February 2018 by Town & Gown Magazine

February 2018

own own G & T

TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE .COM HOME . GARDEN . LIFE . STYLE . FOOD . HEALTH . FITNESS

Check out this GORGEOUS jewelry made in Mississippi by Jovial Art! Page 34

on the cover.. On This the is a sneak preview at our

February Fashion spread! Cover MSU Fashion Board model, Kaelyn

Mitchell, is looking gorgeous in these fun colors! See the rest on pg. 48

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In this Issue

Home, Garden and Lifestyle around Mississippi 10

Calendar of Events

February Wishlist

Spinning Up Memories

Stewart & Wier: United in Service

Taste & Toast

HanaLena: From Starkville to Stardom

Guide to a Progressive Dinner Date Night in Starkville

Made in Mississippi: Jovial Art: Fine Jewelry & Arts

Why Self Love Matters

DIY: Valentines Day

Armor Fati

February Fasion

Events

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A Product of Horizon of Mississippi

For our Readers

P.O. Box 1068 | Starkville, MS 39760 www.townandgownmagazine.com

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{ s taf f } Stacia King | publisher - sking@starkvilledailynews.com Courtney Cox| editor - editor@townandgownmagazine.com

Announce your engagement or wedding with us! January is our Bridal issue! Wedding and engagement announcement pricing is listed at townandgownmagazine.com. Submit 15-20 wedding photos to info@ townandgownmagazine.com for review to be featured in Town and Gown Magazine. Events Town and Gown Magazine would love to be at your next event. If your organization or business is having an event please email info@townandgownmagazine.com a month before event date. We cannot promise we will be at all events, but we will try! If we missed out Send us your event photos with names from left to right (if available) and a brief description of event to info@townandgownmagazine.com or mail or drop off a disc to 304 Lampkin St., Starkville, MS 39759. Give a Town and Gown! Town and Gown Magazine offers gift cards for subscriptions. Call us at 662-323-1642 to order. Pricing listed above under subscription. Previous Issues Miss an issue? We can ship a copy of any previous issue to you for only $6. Call us at 662-323-1642.

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{ acco un t exe c u ti ve s } Carole Ann Doughty - caroleann@townandgownmagazine.com

{writ ers} Joe Lee Richelle Putanam Sarah Raines Karen Gerard Katie Langley Carly Phillips Amy Myers Candice Paschal {photographers} Hunter Hart Margaret Mcmullen Brittney Dowell Olivia Zeringue Candice Paschal Mary Barker {fashion spread} Hunter Hart - photographer Chromatix on Main - hair Renew Face & Laser- Make-up {Int erns} Sarah Massey Adrienne Horne Lauren Greene {page design} Courtney Cox {adver t ising design} Chris Mcmillen Reproductions in whole or in part,without written permission,is strictly prohibited. No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited manuscripts, articles or photographs. We reserve the right to edit submissions before publication. Town & Gown is a free magazine published monthly and distributed in and around Starkville and the Golden Triangle area. Subscriptions are available for mail customers. For subscriptions or inquiries,write Town & Gown Magazine, P.O. Box 1068, Starkville, MS, 39760, or call 662.323.1642.

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Library Book Sale 12-6p.m.

MBK vs. Alabama @ 6p.m.

WBK vs. South Carolina @ 6p.m.

Oxford Film Festival

Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day MBK @ Vanderbilt 6p.m

SCT: Picasso at the Lapin Agile 7:30p.m.

WBK vs, Kentucky 1p.m. SCT: Picasso at the Lapin Agile 7:30p.m.

SCT: Picasso at the Lapin Agile 7:30p.m

Baseball @ Southern Miss 1.p.m

20 MBK @ Texas A&M 6p.m.

21 Baseball @ Jackson State 6p.m.

WBK vs. Texas A&M 1p.m.

WBK @ Kentucky 11a.m. Baseball @ Texas A&M 2:30p.m.

26 Baseball @ Texas Rio Grande Valley 7p.m.

27 MBK vs. Tennessee 6p.m.

28 WBK SEC Tournament Baseball @ Mcnesse 6p.m.

3 Linda Humpheries Estate Sale

WBK @ Missouri 7:30p.m.

Library: Books & Authors Laurie Parker 12p.m.

Library: Classic Movie Night 4p.m. WBK @ Flordia 6p.m. SCT:Picasso at the Lapin Agile 7:30 p.m.

MBK vs. Georgia 5p.m.

