Charm - September 2019

CHARM EAST TEXAS

SEPTEMBER 2019 | VOLUME 11 ISSUE 9

DAYTRIPPIN’

Shreveport

HOW TO HYGGE

Mindful Moments

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Give us a call today for women’s healthcare that’s personalized and prompt.

To schedule an appointment, call 936-256-2153.

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FROM THE EDITOR

S

On the cover Photo by Kellie Gann & Company Hair by Rob Fisher Makeup by Ashley Conlon Cover model Corby Duvall Dress by Rubie & Jane Location provided by Kasey & Stephanie Clifton

Charm East Texas is published by The Lufkin Daily News and The Daily Sentinel.

No portion may be reproduced in whole in or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative.

The Daily Sentinel

elf-care.

It’s a major buzzword these days. It’s something we hear about all the time, but not something we're necessarily great at putting into practice.

So what does self-care mean? Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it simply as the care of oneself. Pretty generic. But psychologists are taking this one step further and describing self-care as any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional and physical health. Still a pretty easy concept, but one that is so easy to overlook.

For the past year or so, I've struggled with migraines. If you've ever had one before, you know how debilitating they can be. Last month, among other medications, my doctor prescribed me some good ol' self-care. He told me to take 15 minutes each day and do something for myself — a leisurely walk down the street or spending time alone — in order to break up the routine of work and my second full-time job as a wife and mother.

Self-care is something that refuels us. It is not selfish, but rather taking a moment to consider our own needs so we can take care of others. As women, we are prone to giving our all with total disregard to ourselves. It’s hard to take a moment for yourself when tiny fingers are wiggling under the bathroom door or when your significant other can’t seem to remember where he left his keys last night or your teenager is dealing with a social crisis of her own.

However, this month, I challenge you (and myself!) to find a moment — just one — every day that you set aside for yourself. It may be those five minutes in the car after everyone else has been dropped off and you blast old school *NSYNC on the radio before getting to work. Maybe it’s a quick phone call to your best friend just to reconnect. Or enjoying a half-price Sonic shake after the kids go to bed. Maybe you can try a little “hygge” (page 22), learn the art of yoga (page 28) or treat yourself to a rejuvenating facial treatment, whether at a medical spa (page 48) or from the comforts of your own home (page 24). Feeling adventurous? How about a trip? Jess Huff takes us to Shreveport, Louisiana, this month to live, and eat, like the locals do (page 56).

Heck, I suggest just taking a few minutes to browse through this issue of Charm!

Whatever it is, my darling Charmers, take the moment and cherish it. Refill your own bucket so that you can continue to pour it back out to those around you. You will feel so much better when you do.

Much love,

medislim

Robert Kistler, M.D.

Weight Loss Clinic • Nutritional Support • Medical Supervision No Appointment Necessary. Call or Stop By Today!

Mon., Wed. & Thursday 9-5 • Tues. 9-6 • Friday 9-1

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Zavalla Family medical clinic walk-ins welcome

mon-THU 8am - 5pm FRiday 8am - 12pm SaT 9am - 1pm

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Young, PA-C RobertRobert Young, PA-C

(by Brookshire Brothers and behind the new City Hall)

by Brookshire Brothers and behind the new City Hall

CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

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Jeff Pownall has worked at The Lufkin Daily News for more than 30 years, primarily designing pages for the daily paper. He is the paper’s managing editor. He has two married sons. While he’s trying to live a quiet, simple life, his tastes could best be described as eclectic.

CHARM staff

lufkin Editor

Melissa Crager editor@charmeasttexas.com 936.631.2671

editorial advertising Lance Kingrey is a graphic designer for The Lufkin Daily News and Charm.

He holds degrees in communications and history from the University of Texas at Austin and studied at Parsons School of Design in New York City. His passions are music, travel and pugs.

Leslie Nemec is the staff photographer for The Lufkin Daily News and Charm. She loves interior design and is a sucker for old pieces with history.

Day trippin’ is her thing. She is a state and national park junkie and hopes to conquer Yellowstone next. Her three loves are red wine, bluegrass music and Smarties.

Art Director Lance Kingrey Copy Editor Jeff Pownall

Director Tammy Kedrowicz tammy.kedrowicz@lufkindailynews.com 936.631.2630

Account Executives Writers Vanessa Durham Jess Huff Debra Hughs Photographers Jenna Lenderman Cara Campbell Lindsey Stutts Lance Kingrey Creative Services Leslie Nemec Robin Nevills Graphic Artists nacogdoches Jennifer Banks Megan McConnell Publisher Uriel Vega Rick Craig

rick.craig@dailysentinel.com 936.558.3200

Account Executives James Allen Dumas Zach Smith

charmeasttexas.com

Jess Huff is a reporter for The Lufkin Daily News and Charm. She holds a degree in journalism with a minor in film from Northern Arizona University.

Her three big loves are her Mustang, her cat, and her books.

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1089, Lufkin, TX 75902-1089 Street Address: 300 Ellis, Lufkin, TX 75904-3817 USPS 321-820 Southern Newspapers Inc., doing business as The Lufkin Daily News, is published mornings daily.

Periodicals postage is paid at Lufkin, Texas.

Postmaster: Send address changes to THE LUFKIN DAILY NEWS, P.O. Box 1089, Lufkin, TX 75902-1089.

BLEED MARGIN

‘SAFE ZONE’ Document size: 9x10.875in Margins: .25 all around Bleeds: .25 inches all around

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CONTRIBUTORS 1. Angela Larson is the registered dietitian nutritionist for the MediSlim clinic in Lufkin. Delicious food is her passion, so she loves trying new recipes and exploring the more holistic side of nutrition. When she’s not helping clients get healthy and achieve their goals, she’s a mostly stay-athome mom who loves to cook, garden and spend time outdoors with her husband, Austin, and their two daughters.

2. Rob Fisher is a licensed cosmetologist and makeup artist at Bella Salon of Lufkin. He specializes in hair extensions, wedding hair and makeup, and event and photoshoot styling. He also offers on-location hair and makeup services. Originally from the great state of Michigan, he moved to Texas in 2008 and has three children. To schedule an appointment, contact him at (936) 635-7712.

3. Kellie Gann Randolph is the owner of Kellie Gann & Company. She is a Photographic Craftsman (Cr.Photog.) and a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) through Professional Photographers of America. Her style is more than what you can see in the finished images. It's also a high-fashion experience. When she's not holding a camera or teaching other photographers, Kellie can be found spending time with her husband and two dogs at their ranch in Ratcliff. To book a free consultation at her downtown Lufkin portrait studio, visit KellieGann.com or call (409) 622-1040.

4. Nicole Roberts is a lover of food and culture, which took her, her husband Darrell and their two boys all the way to Europe, where they opened a coffee shop and bakery in Belgium. After four of the best years of their lives, they moved back to Lufkin to raise their boys closer to family. While living in Europe, Nicole changed her eating habits and fell in love with her new lifestyle. She says healthy food gets a bad rap for being too expensive, time consuming and bland. She's on a mission to change those misconceptions and inspire people to develop better eating habits.

Nicole is always happiest in the kitchen, French music playing, cutting vegetables, drizzling olive oil, twisting the pepper grinder, zesting a lemon, mincing garlic, uncorking a bottle of wine and sitting around the table sharing stories of the day with her family and friends.

5. Ashley Conlon, a licensed esthetician and makeup artist, is available for various on-site makeup artistry needs, including bridal and wedding parties, airbrush and traditional makeup, editorial, print, special occasions and photo shoots. To view more services or schedule an appointment, go to styleseat.com/ashleyconlon or contact her at (936) 635-4710.

6. Gary Stallard, a former U.S. Marine, completed his bachelor’s degree at Stephen F. Austin State University, where he majored in English and journalism. Since 2006, he has served as coordinator of marketing and development, writing instructor and sports information director at Angelina College. For more than 14 years, he has worked as a sports writer/ columnist/photographer for The Lufkin Daily News. He and his wife, Susan, live in Lufkin. They have four children, five grandchildren (and counting), a dog, a cat and four grand-dogs.

7. Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, Ph.D., is a research chemist using his knowledge of natural products to develop environmentally friendly products. However, his evenings and weekends are spent guiding people back to nature’s bounty, not only teaching them which plants are edible and/or medicinal but also proselytizing how foraging heals the body, mind and soul and prepares them for the zombie apocalypse.

8. Ashton Clark is founder and stylist of the entertainment blog Sister Sage Co. After marrying her high school sweetheart and moving back to her small East Texas hometown of Center, she began looking for a creative outlet. She loves hosting and planning events, so much so that she even received a Professional Event Manager Certificate at Texas A&M University. And from that, Sister Sage Co. was born. She enjoys cooking, binge-watching HGTV and reading Southern Living magazine. Check out Sister Sage Co. today to find inspiration for your next event.

9. Cary Sims is the county Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources serving Angelina County. He, his wife and their two teenage boys live on a small farm in the Clawson community. For more than 20 years, he has aided agricultural producers and homeowners alike in understanding food production and the natural processes around us.

CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

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contents 28

56

24

100

36 IN EACH ISSUE

BEAUTY & FASHION

CHARM AT HOME

4 Letter from the Editor 6 Charm Staff 8 Contributors 12 We Asked 18 A Word from Gary Stallard 104 Travel & Leisure

36

44 64

24 DIY Soak & Scrub 86 Gardening

90 Hudson Home 94 Playhouse On the Plaza

Underwater Beauty Editor’s Picks Floral Fashion

FEATURES

28 48 56 100

Morning Glory Yoga Premier Medical Spa Exploring Shreveport Women of Nonprofits

FOOD & DRINK 70 72

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

Mediterranean Quinoa Lavendar Lemonade

HEALTHY LIVING 17 Simplify Your Morning 22 How to Hygge 74 Nutrition 87 Foraging

BLEED MARGIN

‘SAFE ZONE’ Document size: 9x10.875in Margins: .25 all around Bleeds: .25 inches all around

Always Working In Collaboration With Your Primary Care Physician Dedicated Medical Center & Urgent Care Provides The Lufkin And Woodville Areas With A Stable, Solid And Respected Team. Our Facility Provides In-Network Care With Almost All Health Insurance Plans, And Offers Discounted Rates For Any Patient That Requires The Use Of Any Of Our Other “Dedicated” Facilities. Our Staff Has Extensive Experience In Family & ER Medicine, Labor & Delivery, ICU Care, And Urgent Care.

(936) 639-5150 • dmcurgentcare.com • 410 Gaslight Blvd. Lufkin, Tx

WE ASKED. YOU ANSWERED. We asked our Facebook friends what they do to relax.

“Explore the outdoors with my pups.”

— Shelby Suggs

“I like to play video games and re-watch old TV shows. It takes me back to my childhood. And movie watching.”

— Tommy Butler

“With two boys under 4, I get up every morning at 5:00 a.m. to drink coffee and read my book for ‘me time.’ That quiet, peaceful hour before they wake up is rejuvenating.”

— Danielle Holsomback

“I binge watch Netflix shows.”

— Michelle Eaves

Like us on Facebook and check in with us regularly for new questions.

Your answers may be used in next month’s issue of Charm East Texas. facebook.com/charmeasttexas

Congratulations Kashena Revels from Garrison!

Congratulations to our DIY Giveaway winner Hallie Wallace!

Kashena Revels found the charm hidden on page 81 of the August issue. She won a $50 gift certificate to the Charm advertiser of her choice. Kashena chose her gift certificate to Twigs & Tin in Nacogdoches.

