PUBLISHER
Brian Rushing
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Mary Downer Ditch
EDITORIAL
Bonnie Rushing Editorial Director
Isabelle Pinto
ARTIFICIAL. No question.
CREATIVE
Lauren Hemstreet Senior Designer
Ashley Bourgeois Junior Designer
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
John Doucet
PHOTOGRAPHY
Shannon Bella
CONTACT
Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com
Editorial: maryditch@rushing-media.com
Creative: graphics@rushing-media.com Sales: sales@rushing-media.com
Every December, I find myself asking, What is Christmas really about? What am I truly celebrating? At its heart, Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ—a time to give thanks and rejoice. For me, that means embracing the values that He represents: love, charity, faith, compassion, generosity, joy, family, friendship, peace, hope, and gratitude.
The spirit of Christmas is more than a season; it’s a way of living out these values. I think back to memories of my childhood. Baking cookies and making (truthfully, failing miserably) a gingerbread house with my mom. Decorating our own kid Christmas tree on the landing with my brother. My dad drove us all over town to look at Christmas lights. (The best ones are still located at the McElroy home on Cleveland Street in east Houma!) The best part comes now, as John and I make new holiday memories with Jackson, starting our own family traditions that are centered on the values we both hold close in our hearts.
For me, the spirit of Christmas also means giving to others—giving our time, talents, love, and friendship. Sharing our lives through service brings a special joy to the season, reminding us that Christmas isn’t about what we receive, but what we can give. There are so many ways throughout Terrebonne and Lafourche where you have the opportunity to provide a service or a way to give to those in need. We live in a community that never fails to come together in the name of giving when one of our own is in need.
of familiar faces, and the peace that comes from reconnecting with what matters most. Being home during this season reminds us that the true gifts of Christmas aren’t wrapped in ribbons; they’re the laughter shared around the table, the hands held in prayer, and the quiet moments spent with those we cherish.
The spirit of Christmas finds its truest expression when we're Home for the Holidays. Whether that’s a physical place or a feeling we carry in our hearts, "home" is where we’re surrounded by love, warmth, and togetherness. It’s where we celebrate the joy of giving, the comfort
In this issue, six local families welcome us into their homes, all decorated beautifully for the holidays. Every home you enter is adorned a little differently, each decoration carrying special meaning for the homeowner. This expanded version of our monthly Chateau Chic feature is a joy to put together, as each family shares the spirit of Christmas in their own wonderful way.
This issue also features our 14th annual POV Gift Guide! We welcome you to explore the hidden gems of our local shopping scene, where quaint boutiques and family-owned stores offer a delightful array of one-of-a-kind gifts. From handmade crafts to local artwork, discover the joy of finding the perfect present while supporting the vibrant community that makes Houma and Thibodaux unique.
I believe in the spirit of Christmas, in the values that make this season truly special. Spending time with family and friends, sharing generously, thanking our Lord for sending us his Son, and carrying the spirit of Christmas wherever I go brings a fulfillment that no gift can replace. It’s these moments of kindness and connection that make this time of year truly the most wonderful time of the year.
Merry Christmas! POV
What’s one thing you absolutely must do to get into the holiday spirit each year and why?
Christmas is such a special time for our family and a holiday favorite, simply because I enjoy creating a special winter wonderland in our home and celebrating the life of Jesus. Decorating our space to create memories with our family brings me the most joy. Being able to see the light in my children’s eyes truly brings the motivation to continue to make memories and keeps the joyful spirit alive. My children are and forever will be my motivation for all aspects in life.
I absolutely have to decorate the inside and outside of our home while listening to Christmas music. To see our home decorated with Christmas decor, just gets us in the holiday spirit!
We have to go look at Christmas lights! This has been a family tradition since I was a little girl.
As I bake sweets for Thanksgiving, I play my favorite holiday music and put up my Christmas decorations. This tradition helps me embrace the festive season early, especially as I share these moments with my granddaughter!
Decorate the tree, because then the holiday doesn’t feel complete until that’s done!
BY MARY DITCH • HOMES DECORATED BY SHANNON BELLA
Christmas is a time for gathering with family to celebrate and rejoice. Part of the beauty of the holiday season lies in decorating our spaces to reflect the unique traditions and personalities of our families. Every home you enter is adorned a little differently, each decoration carrying special meaning for the homeowner. Join us as we step into the homes of local families and experience the magic of Christmas with them.
Follow Shannon Bella on Instagram at KnightNDayDesigns for more Christmas magic!
Home of: Brooks and Laura Luke
Built Circa: 2023
I enjoy having holiday décor in as many rooms as possible throughout the home. Shannon does an incredible job of matching holiday décor to the existing décor of the home to give it a festive but very cohesive look. Everything that she does is very intentional.
Whether recovering from a stroke, fall, or other medical condition, our customized rehab program helps you recover quickly so you can get back home. If you’re getting ready for long-term living, we make the transition from home to our community as rewarding as possible. A variety of spacious resident suites offer the ultimate in privacy and comfort.
