rewire our brain by how we think.” If we can change how we think and our choices impact how we learn, what can we do to make our learning processes easier especially if we already have learning or memory deficits? Just like exercise is necessary for the body, so it necessary for the brain. The more deliberate we are about addressing the specific areas of weakness the better improvements we will experience. The first step is to truly identify which skills are weak. Getting a cognitive checkup such as that given by LearningRx & other local providers is very important to understanding your cognitive health. Recently, I went to the dentist for a complete checkup and I found out that I had more than one cavity trying to develop not because I was doing anything bad for my teeth but more because I wasn’t doing what I needed to in order to give them all the care they needed to stay healthy. I knew immediately what things I needed to do as well to take care of my dental health.

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU HAVE HAD A CHECKUP FOR YOUR COGNITIVE FUNCTION?

In a recent meeting of the World Economic Forum, of 3000+ decision makers, 84% of them agree that adults of all ages should take charge of their own brain function without waiting for a doctor to tell them to do so as well as 83% saying they should getting an annual mental checkup and 94% say brain health should be a healthcare priority.

WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?

Once you have identified your cognitive strengths and weaknesses, then you must take charge of enhancing those skills that are weak through targeted exercises either digitally, with a personal brain trainer, or through concerted discipline via games & activities at home depending on the gain level you desire or need. Do your research and take charge of your mental health! Cognition is the engine to your learning! Time to rewire and rev up no matter what your age!! LearningRx can help you with this. Come WRITTEN BY DONESA see us! Special offer for October 18-21st WALKER, M.ED, only is FREE online cognitive assessment ($97 value) and a FREE consultation ($85 OWNER OF LEARNINGRX value) to celebrate 100,000 brains trained nationally!!! See our ad in this magazine. OF SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER


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 H E AV E N LY AC R E S  Honoring theMemories of our beloved Pets WRITTEN BY JACI DEARMOND

M

y crazy idea to become a funeral director started when I was about 10 years old. My great grandfather passed away and after being at the funeral home in Gladewater, Texas, for his viewing and service, I knew exactly this is what I wanted to do! No one in my family was in the funeral industry. I found a mortuary college in Dallas and when I told my parents my intensions, they asked that I get a job first to make sure it was something I could handle. I called the owner of the funeral home shortly thereafter, and expressed my interest in the business. He said he’d call me to shadow him so I could see what it was like; however, he never called. I chose another option and visited the funeral home attached to the cemetery where his body was laid to rest, and I gave them the same story. The wonderful gentleman I had the privilege of working under for several years told me to come back after school the next day in a dress ready to work. I was so excited and learned so much from Mr. Johnny Strong, Manager of Lakeview Funeral Home, Longview, Texas. I worked the next year completing my funeral director/ embalmer apprenticeship, then attended Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. I graduated in 1995, and returned to work at the same funeral home until I moved to Louisiana in 1999. I first worked at Hill Crest Funeral Home, and I managed Boone Funeral Homes and Crematory until 2008. It was during this time period in 2003 that we thought our growing family of four needed a dog. We found Ellie, a black lab, and fell in love with her! Her first round of puppy shots was given by Dr.


Daniel Core, Airline Animal Health and Surgery Center in Bossier City. I learned he had a crematory behind his building and used it as a service for families who left their dogs with him instead of burying at their homes. The condition of the crematory needed a major overhaul, and he decided he didn’t want to offer that service anymore. I researched other places in the area that offered the same service and found none. The idea of starting a business that I had a passion for, helping people through one of the most difficult times in their lives, and fulfilling a need in the community was both exciting and scary. I’ll credit my ex-husband with making me jump at this opportunity, and I’ve never looked back. In 2003 we bought three acres of land in Elm Grove and started Heavenly Acres for Pets, a full service pet cemetery and crematory. We bought the veterinarian’s crematory, and had it completely refurbished. I managed two jobs for the next five years and then made the decision to resign from the human industry and go full time into the pet business. I patterned the pet business after the human business because that’s all I knew. Our phones are answered 365 days a year, pets are picked up from homes when they pass away there, we offer both a cemetery and a crematory for families to choose from, as well as many personalized mementos and keepsakes. Most families we serve choose cremation mainly because they want them back home. Each pet is cremated and processed separately then placed in the urn the chosen by the family. There are many different urns to choose from such as wood, metal, marble, glass, and brass. Most come with a place for engraving so the family can personalize something special for their baby. The pet is then delivered back to their home or the veterinarian’s office. Burial is an option some families prefer. Every pet is placed inside a polypropylene pet casket that is non-porous and nonbiodegradable. Families are given options such as selecting the burial plot or having me handle this, whether to view the pet before burial, having a service, and deciding on the inscription of the marker. I’ve found people have very different feelings about all of this. I’ve learned to listen and try to make recommendations that will be best for them because everyone grieves in their own way at their own time. The cemetery is open for families to come back and visit anytime. There are many keepsakes and memorials families can choose from as well. The most popular is the clay paw print.