Congratulations to Hallie Wallace, third grade teacher at Coston Elementary in Lufkin. She won our Facebook contest, which featured last month’s DIY project that included gift cards from a variety of our Charm advertisers.

FIND THE CHARM! The charm hidden in the magazine is the same color and size as the one shown here and you could win a $50 gift certificate to the Charm advertiser of your choice. It will not be hidden in an ad or on the cover. Email us at editor@ charmeasttexas.com or write to us at Charm, P.O. Box 1089, Lufkin, TX 75902 with your name and phone number and tell us where you found it. All correct entries will be entered into a drawing. The lucky winner will be announced in our next issue.

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

Benjamin Sullivan - Realtor A fresh perspective on East Texas Real Estate.

Combining professionalism with creativity you will receive full service with your next real estate transaction! With my background in interior design, not only can I market and sell your home - but I will help you stage your home at additional cost. When looking for a new home, I will create a lens for you to see potential to transform a house into the home you have always wanted!

Benjamin Sullivan , Realtor - Lic 527631 104 North Street Nacogdoches, TX 75961

936.234.0056 NACrealtor.com

Why do I advertise in Charm?

The Angelina Arts Alliance

W

hen it comes to filling our seats to all of the wonderful shows at the Temple Theater and the Pines Theater, advertising in Charm magazine is one of the most effective ways to reach our audience. We can always count on Charm for great placement and timely delivery, which is essential. — Jennifer Allen Executive Director, The Angelina Arts Alliance

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

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Save the Date November 21st - 23rd, 2019 at the Fredonia Hotel in Downtown Nacogdoches

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

Eight Ways to an Easier Morning s t o ry b y

MELISSA CRAGER

E

ver get out the door, in the car and down the driveway when you remember you’ve left your phone on the bathroom counter? ( Just me?) Preparation is key to shaving those few precious minutes off your morning routine and getting where you need to go on time, every time.

The weekend or night before 1. Lay out your outfit in advance. This includes your shoes, undergarments, accessories, etc. That way you know exactly what you’re going to wear and you won’t waste any time searching for that lost shoe or favorite pair of earrings.

2. Have your gym bag, backpack, briefcase or purse ready to go. Pack the night before so you won’t be running around finding the things you need.

3. Create a place for important items. Maybe it’s in a basket on your kitchen countertop or on the entryway table, but create a specific place to keep items you need each day, such as your keys, wallet, purse or watch.

4. Meal prep. This one is so important and will save you time and money. Spend some time on Sunday grilling chicken breasts, making a pot of rice and steaming a variety of veggies.

Portion these into reusable containers that you can grab on your way out the door. For the kids, individually portion out bags of veggies, crackers or fruit to make it easier for them to pack their own lunches. Dinnertime leftovers also make for great lunches. Plan ahead and make a little more the night before to enjoy the next day.

In the morning 5. Open the blinds. Don’t stumble around in the dark. Let Mother Nature do her job to help you wake up. Studies show that waking up to natural light can boost your mood instantly.

It’s often much easier to get ready for the day when your home is well-lit with natural lighting.

6. Don’t let electronics distract you. Wait until you’re completely ready before turning on your phone or the TV. 7. Turn up the tunes. Not only can music get you moving and in a good mood, it can also be used as a great timekeeper.

Create a 30- or 40-minute playlist (however long it takes you to get ready) and use it as a guide. You’ll know by the fourth song, you need to get dressed, by the sixth song, you should be putting the final touches on your makeup, etc.

8. Assign jobs. Getting multiple people out the door on time every morning is definitely a challenge. Don’t try to do it all on your own. Use the kitchen counter as a staging area and line up those lunch bags and coffee cups. Create an assembly line to make each morning a success. Or assign each person a specific job that must be done before you leave, like packing lunches, filling up reusable water bottles or feeding the family pet.

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Focus on Your Whole Self s t o ry b y

GARY STALLARD

W

e humans sure spend a lot of time on our exteriors.

I ain’t talking about our houses.

Our bodies. Faces. Hair. Anything visible for another human eye — or the ones looking back at us from a mirror.

Maybe some of it’s just plain vanity. The rest of it could be we’re just trying to look our best, whatever our best might be. Whatever the reason for all the effort, we spend a lot of time and money trying to look a certain way.

Check it out: In 2018, the cosmetics industry was worth $532 billion. BILLION. That’s a lotta war paint.

The hair industry reported a net worth of nearly $70 billion in 2018. BILLION. That’s a lotta hair coloring and shampoo.

Anything we can’t cover or rinse out, we’ll find other ways to change. For example, we can get obsessed with our bodies, and the way they’re shaped — or not shaped.

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

If we’re round, we want to knock off some of the curvy parts. If we’re skinny, we’ll try to add some curvy parts. The fitness industry now has grown into an $83 billion dollar enterprise. BILLION. That’s a lotta treadmill time.

If running eleventy billion miles and lifting a few tons of weight doesn’t give us the body we want, we now can just buy spare parts. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Americans annually spend more than $16 billion on various enhancements. BILLION. That’s a lotta plastic.

Man, the stuff we go through just to make ourselves presentable — to somebody.

Once we’ve done our best with the body, we then spend more money covering it with clothing. Gotta find the right fit, whether we’re trying to hide what the treadmill didn’t knock off or trying to show off what the weights did for us.

A WORD FROM GARY STALLARD Wanna take a wild guess at how much people spend on clothing? You’re not gonna believe this.

A whopping $2.4 trillion. TRILLION. That’s way more than a billion, and a billion is already a chunk.

Lest anyone thinks I’m targeting only the ladies, I’m not.

Guys are just the same when it comes to either vanity or insecurities. Men account for nearly half the overall revenue generated from clothing sales. Males also spend money on their hair and fitness. There are even statistics indicating a rising market in the cosmetics industry just for guys. As an old dude, I haven’t quite caught onto this one. About the only thing I put on my face is soap — the bar kind, applied with a washrag. My wife has those loofah thingys, but I don’t trust anything that can hide that many bubbles. The only makeup I’ve ever worn was a camo stick. I don’t think any cosmetic ever invented can help my mug. Besides, I earned all those wrinkles.

All that money and time focused on our exteriors.

But what about our interiors?

If I remember my human anatomy courses right, there’s some pretty important stuff hiding beneath our skin.

Organs, veins, arteries, etc. I hear those are somewhat vital to remaining upright in our lives.

But nobody buys an exfoliant for his or her intestines.

Maybe we pay less attention to our insides because we can’t see ’em. (Thank God. I’d hate to look in a mirror and find my colon staring back at me.) And maybe we’re not fully aware of how what we put inside affects the outside.

I got a hint of this as a teenager. Like many of my peers, I dealt with acne outbreaks. Someone told me all those Mountain Dews I was chugging down my insides were helping push those zits to my outside.

I thought they were full of something other than a soft drink.

Once I backed off the drinks, my face started clearing up.

How weird is that?

As an adult, I’m still getting those same warnings. I’m supposed to watch what I put inside my old carcass. I’m not worried about zits, but now I’ve gotta worry about other issues. Think about it: How old were you when you first started hearing about “cholesterol?” Who knew there were good fats and bad fats? Fats is fats, amirite?

Our poor hearts. With the way I’ve eaten in the past, I may as well have been chowing down on buckets of glue.

My arteries were on their way to looking like a Houston traffic jam.

Our personal diets also have a way of determining our energy levels. Man, that really ticks me off. Eat enough of the wrong kind of stuff, and it’s enough to leave us sluggish. It’s like the time I got a tank of bad gasoline in my new truck. The truck looked shiny and awesome on the outside, but with the wrong gas in the tank, it wasn’t going

anywhere.

Even more aggravating is the eventual understanding that the stuff we cram inside can still find its way outside.

Let me pig out on pizza and burgers for a couple of weeks, and I’ll start looking as if I’m wearing them jammed inside my jeans. Those double-meat cheeseburgers will hang right over my belt as if I hung ’em there instead of eating ’em.

It stinks. We’re sending stuff down our gullets in hopes we’ll never have to see it again, but sure enough, it all finds a way to make an eventual appearance.

But of all the things absorbed through our bodies, some of the worst don’t enter through our pie-holes. No, there are the things we see, hear and read. News, or even daily interactions, can affect our own health — both mentally and physically. Drama and conflict take their toll no matter where we find ’em.The American Psychological Association reports “anxiety, fatigue and sleep loss” as some of the effects people experience from just reading or watching the news.

I have friends who have abandoned social media altogether simply because they can’t find anything positive there.

Seems everybody’s mad at something or someone. It’s hard to feel happy when seemingly no one else is.

I’m guilty of allowing what I read, see or hear determine my own mood. I’m an avid news reader; I start nearly every day with a cup of coffee and my news feeds. I want to stay informed, but I’m doing so knowing whatever I find is pretty much going to get my day off on the wrong foot. I’m giving my brain indigestion within the first few bites.

I managed to prove this theory to myself this past summer.

My wife and I visited our grandkids. On my first morning with them, I didn’t get to scroll the news with my coffee.

My granddaughter wanted to watch funny animal videos with me on my phone. She sat in my lap, and we watched ducks, monkeys, kittens and whatever else she wanted to see. I laughed harder at her giggles and reactions than I did when the duck chased the monkey up the tree.

The rest of my day? I was in a great mood, all day long. I left my phone inside and played with the kids. I think I can handle being blissfully ignorant of the world’s doings for a few short spells at a time. If the end truly is nigh, I’ll let it be a surprise. I like surprises.

We all want to be the best “us,” but to get there, we have to consider the whole “us.” Decorating our exteriors while neglecting our interiors does nothing but camouflage who we are — and who we want to be. What good does it do to look good if we’re wrecking our insides and scrambling our minds with garbage? I’ve known many an attractive person whose attitude and behavior made him or her downright ugly.

Improving ourselves should be a lifelong pursuit.

We just have to remember: There’s more to our whole selves than what we can see in the mirror.

Dealing with divorce, child custody, child support enforcement, termination, adoption, modification of custody, visitation and/or child support?

We’re here to help.

Help keep our community safe by disposing of your expired/unwanted medications in one of the convenient and anonymous drop boxes in Angelina County.

Angelina County Sheriff’s Department lobby 2311 E. Lufkin Avenue, Lufkin Diboll Police Department lobby 400 Kenley Street, Diboll

LAW OFFICE OF

Kaye M. Alderman FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

124 E. Lufkin Ave. • Lufkin 342 E. Milam • Jasper (936) 639-5293 Kaye Alderman

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

Maira Carrillo

1320 S John Redditt, Ste C • Lufkin • (936) 634-9308 angelinacoalition.org

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HOW TO s t o ry b y

T

MELISSA CRAGER

ake a minute. Close your eyes. When was the last time you were truly happy? Are you picturing it? Are you smiling?

You may be picturing a time spent with family and friends. Or maybe even just a quiet moment spent by yourself. The Danish people would describe that as "hygge."

“Hygge” (pronounced HOO-ga) is a major aspect of the Danish culture and is loosely translated into a “mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality to feelings of wellness and contentment.” Hyyge is all about love, warmth and safety. It can be used as a verb, “Let’s hygge with friends tonight.” Or as an adjective, “What a hyggelig home you have!”

“What freedom is to Americans, thoroughness to Germans, and the stiff upper lip to the British, hygge is to Danes,” according to “The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living” written by Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Hygge permeates Danish living. The workday for parents ends at 4 p.m. so they can pick their children up on time. No one else works much past 5 p.m. and rarely will you see someone at work on the weekend. Evenings are meant for family and friends, making good food and spending quality time with those closest to you. That's hyyge. And it’s one of the reasons why Denmark consistently ranks as one of the happiest countries worldwide.

