Lola Magazine July August 2022 by RichardCreative

Country Music Icon

Ronnie Milsap LIVE in Concert

Friday, October 7 BOSSIER, LA

•

THESTAGEBOSSIER.COM

See How

BRIGHT Your Future Can Be!

1. Ad - WK Eye Institute

YOUR LASIK SPECIALISTS CHRISTOPHER L. SHELBY, M.D WYCHE T. COLEMAN III, M.D. STEPHEN W. LEWIS, O.D.

@WillisKnightonEyes @wk.eye.institute thecataractsurgeons.com wkeyeinstitute.com

Schedule your appointment today

LASIK

(318) 212-2015

2. TOC

LOUISIANA LADIES

19 The Bayou Woman Captain Wendy Billiot’s mission to reserve Louisiana’s wetlands 24 Women in Business Fast Penny Spirits make their way to Louisiana 50 It’s Not a Competition Celebrate, collaborate and cheer each other on 59 Dr. Julie Lessiter Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives at LSU Shreveport

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

64 Could It Be? A medical breakthrough for weight loss 68 Pediatric Arthritis Awareness

HOME AND ENTERTAINING

30 Hostess with the Mostess Hosting on a budget 54 The Bernard House Historic Lake Providence home finds new life 28 DIY Floral Arrangements Market arrangements to ho-hum to wow 72 Summer Fresh Recipes for your favorite, fresh, summer produce

KIDDOS

42 Resilience A imperative tool for the development of children 38 The Power of Play Your guide to the perfect playroom 14 Kindness Encouraging kids in our world’s difficult times 46 Ripples Start with a drop of goodness to start a tide, a flood, a movement!

COMMUNITY

8 Road Tripping Louisiana Hammond and Ponchatoula Louisiana 80 Give Back Spotlight White out for Cancer 76 Must Attend Events

Is Your skin BACK

Ready?

TO SCHOOL

3. 8445 Med Spa

Your prem ier Aesthetic Destination

• Facial and Skincare • Medical Needling & Chemical Peels • Laser Services

• Microblading & Eyebrow Services • Waxing • Injectables

8445 Line Avenue, Ste 200 • 8445medicalspa.com

• Diolaze XL • Lumecca • Forma • Morpheus 8

318.553.5800

“Our children can be our greatest teachers, if we are humble enough to receive their lessons.” ~BRYAN MCGILL

READLOLA.COM For subscription information, click on Subscribe Today

PUBLISHER

Bevin Sutton Hicks Bevin@readlola.com 985-285-3742 MARKETING & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carie Cotter Hart Carie@readlola.com 318-573-6847

n one of the many days my kindergartner was home with yet another “virus”, I found myself desperate to occupy him. After the hundredth

“Hey Mom” that day, I broke out his sister’s extensive bracelet making kit and told him to go to town. His sister would not have been thrilled about

this, but desperate times, right? For over an hour he stayed focused, and I was able to actually get some work done (a small miracle in itself). When finished, he was so stinking proud of his masterpiece. He made me a blue and red beaded bracelet with his name, Sutton Leo spelled out. The “E” was backwards and one “T” upside down. That’s my favorite part about it. I wear it to all of his events, ball games, and sometimes just because. Occasionally, he asks why I’m not wearing it, so I’ll grab it and put it on. Several days ago, he walked into my office. He asked for my hand, slipped his bracelet on my wrist and said, “Can you please wear this every day, Momma?”. He loves seeing me wear his little gift, and I love it just as much.

4. Contributors

So why don’t I wear it every day? I am ashamed to admit this, but on days it doesn’t match my outfit,

I leave it on my dresser and choose my stack of solid gold bangles. As my mom guilt crept in, I thought about how I preach to my kids to always be authentically themselves, and that image is not what makes a person. Who am I to preach, when I choose matching accessories over my most treasured piece? So much emphasis is placed on image and looking like we have it all together. Fact is, none of us have it all together. Image is more often than not a facade we are programmed to uphold. The good things in life have nothing to do with how well we accessorize, but in the experiences we share and the little treasures we are given along the way. Even grownups need a reminder sometimes. My reminder will be around my wrist, every day! In this issue of Lola Magazine, we introduce you to one of the most authentic women that we have had the honor to share with you, Captain Wendy Wilson Billiot, also known as “The Bayou Woman”. Captain Wendy takes Louisiana Lady to a new level with her passion for Louisiana wetland restoration and her countless other endeavors. We also begin our road trip around Louisiana as we take you through our experiences in some of the most charming small towns in our great state. Learn how to eat well on a budget (even with the inflation of food costs), recipes for your summer produce, and the newest breakthrough in weight management. As always, we bring you stories to inspire you and expert advice on improving health, parenting, and more. As we continue to enjoy these insanely hot summer days, may we remember to live authentically, have fun, and simply enjoy the ride. It is too hot to sweat the small stuff anyway! Happy SUMMER, from all of us at Lola Magazine!

Bevin

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Tommy Stow Sutton 318-560-5785

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Charles Anderson

DISTRIBUTION ASSOCIATE Carl Hammock

GRAPHIC ARTIST & ADVERTISING DESIGN Richard Creative Lola@Richard-Creative.com CONTENT EDITOR Jessica Carr

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Donesa Walker Jessica Comegys Dr. Karen Pendleton Anna Claire Pritchard Megann McDaniel Felecia Williams Erin Souder Sarwat Umer, MD Laura Alderman, LPC-S, LMFT, NCC CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Brittany Strickland Jarrett Warren COVER PHOTOGRAPHER

Misty Swilley

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION carie@readlola.com or visit Readlola.com FIND US ON FACEBOOK

lola-magazine-lifestylesof-louisiana-ladies *Reproduction of contents without express written permission is prohibited Lola Magazine is published bi-monthly by Stamper Marketing, LLC. 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 publication’s 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.

Our Pride. Your Joy. Delivering our best for moms and babies. The Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – St. Mary Medical Center campus is fully equipped to meet and exceed the healthcare needs of women through all stages of life, family planning to postpartum and every moment in-between.

“The delivery of our first child was a beautiful experience. It was comforting to know that, no matter what, we had everything we needed for our baby in one place, especially since we delivered early!” – Elizabeth V., Women’s & Children’s Patient

5. Origin Bank ochsnerlsuhs.org

6. Ad

shopjacclothing.com • 6 012 Line Avenue, Shreveport • (318) 606-4558

MORE RESULTS

7. Ochsner/LSU

GET YOUR FIRST CLASS FOR FREE* You are faster here. You are stronger here. And you get more results here. Results that help you live a better, more vibrant life. At Orangetheory, we have the coaches, community, and the technology to push you forward every class. GET YOUR FIRST CLASS FREE* AT ORANGETHEORY.COM

Orangetheory Fitness Shreveport 1370 E 70th St. #1000 | Shreveport, LA 71105 | 318-716-7776

*Offer limited to first-time visitors to Orangetheory Fitness and local residents only. Certain restrictions apply. $28 minimum value. At participating studios only. See studio for details. Orangetheory® and other Orangetheory® marks are registered trademarks of OTF IP Holder, LLC. © Copyright 2022 OTF IP Holder, LLC and its affiliates.

hammond/ponchatoula

Road Tripping

Louisiana

8. Road Tripping Louisiana (even) LOLA MAGAZINE is taking you on a road trip throughout the next several issues in our series, Road Tripping Louisiana. We will be traveling around Louisiana and sharing our experiences in some of our most delightful small towns.

Join us for a tour...

Hammond / Ponchatoula

you are looking for a weekend getaway bursting with culture, hospitality, and amazing food, then you should add Tangipahoa Parish to your to-do list of places you have to be. Tangipahoa Parish isn’t just called “ L o u i s i a n a’s Hidden Gem” for fun. It is truly a hidden gem. Both the cities of Hammond and Ponchatoula have something to charm the socks off anyone; from the many festivals and events to the laidback; demeanor of the locals, you will feel right at home, and they will certainly feed you well. Everyone is family! We took a recent trip to the “Gateway to New Orleans.” Although we love the time we spent in “The Big Easy,” our trip to Ponchatoula and Hammond had a whole different feel. We had made dinner reservations at Ponchatoula’s, Roux, and Brew prior to the weekend. Before our arrival, the manager called to personally inform us that they were looking forward to our visit and would take good care of our party. The food, atmosphere, and service were flawless. Live music added to the fun, and even though we are the two-left-feet kind of crew, we couldn’t resist a good old’ Cajun twostep. By the end of our fantastic meal and evening of dancing, the staff asked to snap a photo with us. Of course,

we obliged because, after one dinner, we were a part of the Roux and Brew family. We booked our stay in the most immaculate Airbnb right off Main Street. Our host for the weekend had stocked her bright-green cottage full of snacks and coffee. She even provided an excellent bottle of Cabernet we enjoyed on the cozy front porch. Our gracious host left nothing uncatered to ensure our stay was memorable, and she checked in several times to confirm we had everything we needed. I have had the opportunity to stay in several Airbnbs over the years, but this experience was beyond our expectations. For Sunday Brunch, We dined at One-Thirteen Restaurant in Hammond. The manager gave us a splendid treat and also interacted with my kids, asking them how they were doing in school and encouraging them to work hard. After our truly delicious brunch, two desserts were delivered to our table. Our enduring server explained they were “on the house”. Once again, we snapped a photo with our new friends and assured them we would be back. Heading back home after our experience in Ponchatoula and Hammond, we were admittedly sad to leave the charm, people, and warmth of our weekend, but at the same time, we were indeed full of gratitude for the hospitality we had been shown. I earnestly believe the locals when they say, “we had just scratched the surface of all Tangipahoa Parish has to offer.” We will certainly be back and hope you will take the time to experience “Louisiana’s Hidden Gem” yourself.

Tangipahoa Road Tripping Louisiana Parish: Lousiana’s Hidden Gem

...Full of fun, food, and culture.

angipahoa Parish, located in the Northshore area between Baton Rouge and Covington, was established in 1869, and has been a largely agricultural area known for its famous Ponchatoula strawberries. The Native American name Tangipahoa means “ear of corn” or “those who pick corn” from the Acolapissa Indians who use to inhabit the area. The area also has strong ties to the French who began colonizing the New World territory and we see names like New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, Bienville and Iberville from this time period. Fast forward to modern times and you will find a beautiful area full of history. These towns have delicious food and antiques galore, along with must-experience (and taste!) festivals. Here’s our recommendations for ten things to do in Tangipahoa Parish.

Downtown Ponchatoula

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival

Typically held in April each year, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is unquestionably the sweetest event you’ll find in Tangipahoa Parish. In fact, Ponchatoula is known as the Strawberry Capital of Louisiana. At this festival, you and the family can ride rides, witness the procession of the Louisiana Strawberry Queen and King, hear some awesome live music and — of course — taste some sweet berries. There’s a strawberry auction, strawberry eating contests, a strawberry-themed fun run and carnival-style features such as game booths and festival foods.

Kliebert & Sons Alligator Tours

See what Louisiana’s wild side looks like on a tour of this unique Hammond farm operation that is home to alligators, turtles and more. Kliebert’s is dedicated to conservation, and on your tour, you’ll learn about what makes these fascinating reptiles worth protecting. At the end of your visit, pop into the gift shop to pick up some one-of-a-kind gator gear.

10.Road Tripping Louisiana Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival

3 Joyce Wildlife Management Area

If you’re looking for a true Louisiana backcountry experience, look no further than Joyce Wildlife Management Area near Hammond and Ponchatoula. The 28,000 acres that make up this preserve encompass cypress-tupelo swamps where visitors can see nature at its most primal. Fishing and boating are year-round activities, and this preserve is also a birdwatcher’s paradise. Look for exotic migrating birds in the spring, and year-round residents that include hooded mergansers and a variety of ducks. Walk the “swamp boardwalk” to find these and other critters on your adventure.

Low Road Brewing

Another brewery? As we say in Louisiana, “yeah, you right!” Low Road Brewing is a newer addition to Louisiana’s ever-expanding craft beer scene. In addition to some tasty beers made there, Low Road offers tours to visitors and a tasting room that’s open most days of the week.