The pet’s paw print is cast in clay with its name beside it and then baked to perfection. This is so special because it’s their actual imprint, kept as natural as possible and sometimes a few pieces of hair is even left in the cast. It can be displayed on a wooden stand, a shadowbox to hang on the wall, or as an ornament. I also offer the pet’s paw or nose image from Meadow Hill cast in precious metal or bonze so that the finished product replicates the original print. I wear Ellie’s nose print on a necklace every day and love the closeness and joy it brings to me. Memory Glass is another option where cremated remains are suspended in solid glass sculptures or keepsake jewelry. Each hand-blown piece is unique and there are different colors, sizes, and shapes of glass from which to choose. Keepsake urns are also popular. They are small and hold a portion of the cremated remains in a piece of jewelry or a tiny urn. They also come in various finishes, shapes, and colors. Lastly, creating a one-of-a-kind high quality diamond from the carbon of the cremated remains is also an option through LifeGem. The second Sunday in September is National Pet Memorial Day and a service honoring all the pets gone before us as well as the ones we have now is offered at 6:00 p.m. annually. We have been doing this over a decade now. Burial families will come and check on their grave, and cremation families also come. Pets, children, and friends are always encouraged. A memorial table is also set up for items like pictures, toys, collars, etc. During this short memorial service, a minister will come and say a few words of encouragement then families are allowed to share their heartfelt stories if they choose. I’ve learned this is


such a valuable tool in healing, and all seem to enjoy this time of sharing. It’s a great time to come together and remember all the joy and unconditional love that pets give us. This year we started making some drastic improvements to the cemetery that should be completed by year end. I’ve envisioned this for many years now and am so excited it’s coming to fruition. Some of the improvements include enclosing the crematory within a building, opening an office building complete with a show room, walkways throughout the cemetery, an arbor, a fountain, benches, fencing, and landscape. There is also a pergola where families can sit under with a brick memorial wall. In the middle of the memorial wall is a Rainbow Bridge mosaic picture my mom, daughter and I made. The bricks are sold as a memorial for a family to inscribe a personalized message in honor of their pet or family member. God has blessed me in so many areas, and for that I’m grateful. He has allowed me to start and operate a business that I have a passion for and one the community needs. I have plans to build a home at the back of the cemetery grounds within a few years and continue my work as long as I possibly can. Thank you to all the pet parents in the past that have entrusted me with their beloved babies. I promise to always use the highest level of dignity and respect with every pet brought to me. It’s truly amazing the amount of unconditional love they give us during good times and especially through the bad. In all my years of funeral service, I never thought one could grieve more over a pet than a family member, but it’s true. It’s tremendously heart breaking when we have to make the decision for them to cross the Rainbow Bridge…. but just know they are running and playing with no ailments until we cross that bridge ourselves and are reunited.

PHOTO CREDITS: SOUL REBELS PHOTOGRAPHY

River Cities Humane Society Presents

Saturday, October 28, 2017 Evening Gala At Bayou Landing 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. Costumes are optional

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Susan G. Komen

I

N K A H IN T P E R O M

’m so proud to work for a breast cancer organization that is “more than pink.” Susan G. Komen is the organization that started the pink ribbon to represent breast cancer awareness. For many younger people, they don’t know a world without the pink ribbon, but for those who can remember former First Lady Betty Ford telling the public she was diagnosed with breast cancer, they remember a world without a pink ribbon. It was a world that whispered the words, breast cancer, and for many, a world that turned its head. Then in 1977 a young, beautiful vibrant woman got that diagnosis, and in 1980 that young woman died at the age of 36. Her name was Susan Goodman Komen. Before she

WRITTEN BY KELLEY MATKINS

died, her sister promised her she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever, and in 1982 Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation began changing the way we talk about breast cancer, the way we fundraise for breast cancer and the way we fight breast cancer. The very first Race for the Cure was held in Dallas in 1983. It has now grown into the world’s largest grass roots breast cancer organization with a presence not just in the United States but all over the world. In fact, we are the largest non-profit breast cancer organization to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. Just

ts “It has now grown into the world’’s largest grass roo t in breast cancer organization with a presence not jus the United States, but all over the world.”

last year Komen announced a bold goal to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50-percent in the U.S. within the next decade. We are well on our way. The Komen North Louisiana Affiliate has grown since it started its first Race in 1994, and today we serve a 22 parish area. We have invested more than 5 million dollars into local programs to provide breast health education, screening mammograms for women who don’t have health insurance and support services for women who are diagnosed. We do that through our community and small grants program. We grant the money to local non-profits to provide these services. We call it our mission. Two years ago we put our mission in motion by working together with our grantees and other partners on a project we call our Pink Ribbon Pop Up. We


go to the targeted rural parts of our territory that we have found are still underserved and still struggling with access to care. Together we are showing these communities that Komen North Louisiana belongs to them. Money raised here, stays here. When we host our Race for the Cure, money comes back to places like Arcadia and Springhill. Our grantees and other partner organizations are great when they work independently, but on Pop Up days, this collaboration is waking up communities and small towns for women to take action by getting screened for breast cancer. Statistics show that one in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Louisiana has the second highest mortality rate of breast cancer in the country. Chances are

everyone knows someone touched by breast cancer. A lot of people like to only think about breast cancer in October. At Komen North Louisiana, we think about it all year long. We help people all year long, and I’m fortunate to work with the organizations and the people we help. We hope that the community will join us by registering for our September 30th Race for the Cure. It’s easy to register; go to the komennorthlouisiana.org website, and then join us at CenturyLink Center in Bossier City. This year we plan to “Give Breast Cancer the Boot” with a Louisiana country theme! The Arthur Ray Teague Parkway will be a sea of pink and filled with pink ribbons. Together we will show the community we are “more than pink”.

PHOTO CREDITS: ABBY HOPE PHOTOGRAPHY

Pints With Purpose will be benefiting Susan G. Komen on September 28.

