Lola Magazine Holiday 2022

• Signature Smoked Turkey Breast (2.5 – 3 lb average)................ 19.99 lb 10-12 servings with a second meat choice

• Traditional Spiral Sliced, Bone In Half Ham (7-9 lb average) 9.99 lb 10-12 servings with a second meat choice

• Cornbread Dressing, Turkey Gravy, & House Made Cranberry Sauce (16-20 servings) 39.99

• Augratin Potatoes (small 10-12 servings)

49.99 (large 30-35 servings)

• Green Bean Casserole (small 12-16 servings)

119.99

29.99 (large 45 servings)........................................ 59.99

• Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce (small 12-16 servings) 29.99 (large 30-35 servings) 59.99

• Hawaiian Rolls (24 ct) 9.99 Orders must be placed by 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 22 and picked up by 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 23. All meals will be prepared and packaged cold to warm up at your convenience with reheating instructions.

– ANDY ROONEY

You all know the feeling… On Christmas morning your home is glowing with sparkling lights, beautifully wrapped gifts are under the tree, the table is set, All I Want for Christmas is blaring through the speakers, laughter fills the air, the weeks of preparation have led you to this enchanted moment. Fast forward an hour, maybe two, and it’s all over. Now you will spend the next several days cleaning and trying to find space for all of the things you literally have no space for. Sound familiar? So, what if we didn’t clean it up too quickly. What if we sat with a cup of hot cholate and watched a Christmas movie with our family instead? It is a hard concept to swallow, but this year I am aiming to enjoy the moments and just sit down! I challenge you to do the same. There is somewhat of a glory to the aftermath of Christmas, maybe something to revel in… or maybe if we leave it out long enough, someone else will clean it up. A girl can dream, right?

This holiday issue of Lola Magazine is your guide to making this holiday season a bit easier without sacrificing any Christmas joy! We bring you the history behind our most treasured Christmas traditions. Our “Holiday Hacks” for hosting, decorating, wrapping and fashion are nothing short of ingenious. Check out our list of teachers’ gifts they actually want, and great gift ideas for the ones on your list that have it all in our “Unwrapping the Typical”. Enjoy time with friends by planning your own a holiday brunch with our “Hostess with the Mostess”. As always, we bring you the latest on health, beauty, and highlights on our local non-profit organizations.

Although the holiday season is fast and furious, it really is the most wonderful time of the year. We hope that you get the chance to slow down just a bit. Christmas isn’t about giving the best gifts or serving the perfect meal. Even if the cornbread dressing is a little dry, the moments are rich and there will be time to clean the living room later. Until then, find a cozy spot and embrace the magical mess of Christmas.

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable Gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15

Bevin

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Dr. Karen Pendleton

Megann McDaniel Felecia Williams Dr. Skylar Souyoul Eric Lang

Michelle Yetman, PhD

Rebecca Durr Butler, MCD, CCC-SLP Paige Melton Rebecca Hays

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“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.”

Blessing to you and yours!

H oliday

T radi T ions

Ever wonder where some of our beloved Christmas traditions come from, and what shaped these magical customs of this merry holiday? You may be surprised to learn they all have a rich history, yet continue to warm our lives with priceless memories even today.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MISTY SWILLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

CHRISTMAS COOKIES

 Decorating Christmas cookies and setting them out with a cup of milk for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve is a classic holiday tradition in the United States.

 Before modern day iced sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies in the shape of little men, ancient civilizations celebrated the holiday with desserts. By the

Middle Ages, Europeans baked cookie like desserts made with dried fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg. These traditional ingredients are still staples in Christmas cookies recipes we enjoy today.

 The Gingerbread man, one of the most popular Christmas cookies of today was first introduced by Queen Elizabeth I of England. She was the matriarch of The Gingerbread man and the first to mold the iconic shape with her favorite ginger-flavored cookies.

MISTY SWILLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

HANGING STOCKINGS

The tradition of hanging stockings can has been traced back to a story of a poor widower who was concerned he could not provide for his three daughters for the Christmas Holiday. It is said that St. Nicholas heard about the family’s struggles and being the Saint that he was, he filled the daughters’ stockings with gold coins as they were hung to dry above the fireplace.

The popularity of the tradition, however, can be attributed to Clement Clarke Moore’s poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” from 1823. Today this beloved poem, known as “Twas The Night Before Christmas” is a tradition in itself.

A line from the classic poem tells of how Saint Nick “Fill’d all the stockings; then turn’d with a jerk, And laying his finger aside his nose And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.”

This line started the now common tradition for children to hang their stockings by the fire on Christmas Eve “In hopes that Saint Nick, soon would be there.”.

SENDING CHRISTMAS CARDS

In 1843, Sir Henry Cole of England wanted to send a holiday greeting to his friends without having to write individual letters. He had 1,000 illustrated cards printed with the words, “A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year To You” with a line for his personal signature. This where the tradition of sending Christmas card originated according to historians.

Today, Christmas cards have come a long way. Although a labor of love for most, the tradition of mailing Christmas cards is a beautiful way to send love and well wishes during the holiday season.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Evergreen trees, which are commonly used as Christmas trees today, have long been thought to be lucky since they remain green even in the dead of winter.

The tradition of the Christmas tree came from Germany, and there are accounts of early 19th century Christmas trees in America, but the custom wasn’t widespread outside German communities.

The Christmas tree first gained popularity in British and American society thanks to the husband of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert. He installed a decorated Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1841, and photos of the Royal Family’s tree appeared in London magazines in 1848. Those illustrations, published in America a year later, caught the attention of the upper-class, and the tradition of decorating Christmas trees took off.

Christmas trees were appearing in American newspapers in the late 1850’s and a few years following, even ordinary American families celebrated the season by decorating a Christmas tree.

In the 1880s, lights began appearing on Christmas trees for the wealthy, but were too expensive for the majority of homes. People in the late 1800s lit their Christmas trees with small candles. What a fire hazard that must have been!

KISSING under MISTLETOE

Mistletoe, a small plant, often seen hanging over doorways during the Christmas season is native to Great Britain and other parts of Europe. Mistletoe is historically believed to bring good luck. The tradition of kissing under mistletoe has been popular for centuries, although it dates to an ancient Celtic legend, it became a holiday tradition during the Victorian era. It was believed that a kiss under the mistletoe would lead to love and marriage.

ADVENT CALENDARS

THE CHRISTMASP ickle

Weihnachtsgurke, also known as the Christmas Pickle, is a tradition that began in Germany in the late 1900s, when Germany popularized glass ornaments. It is possible this glass pickle was merely a marketing stunt invented by those importing glass decorations from Germany, it was well played and continues to be a popular Christmas tradition in American homes still today.

The tradition has evolved into modern parents hiding the green pickle-shaped ornament from the Christmas tree each year on Christmas Eve. The green colored ornament is difficult to spot on an evergreen tree, so the first child to find it is believed to have good luck throughout the new year.

The Christian tradition of Advent, which dates back more than 1,600 years was established to prepare Christians for the coming of Christ. People used to fast before the “Christ-mass.” Advent Calendars are now commonly used to count down from the beginning of December until Christmas day. The modern Advent calendar tends to focus less on the religious aspects of Christmas from which is originated and has become commercialized with a small gift offering each day.

THE ELF ON THE SHELF

Elf on the Shelf has worked its way into the homes of thousands, if not millions of families. Parents around the world share a lovehate relationship for the little guy in red and the phenomenon started as a whimsical tradition created by Carol Aebersold. Aebersold embraced the enchantment of Christmas for her children by moving an elf ornament each night during the season, telling them the elf was magically flying back and forth to The North Pole with reports for Santa.

In 2004, Aebersold and her daughter wrote a poem about the mischievous elf that turned into a storybook. The next year they started their company introducing the world to their family tradition and bringing the magic to millions of excited children and tired parents.

CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR DREAMS

From Playroom to Boardroom

Growing up, you always took make-believe to the next level. Today, you still pursue the full potential of each idea – finding advisors who relate to your intuition. We share that drive, because connecting people to their dreams is our true passion. Every great relationship has an Origin story. Start yours today at Origin.Bank/YourStory

NATIVITY SCENE

The first nativity scene is credited to St. Francis of Assisi in 1223. Francis had just returned from the Holy Land and had visited the site where Jesus was born. Historic details confirm that Pope Honorious III granted St. Francis permission to display a manger scene, complete with a living ox and donkey in the Italian village of Grecio. He then invited villagers to hear him tell the story of Jesus’ birth.

Setting up nativity scenes quickly became a widespread holiday tradition. By the 1300’s every church in Italy had their own and figurines began to replace the living people and animals. By the end of the 19th century the practice spread beyond Catholic churches. Today the nativity scene is a treasured symbol of Christmas and is vastly displayed in homes and churches around the world.

JOLLY OLD’ SAINT NICK

Santa Clause isn’t just a mythical story made up to make children behave during the Christmas season. There is no denying the legend comes in handy for parents, but Santa Claus was actually a real monk. St. Nicholas was born in Turkey around 280 A.D. The legend goes that he traveled the country giving away his wealth and became known as the protector of children.

Dutch immigrants who celebrated “Sinterklaas”, brought the tradition of Saint Nick to United States, but the popularity didn’t take off until 1822 with “Twas The Night Before Christmas.” In 1881, Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, created the image of Jolly Old Saint Nick we know today.

In the US he’s Santa Claus, in France he’s Père Noël, and in Finland, people celebrate the Yule Goat. All over the world, there are many different interpretations of St. Nicholas. The commercialization of this Santa Claus coincided with the expanding American toy industry and the mass industrialization of urbanized cities. The middle class soon began having desires to provide their children with gifts as in upper class families and the tradition of gifts being delivered from Santa Clause on Christmas Eve was born.

Holiday Brunch Brought to Life

HOSTESS with the MOSTESS

WRITTEN BY JESSICA COMEGYS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARRET WARREN

Need an excuse to throw a festive-yetcasual gathering this Christmas season? Look no further than the holiday brunch brought to life in these pages!