MSU Theatre: Sense and Sensiblitiy

Pop Up Art Show @ Pop Porium 12-6pm

SCT: Picasso at the Lapin Agile 7:30 p.m.

MBK vs. Ole Miss @ 7:30p.m.

MSU Theatre: Crimes of the Heart

Baseball @ Southern Miss 4p.m.

Baseball @ Southern Miss 1p.m.

WBK @ Vanderbilt 7:30p.m.

SCT: Picasso at the Lapin Agile 7:30p.m.

23 Library: Lego Day 3-5p.m.

Baseball vs. UC Santa Monica 2:30p.m.

24 MBK vs. South Carolina 2:30p.m. Baseball @ Nicholls State 3p.m.

February Wishlist

Susanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hallmark 110 Russell St. # 15 662.324.0810

Merle Norman Luna Bella 500 Russell St. 662.323.5255

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Spinning Up Memories Article by Joe Lee • Photos by Olivia Zeringue and Sarah Massey

t may be 2018 as you stroll down University Drive and make your way toward the Mississippi State campus, but it becomes 1978 in almost the blink of an eye when you step into Scooter’s Records, a new record store that opened in November in the old Rain and Shine tanning location. That’s right, a vinyl record store, replete with strips of hanging beads that separate the record displays and counter space from the office, and vintage Led Zeppelin and Easy Rider posters on the walls. The creaky hardwood flooring lends the same ambience you might have found at Record Shack on nearby Lafayette Street back in the day. So what made owner Scott Thomas think he could launch a successful record store three full decades after compact discs wiped long-play albums off the map? A lot is riding on this leap of faith; while Thomas has drummed for years with a variety of local bands, those have been side gigs. He just retired from the City of Starkville after 28 years of full-time work to open his store.

“When I was about to retire, I knew this was what I wanted to do, especially since Starkville was the only college town in this area that didn’t have a record store. Oxford, Tuscaloosa, Hattiesburg and even Tupelo have one,” said Thomas, who graduated high school in Louisville and attended MSU in the late 1980s. “Starkville in some ways has always been several years behind everyone else, but that worked out great for me because records started coming back five or six years ago.” “I’m sharing music with this generation of college students. (Maybe) someone got rid of their stereo long ago and still has their records. If they have kids, maybe the kids are getting the records. They might pick out what they want to keep, and bring the rest to me to see if it’s anything I can do something with.” Thomas appraises the condition and value of records brought to him with an eye on buying what he thinks he can sell. And he loves every second of it, whether inspecting an English pressing of an old David Bowie album or considering much newer artists on vinyl like Childish Gambino. “It’s fantastic to see this come back,” Thomas said of the trend toward vinyl. “In 1990 most of the stores were getting rid of the albums. There’s probably hundreds of albums for sale here that I got back then. I have new and used records for sale. The used stuff is where I’m making my money – the margins are real narrow on the new stuff. I take trade-ins and give estimates on what I’ll pay for someone’s records.” Jim Beaty, one of the owners of Backstage Music of Starkville, said that the respect Thomas carries as a working musician will

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serve him well in his new endeavor. “Make no mistake, this idea for a record store was not something that just popped up. Scott’s been germinating this plan for quite a while,” Beaty said. “The shop has a very cool vibe, almost as if you’ve dropped into a 70s-era record store. And that was the golden age. With a great location – along with his knowledge, personal attention and contacts – I expect Scooter’s Records to be a fixture in Starkville retail for a long time.” Jeff Brazil, director of video and scouting for the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team, was in town when the Lady Hogs came to Starkville to play MSU in early January. A rabid collector of vinyl records, Brazil seeks out record stores in cities where his team travels and learned of Scooter’s Records through a Google search. “I’ve visited record stores in SEC cities like Nashville, Gainesville, Oxford and Baton Rouge,” Brazil said. “I’m 40 and grew up on the turntable and records. I think they sound better – a warm, full sound on a good system brings back good memories – and I like being able to read the liner notes, see who’s playing on the record and where it was recorded. “This is a good store, right up there with them. Good prices. I like the ambience with the disco ball, and seeing a lot of cars in the parking lot on a Thursday afternoon. Everything is labeled, and you know what the price is.” Also, shopping was Tyler Blanton, a student at MUW who was given a turntable at Christmas by his aunt. A fan of the Arctic Monkeys, Blanton went retro with his purchases at Scooter’s Records, buying vinyl from Abba, Yoko Ono, the Pet Shop Boys and Paul Simon. Collector Chip Hawkins, a Kosciusko resident, browsed while Thomas appraised his copy of a vintage Big Star album. “I don’t collect for value,” Hawkins said. “I collect for things I want to listen to, and I’m looking 18 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