Wiking calls hygge “a hug without touching,” as well as a “situation that you can be completely relaxed and yourself.”

So how can you hygge? It’s pretty easy, actually.

In Wiking’s book, he describes what he calls the Hygge Manifesto: atmosphere, presence, pleasure and equality.

Hygge doesn’t need to cost any money. Use what you have around the house. Put some comfort food on the stove, grab a book and a blanket and cuddle with those you love (furbabies, included). Be sure to light some candles.

Take a deep breath, and hygge.

THE HYGGE MANIFESTO

ATMOSPHERE

Turn down the lights. Light some candles, plain ol’ white tealights will do.

Put on your fuzzy socks and curl up in front of the fireplace.

PLEASURE

Coffee, chocolate, cookies, cakes and candy. Indulge yourself in all the good stuff.

PRESENCE

Be in the moment. Turn off all electronic devices. Enjoy the company of those around you.

EQUALITY

It’s a “we” over “me” philosophy. Share your time with family and friends.

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DO-IT-YOURSELF

Soak & Scrub s t o ry a n d p h o t o s b y

ASHTON CLARK

B

eing human can be messy sometimes. There are seasons in our lives we find ourselves spinning due to overcommitment, being stretched too thin and end up drained.

So if you or someone you love is going through one of these tough times, a time where it all just feels like too much, call up your girlfriends for a night out, call in sick to work or take a long, relaxing bath.

I have always loved soaking in the tub and feel completely renewed after. This at-home DIY soak and scrub smells like cookies and will make you feel like a new woman! Whip up a batch of these and pass them around to your friends. I promise they will thank you for it.

Scrub: ⅔ cup brown sugar ⅓ cup ground oats (grind in a blender) 6 tablespoons almond or coconut oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Soak: 1 cup coarse sea salt 1 cup Epsom salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Combine in a bowl and stir well. Transfer to jars with tight-fitting lids. Keep in cool, dark place. Will last for several months.

We hope you give this DIY a try and share your creation with us!

XO, Ashton

For inspiration all month long, visit Ashton’s blog sistersageco.com and follow @sistersageco on social media.

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

BODYTITE

by INMODE Premier Medical Spa of Lufkin • (936) 635-7709 Alan Bassin, MD • Ana Trevathan, NP Madelyn Modisette, Aesthetician

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From the first positive test to the baby’s first breath, we deliver.

There’s nothing more important to Woodland Heights Medical Center than your and your little one’s health and well-being. That’s why we offer care from a team of specialized labor and delivery, and maternal and pediatric nurses.

Personalize your entire experience with private birthing suites and free childbirth and infant feeding classes. And rest easy knowing that if your baby needs a higher level of care, we have a Level II NICU to help newborns get a healthy start.

Schedule a tour of our birthing center today. Call 936-637-8660.

ETHAN ERIC BELL 8/1/2019 PARENTS: Timmothy Eric Bell & Heather Lynn Bell GRANDPARENTS: Garland & Joann Bell; Chester Arnold; Donna Russell

DEVIN ISAIAH LINTEMUTH 7/1/2019 PARENTS: Charles Lintemuth & Kayla Mott GRANDPARENTS: Kathy Barthley; Brian Edmond; Mona Duncan

COOPER LEE SALOME 5/17/2019 PARENTS: Ashton & Cameron Salome GRANDPARENTS: Greg & Cheryl Shirley; Krista Salome

LIAM JOSEPH LARIVE 6/18/2019 PARENTS: Noah Larive & Catherine Crump GRANDPARENTS: Renae Crump; Lisa Lalumandier GREAT GRANDPARENTS: Philip & Cathy Kojak; Michael & Danitha Hess; Opaline Barnhart

COLTON LANE GREEN 11/4/2018 PARENTS: Jason & Savannah Green GRANDPARENTS: Johnny & Charlotte Matthews; William Green; Sheila Sierman Green Boisseau

WAYLON PAUL MCCANN 10/7/2018 PARENTS: Kevin & Katie McCann GRANDPARENTS: Steve Jones; Debra Jones; John & Kathy McCann

Want to show off your charming newborn (less than 12 months old)? Email newborn information and a high resolution photo to charmingbabies@lufkindailynews.com. By doing so, you are granting The Lufkin Daily News ownership and the rights to license and republish the photograph in any of the company’s publications. Photos will be published on a first-come-first-served basis. DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS THE 10TH OF EACH MONTH.

505 S. John Redditt Drive, Lufkin WoodlandHeights.net Woodland Heights Medical Center is owned in part by physicians.

BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT s t o ry b y

MELISSA CRAGER

“TAKE A MOMENT TO FOCUS ON YOUR BREATH.” Seated on her mat, Amy Sanford calls the class to order. Her students are an eclectic bunch — a mixture of men and women, young and old.

“TAKE YOUR TIME. DON’T RUSH.” photos by

LESLIE NEMEC

The soft, tranquil sounds of a traditional Indian melody float through the room, reverberating off polished hardwood floors and ceilings and synchronizing with the heavy inhalations and exhalations of the group as they move through the routine. If each participant wasn’t intently focused on holding each posture or noticing how their breath moved in and out, they might just as easily drift off to sleep in such a calming atmosphere.

“Breathe steady.”

With a kind voice and soothing presence, Sanford begins to move about the large studio, adjusting positions here and giving a word of encouragement there.

“The only way we learn about balance is by falling out of balance. It’s how you react that makes it interesting.”

It’s 9 o’clock on a Tuesday morning in the Morning Glory Yoga studio, one of two beautiful spaces in historic downtown Nacogdoches owned

by Sanford. She’s been hard at work since 5 a.m., completing her own yoga practice, while also guiding others in one-on-one sessions. Her day has just begun. Her schedule is full, but so is her heart.

“It’s unreal to think about. I never imagined myself being here,” Sanford said. “To get to work with people on this type of level every day and to get to witness the benefits of this practice every day, for me, is very fulfilling.”

Sanford began practicing yoga in 2002, a year before she graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in biology.

“It started unknowingly at that time, but it really started to sculpt my life. I really started to realize how beneficial it was in the small places in my life,” Sanford said. “I started to take it a little more seriously.”

She also was working as a manager for Morning Glory Natural Foods. As the practice of yoga began to transform her life, she approached her boss about possibly opening a yoga studio in Nacogdoches. A fellow co-worker had the same idea, and together they created Morning Glory Yoga. Sanford received her teaching certification from the Living Yoga program in Austin in 2004, and in 2007, she became the sole owner of the enterprise.

Currently the studios, at 207 E. Main St. and 409 E. Main St., offer more than 20 classes a week at a variety of times. Four instructors teach numerous forms of yoga, including beginner’s classes, gentle yoga, restorative yoga and ashtanga

CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

31

yoga, which is a style that synchronizes the breath with a progressive series of postures. They also offer a free class on Friday evenings that is open to the community.

“Gentle yoga tends to, in this community, attract an older population — 50 and older — but it’s good for everybody,” Sanford said.

“Restorative yoga is good for the nervous system with participants holding poses for 10 minutes or so at a time. The teacher guides the class through relaxation and visualization. It’s very luxurious.”

Betty Yuracko, 74, of Nacogdoches, has been practicing yoga for eight or nine years.

“I come about three times a week. Since I’m in my 70s now, I do more of the gentle and restorative yoga,” Yuracko said. “I used to do the other classes, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve decided these are easier on my joints, and you still get a full workout.”

Sanford agreed there is a place for everyone at Morning Glory Yoga.

“It’s transformative for anybody and everybody.

Anyone can do it. It’s a low-impact practice, and all the postures are modifiable at every stage of life,” Sanford said. “For instance, myself. My practice now in my early 40s doesn’t look the same as it did when I was in my 20s. Your body changes, and the postures change along with you.

Yoga meets the individual where they are at.”

Studies and experience have shown that a habitual practice provides numerous benefits — both emotionally and physically.

“When you practice, you start to notice your behaviors. You start to notice what you’re eating.

Physically, obviously, you start to notice how you are feeling, your well-being. Also the way you interact with other people: you start to become a little bit less reactive because you’re able to stop and take a breath,” Sanford said. “You’re going to gain strength, flexibility and mobility.

Your joint health is going to improve, along with coordination, mental clarity and posture.

It’s super great for your nervous and circulatory system, as well as your heart. On a physical level, it’s awesome.”

Sanford said the first step toward an overall healthier lifestyle through a beneficial yoga practice is to simply show up.

“That’s the hardest part — just getting your foot in the door. Once you walk in you think, ‘What have I been waiting for?’ We have all these apprehensions that keep us out of doing something. So just get yourself here.”

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

Virabhadrasana II - Warrior II (Beginner)*

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana Extended Hand to Big Toe (Advanced)*

Balasana - Child's Pose (Beginner to Moderate)* *All postures can be modified to suit any level of practice

HOW TO START • Show up. Find a class during a time that works for you and make the commitment to attend regularly.

• Wear comfortable clothes — whatever that means to you. “Wear something you can move and breathe in,” Sanford said.

• Come on an empty stomach.

• Bring a mat, if you have it. “But if you don’t, we have mats that you can borrow.”

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THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS MED SPAS OFFER LUXURY & CLINICAL EXPERTISE s t o ry b y

I

MELISSA CRAGER

photos by

was pretty far out of my comfort zone. I’m not saying I’m a low-maintenance girl, but let’s just say my biggest treat to myself is getting my hair colored every couple of months. Of course, I had heard of medical spas before, but had never stepped foot in one until earlier this summer when I visited Premier Medical Spa in Dr. Alan Bassin’s office in Lufkin.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, public demand continues to grow among people who want fresher, younger skin without traditional operations, scars and downtime, and among people whose skin isn’t “severe enough” to justify plastic surgery.

Medical spas have become the latest response to that demand.

They provide professional-grade aesthetic procedures that mimic plastic surgery for a fraction of the price and virtually none of the medical downtime. Also called medi-spas or med spas, these new clinics are a hybrid between a traditional day spa and what you would expect at a doctor’s office.

They essentially offer the best of both worlds — a rejuvenating experience combined with a medical professional’s expertise, to treat conditions like acne, aging and sagging skin,

CARA CAMPBELL & LANCE KINGREY

hyperpigmentation, hair removal and others aimed at improving the skin’s overall appearance.

After opening Premier Medical Spa in the fall of 2018, Bassin, a general surgeon, and nurse practitioner Ana Trevathan, along with certified aesthetician Madelyn Modisette, say they’re busier than ever. Using an advanced technology called Optimus

by InMode, they offer a variety of medical treatments, like the Morpheus8, which fractionally remodels and contours the face and body.

Bassin said it’s the only system of its kind in the area.

“We found this platform, and it kind of did everything that we were interested in doing. The more we learned about it, the more interested we got in it. That’s how we’ve grown to this point,” Bassin said. “We’re kind of partial, but we think ours is the best. The Morpheus — there’s nothing like it in town. It does skin tightening and re-contouring, while being minimally invasive with minimal pain. The results that we’re finding are excellent.”

The Morpheus8 treatment is delivered through a handheld device that sends radiofrequency energy into the deep layers CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

49

of the skin, while simultaneously blasting fat and stimulating collagen production. The result is firmer, tighter and younger looking skin.