‘T

is the season for gathering with close friends to have some holiday fun and enjoy a delicious meal! The way to a girl’s heart is undoubtedly food and gifts, so throwing a holiday brunch for your best girls is a sweet way to show how much you appreciate their friendship, and to spend some extra time together this busy season. It’s also an easy way for a lot of us, maybe even from different groups, to get together in one fun swoop. We even do a gift exchange that keeps the spending to a minimum and ensures everyone on the list is included.

I decided on a brunch for two reasons. One, my husband goes duck hunting every year the two days before Christmas Eve. And this year he is taking our son for the first time! Which means - I have the house to myself! Two, you just can’t go wrong with brunch. Who doesn’t love brunch and champagne?

HOLIDAY GRAZING BOARD, HOT SMOKED SALMON & FESTIVE JUICES

BY GLOW ALCHEMY KITCHEN

BREAKFAST PASTRIES & DESSERTS

BY LOWDER BAKING CO.

LIQUOR, WINE, DIPS & EXTRA SNACKS

BY CUBAN LIQUOR

The number one complaint I get when I share party ideas is “I don’t have time”. Time for party prep, invitations, grocery shopping for party, food/drink prep, decorating, etc. I’ll admit, it can be a lot to manage! I’m always looking for ways to help you cut time so you can actually entertain but also enjoy it without being a slave to all the elements that go into throwing a party.

It’s hard to run around town to pick up items, especially if you have kids. I have an 8 year old son, and the thought of hauling him to three grocery stores to get food and drinks for a last-minute party is sometimes enough for

to call it off. There are only so many hours in a day, am I right? Enter my favorite solutions and the secret to hosting an effortless

Bonus, two of them are right across the street from each other and you don’t have to get the kids out of the

Stepping up our holiday brunch with this Ham and Cheese Croissant Strata. Buttery croissants, Brie cheese, prosciutto, and mushrooms, all tossed together in a mustard “cream” sauce, then baked to golden, cheesy perfection. This a cross between your favorite ham and cheese croissant sandwich and your mom’s old school Christmas morning strata. It feels extra fancy but is actually easy, and of course, so yummy. You can prep this croissant bake in advance, then bake

Ham & Cheese Croissant Strata

it off just before you’re ready to serve. Perfect for holiday entertaining!

2 cups (about 12-16 croissants) roughly torn, day-old croissants

2 tablespoons salted butter, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 cups mixed mushrooms, roughly chopped kosher salt and pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced or grated

2 tablespoons fresh chopped thyme (or 2 teaspoons dried thyme)

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup whole milk

3 large eggs, beaten

2 rounded tablespoons dijon mustard

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, using more or less to our taste

3 ounces deli ham or prosciutto, torn

4 ounces creamy Brie cheese, cubed

½ cup shredded Swiss or fontina cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch Pyrex Deep baking dish.

2. Arrange the torn croissants

in the baking dish and lay 2 tablespoons of thinly sliced butter over the croissants. Transfer to the oven and bake 5-8 minutes, until the croissants are lightly toasted.

3. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil In a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper. Cook undisturbed for 5 minutes or until golden, stir and continue cooking until the mushrooms have caramelized, 3-5 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme, cook an additional minute. Remove from the heat and set aside.

4. In a large bowl, whisk together the cream, milk, eggs, mustard, cayenne, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Add the toasted croissants, mushrooms, ham, and Brie cheese, gently toss to combine. Pour the mixture back into the casserole dish. Top evenly with Swiss cheese.

5. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, then continue baking for another 10-15 minutes or until the croissants are golden on top. Serve warm.

Notes:

• To Make a Few Hours Ahead: This can be made assembled a few hours ahead of time and kept in the fridge. Allow the stuffing to come to room temperature before baking.

• To Make a Few Days Ahead: complete the recipe through step 3. Toss the mushrooms and croissants together. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to assemble, remove from the fridge. Continue on with step 4, tossing the croissants + mushrooms with the egg mix, then assemble in baking dish. This can be done up to 4 hours ahead of time. Bake as directed.

Wild Rice Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette

WILD RICE SALAD

3 cups wild rice, rinsed or a mixture of wild with white and/or brown rice

2 jars (6 ounce) marinated artichoke hearts

1 package (10 ounce) frozen green peas, thawed and dried on paper towel

1 green bell pepper, cored and chopped

1 bunch green onions, chopped (white, light green and some of the dark green portion)

1 pint small cherry tomatoes, halved ½ marinade from artichoke hearts (from 1 jar)

1. In a large saucepan, heat 2 quarts and 1 cup water and rice to boiling. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 45 minutes or until rice is done. Drain off any remaining liquid and set aside to cool.

2. Drain artichoke hearts, reserving marinade for dressing. Pat dry, chop and add to cooked rice, along with thawed peas, green pepper, green onions and tomatoes.

3. Add half of the reserved artichoke marinade to the rice mixture and gently toss to combine. Set aside.

PARMESAN VINAIGRETTE

½ cup white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon celery salt

½ teaspoon ground white pepper

½ teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1 clove garlic, minced ½ marinade from artichoke hearts (from 1 jar)

1 1/3 cups extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Toasted slivered almonds, for garnish

4. In a large lidded jar, whisk together vinegar, sugar, salts, pepper, mustard, paprika, garlic and remaining 1/2 of artichoke marinade.

5. Slowly pour in extra virgin olive oil, whisking until combined.

6. Whisk in Parmesan cheese.

ASSEMBLY

7. Shake Parmesan Vinaigrette and pour half over the rice mixture; toss. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Cover remaining Vinaigrette and refrigerate.

8. Just before serving, toss again and taste. Add additional dressing as needed and season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with slivered almonds and serve.

We recently sat down with Shreveport’s newest children’s author, Eric Lang. This father of two, has been documenting the funny, innocent things his children say ever since their first words. When his kids showed an interest in learning about some of their favorite memories, Eric began documenting these too and soon an idea for a children’s book came to fruition.

Why did you write the book?

Like a lot of parents, my wife and I would read books to our children at bedtime. When story time was over, our kids would then ask to see a picture, video, or hear what they said when they lost their first tooth, the day we brought our second child home, or the first time they visited the beach. Each night I found myself telling our family stories, sharing our favorite memories. After they fell asleep, I began writing some of their favorite memories down. I found myself looking forward to telling their stories just as much I enjoyed reading them books, and the book came to life!

What is the book about?

Kids everywhere want to know their story. They want to relive their first steps, what they dressed up as for Halloween, and the time they met Santa. Our Favorite Memories are your special moments captured in story format for your children to enjoy for years to come. This book has illustrations that depict a scene of a special memory. There is space for families to write in their own stories, adding pictures to help bring these pages to life. Parents and guardians can use this book as a guide to capture those precious moments that are unforgettable for their families.

This book outlines some of our family’s favorite memories and serves as a blueprint for creating your own memories with your family. Maybe you haven’t taken your child fishing, or your child hasn’t lost their first tooth just yet. Setting a date to teach your children to fish may be a memory that will soon be one of your favorites. Truth is, my kids caught their first fish with the help of their grandfather who made a special visit to teach them fishing and one of our favorite family memories includes the biggest smile from my kids and their grandfather!

What are some of your favorite memories?

As with any parent, it is hard to choose a few, but some of my personal favorites include the time my wife dressed them up as a dinosaur and a flamingo for Halloween, and the time we taught our children to read and ride bikes. Halloween is always so much fun to see through a child’s eyes. The first year my daughter could walk, my wife hand made an outfit for Emery and dressed her as a flamingo with all sorts of feathers everywhere. Hudson was so proud to be a dinosaur and when we asked to take a few pictures, he just grabbed her hand as a proud brother and they both smiled so big.

We taught Hudson to ride bikes and read over the covid-19 shutdown. When I was a little boy, I remember my father went on strike for a few weeks, so he got to spend more time at home, and I just loved it. My father came to mind when we had those weeks with our children and we used them up by making forts, going fishing, learning to read, and of course, riding bikes.

Yet, the time we brought our daughter, Emery home for the first time was my absolute favorite memory. Our son, Hudson had just turned two and greeted us at the front door. We recorded his reaction, and it was priceless. Hudson moved aside a blanket that covered his sister’s car seat and peeked in. As he tried to take the car seat from me, he yelled with excitement, “Look mommy a baby, right there, thank you!!“

In Closing

I may have written this book but selfishly, this book is my gift to more than just my kids. This book is for all the children that will be the star of their very own story book, learning about the priceless memories that each family creates. You can get your copy by scanning the QR code on this page or by visiting some of the local children’s stores around town.

Welcome Dr. Sarah Rainwater Internal Medicine & Pediatrics

To schedule an appointment, call 318-626-2593.

Ochsner LSU Health – Viking Drive

4481 Viking Drive, Bossier City, LA 71111

At Ochsner LSU Health, we are dedicated to caring for you and your family. We offer several convenient new locations for primary care and pediatrics, including our Multispecialty Center on Viking Drive in Bossier City.

All locations are equipped with state-of-theart equipment, including full lab and x-ray, and offer a beautiful and comfortable environment.

Our team is continuing to grow in order to offer you more choices for care for all ages and stages of life. With more than 500 providers in over 70 specialties, our team seamlessly provides advanced care when you need it.

ochsnerlsuhs.org

Most insurances accepted.

Time for A

It’s that time of year and everyone is looking for the perfect toy to give at holiday time. A walk down the toy aisle reveals toys that light up, spin, and make music. They all claim to teach your child the alphabet and other educational skills. With all these options, how do you know what makes an appropriate toy at what age? More importantly, with all these toys claiming to be ‘educational,’ what really makes an ‘educational’ toy?

Toys!

DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE TOYS

One of the important things to consider when purchasing a toy is to purchase developmental toys, which take into account the child’s age and the skills they are working on at that stage of development. For example, infants and toddlers are busy exploring their world using their senses, so brightly colored toys that are non-toxic and delight the senses are the best option. Selecting toys that have different textures and sounds is imperative, such as rattles that shake and books that have multiple textures. Keep in mind that babies and toddlers put everything in their mouth, so avoid toys that have small parts or pieces that could come loose and be a choking hazzard.