5 Ponchatoula Antique Stores

Ponchatoula, also known as “America’s Antique City,” is an official stop on the Louisiana Antique Trail. It’s a must-stop for fans of cool vintage goods, which you’ll find at stores such as CJ’s Antiques & Collectibles, Ponchatoula Antiques & Statuary and Roussel’s & Co.

6 Southern Swamp Byway

The Southern Swamp Byway is a driving trail that’s part of the Louisiana Trails & Byways network, which take visitors through some of the state’s lessvisited parts to discover another side of the Bayou State. This one take drivers to stops through the Manchac Swamp (home to world-famous Middendorf ’s Restaurant) and into the heart of Tangipahoa Parish, where stops include such attractions as the Manchac Wildlife Management Area and the Collinswood Museum in Ponchatoula.

7 Global Wildlife Center

You don’t have to leave the country to experience this safari! The Global Wildlife Center boasts 4,000 exotic animals on 900 acres of terrain. Hop on a guided wagon tour for a chance to see (and feed!) reticulated giraffes, zebras, red kangaroos, bison, camels and even a llama.

Downtown Hammond

11.Road Tripping Louisiana

Liuzza Produce Farm

Ever wanted to know what farm life is really like? You can satisfy your curiosity at Liuzza Produce Farm, located near the Tangipahoa Parish seat, Amite. At this working farm, the whole family can pick produce to take home, see and pet animals and spend some time in the kid-friendly Ag-Venture Land.

Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.

You want to know how locals likes to relax? Well, one way is with a cold, crisp, locally brewed beer. Gnarly Barley is one of Louisiana’s most beloved breweries, and it’s headquartered right in Hammond. Catahoula Common, named after Louisiana’s state dog, is a favorite on the menu. Other varieties include Korova Milk Porter and Jucifer IPA. Gnarly Barley’s tasting room is open to the public, and its team of master brewers open the place for behindthe-scenes tours of the facility every Saturday. Stop by the gift shop to take home a gift for the craft beer lover in your life.

Tangipahoa African American Museum

African American 9 Tangipahoa Heritage Museum Step inside the Tangipahoa African American Heritage Museum and learn a lesser-known side of Louisiana culture. The Tangipahoa African American Heritage Museum documents the contributions of African Americans through more than 20 original murals — one of the largest collections of its kind in the South — as well as art, artifacts and an exhibit specifically about African American war heroes. 11

BATON ROUGE Acadian Village 3535 Perkins Road Suite 365 (225) 761-1170

LAFAYETTE

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

SHREVEPORT

12.2nd Ochsner ad

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

Vertage Clothing @vertageclothing @VertageClothing

13.Ad-Happily Ever After

(318) 861-0100

4801 Line Ave. • Shreveport

indness is quite literally defined as the qualities of being friendly, generous, and considerate. These characteristics are important for all students to adhere to in order to make new friends, to help new students feel included and for students to feel good about themselves, thus building confidence. Acting with kindness is a wonderful virtue and is a great way for students to showcase consideration for others. Kindness also encourages people to change their perspective. Kindness is about empathy, not judging others, and looking to understand and learn from other’s perspectives versus thinking only of one’s self or thinking of one’s self first. Kindness is about reaching out, lifting others up and is quite frankly one of the most underrated qualities in a person. When kids are seeking new friends, they should look for the ones that are kind to everyone and the ones that want to be good people.

The really beautiful thing about kindness is that it’s contagious! One kind gesture in turn often encourages another — and so on! That old saying “treat people the way you want to be treated” is one way to help young students understand kindness and how to use to it make others and themselves feel good. But another important part of being kind is it should be an action that does not require a return action. Those that do something nice out of the kindness of their hearts generally do not expect any reciprocation from the kind act. Performing random acts of kindness at school is a great way to encourage and build kindness. Being kind also helps youth feel valued — another important characteristic that is a building block of true future leaders. Being valued, and feeling value from doing kind things, should not be underestimated. There are so many ways to spread happiness and create a ripple effect through simple kindness. Another great way to help students learn about kindness and the importance of its impact is to lead by example. Teachers, staff, guardians, and parents can all take an active role in teaching youth kindness by simply being kind to others and themselves! While today’s world can sometimes be rife with worry and negativity, perception and attitude can change anyone’s day. Having a positive attitude and one that allows adults to spread joy and kindness to one another can be a powerful way to teach children kindness and also spread kindness throughout the world around them. Few people are immune to the impact of kindness, and most people that spread kindness are also the people who are impacting their communities in a positive way. What better type of role model to lead by example for today’s youth?

14.Back To School Kindness (even)

This school year, Lola Magazine encourages you to send your child back to school packed with ideas on how to spread kindness.

Smile at everyone you pass in the hallway. Hold the door open for others. Sit by someone who’s eating alone or someone new.

Ask someone how their day’s going and genuinely listen to their response. Make eye contact when you talk to people.

15.Back To SchoolForgive Kindness someone when When you experience something good, share it with people. Don’t gossip! Talk to someone you don’t usually talk to and try to get to know them. Say please and thank you when you ask for things. Compliment someone. Help a classmate when they’re confused. Ask new people to be in your group during class.

they hurt your feelings. Give someone positive feedback when they’ve done something well.

Put a sticky note with a positive message in the hallway above the drinking fountain or bathroom mirror. Ask your teacher about their life and what they enjoy doing when they’re not teaching. Give someone a hug. Stop talking and listen. Be patient.

Apologize when you mess up.

Let someone go ahead of you in line.

Listen when someone needs to talk.

Call and talk to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.

Say thank you a lot.

Thank the school cooks and janitors for everything they do.

Share your things. Tell people to “have a great day”. Don’t judge people.

Make sure everyone at the table feels included in the conversation. High five people you pass in the hallway. 15

Write a thank-you note to someone.

Leave a “have a good day” note in a library book.

Make someone laugh with a silly joke.

Leave a nice note on someone’s desk.

Happily participate when you really don’t want to.

Do the tasks that no one else wants to do.

Talk to someone at school that you’ve never talked to before.

Be generous.

Volunteer to tutor or read to elementary students.

Be honest. Help a teacher pass out or collect papers.

Be inviting: invite someone to your house, eat lunch with you, be on your team, play at lunch recess

Give someone a tissue when they’re crying.

Offer to clean the whiteboard.

Don’t interrupt people.

Find the goodness in people you don’t always get along with.

Tell your teacher thank you at the end of class.

Be happy for other people.

Cheer your classmates on.

Be selfless, put other people’s interest and needs above your own.

their favorite snack.

classmates your full attention when they talk.

Tell someone why they are special to you.

Tell the truth.

Bring your bus driver a little treat.

16. Back To School Give Kindness teachers and Surprise your friend with

THIS ISSUE OF LOLA MAGAZINE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF LANDRY ANGLIN MAY WE ALL LEARN TO LIVE LIFE MORE LIKE LANDRY

o know Landry was to love her. She brought sunshine and smiles wherever she went. Full of love. Full of life. Full of kindness. Landry was a hugger. She easily shared her joy and passion for life with others, which naturally drew people toward her positive light. Not one school day passed when Landry didn’t give me a hug. I called her “My Darling Girl”. I love her. She certainly was a light on any dark day. May she continue to guide us toward the positive of loving one another and acceptance of all, which to her was nothing more than just loving people for who they are.

ILLUSTRATION BY JANET MAINES 16

We love you, Landry Faith. Written by Angela Vinet

17.Ad-Absolutely Abigails

At Ochsner LSU Health, we offer the highest quality care for the children in our community. With more than 20 pediatric specialists and subspecialists as well as multiple new primary care locations for children to receive comprehensive care in North Louisiana, access to this standard of care is better than ever before.

For an appointment at one of our many convenient locations, call 318-626-0050.

- Gabriel T. Patient

18.JAC AD

Captain Wendy Wilson Billiot, better known as “The Bayou Woman”, takes the term Louisiana Lady to a new level. Captain Wendy is a US Coast Guard licensed captain and this Louisiana Lady has truly done it all. The list of her accomplishments include: freelance writer, photographer, public speaker, wetland educator, wetland tour guide, charter fishing captain, radio show co-host, and Wendy says, “somewhere along the way, I became “The Bayou Woman”...though I suspect it was always in me!”. This captain is also a proud mother, grandmother, and can cook a gumbo they say “will make you slap your momma”. Wendy Wilson was raised in Bossier City and is a Louisiana Tech graduate. In 1978 she moved to south Louisiana to work as a roustabout. She found her home with her innate love of the water and the warm culture of Cajun country. In 1981, she married and became Wendy Billiot, raising five children in the community of Theriot which lies along Bayou Dularge in southern Terrebonne Parish. Although she considers herself “pretty much retired”, Captain Wendy Wilson Billiot has created a legacy to be celebrated. Her passion for our Louisiana wetlands has affected others to continue her mission of honoring and preserving Louisiana wetlands. Wendy found her greatest joy in her “Bayou Woman Adventures”, bayou-life immersion weekends for adventurous women. Throughout her time guiding her clients through bayous, lakes, and swamps, she taught women how to catch, cook and eat blue crabs, as well as several species of fish. Captain Wendy’s charters included

20.The Bayou Woman

fishing from brackish waters, freshwater, to saltwater. The experiences she provided gave her guests the opportunity to see abundant wildlife in their natural environment–alligators, dolphins, birds of all kinds, and other magnificent creatures they would never have had the chance to see otherwise. Wendy also hosted eco-tours for educating visitors from around the world on wetland loss causes, solutions, and preservation. These tours gave interested participants a first-hand view as to why every hour we are losing hundreds of yards of our Louisiana coastlands and the projects that are being implemented for restoration. Wendy demonstrates southern hospitality and

gives all of her guests an immersive Louisiana Wetlands experience that will remain unforgettable. As a mother of five, whom she home educated, Wendy became a self-published children’s book author. She published Before the Saltwater Came in 2005. This enchanting children’s book explains coastal degradation from the view of an old otter, illustrating for children the cause and effect of our actions. Most recently, Wendy published her second children’s book, Regret The Egret. This book is a South Louisiana adventure set in a time when wading birds were hunted to near extinction for their coveted feathers. The story follows Regret, a cattle egret, and his bayou buddies as they discover the importance of being true to oneself. Captain Wendy’s website “Bayou Woman - Life in the Wetlands” has become one of Louisiana’s most popular blogs. Her tour guiding experience gives Wendy the opportunity to raise awareness for Louisiana’s wetland loss and is an outlet for her creative side wherein she shares her captivating stories and delicious recipes. Wendy is also the owner of Camp Dularge, a bayou getaway rental for small groups that offers the experience of South Louisiana living. She has been well recognized over the years, winning a slew of awards for both writing and broadcasting. Wendy is a respected member of Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association and has been featured in Southern Breeze, Louisiana Travel, POVHouma, Louisiana Outdoor Adventures, and Bayou Wild TV. There is no doubt that Wendy Billiot knows her business and is a voice to be heard in coastland restoration. Southern Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, is home to some of the most rapidly disappearing wetlands in the world. The

Louisiana coastlands are disappearing at a rate of approximately 18 square miles of wetlands a year due to natural and manmade causes, which impacts all living things. Our wetlands are a precious resource that we must continue to value, protect, and preserve. For now, Bayou Woman Adventures have been canceled. Wendy says “Retiring has been a tough pill for me to swallow. So many circumstances have kept my tours from being profitable in the past two years, and with economic times as they are for everyone, I could not possibly continue”. Although Captain Wendy has docked her tour boat for now, her voice continues to empower others. In addition, her enthusiasm for wetland restoration awareness is as strong as ever. The Bayou Woman’s mission is far from complete, and for one as dynamic as she, retirement is a very relative term.

21.The Bayou Woman

Visit her website: http://bayouwoman.com 21

When how he dresses for the weather matters...