for what a professional – like Scott – would tell me the Big Star record is worth. And if there’s a particular Buffalo Springfield record, for example, that I don’t have that catches my eye, I’ll grab it.” Thomas sells several brands of turntables, including high quality products by Audio Technica that he says compares favorably with the Technics models from a generation ago. He sells gift cards and is willing to travel within reason to look at record collections that folks are considering unloading. “I don’t know everything the kids are listening to,” Thomas said. “If someone comes in and asks for something on vinyl, I’ll try to find it and get it in. And I’ll try to pass my tastes off on people – I just put one of my Funkadelic records out there on display – as well as taking suggestions from people who come in.” Visit Scooter’s Records at 519 University Drive and find Thomas’s store on Facebook.

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Article by Sarah Raines • Photos by Sarah Raines and Sarah Massey

Stewart and Wier: United in Service A

park that memorializes individuals who have had a lasting impact on Civil Rights in Oktibbeha County has gained two new honorees. On Martin Luther King, Junior’s birthday, two educators who made great strides toward unity in Oktibbeha County were added to the walls of the Unity Park on Douglas L. Conner Drive in Starkville. These two women were Rosa Stewart and Sadye Wier. Nominations were opened in October of 2017, and members of the Unity Park Committee chose from six potential honorees. There were four requirements for each nomination. The nominee must have lived in Oktibbeha County for at least part of his or her life, been deceased at least five years before the nomination, made a significant contribution to civil rights in Oktibbeha County, and advanced community unity within Oktibbeha County. The Unity Park Committee Chair, Jeanne Marszalek, said both women were “breaking new ground.” “Both of these women worked their entire lives to improve the wellbeing of people and to bring unity to our community,” Marszalek said before the plaque was unveiled. 20 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Rosa Stewart Dec. 8, 1904 to Sep. 7, 2004 Rosa Stewart taught the children of Oktibbeha County for forty-six years, beginning in 1922, at the Oktibbeha County Training School, where she worked her way to become the head of the English Department before retiring in 1968 and joining the Civil Rights Movement. Stewart’s impact did not stop with her career in education. She retired during the era of integration, and when others marched against Starkville businesses’ unfair hiring practices, Stewart was in the crowd protesting local businesses’ refusal to hire African-American employees. As a result, Stewart spent three nights in jail. “The first time we marched from my church, I felt like I was free,” Stewart said in a quote found in her biography assembled by the Starkville Unity Park Committee. “I had the courage because I figured I was right and didn’t worry about it anymore.” Stewart was the first African-American to run for Starkville’s Board of Alderman. When Stewart joined the race, the voting system was changed from the ward-based system used today to an at large voting system. “She (Stewart) lost because they changed the voting system from the ward system so that a black ward wouldn’t vote a black person to be on the Board of Aldermen,” the Unity Park Committee Chair Jeanne

Marszalek said. Because of the change, Stewart sued the city of Starkville and the state of Mississippi to return to a fair voting system. After three years, Stewart won the case, reinstating the ward-based voting system still used today. “Rosa Stewart just blew me away,” Diana Lyon, who nominated both Rosa Stewart and Sadye Wier, said. “She marched in protests and then she ran for alderman.” In 1978, the 8th grade building at Henderson Junior High School was named for Stewart, and the school is now called Henderson Ward-Stewart Elementary School.