As children grow, you want to select toys that target different areas of development, such as gross motor skills,

While it may be tempting to buy the light up box that spins, makes music, and counts in four different languages, research tells us that when it comes to toys and child development, simpler is often better. (Child Development Institute, 2019)

fine motor skills, language skills, cognitive skills, and social skills. The best way to do this is to seek out traditional and open-ended toys. A traditional toy only entertains you if you play with it actively, which differs from an electronic toy. Think of a wagon full of wooden blocks. It is just a pile of blocks until your imagination (and motor skills) turn it into a rocket ship, or a horse stable, or the Empire State Building, waiting for King Kong to attack. In contrast, an electronic toy can entertain your child without even requiring much physical movement or imagination from them. Although the bells and whistles of electronics toys can be tempting, remember that openended toys that will spark your child’s creativity and imagination. Select toys that can be played with in a multitude of ways in order to nurture creativity. Remember the old refrigerator box that became

a spaceship when you were a kid? That is what you are striving for when purchasing open ended toys!

When shopping for gifts this holiday season, the goal is to select developmentally appropriate, traditional toys that allow for open-ended play. One way to help ensure this is, before purchasing the toy, look at it and ask yourself these questions:

• Can children use this toy in more than one way?

• Can children decide how to play with this toy, or does it play for them?

• Is the toy right for the age of the child?

• Will children of other ages be able to use this toy?

• Can the toy be used with other toys for playing?

TOYS & THE DEVELOPING BRAIN

Toys teach children about the world around them and play is a child’s first classroom. With all the buzz about STEM and coding and jobs of the future, do not forget the most important lessons are learned early in childhood through play. Kids are natural scientists, performing experiments through play. When you knock your block tower over, you learn about gravity. When you try to put a puzzle together, you are learning about visual spatial relationships. These little scientists learn about science, technology, engineering, art, and math all through play. By getting children away from a screen and giving them open ended toys, they will explore the world around them and learn through play.

In addition to prompting cognitive development, toys promote the development of fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, and gross motor skills. After being couped up inside way to long due to the pandemic, everyone’s motor skills could use a little polishing. Depending on the stage of development, toys that require children to push, pull, reach, turn, lift, throw or otherwise use their hands and body can be instrumental in motor development.

Small toys such as dolls, cars, or craft materials can really promote hand-eye coordination. Practicing stringing colorful beads on a string helps with the real-life skill of manipulating buttons and zippers. When children play with toys that involve their whole body (think balls and bicycles), they are promoting physical development, balance, and coordination. Learning how to catch a ball or jump on a pogo stick may look like child’s play, but it is actually a hard-earned physical skill set.

One final word of caution as we head into the holiday season, ‘more is not better.’ While quality toys can greatly contribute to a child’s development, too many choices can be overwhelming. Consider doing a toy clean out and donating items your child no longer plays with to charity. With less clutter around, your children will be better able to enjoy the toys they do have. Children need ‘blank spaces’ in their room; space where they have free room to create and build. If every inch of the floor is covered with toys, your child has too many toys and not enough space for creativity. Think about safety and how a child would use it before you buy it!

Yetman, PhD Clinical Psychologist

Associate Professor Clinical Children’s Center at the School of Allied Health Professions

LSU Health Shreveport

Clinical Instructor

Rehab Faculty Clinic School of Allied Health Professions

LSU Health Shreveport

GREAT TOY CHOICES FOR CHILDREN

You cannot go wrong by choosing toys in the groups listed below (suggestions made by Penn State University):

Exploratory play – toys that help infants and toddlers develop their senses. These include ring stackers, blocks, teething toys, books with multiple textures, balls, mirrors, pop up toys, rattles, etc.

Dramatic play – toys that help children work out their ideas about the world. These include blocks, cars, trucks, planes, boats, dress-up clothes, animals, insects, tool sets, medical kits, doll houses, puppets, play kitchens, props to make a restaurant, store, post office, etc.

Small object play – toys for children (three years of age and older) to use the small muscles in their hands and fingers. Playing with small objects helps children’s learning about math and science. These include construction sets, blocks, plastic blocks that fit together, puzzles, beads that string.

Art play – materials for children to use in ways they choose. These include paints, paper of all sizes and colors, crayons, markers, children’s safety scissors, glue, clay, glitter.

Physical play – helps children use their arm and leg muscles. These toys include bikes and other riding toys, balls, bats, jump ropes, slides, swing sets, things to climb on, or tunnels to crawl through.

Game playing – teaches children about taking turns, following rules, solving problems. These toys include board games, card games, and games you or the children make up.

Michelle

Rebecca Durr Butler, MCD, CCC-SLP

TIPS & TRICKS TO COMBAT

Common Signs of Aging

There are wonderful things that come along with aging such as wisdom, increased financial security and more time to do things you enjoy; but most people could do without the physical signs of aging. When it comes to those heavy eyelids, sagging skin, wrinkles, and age spots we can help! There are plenty of options such as: at home products, in-office procedures and of course, surgery. Here is our guide to help you look the age you feel.

Heavy Eyelids

Heavy eyelids are one of the first signs of facial aging. They can cause you to look tired and aged, even when you are feeling great. My first recommendation is to use a quality medical grade eye cream such as SkinCeuticals’ A.G.E. Eye Complex on your upper and lower eyelids.  This incredible product offers both instant and long-lasting benefits to the eye area including reducing the appearance of crow’s feet, dark circles and puffiness while increasing skin density and elasticity.

My favorite in-office procedure for heavy eyelids is a Botox Brow Lift. This 5-minute procedure can lift your eyebrows and open your eyes, making you look more awake and refreshed. In addition, skin tightening treatments such as Morpheus8 can stimulate new collagen to naturally lift the skin around the eyes.

Vertical Lip Lines

Lines around the mouth happen to everyone, not just smokers. As we get older, we naturally lose volume around our mouth and the distance between our nose and upper lip gets longer. Both factors cause these pesky lines to start slowly setting in and become deeper with time.

There are many treatment options to help with these lines. First, Botox can soften the lines and stop them from getting deeper. Second, fillers such as Juvéderm or Restylane, can also help fill these lines and add volume to the lips and corners of the mouth. I also recommend starting topical Revox Line Relaxer from Revision Skincare around the mouth twice a day.  This product helps reduce wrinkles and expression lines while improving the look of skin elasticity.

WRITTEN BY DR. SKYLAR SOUYOUL,

BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST

Dr. Skylar Souyoul is a board-certified dermatologist who practices in Shreveport, Louisiana with Dr. Lindsey Pennington, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Together this female duo treats all signs of aging from head to toe.  Both are specialized in a full array of services such as non-invasive injections and procedures. In addition, Dr. Pennington offers more in-depth surgical procedures such as rhinoplasty (nose job), blepharoplasty (eyelid lifts), and rhytidectomy (facelifts and neck lifts). All cosmetic consults are complimentary. If you have questions, or would like custom skincare recommendations, please call our office at 318-216-5366, email us at info@penningtonfacialplastics.com, or message us on our Facebook or Instagram @penningtonfacialplastics.

If you have significant upper eyelid skin laxity, the gold standard treatment would be an eyelid lift, also known as a blepharoplasty, with or without a brow lift. Our office is unique because we have both Dr. Souyoul, board certified dermatologist, and Dr. Pennington, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, so we can discuss all the treatment options available with you and help you pick the best treatment.

In-office procedures can also help improve vertical lip lines. My go-to treatment is microneedling with platelet rich plasma (PRP). This procedure helps improve wrinkles and skin texture by stimulating collagen production. If a patient has deep set-in lines, then I occasionally recommend a more aggressive treatment such as laser resurfacing with our Erbium or CO2.

Double Chin & Loose Neck Skin

The neck can be one of the main areas women become most self-conscious of as they age. Fullness and loose skin can cause a loss of definition along the jawline, heaviness, and an overall aged appearance.

The first thing everyone should start using is a quality neck cream. My favorite is Revision Skincare’s Nectifirm ADVANCED which helps to improve skin quality, texture, and firmness. In addition, everyone should be using a daily sunscreen on their neck, along with their face. My go-to is EltaMD Clear SPF 46 since it goes on clear and won’t rub off on your clothes.

In office procedures can be helpful to address some common neck concerns. First, Sculptra can be used on the neck to improve skin quality and treat crepey skin. Sculptra is a biostimulant which stimulates your skin to rebuild its own collagen naturally—the filler itself dissipates a few days

Skin Discoloration & Pigmentation

Uneven skin tone, brown spots, and age spots are all secondary to sun damage. Uneven skin tone and pigment can quickly give the appearance of aging. There are plenty of ways to treat unwanted pigmentation, but it is most important to start with good skincare to prevent future sun damage.

Vitamin C and sunscreen are key components in skincare when it comes to both treating and preventing bothersome discoloration. The sun will worsen any type of dark spot, which is why we recommend a quality sunscreen such as Skinceuticals Physical Fusion or Revision Skincare’s Intellishade. Furthermore, a topical antioxidant in your morning routine can further help protect your skin from sun damage and decrease oxidative stress on the skin.  Our best-selling antioxidant is CE Ferulic by SkinCeuticals. It is a

Hair Thinning

It is a common misconception that only men lose hair as they get older. Unfortunately, women can also suffer from thinning hair. There are many types of hair loss with the most common being androgenetic alopecia, also known as male or female pattern hair loss.

The first treatment I recommend in patients with mild hair loss is the hair supplement Nutrafol. This supplement offers a natural approach to hair loss and is clinically proven to support your hair growth by targeting six key root causes affecting hair health – hormones, stress, lifestyle, metabolism, nutrition, and aging.

Another natural treatment option to add to any hair loss regimen is platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections. PRP consists

after treatment and then your body builds its own natural collagen over the next 6-12 weeks. Usually, two sessions are recommended 6 weeks apart for optimal results. Skin tightening devices, such as Morpheus8 and Exilis Ultra, can also help tighten and improve the quality of the skin on the neck. Both treatments will increase collagen production and results can last up to two years.