22.KTBS

Weather Reports Every 10 Minutes on

KTBS 3 First News Mornings 4:30a-7a

TRUST 23.KTBS

WOMEN IN BUSINESS -

Jamie Hunt

Stirring Up Change Fast Penny Spirits Releases Their Italian-Style Amaro to Louisiana

omen-owned distillery, Fast Penny Spirits, is introducing Amaricano and Amaricano Bianca to restaurants and retailers across Louisiana. Based in Seattle and inspired by the founder’s Italian heritage, the company is committed to stirring up change. The Italian-style, Pacific Northwestinfluenced amari are crafted with distilled west coast grapes and over 45 organic, wild-crafted, and consciously sourced botanicals. Investing in female-led businesses, Fast Penny is looking to change the way we choose how we drink. With a mission is to produce the highestquality, sustainable, and desirable Amari that infuse joy and empower community through consciously sourced ingredients from our region and around the world. Fast Penny Spirits commits 3% of bottle revenue to support women in business, our communities, and industry. Fast Penny is also dedicated to sustainability whether it’s from the recycled glass bottles we use with their Amaricano brand, reclaimed corks, supporting local and sustainable farming, eco-friendly packaging, daily decisions are made with sustainability in mind. They believe they can always improve in sustainability and will continue to look for more opportunities as we grow. Fast Penny Spirits and Amaricano were born from Jamie Hunt, founder and CEO’s, vision to start an Amaro company combined with her career in the global digital world. With grandparents who emigrated from Sicily, Jamie grew up embracing Italian culture and flavors from an early age. Building a company focused on creating a high-quality, complex but approachable American-made amaro was a natural fit. Being a Pacific Northwest native, Jamie also wanted to highlight the abundant organic and wild-crafted ingredients the region had to offer. Having recently been awarded a B Corporation certification is evidence of the successful implementation and practice of this mission. Breaking down classic amari into the individual ingredients, Jamie made individual tinctures and then blended them in hundreds of combinations, trying and testing each blend before arriving at the final products. From this two-and-a-half year process emerged Amaricano and Amaricano Bianca.

24.Fast Penny Women Owned (even)

CONTENT PROVIDED BY WOMEN'S BUSINESS

ENTERPRISE NATIONAL

COUNCIL

Both delightful to drink on their own as well as easily incorporated into cocktails. Fast Penny Spirits was built to empower and celebrate the support of the community. Community is a force for change, giving the strength and motivation to make bold moves. Fast Penny Spirits amari are luxurious and indulgently refined, balancing rich and herbaceous tones for a breathtakingly bold experience. Brian Fuller, Sales Manager at Vino Wholesale in Louisiana, was quickly drawn to a partnership with the amaro brand after seeing a post on social media. “I was immediately intrigued by the beautiful packaging from a friend’s post. Once I tasted the two products, I knew we needed to bring them to Louisiana.” This year, Amaricano and Amaricano Bianca both received gold medals from the American Distilling Institute's International Spirits Competition, adding on to their 2021 gold medal wins at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the Denver International Spirits Competition.

“It’s been amazing bringing a little bit of 25.Fast Penny Women Owned the Pacific Northwest to different parts of the country,” “It’s been amazing bringing a little bit of the Pacific Northwest to different parts of the country,” said Jamie Hunt, Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “With the state's appreciation for rich, European influence, partnering with Vino Wholesale to bring Amaricano and Amaricano Bianca to Louisiana made perfect sense. We’re excited to get to know the community.” FAST PENNY SPIRITS AMARO can be found at retailers, bars, and restaurants in California, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington. The distillery also ships to over 30 states nationwide. 25

26.Vertage Ad

Britt Elizabeth Photography | 318-990-1597 | brittelizabeth.com

27.Pretenses Ad

Uptown Shopping Center 5802 Line Avenue Shreveport

318-828-1645

@pretensesboutique

28.DIY Flower Power (from the store) (even)

Written By Erin Souder, Owner And Creative Director For Earnest Home Co.

You’ll notice that this vase starts narrow at the bottom and wide at the top, this is definitely a trick you’ll want to employ.

he step-by-step tutorial that will take your market bunch of flowers from ho-hum to perfection! You can arrange a whole case full of varying blooms to create a striking arrangement out of the regular bunches that you buy in your grocery store. There is a secret to making this so easy to conquer. 1. The trick to a full and round looking arrangement – make a grid of tape on the top of the vase. I cut one piece of regular scotch tape in half lengthwise.

2. Then, create a foundation using your greenery, and using only the outer holes in your grid.

29.DIY Flower Power (from the store)

3. Next, use whichever flower would be your focal flower. The tiger lilies are the largest and most dominant, so I chose those. Make sure that each dominant flower stem is placed equidistant with one sticking straight up to begin creating the overall shape

4. Once you have an outline for your shape and size created with the dominant flower, start adding in your secondary flowers (mine here are mums and daisies).

5. Once your secondary flowers are in, go back through and fill in any blank spots with a filler flower. This is usually something that is sort of a flower, sort of a green.

Try to make sure all of the secondary flowers are sticking out of the vase about the same amount, and that some stick more perpendicular to the vase, extending over the edge of the vase.

Last, add in just a couple touches of greenery in the top of the arrangement. Ta-da! It’s as easy as that.

y h t l a e H ON A BUDGET

HOSTESS with the MOSTESS

30.Hostess

WRITTEN BY JESSICA COMEGYS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRITTANY STRICKLAND

t’s not all about kale I promise! With the rising grocery cost

those ingredients. That way you’ll be eating healthy on a

and in some cases, limited availability, the average budget

budget at most times. You’ll also avoid wasting food and any

is being blown on groceries before the month is even halfway finished. So what is a family to do? I have laid out some healthy wallet friendly tips on how to maintain a balanced diet while not breaking the bank. First off: Eat at home more. And what do I always say? Make a list! I love using a well-planned out a grocery list to do my shopping! This helps me stay within budget and save money while sticking to a healthy eating plan. The trick is to use what you already have at home and know which foods go on sale for the week and plan healthy affordable meals using

unnecessary spending based on impulse buys. I’ve put together this guide and list of foods to help you stay healthy and save money on foods that give you a wellbalanced diet. The key is to eat everything in moderation and diversify as many different healthy foods from different groups as much possible to get the optimal amount of nutrients that are beneficial for your health. PRO TIP: Buying local can save money and ensure quality. That

is my first rule of thumb. Farmers markets, local farms for beef,

poultry, and eggs are often less expensive than the grocery store.

Buying Fruits & Vegetables on a Budget

There have been many debates between buying fresh vegetables versus frozen vegetables. Many of us have busy lives and this leaves us with no time to cut and prepare fresh vegetables. What’s worse is fresh may end up going to waste when we don’t consume them on time. Another problem we face is not having the budget. In a perfect world, we would be eating fresh organic fruits and vegetables that are freshly picked at its optimal ripeness. Unfortunately, we don’t live in this perfect world. If you’re on a tight budget and/ or don’t have the time, it is recommended to buy whole fruits and vegetables that are on sale and stock a reasonable amount of frozen alternatives. Before you think frozen fruits and veggies are unhealthy and not nutritious, think again. Frozen fruits and vegetables have great nutritional value and are generally healthier than canned. Depending on the situation, frozen fruits and vegetables may even have more nutritional value compared to what they call “fresh” at your grocery store. According to source, studies on the relative benefits of fresh and frozen show no consistent differences. Having that said, you may want to aim for a good balance by mixing up fresh fruits and veggies with frozen ones. I have also learned to love the cheaper produce options like apples, oranges and carrots. They are all still delicious and can be eaten in a variety of ways such as salads, smoothies, baked apples, etc. If your budget allows it, it may be best to buy organic according to EWG’s dirty list. But if you are concerned and can’t afford organic, the good thing is you can still consume many conventionally grown fruits and vegetables (the list above) without having to pay a premium. Sometimes you may

31.Hostess

be lucky to catch a few organic foods on sale for the week which work out to be the same price as the conventional. Whether you choose organic or not is a personal choice depending on your financial situation and how you feel about organic food. Growing your own produce if you have the space, is always a great money saving option that lets you control chemicals.

MONEY SAVING TIP: To save money and time, consider buying frozen fruits and vegetables and going for fresh ones when they are on sale. You could also keep a lookout for frozen organic fruits that go on sale. They may be cheaper than or the same price as the conventional frozen fruits that aren’t on sale.

Frozen fruits and veggies may give you more nutrients compared to the “fresh” ones at your local grocery store because the fresh fruit or vegetable loses almost half the nutrients in the first 24 to 48 hours of picking. Whereas frozen veggies retain a lot of its nutrients when they are picked and frozen during their prime time.

Beans and Legumes

Not only are beans and legumes one of the cheapest and most affordable staple foods, but they have so many health benefits that many people overlook. Most of these are full of protein which is essential for your muscles and folate to make healthy red blood cells. Beans are also known for reducing cholesterol, decreasing blood sugar levels and hence managing diabetes. They are super budget-friendly and storable so I recommend stocking a few when they go on sale. Beans, in general, are so easy to add to almost any rice, quinoa or pasta dish. If you love Mexican-inspired foods, go ahead and load them in your burrito bowl! Having that said, don’t hesitate to include these beans and legumes to your grocery shopping list regardless of your budget.

PRO TIP: For most beans, buying the dried version to boil at home is probably healthier than canned beans. I prefer dried beans and cooking them myself to minimize any chemicals or preservatives that are present in canned foods.

In terms of costs, dried beans are generally healthier and more budget-friendly. The only catch is it requires a longer time to prepare and it isn’t as convenient as canned beans. You could also consider buying frozen peas which IMO are better than canned.

Nuts

Nuts contain healthy fats, fiber, and protein. Nuts are a healthy snack option and you may think they are expensive foods, but the good thing is it doesn’t require a lot per day to reap the health benefits. According to Health Line, eating only a handful of nuts each day could reduce the risk of heart disease. That’s about one ounce, or 20 to 22 whole almonds or hazelnuts. This number is equivalent to 15 to 17 cashews. This turns out to be as low as $0.32 per day depending on which nuts you buy and the volume. You could even reduce 31

that to $0.16 a day by eating half the recommended amount (10 to 12) each day. Assuming you don’t have any nut allergies, including them into your diet is better than none at all. I highly recommend going for the non-salted - raw version. You may even want to choose organic if your budget allows it.

BUDGET TIP FOR BUYING NUTS: If you’re tight on money and really can’t afford it but still want to eat healthy on a budget, consider adding non-salted peanuts into your diet. Peanuts, technically a bean or legume and not a nut, have very similar health benefits to healthy nuts. They are high in fats but contain mostly the healthy fats and are a good source of protein. Like other nuts, peanuts are filling and are good for weight loss when consumed in moderation.

BUDGET TIP FOR BUYING SEEDS: Similar to buying

nuts, if you’re really tight on cash but eating healthy on a budget is important to you, consider buying non-salted roasted sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds don’t get the shining spotlight like chia seeds do (thanks to marketing) and are often overlooked because they are commonly available and often viewed as “junk” or “low income” foods. However, they are packed with lots of good nutrients like vitamin E, manganese and selenium. The only downside is many sunflower seeds are widely sold in packages that contain high levels of sodium. Look for unsalted sunflower seeds and remember what I always say… like any other foods, eating in moderation is key to a well-balanced diet.

MONEY SAVING TIP - BUY BULK: Bring your own

32.Hostess

Healthy Substitutions

OLD

containers and save money on foods like rice, pasta, beans, coffee, and more. Bulk stores have come a long way in the past few years. You used to have to use their plastic bags for everything you bought. Now many stores will let you bring your own containers. They will weigh them and record the weight, then you can fill them up with whatever you want. Bulk stores are also a great place to buy nuts and seeds at a lower price. Whole cashews can be expensive! Might as well save money on them.

Fresh Herbs

This is something you should definitely grow on your window seal or back porch. Seeds are inexpensive and you’ll have fresh herbs all year long. Herbs are a fantastic way to add flavor and color to any sort of dish or drink, whether sweet or savory, without adding fat, salt or sugars. In addition to flavor and color, they each also tend to have their own set of health-promoting properties. Consuming herbs may help to prevent and manage heart disease, cancer and diabetes. It may also help to reduce blood clots and provide anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. Fresh herbs often contain higher antioxidant levels compared to processed or dried herbs. If you are using herbs in order to harness their health-promoting aspects first and foremost, aim to add your fresh herbs at the end of cooking or as you serve to preserve these properties.