Sadye Wier December 3, 1904 to October 14, 1995 Sadye Wier earned a degree from Talladega College in 1923 and moved to Starkville, a town not far from where she was raised in Macon, to be near her sister and become a teacher. Wier taught at the Oktibbeha County Training School for 13 years, and later became the first African-American home demonstration agent for the Mississippi State Cooperative Extension Service in 1943. Wier worked in surrounding counties as well as Oktibbeha County to improve the lives of others, from installing plumbing to teaching skills such as cooking, knitting, quilting and crocheting to residents. With the help of Wier’s efforts, the local African-American 4H Club members were able to display their work at segregated county fairs. “I was an ambitious woman. I wanted to accomplish something,” Wier said in a quote in her biography created by the Starkville Unity Park Committee. “I wanted to help my people, to see them get by.” Wier’s husband, Robert Wier, was the first African American business owner on Starkville’s Main Street. A book written by John F. Marszalek, “A Black Businessman in White Mississippi,” tells much about the Wier’s lives, from their successes to their struggles. Marszalek was able to gleam much of the information in his book from Sadye Wier, herself. Yvette Conner Williams has two family members featured in Unity Park. A picture and quote from her father, Douglas L. Conner, is now only a few feet from her great aunt, Sadye Wier’s name. Williams grew up seeing her great aunt and inherited her house, and said she cherishes the memory of her aunt, who loved to cook and entertain. “She just was a wonderful community advocate,” Williams said. “You know, when you’re a kid, sometimes you don’t realize you’re around greatness until later, but she just always made us feel like we were important. My sister, my brother, the neighborhood kids, all of us were important to her.” Williams said Wier also worked behind the scenes with Douglas L. Conner to help improve the community.

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Taste & Toast Article and photos by Karen Gerard

Caramel Nut French Toast Ingredients: • • • • • • • •

1 anjou pear, sliced thinly 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp rum Sliced challah 1 cup french vanilla creamer 2 eggs 2 tbsp hazelnut liqueur 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• • • • • • • •

1/2 cup crushed pecans 1/2 cup crushed hazelnuts 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup evaporated milk Pinch of salt Whipped cream -

Directions: Make the caramel sauce: Combine the caramel ingredients in a sauce pot and cook on medium low, stirring regularly, until sauce is thick and brown, and has a smooth, pourable texture. In a medium saucepan on low heat, melt the butter and add the sliced pears. Turn periodically to cook evenly. When beginning to brown, add in 2 tbsp of rum and continue cooking while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. While the pears are softening, whisk together the vanilla creamer, eggs, and hazelnut liqueur. Combine the crushed hazelnuts and pecans, and prepare the dip and dredge in separate shallow pans. Heat a large skillet over medium- high and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Dip the sliced challah first into the egg and creamer mixture, and then into the nuts. Fry each piece until evenly toasted on both sides. To serve, transfer 1 or 2 slices to a plate, drizzle with caramel sauce and top with several slices of pear. Spoon a large dollop of whipped cream on top.

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Banana Berry Smoothie Bowl

Ingredients: • 1 frozen banana • 2 cups frozen mixed berries (I used blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries) • 2-3 tbsp Apple juice (or almond milk or yogurt) • Crunchy, healthy toppings such as roasted pumpkin seeds, shaved dark chocolate, shaved coconut, sliced fresh berries, toasted hazelnuts, chia seeds, and granola

Directions:

In the pitcher of a blender, combine the frozen fruits and blend on low until small pea-sized pieces remain. Pour in the apple juice and blend until thick and creamy. Pour your smoothie into a bowl and smooth the top. Arrange the sliced berries and sprinkle on the nuts, seeds, and other toppings. Enjoy! 26 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Black Bean Avocado Breakfast Tacos Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Small tortillas (Corn or flour) 1 ripe avocado Whole eggs Fresh cilantro Salt and pepper 1 can black beans 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced 1 bay leaf 1/2 yellow onion, chopped 2 tbsp cumin 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 cup chicken broth or water 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced 1 garlic clove, very finely minced Juice from 1 lime 2 tsp mexican seasoning 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro

Directions: Black Beans: Drain the canned beans and put them in a small pot with all of the ingredients. Simmer 10-15 minutes, until softened and fragrant. Taste for seasoning and add salt as necessary. For the taco sauce: Combine ingredients in a bowl and fold together. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before using. Construct the tacos: Fry an egg to your liking, and pile onto warm tortillas with the prepared black beans, sliced avocado, fresh cilantro, and drizzled jalapeno sauce. February 2018 | 27

Hana Lena: From Starkville to Stardom

Written by Richelle Putnam

f you are lucky enough to grow up in a family that holds music and all that it can do in a high regard, then you are lucky enough. You could say that Hannah and Caroline Melby are lucky, but you could also argue that luck is what you make it. The Melby sisters, now members of the band HanaLena, grew up in Starkville, Mississippi and have been heartily mixed in with the music world since they were young. “The Melby house was a musical house from day one,” said Caroline, the younger of the duo. Their mother played the piano and taught elementary school music. Their father played the harmonica and filled their school commutes with the blues. “My earliest memories of playing the fiddle are centered around old time fiddle contests,” Hannah said. “I remember wearing a western top and skirt with white fringe on it. I thought I was the coolest little girl in town.” Both girls played instruments, but Hannah was the one that started playing music with a group first. It was a folk string band formed by her fiddle teacher that they called The Goat Ropers. “At age 11, I decided to join the fun,” Caroline said. “My dad took me to the national banjo champion (Starkville resident at the time) Larry Wallace, and I told him I wanted to learn the banjo. He looked at me and said, ‘Nope, you’re a mandolin player.’ And that was it! I picked up the mandolin and the rest is history.” 28 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