“This bridges the gap between people who are considering plastic surgery, but don’t really want the downtime after,” Trevathan said. “Within two to three weeks, you start noticing improvement in texture; in four to five weeks is when collagen starts producing. A lot of people notice a difference within seven days. You’ll notice your face change, you’ll start noticing fine lines and wrinkles are better. You will notice the majority of the difference three months after your initial treatment, but you’re going to continue to get results for up to six months after.”

Some people, depending on the level of correction needed, can get the results they want in just one session; however, most people experience optimal results with at least two or three sessions. After each treatment, Trevathan and Bassin evaluate the patient’s progress to determine which areas need more attention.

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

As a general surgeon for the past 20 years, Bassin places a major emphasis on minimally and non-invasive procedures that reduce patient pain, as well as overall recovery time. He said opening a medical spa gave him the chance to try something new.

“We want to get the least amount of discomfort for the patient and the most benefit that we can. We find that the Optimus, and Morpheus in particular, really allows us to get the result that we want without causing a significant amount of discomfort for the patient,” Bassin said. “I’ve always been a general surgeon dealing with emergencies and bigger operations, so this is a little less stressful environment and allows me to do some procedures that aren’t life and death. I still get to see some benefits without having to worry about the problems patients may have later on.”

For years, I’ve personally struggled with uneven skin tone and redness, especially on my neck and chest. When I first met Trevathan, I told her about my areas of concern, and she suggested I try the Lumecca, the industry’s most powerful

intense pulsed light photofacial used to significantly enhance complexion and the clarity of skin.

On the day of my appointment, Trevathan put a numbing cream on my face and neck. An hour later, over a layer of gel, Trevathan moved the device in sweeping motions across my face, neck and chest, delivering short pulses of light to my skin and pausing every so often to check how it was reacting to the treatment. The Lumecca treatment targets redness and dark spots, even the ones not yet visible.

For my first treatment, Trevathan picked a less intense setting to judge how my skin would react. Afterward, my skin was slightly red and warm, almost as if I had stayed in the sun a little too long. Trevathan told me to stay out of the heat and avoid sun exposure for the next several days.

I also didn’t wear makeup for the next couple of days to give my skin time to heal. This is what Trevathan and Bassin call “social downtime.” Much of the initial redness was gone by the end of the day, and within a few days, a brown spot that had been on my cheek for years was gone. Over the following weeks, I noticed my pores were smaller, my makeup went on

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

smoother, and I wasn’t as red.

We upped the intensity the next time. My cheeks and neck, where Trevathan had specifically targeted large areas of redness, were slightly swollen, but weren’t painful or even all that noticeable to anyone other than myself. After my final treatment, I could tell a distinct difference from when we started.

Some moments during each treatment were more intense than others, and for that reason, Premier Medical Spa provides patient-administered Pro-Nox, otherwise known as laughing gas, which is made of 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen.

“It’s less strength than what the dentist gives you. Within five minutes it’s out of your system, so you’re free to drive afterward,” Trevathan told me.

Despite being in a clinical setting, Trevathan makes the experience a relaxing one. Her enthusiastic personality is contagious, and she’s easy to chat with. A few puffs of the ProNox every so often, and I felt dreamy and calm throughout each procedure.

Morpheus8 and Lumecca are just two of the services offered

THE AMERICAN MED SPA ASSOCIATION DEFINES A MEDICAL SPA BY FOUR CORE ELEMENTS: (1) The provision of non-invasive (i.e. non-surgical) aesthetic medical services; (2) Under the general supervision of a licensed physician; (3) Performed by trained, experienced and qualified practitioners; (4) With onsite supervision by a licensed health care professional.

FEELING HEALTHIER JUST GOT EASIER! at Premier Medical Spa. Forma is a noninvasive facial treatment that uses radio frequency to stimulate and boost new collagen production, tighten and lift the skin and enhance elasticity. DiolazeXL is an advanced laser hair removal procedure. BodyTite is the newest procedure offered at Premier Medical Spa. It is powered by directional radiofrequency resulting in three-dimensional tissue remodeling through fat coagulation and volumetric directional heating.

Essentially it is liposuction without the surgery, excisional scars or downtime, and with the added benefit of tightened skin.

Premier Medical Spa also offers customized facials, dermal fillers and Botox injections. The dermalinfusion facial is the first and only face and body skin-resurfacing treatment of its kind. It exfoliates, extracts and infuses skin with conditionspecific serums for an all-inclusive treatment that leaves the skin hydrated, refreshed and radiant.

With so many different services and options, it can seem overwhelming, but the Premier Medical Spa team is incredibly helpful. Look for them in their new location by mid-September.

Visit their Facebook page for details.

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DAYTRIPPIN'

s t o ry a n d p h o t o s b y

JESS HUFF

T

hose who never venture beyond the neon hotel signs and casino lights of Shreveport, Louisiana will miss the real, vibrant and growing city.

Within two weeks of moving to the south, I learned of Shreveport’s reputation as a gambling town and quickly moved it down on my list of places to visit. I’ve never been much of a gambler and figured any hidden gems would be far too difficult to find, let alone enjoy.

In May, Chris Jay, the director of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Visitors Bureau, reached out and offered to take me and a few other journalists on a culinary tour of the city. After making sure Chris was not a serial killer luring me to his white stalker’s van with the promise of stuffed shrimp and homemade gumbo, I began preparing for the trip.

I can’t say I wasn’t excited; I love to travel, especially for the sake of discovering new food. So I remained optimistic that a local would know what he was talking about.

Billboards lining I-20 east for the last 23.2 miles to Shreveport do little to portray Shreveport as part of the “foodie haven” Louisiana is purported to be. And stringent Google checks failed to shake the concern I had of spending the next three days in food H-E-double-hockey-sticks.

However, after three days exploring the city with a local and three absolutely fabulous fellow foodies, my mind was forever changed about Shreveport.

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Day ONe

We stayed at 2439 Fairfield: A Bed and Breakfast. It is run by proprietor Jimmy Harris and Brian Resmundo and is located along the historic Fairfield Avenue — a street worth driving down even if you can’t get a room at one of the three bed and breakfasts there.

I was forewarned that the charm of 2439 Fairfield was not the sole reason for staying there. Jimmy’s fried pies were. But they’d have to wait until day three.

After the group fully formed at Fairfield, we headed off to Great Raft Brewing for a much needed post-travel beer. Great Raft Brewing is Shreveport’s first brewery since Prohibition, and the owners seem to take that fact seriously.

Personally, I loved the atmosphere and could have spent the rest of the night there, drinking beer and playing the many available board games. But the call of Ono’s Hawaiian Grill was far too strong for my compadres, and we moved on.

Ono’s may have been a bit of a miss for me except for quick thinking on the part of the owner, Sione Maumalanga. At the end of the meal — of which my companions savored every bite — he brought out five large wine glasses where he cut up bits of his favorite deserts and combined them into one deliciously sweet treat. It was a pineapple creme brulee with Polynesian doughnut bits. Aloe leaves, strawberries and whipped cream served as the garnish.

I. Ate. Every. Bite.

Day twO

I realized quite early on that I should have paid closer attention to the tour itinerary on day two. After the third stop I was stuffed, with several more stops to get through.

I’m pretty sure we ate upwards of 20,000 calories, and none of us felt shame at needing to loosen our belts by the end of the day.

Our first stop was the Cotton Boll Grill, an 80-year-old diner that brought back memories of eating breakfast with my grandpa. I’m tearing up as I write it now because, before his passing, he and I talked about all the places he might like to see in the South. This would have been one of them.

While I wasn’t dissatisfied with any part of it, the standout item on my plate was their hot water cornbread. Growing up, no one in my family really ever made cornbread. So the idea of a different type of cornbread was as foreign to me as eating guinea pig in Peru.

Chris had really built it up by this point, which probably made it all the more remarkable, but whereas normal hot water cornbread is smoothed into a sort of disc shape (so I’m told) this cornbread was pinched, making some parts more crunchy while leaving the center soft. Paired with some butter, it was delectable. I plan to make it myself and use honey butter.

As much as the hot water cornbread stood out to me, nothing compared to the stuffed shrimp at two of Shreveport’s

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most historic restaurants (Orlandeaux’s Cafe and Eddie’s Restaurant). Now, this was the part of the itinerary that I dreaded the most. Ask anyone. I. Hate. Shrimp. I feel like I’m eating tiny bodies (because I am). Just give me a large, indiscernible chunk of cow, and I’ll be fine.

While most people connect stuffed shrimp to what you eat at weddings, Shreveport is building a reputation for it, in part because of these restaurants. The way they stretched it out, blanketed in breading and spices, and then threw it in the deep fryer made me fall in love.

It may be that I can only love the shrimp made by these two restaurants, but I’m excited to find out.

While waiting for our second helping of stuffed shrimp at Orlandeaux’s, the server brought out small bowls of gumbo.

My friends were well accustomed to gumbo, and while I’ve always liked it, I’ve not had a ton of it to say I know what “goes in gumbo.” So while everyone was enjoying small bites of theirs (remember, 20,000 calories that day), I dug my spoon down to the bottom and was surprised to feel something hard.

Now, there is little as nerve-wracking as dipping your spoon into a soft substance to feel something hard that is not your bowl, but when a giant crab claw rose to the surface I was mostly confused.

Chris told me to pick it up and suck the meat off the end, and that was easily the best decision I made all day. I’ve had crab dipped in butter (the tiny bodies rule does not apply to crab), and I’ve had crab on sandwiches, but crab meat soaked in gumbo stew is something new to crave.

Despite being extraordinarily stuffed, we ordered crab claws in a sort of green pesto sauce at Herby K’s later that day so I could fully enjoy this newfound love. Anyone reading this may think I’m a crazy Northerner for loving this as much as I did. That’s fine. Also, if you find yourself in Shreveport looking for a shrimp buster, hit up Herby-K’s.

Trust me.

Day thRee

Chris, in all his infinite wisdom, did us the kindness of scheduling a more active, less calorie-heavy day while we fought the food bloat from day two.

I woke up early and ready for the delicious fried pies I was promised. While Jimmy and Brian made us an excellent breakfast, all that comes to mind from that morning was the perfect blend of crunchy and soft flakiness that enfolded homemade fruit preserves. It was worth the wait, but I wouldn’t recommend waiting if you can help it.

We spent mid-morning at the Shreveport Farmers’ Market and then made our way to Blueberry Hill.

Walking through line after line of blueberry crops is maybe one of the easiest ways to relax and just enjoy a simple, natural task. While we all knew we were supposed to bring home content to publish and were going to stress about deadlines sooner or later, at that point we were relaxed and happy.

CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

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Thank you, Chris Jay. After we were all sufficiently dehydrated and sunburned, we hit up Ki Mexico for a late lunch and then the Lowder Baking Company.

I have a bit of a soft spot for bakeries, primarily because I have not figured out how to make my own bread as well as theirs, and I feel a distinct need to continually compare myself to professionals. It’s fine. I’m fine. And so was their bread.

It tasted great, and I was amazed by the designs they included in the flour on top. One loaf was decorated with a beautifully detailed sugar skull and another with an ornate crown.

By the end of day three, we all became much better friends, and were bushed. So we found a nice wine bar and spent the night drinking, enjoying light meals and laughing about the rest of the day.

Day foUr

I spent most of day four on the side of a highway with my broken down car, waiting on my boyfriend, a tow truck and crying like a baby over a vehicle I love far too much.

But, before all the sadness and despair was a morning brunch at Marilynn’s Place and a trip to the R.W. Norton Art Gallery.