Surgery is also an option, but a Surgical Neck Lift is reserved for those patients who have a combination of excess fat and skin that cannot be addressed with non-invasive measures. It can be a life changing procedure improving both confidence and quality of life. I always recommend discussing this option with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, like Dr. Pennington, to determine if it is right for you.

vitamin C serum demonstrated to provide powerful environmental protection with a combination of 15% pure vitamin C, pure vitamin E, and 0.5% ferulic acid.

Medical grade chemical peels can reduce the appearance of age spots and sun damage. In addition, IPL (intense pulse light) laser can treat unwanted brown and red pigmentation. It is best to bring up any pigment concerns with your dermatologist, especially if you have a significant history of sun exposure or tanning bed use so they can do routine skin checks to monitor for signs of skin cancer.

of both plasma and platelets which play an important role in healing throughout the body. Platelets specifically contain growth factors that can trigger cell reproduction and stimulate tissue regeneration. During this procedure we draw your own blood, spin it down to get a serum containing a high concentration of platelets, then we inject this serum into your scalp where we would like to stimulate hair growth.

There are also over the counter topical treatments available such as Rogaine, and oral prescriptions like Propecia and minoxidil. If you are suffering from hair thinning, I recommend you consult a dermatologist to diagnose the root cause and discuss which treatment options are best for you.

A

xcitement spread across the face of my daughter-in-law as she opened the present and saw the books! She smelled them and hugged them for they meant that she was getting to go on an incredible journey soon and I knew exactly what she was feeling because that is the way I feel in the presence of books. My husband looked at both of us like we were crazy! He said, y’all remind me of this girl who I went to school with who was so excited the day the teacher announced we were going to learn cursive writing and multiplication. He said, I was thinking here I am stuck in the minimal correction facility every day

instead of getting to be outside hunting and fishing and she’s excited? The difference is the joy of learning!

Learning to learn and enjoying learning is an incredible gift which I know from personal experience because it is a gift that I get to see unwrapped every day! The process of learning starts in the womb as the brain forms synaptic connections and patterns that begin to fire together and wire together making connections that will last a lifetime. A child can tell its mother’s voice at birth because it is a familiar pattern and cadence. “Talking, reading, and playing a variety of music can help stimulate baby’s senses and improve brain development while in the womb”, according to Dr.

Michael Roizen. “Exposure to different sounds and scenes is essentially what helps establish connections from one set of neurons—the nerve cells of the brain—to another. This is how we all learn.” One study even found that saying a fake word over and over in late pregnancy boosted the child’s ability to discern that same word after birth. They could discern this by neural signals emitted by the babies that showed they recognized the pitch and vowel changes in the fake word. The babies who heard the recording most frequently displayed the strongest response, suggesting that infant language learning begins in utero. So exactly when should you start reading to your baby in the womb? At about six months along, a baby is already quite familiar with the sounds of the womb, from the mother’s heartbeat to digestive sounds. From outside the womb, sounds are extremely clear, although about 10 decibels lower. This is just the beginning of the gift of reading and loving to learn.

When should you stop reading to your child? NEVER! Many parents assume that once the child begins to learn to read that they should stop reading to them and this is a myth! Reading aloud is one of the most powerful ways to pattern reading and the way that readers solve issues in reading. I encourage all parents to read chapter books above the children's reading levels as this introduces new vocabulary as well as word attack skills, enunciation, characterization, interactions with the texts and so much more.

The journey to reading must be approached in a scientific way to make sure the brain has the necessary skills to implement the reading process. After all, reading doesn’t start in the classroom, it starts in the brain. Many cognitive skills are required for the process of reading including but not limited to auditory processing skills, memory, and processing speed. Addressing all of the core cognitive skills starts with knowing which skills are weak and which skills are strong. Let's examine just one word in this process:cat. The brain must recognize the letters visually, connect them to sounds, they make when combined in that particular code, blend those sounds then access the stored file of memory linked

to that word to connect the sound/code/word to derive meaning. All of this happens in nanoseconds when the brain has automatized the process of reading but takes time when the learner is still new to the process. Each letter is associated with multiple sounds when combined in different combinations. Even though we only have 26 letters, the English language has over 44 sound combinations in our linguistic system not including the words we have incorporated from other languages. This makes the challenge of reading the greatest feat a child accomplishes in their young years. Did you know reading requires more brain power than walking and requires a lot more training? Most people are unaware of this and assume that this is something the school just teaches and the kids pick it up naturally but the process of language encoding and decoding is not a natural process like speech. Even with speech we spend time training our kids to enunciate and correct their sounds or we would all walk around calling water by a different name like wawa!

If a child struggles with vision, we take them to an optometrist and get them glasses or other assistance. The same can be said for hearing and audiologists, illnesses and pediatricians or specialists and dentists and teeth. So why then are we so prone to ignore the brain and understanding the strengths and weaknesses, going to a cognitive specialist for a quick checkup and diagnostic then getting assistance to help ourselves be as efficient at learning and reading as one can be? Is it time you had a brain checkup for your child's learning abilities? Why should a child struggle to learn to read when identifying the weak skills in the brain and addressing them early on could set them up for success in he classroom? Give the gift of reading and learning for a lifetime!

WRITTEN BY DONESA WALKER, M.ED. BCCS, LEARNINGRX SHREVEPORT

SLEEP... ESSENTIAL to your Health

Do you need a good night’s sleep? Are you sleeping well at night? Do you or your partner snore? Do you wake up feeling sleepy or sluggish? Do you need to have a sleep study? Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea and don’t like the CPAP?

Dr. Paige Volentine

WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU:

Ruston: 1605 North Trenton Street

Monroe: 1100 North 18th Street, Suite 10

FACTS:

• Obstructive sleep apnea affects roughly 20% of the US population and of that 80 to 90% are undiagnosed.

• Obstructive sleep apnea can cause daytime sleepiness and fatigue but can also increase the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes.

• An estimated 50% of sleep apnea patients cannot tolerate their CPAP.

• Give Trenton Sleep Solution a call today at (318) 265.4972 to set up your consultation or visit us on the web at www.trentonsleepsolutions.com

and her expert team at TRENTON SLEEP SOLUTIONS can help you get HEALTHIER SLEEP for a HEALTHIER LIFE!

Holiday Hacks

Each year the excitement of the holidays creeps in and planning begins. In our holiday dreams the season is filled with tons of merriment and not a bit of holiday stress, but then reality sets in and it can become overwhelming. Whether you’ve got holiday parties to attend, a gift list to check off, menus to plan, or trees to decorate – it can snowball before you even had your first cup of Christmas coco. This year let us help you stay on top of your holiday game with these holiday hacks helping you save time, money, and your sanity!

Decorating Hacks

• Hang Christmas decor with Command Hooks to avoid unsightly nail holes. For a quick and amazing holiday feel, try using ribbon to hang small wreaths on your kitchen cabinets.

• Use evergreen pipe cleaners to hang garland or heavy ornaments on your tree. They can also be purposed as inexpensive napkin holders and as festive details for gift wrapping. The possibilities are endless!

• Add some Christmas morning magic with Santa’s boot print. By simply mixing baking soda and glitter, you have an instant recipe for Santa boot prints. Lightly mist a boot with water, stamp the boot in to coat the bottom with baking soda and stamp the boot prints coming from the fireplace. Voila, more Christmas morning magic for the little ones.

Save on expensive fragrances by simmering a bag of your favorite smelling tea, spices, fruits, and extracts. One of our favorites is a delightful little William & Sonoma secret. Simmer water, lemons, rosemary, and a dash of vanilla to make your entire house smell of an inviting and fresh warmth.

Don’t forget to add more water as needed! Don’t let your water get below a cup on the stove. You don’t want to burn your pot. Keep on low simmer and double your ingredients if you want a stronger scent.

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Christmas Tree Decorating Hacks

• Fluffing up the branches makes a huge difference in how your finished tree looks, but it is the least exciting step and can scratch up your hands up. Make the tree fluffing a little less excruciating by wearing cotton gloves or even dishwashing gloves to protect your hands.

• Use picks to add color, variety, and texture to your Christmas tree. There are endless options available, from berries and branches to Santa hats and elf stockings.

• Hang ball ornaments deep inside the branches of your tree to fill gaps and hide bare spots. Hang ornaments throughout your tree, not just at the edges. As you are adding the Christmas balls to the tree, don’t just hang them on the very tips of the branches. Hanging ornaments further inside the branches really helps add fullness and dimension to your tree.

• Wrap shiny green tinsel deep inside of the branches to make your Christmas tree look fuller.

• For every foot of Christmas tree height, you will need…

Lights

Feet of Garland

Ornaments

Storage Hacks

• Keep Christmas lights wrapped around a clothes hanger to prevent them from tangling.

• Store rolls of wrapping paper in a dollar-store shoe hanger. Cut the bottoms off hanging shoe organizer pockets to store rolls and use other pockets for tape, ribbon, and tissue paper. Game changer!

• Store small, fragile ornaments in an egg carton to prevent them from breaking.

• Keep your Christmas cards on book rings or ribbon to revisit each year as mini photo albums of friends and family.

Holiday Cooking and Hosting Hacks

-Use a Cookie Cutter to Control your Sprinkle Placement!

Simply place the cookie cutter over your cookies before baking to filter the sprinkles to land on the cookie and not everywhere else! This keeps the sprinkle mess to a minimum and makes for beautifully decorated cookies.

-Spatchcock (or butterfly) your turkey so it cooks faster.

Spatchcocking is a culinary term that means splitting open and grilling (aka butterflying). Consider it instead of occupying your oven for a 20-pound turkey. The average turkey can take four to six hours to cook versus 90 minutes cooking using this simple hack.

-Skip baking homemade bread and make compound butter to boost flavor instead.