These girls were on track toward professional singing careers before they hit their teens. Part of this was learning from the talent that came before them. “I remember listening to Muddy Waters and Etta James and thinking they were it,” Hannah said. “They had something I wanted so dearly and that was for my music to make people feel things they weren’t expecting to. My first CD was Reba. I would curl my hair and dance around and sing into a hairbrush. She had fire and a certain amount of sass that I was sure I had too since we both had red hair.” Not long after Nash Street (originally the Goat Ropers) won the Country Showdown in 2008, the whole group moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Soon after the move, the boys in the band moved on to other things, so the girls decided to switch it up again. The new name (HanaLena) originated from a flower business the two shared when they were little. They called it “The HanaLena Flower Company” and went around town selling their homegrown zinnias to Starkville locals. “Music City” (as some call it) is where you can find them now, still the sisters in a band, February 2018 | 29

and still taking the bluegrass world by storm. Of course their musical careers are a dream come true, but that doesn’t mean that this is where it gets easy. It is work. It is dedication. It is a little bit bitter and a little bit sweet. “Everyone seems to be talented, beautiful and a hard worker, but there’s no formula for success here,” Caroline said. “Instead of focusing on the gamble of our pursuits, we all have the best time. Late night jams at a friend’s house, songs spontaneously being written in the living room, the sound of a banjo coming from a porch down the street, music legends sipping coffee next to you at Starbucks. You just never know what this city will bring you.” One of the latest ventures for the band is their newest album, Tenn-Tom & The Tenderheart Sessions. “It’s different from any other project I’ve been a part of,” Caroline said. “I first had the concept in the fall of 2016. I had been wanting to create something of my own for a while but just couldn’t decide what it would be. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I should just create something I love and would listen to instead of what I think others would love. Even though my name is on the album, this project is more of a compilation album in which I was the creative director.” The girls plan to hit the road in April, and a trip to Starkville is on the list. “What’s next…that’s always the question,” Hannah said. The answer changes as often as the weather in Mississippi. The one thing that is always constant is that we love playing and evolving our music, and I have no intention of stopping.”

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Your Guide to a Progessive Dinner Date Night in Starkville Article and Photos by Amy Myers

If you’re having a hard time deciding where to take a date or friend to dinner, consider trying a “progressive dinner” night! The idea is to visit a different restaurant for each course. This would also be fun to do as a group. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, a progressive dinner could be a fun, unique twist to the usual date night. My husband and I recently tried this, and had a blast! We decided to mix up the styles food, as you will see in my review. Here is how the night went:

1st Course: Beverages at Central Station Grill The BEST part of this place, is it’s in the old, historic Borden Dairy Plant! Here, we were introduced to a very tasty, refreshing cucumber pomegranate drink. Each of the two layers are not only different colors, but they have different flavors, which was a nice surprise. $16

2nd Course: Appetizers at Bin 612 Here, we ordered the Salmon Sliders. They were delicious! I like the arrangement of the soy sauce, bread and salmon pieces. The bread was very soft, without becoming spongy from the moisture of the fish and oils. Each salmon bite was fresh and cooked perfectly. I would also like to point out that Bin 612 sells a popular, but hard-to-find ale by Southern Prohibition, called “Suzy B.” It is brewed in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. $20

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3rd Course: Main entrée at Thai Siam Thai food might be out of many folks’ comfort zone, but I encourage everyone to at least try it. The Massaman Curry is actually my favorite, but this time I ordered the Duck Curry. The combination of tender duck, sweet and savory seasonings and the vegetables simply melt on the palate! Adam had the Chicken Curry, which was equally delicious, with its fried rice and cashews. I decided to try “Bubble Tea” for the first time, in honeydew flavor. With 15 different flavors of Bubble Tea, it would be a super fun treat for children! Also, Bubble Tea comes with 4 different kinds of “gummy” toppings to choose from. Additionally, Thai Siam offers a gluten-free menu, with a long list of options. $35