Marilynn’s owner and chef Robert “Boz” Baucum gutted the inside of a service station to build a unique brunch location. Upon arriving, he loaded us up with wristbands that would let us drink ’til we drowned, so I made sure to enjoy a few of his recommended beverages.

We served ourselves buffet style — I had flatbread, spread with schmear and topped with smoked salmon and a healthy serving of watermelon basil salad.

Afterward, I said goodbye to my newfound friends.

Two would stay in town another night and one had a very long drive ahead of her. I had my sights on the art gallery, though.

The R.W. Norton Art Gallery is a free gallery that is home to iconic artwork by more than 100 award-winning artists, classics and even historical items from some of man’s earliest history. It is surrounded by acres of fully manicured gardens that are home to a million different types of plants and flowers.

I spent 45 minutes or more hunting down the world’s most expensive gun with an armed security guard. I think we both felt it worth our time.

My only regret was that they do not allow photography on site, so you will actually have to visit Shreveport to see it.

I think there is something to be said about a community that is overshadowed by a certain reputation but is still building something different to be proud of. While I’m sure gambling is fun and the flashy hotels are great, don’t forget there is so much more beneath the surface.

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Carroway FUNERAL HOME

Locally Owned and Managed in Lufkin & Huntington

The name you know.

The people you can trust.

“Carroway Hospitality Center”, now available for you and your family’s comfort & convenience.

2704 S. John Redditt Dr. Lufkin 936-634-2255

Roy Carroway Owner

It’s not just a house, it’s your home.

Stringer’s

“A family tradition since 1950” Lufkin’s Oldest Family Owned Restaurant

Lunch Plates and Family Packs available

Clark Insurance Agency

Lawson Insurance Agency

Nicole Clark, Agent

Angie Neal, Agent

1507 E. Denman Ave.

1003 E. Main, Zavalla

936-632-5171

936-897-2573 www.GermaniaInsurance.com

Let us cater your special occasion 2 Banquet Rooms available with seating up to 60 or 100

203 S. Chestnut Dr. 936-634-4744 • Mon-Sat. 10 am-9 pm • Closed Sunday Paul & Robin Stringer Owners www.lufkinbbq.com

Commercial • Home • Life • Auto CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

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Floral Fashion photos by hair by

KELLIE GANN & COMPANY

ROB FISHER

makeup by

ASHLEY CONLON

wa r d r o b e b y

RUBIE & JANE

sunglasses provided by the center for sight of lufkin

l o c at i o n g r a c i o u s ly p r o v i d e d b y k a s e y & s t e p h a n i e c l i f t o n

&

Relax Enjoy Booth Space Available in Our New Luxury Beauty Salon and Spa

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1018 S. John Redditt Dr. (Next to The Lunch Box) 936.899.7084 | 713.560.4631 beautemarkaesthetics.com

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

Wishing Well Antiques & Gifts

901 S. John Redditt Dr., Lufkin • 632.4707 On West Loop, across from Post Office Tues.–Sat. 10:00 ish - 5:00 ish wishingwellantiques.com

Present this coupon for 15% off regular priced clothing and shoes

Find your bridesmaid style at Rubie & Jane!

Vaild thru 9-30-19

WE HAVE MOVED! 109 E. Shepherd Ave Lufkin, Texas

110 S. 1st. St. • Lufkin 936-899-7046

104 S. First St. (936) 637-1084

Trunk Event

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 1-6 PM

Please join Sweet Ethel Mae on Tuesday, September 24th from 1 to 6pm as we celebrate our 2nd annual Finally Fall Trunk Event. While enjoying refreshments, sign up for extraordinary giveaways from our vendors, as well as a $500 store gift certificate. Visit with some of our favorite sales reps from NAPA, BEATRIZ BALL, JOSEPH RIBKOFF, STONEWALL KITCHEN, UNO DE 50, WAXING POETIC and more as they premiere their 2019 releases.

206 S. First St. • Lufkin • 936.899.7172 CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

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Mediterranean|Quinoa s t o ry a n d p h o t o b y

NICOLE ROBERTS

I

you had pulled that highly processed meal out of the freezer and thrown it in the oven. Allow yourself to fall in love with cooking!

That being said, I hate to waste good produce because it can be expensive. I had a variety of vegetables left over from the previous two nights’ dinners so I got resourceful, sautéed the veggies, cooked a pot of quinoa and grabbed a few things out of the pantry to whip up this super easy and delicious Mediterranean dish.

Mediterranean Quinoa Ingredients: ■ 1 cup of uncooked quinoa (I know quinoa isn’t everyone’s favorite, so substitute the quinoa with orzo if you prefer. It will be just as good.)

■ 1 cup of thinly sliced zucchini — then cut into quarters ■ 1 cup of thinly sliced yellow squash — then cut into quarters ■ ½ sliced yellow bell pepper ■ ½ sliced red bell pepper ■ ½ white onion ■ ½ red onion ■ About 3-4 thinly sliced white mushrooms ■ 1 jar of marinated artichoke hearts ■ 1 jar of marinated sun-dried tomatoes ■ 1 can of white cannelloni beans — drained (do not cook)

Mediterranean Vinaigrette Ingredients: ■ ¼ cup olive oil ■ 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar ■ A squeeze of a lemon wedge ■ 3 cloves of finely minced garlic ■ A handful of very finely chopped parsley ■ About 8-10 basil leaves roughly chopped ■ 1 sprig of very finely chopped rosemary ■ cracked black pepper ■ 1 tsp (or more to taste) of coarse grain sea salt

thoroughly enjoy cutting vegetables. It is so relaxing and therapeutic to me. I have talked to so many people who say they don’t enjoy cooking because they hate the time it takes to cut up and prepare all the ingredients. If you can, get yourself a great wooden cutting board and be sure to keep your knives sharpened. Turn on some music and just enjoy the process. Take your time while cutting and preparing and think about the fact that you are preparing food that is going to nourish your body, nourish your family’s bodies and ultimately leave you all feeling better than you would have if

Stir all the ingredients for the vinaigrette. Stir a little bit into the white beans and let it sit while you prepare the rest.

Cook your quinoa (or orzo) per the package instructions — don’t forget to add salt.

I find that quinoa tends to get mushy if you handle it too much when it’s still hot. Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes if you have the time and then fluff with a fork.

Heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil in a deep pan/pot. I use my ceramic Dutch oven. Sauté your veggies. Don’t sauté longer than 4-5 minutes so they stay crisp. Soggy vegetables are yuck!

Add the fluffed quinoa to the sautéed vegetables and add the vinaigrette (reserve just a bit to add at the end). Stir with a fork, not a spoon, because it will mush up the quinoa. Add a jar of roughly chopped sun-dried tomatoes, a jar of marinated artichoke hearts and the white cannelloni beans. Sprinkle with a bit of course sea salt and drizzle a bit of the olive oil mixture if you have any left and squeeze a little bit of lemon over the top.

Bon Appetit!

Follow Nicole on Instagram @livewell_livewhole for more food inspiration.

This dish pairs nicely with white fish or grilled chicken.

Crumble some feta on top for extra flavor.

“I ate the cold leftovers for lunch the next day and honestly loved it so much.

So, if you can make it ahead of time and chill, you might love it even more.�

CHARMING DRINK

Ingredients: For the lavender simple syrup: ½ cup sugar ½ cup water 6 sprigs of fresh lavender For the cocktail: ½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice 4 ounces vodka, chilled To garnish: Sugar for rimming Additional lavender sprigs Lemon slices Instructions: To make the simple syrup, combine the sugar and water in a small pot and bring to a boil; cook until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat.

Add lavender sprigs and cool completely, stirring occasionally.

To make the cocktail: Rim the edge of two glasses with a lemon slice and dip the rim in sugar.

Strain the simple syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice, lemon juice and vodka. Shake well.

Pour the mixture through a strainer into a cocktail glass.

Garnish with lavender sprigs and lemon slices.

Skip the vodka for non-drinkers or children.

Editor’s note: In order to help homeless pets in the Lufkin and Nacogdoches area, Charm East Texas’ animal rescue page features pets that are in desperate need of loving homes. If you are a rescue that has a pet to feature, please contact us at editor@charmeasttexas.com.

View other adoptable pets at Petfinder.com.

Animal Rescue Sponsored by West Loop Animal Clinic

Lola is a precious 3-year-old terrier mix who loves to cuddle with her person. She does great with people of all ages and really enjoys playing with other dogs her size. She is spayed and up-to-date on all shots. For more information or to adopt, please go to our website at nacfosterrescue. com or send us a message on our Facebook page Nac Foster Rescue.

Sky is a 1-year-old Lab mix.

She is up-to-date on vaccines, spayed, heartworm-negative and microchipped. Sky is a sweet girl with a lot of love and attention to give. She loves to run and play outside. She is good with other dogs and children.

Contact the Winnie Berry Humane Society at (936) 639-1880 for more information.

Lola

Sky

Star

Faith

Star is a 9-month-old German shepherd mix. Star is a special girl who is waiting for a forever home. Star is an absolute joy to be around. She could run and play all day. Star’s eyes light up when she meets new people.

Star is great with cats and children.

She does well with other dogs, with proper introduction. She is up-todate on vaccines and preventatives, spayed and microchipped. Contact the Winnie Berry Humane Society at (936) 639-1880 for more information.

Faith is a 1-year-old domestic shorthair. Faith is a loving girl who is looking to find a forever home. She loves to play outside and eat treats.

She is an absolute sweetheart and beauty. Faith is great with other cats and children. She is up-to-date on vaccines and preventatives, spayed and microchipped. Contact the Winnie Berry Humane Society at (936) 639-1880 for more information.

New Extended Hours Tuesday & Thursday 6PM-9PM

2517 Ted Trout Dr. • (Hwy 94 West) • 637-3867

s t o ry b y

ANGELA LARSON

D

epression is intricately connected to nutrition and a person’s individual genetics and biochemistry. Dr. William Walsh, author of “Nutrient Power” and president of the nonprofit organization The Walsh Institute, has been studying the influence of nutrients on mental illness since the 1970s. He has collected thousands of blood samples and patient histories to support his theory of depression and best treatment practices.

In “Nutrient Power,” Walsh presents depression as an umbrella term that encompasses many different conditions with different root causes. In general, symptoms of depression may include chronic sadness, feelings of guilt, social withdrawal, agitation, problems with concentration, anxiety and difficulty sleeping.

According to Walsh, there are five major bio-types of depression with differing root causes. The five causes include: 1. Under-methylation 2. Folate deficiency 3. Copper overload 4. Pyrrole disorder 5. Toxic metal poisoning While some may have multiple causes of depression, such as a combination of under-methylation and copper overload, each issue should be separately addressed to eventually help improve or resolve depression. Each type of depression has a specific

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effect on neurotransmitters, which are the brain’s chemical messengers. (Some causes of depression fall outside Walsh’s sub-types and may be caused by a variety of physical problems such as thyroid imbalance, gut problems, food sensitivities and autoimmune conditions.)

UNDER-METHYLATION Depression caused by under-methylation (a lack of methyl groups available in the body) results in low serotonin and dopamine activity. Serotonin is responsible for feelings of wellbeing, while dopamine affects feelings of reward and pleasure.

Under-methylated depression is the most common type of depression, with almost 40% of those evaluated by Walsh having this type.

A common characteristic of under-methylated depression is a good response to the commonly used class of antidepressant drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Common SSRI medications include Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. Common traits of under-methylated (low-serotonin) individuals include OCD tendencies, perfectionism, tendency for seasonal allergies, calm exterior with high inner tension and family history of high accomplishment.