NEW

Artificial Sweeteners Stevia, Honey, Maple Syrup (100% pure) Bread Crumbs Whole Oats (pulse in food processor) Butter Mashed Avocado, Coconut Oil or Macadamia Oil Butter, Oil or Fat Sub ½ with unsweetened apple sauce, in Baked Goods mashed banana, or mashed avocado

Canned Fruits & Veggies Fresh or Frozen Chocolate Chips Cacao Nibs or 100% pure dark chocolate Soy Sauce Coconut Aminos or Tamari (wheat free soy sauce) Couscous Quinoa Cow’s Milk Unsweetened Nut or Seed Milk Crackers for dips Thinly Sliced Cucumber Rounds Cream Cheese Cashew Cream or Almond Cream Cream in Savory Soups Pureed White Beans or Cashew Cream Cream in Sweet Dishes Coconut Cream Croutons Nuts Eggs Soaked Chia Seeds (combining 1 tablespoon chia seeds with 1 cup of (in baking) water left to sit 15 mins yields a perfect 1 to 1 egg substitute for baking Ice Cream Almond milk ice cream or banana “nice cream” Instant Oatmeal Old Fashion Oats or Quinoa Mayonnaise Veganaise or Unsweetened Greek Yogurt

Animal Proteins & Other Budget Friendly Mentions

Protein is a crucial nutrient. However, in this day and age we may find healthy protein sources to be too costly. While some sources of protein are expensive, there are also many affordable alternatives. EGGS - eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, and are very affordable with an average price of $2 to $4 per dozen. Not only are they full of vitamins and healthy fats, they are also packed with 6 grams of protein per egg. CANNED TUNA - Fish is a fantastic source of protein and the canned version is no exception. If fresh fish is too expensive for your budget, canned tuna is an excellent way to boost your protein intake without breaking the bank. Most brands of tuna cost around $1 per 5-ounce can. PLAIN GREEK YOGURT - Yogurt is an excellent source of protein. In fact, an 8-ounce serving provides around 17 grams of protein — nearly double the amount found in regular plain yogurts. Look for brands with a “live and active cultures” label, which means that the yogurt contains beneficial probiotics that can improve gut health and even help you lose weight. Buying larger containers is a great way to save money, as 24 ounces of plain Greek yogurt costs about $5.

33.Hostess OLD

GROUND MEATS - Turkey, Chicken, Beef. Usually much more affordable than a whole cut of meat. Not only are they generally lean but they are adaptable and can be used in many recipes. OATS - Oatmeal is a superhero! Oats are little nutritional powerhouses. They are very nutrient dense, high in soluble fiber, can lower cholesterol and have more protein and fat than most grains. Super inexpensive and filling. It is definitely possible to eat healthy on a budget – you just need to take a look at your online flyers to see what deals are on the for the week and create a Meal Plan! Remember the LIST! I also recommend using coupons and money-saving apps whenever possible. There are some foods that are already dirt cheap even without a sale but are packed with essential nutrients such as beans, legumes, frozen fruits, and frozen veggies.Again, the key is knowing which healthy foods you enjoy eating and diversifying as much as possible to gain all the essential vitamins and nutrients. You’re also diversifying in a way that doesn’t expose you to the same chemicals or pesticides that are impossible to get rid of 100%.

NEW

Pasta Quinoa, Lentil or Brown Rice Pasta, Zucchini Noodles, Spaghetti Squash Peanut Butter Fresh Ground Almond or Peanut Butter Sodas Coconut Water, Kombucha, Unsweetened Tea, or occasionally, club soda with citrus Potato Chips Kale Chips, Sweet Potato Chips, Beet Chips Sour Cream Unsweetened Greek Yogurt Store-Bought Cereal Homemade Granola Store-Bought Homemade Salad Dressings or EVOO & Vinegar Salad Dressing Table Salt Sea Salt, Pink Himalayan Salt Tortillas or Bread Whole Large Romaine Leaves or other greens Vegetable Oil Coconut Oil or Macadamia Oil, Grapeseed & Avocado Oils ok in moderation Wheat Flour Almond Flour or Brown Rice Flour Wheat Tortillas Organic Sprouted Corn Tortillas White Rice Brown Rice or Quinoa White Sugar Raw Honey, 100% Pure Maple Syrup, Pitted Dates (always in moderation) Yogurt Unsweetened Greek Yogurt, add own fruit, granola, chia, flax

Healthy Substitutions

Milk Chocolate Dark Chocolate or Cacao

When to buy Organic

f choosing animal products, my personal rule of thumb is to only go organic--animal products have the double whammy of contamination from pesticides/insecticides on the animals’ feed (if there are pesticides in the food the animal eats, the pesticides stay in the animal, and eventually get into you if you consume products from that animal) and potential added antibiotics and growth hormones. Antibiotics that are fed to animals also end up in your body and are a nightmare for your healthy gut bacteria, while growth hormones can make your fat cells grow (they are growth hormones, after all.) Having an organic-only rule then it comes to animal products is a personal choice, but I highly recommend it. It also prevents

you from over consuming unhealthy foods that you shouldn’t be having in the first place. When it comes to fruits and veggies, I recommend buying organic whenever you can. However, if that’s not always an option don’t fret one bit--fresh fruits and veggies should still be your number one choice. Always wash your produce thoroughly, and peel any non-organic produce. Also, get familiar with the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean 15. These two lists call out the most contaminated and cleanest produce available, even after it’s been washed. If prioritizing a budget, always buy the items listed under the Dirty Dozen organic, and go conventional with the others.

Here’s a quick rundown: The Dirty Dozen:

Buy these organic whenever possible

The Clean 15:

Lowest in pesticide residue

1. Strawberries

6. Grapes

11. Celery

1. Avocados

7. Asparagus

12. Cantaloupe

2. Spinach

7. Peaches

12. Tomatoes

2. Sweet Corn

13. Mango

3. Kale, Collard & Mustard Greens

8. Bell & Hot Peppers

13. Potatoes

3. Pineapples

8. Honeydew Melon

34.Hostess 4. Nectarines 5. Apples

9. Cherries 10. Pears

4. Onions 5. Papaya 6. Sweet peas

9. Kiwi 10. Cabbage 11. Mushrooms

14. Watermelon 15. Sweet Potatoes

Warm Cauliflower and Spinach

1 cauliflower, broken into florets 2 tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, thinly sliced 3 tbsp sherry vinegar 1½ tbsp honey 3 tbsp raisins small bunch dill, snipped Handful of nuts such as walnuts or pecans 1 bag baby spinach

• STEP 1: Heat oven to 200ºC/180ºC fan/gas 6. Toss the cauliflower with the

olive oil, season and roast for 15 mins. Stir in the red onion and carry on roasting for 15-20 mins more until tender.

• STEP 2: While the cauliflower is roasting, mix the vinegar, honey and raisins with some seasoning. • STEP 3: When the cauliflower is done, stir in the dressing, dill, nuts and spinach, and serve.

Okra & Tomatoes

he almighty southern vegetable that grows in every garden, if you planted it or not, it just seems to already be there. Okra has a number of health benefits. It contains a lot of vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system. It’s also an excellent antioxidant, which is beneficial to brain and heart health. Okra is beneficial for lowering cholesterol levels because of the slime it contains. It has a lot of fiber, which is helpful for your digestion. For another thing, it’s very low in calories, which means that if you’re going on a diet or a budget, this vegetable might be your main one.

35.Hostess

1 pound okra, ends trimmed and thickly sliced 1 tablespoon olive oil, or ¼ cup water 1 medium onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 sprigs thyme, or ½ teaspoon dried 4 medium tomatoes, chopped ½ teaspoon ground paprika ¾ teaspoon sea salt 1 pinch of Cayenne pepper ½ cup water

• Heat oil or water in a large saucepan over mediumhigh heat. Add the onions and cook for 3 minutes until soft. • Add garlic and thyme and cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly. Stir in tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes stirring constantly. • Add okras, paprika, salt, pepper, and water. Stir to combine. Cover saucepan and cook for about 15-20 minutes. • Delicious served with rice, mashed potatoes or cornbread.

36.Hostess

How to Make the Best Overnight Oats

make my overnight oats with old-fashioned rolled oats, toasted or regular. Then I add chia seeds for a more pudding-like texture and more fiber, and a spoonful of nut butter to make them extra creamy. (Would you believe that one serving of these overnight oats contains nearly half of your daily fiber requirements?)

MILK OF CHOICE: You can use your favorite milk here (almond milk, coconut milk from a carton, homemade cashew milk, homemade pecan milk, oat milk or cow’s milk). I suppose you could use water instead of milk, but the final result won’t be quite as creamy or flavorful.

The amount of liquid is key to the final consistency—I like my overnight oats really thick and creamy, with concentrated flavor. If you prefer a looser consistency, add a little more OATS: old-fashioned oats and add a dash of cinnamon. milk. Don’t use instant or quick-cooking oats, because those will FRUIT: Now that we’ve formed the base of the oats, I like turn to complete mush. to add fruit. If you’re following my formula with just ½ cup CHIA SEEDS: Technically, these are optional, but I love milk and using a fruit that stores well for a few days (as in how chia seeds absorb moisture and make the final product berries), you can go ahead and toss the fruit on top of the more creamy and luscious. Chia seeds contain healthy oat-and-milk mixture. If you want to add apples or bananas you’ll need to fold those in with the oatmeal and milk. omega-3’s and, like oats, lots of fiber.

Here’s what you’ll need to make overnight oats:

NUT BUTTER: Almond butter or peanut butter makes OPTIONAL SWEETENER: Overnight oats are generally these oats even more creamy, while adding delicious savory, sweet enough for me as-is. However, add a drizzle of sweetener like maple syrup or honey if that makes your oats nutty flavor. more enticing! 36

ORPE V E ENP O IN AERMLI EYR W O ECL TL N OE B ! FE! SH R TG ’ S EP R S SE R CA 9 5 5955 P I PIERREMONT, E R R E M O N T , SUITE S U I T 200 E 2 0•0SHREVEPORT • SHREVEPORT

Let’s get social:

@CASPIANACATERING_GLOW www.CASPIANACATERING.com We proudly bank local!

- COLD PRESSED JUICE - GRAB & GO

- HEALTHY LUNCH

- WELLNESS RETAIL

- COOKING CLASSES

37.Glow ad

LUNCH 11-2 TUESDAY - FRIDAY

BOUTIQUE NUTRITION ON THE GO Pre Order Meal Prep at Caspianacatering.com Contact GLOW for Private Events and Full Service Catering

Wellness retail partners include: We proudly bank local!

www.caspianacatering.com • (318) 344.4842 •

@glowalchemykitchen

THE POWER OF PLAY

38.Play Therapy (even)

What makes a good playroom?

The playroom in our house is actually an old formal sitting room. It's a small place, but it works perfectly for our family. Since it’s situated right off of the kitchen, I can see both boys while I’m cooking. This gives them enough independence without having to hover over them. Louisiana summer days can really bring intense heat! Having a place within a home for your children to call their own is a great way to empower play. No need to run to the store to grab the latest and greatest toy or game - take a look at what’s around you and work it into your playroom.

WRITTEN BY ANNA CLAIRE PRITCHARD, MOT, LOTR

PHOTO BY MARTHA-CLAIRE LEPOR

Anna Claire is the owner of the Occupational Therapy department at Firm Foundation Pediatric Therapy in Ruston, Louisiana. Her love of occupational therapy began at a young age. She incorporates fun, creative facets as well as holistic approaches to better assist her clients in reaching their goals. She has experience in a variety of settings from a multidisciplinary center for children with Autism and communication disorders to home health and an outpatient clinic for children and adults with a wide variety of diagnoses such as traumatic brain injury, CVA, cerebral palsy, Sensory Processing Disorder and dysgraphia. Her diverse population of clients is one of her favorite aspects of occupational therapy. Due to her innate love for children, she chose Pediatric occupational therapy as her focus. Anna Claire cares for all of her clients on a personal and professional level.