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Harvesting Designs From Gardens to Grandness

Clinton Whitney Downing is a man of many talents. He resides in his hometown of Monroe. He is a writer, floral designer, interior decorator, historical preservationist and fashion designer. After much travel, he has returned to his southern roots and his love of Louisiana. He is devoted to his community, lending his talents to various charity organizations. Much of his enjoyment in his life comes from spending time with his two rescue puppies, Cookie and Cooper. He is excited to be joining the LOLA team.

A

utumn, or fall as many of us reference it, is the third season of the year. From September to November, crops and fruits are gathered and leaves fall in the northern hemisphere. Southern ladies boast of the decadent harvest of their labor from their well-tended gardens. Game day tailgates rally football fanatics for feasting and fellowship alike. Tricks and treats bring out costumed cuties and creatures galore, each one hoping for a jack-o-lantern of sweet eats and much, much more. Pumpkin patches pop up abundantly around the town as it calms after a sizzling summer, and everyone can finally socialize without the humid heat. I have many wonderful childhood memories of fall. I can remember the time and effort my mama placed into making costumes for my sister and I. Our household was on a strict budget so these costumes were never premanufactured. She would go the TG&Y and sort through the remnant bins to find just enough fabric. Not a scrap of material would go to waste. From clowns and Native Americans, to hobos and Holly Hobby, each took on a unique personality. Her passion for creating our patterns and bringing her visions to life were more than just a costume. With the sew of each thread, she would put her heart and soul into every stitch. They were garments of love and happiness, and all these years later she still has many of them safely archived away. There are times that I close my eyes and wish I were still in those days. Four decades later and I still love to create a memorable costume for All Hallows’ Eve.


As a multifaceted designer, I enjoy the floral design aspects of fall design. From the tradition elements to the clever little twists, creating a unique and inviting entrance along with a comforting atmosphere in your home is a true southern tradition, especially in Louisiana. The great thing about fall is the warm hues of colors. The opulent embers, crimson maroons, and fiery oranges mesh beautifully in creating designs. I love to create and design front door areas in unique ways. Many are adorned with potted mums, pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks and hay bales of many homes. They are transformed into breathtaking displays with nature’s gifts from God. The great thing about working with elements from nature is that there are no rules. Each branch or vine has grown as God has intended it. Each pumpkin or gourd has taken on its own unique shape. Each mum has bloomed with its intended hue. Each overgrown okra has its own unprecedented ridges. The uniqueness of each element brings out the beauty. Of course, it would be sinful in the south to omit the use of stalks of sugar cane and branches of cotton blossoms. Creating home decor with two of Louisiana’s greatest agricultural commodities adds a signature touch to many a southern ladies home. In an area rich in agriculture, I discover how much I love to pull from nature in my designs. It goes beyond the lush backyard greens and variegated back of tree branches; I like to step into the farmer’s markets and use my imagination. It goes beyond the gourds and pumpkins in creating an arrangement; I like to incorporate an eclectic array of fruits and vegetables into fall for dinner parties, weddings and events. While I say it goes beyond a pumpkin, that

doesn’t m e a n that they are not beyond use in implementing a great look without making it too rustic. It’s more of a glamorization of fall. It is about taking the best that nature offers and making it chic. It is about taking away the harshness of the natural state and evolving it into something more polished. It is about taking from the produce section and producing forth an effortless floral design. As with any great creation in floral arranging, I find it should take no more than thirty minutes. Maybe it just comes natural to me, but it is rather rare for me to place a flower, then stand back and second guess its placement. I learned design as a child growing up in the business. I sold my first arrangement at the age of twelve-years-old. A passion was created at that moment. I wanted to continue to create floral arrangements when given the chance to do so. One word of caution in your fall designs: make sure you have proper protection between pumpkins and gourds and your furniture. The demise of their post-harvest lifespan could lead to a costly refinishing bill. It is wise to check them often or rotate them to prevent their bottoms from leaving a seedy mess and odor to contend with as well. If in doubt, throw it out.


As a rule, many people feel confined to designing or decorating within perimeters or guidelines. Great design doesn’t come with an instruction manual. The “throw caution to the wind” method works for me as a rule of thumb, though it may not stand true with every individual. Much of it comes down to “GGT”-God Given Talent. I believe that each of us has at least an inkling of creativity. Some just tend to second guess themselves or overthink the process. For some, less is more, while others will decorate every available surface in the home. The effect of creating a festive atmosphere becomes rather cumbersome. The clutter takes away the essence of the design. That half-off sale at Hobby Lobby has taken your home hostage. The décor becomes scarier than the ghouls and goblins. One could only hope that it would fall apart and find its way into the nearest post game bonfire. Thirty-three years in, I still have the same great fondness for floral design. I would say that I break the rules in floral compositions, but have never allowed them to be a part of my philosophy in design. Being left handed, I tend to think differently than others. I also find that when God gives

Bonded and Insured

you nature’s beauty and blesses you with a talent, you are supposed to explore it to the fullest. You need to design in a way that makes you happy and represents your personality. It is a creative process of sharing your soul through your gifts. Design has so much structure, but I love the free flow effect. Learning the design business from my parents, Ron and Jan Downing, gave me a great anchor as I went through school and beyond. It helped build my confidence and allowed me to take jobs in New Orleans, New York, and Dallas. In these three cities, I experienced the design world on a large scale. As I look back on that journey in my design career, I am grateful for the experiences of those days. They have helped me harvest my work to another level. It is said that we reap what we sow. If that is the case, I am sowing the seeds of love with each design. As we leave the summer heat waves behind and move into fall, it’s time to settle in with a pumpkin spiced latte and continue reading the new issues of Lola Magazine. Just relax and enjoy the great fall season as we anticipate the arrival of “The Great Pumpkin” and the orange hues of a beautiful autumn sunset.