4th Course: Dessert at 929 Coffee The staff at 929 Coffee seems to enjoy changing things up every so often, with new flavors and unique items. For this trip, we ordered an oat bar and a classic cinnamon roll, which were both divine! The oat bar doesn’t look “glamorous,” but the flavors and textures of the chocolate, oats and hint of marshmallow might surprise you. I ordered an Italian soda, vanilla lavender flavor. Upon sampling the lavender, I was surprised at the tart, sweet taste. Next time, I plan to try lavender Italian soda without the vanilla, to see what that’s like. $12

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Made in Mississippi

Jovial Art Jewelry & Fine Arts

elly Quick knew art was her calling. She just didn’t know when or how…or even what. “I always loved drawing and painting and in high school, my senior year, thinking of college, I knew I wanted to be some type of art major,” she said. But there were so many options within the arts. “I declared graphic design as my major, but quickly realized that computer art was not for me.” She changed her emphasis to photography, but then ultimately switched it to painting, which “was where I should have been the entire time.” It was after she graduated Mississippi State University in December 2011 that she discovered an art she’d always known…but never really knew. It was Christmas time, and Kelly was searching for “that best gift for somebody. So, I thought maybe I’ll paint something, or do something. My great-aunt had the best taste in jewelry, and she had all these cool pendant pieces and rings and stuff.” So, Kelly pulled out her great-aunt’s jewelry, and there it was… the art and the vision for what would become JOVIALArt.

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Article by Richelle Putnam • Photos by Letty Weeks and Jana Alford

“I became really inspired by the buttons, and I dove headfirst into the collar necklaces. It started off as Christmas presents and so honestly it came out of nowhere.” When people started seeing other people wearing Kelly’s pieces, they wanted a piece. The demand started to grow and Kelly realized that jewelry making could be something significant. She incorporated her painting skills into her gift wrapping, tags, and bigger pieces, like the backdrop of her tent display at art shows. “I thought it was a neat take on the water color to mix it with the jewelry. I try to tie them both together because they are two things I’m so passionate about and love and enjoy doing. It’s still a work in progress, putting the two together.” Kelly is always in search of vintage jewelry and has her favorite shops through which she rummages. “A lot of what I buy are earrings that may be missing a mate, or one is broken, or they’re both broken,” she said. “I go to flea markets, antique stores, thrift stores, and if something catches my eye, I’m going to buy it and bring it home.” She often keeps pieces for one to two years until one day it clicks. “I collect them and keep them until I have figured out a good placement for them.” What Kelly loves most about creating vintage pieces is “there is something so interesting about the life they lived before they ended up in an antique store. Even though I don’t know the story behind the piece, where it came from, and where it was worn, I love the idea of recreating it and giving it new life and sending it to a new home. I am very sentimental. I like the idea of bringing life to those old, cool pieces.”

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Kelly’s vintage pieces are all unique, meaning no piece is the same. Even the glass crystals and the stones she recreates in the same style as the ones in stock, she does differently. “It’s all about mood and what I want to make at that moment.” Kelly loves to create custom orders. “A client may call and say I like this style, but I want this stone added. I want them to love it and to wear it all the time,” so it’s fun when customers give her free creative reign. “But it’s also fun when people know exactly what they want. I’m a very visual person, so it’s good to get that vision from them. Custom pieces are my favorite because I love the individuality of the customer.” JOVIALArt has a website where customers can browse through the magnificent jewelry pieces. Kelly also shows at festivals where she welcomes potential buyers to come in and “play with her jewelry.” “Art has been so therapeutic and healing, and when I say that I don’t mean that in the sense that something traumatic happened in my life,” said Kelly. “I can’t imagine my life without art and not being an artist. There is fulfillment that comes with it that is powerful.” Kelly wants JOVIALArt pieces to make the wearers feel good enough to take on whatever they meet that day. The jewelry may be tiny, dainty pieces, but “they hold a lot of power.”