The first thing to do is to locate the best space or room in the house that allows for proper supervision (depending upon the child’s age). Once you’ve found the right space, it’s time to find the right elements to maximize play. Play is the primary occupation, or role of a child. It’s his or her job to play. So, providing a space that supports this role is key in allowing for growth in other areas of life. We’ve talked before about toy rotation and deciding what stays and what goes (If you need a refresher, grab your Feb/Mar 2021 issue). Now, let’s talk about what a play space needs in order for great play and learning to take place.

ELEMENTS TO MAXIMIZE PLAY:

Gross Motor Area.

This area will depend mostly on the size and layout of the space. Bigger rooms allow for an open space to run and play. This element is not just limited to running and jumping, but also movements that can build on these skills. Such as, balance, bilateral coordination, body awareness, or safety awareness. If space is limited, smaller areas can benefit from a movement apparatus. These can offer gross motor play as well as vestibular and proprioceptive input to your little one.

39.Play Therapy

HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE GROSS MOTOR TOYS: Sit ‘n Spin

Pikler triangle Wobble Balance Board

Nugget Couch

Foam Playset

Tunnels

As mentioned earlier, there is no need to run out and buy these items if you don’t have any of the above in your home. Items that may already be in your home might require a little imagination. Couch cushions can be set up as an obstacle course or stack them up to build a fort with an old sheet. You can create an easy balance beam down your hallway with a simple roll of masking tape. 39

Fine Motor Items.

Peg Puzzles

Rattles

Dependent upon the child’s age this can look very different from one play space to the next. Fine motor toys provide little hands the opportunity to strengthen and work together for skills required later down the road,

MY FAVORITE TOYS INCLUDE:

such as writing, typing or tying shoes.

Squigz

SOME KEY TOYS INCLUDE:

Pretend Play.

Doll houses

the magic happens. I love this area of a play space where imaginations are built

40.Play Therapy Doctor sets

Dress up

and come to life. Providing opportunities for creative play sets the building blocks for social skills, language, critical thinking and problem solving. For older children this can include board games or card games.

Play kitchens

Work Surface. Providing a work surface in a play space is a

great place for laying the foundation for attention span. A small table and chairs or even a small easel is a wonderful work surface for children ages 2 and up. When room allows, one of my favorite newest additions to our playroom is an adult sized chair. It’s a great spot to cozy up in and read a book with our boys. It also allows me to have a space to work from home on the computer while still being with them while they play. Although all of these elements are not a requirement for fun and learning, it’s a great place to get started and beat the summer heat! Remember, keep it simple and less is more! 40

This is where

41.Firm Foundation Ped (pick up)

318-224-9081

NEW LOCATION: 1316 E. KENTUCKY AVENUE IN RUSTON firmfoundationtherapy

Physical THERAPY

Kim Roach, DPT/Owner

Firmfoundationpediatrictherapy

Occupational

Speech

Anna Claire Pritchard,

Annie Robertson,

THERAPY MOT, LOTR/Owner

THERAPY

MA, CCC-SLP/Owner

The Importance of Instilling

RESILIENCE

42.LSU Resilience (even)

s we all grapple with the violence seen both locally with the shooting in South Highlands and nationally with the recent Uvalde shooting, our community needs to know that LSU Health Shreveport is working behind the scenes to address youth violence.

role of the ICR is to identify the protective factors which

The Institute for Childhood Resilience (ICR) was established in 2021 to promote a safe, stable, and nurturing community for all children and families. The

and skills that allow an individual to succeed and thrive

can buffer the effects of childhood trauma and in turn, deter the potential development of youth violence. These protective factors are commonly known as resilience – the combination of attributes, experiences, despite harsh conditions. Resilience makes flourishing possible for everyone.

THE STUDY OF RESILIENCE HAS REVEALED FOUR IMPORTANT BUILDING-BLOCKS:

Z Z Z Z

CONNECTIONS COPING CAPABILITIES

(the presence of safe and supportive relationships)

(the development of stress reduction techniques)

(the practice of interest-driven, enjoyable activities). But these components are not equal. The most important - connections with safe, stable people.

CARING RELATIONSHIPS

are essential, but unfortunately, they

are not universal.

he actual words of local children tell us their reality. “Nobody really cares.” “My mom works a lot and sometimes there are no grown-ups to watch out for us.” “We need a safe place to play.” The reality is that many of our children lack the opportunities that form the protection of resilience, and our forced isolation has further reduced those options. We long ago reached our threshold for violent acts - acts that have resulted in the loss of innocent lives. The time is now to do all we can to prevent a sequel. And there is much we can do to reduce the risk that future violence will erupt. By recognizing that every single child deserves a childhood that is safe, stable, and nurturing, we will change the course of our community. This is how children can reach their potential. This is also how violence is diffused. We have decades of research that tell us much about the risk factors for youth violence. We know unequivocally that childhood trauma and a lack of positive social support are powerful contributors to

43.LSU Resilience

violence. When young children are overwhelmed by hardships such as poverty or abuse, they often grow up fearful or angry - for very valid reasons. And a child’s immature brain development makes managing those strong emotions difficult - they need the help of stable adults to do this. Sadly, when they lack caring adults to guide them, those emotions can easily erupt into violent behavior. The experience of childhood trauma and the absence of caring adults is an unstable fuel that can create an explosion. So, let’s join together to provide a solution cost nothing, yet it is priceless. Let’s give our gift of our time and attention to a child. We can volunteer our time in a church, through sports, or in a nonprofit organization. For it is only when all our children can say “somebody really cares,” that our children, and our community, will flourish.

LAURA ALDERMAN, LPC-S, LMFT, NCC DIRECTOR, THE INSTITUTE FOR CHILDHOOD RESILIENCE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT 43

ENROLLING NOW

44.St Marks

It All Begins Here Preschool 2 through 8th Grade Episcopal School

Call 318-221-7454 for more information or visit www.StMarksSchool.com

45.Donessa/Learning Rx

Leave your worries behind with

Go back to school with confidence! CALL TODAY! 318.797.8523 8856 Youree Dr., Ste D, Shreveport, LA 71115 | 318.797.8523 | LearningRx.com/Shreveport

RIPPLES 46.Donesa (even)

Written by DONESA WALKER, M.ED. BCCS, READING/DYSLEXIA SPECIALIST

f a dry surface has no drops of water, it is still dry. But single drops consistently delivered can become a river or even eventually, a flood. The summer slide is a sad statistic that states that over 2.5 months of learning loss occur over summer. This is if no cognitive engagement is incurred and will mean that kids can start the year off behind. They can never really catch up it seems, but what about those drops of water? Summer sucks the hydration straight out of our bodies and brains, which leads to short term memory loss. But what about those drops of water? Ripples in water come from one drop. One person who cares to make an effort. One drop of water can restore life to a plant, hope to a dying brain, or even begin the process of priming a pump. This can start the watering process. Recently, a person was commenting on all the negative things about our area. I asked one question: “So what are the solutions to all these issues you are concerned about?” We can all ask ourselves questions. Where are you starting? What is your one drop? Here are a few suggestions to “hydrate” your life in order to get off to a fresh start to a new school year or just need a stepping off point.

47. Donesa 6

HYDRATE Drink plenty of water as it helps your brain, your body, your skin and your personality. Your demeanor is like a little cactus, try taking a sip of water every time you think of a negative thing to say. You’ll either need to pee a lot or you’ll learn to start thinking a little more objectively and positively. The ripple effect from a little hydration can get all your thoughts and memories flowing more freely allowing for a fresher perspective.

6 CELEBRATE

You will find good if you look for it and it will ripple out to other people. Look for truthful things in other people to uplift them. Look for opportunities to smile, say a friendly word and lift others up because those ripples will continue to drift to others. This can cause a tidal wave of goodness back to you.

6 READ

Choose a good uplifting book, devotional, webpage, or magazine that will stimulate your creative thinking. It can take you on a journey and inspire you to reach out to others. One word can ripple into a journey of a lifetime, giving you knowledge to share and grow on as well as refreshing those around you.

6 MEDITATE

Pray and time to refresh yourself daily in good thoughts. This refocus/recentering yourself in priorities will often take the load of irritation off the brain and allow you to think with clarity and vision. A drip of time can ripple through you, giving you new insights and perspectives into yourself. As an added benefit, it helps your situations, even inspiring you to step out.

6 VACATION OR STAYCATION

Find a local pool, river, or spring. Watch the wildlife, splash, swim and take time to just be. Skip a rock and watch its ripple effect. Play and enjoy life in its purest form. Take a friend or loved one along to create memories or go alone to relax. Remember to take a camera or your phone for a snapshot but be sure to put it away to enjoy the value of time.

6 VOLUNTEER

Give time away to a VBS, camp, local library. Volunteer to read or babysit for a frazzled mom or momto-be. Sit with an elderly person or visit a nursing facility as well. The ripple effect of you giving time will pay back many times over. Your time may be the sweetest moment to someone who feels lost from their home or connections. Giving time is invaluable.

6 WATER

Go water a plant, give life to something that is struggling to survive. Water a small business with your presence. Buy a gift for another. Go get a gift card just because. The watering you do to your community could be the difference in business survival within a dry economy.

6 SPLASH

Go big. Get as lavish if you can. Throw a party. Doesn’t have to cost a penny. Open your doors to your friends and family just because. Have Christmas in July. Celebrate life even if you only serve water. Gran a cucumber, freeze it, then add some mint leaves and add to water for a refreshing water party! Put the cucumber slices on your closed eyes for a facial reduction of puffiness. The ripples of life here can fade those wrinkles!

6 REST

Take time to lay back in a tub of water and reflect on what you have. You have running water to refresh your skin, your soul, your being. Hydrate your body and dive into the water. Think deep and allow the ripples of rest to restore.

6 ENGAGE

COGNITIVELY Do something good for your brain! Even though the rest of this list is ultra brain nutritious, be deliberate in doing brain exercises. For instance, saying your alphabet backwards while counting forwards by 3s or in the reverse. Recall as many items of food in your fridge that you can or list all the things that can be made with water.

Finally, take an ice cube and drop it down your back - That will certainly cause a ripple effect and maybe a laugh or a chuckle. But certainly a reaction! Ripples come from the very first drop. There can never be a ripple if no drop is ever given. Join others, get a group, start a tide, a flood, a movement! However, start with a drop of goodness!

Business owner. Grandmother. Truffle hunter. A life well planned allows you to

LIVE YOUR LIFE.

48.Raymond James

While you may not be transitioning your business and sharing a new passion with your granddaughter – your life is just as unique. Backed by sophisticated resources, a Raymond James financial advisor can help you plan for what’s important to you. That’s LIFE WELL PLANNED. Hunter W. Johnson

Financial Advisor 2250 Hospital Dr., Suite 242 Bossier City, LA 71111 318.267.1023 - cell hunter.johnson@raymondjames.com https://www.raymondjames.com/financialstrategies Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. © 2020 Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. 19-BDMKT-4086 BS 2/20

49.C&C

LIGHTING | ART | COFFEE | ANTIQUES | SOCIAL EVENTS 1110 Texas Ave., Shreveport • 318.424.4406 • ccmercantileshreveport.com

It’s NOT A Competition: Celebrate, Collaborate,

CHEER

each other on!

usiness, home, friendship, relationships, even family. We find ourselves living the wrong “C” Life. Have you ever found yourself asking “Why not me”? Or saying, “They don’t deserve it more than me!”. Maybe you find yourself blaming someone else for why you have not achieved your next goal. Possibly even saying or doing little things to sabotage others in your life. Lying to others so much that you begin to believe it yourself? This is called Competing. When working with others to achieve a goal, whether it’s yours or not. When adding value, even when you may not be the leader, but understanding the value of following. Celebrating, even if it’s not your celebration. Cheering, simply because you are on the team but maybe not the captain. This is called Collaborating.