Nutrients for the treatment of under-methylated depression include the amino acid methionine, vitamin B-6, calcium,

vitamin D, vitamin C and magnesium. High intake of folates through food or supplements is often not well-tolerated because it can lower serotonin activity. Those who are under-methylated do best on a varied diet with an emphasis on good quality animal proteins like pasture-raised beef, pork or chicken, as well as seafood. Supplements with large amounts of niacin or folate/ folic acid should be avoided by those with under-methylated depression.

FOLATE DEFICIENCY In contrast to those with under-methylated depression, those with folate deficiency-type depression thrive on folaterich foods and supplements. They often have a bad response with a worsening of symptoms to antihistamines and SSRI antidepressant medications, but may experience a lessening of symptoms with benzodiazepine class anti-anxiety medications (such as Xanax, Valium, Klonopin and Ativan). Anxiety is often paired with depression in this type, with many of those afflicted also having panic attacks. Common traits of depressed people that are low in folate are high anxiety, non-competitive personalities, low achievement in school, artistic tendencies and lack of seasonal allergies.

The most helpful nutrients for treatment are folate, vitamin B-12, niacin, choline, manganese, B-6 and zinc. An ideal diet for those who are folate deficient should include plenty of folate-rich plant foods such as dark leafy greens, okra, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, avocado, blackberries, beans, lentils and sunflower seeds. The best animal protein choices include eggs, dairy products and liver.

COPPER OVERLOAD About 17% of those in Walsh’s patient database have elevated copper levels that result in a dopamine deficiency, as well as high norepinephrine and adrenaline levels. During times of stress or danger, adrenaline and norepinephrine are elevated and result in the “fight-or-flight” stress response. Elevated levels of these substances can cause problems with high anxiety and panic disorder.

Walsh believes copper overload is also the primary cause of postpartum depression. Women experience this type of depression more often than men because estrogen tends to increase copper levels. Beside depression, common symptoms of copper overload include severe anxiety, sleep problems, hormone imbalances, ringing in the ears and onset during hormonal events (i.e. puberty, pregnancy, menopause, birth control use, hormone replacement therapy, etc.)

The most useful nutrients for treating copper overload are vitamin B-6, vitamin C, and especially zinc. Zinc levels are often low in those who have a copper overload, it is an important nutrient involved in the removal of excess copper from the body.

Foods rich in copper such as dark chocolate, liver and shellfish should be avoided or limited for those with confirmed copper overload. Multi-vitamins and other supplements containing copper also should be avoided. Dietary emphasis should be on good quality animal proteins to increase zinc and B-6 intake such as pasture-raised beef, pork and chicken, dairy products and eggs. Plant-based diets could exacerbate copper overload

in susceptible individuals due to diminished zinc intake and higher-than-average intake of dietary copper. Since most fruits and vegetables are low in zinc, vegetarians should aim to include soaked, sprouted and fermented grain, nut and legume products in their diet to increase the amount of zinc available in those foods.

PYRROLE DISORDER About 15% of depressed individuals studied by Walsh have a pyrrole disorder that is contributing to depression symptoms.

Pyrrole is a stress disorder that is often triggered by a severe emotional or physical trauma and is characterized by high levels of oxidative stress. It causes a marked deficiency in B-6 and zinc resulting in low brain levels of serotonin, dopamine and GABA. Common symptoms and traits include severe mood swings, poor stress coping, rages, no dream recall, nausea in the morning, a tendency to sunburn easily and sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises. Many of these individuals are fearful and obsessed with natural or manmade disasters.

The most helpful nutrients for those suffering with pyrrolerelated depression are zinc and vitamin B-6. Other helpful nutrients to assist with detoxification and reducing oxidative stress include vitamin C, selenium, glutathione and vitamin E. An ideal diet is rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as an emphasis on high-quality animal proteins such as beef, pork, poultry, dairy and eggs to provide plentiful zinc and vitamin B-6.

TOXIC METAL POISONING Around 5% of those evaluated by Walsh for depression exhibited toxic metal overload, primarily of lead, mercury, cadmium or arsenic. Common traits and symptoms include sudden onset of depressive symptoms, abdominal pain, headaches, muscle weakness, irritability, poor energy and lack of response to anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications.

Toxic metal overload is difficult to diagnose with normal lab tests. High-quality calcium, zinc, vitamin C and glutathione can be useful for various metal toxicities. Susceptible individuals should avoid seafood high in mercury. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and high-quality animal proteins with an emphasis on organic foods is best for those with toxic metal-type depression.

It is helpful to know that depression is actually caused by a variety of underlying biochemical issues that can be addressed with the wise and individualized use of diet, supplements and medications. This explains why specific treatments (such as certain antidepressant medications or supplements) work for some but not others. Proper diagnosis of any specific sub-type of depression requires specific blood tests and a thorough patient history by a physician trained in Walsh’s methods.

For more information about getting individualized treatment for depression, read “Nutrient Power” by Walsh and visit WalshInstitute.org for a list of Walsh Institute-trained physicians.

To schedule a consultation with Angela, visit the MediSlim clinic at 3806 S. Medford Drive in Lufkin or call (936) 632-1996 for more information.

CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

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J an s t o ry b y

W

Lusk 's

NANCY REYNOLDS

hen Jan Lusk was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, she was grateful that the Temple Cancer Center made it possible for her to receive treatment in East Texas, close to her home in Etoile. Lusk’s husband has Parkinson’s disease and requires constant care, so being able to receive treatment locally was extremely important to her.

“I was so relieved that I didn’t have to make that trip to Houston. Since I am so busy caring for my husband and can get the care I need in Lufkin, I would much rather just receive my treatment locally and not have to travel to Houston,” Lusk said. “This is much more convenient and much less stressful, because by the time you make a long drive to the city, you’re tense and half the time you don’t remember the questions you wanted to ask the doctor.”

Lusk’s cancer was detected during her annual mammogram.

“Early detection is the key,” she said.

Since her cancer was small and her enzyme levels were high enough, she did not need chemotherapy, just radiation therapy.

“Thank goodness it was only radiation, because the side effects from chemo are much greater,” she said. “Still, it was quite an experience. I had 20 radiation treatments. Some people need a much higher number of treatments. I am so thankful we caught it early.

“I was diagnosed in March and then met with Dr. (Bramham) Reddy and Dr. (Sid) Roberts in April. I had surgery May 7th and started treatment in June. I came in every weekday. I’d come in and do my treatment and then have to go home and take care of my husband,” she said.

Fortunately Lusk didn’t have many side effects from the radiation treatments — mostly just fatigue. She was also fortunate that her daughter was able to come to stay with her

Jo ur ne y photo by

LESLIE NEMEC

and help.

While most patients experience fears about treatment, Lusk had an unusual concern. “It was scary in the beginning because my work involved selling the equipment used in cancer treatment, and knowing what the equipment does made me a little nervous. I was more concerned about which machines might be used in my treatment. I thought about it too much, but I’m glad I had the information,” she said.

Lusk also credits Dr. Roberts and the Temple Cancer Center team for letting her know what to expect.

“Dr. Roberts always informed me about what the treatment was going to be like and he always gave me suggestions as to what I should do to take care of myself after the treatment.

“Everyone treated me with such caring and compassion.

The staff are so nice and very comforting. They go out of their way to make you feel comfortable in the treatment room. The whole group works so well together. I would recommend the Temple Cancer Center to anyone needing treatment. I’m so happy that we have these medical professionals here in Lufkin,” she said.

Lusk has kept a positive attitude through her treatment.

“It’s just one of those things. Life throws us curve balls and we have to run with it,” she said. “I’m in remission and the only treatment I need now is to take a pill every day for the next five years.

“Facing cancer makes you look at life differently. It makes you think more about other people than you ever did before.

We learn to live less selfishly. It’s all about an attitude of gratitude. I would like to work with people who have just been diagnosed, before they have to go through treatment. It’s not as scary if you know what to expect.”

Providing a Way Tori Gartman is called to care for others s t o ry b y

A

NANCY REYNOLDS

cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Having someone to help navigate all the details involved — everything from insurance to emotional support — is important for a patient’s overall well-being.

Tori Gartman, CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Temple Cancer Center’s licensed master social worker, is available to help patients manage their health care and their unique, personal circumstances.

With more than 25 years of experience, Gartman said she was drawn to the profession because of her natural desire to help others.

“I was always the person in high school that people came to for help. I always knew I wanted to help people. I was good at listening to others’ problems and giving advice,” she said. Her brother-in-law is a social worker and encouraged her to try a couple of classes while she was attending Stephen F. Austin State University.

Gartman found her calling. “I was drawn to the hands-on helping — looking at the whole person,” she said.

When she first meets with a patient, Gartman assesses needs, including insurance, access to medications, the transportation situation and their emotional support system.

“I let them lead. I ask them what they need and sometimes they tell me something that wasn’t even on my radar,” she said.

For many patients the most pressing concern is insurance coverage. Gartman urges everyone to explore the options available to them through the Affordable Care Act at healthcare.gov so they can get preventive screenings.

Funding for disease-specific treatment does exist, but these funds are typically limited and are unfortunately quickly depleted. Patients under the age of 65 face the challenge of qualifying for disability insurance, which can take up to a year, and then waiting another two years to qualify for Medicare insurance. CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial has a program for charitable coverage of services performed by the hospital. Patients apply through the admissions office and, if approved, both inpatient and outpatient services are covered.

photo by

LESLIE NEMEC

While cancer treatment brings its own challenges, for some patients simply having transportation to the center may be an issue. The Temple Cancer Center serves patients in seven counties, so patients may have to travel great distances to access treatment. It is daunting for someone going through treatment, and not feeling well, to worry about affording gas for a long trip to the center and driving to the center.

“Because they’re traveling from such a long distance and because we cover such a big geographical area, coming in once a day for eight weeks can be expensive,” Gartman said.

Fortunately, she can offer patients gas card referrals and access to other transportation programs.

Gartman takes great care to tend to her patients’ emotional well-being while they go through treatment.

“There are a number of local counselors available for individual counseling. Many accept Medicare and Medicaid,” she said. Resources include the Burke Center and Oceans Healthcare, as well as online support groups and local grief support groups. “Most of our patients rely on support from families, friends, churches and communities.”

Through all of these challenges, Gartman is able to stay positive for her patients and because of them. “I look at the successes, the positives. Those who maintain their positivity no matter what. I look for those things that give me joy, those positive connections that are made. It’s just part of being a social worker. Anyone in the helping profession has these challenges. You have to have a sense of humor, look for joy in the small things and know that you’re making a difference,” she said.

“What surprises me most about this work is the resiliency of human beings. The things that one person can deal with and still be smiling and still be going on, still be fighting, just amazes me,” Gartman said. “There are people out there that I call shining lights. I look at them and think how inspiring are they. They amaze me. They take the time to encourage others even though they are going through a rough time.

Those are the things that keep me going. Just how amazing people can be.”

TEMPLE CANCER CENTER OFFERS HIGHTECH TREATMENT CLOSE TO HOME s t o ry b y

S

NANCY REYNOLDS

erving East Texas for more than 30 years, the Temple Cancer Center continues to provide compassionate, high quality health care to the East Texas community. Directed

by Dr. Sidney Roberts, radiation oncologist, the center has more than kept pace with the quality of care offered by major medical centers.

“I think the biggest misconception about getting cancer treatment locally is that it’s not as good as if you went to the big city. In reality, we have state-of-the-art, latest-generation equipment and can do the same techniques that they’re doing in the big cities with significantly less delay in getting started on your treatment. I believe our care to be more personalized and compassionate with the added benefit that you get to stay home where people who know you and want to help care for you are around you,” Dr. Roberts said.