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Surviving a change in your holiday traditions-Plan early ho isn’t annoyed when the craft stores begin to stock shelves with Christmas decorations before school starts? Nobody! But for some it’s more than annoyance. For those whose holiday traditions have changed for them - sometimes with warning (as in divorce or deployment or “the other in-laws”) and sometimes with no warning at all, it’s more than annoying. It’s anxiety producing. Meet Debbie (real name withheld). Her entire life, and all the traditions that went with it, changed without warning and in the blink of an eye. Her healthy, happy, heroic husband died suddenly while at work. And when the shock of that began to wane, the anticipation of celebrating anything became overwhelming. Just seeing ornaments on a tree at the door in August started the internal dialogue, “Holy Cow, how am I going to make it through the holidays this first year without him? Without these kids’ Dad? He was the one that always made Christmas, Christmas. Everything I have done, I can’t possibly do that.” It seemed impossible to plan the who, the where, the when without using “last year” as a reference. Meet her sisters, Jenn and Beth, who decided not to watch Debbie and her girls suffer through the holidays. They were determined to be pro-active and help Debbie and her girls by completely changing the pre-existing Christmas traditions for all three families. None of them did anything the same as “last year.” But where do they start planning after the decision was made? Unless, of course, you plan something entirely different . . . with no reference to “last year.” Enter a trusted friend, a travel professional, to help these four adults and six cousins chart a course during the year that changed everything. Of all the great things traveling can do for your soul, your confidence, your culture, your understanding and your enjoyment, travel can also

be the bridge between what was and what will be. John Grisham’s novel, Skipping Christmas, was the backbone for this family’s transition between what was and what would be. No plot spoilers here, but for a variety of good solid reasons, the fictional family opted to change their holiday traditions. No death in the family, no divorce to divide the family, no fire at the family home, no military deployment to Germany or Okinawa and no new marriage with new in-laws with whom to now share holidays. Just a great illustration of how families can navigate through, and even begin to enjoy, changes in the most sacred of traditions. And if the holidays are the season for miracles, perhaps just getting through the holidays with the anticipation of joy instead of heartache is the goal for some families during such tragic years. Thanks to Jenn and Beth, just being away from “the past” alleviated the pressure for Debbie. No obligatory parties to attend. No obligatory smiling for hours on end. No reminders with every “Dad” ornament out of the storage box and back into the storage box. No reminders of now always having to do everything alone. It allowed meaningful discussion about what they missed not being at home, what they didn’t miss at all about Christmas at home, and confirmed to each other


that the most important thing about their traditions was their being together. As a matter of fact, after remaining at home the next Christmas, they all looked at each other and said, “Why in the world are we NOT on a cruise ship in the Caribbean this year?” Performing a little miraculous magic - that’s just one of the many things that happen with travel professionals every day! WRITTEN BY: CAROL RICHEY

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a closer look at Bon Temps Coffee owner and Shreveport Detective Marcus Mitchell

WRITTEN BY: KENYA ROSS

T

hriving cities move forward through the support of local businesses with the zeal to invest, partner together, and provide solutions. In the Red River District of Downtown Shreveport, Marcus Mitchell, the owner of Bon Temps Coffee Bar, has the eagerness to become involved with the development of the economy through his business. From the time Bon Temps Coffee Bar opened in November of 2015, Marcus was dedicated towards ensuring the coffee bar was not only a business within the community, but a business that is a part of the community. His selfless endeavors have earned him recognition for the 2016 Small Businessman of the Year Award with the Shreveport-Bossier African-American Chamber of Commerce. Adding to his achievements, Marcus was awarded the 2017 Emerging Leader Award with the State of Black Shreveport, an organization aimed to engage in discussions confronting the challenges among the black community including any issues with local education advocates, elected

officials, businesses, community leaders, citizens and clergy. “What I recognized growing up in the city of Shreveport is that a lot of the businesses siphoned the resources from the communities, but they never put anything back into the communities. So when the schools were struggling, when the streets were torn down, or when the family lost a loved one, the businesses were never there to be a stop gap for the community,” said business owner Marcus Mitchell. While proudly serving and wearing his badge of honor as an officer for the Shreveport Police Department during the day, he continues to exude his efforts in social activism through occasional gatherings at his coffee bar called “Town Hall Conversations.” This roundup happens periodically on a Sunday afternoon for local citizens to share topics on sensitive subjects that have an effect on the community. Although “Town Hall Conversations” is open to the public, it is an intimate atmosphere where recorded audio, pictures, and videos are


“There is a heart in the middle of the ‘o’ in Bons and that heart is there to be symbolic of the mission statement...”