Which “C” are you? 50.Felecia (even)

e, as women, many times strive to be the best at all costs. Being the best, doing it better (sometimes to our detriment), and many times ending up being the hindrance of others. Telling yourself you are a team player but only lending a hand when receiving something in return. Feeling less than, overwhelmed, unappreciated, discouraged, and disappointed many times will cause you to confuse your “C”. Now, please know, some of us simply don’t care. Some of us refuse to share and dare anyone to surpass us in this game called life. These women clearly will not bother to invite you to the table but in addition plan to pull the chair right from under you if you dare to have a seat. Let me be the first to say that my “C”’s have caused confusion many times in my life. Allowing others VIP entrance into my life whilst moving my boundary lines and pulling a seat next to me at the table. As I struggle to remain seated daily and still to be called that ever so disrespectful word. I am sure that you know the one. The one that rolls off of our tongues - “B***h”. Ladies, we yell about women's rights, equality, and continually fight to be seen for our strengths not our bodies. But, that word. That word is used to defame and disrespect others, and all women in fact, any time we go on the attack. No, it is not a victory - to verbally dress down a woman with a word that quickly catapults us backwards. In a movement that we struggle to keep moving forward in.

Yes, there is a boy’s club, but you no longer need a membership to get ahead! 51.Felecia To all ladies, create and join the women’s lounge - where membership has its

privileges. The lounge makes everyone feel included. There are just two rules of entrance however. Know this: • Rule #1: The power is in the pack. • Rule #2: The pack is only as strong as the women who are seated at the table. Now ladies, using those two rules, let’s stop talking about networking and start building relationships. The concept of networking without including relationships is short term and short lived. To be successful, we must be willing to be in it for the long haul. Yes, we want to meet people who can help us along the way, but stay with us along the journey. That is the true power of networking. Stop meeting, asking, and achieving without forging a travel partner for the journey. The more of us on the trip, the further we can go and the more who can be invited to continue the journey.

I challenge you reading this article to reach back and bring someone along. Not because of what they can do for you, but because of what they could do for the next person invited on the trip. I am challenging you to apologize to someone that you may have confused your “C”’s with and competed with instead of collaborating with for success for both. My smart, hardworking, team playing ladies, I invite you to sit with me at the table and live your best “C” life.

WRITTEN BY FELECIA WILLIAMS OWNER OF MY SPA MY WAY 51

52.OrangeTheory 1913 Farmerville Hwy. Ruston Hart-Designs.com 318-224-7069 Exclusive Lighting Sponsor of The Lola Magazine Inspiration Home

Home Tours Beginning the First of

OCT OBER 53.Inspiration Home

ARCHITECT: LARRY HOTT DESIGNS

Proceeds from Inspiration Home Tour to benefit

For more information contact us at readlola.com

54.Bernard House History (even)

n the very northeast corner of Louisiana, rests a little town in a curve of the Mississippi River, situated on an oxbow lake that was once part of the river itself. Cypress trees, glowing in autumn, line a lake that (more often than not) offers a perfect reflection in its smooth waters of the sky above. The land is fertile, the people kind, and the way of life rooted in taking the long slow drive on the levee. Where there are sunset boat cruises, horse rides on turnrows that line fields of cotton, rice, and soybeans. It is on the banks of this lake that in 1884

where Doctor Frederick Robert, Estelle Bernard, and the doctor’s mother Sarah, built a home for their family. Nearly 143 years later, it was purchased by a family who had longloved the house. Cassie Condrey, her husband Pete Lensing, and Cassie’s brother Jason, along with her sisterin-law Kathleen Condrey, were intrigued by the home’s simple lines. They imply an understated elegance and stature of the front porch that exudes a rooted feeling from other times but only in this enchanting place. Their dream of bringing The Bernard House back to its original glory has now come to life.

55.Bernard House History

56.Bernard House History The Bernard House sits on a piece of land that had once been Sarah Bernard’s garden. In 1884, she, her son, and daughter-in-law built the home. The family lived in a stunning home until around 1930, Estelle Bernard passed away, who was the last living of the three residents. The Bernard family owned a drugstore and a medical practice in Lake Providence. They were pillars in the community of many celebrated and successful citizens. Doctor F.R. gained his education at a private school in Pennsylvania and then attended Ole Miss, where his letters are archived. He earned his medical degree from Tulane University in New Orleans. This is where he met his wife, Estelle. They had five children, two of whom died young. Local newspaper articles tell the story of Dr. Bernard’s character. Which were best shown by his kind attention to babies and hosting grand parties at their home. Complete with string

ensembles and canaries for entertainment, this home was filled with love-filled fellowship from its early days. The home, now an immaculate guest house, bears the name “The Bernard House’’. This is because the current family believes it is still The Bernard’s in so many ways. They had the vision and means to bring the home to life. That is a legacy not forgotten as the Lensing’s tell of a carpenter telling them that it isn’t really theirs, only entrusted to them. They replied, “exactly”. The restoration of the home was considered to be much more than the structure’s beauty. Which in the beginning, may have been hard for most to imagine. The house sat empty since 1965 and was much closer to demolition than any kind of rehabilitation. However, Cassie, Pete, Jason and Kathleen believed it was well worth saving. Their passion for home was apparent in hidden majesty and the deep history. But, for them, saving the house was

also about contributing to Lake Providence. They believe in the power of community to bridge gaps or divides, to strengthen bonds, and to connect to a world bigger than each of us as individuals. They believe in working together to improve what already exists and in focusing on the good as well as beauty that surrounds us. Cassie, the leader of the project, fell in love with the house when she was a child. By the time she turned sixteen and could drive herself, she knew every inch of the property. She would crawl up rotten porches to see inside. At first, she loved the house from the outside, but her infatuation began when she discovered Dr. Bernard’s signature in the center hall. She admired the proportions of the rooms, the original details, and the rich character. When the house became available, Cassie knew she had to have it and her family was on

57.Bernard House House

board. Construction was long and grueling at times. But, walking through it now renewed with life, they cannot imagine it any other way. The Bernard House is beyond spectacular and open for guests. Every space in the home is impeccable, yet continues to embrace the original integrity of every detail. If you have the opportunity to visit The Bernard House, one can be assured that the stay will be personal, restful, and luxurious. Plan your stay at thebernardhouse.com.

Helping You

BUILD AND PRESERVE Your BEST LIFE in Retirement

401K/IRA Rollovers: Evaluating the options available with your employer plans, whether current or left-behind. Determining an effective plan of access based on intentional goals.

58.Hart Design (pick up) Tax Efficient Strategies: Working with a tax advisor to establish a plan for when to use certain types of money in order to help minimize income tax exposure. Identifying areas where taxation could legally be avoided can make a significant impact.

Inheritance & Wealth Transfer: Working closely with an estate planning attorney to determine what legal documents or tools you need or that may need updating to help with your wealth transfer goals. Spousal Legacy Planning: Analyzing the impact to one spouse’s financial situation that could result from the death or disability of the other. Retirement Planning: Analyzing your Social Security and/or pension options. Are they optimized for your situation? Analyzing how much of your annual retirement income could be sourced from accounts exposed to potential market volatility. This could help you determine an acceptable level of income and investment risk. What is the probability of running out of money in retirement?

OUR SERVICES 401K/I RA Rollovers Tax Strategies Inheritance & Wealth Transfer Spousal Legacy Planning Retirement Planning Wealth Management Long Term Care

JT McDANIEL

Wealth Management: Personalized portfolio review and discussion. Are you properly diversified with your investment portfolio and are you having regular reviews?

OWNER | FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Long Term Care: Evaluate the potential financial impact to your estate if a long-term care scenario occurred and help determine how much risk you can afford to take on.

McDanielFinancial.net 6969 Fern Loop, Ste. 203 | Shreveport

Investment advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM). AEWM and McDaniel Financial are not affiliated companies. McDaniel Financial is an independent financial services firm that utilizes insurance products. 1311482-4/29

Investment advisory services offered only by duty registered individuals through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM). AEWM and McDaniel Financial are not affiliated companies. McDaniel Financial is an independent financial services firm that utilizes insurance products. 1296262 – 4/22

(318) 798.9022

Dr. Julie Lessiter D

r. Julie Lessiter is the Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives at LSU Shreveport. She has served in multiple roles in her 25-year career in higher education; currently she has oversight on the recruitment and enrollment of students, online learning activities, workforce development programming, summer school pipeline camps, and strategic partnerships with industry. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Lessiter channels her passion and energy into creating programming and pathways for students to earn academic credentials that help increase their economic and social mobility. She understands the challenges presented by, and the opportunities to be gained from educational attainment, and has helped mentor many students through their educational journey. Her greatest joy comes from seeing former students become successful in their life pursuits.

59.McDaniel Financial Content (odd)

So, Julie, you have a lovely accent, but it is not a Louisiana accent. Tell me more about where you’re from and what brought you to Louisiana. Yes Megann, thanks! I’m originally from England, a town called Southampton. I ended up coming to the United States on a tennis scholarship back in 1994. That was before the internet, so the American coaches would call and recruit

Written By Megann McDaniel Megann McDaniel, another great leader in the area, recently sat down with Dr. Lessiter to discuss her role at LSUS and how other women can step into their own and find their positive vibe.

you over the phone. I really liked the coach at Northwestern State University, so decided to attend NSU in Natchitoches. My perception of the U.S. was based purely on the tv shows I had watched: Beverly Hills 90201, and Doogie Howser and I quickly discovered that not everything in American was like that – but I loved Natchitoches and now call it my second home.

Wow. Ok, so now we know what brought you here, but you’re clearly a woman with options; you’re very successful, very educated. What keeps you here? For me it’s the people, I spent a couple of years in Arkansas working at a university, and although it was a great experience, I missed the people here. As well as the people, it’s the thought that I can have an impact in this region to help others change their lives through education. I have a great passion to help kids realize they can chase after their dreams, and they can have career opportunities that maybe they never thought they’d be able to have - that really motivates me to stay and try to have a positive impact in this community. I also have a great set of friends here who are all high achievers, and we inspire and push each other every day to continue to be better people.

60.McDaniel Content

Professionally I love how I get to be creative in my role as Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives at LSU Shreveport and can build programs that help students for future careers. We’ve built out some really neat spaces for hands-on experiential learning for students, we’ve created some new programs that are designed for careers in new technologies, it’s been fun looking out to the future and predicting where technology will take us and providing the programming not just in our degree programs, but also in our upskilling workforce development.

So LSUS, which I’m a proud alumna for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees, seems to have really expanded and evolved over the past few years. Can you tell me more about this growth and where you see LSUS in the near and distant future?

Great. So, tell me something you are excited about. What are you most Well, I encourage everyone I know that has ever excited about personally, and then been out to our campus, or maybe hasn’t ever stepped foot on campus but has this perception of who or what professionally? Well – lots to be excited about on both fronts. I’ve recently started playing more tennis again, I stopped for a long time and got into triathlons and running, doing some crazy Ironman races or marathons. But this journey I’ve been on to see how far I can push myself and how well I can perform in tennis again has been really refreshing and has given me a renewed sense of purpose.

we are, that they need to come out and I’ll give them a personal tour. It’s not the LSUS it was 10 or even 5 years ago. We have transformed this campus. Like I said earlier, we have built lots of engaging hands-on learning environments. We are spinning-up new programs that are current and relevant to this generation, and future careers, and most importantly we’re having fun. Lots going on, as we continue to build and evolve.

So, I’ve noticed LSUS has a lot of female leaders, which is refreshing. How did So that’s some advice for current and this come about? What advice would future leaders; what advice would you you give to other females looking to give yourself if you could go back and move into leadership roles? tell college age Julie something? Yes! All of our vice-chancellors are female and we have many other administrative leadership positions held by females. Our Chancellor really values diversity of thought and perspective and under his leadership many of us have moved into leadership roles. It’s interesting to note that when you look at the students graduating with the highest gpa’s, winning “student of the year” it’s mostly female, and so I really see this transition for women having the confidence and opportunity to move into leadership positions. For future leaders I’d say, definitely keep learning and growing; and perhaps more importantly be resilient. If you don’t get chosen for a position, or if you launch a business and it fails, learn from those experiences, and be better prepared for the next time. Also, believe in the thought that success is built on a team not an individual so surround yourselves with people who have complimentary skills. That takes a lot of self-reflection to identify your own personal strengths and more importantly your weaknesses.