Homemade bread is hard to beat, but if you want to bring the flavors without the hassle of making bread, wow your guest with store baked bread and compound butter. Prep it a few days ahead by chopping your herbs or dried fruit. Mix whatever ingredients you want along with softened butter in a food processor and refrigerate in plastic wrap formed into logs. Simply let soften at room temperature before serving with warm bread. Use your imagination or try some of our favorite combinations.

• Cranberry cinnamon butter

• Orange honey butter

• Garlic herb butter

• Jalapeno lime butter

-Make your holiday drinks festive with cranberry and mint ice cubes!

These are easy to put together and they look great in a glass. Drop a few cranberries and a sprig of mint into filled ice tray and freeze. The best part is that you can make them ahead of time so there’s no last-minute prep work when guests arrive.

-Host a candy making and cookie baking event.

Everyone loves to get a little creative

around the holidays, so instead of taking it all on yourself, invite some friends to help and send home some goodies with your guests.

-Make your holiday gathering a BYOT.

If you have hosted a holiday meal for family and friends, you know how there are always a ton of leftovers. When hosting a large holiday feast, ask guests to bring their own Tupperware so you can share the goods and not be left with zero space in your own refrigerator.

Before you rush out and buy a new dress for that holiday party, think about these simple holiday fashion hacks. Here are a few fast and inexpensive ways to instantly update your wardrobe and still get the party vibe going.

-Transform your LBD.

Since this is the dress that many of us turn to for just about every occasion, it can get predictable, but there are ways to change up the iconic classic. Accessories are the obvious choice: a faux-fur shrug, a statement necklace or pendant, a chunky cuff bracelet, a fabulous pair of heels or a distinctive jeweled clutch. Make those the focus of your festive fashion and your beloved LBD will keep making a statement time after time.

-Get a leg up with leggings.

Everyone loves leggings, but if you feel like just keeping those yoga pants on and sprinting over to the neighbor’s holiday party, check yourself. Invest in a more sophisticated option of leggings in a faux leather or velvet that can party with the best of them and still keep you comfy.

- Dress up your favorite basics.

We all have those staples in our wardrobe we just keep going back too. Don’t give up on your most loved pieces. They can easily be given some festive flair with a little thought. Team up your favorite black pants you wear to the office with a velvet blazer, and you are ready to go from work to a holiday happy hour. Make a statement with little effort by pairing your favorite jean jacket with a comfy t-shirt and sparkly sequin skirt. Satiny pajama pants? Yes, you can! Just add an offthe-shoulder cashmere sweater top and you are ready to celebrate the season in style.

-Wrap up and roll out with a statement scarf.

This is an easy way to go from blah to bam for any event. There are limitless options of gorgeous scarves available this season. Wrap up in colorful cashmere, bold checks, or shiny metallic to add instant glamour to your holiday style.

-Dare to go bare by ditching your blouse.

Now, we are clearly not suggesting going topless, but depending on the cut of a jacket, you can show a little skin and fill in your neckline with a trendy collar necklace. You could also opt for a sheer or lace blouse that covers up all the appropriate places.

-Borrow from his closet.

The tuxedo jacket is a hot new trend that is both festive

Holiday Fashion Hacks

and classic. If your guy’s isn’t the right fit, scope out vintage shops for a one-of-a-kind dinner jacket or tux that you can adapt to your own eveningwear wardrobe. Pair it with a feminine chiffon skirt and you just nailed the hottest holiday look of the season.

-Layer, Layer, Layer.

If you haven’t tried the “short over long” look yet, this holiday season is the time to experiment. A vest is a perfect place to start. Wear a short furry vest over a long tunic and leggings, or the opposite with a long vest over a turtleneck and short skirt.

-Mix and don’t match with different prints. This look may be the most fun but is also one of the hardest to put together. Different prints is a big trend in fashion, so look at the clothes in your closet with new eyes. Pull out that printed floral top you love and see what else you can wear with it. Chances are you have prints that are in the same color family. You might be surprised at what pieces will work together for a fresh new unexpected outfit.

Gift Wrapping

Just as you are ready to kick back with a glass of eggnog and toast to being done with holiday shopping, you realize, you still have dozens of gifts to wrap. While gift-wrapping can be a fun way to indulge your creative side, let’s be real, it often winds up feeling like just another task to check off your list. This holiday season, dial down last-minute wrapping stress with these stylish wrapping hacks.

- Color coordinate your holiday.

Instead of using multiple papers, and tags, for each gift recipient, simplify the process by picking one paper for each person. If you want to stay with the uniformed wrapping paper look, choose a different color jazz up your package with bright festive ribbon.

While bags are convenient for hard-to-wrap items, they are not nearly as fun to open as wrapped presents. For large or awkwardly shaped gifts that don’t wrap well with traditional paper, get creative. You may find it easier to use flexible wrapping such cellophane, plastic tablecloths, or even fabric. These materials mold around the gift much easier than paper and will still look fantastic.

-Save the bells and whistles for special

No one can deny that gifts look more enticing with bows and ribbon, but when pressed for time, focus those special touches on special presents. When it comes to late night speed wrapping sessions, it is okay to forgo the bows and ribbons, especially for kids who are just going to tear through them. Putting a lovely bow or ornament on extra-special gifts is great, but when down to the wire, skip ribbons for the socks and have a glass of eggnog instead.

Use What You DO Know!

medications, and wardrobe changes for spring, summer, fall and winter. We wrap our children in puffy, warm, zip-lock wrap clothing like little stuffed turkeys in hopes of keeping out all germs and cold weather. We prepare for mental health battles, holiday depression, work-life stress,

WRITTEN BY FELECIA WILLIAMS, OWNER OF MY SPA MY WAY

In this time of Covid, Flu, and many other diseases we are constantly being told to strengthen our immune system. We take vitamins, supplements, shakes, and shots to help fight off diseases and germs that can cripple our immune system and even result in death. Eating healthy foods, exercising, and drinking plenty water, all give us a better chance of survival and longer life.

Why do we work at doing nothing until we are almost broken and in pieces when it comes to our mental and emotional health? Our mental foundation can only be as strong as the support and the work put toward the support beams used to strengthen our foundation.

When the seasons and the weather changes, especially here in our part of the country, we suit up with allergy shots,

relationship struggles, and family challenges by saying, I am sad, lying in bed underneath the covers, and eating pints of ice cream……. who am I kidding cartons of ice cream and any sweet, fried, or salty foods we believe will give us a moment of relief.

When our physician tells us to make changes due to diabetes, cholesterol, or the stress in our life which create health concerns or other physical health scares, we’re quick to hit the gym, drink water, change our diet, and even sucker our friends and family into joining a gym with us, but then we eventually stop going after the first 30 days. How could I forget the workout equipment, which is only an, investment that motivates us for 90 days, but then becomes the most expensive piece of furniture in our home, used more as a clothing rack, pet rest, or kid’s toy? Just as you begin to fight physical health scares, let’s also get ahead of our mental and emotional battles. Begin to treat your mental health as a part of your immune system and begin to strategize to build healthy longevity.

Steps To Get Started

 Acknowledge your feelings.

Value yourself. Check in with yourself and ask how are you feeling. Upset, anxious, sad, and especially acknowledge your accomplishments when happy, excited or simply allow yourself to be proud of achieving your goals.

 Practice being selfcompassionate.

Practice talking to yourself and not in a critical way, but in the way that you would talk to someone whom you really care about when they are facing a problem. The goal is to quiet your inner critic and be kind and gentle with yourself, the way you would a friend

 Assess your challenge.

Faced with a challenge? Take a deep breath and ask yourself if this is a true catastrophe or if it is an inconvenience. An inconvenience can be approached by using problemsolving skills.

 Take small steps toward what you want to avoid.

When you’re anxious or depressed, you tend to avoid things you don’t want to do. Don’t procrastinate during this step. Get started by taking time to identify, analyze and begin to build bridges over those stumbling blocks you need to avoid.

 Work on mindfulness and quiet your mind.

During those moments when you’re stressed or feeling anxious, it’s a good idea to remember and practice mindfulness. Give yourself the space to breathe and think about your reactions. Try box breathing or a one-minute meditation to stay in the moment. I know, you are saying, what is box breathing? Box breathing is a form of yogic deep breathing employed by the United States Navy SEALs and by stressed-out people everywhere. It’s also known as sama means “equal” and vritti means “mental fluctuations” pranayama, born of the yogic practice of pranayama, or focusing on the breath. Its common name, “box breathing,” refers to the fact that a box has four sides, a concept represented here by breathing while you slowly count to four for a total of four times — four counts of

breathing in, four counts of holding your breath, four counts of exhaling and four more counts of holding after you exhale.

 Externalize how you feel. If something is bothering you, don’t keep your feelings bottled up. Work on vocalizing those feelings through assertive communication. Whether that’s through journaling, therapy or talking to your best friend, the practice of naming your feelings and communicating them effectively, as well as having a supportive and empowering social circle, is really important.

 Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

All those things you can do to lead a healthy life — exercise, a well-balanced diet and sleep— can also help when it comes to your emotional resilience. Having a healthy mental and emotional resiliency without having a proper sleep schedule is quite difficult. Limiting your social media and television prior to bed is key to a successful night sleep.

 Surround yourself with good people.

People with strong family or social connections are generally healthier than those who lack a support network. Make plans with supportive family members and friends, or seek out activities where you can meet new people, such as a club, class or support group.

 Set realistic goals.

Decide what you want to achieve academically, professionally and personally. Write these down to create a pathway to your goals. Aim high, but be realistic. Be sure not to over-schedule. You’ll enjoy a tremendous sense of accomplishment and self-worth as you progress toward your goal.

 GET HELP WHEN NEEDED!

This is not a sign of weakness but of strength that simply acknowledges, “I need help to feel better”. It is important to remember that treatment is effective. People who get appropriate care can recover from mental illness and addiction and lead full, rewarding lives. Ask me. I know how all these steps have changed and saved my life.