not permitted. The purpose of this social gathering is to provide a safe place for concerned citizens to open up about conversations that may be uncomfortable and to express heartfelt opinions. When Marcus decided to become an entrepreneur, he made it a part of each business’s mission he created to be resourceful in the community and have a philanthropic side to the business. It is visible in the logo he designed for Bon Temps Coffee Bar. There is a heart in the middle of the “o” in Bons, and that heart is there to be symbolic of the mission statement

which is, “Good times, but also good hearts.” Bon Temps Coffee Bar has gathered and sustained beneficial collaborations with nonprofit organizations in Shreveport. The main nonprofit organization the coffee bar is donating to and working along with is the Renzi Education and Arts Center in regards to their fundraising efforts. The Renzi Education and Arts Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that builds opportunities for children to continue learning, developing art after school with the center’s free after school program provided for children in grades K-12 all throughout the school year in Shreveport-Bossier City, LA. “Throughout the year, our business, along with Renzi, collaborates on several fundraising projects in order to raise their income so they can provide the services for below privileged youth within the communities of Shreveport,” said Marcus of Bon Temps Coffee Bar. On the other hand, Hope Connections is the foremost leader in regards to comprehensive care for homelessness in the city of Shreveport. The business strives to direct all of the homeless population towards them including providing resources and services. By sending the homeless group to Hope Connections and additional registered nonprofit organizations in the area supplying needs for the less fortunate, they have access to resources other than food, water and toiletries. Services such as substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling, job placement and medical treatments are the subsidiaries that are readily available for the ones


in these unfortunate situations, and can help put a stop to homelessness for a long-term. Marcus created a video of a homeless man sharing his story, which received over several shares, views, and “likes” on social media. The story of the homeless man is part of Bon Temps Coffee Bar’s ongoing campaign. Marcus and his staff has rededicated themselves over the last two years as they struggled to get the business on solid footing. The coffee bar is a business and Marcus pointed out that the first few years are the toughest years. As he went through some difficulties, he came out of it. He surpassed hardships and he refocused on the business’s mission which is a philanthropic nature, and that is when he decided he was going to start a campaign called, “A Cause for Coffee.” “What ‘A Cause for Coffee’ campaign is about includes identifying different causes within our city and within our country that we can rally behind in order to raise funds and

to give back or to bring light to- in regards to socioeconomic ills within our society. The first thing we wanted to do was one that we face almost daily. We are in downtown Shreveport , so there’s a sizable homeless population that we see on a daily basis. They come in, they ask for water, we see them out in front of our business and in our normal passings coming to and from work,” Marcus explained. While observing the need for the homeless community, he and the staff were able to start with homelessness as their primary campaign for the current quarter. “A Cause for Coffee” is their current quarter’s campaign, and the cause is homelessness. The goal of Marcus’s homelessness campaign is to expand from speaking with the homeless person to interviewing employees of institutions that caters to homelessness, their loved ones and people who encounter these individuals.

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Capturing the Beauty of EverydY


Pretty Genius

THE BEST WAYS TO MAKE COSMETICS WORK FOR YOU WRITTEN BY: ROSEMARY MCMASTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JARRETT WARREN

W

hether they use it or not, most women own cosmetic products to some degree. Perhaps you have drawers upon drawers packed with makeup or perhaps you have just that old eyeshadow compact you keep on hand for one color. Nevertheless, makeup is meant to be used however we like it best. To some of us, this might mean a full face with all the works while, to others, it might just mean a quick touch of a favorite product. There are no strict rules when it comes to makeup, just as there are no rules if you were to paint a picture or write a story. There are, however, some techniques that might allow a makeup product to look its best on you. I, personally, am a lover of makeup and consider it almost a hobby of mine. Despite my love for cosmetics, however, it has taken me some time to

actually become decent at it! I can’t help but shudder at the thought of my days with too dark foundation and crooked eyeliner. Although I am far from a professional in the beauty world, I have gathered up a list of tips both from beauty professionals as well as my own personal experiences when it comes to applying makeup.

Face:

The facial makeup is the base of every look and is typically the first thing we would apply to our faces. This particular category can consist of several different cosmetic types from foundation and concealer to blush and bronzer. The face can also be one of the easiest makeup steps for most women; we generally know that blush goes on our cheeks, concealer goes on our dark spots and blemishes, etc. There are a few tricks,

however, to ensure that your facial makeup is looking its best. We all know the standard of “match your foundation to your skin color.” I am not here to refute that precedent but simply to qualify it; you definitely don’t want to put on a foundation color drastically different than your skin, but it is okay if the color is half a shade off. When applying your foundation, just make sure to blend the product down your neck to eliminate any obvious foundation lines. There are also various foundation formulas, some suited more for one skin type than others. Foundations with a dewy finish are meant to combat dry skin while foundations with a matte finish are meant to combat oily skin. Some foundation is better suited for different ages of skin as well.

Powder foundation can be great at times because it is lightweight and easy to put on; on the opposite hand, however, powder foundation tends to make aged skin seem drier and more textured than it actually is. For older women who choose to wear foundation, liquid or cream products might be the better direction to go. Both your foundation and concealer are important


because they allow for a “blank canvas” to blend other products into, but it is the job of your blush and bronzer to put some color back in your face. Bronzer can be used not only to warm up your face but also to sculpt it out. Swiping bronzer in the hollows of your cheeks, right underneath the cheekbones, can give your face a quick lift. Blush, of course, goes on the apples of your cheeks, but a good trick is to also swipe your blush lightly towards your hairline, allowing it to look more natural as opposed to two pink spots on your face! One trick I recently learned was the two-toned blush method: sweep a deeper-toned blush lightly towards your hairline, and then pop a lighter color of blush on the apples of your cheeks to draw attention to the center of your face while still keeping the look natural.