The newest developments at the center are the deep inspiration breath hold and the Space OAR. The deep inspiration breath hold helps to protect the heart during breast cancer treatment and the Space OAR will shorten the treatment time for prostate cancer.

The center’s Elekta Infinity Linear Accelerator precisely treats cancer utilizing finely focused radiation beams. PET/ CT scanners are used to detect cancer and those images may be combined with MRI images to have the best information on which to base a treatment plan.

Monaco and Anatom-e computer systems also are used with PET/CT scans to create treatment plans for patients. The center’s large bore CT-based and dedicated departmental digital simulators allows a greater field-ofview for better imaging.

The center specializes in treatment options including intensity modulated radioactive treatment (IMRT), which the radiation precisely conforms to the shape of the tumor and volumetric arc therapy (VMAT), which delivers a continuous dose of radiation as the treatment machine rotates around the patient. Low-dose-rate brachytherapy treatment uses radiation sources internally to treat cancer at the exact site with little, if any, effect to the surrounding area.

Patients also have access to ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options.

When Dr. Roberts began practicing in 1992, the odds of curing a patient’s cancer were 50-50. Today the cure rate is seven in 10 thanks to improved technology and treatment options.

photos by

LESLIE NEMEC

“If you look at many of the most common cancers, breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer, cure rates are routinely eight or nine out of 10, especially if the cancers are caught early,” Dr. Roberts said.

Prevention efforts have played a significant role in reducing the number of smoking-related cancers as well as cervical and HPV-related head and neck cancers.

“The HPV vaccine and other similar programs are a tremendous boon for decreasing the instance of those cancers,” he said. Colonoscopies have helped many patients discover polyps that can be removed before they have a chance to develop into cancer.

“We need to make sure more people are taking advantage of the early detection and early diagnosis opportunities,” Dr. Roberts said.

“We’re making strides in determining who does not need to be treated for their cancer. For example, older women with very early breast cancers who are going to take tamoxifen or Arimidex, a hormone pill, may not need radiation. So we can spare some women a treatment in that regard,” he said.

“A low-risk prostate cancer often times can just simply be observed. So that sort of change in earlier diagnosing and treating cancer also minimizes treatment when it’s not needed.

“I am extremely proud of and grateful for the fact that we have never had to turn a single patient away for the inability to pay. We have a mission to care for everyone here, and CHI has supported that mission so we can treat every patient the same regardless of their financial or socioeconomic status.

Cancer care is something that no patient should not be able to access for lack of ability to pay,” Dr. Roberts said.

“My grandmother was a physician and practiced in Abilene, Texas. I saw that type of community practice as very attractive. I also was very much attracted to the idea of helping cancer patients — primarily because I felt like if they were being treated for cure that was great, but if we were just helping with pain or other symptoms that the cancer may cause, there was still a significant role for medicine to play,” Dr. Roberts said. “Patients want a compassionate physician who is going to talk to them and be honest with them, and I think we provide that compassionate care here on all spans of the spectrum of cancer care from curative to end of life.”

For more information about the Temple Cancer Center, call (936) 639-7468.

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2019 BEST OF LUFKIN Best Annual Community Event

1201 W. Frank Ave. | Lufkin | 936.634.8111 CHIStLukesHealthMemorial.org

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 11:30 A.M.- 1 P.M. LUFKIN PITSER GARRISON CONVENTION CENTER

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

GARDENING

A Tropical Oasis s t o ry b y

M

y wife was able to join me at a conference I attended in Galveston last month. While I was in meetings, seminars and luncheons, she was on the beach and visiting a local garden. Everywhere we went, she asked, “Why can’t we grow this around our home?”

So why can’t we have a tropical oasis in our backyard? Actually we can. And we can do it with some well-adapted plants.

Now, truly, many of the tropical plants you’ll find in coastal locations won’t make it through our winters.One horticulturalist told me jokingly, “You can grow everything you see here if you have a large heated greenhouse over your landscape all through the winter.”

While we cannot have all the plants that grow on the coast, there were several you could plant here to create a place with vibrant color, large glossy leaves and, ultimately, a tropical feel.

Let’s start with a humble and common plant that is already well-adapted: Canna lilies. Yep, you’ll find them almost everywhere, and when the leaf-rolling insects are cared for, they look outstanding and work well here. Look for blooms that can be red, orange or yellow. Leaf colors can wander into bronze, variegated and maroon, in addition to the still-impressive green leaves. Start with Cannas as a back wall for a small area, and you’ll be rewarded with a low-maintenance plant.

A little more difficult, but certainly a tropical favorite is the Bird of Paradise. Grown for its incredible flowers, they grow best in pots or as an accent plant. The plant gets its name from the flower’s resemblance to tropical birds.

Banana plants do well, as long as you don’t expect to get any bananas. I have only seen a banana fruit on a local banana plant once in all my years here. Still, the large leaves showcase a classic tropical feel. Plant them in a sunny location.

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CARY SIMS

Next, look at Brugmansia, or angel’s trumpets. These can require extra water and fertilizer, but the blooms are ridiculous — large yellow blooms up to 10 inches long. Well cared for, they can reach more than 12 feet tall in one season. Mulch deeply over the winter, and they should make it through the cold season.

Caladiums are grown from tubers each spring. While not a repeating bloom, these hardy, shade-loving plants are found in several gardens around here. The abundance of color in the leaves is enormous. During the fall you can dig them up and store in a cool, dry place until next spring.

Coleus are related to caladiums but come in a much larger selection.

Turmeric and its relative ginger are some other options for large leaves and wonderful blooms. According to one source they require heat, humidity and rain. Well, just add water when we get dry, and we won’t have to worry about the rest.

Hibiscus can be super easy, if you plant the hardy hibiscus.

We have our very own hardy variety in East Texas and several will go dormant during the winter only to return and give a huge show during the summer. Look for Superstar varieties such as Flare, Lord Baltimore and Moy Grande.

Oleander shrubs are a staple, it seems, along the coast, and we can grow them here, too. If you’ve heard they are poisonous, they are. But so is your peach tree and the tomato plant. So, just like you wouldn’t eat leaves from those plants, don’t eat oleander. Just enjoy its beauty.

There’s also the Sago Palm, which isn’t really a palm at all, and I know there will be others you may think of. But you get the idea: We can have our own tropical paradise — even if is just on our back porch.

FORAGING

The Earth Is Flat s t o ry b y

T

MARK VORDERBRUGGEN

he world is flat. No, seriously! Maybe not in the manner of “Flat Earth” conspiracy theories but in a way even more insidious and dangerous. Your world is flat. Flat floors, flat sidewalks, flat trails ... a majority of your paths are flat, and it’s messing with your mind and body.

Think about it. We modern humans are believed to have appeared on the scene about 300,000 years ago.

The first crude human dwellings date back only 30,000 years. Before that we roamed the Earth, traveling where wild game led us during the day and spending the nights huddled around trees or hiding in caves. The surfaces we strode upon were as rough and untamed as we ourselves were. That’s the sort of surfaces we adapted to through evolution.

But now everything is flat. Yes, it’s safer, easier to travel along flat, even, non-slippery surfaces. It takes very little effort or observation to maneuver through the modern world. A person’s face can be glued to their cellphone as the walk block after city block.

Flatness — what a wonderful invention — unless your body and brain were designed for rough travel.

As the world’s population ages, some very problematic studies of the elderly have come to light. Japan has the oldest demographics, so a majority of the studies have been done there. The results of these studies have shown superior levels of attention, balance and core muscle

i l l u s t r at i o n b y l a n c e k i n g r e y

strength are found in people who have spent above average amounts of time traversing rough, wild places.

Those who spent their lives on flat places suffered overall weaker strength and much-reduced sense of balance.

This leads the “flatlanders” to being significantly more susceptible to falling and the resultant critical injuries. A U.S. study in 2000 found that 70% of deaths of people over the age of 75 were due to falling.

More than 270,000 years of uneven ground forced our core muscles to be strong, constantly working to keep our bodies upright.

Our brains were constantly scanning for hazards. A protruding root that could trip us was given almost as much attention as the deep growl coming from behind a bush. But now neither muscles nor brain have to work hard to keep us sure-footed.

And like anything that isn’t used, they begin to atrophy and then fail when most needed.

So spend some time on the trail, off the path, off the flat. Clamber along a streambed. Climb a steep hill of loose, shifting soil. Study the ground for good footholds and handholds. Tap your inner caveman/ cavewoman now to better survive the modern world coming. Go wild, friends!

Follow Merriwether’s Foraging Texas on Facebook and @ merriwetherforager on Instagram for daily introductions to the edible, medicinal and poisonous plants of Texas (and other, equally important places!)

"Spend some

time on the trail, off the path, off the flat."

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CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

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s t o ry b y

MELISSA CRAGER

photos by

ANGELA MARCOTTE

An island topped with granite countertops, as well as a brick archway, create separation between the kitchen and main living space.

Large windows bring in natural light to reflect off polished concrete floors.

Ample white cabinets and a unique tiled backsplash lighten up the dark floors and countertops.

T

his gorgeous farmhouse-inspired home in Hudson is a custom-built dream. The four-bedroom, three-bath house sits on 3½ acres and includes an office, walk-in pantry and walk-in closets in every bedroom, a playroom and designated “man cave.” Even the dog has its own space with a room under the staircase and its own shower in the garage.

Homeowner Destiny New said the family has been in the house about four months, and they love being surrounded by established trees and just minutes from Hudson schools.

“It is open and inviting,” New said. “Our family can fit in the kitchen and have get-togethers outside by the pool. It’s better than we could’ve imagined.”

To learn more, contact Kristy Petty with Brookshire Real Estate at (936) 414-6002.

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The master bath features his-and-hers sinks, plenty of storage, an open shower with multiple faucets and a soaking tub.

This covered outdoor kitchen and patio is the perfect place for entertaining guests. The vaulted, wooden ceiling adds a touch of East Texas elegance.

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s t o ry b y

JESS HUFF

photos by

LESLIE NEMEC

O

nce upon a time, we sat out back in our playhouses made of trees, cardboard boxes and abandoned sheds. We built forts out of sheets and pillows and dreamed of what our houses might one day look like.

Some of us were lucky enough to grow up, find that dream home, paid for with our dream jobs, and fill it with loving family and friends.

But some of us have met challenges as we fought for that dream — the old shed was knocked over, and we’re still building those eventual realities.

For decades, Habitat for Humanity of Angelina County has been finding those who are still pushing against the current and giving them the tools to build their forever homes. For the first time in more than 20 years, the local nonprofit is raising funds to ramp up the good work they’re capable of doing each year.

“We wanted to do something fun and lighthearted, but is missionfocused and what we already do,” said Susan Robertson, executive director for Habitat.

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For its inaugural Playhouse on the Plaza event, crews from McWilliams and Sons Heating and Air Conditioning, ServPRO of Lufkin/Nacogdoches, the Diboll Correctional Facility and Habitat for Humanity have spent the last few months building child-sized playhouses to auction off later this month.

“There are other Habitats who do fundraisers, and there is one close to us who built playhouses,” Roberston said. “So we wanted to do a fundraiser that is not like something we’ve ever had in town and is related to what we do already. So the playhouses go hand-in-hand. It’s construction, getting someone to build something and it’s houses.

Just a tinier version.”

Each of the teams participating are building the houses at their own cost, Robertson said.