Opening Night Preview Party Holidays After Hours

Thursday, November 10th

Tinsel and Tailgate Santa's Cookie Crew

Friday, November 11th

Saturday, November 12th

9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Professional Portraits with Santa Cookies and personal letters to Santa Tickets $10 Available @ holidaysincedartown.com

WRITTEN BY DR. KAREN PENDLETON

Considered to be one of the most ancient and remarkably nutritional substances on the planet, bone broth is a beneficial “elixir” made from simmering animal bones until they turn into nutrient-rich “liquid gold”.

Remember…Bone broth can never substitute a rich and balanced diet.

The History of Bone Broth

V arious cultures around the world have been making bone broth for thousands of years now.

More than 2,500 years ago, in Chinese medicine, the bone broth was used to strengthen the kidneys and support digestive health. It subsequently became a staple of traditional Asian meals, and nowadays it is frequently used as the base for various Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese soups. (My favorite is the signature soup of Vietnam - Pho).

In ancient Greece, the father of medicine Hippocrates was also recommending it for cleansing and digestive issues.

A South American proverb which holds that “a good broth can resurrect the dead” also explains the rich bone broth history.

General Information on Bone Broth

B one broth has been around forever but has really had a resurgence in the past five or so years because it complements many of the current diet trends, such as Paleo and Keto; and the lifestyle of Intermittent Fasting.

Not only does bone broth taste great and provide numerous nutrients and beneficial compounds, but it’s versatile and easy to use in many recipes.

Bone broth isn’t just broth. And it isn’t just soup. It’s concentrated healing.

Yet the vast majority of the general public passes up the opportunity to boost its health with bone broth, often unaware of how incredibly good it is for you. Instead, if any broth is consumed, it’s often the store-bought, processed, sodium-filled, nutritionally-bankrupt version.

Importance of Amino Acids in the Diet

A mino acids are molecules used by all living things to make proteins. Your body needs 20 different amino acids to function correctly. Nine of these amino acids are called essential amino acids. Essential amino acids must be consumed through the food you eat. Essential amino acids can be found in a variety of foods, including bone broth, beef, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy (not my favorite).

Out of the 20 amino acids, your body produces the 11 amino acids you need. These are called nonessential amino acids. The nonessential amino acids are alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine and tyrosine.

Some nonessential amino acids are classified as ‘conditional’. This means they’re only considered essential when you’re ill or stressed. Conditional amino acids include arginine, cysteine, glutamine, tyrosine, glycine, ornithine, proline and serine. The 9 essential amino acids are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine.

Amino acids are involved in many important roles in your body, and they include: ◆ Break down food (digestion) ◆

Grow and repair body tissue ◆

Make hormones and brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) ◆ Provide an energy source ◆ Maintain healthy skin, hair and nails ◆ Build muscle ◆ Boost your immune system

Importance of Collagen in the Diet

C ollagen is a protein and is the most abundant protein in the body. It accounts for about one-third of the body’s protein composition, thus providing structure and support.

As a protein, collagen is one of the major building blocks of skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bones. In addition, it is also found in many other body parts, including eyes, teeth, gut and blood vessels. Depending upon the degree of mineralization, collagen tissues may be rigid (bone) or compliant (tendon) or have a gradient from rigid to compliant (cartilage).

Review my August 2021 LOLA Magazine article on collagen: readlola. com/2021/08/collagen-101

Importance of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) in the Diet

H yaluronic acid is a gooey, slippery substance that your body produces naturally. It is found throughout the body, especially in eyes, joints and skin. Hyaluronic acid is a remarkable substance because of all the benefits and uses it has in your body, such as helping things move smoothly (think joints), keeping things hydrated (think great water retainer), and making your skin flexible (think beautiful wrinkleless skin).

Importance of Chondroitin Sulfate in the Diet

C hondroitin sulfate is a compound present naturally in the body as an essential part of hyaline cartilage, a tissue that cushions your joints. People commonly use it to help combat the symptoms of Osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disease in which

the cartilage at the ends of your bones wears down, causing pain and increasing the risk of fracture.

Importance of

Glucosamine

in the Diet

G lucosamine is a compound that occurs naturally in your body, and it’s classified as an amino sugar. Glucosamine is primarily recognized for its role in developing and maintaining the cartilage within your joints. Thus, it is frequently used in conjunction with chondroitin sulfate, to treat and prevent joint disorders like Osteoarthritis (OA).

Importance of Gelatin in the Diet

G elatin is a protein product derived from collagen. It has important health benefits due to its unique combination of amino acids. Gelatin has been shown to play a role in joint health and brain function and may improve the appearance of skin and hair.

Importance of Protein in the Diet

Y our body needs protein to stay healthy and work the way it should. Protein has so many important functions and here are a few:

1. Reduces appetite and hunger levels, including cravings and desire for late-night snacking

2. Boosts metabolism and increases fat burning, thus helps maintain weight loss

3. Increases muscle mass and strength, and is good for your bones

4. Aids your body repair itself after injury

5. Helps you stay fit as you age

6. Lowers your blood pressure

7. Does not harm healthy kidneys

8. Helps make antibodies that fight off infections

M ineral salts are responsible for structural functions involving the skeleton and soft tissues, and for regulatory functions including neuromuscular transmission, blood clotting, oxygen transport, and enzymatic activity. Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are required in relatively large amounts and are designated as macrominerals.

Minerals needed in smaller amounts are called trace / micro minerals, and they include iron, zinc, fluoride, selenium, copper, chromium, iodine, manganese, and molybdenum.

With the knowledge of the valuable nutritional components of bone broth, here are the Major Benefits of Bone Broth:

Aids in Metabolism (Energy), and thus Promotes Anabolism (Muscle Building)

B one broth contains many important nutrients, some of which are known to have incredible health benefits.

However, the research on bone broth itself is still emerging.

What is known for sure is that bone broth is highly nutritious, and by adding it to your diet may provide a whole host of health benefits.

If I can be of any further service either in Shreveport (pairO’docs BioRejuvenis) 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

DR. KAREN’S CHICKEN BONE BROTH

INGREDIENTS

The listed ingredients are the starting point. Other vegetables can be added per one’s taste. Seasoning is also variable. Salt to taste. Consider star of anise and Thai chili peppers for unique flavorings.

Beet greens raw 3 Cup(s) Dandelion greens raw 8 oz Parsley 12 sprigs Extra virgin olive oil 3 Tbsp Drinking water 16 Cup(s) Carrots 3 large Vinegar apple cider unfiltered organic by spectrum ½ Cup(s) Tumeric root 4 grams (0 oz)

Chop one onion

Divide the turnip, rutabaga and jicama into quarters

Spilt the celery and carrots into sticks

In a large stock pot with lid, add the oil and bring to high heat. When hot (check by spraying water into the oil), add the chopped onion. Caramelize for 3-5 minutes (until clear)

Add the garlic and cook for one minute

Add the chicken thighs

Add 3 cups of water

Add apple cider vinegar

Keep covered and on high heat for ten minutes

Add vegetables and keep covered and on high heat for ten minutes

DISCLAIMER: All of the information found in this article is based on the opinion of the author Karen M. Pendleton, M.D. The information is meant to motivate readers to make their own health decisions after consulting with their own health care providers. All readers should consult a doctor before making a health change, especially those that are related to a specific diagnosis or health condition. No information in this article should be relied on in determining a diet, making a medical diagnosis, or determining a treatment for a medical condition. The information in this article is not intended to replace a relationship with a qualified healthcare practitioner and is not intended as medical advice. No information in this article should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.

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Delivering our best for all stages of womanhood.

From annual well woman exams to pregnancy and delivery, we have the most specialized care in the region.

The Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – St. Mary Medical Center campus is fully equipped to meet and exceed the healthcare needs of women and babies, from family planning to postpartum and every moment in-between.

We have more than 20 OB/GYN physicians and advanced practice providers dedicated to the patients of North Louisiana.

From your first gynecology exam to your first mammogram and through menopause care, our physicians are here to provide cutting-edge, compassionate care to daughters, mothers and grandmothers alike.

Locations

We offer a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a Level II Nursery with expert providers to care for newborns.

Quick and convenient appointment scheduling through MyOchsner.

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – Women’s Health Center

1801 Fairfield Avenue, Suite 106 Shreveport, LA 71101 318-626-0469

Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – St. Mary Medical Center 911 Margaret Place Shreveport, LA 71101 318-626-4300

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – Center for Perinatal Medicine

1801 Fairfield Avenue, Suite 307 Shreveport, LA 71101 318-626-0388

Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - OB/GYN Specialists

One St. Mary Place, Suite 160 Shreveport, LA 71101 318-626-2800

Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Call 318-626-0050 to schedule an appointment at any of our locations, or learn more at ochsnerlsuhs.org

GIVE THE GIFT OF READING

Did you have a favorite book as a child? Maybe it was a bedtime story that gave you the sweetest of dreams or a comfort book that you have positive memories tied to. The reality is, not all children are read bedtime stories, have the opportunity to get lost in a good book, or have access to books in their homes at all. While this may not seem like a necessity, it has become an issue that not only affects our youth but will have lasting effects on our community.

Illiteracy has become the root of many of our societal problems, including poverty and crime, as 50 percent of children in Northwest Louisiana enter kindergarten unprepared and become one in every five adults that cannot read. Success in life begins with quality education. And yet, millions of children lack the support they need to strengthen their literacy, making it more likely for them to have low achievement throughout their school experience, struggle with low self-esteem, have an increase in school discipline and low attendance, and increase their chances of dropping out of school and starting a career.

Our region is home to three of the poorest zip codes in the state: 71103, 71108, and 71109. The children living in these impoverished regions are a part of families whom we call ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed).

ALICE represents the growing number of individuals and families who work hard but are still unable to afford their essential needs. The children of ALICE are especially affected when it comes to the lack of books in their homes because books are often viewed as a luxury when many other family necessities are going unmet.

We believe it makes economic sense to invest in our children while they are young so they can have the social and developmental tools necessary for school and life. With the support of our community, we have made strides to close the gaps between children and access to books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. United Way enables the Imagination Library to mail out a new, age-appropriate book each month to children’s homes at zero cost to the children’s families. Children can be enrolled in the

program at birth and own a library of up to 60 books by the time they enter kindergarten.