eyeshadow placement is that darker and matte colors go in the crease of your eyes; this helps to deepen your socket and make your eyes seem larger. Brighter colors go on the lid and can be pretty much any color you would like, and then a pop of very light eyeshadow can go right underneath your brow’s arch as well as in the inner corner of your eye, which helps to also open up the eye and allow you to seem more awake. Of course, eyeshadow looks can vary from this standard in many different ways: a “halo” or “spotlight” eye is when you put a darker shadow on the outer and inner corner of your eye and a bright pop of shadow

Eyes:

Facial makeup is important since it does allow for that base of your look. The eyes, however, are probably the first thing to be noticed in a makeup look. Eyeshadow is my favorite part of a makeup routine; whether I’m doing a natural look or playing with some bold colors There is nothing more satisfying than a wellblended eye-look. For a lot of women, however, eyeshadow is too time consuming and sometimes too confusing. The general guidelines for

in the middle of your lid, and a cut-crease is when there is a direct contrast between the crease eyeshadow and the lid eyeshadow with little to no blending. These looks can be achieved with some practice and can be a lot of fun to test your skills with, but most of us would probably agree it is

far easier to pop two or three eyeshadows on and be done with it! After eyeshadow comes eyeliner. Depending on what type of eyeliner you are using and where you are placing it, this step can either be quick and easy or can turn into a complete disaster. Nevertheless, practice makes perfect. One easy trick with eyeliner is to use a dark eyeshadow in place of an actual liner; take a smaller detail brush and run the darker shadow along your lash line. This allows for a very natural look but also makes your lashes appear fuller. If you do choose to go for an actual eyeliner, however, some versions work better for different effects. Liquid eyeliner pens can be quick and easy if you just want a straight line following your lash lines, but gel eyeliners used with a brush can sometimes give more precision. Then there is the cat-eye or winged-out style, which is the natural enemy of many. If you ever choose to tackle a cat-eye look, I would say that a gel eyeliner and a small angled brush will give you the most control. You also want to make sure your winged eyeliner fits your eye shape – I usually make my wing aim towards the tail of my eyebrow. Another trick lies in the shape of your wing; a longer and thinner wing will allow your eyes to look extended while a short and fat wing can make your eyes seem rounder.

The last step for your eyes is mascara, a well-known staple for most women. Most of us can accurately understand how to put on mascara: you swipe the brush along your eyelashes, the end. Except maybe not. There are a handful of mascara tricks to make your lashes appear as long as possible. Wiggling the mascara wand gently from side to side as you sweep it through your lashes will help to separate the lashes as well as evenly coat each one in mascara. Waterproof mascara can also work better at holding a curl in your lashes if you are willing to fight with it later when taking your makeup off. But my most important piece of advice when it comes to mascara is to never curl your lashes with an eyelash curler after you have just applied mascara. If the mascara is still even a little wet, it can cause your lashes to stick to the curler and rip them all out!

Lips:

Typically the final step in makeup is lips. Once again, most of us can comprehend


how to do lips. But do I still have some lip tips for you? Of course! One of my favorite lip tools is a lip liner: the more defined tip on a lip liner will allow you to get in those inner corners of your lips. It keeps lipstick from feathering into any fine lines around your lips, and it makes your lipstick last longer throughout the day. Don’t let the name fool you;

lip liner is not only meant to go around the perimeters of your lips. Fill in your entire lip with the liner to allow a base for any other lip products to cling to. Just like other makeup products, some lipstick formulas work better for certain people. Matte lipsticks can really stick into any lines or dry patches on the lip, while a glossier or sheerer formula helps to hide

these fine lines and give a little bit of moisture. Despite all my tips on cosmetics and application, the real point of makeup is to use it however it makes you feel best. I always say that makeup is not meant to hide your face but instead to enhance your best features, meaning you can embrace what you love most about yourself. Do you have to

follow every makeup step to a T? Absolutely not. No one is going to call you out just because you put a shimmer eyeshadow in your crease or skipped out on blush that day. You can be beautiful with makeup, you can be beautiful without makeup, and at the end of the day it washes off anyways!

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The Richard Creative Story, So Far O

Danielle and James Richard pictured at the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce 2017 Minority Business Opportunity Awards ceremony, where Danielle was nominated for the Small Business Owner of the Year award.

A Creative Agency for Smart Businesses info@Richard-Creative.com

318-490-6555 Richard-Creative.com

ne morning in late 2008, husband and wife, James and Danielle Richard, repeated the same conversation they’d had several times before. Danielle felt that she wasn’t getting to spend enough time with their infant son. Both worked full time and their son, Hank, was in daycare five days a week. Danielle was a successful graphic designer and loved her work, but the couple decided it was time to put more focus on their young family. She had done a few design projects on the side over the years, so they figured she could she make up at least some of her income doing freelance work. Danielle bid her coworkers goodbye, and Richard Creative was born. Danielle worked harder than ever between family and freelance design jobs, and even more so when the family was completed by the addition of their daughter, Maggie, in 2010. As the family grew, so did Richard Creative. As the design projects steadily came in, Danielle found recurring work designing ads for local business, Mr. Menu. As the children grew and began attending school full time, Richard Creative continued to grow, too. In 2015, Danielle was doing some design work for a local group, Popular Creative, and found herself teamed up with marketer and content writer extraordinaire, Kayleigh Plette. It didn’t take long for the two to realize their skills complemented each other perfectly and they could achieve so much more as a team than as individuals. This union proved pivotal for Richard Creative. The workload grew and Danielle brought in freelance graphic designers she had met along the way to keep up with the demand. Business was great, but Danielle