And, considering the level of detail, materials could cost upward to $2,000.

“If you think it would cost us between $60,000 and $80,000 for us to build a big house, then $2,000 is a good estimate,” she said. “They’re using treated wood and everything for them to stand out in the weather, just like a regular house would.”

Each of the playhouses is unique.

“Our construction director (Chuck Philp)

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came up with specifications and guidelines so they’re safe,” Robertson said. “They all got a set of rules, so they’re built to specifications — like that they’re easily moved, safe for kids to go in.”

On Thursday, Sept. 26, Habitat will host the Playhouse on the Plaza event at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center. Attendees can participate in the live auction for a chance to win one of the handcrafted houses, as well as silent auctions for custom-designed dog and bird houses. This is an adultsonly event. For ticket information, contact resource@angelinahabitat.org. However, the community will get a chance to check out the houses ahead of time.

“The fun thing is we’re going to set up the houses at the Forest Festival — all five days — so we’re not going to put who did what on it. We’re going to let the community come up and vote on their favorite house. So when we do the fundraiser that night, we’ll announce the People’s Choice of what Angelina County liked the most.”

With the money raised from the playhouses, Habitat for Humanity plans to increase the number of houses they can build to four per year. This is a huge leap from the one a year they’ve done in the past, Robertson said.

Playhouse on the Plaza will be Thursday, Sept. 26 from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center Plaza. For tickets go to angelinahabitat.org.

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WOMEN OF NONPROFITS

Seasons of Hope: A Place of Healing

s t o ry b y

D

MELISSA CRAGER

escribed as a nonprofit wellness and restoration facility for women, Seasons of Hope Center brings women from all backgrounds to a place of healing.

Located on 34 beautiful acres in Hudson, SOHC is a private retreat for women with “life controlling issues such as drugs and alcohol, emotional trauma or sexual, physical or verbal abuses,” according to the center’s website. Founded in 2006, the first resident arrived in 2009.

“The women come from different backgrounds and different avenues to get here,” said SOHC executive director Paige Pate. “We want to show them love. We want them to know that we care about them.”

When entering the program, the women commit to a year of living solely at SOHC. They must be 30 days sober, and they don’t have access to a personal vehicle or cellphone. Only seven women, plus program coordinator Susie Wilkinson, live in the house at a time.

“We wanted it to be a place of refuge, and as you can tell, it’s very quiet and very peaceful out here,” Pate said, gesturing around the property. “A lot of these women probably have abuse in their background of some kind, and they’ve just generally had a difficult life. We use this as a place to come and take a load off. We want them to learn to have structure to their day and structure to their life. In that, we have something scheduled most 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.

They’re busy.”

photos by

LESLIE NEMEC

Inside their three-bedroom, house, the women are assigned daily household chores. They also maintain the extensive property, which includes stables, a barn, the dorm, a house with classrooms, a manager’s office, a large garden, a greenhouse and chicken coop. Working toward becoming more self-sufficient, the women harvest their own produce and gather eggs from their chickens.

They also take part in equine therapy.

“The women who come out here all have something — depression, anxiety,” Wilkinson said. “We bring them out here to the horses, and the horses mirror your attitude and how you act. So they connect with one of the horses.

They learn to trust, build relationships, and it releases that depression and anxiety. They use the horses to love on, and the horses love them back.”

Throughout the year, SOHC provides GED and computer classes, Bible studies, opportunities to learn new skills and to volunteer, a community of people to surround themselves with, life coaching, and a Christ-centered atmosphere that offers balance and stability.

SOHC’s Phase 2 is a transitional living program where participants spend a second year training for job skills and learning money management. They can then seek employment and transportation with the “goal of independent living.”

After 20 years as a stay-at-home mom, Pate began working CHARM SEPTEMBER 2019

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at a nonprofit organization in the Dallas area. After moving to Lufkin, she joined the SOHC board and accepted the role as executive director this past February.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve become stronger. I’m more courageous and bold,” Pate said.

Wilkinson came to Seasons of Hope as a participant 2½ years ago. She lives alongside the women and is available 24/7 for emotional support.

“You need for them to have that opportunity to go to somebody. She takes care of the whole person. Just this week a girl woke her up at 2 o’clock in the morning saying, ‘I need to talk,’” Pate said.

Wilkinson said she has “the best job” watching women, like herself, transform over the course of the year.

“We learn a lot through these ladies. Not only do we try to teach them, we get so many lessons from each one that comes through the door,” Wilkinson. “You see women that walk through that gate that are just broken and are falling to pieces. You get to put love into their life. You get to give them love and Jesus. That’s all they need.”

In the future, SOHC hopes to add on to the existing house so they can accept more women into the program and also provide separate housing for single moms and their children.

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TRAVEL + LEISURE

SEPT

SEPT

19 Oaks Whiskey Release

Texas State Forest Festival

07

18

Sept. 7, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sept. 18 - 22

Front Porch Distillery, Nacogdoches

SEPT

01

Kansas at The Belcher Center Sept. 1, 7:30 p.m.

LeTourneau University, Longview

Classic rock icons Kansas released their debut album in 1974. Now with more Top 100 hits in the set than ever before, Kansas fans also will hear some classic B-Sides, fan favorites, and material off the band’s latest studio album, “The Prelude Implicit.” For ticket information, call (866) 550-LETU or visit belchercenter.com. Exclusive VIP tickets are available.

The Front Porch Distillery’s new whiskey started with an idea inspired by the 19 oak trees that line the drive to the distillery.

Created with a unique Texas and Kentucky blend of vanilla, caramel and spice, 19 Oaks makes for easy drinking with a smooth finish. Join the festivities with the Say Cheese Nacogdoches food truck, the Smoking Aces Cigar Lounge and singer Sam Shupak. Free samples and bottles for purchase will be available.

SEPT

SEPT

VFW Labor Day Celebration

Believe In Hope Black Tie Gala

02

Sept. 2, Noon - 6 p.m.

VFW Post 1836

Labor Day is a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country. Close out your Labor Day Weekend fun with a fish fry and dance. Lunch is served from noon - 2 p.m. The Glenn Lenderman Band will play from 2 - 6 p.m.

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07

Sept. 7, 6:30 p.m.

Pitser Garrison Convention Center

The East Texas Cancer Alliance of Hope is hosting its inaugural Believe in Hope Black Tie Gala presented by UBank (previously Huntington State Bank). This formal event features dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions. For tickets, visit etxcancerallianceofhope.org.

Angelina County Expo Center

SEPT

07

Charlie Daniels Band Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m.

Temple Theater

Few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Charlie Daniels. An outspoken patriot, beloved mentor to young artists and still a road warrior at age 80, Charlie Daniels will take the stage at the Temple Theater in the first of Angelina Arts Alliance’s 2019-20 series. Tickets start at $50. To purchase tickets, go by the Temple Theater Box Office, call (936) 633-5454 or go visit our website at angelinaarts.org.

SEPT

14

Hot Club of Cowtown

Sept. 14, 7 p.m.

The Pines Theater

This Western swing-gypsy jazz trio has traveled the world bringing their own brand of magical chemistry to audiences far and wide. Come be inspired by The Hot Club of Cowtown’s unique twist on traditional tunes and western swing in the first of The Pines Presents series. To purchase tickets, go to thepines. visitlufkin.com.

The 35th annual Texas State Forest Festival features live music, cheerleading and dance competitions, the 48th annual Southern Hushpuppy Championship, the Lumber-JACKED Fitness Challenge, Little Jack Ninja Obstacle course, a carnival and so much more. For more information, visit texasstateforestfestival.com, or call the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce at (936) 634-6644.

SEPT

20

Sandyland Bluegrass Reunion Festival Sept. 20, 6 p.m.

Triple-B-Farms, Nacogdoches

For more than 30 years, the Sandyland Bluegrass Reunion played host to numerous RV’ers, bluegrass music lovers, and special “bluegrass family,” and friends. Come hear the sounds of traditional bluegrass and gospel music performed by the best of local, area and regional bands.

TRAVEL + LEISURE

SEPT

SEPT

Brick Street Blues Band

Dinner at the Diamond

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Sept. 21, 8 p.m.

Maklemore’s Ale House & Bistro, Nacogdoches

SEPT

21

Jase Robertson Live Sept. 21, 6 p.m.

Trinity Baptist Church

One of the most beloved stars from the hit TV show “Duck Commander” Jase Robertson will give his testimony, share the word of God, and tell some awesome outdoor stories. Doors open at 6 p.m. VIP meet and greet is 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the event begins at 8 p.m.

For more information, call (936) 632-8450.

SEPT

A great show of authentic blues, soul and rock and roll including sizzling guitar, outstanding vocals, amazing saxophone and an entertaining show that will make your eyes pop, your jaw drop, and your feet hop!

The Brick Street Blues Band of East Texas delivers an eclectic mix of B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Etta James, Elvis and Chuck Berry that will make you want to get up and dance.

21

SEPT

Sept. 21, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Lightwire Theater’s Dino-Light

ArtFest Nacogdoches

Historic Downtown, Nacogdoches

ArtFest is a reimagining of the annual Nac Art Walk which highlights creative talent from all mediums, and is brought to you by Nacogdoches Art Alliance, The Guild and friends.

Vendors will line the square to sell their original work in outdoor booths that are open to the public. Artists wanting to set up a booth should visit the Art Fest Nacogdoches Facebook page.

Performers may contact the ArtFest at nacartfest@gmail.com.

22

Sept. 22, 2 - 3 p.m.

Temple Theater, Lufkin

An Angelina Arts Alliance Discovery Series event, DinoLight features a famous scientist with magic powers who brings a friendly dinosaur to life. This glow-in-the-dark adventure is visually amazing and has been praised for its cutting edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance by audiences all over the world. Free activities start in the lobby at 12:30 p.m.

For tickets, visit angelinaarts. org.

Sept. 28, 6 p.m.

SEPT

26

Hillsong Young & Free Sept. 26, 7 p.m.

LeTourneau University, Longview

III is the third album from Grammy-nominated worship collective Hillsong Young & Free, the youth worship team at Hillsong Church. The release is the first studio album from the band and features 17 tracks brimming with Y&F’s signature blend of pop and EDM influences with powerful worship anthems. For ticket information, call (866) 550-LETU or visit belchercenter.com.

Angelina College Baseball Field

This inaugural event at the Roadrunner Baseball field will introduce the Angelina College Foundation, whose mission is to provide quality educational opportunities and services to aid AC students. Hayden Baker, former Angelina College Roadrunner baseball player and rising country music entertainer, will perform. A catered meal also will be provided. For ticket information, call (936) 633-3213.

SEPT

28

Angelina Air Fest

Sept. 28, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Angelina County Airport

The fifth annual Angelina County AirFest will feature amazing vintage and modern aircraft as well as headline acts comedian Kyle Franklin and the Dracula Biplane. General admission and VIP tickets are on sale at the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, the Angelina County Airport and Austin Bank. Proceeds benefit the Toys for Tots campaigns in Angelina and Trinity counties.

For more information, contact Brian Crews at (936) 366-3013.

ETX Music Scene

Angelina Brewing Co. 9/6 Sam Shupak 9/7 Joe Cuellar

9/13 Wade Skinner 9/14 Beaux Atkins

9/20 Steffany Karback 9/21 Parker Vinson

9/27 Jonathan Webster 9/28 Bryan Harkness

Front Porch Distillery

9/14 Best of the ‘70s Party 9/20 Ryan Paul Davis

9/21 Best of the ‘80s Party 9/28 Best of the ‘90s Party

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