Studies have shown that children enrolled in the Imagination Library score 15% higher on average than their peers on reading tests. When children are introduced to reading at a young age, they can better understand the grade-level text; they can make sense of what they see, hear, and read; they can improve their cognitive and vocabulary development; and they have an increased chance of graduating high school.

Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders, which is why we want to give every child a chance at a brighter future. However, while United Way of Northwest Louisiana is the largest provider of the Imagination Library in the state, every day, we must deny children from our most underserved areas enrollment into the program due to funding.

Today we are asking you to support the expansion of the Imagination Library locally by joining the United Way Book Club. Through your gift as a Book Club member, you will place books in the hands and homes of 3,053 children that reside in three of our poorest zip codes. A contribution of as little as $50 has the power to sponsor a child in the program for one year. Will you help us achieve our vision of ensuring there are books in every child’s home in our region?

“I absolutely love this program and encourage everyone to sign up for it.

My son is developing a love for reading because of this program, and even though he cannot read (yet!), he loves to show off his book, sit somewhere alone with his book, and open his book and turn to each page while pointing at the print and saying proudly, ‘read a book!’.”

~Chelsea Truong, parent

You can be a part of the United Way Book Club today by giving at one of the levels listed below before December 31, 2022. New Book Club members will receive a limited-edition bookmark, and those that give $50 or more before November 30 will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an autographed copy of Dolly Parton’s book,  Coat of Many Colors. We will draw for the winning name on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

› Book Worms ($250 or less)

› Page Turners ($251 - $499)

› Storytellers ($500 - $999)

› Novelists ($1,000 - $4,999)

› Sponsors ($5,000 - $50,000) *see details on next page

SPONSOR LEVELS

To view the full list of sponsorship benefits, please visit unitedwaynwla. org/united-way-book-club

Please contact Tori Thomas at tori@unitedwaynwla.org with questions.

› PATRONS ($5,000 - $9,999) - SPONSORS 100 CHILDREN FOR 12 MONTHS

Includes VIP tickets and premier spots to Celebration of Impact and Day of Caring, a shared digital billboard, and more.

› SCHOLARS ($10,000 - $24,999) - SPONSORS 200 CHILDREN FOR 12 MONTHS

Includes VIP tickets and premier spots to Celebration of Impact and Day of Caring, a digital billboard featuring company logo, a large logo featured in United Way Annual Report as DPIL sponsors, and more.

› CURATORS ($25,000 - $49,999) - SPONSORS 500 CHILDREN FOR 12 MONTHS

Includes a digital billboard featuring company logo and personalized message, the opportunity for company employee(s) to be filmed reading 3 books to be shared via social media, website, and e-newsletter for promotion, a featured message in 3 DPIL monthly e-newsletters sent to all participating families in the program, and more.

› THE LIBRARIAN – TITLE SPONSOR ($50,000) - SPONSORS 1,000 CHILDREN FOR 12 MONTHS

Includes a featured article in United Way Annual Report, a featured message in 3 DPIL monthly e-newsletters sent to all participating families in the program, a personalized video to be shared on social media, and more.

Please consider giving the gift of books this holiday season and give today by visiting unitedwaynwla.org/united-way-book-club.

On behalf of the children you have helped prepare for kindergarten and beyond, THANK YOU for your compassion, generosity, and for truly making a difference in the lives of our youth. We believe that a community filled with books is a community filled with opportunity and possibilities.

Teacher Gifts… they’ll actually want!

It’s the season to give gifts to those we appreciate, and teachers are, of course, at the top of that list! There’s no better way to express your gratitude than by giving them a meaningful gift. Mugs, trinkets, candles, lotions — these all seem like great teacher Christmas gift ideas…but teachers already have too many of these things from countless students offering them the same presents, period after period and year after year. While mugs and teacherthemed decor may seem like the perfect items to surprise an educator with, chances are that the teacher in your life has already received those gifts countless times before.

The teachers in your life deserve appreciation and gratitude for all that they do. Now is the perfect time to show it to them using these Christmas gift ideas for teachers!

CLASSROOM SUPPLIES

Though you might think teachers want gifts that don’t remind them of their school day, they do appreciate getting classroom supplies. Personalized stationery, writing utensils, fun stamps, and personalized tote bags are great gifts they will actually use.

Stamps

www.simplystamps.com

Allocate less time for grading and more time for teaching. Simply Stamps has so many cute options. The “No Name No Fame Owl” helps mark assignments in little to no time. The ‘Whale Done!’ grading stamp leaves a seamless impression students will love seeing on their assignments.

Personalized Dry Erase Erasers

www.etsy.com/shop/CherryTreeLaneDesign

These dry erase board erasers are super cute and a gift they will use over and over throughout their school days.

Personalized Stat ionery www.shutterfly.com/personalized-gifts

Shutterfly has a large selection of adorable, personalized notepads and stationery. It only takes a minute to personalize, and they often have codes for free shipping and discounts.

Jean Day T-Shirts

www.etsy.com/shop/OrderUpApparel

This It’s a Good Day to Read Shirt is the perfect gift for teachers! Every shirt is made with the highest quality materials and feels super soft and cozy to wear for their sacred dress down days.

A LITTLE LUXURY

as teachers appreciate gifts that help them in their classroom, they also appreciate something special to help them wind down and have a little time to themselves. Try skipping the department store Santa mugs and gift them the good stuff, because they deserve a something special.

Just

www.williams-sonoma.com

Gourmet Hot Chocolate

Inspired by the velvety hot chocolate served at the renowned Angelina café in Paris, this hot chocolate is produced from shavings of premium chocolate rather than cocoa powder for a rich, intensely chocolaty flavor, smooth texture, and exquisite aroma. It is created with bittersweet chocolate from Guittard that melts quickly and consistently in hot milk. The result is a world-class beverage with a perfectly balanced chocolate flavor. Even if they have gotten Christmas mugs with powdered hot coco in the past, this Williams Sonoma hot chocolate is luxury in a cup.

Winter Village Candy Bento B ox

www.sugarfina.com

Tis the season for something sweet! Sugarfina is all the rage, and certainly not your ordinary candy. Give your teachers an experience by unwrapping the magic with these divine treats and make their holidays a little sweeter.

B o ok No ok Reading Valet

www.uncommongoods.com

A reading time shrine that holds a book (and their stopping place), reading glasses, beverage, and their phone all on one beautiful yet functional valet.

GIFT CARDS

You just cannot go wrong with gift cards. Amazon gift cards are a great option, but if you want to do something a little more personal for your teachers gift them a day at a local spa for a massage or a pedicure. They will more than appreciate a little time to take care of themselves.

Personalized Jewelry C

www.markandgraham.com

Mark and Graham travel collections are on everyone’s shopping list this season. Wow your teachers with this stunning travel jewelry case, perfect for organizing jewelry at home or away. Just the right size, this square zippered case is their most popular gift with textured vegan leather and a soft linen lining.

Interior Design for Real Life on a Real Life Budget

Our lives and our world have completely changed over the past few years-with the design and construction industry being no exception. Design and décor have been evolving quickly over the past 3-5 years due to technology, our fast-paced lives, and the economy in general. AND I’M HERE FOR IT.

As we learned in 2020, mental health is as important as physical health, and guess what makes a huge impact on your sanity? YOUR HOME! If you don’t believe me, do a little google search or let your house become a pig stie for a week and see how good you feel. Spoiler alert: you’ll feel like crap.

After working in the residential design industry in Shreveport, and then the commercial design and construction industry in New Orleans, I felt like there

WRITTEN BY REBECCA HAYS OF HOUSE OF HAYS

was a huge market being overlooked, I realized the everyday person needed my services the most! So, after making the impulsive decision to quit my corporate job and start my own business, I decided I would make my company, House of Hays, an accessible company. Accessible to those that don’t have thousands to spend on one rug, or who can’t afford a complete remodel at one time because guess what? They’ve got kids! And we all know how expensive those little angels can be. They’re the ones that have student loan debt (still holding out on that loan forgiveness BTW ;), they are just starting their careers, and the list goes on. I also wanted to make sure I was working for my clients and not my portfolio. Yeah- if you go check out my social media pages you will see a wide range of projects-because everyone needs and wants something different and that’s what I’m going to give them.

And to be honest, I’m by no means some design prodigy that is reinventing the wheel. I’m just a girl who hustled her way into the design industry with a dream to be her own boss, solve problems, and use my eye to create a space where people want to live and THRIVE in. Everyone deserves that. Am I right or am I right?

I also wanted to COLLABORATE with other businesses in the industry. Why don’t we work together to make people happy, create work we are proud of and ultimately be more successful? I realized quickly that other businesses are very hesitant to let you in. They want to

continue to do things the same way they always have. And they can do that… but they are going to get left behind because the world as we know it (design and construction industry included) is evolving. And we’re all going to need each other.

projects from ideas to reality. Barger, originally from New Orleans moved to the Northshore and decided working for someone else wasn’t going to cut it. (See a trend here?) With grit and determination, he’s been able to establish a successful contracting company with a list of references a mile long. Not only does he do excellent work, but if you ask any of our past, current, or future clients, they will all tell you the same thing- “He’s so easy to work with”. Which is why I like working with his company. Have you ever tried to find a contractor without an ego? It's like finding a needle in a haystack. So, whenever I met Barger, I knew it would be a good fit. And we’ve been knocking out projects ever since.

BUT enough about me and my business (which is also my baby). On to the “story”.

I was lucky enough to find a business that DID want to collaborate with and teamed up with Brent Barger owner of Barger Home Improvement, to bring

Recently, I was approached by a woman that was recently divorced and had just moved back to Louisiana. She needed some help making her house a home and was overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start.

Initially, she just asked for a “master plan” that she would chip away at as she could. Well, I didn’t like that idea, because I really liked her and wanted her to have a finished project. Personally, I like instant gratification (who doesn’t?!) So, I asked her if she would be up for a “designer grab bag” solution so to speak. As you may know, designers end up with left over merchandise and inventory all the time. So, the plan was to take items I already had, and the items she already had to create a cohesive, inviting space that made her and her children feel at home in their new digs. So that’s what we did. They were thrilled with the finished product and didn’t have to save up for months to be able to do it. And it makes me super happy that the day we finished, they were able to have a family movie night in their living room for the first time since

moving into their new home. That’s the good stuff people.