found herself spending less time creating and more time mired in tasks like payroll, bookkeeping, and taxes. The creatives needed an administrator to help with the business of running a business. This brought James and Danielle to another conversation they’d had time and time again, the dream of James joining Danielle at Richard Creative full time. With fifteen years of human resources management experience, he was the practical, business-minded kind of person Richard Creative needed. In 2016, the Richards took one of the biggest leaps of faith in the life of their young family and Richard Creative truly became the family business. Since that time, Richard Creative has continued to grow. In addition to Danielle, James, and Kayleigh, the company now boasts two full-time-ish designers as well as the freelance designers who still continue to pitch in on projects—all under Danielle’s creative direction and proven vision. Richard Creative is now proud to direct marketing and design on an ongoing basis for several Shreveport-based businesses. Richard Creative has also built customized and innovative websites for local organizations as well as businesses in places as far-flung as Colorado and Florida. No project is too large or too small. Richard Creative still does the odds and ends graphic design work that gave it its start. Richard Creative takes great pride in partnering with companies wherever they may be on their marketing journey. From a simple logo design to full branding throughout a company’s advertising, printing, and digital media presence, or maybe a redesign for a well-established business looking to take the next step, Richard Creative is ready to assist.


We are very proud of our super talented team at Lola

Magazine.

TEAM

Bevin Sutton Hicks Publisher

Carie Cotter Hart Advertising & Marketing Director

Danielle Richard Creative Director

James Richard Creative Coordinator

Brittany Strickland Director of Photography

Nancy Jane Karam Advertising Designer

Jo Claire Robinson Advertising & Content Photographer

Natalie Parnel Photographer


From creative design to distribution, many thanks to each of you for your hard work and dedication.

Rosemary McMasters Executive Assistant

Jescee Ratcliff Design Team

Karissa Walsworth Design Team

Heather Wolfe Design Team

Lauren Redwine Design Team

Tommy Sutton & Carl Hammock

Niki Frank

Ashley Dillard Advertising Executive

Taylor Machen Advertising Executive

Public Relations & Charitable Events

Distribution Team


INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? Contact Advertising Director Carie Cotter Hart Carielolamag@gmail.com or (318) 573-6847

NEXT DEADLINE:

November/December

Purchase Deadline - October 1 Artwork Deadline - October 10

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For subscriptions go to readlola.com


The People Behind the Scenes

The Making of a Movie Part II

L ast issue, we featured the months of

WRITTEN BY: KATHY SPURLOCK Kathy Spurlock, a national award-winning writer and editor, retired in November 2016 from The News-Star Media Group and launched Spurlock Communications, a marketing and public relations company. She’s currently an executive producer with Key Entertainment, producer of “Cowboy & Indiana,” a media relations

executive

at

Grambling

State

University and a social media representative of various businesses in Monroe.

behind-the-scenes work that goes on before the first scene of any movie is filmed. Here’s a look at what happens while a movie is being filmed. The filming of the Key Entertainment movie “Cowboy & Indiana” was scheduled at dozens of locations throughout Ouachita and Morehouse parishes – private homes, office buildings, a courtroom, restaurants, rodeo arenas, along the Ouachita River, and even in a prison cell. The schedule called for six weeks of six-days-a-week production work. And each of those production days was twelve to fourteen hours long. A few scenes were scheduled to be filmed every day. So the coordination of the various units within the production company had to be on time and on target. Production vehicles were moved into place before the crews arrived to start work. Lights and cameras were set up first in each location, as wardrobe moved in the necessary attire and props for the day, along with tools to do a quick iron on wrinkles or to get something wetter or dirtier to suit the director’s vision. In a twelve-hour day, most of that would be devoted to setting up the scenes and tearing down the set. The actual shooting every day produced, generally, about one hour’s worth of film. Craft services set up snacks, beverages and facilities for catering the day’s meals, along with providing things like bug spray, sunscreen and other necessary items for the environment of the day’s shoot. Onset security and nursing services were also part of the daily routine. The crew would be called to work at a certain time, and cast would be called later, presumably closer to the time of actual filming. The armies of extras used in many of the scenes also were called to arrive at a certain time and “held” in a designated area until time for them to go on set. That also had to be set up, staffed, managed and extras for future days’ needs had to be located.

Other staffers worked in an area called “base camp.” This area was led by the second assistant director, and was primarily where other behind-thescenes crew members worked ironing out problems of the current day and preparing for the days ahead. Base camp was where I spent most of my time as an executive producer of this faith-based independent film written and directed by Rodney Ray. Perhaps the challenge one day would be to work with our various locations to re-arrange some film times based on weather forecasts, the next day it might be to fill in a gap where something promised had fallen through. My most memorable “fill in the gap” was to locate a black Ford F-150 that had been wrecked with front-end damage to be used in a scene where the vehicle had been run into a tree and was on fire. It had to not only be a wrecked truck with damage in the right place, it had to be one that we could set on fire. Donnie Plunk came through big-time on that one. He not only had the truck I needed sitting on his lot, he donated it to the movie. His generosity was something we experienced time and time again with the amazing people in our communities during the course of filming our faithbased film. I was struck, when preparing for this article, I went to Plunk’s web site to check the spelling of his name. There, bigger than life, Philippians 4:6-7 jumped out at me: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell god what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Through six challenging weeks of almost non-stop hard work, this cast and crew prayed together daily. And we made a movie. Next: Post-production is where the magic happens.