Follow Kelly and JOVIALArt on Instagram www.jovialart.com/ www.facebook.com/JOVIALartjewelry/ 36 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

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Why

Self Love Matters

Written By: Katie Langley, PT, PMA-CPT Therapeutic Pilates, LLC

appy Valentine’s! Whether you’re happily single, in love, or have been married for decades, an important part of any healthy relationship is to love yourself. Often, it’s the combination of living a full life while cultivating close relationships with others- romantic, friendship, parental, at work - that poses the biggest challenge to self love and self-compassion. It’s easy to forget about investing in yourself and your own well-being - who YOU are and who YOU want to be - when you’re filling many roles. Women are especially susceptible to allowing their hearts and love for others to create a life that feels overcommitted. As a business owner, mother, and wife, I catch myself getting wrapped up in the endless to-do lists associated with the many hats I wear. While good relationships are built on reciprocal giving and receiving, I know that I love to give! Sadly, self-care is what I sacrifice most easily. But, I’m realizing that if I don’t take time to nurture my mind, my body, and allow relationships to be mutually supportive, that I can’t be the nurturing mother that I want to be. I can’t be the wife, or friend, or professional I want to be. Here are a few tips on self-care to strengthen one of the most important relationships you’ll ever have - the one with yourself. 1. Practice self-appreciation and self compassion. Be mindful of your thoughts. Are you your own cheerleader, or do your negative thoughts outweigh the positive ones? Would you be as hard on your best friend as you are yourself? At any moment, we can choose to change the focus of our thoughts. We can allow our inner critic to attack us, or we can acknowledge those thoughts and then shift our attention to what is gracious, loving, and kind. What we focus on grows stronger, impacts our mood, and colors our relationships with others. 2. Exercise. Find an activity that you enjoy - walking, swimming, jogging, aerobics, Pilates - and get moving! Exercise is a natural mood booster, helps to clear your mind, and reduce stress. No time for exercise? Try waking up 30 minutes to an hour earlier and start your day before your other responsibilities demand priority. Or, try getting in several short bouts of exercise (around 10 minutes at a time) throughout the day. The American Heart Association reminds us that as long as we get 150 minutes/week, we’re meeting their recommendation for exercise.

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3. Make a point to pause throughout the day. If you feel like you’re stuck with never-ending to-do lists, take a moment to savor the completion of each task by offering yourself the kind of gratitude you might offer someone else. For example, after getting the kids off to school, pause and breathe deeply as you honor your well-intended, but perhaps imperfect, efforts to show stamina, patience, and gentleness while navigating the morning’s inevitable hurdles. By pausing and embracing your own humanity, you’ll feel more energized to tackle your next responsibility. Take time to enjoy moments of emptiness throughout your day: a hole in your schedule, the silence of your commute to work, or a Saturday morning with no plans can be opportunities to reflect on your many blessings and restore your soul.

“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, are as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” -Buddha February 2018 | 39

With These Hands Article and photos by Amy Myers

This "Conversation Hearts Planter" is a fun, inexpensive, and easy project. You can also include the kids in this one! Supplies are also easy to obtain. I'm always trying to down on material costs and trips to the store. Also, if I bought new supplies for every DIY project, we would need a whole separate house, just for storage! Therefore, I like to use pieces from previous projects, as well as items often found already found around the house.

Materials: • Plant container - be as creative as you want! Paint it, add stickers, or leave it plain. In light of my "recycling" efforts, I used a terracotta flower pot from a previous DIY project, which I covered with fabric. • Tape • Paint, markers, or paint pen • Cardstock or construction paper • Wooden or metal rods - I actually used metal skewers! • Floral foam or scrap Sytrofoam • Faux flowers • Scissors

Step 1: Draw or print out a heart shape, and cut it out. Change it up with different sizes.

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Step 2: After placing the foam in the plant container, stick in the faux flowers and rods.

Step 3: Write or paint messages onto the paper hearts, similar to what you see on conversation hearts candy.

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Step 4: After paint/ink dries, secure paper hearts onto skewers with tape.

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Amor Fati By Candice Paschal, A Higher Standard of Living