•MUSIC & MEMORY THERAPY
•KITCHEN THERAPY
•LIVE & LOCAL CONCERTS
•IN-HOUSE THERAPY DOG
•NOVEL EXCURSIONS
•GAMES & CRAFTS
Home of: Tim and Hattie Dietz Built Circa: 2021
I love to work with Shannon Knight Bella! We try to blend traditional with a touch of southern. She has been helping our family decorate our home for over 10 years and she knows exactly what we love. But what’s most important to us is to keep our decorations about the real reason of the season.
Home of: Dale and Dawn Prosperie
Built Circa: 2010
We redecorated the main living part of our house last year to more neutral colors with pops of blue. We wanted our holiday decorating to reflect the same colors and style. We used rich and neutral tones of blue, white and gold, incorporating textures like velvet, glass and sparkle ribbons. I have a few nativity scenes included in my decor that are important to me because we want to keep our focus on Jesus and the special meaning of Christmas! I have a love for Santas also, so we also incorporate them everywhere around the house including the Christmas tree.
I want my decor to be inviting like a work of art where family and friends can come over to enjoy the beauty, have conversation and celebrate the holiday season!
Home of: The Robichaux Family Built Circa: 2005
My decorating style today is traditional Christmas. When my kids were younger I preferred whimsical Christmas but as time goes on, I find myself returning to a traditional feel. What is most important about my holiday decorations is keeping the reason behind the season; you can find multiple nativity scenes displayed throughout my house. We hope that whoever visits can sit down and feel at home for the holidays.
Home of: Tony and Glenda Alford
Built Circa: 1999
I decorate for Christmas each year, so I like to change it up. I often use traditional colors, but I decided to embrace my favorite this year: pink. It’s a tradition to use special Christmas decor that I have inherited from my mom and grandmothers. I also have had the privilege of working with Shannon Bella for about 15 years now. She is the one who executes and makes our Christmas decor come to life. She has a true gift and the ability to add old with new to keep it fresh.
As the holiday season draws near, the spirit of giving fills the air, and there’s no better way to spread joy and appreciation than by supporting local businesses. For our 14th annual Christmas gift guide, we’re showcasing a curated selection of unique and thoughtful gifts from our community’s finest makers and shops.
This year, let your gifts reflect the heart of the season while uplifting the heartbeat of our community—our small businesses. Join us as we explore this festive collection, where each purchase celebrates the holiday spirit and fuels the creativity and dedication that make our community truly one of a kind.
SPONSORED CONTENT
BY KATIE RICHARD, MA, BSN, RN, DIRECTOR OF
This time of the year, stress levels tend to naturally increase. Whether it’s work, family issues, financial worries, or over scheduling—stress can make you sick.
Stress causes various physical and psychological side effects—aches and pains, fatigue, muscle tension, anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating, insomnia and addictive behaviors. It may also weaken immunities, making you more susceptible to seasonal colds, flu, Covid or RSV.
Chronic stress can also trigger other serious health conditions including:
• Obesity
• Depression
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Hypertension
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Hair loss and skin conditions
• Sexual dysfunction
What causes stress?
Stress results from your body releasing cortisol. Known as the flight or fight hormone, cortisol courses through your veins during stressful situations. Over prolonged periods, the constant flow of cortisol can lead to high blood pressure and
high blood sugar. It is also the culprit behind excess belly fat.
Research shows that stress may deplete the body of magnesium, making you more sensitive to stress. Magnesium supplements can decrease cortisol levels. Some research shows that omega-3, vitamin C and ashwaganda also help lower cortisol.
Discuss supplements with your doctor, as some may cause adverse effects depending on health conditions or when mixed with certain prescription drugs.
How to lower stress
Lowering stress naturally lowers cortisol levels. Here are ways to de-stress, particularly during the holidays:
• Eat healthier—The more you over-eat and over-imbibe, the more stress you self- induce. Instead of reaching for holiday sweets and carb-loaded dishes, try immune-boosting foods such as fruit, spinach, Greek yogurt and shellfish. When making New Year ’s resolutions, place Mediterranean diet at the top of your list. Consistently ranked as one of the healthiest diets, it can help lower stress.
• Keep moving —Don't let holiday festivities interrupt exercise routines. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise 5
days a week helps protect from illness and lower stress hormones.
• Get more sleep—Adequate sleep helps limit stress and increase immunity. Adults who get a minimum seven hours of sleep nightly are less likely to get sick. Not surprisingly, people in Louisiana—as high as 50%—are among those getting the least amount of sleep in the country.
• Stay hydrated—Bodies need water to survive. Cocktails, wine and beer don't count, so limit alcohol during holiday celebrations.
• Limit alone time—Americans spend less time face-to-face than 20 years ago. Poor social fitness leads to poor mental and physical health fitness. Surprisingly, more than 40% of Louisianians report feeling lonely. Make an effort to spend more faceto-face time with friends and family, unless they're triggering stress!
If you're having a difficult time during the holidays, talk with your doctor or a mental health professional. If you need a physician, use our Find a Doctor directory on our website: https://www.thibodaux.com/finda-doctor/ POV
JOHN DOUCET
That was my mantra growing up — in the days before I even knew what a mantra was. Though even these days I’m not really sure what a mantra is, I remember the phrase each Christmas month because it was also one of the historical slogans of Lego toys.