I think about this often. Perhaps it would be to stress less and enjoy the moment. I think many of us, as high achievers, tend to be overly focused on the outcome of an event or moment instead of enjoying the journey; perhaps that’s still some good advice even for me today.

61.McDaniel Content

So earlier before we started this conversation, we talked about “your vibe attracts your tribe” and so I’m going to end this by saying that I am very proud and honored to say that you’re part of my tribe because if you are in any way a reflection of me and who I am then I know I’m doing the right thing. So, I’m going to leave that with you guys and just remind other people to find their positive tribe.

“Major shout out to Stows Moving Company. They bent over backwards to make our move a success. Stow’s professional crew loaded and unloaded carefully and efficiently. We could not be more grateful to them for busting it to help us out of our bind we were in from a different

“Exceptional Service!

moving company.”

The guys were incredibly careful with

I RECOMMEND STOW’S 10/10!

all of our things, and not to mention helpful

Caty Jones Simmons

and friendly. Highly recommend!!” Emily Lawson

62.McDaniel AD

Call us today for a free quote

(318) 550-8070

Licensed and insured

•

Serving all of north Louisiana

•

@StowsMoving

KEEPING FAMILIES ACTIVE FOR GENERATIONS... SINCE 1951

63.North La Ortho (pick-up) NOW OPEN IN RUSTON

he leader in orthopedic care for over 70 years, North Louisiana Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic is proud to be part of your community! With state of the art diagnostics, treatments, surgical, and rehabilitation services you can expect the quality of metropolitan healthcare with the convenience of a local practice at our new Ruston location! We have a team of people who truly care about your recovery. Our outstanding team of orthopedic doctors, with specializations from sports to hand surgery and spine surgery to joint replacements, all share one goal of taking care of you.

Monroe

West Monroe

Ruston

CLINIC & REHAB

REHAB

CLINIC

CLINIC & REHAB

1501 Louisville Ave. 318.323.8451

5500 Cypress St. #7 318.807.1400

309 McMillan Rd. 318.323.8451

1500 Commerce St. 318.957.5044

northlaortho.com

@northlaortho

What…A New Medication for

Weight Loss? OBESITY IS A COMMON, SERIOUS, AND COSTLY DISEASE.

64.Dr. Karen (even)

If you've ever tried to lose weight and failed, you're in good company. Nearly threequarters of Americans are overweight (BMI >/= 25) or obese (BMI >/= 30), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it's not from a lack of trying to shed pounds. Note: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms (or pounds) divided by the square of height in meters (or feet). BMI is screening tool, but it does not diagnose body fatness or health. A trained health care provider, like myself, should perform appropriate assessments to evaluate an individual’s health status and risks.

WRITTEN BY DR. KAREN PENDLETON

Here are some eye-opening statistics: • The U.S. obesity prevalence was 41.9% in 2017 – March 2020. • From 1999 – 2000 through 2017 – March 2020, U.S. obesity prevalence increased from 30.5% to 41.9%. During the same time, the prevalence of severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%. • All states and territories had more than 20% of adults with obesity. • And, our dear state of Louisiana ranked 4th at 38.1% of adults with obesity as of 2020. • Being overweight is a gateway disease that leads to more than 60 illnesses, including the nation's top killers, such as heart disease (heart attack and stroke), cancer, diabetes, mental illness and complications 64

from COVID-19. These diseases are among the leading causes of preventable, premature death. • The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was nearly $173 billion in 2019. Medical costs for adults who had obesity were $1,861 higher than medical costs for people with healthy weight. • Childhood obesity is also a serious problem in the United States, putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health. Childhood obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile of the CDC sex-specific BMI-for-age growth charts.

For children and adolescents aged 2-19 years in 20172021: • The overall prevalence of obesity was 19.7% and affected about 14.7 million children and adolescents. • Categorically, obesity prevalence was 12.7% among 2- to 5-yearolds, 20.7% among 6- to 11-yearolds, and 22.2% among 12- to 19-year-olds.

Obesity in children and adults increases the risk for the following health conditions: • High blood pressure • High cholesterol

65.Dr. Karen

• Type 2 diabetes

• Breathing problems, such as asthma and sleep apnea

• Joint problems such as osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal discomfort • Gallbladder disease and gallstones • Psychological problems such as anxiety and depression • Low self-esteem and lower selfreported quality of life • Social problems such as bullying and stigma • Obesity as adults And, when it comes to military readiness, nationwide, 71% of people between the ages of 17 and 24 do not qualify for military service. Obesity disqualifies 1 in 3 of them from serving, if they so choose.

Given that obesity is a complex disease, you may ask, what are some of the most safe, effective and sustainable solutions? I strongly believe that everyone should start with a diet based on their APOE gene status (refer to the LOLA Magazine December 2021 issue) and exercise. But for people who are overweight/obese, lifestyle changes may not be enough to move the needle on the scale. Unfortunately, there aren't many safe and effective drugs for chronic weight management, and those that do exist produce marginal benefits with troubling side effects. Some of these drugs are so dangerous, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pulled them off the market. But that tide changed on June 4, 2021, with the approval of semaglutide (Wegovy). Wegovy is the latest in a line of medications, starting with phentermine in 1959, that have achieved FDA approval for the treatment of obesity. The weekly, under-the-skin injection is the first weight loss drug the FDA has approved for chronic weight management since 2014 (liraglutide (Saxenda)). Wegovy produces twice the rate of weight loss compared to other approved medications with fewer side effects. Here's a little science... Semaglutide is in a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 RAs. GLP-1 is a hormone naturally released in the gastrointestinal tract in response to food intake. It has multiple effects, including the following: 1. Increasing insulin release from the pancreas 2. Slowing down stomach emptying 3. Targeting receptors in the brain that cause appetite reduction This results in a sensation of satiety, or fullness, lasting much longer than with the natural GLP-1 hormone levels.

Is Wegovy similar to the diabetes drugs Ozempic, Trulicity, and Victoza? Wegovy, Ozempic, Trulicity, and Victoza all belong to the same group of drugs, called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide as their active drug. Trulicity contains dulaglutide, and Victoza contains liraglutide. Ozempic, Trulicity, and Victoza work in similar ways, i.e., approved only to treat type 2 diabetes in adults, but not type 1 diabetes and not for weight loss. Wegovy is FDA approved for weight loss and weight management in certain adults, but it is not approved for diabetes treatment. Waiting in the wings for FDA approval is another GLP-1 receptor agonist: tirzepatide (Mounjaro). Results from the new trial suggest that tirzepatide at the highest dose may work as well as bariatric surgery. Lacking was a direct comparison between tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Wegovy). 65

Who can take Wegovy? Wegovy, like all other prescription medications, designated for the treatment of obesity, is approved for use in those with a BMI >/= 30, or those with a BMI >/= 27 with a weight-related medical condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

What are the risks and benefits of Wegovy? The widely reported Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity (STEP) trial results, which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated an average of 14.9% body weight reduction* after 68 weeks of therapy in those assigned to the medication group, versus only 2.4% weight loss in those assigned to the placebo group. The average weight loss seen with existing antiobesity medications is typically about 5% to 9%, while those engaged in lifestyle and behavioral therapy alone are expected to lose only 3% to 5% of their body weight. *For example, in a person who weighs 200 pounds, losing 14.9% of their body weight would mean losing ~30 pounds (29.8 pounds to be exact). Wegovy is one of six medications currently approved by the FDA for the long-term treatment of obesity. As such, it can be used for as long as it remains beneficial for weight loss and/or weight maintenance, and is not causing intolerable side effects. The most common side effects of Wegovy are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. The medication also comes with a boxed warning for risk of a specific tumor of the thyroid, and thus it is not recommended for those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (a genetic condition associated with endocrine tumors).

66.Dr Karen

Paying for anti-obesity medications, particularly Wegovy

The challenges arise with the exorbitant cost of some of the newer therapeutics, as well as refusal of many private insurers and public insurers (Medicare or Medicaid) to cover anti-obesity medications. The costs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. Wegovy is not available as a generic drug. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. If you have any questions about how to cover Wegovy medication costs, talk with your insurance company, your healthcare provider or pharmacist. And, the Wegovy manufacturer’s website has some support options in the form of savings/discount cards.

By treating the weight, we not only prevent disease, but we also reduce the social stigma and reduced quality of life that often accompanies overweight and obesity. Healthcare providers are working on generating data to show that even though anti-obesity medications sound expensive up front, it’s cheaper to take meds like Wegovy each week than face the medical complications of obesity. Again, no medication is a sure thing, but if you’re interested in weight loss, Wegovy may be a helpful tool along with diet (APOE diet) and exercise. So, if you are curious as to whether you are an acceptable weight management candidate, contact your healthcare provider or me, Dr. Karen Pendleton (drkarenpendleton.com). You can ask questions that help you feel comfortable about the risks and benefits of Wegovy treatment. Some examples to help you get started are: • Does my medical history put me at a higher risk of side effects if I use Wegovy? • Will I have withdrawal symptoms if I stop treatment with Wegovy? • What should I know about other treatments for weight management besides Wegovy? • What type of diet (APOE diet) and exercise changes do you recommend for me before, during and after Wegovy treatment? If I can be of any further service either in Shreveport (pairO’docs Bio-Rejuvenis) or the Greater New Orleans Area (Bopp Dermatology & Facial Plastic Surgery), please reach out to me by completing the Healthspan Quiz at www. drkarenpendleton.com

Happy

6th Birthday

Lola Magazine!

67.Richard Creative

Lola Magazine February/March 2021 Lola Magazine July/August 2022

Richard Creative is proud to design Lola Magazine and ReadLola.com. Let us help refine and polish your organization’s visual communications. info@Richard-Creative.com • 318-490-6555

What you Need to Know

Juvenile Arthritis July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness month. Not everyone knows that kids can present with arthritis as early after first year of their age. Juvenile Idiopathic arthritis (JIA), also known as pediatric rheumatic disease, is an umbrella term to describe the inflammatory rheumatic diseases that develop in children under the age of 16. These conditions affect nearly 300,000 kids in the United States. A child with JIA has swelling of one or multiple joints which persists after six weeks. Some subtypes of JIA are more common in young girls than boys. Most kinds of JIA are autoimmune diseases. The immune system, which is supposed to fight against foreign pathogens like viruses and bacteria, gets confused and releases inflammatory cytokines that attack child’s healthy tissue. In most of JIA cases, this will cause joint pain, inflammation, swelling, morning stiffness and limping but certain types of JIA have few or no joint symptoms or only affect the skin and other internal organs. The exact causes of JIA are unknown, but scientists believe that certain genes may cause JIA when immune system is triggered by a virus, bacteria or other environmental factors. There is no evidence that certain foods or lack of vitamins can cause the disease. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is the most common referral in Pediatric Rheumatology clinic and includes six types: oligoarthritis, polyarthritis, juvenile psoriatic arthritis, systemic onset JIA, enthesitis-related arthritis, and undifferentiated. JIA causes joints to be stiff, warm, painful and swollen. This results in difficultly moving after rest or completing everyday tasks like writing, walking or running. Joint symptoms may further worsen after prolonged rest and patients report morning stiffness or limping after naps.