As for the process, we did have to paint because that teal just had to go. I gathered and collected items that were in my inventory as well as sorting through her own items. Then we just sent her and her children out for the day while we worked our magic. Is it perfect? Maybe not. Is it high design? No. But did we solve her problem and give her a beautiful space to live in? Hell yeah. And that’s what we’re trying to do at House of Hays. Give people a beautiful, creative space to live in that fits their needs and reflects who they are without having to sell one of their kidneys.

So, my point is, forget the Persian rugs that cost thousands of dollars, forget looking for “the perfect piece”, forget everything you think you already know about interior designers. And for those that I’ve already lost because their attention span is that of a fly, here are the main points to take from this.

• You CAN afford a designer (yours truly)

• You DO deserve to live in a space that keeps you sane

• You DON ’T have to buy all new furniture

• You CAN do one room at a time (for some reason many clients have told me they didn’t realize this)

• You CAN be my next client (slide in my DM’s)

Ultimately, there is no standard or “box” I can put my clients in. It’s impossible- trust me, I’ve tried. Every person is too unique in their needs, their lives, and their financial situations. That’s why I’m here to take what we have and make it what we want. After all, that’s what life’s about right? Learning how to take what you DO have and make it what you WANT. I think (actually I know) there’s a Kris Jenner quote floating around

BRENT BARGER

to that effect. Yes, I just brought up Kris Jenner, but regardless of loving her or hating her you have to agree those are some pretty wise words.

So, I’ll leave you with this- you’re home makes a major impact on your daily life, mental health, and self-esteem. Don’t think you don’t deserve it. Give me a call and we’ll figure out a way to make it happen that fits YOUR needs!

xo, Rebecca

CONTRACTOR

Dr. Ashley Buffington

Dr. Ashley Buffington has been practicing veterinary medicine for 25 years. She founded Buffington Veterinary Hospital in March of 2002. Dr. Buffington enjoys practicing small animal medicine and surgery and is a sole practitioner. She has been married to Todd for 29 years and is the mother to 7 boys. When she is not taking care of her patients, Dr. Buffington loves hunting, fishing, gardening, making jellies, crocheting, and spending time on Lake Claiborne. Dr. Buffington is an alumnus of Louisiana Tech University (1994) and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (1997).

Megann McDaniel recently sat down with Dr. Ashley Buffington, owner of Buffington Veterinary Hospital, to discuss the pros and cons of owning a small business and what Veterinary Medicine means to her.

„

„ As a small business owner, what do you see as the primary benefits and challenges? A primary benefit of being a small business owner is my ability to have autonomy and full authority when running my practice. In a larger practice or a corporate setting, there are rules and procedures that must be adhered to. As a sole practitioner, I am able to offer a quality of veterinary medicine that meets my personal high standards, as well as making decisions based on each client’s needs. The biggest challenge at this time is staffing. Finding qualified employees with necessary job skills is becoming more difficult. In the current job market, there are job shortages all over the state and veterinary medicine is no exception. Another challenge I faced when starting my practice was that, while I am a very competent veterinarian, my business knowledge was lacking. When I decided to open my own practice, thankfully you (Megann) told me about the Small Business Development Center at LSUS. The SBDC helped me put together my business plan and provided the steps I needed to create my LLC.

When graduating veterinary school from LSU Baton Rouge, you mentioned Minden was as big of a city as you would like to live in. What did you mean? What are the benefits and challenges of living in and owning a business in a small town? I always knew I wanted to come back to NW Louisiana. Our mother was very sick during my first year of vet school. When we realized Mom’s illness was terminal, I promised her I would come back home and help raise my two younger sisters. Upon graduation, a veterinary position in Minden became available and I was attracted to the size of the town. I love Minden; it has been a great place to raise my family, with many of my clients becoming friends and like family to me. Although working in a small town has many endearing qualities, one challenge I have found is that a single industry can have a big impact on a small business. When the oil and gas industry crashed and the Haynesville Shale stopped providing income to families in our community, my business along with many others, took a big hit economically. Several small businesses ended up closing down as a result.

„

You are involved with so many charities and service organizations (Lions Club, Royal Family Kids Camp, Hunters for the Hungry, Becoming an Outdoor Woman, St. Jude, to name a few). I know your time is limited as a mother of 7 and business owner. How do you pick the charities, events, causes you engage with and support? Being raised in a large family that was very close, children have always been first and foremost in my heart. Having struggled with infertility for 12 years and adopting 4 of my 7 children, I have a passion for helping children and mothers in need. I tend to focus my attention on charities that serve in those capacities.

„ When asked in kindergarten what you wanted to be when you grew up you listed a ‘doggie doctor’. How/when did you know? What advice do you have for those unsure or struggling to decide? I knew from a very young age I wanted to be a “doggie doctor.” I cannot imagine myself doing anything else. To others, I would suggest that they find what brings them joy and happiness and then find a way to incorporate that into a career.

„

Traditionally business was predominantly a man’s world, both in owners and key decision makers. What has been your experience? What improvements have you seen? Veterinary medicine has changed drastically over the last couple of years. When I first graduated it was approximately 60% male and 40% female. Once I moved to Minden and started practicing, some clients, mostly male, refused to allow me to treat their animals. The primary reason was because I was a young female. Up until the time I started practicing, there had been very few female veterinarians in Minden. Thankfully, times have changed and veterinary medicine now sees graduates being 83% female and 17% male. Clients do not think twice when they see a female veterinarian, now.

„ Our family has experienced tragedy and challenges our entire life. As a child: an absentee father (your biological father), alcoholic/abusive father (my biological father), stents of homelessness, divorced parents, multiple marriages, blended families (from parents), and being raised by a single mother. As young adults: multiple miscarriages (mom, you, me), infertility, loss of our mother (you were 24 and I was 16), and your loss of two children. For many people, just one of these would be enough to derail their dreams. Both of us have not only survived, we have thrived and are now on the giving (not receiving) side of charity. What do you attribute to your drive, focus, and determination? Was it the strong examples set by Nana and Mom or more of the desire to not recreate our childhood? It is a bit

of both. The desire to not recreate our childhood was the absolute driving force. In the 10th grade my math teacher told me that since I was being raised by a single mother, I would never amount to anything and I would end up in jail. That lit a fire in me to prove her wrong. Also, our mother, who remained a strong, positive woman, despite all of the pain and suffering she was in, was a great role model for me. Regardless the situation, she never gave up.

„ You are a modern-day Pioneer Woman. You hunt (can skin and process the deer yourself), fish, grow a garden, and make jelly (proud to say we do this together and I LOVE it). What do you think inspired this? Nana (who survived the Great Depression) or was it more of you wanting to always be able to provide for you and your family regardless of the circumstances? How can we inspire the younger generations to engage in some of these life skills? Our Nana initially introduced me to these life skills. As a result of the dire situations we were faced with growing up, I knew I never wanted to be unable to provide for myself and my family. This is one reason why teaching survival skills in the Becoming an Outdoor Woman program through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is so important to me. Actually, with the younger generation, I have seen the pendulum swinging back around as interest in these skills is becoming more popular.

„ What advice would you give to young Ashley? What advice do you have for young women, single mothers, or anyone currently struggling? I would tell them to learn how to stand up for yourself, be competent, and no matter what know that YOU CAN DO IT. I also recommend taking business classes any chance you get if there is any possibility you may someday own or run a business.

"Helping you Build and Preserve your best life in retirement"

WRITTEN BY MEGANN MCDANIEL

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.

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?

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

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.

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

UNWRAPPING the TYPICAL

Unique jewelry and trendy new gadgets are always on the top of everyone’s Christmas list, but we do live in a retail world where more stuff is at times… just more stuff.

House of Colour

This is a very cool gift idea for the ladies in your life. Believe it or not, this is also an awesome experience for the guys as well. Fashion is important, but true style is personal. House of Colour’s personal stylists can help you to look fabulous and radiate confidence in the colors and shapes that suit you as an individual. Let’s face it, when someone looks amazing, their face lights up, eyes sparkle and their confidence soars. The House of Colour system is trained to the highest standards here in the USA. While fashions, trends and fads come and go, the theory of color, as interpreted by House of Colour,

remains based in science, logic and objectivity; enabling every client to own their individual WOW!

House of Colour believes that everyone is beautiful, and it is their purpose to bring this belief out in everyone who seeks their services. Rebecca Smart, our area’s House of Colour consultant, can make the special people in your life look and feel amazing every single day.

The DRIP Bar

Your body works hard enough—it shouldn’t have to work hard to get the essential vitamins and nutrients needed for optimal wellness. IV drips are absorbed at a much higher percentage, feeding your cells to fuel a more balanced life. Whether they are healthy and want to stay that way, fighting an illness, preparing for surgery, or recovering from travel, The Drip Bar has something for everyone’s personal health. The DRIP Bar is focused on helping people obtain their best health using advances in intravenous therapies. Their dedication to

cutting edge treatments, commitment to community, and the excellence of their experts lead their drive in the industry. If you are looking for an excellent gift for anyone in your life, give them the gift of health and wellness with a trip to The DRIP.

Travelmation

- Tori Brister

The gift of travel is one of the most exciting and unforgettable gifts that one can receive. Tori Brister was born with a love for TRAVEL! She believes new experiences enrich our lives and has always enjoyed exploring new places herself. Now, Tori is sharing her love for travel with her clients and helping them gift amazing travel experiences to their families. Whether you are dreaming of a luxury villa, attending an elite sporting event, cruising the Mediterranean on a private yacht, or getting lost in the Disney magic, Tori will curate the details so that you can make the memories.

If

find yourself looking for the perfect gift for someone who already has “all the things”, think about unwrapping the typical and give them an experience in beauty, health or travel.