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J U LI E T S P ENCER

orn in California in the early 1960’s, I was a 1980’s version of a hippie. I loved classic rock music and rarely went to church. A distant relative molested me when I was 14, and I had anorexia by the time I was 16. It was difficult for me to believe that God had a plan for my life, or that I could be useful in any meaningful way. I had always been a person of faith but struggled with organized religion. More than one church experience left a sour taste in my mouth. And I had never seen a woman pastor, ever. Imagine my surprise then, when God called me: a Pink Floyd-loving, non-church-attending woman to be a United Methodist pastor – smack dab in the middle of organized religion! Yet, I knew that I knew. It was the path God had chosen for me. Interestingly, it never occurred to me that God was bothered by my love of secular music, my suspicion of organized religion, or the insecurities that assaulted my confidence. God knew whom God was calling. Perhaps God chose me precisely because of those things. Once I understood the path God asked me to follow, I rarely looked back. I have, however, often reflected upon the people whose lives I’ve been privileged to pastor. I have been invited into people’s most sacred moments of joy, sorrow, vulnerability, questioning, and celebration. There are few professions so richly blessed. It was during my first pastoral visit that God began to show me the blessing of my calling and to teach me through those to whom I ministered. Carol* contacted the church looking for someone to pray with her. She was facing surgery and was scared. She was anxious because

the outcome would have a direct impact on her ability to work. An attractive woman in her early thirties, Carol worked as a stripper. She lost her job due to scars from previous surgeries and finally had enough money for a plastic surgeon to restore her employability. I knew I was in over my head, but it was my job to visit her. I was not prepared for what I’d find when I paid a visit to her house. It was the smell of cat and dog urine mixed with nicotine that first got my attention, followed by the garbage strewn about the floor. What could I say? How could I overcome my shock and revulsion to offer her support? How could a naïve twenty-something pray for a stripper to have successful surgery in order to return to her chosen profession? Saying a silent prayer as we made our way to the couch, God came through for Carol in ways I could not have on my own. The Holy Spirit enabled me to ask questions, giving her a chance to share her fears. As it turned out, listening was as important as praying for Carol. I believe God used me as a vessel of grace for Carol during a difficult time in her life. What’s more, God opened my eyes to one of life’s most profound lessons. At the heart of Carol’s fears was her anxiety over providing for her child. She had few marketable skills and was their sole provider. What I heard in her voice and saw in her eyes was the profound love of a mother for her baby. God showed me how easily I jumped to


I have been invited into people’s most sacred moments of joy, sorrow, vulnerability, questioning, and celebration. There are few professions so richly blessed.

conclusions. Her openness revealed a vulnerability that moved my heart beyond measure. It wasn’t long before I understood that His compassion for her was far, far greater than mine could ever be. In other words, God’s love for His children was not and is not limited to the people I think are worthy. It is not my place to judge, only to share His love. And then there was Jerry*, a man in his early 80’s who had been a member of the church all of his life. He was a retired military man, gruff inside and out. He had a reputation for being unnecessarily blunt and harsh. His “go-to” response was usually negative. Jerry was extremely unhappy that our Bishop had appointed me, a woman, to be his pastor, and he made sure everyone knew it. Six weeks after I arrived, Jerry marched into my office. He said that he was sure I was

a nice lady, and probably a decent pastor and preacher but he was not going to like me or become my friend. He would attend worship because that was his church and he was too old to go elsewhere. He didn’t intend to be ugly, but he felt I deserved to know where he stood. I assumed Jerry’s determination was based on my gender. I told Jerry that I respected his opinion and was sorry the Bishop had not appointed someone with whom he could feel comfortable. My heart ached for Jerry. I could not imagine the frustration and sorrow of having to worship with a preacher he didn’t want. Truth be told, my heart also ached for me. It intimidated me to know that there were probably others who felt the same way that Jerry did. But, I knew that I knew. God had called me to be a United Methodist Pastor, and God certainly knew I was a woman! So, I prayed for Jerry to find peace with me and for me not to lose confidence. It wasn’t long, however, before I understood that Jerry’s objection actually had nothing to do with my gender. He had been friends with previous pastors and had grown weary of having to say “goodbye” when they were reappointed. The UMC is based on an itinerant system in which the pastor goes when and where the Bishop appoints. The average appointment lasts five years. Jerry did not want to experience the sorrow of losing another pastor, so he was pushing me away. Our relationship blossomed despite his determination to the contrary. We met regularly for coffee and teased each other without mercy. He shared his deepest fears and frustrations. He lit up when he spoke of his late wife and of his time as a Marine. When Jerry died two years later, I had the privilege of leading his funeral. I cried as much as anyone. Again, I gave thanks to God for the joy of serving His people and for the lessons they taught me. Jerry reminded me to check my assumptions at the door, and to focus on the person instead of the attitude. But I was barely prepared for Grace*, a six-month old accidently killed by her 18 year-old mom who never set foot inside a church. The church I pastored at the time was experiencing some difficulties as they were divided over key issues. Yet they rose to the occasion surrounding her with love, not judgment. I watched as this “organized religion” offered themselves as the hands and feet of Christ to someone they did not know. They put aside their own differences for a greater good. I am daily privileged to meet people where they are, as they are because in serving them, I behold the very face of God. *Names changed


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