68.Juvenile Arthritis (even)

Written By SARWAT UMER, MD Associate Professor Clinical of Internal Medicine / Pediatrics Center of Excellence in Arthritis and Rheumatology, LSU Health Shreveport Areas of Specialty Juvenile arthritis, Pediatric Lupus, Scleroderma, Vasculitis, Uveitis, Juvenile Dermatomyositis, Morphea, IBD related arthropathy, Juvenile Sarcoidosis and Auto inflammatory syndromes

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis can also affect other body organs apart from joints. Eye pain, redness, sensitivity to light and trouble seeing properly result from uveitis (chronic eye inflammation). Uveitis is frequently seen with Oligoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and enthesitis related arthritis. Uveitis in young girls needs frequent monitoring (every 3 months) by pediatric eye doctor. Skin can be involved, and symptoms may include a scaly red rash (psoriatic), or a light spotted pink rash with fever (systemic). Other symptoms include feeling tired (fatigued), appetite loss and daily high spiking fever (systemic onset JIA). A pediatrician may provide initial screening for joint symptoms followed by a child being referred to a Pediatric Rheumatologist (a doctor with specialized training in treating arthritis of children). There are 9 states without a Pediatric Rheumatologist (6 states have only one) and not every region has availability of this kind of specialist. A Pediatric Rheumatologist performs thorough history and physical examination and can diagnose child with JIA. Laboratory tests are used to detect inflammatory markers and imaging tests (X-rays, MRIs) are utilized to evaluate for signs of joint damage. These tests are also used to eliminate other causes like sports injuries or infection. A delay in the diagnosis of JIA may result in permanent joint damage and deformities. With early referral and aggressive treatment, remission (little or no disease activity or symptoms) is possible. Children are treated with nonsteroidals, intraarticular (within joint) steroid injections, disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs mostly like methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine) and biologics injections like Etanercept (Enbrel) or adalimumab (Humira). The goals of JIA treatment are to slow down inflammation and prevent disease progression while also improving quality of life and preventing irreversible or fatal complications like permanent joint deformities and macrophage activation syndrome in Systemic onset JIA.

69.Juvenile Arthritis

Pediatric Rheumatologists prefer early, aggressive treatment to slow disease progression and achieve full remission. Post biologic era has significantly improved patient outcome and most children no longer require any assistive devices (like cans, crutches or wheelchairs). It is very important that children and teens with arthritis maintain a healthy lifestyle and eat balanced diet. Sometimes, they also require physical therapy to regain full joint function and muscle strength. Children with JIA may seek treatment by a multi-disciplinary team at clinics at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport and Shriner’s Hospital for Children.

14 Years Old Girl With Swollen Hand Joints Polyarticular JIA ( > 5 joints involved)

2 Years Old Girl With Dactylitis/ Swollen Third Toe Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis 69

70.Advanced Audiology

And so is your hearing. Now is the perfect time to proactively take care of your hearing health.

Scan the QR Code or call (318) 251-1572 to schedule an appointment with one of Ruston’s most tenured audiologists! Dr. Jerrilyn Frasier Vaughan Doctor of Audiology LOCALLY OWNED— Hometown Proud Schedule your appointment today! 1503 Goodwin Road, Ste. 205, Ruston, LA 71270 · (318) 251-1572 · www.rustonhearing.com

71.Ad

WWW.MISTYSWILLEYPHOTOGRAPHY.NET

Summer Fresh Favorites F

resh summer produce is always a treat, especially with no-fail recipes that are simple but delicious. Check out our favorite easy recipes that can be quickly whipped together with few ingredients and still bring all the flavors of summer.

This Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint and a Balsamic Glaze is so light and refreshing. It’s the perfect side dish to take to a summer get-together!

Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint and a Balsamic Glaze

72.Summer Fresh Favorites Watermelon (even)

6 cups cubed seedless watermelon 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 3 tablespoons balsamic glaze 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint 1/2 teaspoon flaked sea salt • Place cubed watermelon in a large serving bowl. Arrange crumbles of feta over the watermelon. Drizzle the watermelon and feta with the balsamic glaze. Sprinkle with chopped fresh mint and flaked sea salt. Chill for an hour and serve.

thebaker

mam

a.com

This blueberry dump cake is a super easy and delicious way to do blueberry cobbler with cake mix, blueberries and butter! This blueberry cobbler dump cake is perfect for when you need a quick & easy dessert.

Blueberry Cobbler Dump Cake 4 heaping cups of blueberries 1 (16.25 oz.) cake mix, white or yellow 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. • In a medium baking dish or 9x9” pan or baking dish, add the blueberries to the bottom of the pan. • To a mixing bowl, add the cake mix. Pour the melted butter on to the cake mix and stir together with a fork. Mixture will be crumbly.

73. Favorites Blueberries • EvenlySummer top the blueberries Fresh with the cake mix crumbles. Bake the dump cake for 30-33 minutes or until golden brown.

• Remove from oven and let cobbler cool slightly before serving. Enjoy with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

delightfu

lmad

e.com

This BBQ corn on the cob with garlic butter and Parmesan cheese makes it so delicious. If you love fresh summer corn, you need to give this recipe a try.

BBQ Corn on the Cob with Garlic Butter and Parmesan Cheese 4 corns on the cob 4 tablespoons salted butter 2 cloves garlic smashed ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated and separated 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper Chopped parsley for garnish • Remove husks and silk from corn and rinse.

74.Summer Fresh Favorites Corn

• In a small bowl, combine butter, garlic, pepper and half of the parmesan cheese. Tear off 4 lengths of aluminum foil long enough to leave a couple of inches on each end of the cob and wide enough that you can wrap around the cob at least two times. Place one cob on each piece of foil. • Using a brush, brush butter mixture on corn getting a thin layer on the entire surface. Roll the cobs up in the aluminum foil and wrap the ends in so the corn is fully covered • Pre-heat barbecue to medium high heat. Place foil wrapped cobs directly on the grill. Cook for about 20-25 minutes turning every few minutes. Remove from heat, carefully open the foil (it is very hot). Let sit for 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley and the remaining parmesan cheese. Serve!

easygood

idea

s.com

gameday

Get your

Gear at

75.Fan Base PMS 287C

C=100, M=75, Y=2, K=18

Black

White

318.202.5614 • 110 W. PARK AVE. • RUSTON

North Louisiana’s MUST-ATTEND EVENTS

Tue-Sat, 5-8pm, through August 27

facebook.com/ArtspaceShreveport

SATURDAYS Now - August 27

facebook.com/ShreveportFarmersMarket

76.Events SATURDAYS Now - November

July 4

July 8-10

BossierCityFarmersMarket.com

sportspectrumusa.com

sicklecellnwla.org/registration

Now - October 2

July 4

July 12

sci-port.org

shrevearts.org

facebook.com/ccmercantileshreveport

North Louisiana’s MUST-ATTEND EVENTS Centenary Basketball Camp

July 21

yourprovenance.com/events

July 25-26

caddoparks.org

2022 RED RIVER QUILTERS SHOW

77.Events(Summer Camps) July 29-30

redriverquilters.com/quilt_show

Canoeing at Richard Fleming Park August 27

October 1-9

caddoparks.org

redriverrevel.com

August 19-21

facebook.com/geekdcon

HIGHLAND JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL September 17

October 29

highlandjazzandblues.org

redriverrevel.com/brew

Now Open in Two

Locations! 2850 Douglas Drive

Bossier City 78.Britt AD

Exciting news for cupcake lovers!

uttercups Cupcakes is now open in Bossier City. Owner and founder, Kim Hand, is excited to bring all of your favorite treats to their new location at 2850 Douglas Drive.Made from scratch cupcakes, french macarons, cakes, and cake-pops, have been delighting customers in the Shreveport-Bossier area since 2009 in their original location, located in Shoppes at Bellemead on Youree Drive, Shreveport. Next time you're in the area, stop in for a sweet treat and espresso.

Shoppes at Bellemead on Youree Drive

Shreveport

Mary Poppins to Enchant the Dixie Stage this Summer

BY JOHNATHAN BAINES

ooking to add a little magic to your summer? A spoonful of sugar is just around the corner as Mary Poppins hits the stage July 14-17. Ruston Community Theatre is bringing the hit Broadway musical to the Dixie Center for the Arts performed by talented local performers. Based on the stories by P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, the stage adaptation is written by Julian Fellowes and co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. This production is especially important as it is the first mainstage summer musical since The Music Man in 2019. Mary Poppins was originally slated for the following summer, but due to the pandemic, it was delayed two years. The production is sponsored by the Chumley family and Ruston Community Theatre would like to thank them for their years of support. Fans of the movie will not be able to resist singing along with their favorite songs as the show includes many of the original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. There are also many new songs and additional music and lyrics by Anthony Drewe and George Stiles. As in the movie, the plot centers around the struggling Banks family. With a disconnected father and neglected, mischievous children, things are not going well at Number 17 Cherry Lane. Enter Mary Poppins, a magical nanny full of charm and wit, who swoops in to set things right. Audience members will be delighted to see the familiar character brought to life on stage and are sure to enjoy several new adventures the kids will take with their new nanny. In contrast to the movie, the stage adaptation focuses more on the dysfunctional Banks household and expounds upon the strained relationship of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Amy Beasley who plays Mrs. Banks says, “I really appreciate the deeper, richer storyline that the stage adaptation of Mary Poppins takes on.” Similar to his movie counterpart, Mr. Banks is a tyrannical perfectionist striving for order at home and at work. The show includes a glimpse into his past, which made him the man he is. Mrs. Banks is no longer the comedic suffragette from the movie, but rather a downtrodden, long-suffering homemaker

doing her best to hold the family together. Amy Beasley remarks, “The 1964 film portrays her as ditzy, annoying, and somewhat indifferent to the children. In the Broadway version, she is much more aware, tender, and complex.” As she grapples with her role in the family, she gains more confidence and boldly fights for her family to get it back on track. The extra layers added to both characters bring a depth to the storytelling that will certainly inspire and encourage audience members. Frequenters of RCT’s summer musical series are familiar with the level of quality Director Dee Alexander brings to his shows. They may also notice that this show is the most contemporary one RCT has produced as a main stage musical! To pull off a show of this complexity, a team of talented people is needed. Rebecca Bordelon, who plays Mary Poppins, states, “RCT’s production of Mary Poppins is the definition of community theatre. The number of people working all hours in different production areas is astounding!” This team includes Monika Locke as stage manager, Karen Pittman for costume design, and Gretchen Jones and Chloe Alexander as choreographers for the show. “If you attend one of our performances,” Rebecca Bordelon continues, “get ready to see gorgeous costumes, stunning set pieces, and sweeping musical numbers made possible by our fantastic cast and crew!”

79.Ad - Buttercups spotlight

Thursday, July 14 through Saturday, July 16 at 7 PM with a final performance on Sunday, July 17 at 2 PM at the Ruston Dixie Center for the Arts www.rctruston.org 79

American Cancer Society’s White Out Cancer Gala August 13, 2022

Please help the American Cancer Society finish the fight against cancer. Join us at the American Cancer Society's White Out Cancer Gala on August 13, 2022 for a one-of-a-kind evening, featuring great food, dancing, a spectacular auction, and much more. With your support, the American Cancer Society saves lives by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against cancer. The American Cancer Society is working to finish the fight against every cancer in every community. We are the largest private, not-for-profit funder of cancer research in the United States, investing more than $4 billion since 1946. Thanks in part to our contributions, more than 1.5 million lives have been saved in the US in the past two decades. Now, that is a reason to celebrate, so please join us.

80.Give Back Spotlight

We hope to see you there! Guests of the White Out Cancer Gala will enjoy a unique, upscale event complete with live entertainment, dinner, dancing, auctions and other special attractions including: Live Entertainment from BCam and the Zydeco Young Bucks One-of-a-kind live and silent auctions Gourmet meat carving station and open bar Special tributes to cancer survivors and those lost to the disease Special Revenue Enhancers: Heads and Tails Game, Wine Pull and Mystery Box Chance

Event Details White Out Cancer Gala August 13, 2022 Shreveport Convention Center 400 Caddo Street Shreveport, LA 71101

Schedule: 5:30 PM VIP Reception 6:30 PM Dinner Silent Auction Opens Entertainment 8:30 PM Guest Speaker Live Auction 9:15 PM Entertainment 10:00 PM Silent Auction Closes 10:30 PM Thank you, and we hope to see you again next year at the White Out Cancer Gala

F O R A D D I T I O N A L I N F O R M AT I O N O R TO P U R CH A S E YO U R T I CK E T S

visit

WWW.WHITEOUTCANCERGALA.ORG

Let’s get started on your future! 9391 Ellerbe Rd. Suite C Shreveport 318-408-0100 positivestepsfertility.com

NOW IN BENTON! SHREVEPORT | NATCHITOCHES | BENTON

GeauxSmile.com