Yes, I was a Lego child. I played Legos. I played Legos with my own kids. I advocate for Legos to parents of young children. I am a card-carrying member of Legos Nonymous, whose sole function is to
fight misinformation and nerd-shaming of Lego players by the evil members of Legos Anonymous. I find that playing with Legos teaches arithmetic, modular math, architecture, construction management, cubist art, problem solving, direction-following, and the social arts of cooperation and sharing. And, when walking parents inadvertently find the occasional unsecured Lego brick with their bare feet, a school-age child can also learn some exclamatory words not otherwise found on their vocabulary lists.
For me, it all began one day in the 60s when my grandpa took me to the Western Auto down the bayou from his house. When I would visit the old house on weekends, he’d occasionally take me to the drug store to choose a comic book or two or five. But on this day — not a holiday, not a birthday — he had something special in mind. Without asking, without salivating, without staring longingly at it, I was gifted a small box of Legos from the toy shelf.
Back then, a small box of Legos may have had 25 bricks, in only dark red or bright white colors, and in only sizes of four, six, or eight studs. (Yes, dear reader, that’s what you call those things.) More so than today’s version, those 60s bricks were made of very hard plastic with strong clutching strength and with edges that were cruelly sharp. My cuticles still bear old scars from those sharp edges, and the old bricks themselves still bear scars of my teeth as I tried to pry them apart one way or another.
And it literally was a new toy every day. With the exchange of a six-stud brick for an eight-stud brick on the snout, and adding an additional four-stud brick to each leg, and after some cuticle bleeds and prematurely loosened baby teeth, you could totally transform your red-and-white dog to a red-and-white horse. Removing the neck bricks and all but the terminal leg bricks from your horse made an armadillo. And removing the head and leg bricks from the armadillo made a square. And that square could become absolutely any animal you could imagine.
But, really, with only 25 bricks, the “new toy every day” concept only lasted for so long. I quickly demonstrated what I think the Lego Corporation knew all along: You can never have enough Legos.
So, thanks to generations of kids like me, Legos has become big business. Really big. Forget distribution by the likes of Western Auto. We now have whole, self-contained Lego Stores in major cities and major malls. A recent visit to the Lego Store at Lakeside Shopping Center in New Orleans starkly revealed the magnitude of this big business. A
Reindeer Rowe
December 7, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Warren J. Harang Municipal Auditorium, Thibodaux
The Reindeer Rowe holiday shopping event will feature over 30 local merchants all in one spot! Unique gifts, clothing and fashion items, as well as food will be available. General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. Admission is free with the purchase of a Santa’s Land ticket.
A Visit to Santa’s Land
December 7
Warren J. Harang Municipal Auditorium, Thibodaux
A Visit to Santa’s Land has become a beloved tradition for children in Thibodaux and the surrounding areas. The day is full of Christmas cheer where you can create a special ornament, write a letter to Santa, and even take a picture with Santa himself. Tickets are required for every person that enters, and must be pre-purchased online. Your Santa’s Land ticket is also valid for entrance to Reindeer Rowe.
Market at the Marina
December 7, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Downtown Houma Marina
The market features many local vendors selling lots of local goods such as fruits, vegetables, bread, jams and jellies, meat and seafood, homemade body care products, and so many other amazing items that will make wonderful Christmas gifts!
35th Breakfast with Santa
December 7, 7-10:30 a.m.
Vandebilt Cafeteria, Houma
The Kiwanis Club of Houma Foundation presents their 35th Breakfast with Santa! Enjoy delicious pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk and juice. There will be children’s activities and pictures
with Santa ($5). Tickets are $9 in advance or $10 at the door. Tickets are available from Kiwanis members, at Felger’s Footwear and Vandebilt or Terrebonne Key Club members.
Reindeer Run 5K
December 8, 11 a.m.
Downtown Houma
Each season of Girls on the Run comes to an end with a celebratory 5K! The race is open to the whole family, so join in for holiday-themed fun! Register online for the race at www.gotrbayouregion. org/5k. Race day registration opens at 9 a.m.; warm-up begins at 10:45 a.m. Race begins at 11 a.m.
Houma Christmas Festival and Parade
December 8, 12 - 8 p.m.
Downtown Houma
Kick-off the holiday season with the Houma Christmas Festival and Parade! This year’s events include the Christmas Tree decorating contest, storytelling with Mrs. Claus, and other fun family events! The Parade begins at 5 p.m. The lighting of the Christmas tree is at 7 p.m. For more information, visit houmachristmasfestival.com.
Bayou Christmas Teddy Bear Tea
December 7 and 8, Tea at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Chez Felicite'
Our elves are busy preparing for the return of A Bayou Christmas Teddy Bear Tea at Chez Felicite'. Enjoy a presentation of delicious holiday food, specialty teas, hot chocolate, and tasty pastries. All children in attendance will receive a special teddy bear gift followed by a teddy bear parade. Be sure to sit for a family photo in our beautifully decorated fairytale holiday carriage. Tickets for adults are $50; children 2-11 are $35; children under 2 are free. Reservations are required. POV