A promise you’ve made to someone is way easier to keep when you can master the art of keeping a promise you’ve made to yourself. With the new year fresh on our minds, most of us still have the mindset of taking extra time to be mindful of how we spend our time and what we allow into our daily routine. A wave of cupid’s fast flying arrows sneak up and miss more targets than they hit to remind us that being in love or being alone, are each something to be celebrated. You want so deeply to give the ones you love your absolute best and might go to great length and expense to do so, but what about the person who has never left you? The person whose thoughts you’ve had to persistently hear and what about the heart that has raced at the rhythm of your every emotion? YOU. Unless you decide to visit a psychedelic shaman in the South American rainforest, you will never be able to experience separation from yourself during this lifetime so you better begin to realize in this instant that your life is going to be so much easier once you establish a deep desire to give yourself the absolute best. Go to great lengths to impress yourself, forgive yourself, let go of the past, nourish your body, feed your spirit, and make more time to do what you love. AMOR FATI, to be in love with one’s own fate. To accept one’s own path. Loving and learning from every celebration and every obstacle on your path without judgement. An African proverb states that a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle, but the candle must first be lit . Today make a promise to cherish yourself and keep it, after all, how can you make a promise to others if you can’t keep a promise made to yourself? 44 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Menu Service for Two, (gf)(v) Coconut lime kombucha, Cupid’s arrows & fruit dip Smoked jackfruit over seared polenta finished with bbq sauce & red cabbage slaw Mexican drinking chocolate

Cupid’s Arrow Fruit Dip

1 can coconut cream 1⁄2 cup maple syrup Juice of 1⁄2 lemon 1 tsp vanilla extract Pinch of sea salt Mix all ingredients together, keep chilled and stir before serving.

Cupid’s Arrows

Shish kabob skewers threaded with pineapple, whole strawberries, & julienned mint.

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Smoked Jackfruit Marinade 2 cans young green jackfruit in water 1⁄4 cup liquid smoke 1⁄4 cup liquid aminos 2 tbsp molasses 1⁄4 cup maple syrup 1 tsp balsamic vinegar Dashes of salt & pepper, Drain and slice jackfruit, mix marinade ingredients together and pour over jackfruit onto a flat baking sheet, refrigerate 30 mins. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bake jackfruit 20 - 30 mins on the top rack or until jackfruit is crispy, flip as needed for even cooking. Serve over seared polenta with your favorite bbq sauce. 46 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Red Cabbage Slaw 1⁄2 cup shredded red cabbage 1⁄4 tsp apple cider vinegar (ACV) 1⁄2 tbsp vegan mayonnaise Pinch of sugar Dashes salt & pepper Mexican Drinking Chocolate 2 cinnamon sticks 1⁄2 cup vegan chocolate pieces 2 cups sweetened cashew or coconut milk Dash of cayenne pepper *Optional whole dried chili pepper Combine all ingredients into a small crockpot and cook on medium low until chocolate is completely melted, add more chocolate as desired, stir and serve hot.

Mexican Drinking Chocolate 2 cinnamon sticks 1â &#x201E;2 cup vegan chocolate pieces 2 cups sweetened cashew or coconut milk Dash of cayenne pepper Optional whole dried chili pepper Combine all ingredients into a small crockpot and cook on medium low until chocolate is completely melted, add more chocolate as desired, stir and serve hot.

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February Fashion Hunter Hart Photography Make up: Renew Face & Laser Hair: Chromatix on main Clothes from Libby Story Locations; Libby Story & aspen Bay

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Art in Public Places Photos by Mary Barker â&#x20AC;¢ January 11, 2018

6 1.John Bateman and Brent Funderburk 4. Jim and Suzy Turner

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AKC Dog Show Photos by Margaret McMullen â&#x20AC;¢ January 13-14, 2018

6 1.Reagan and Bestie with Nancy and Ed Johnson 2. Sky and Leslie Gregory 3. Claire Ctibor and Philip Gault with Captain, Titan and Bestie 5. Polly with Pug 6. Stacie Bryant with Sophia

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Frostbite Half Marathon Photos by Margaret McMullen â&#x20AC;¢ January 20, 2018

6 1.Karen and Bud Brown 2. Chase Cummings, Nick Pearson, Steward Bird, Dewayne Davis Blake Edwards 3. Kendra Sanders, Allie Michaels, Esther Sanders 4. Patty Lincoln, Kelli Alexander, Waylon McKenzie and Amber McKenzie

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SOUPerBowl Photos by Margaret McMullen â&#x20AC;¢ January 20, 2018

6 1. Rose Sebba Rowland and Zach Rowland 2. Tommy Prentice, Elliott and Tani Dubuisson 3. John Fitzgerald and Barbara Burgess 4. Joe and Camille Malrooney 5. Ray Slaughter and Emily Jones 6. Sydney and Carl Pittman, Echo and Kiegle

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William House Dedication Photos Submitted â&#x20AC;¢ November 24, 2017

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Distinguished Women Breakfast Photos Submitted â&#x20AC;¢ January 13, 2018

6 Names not Submitted

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Pop Porium Pop Up Art Show Photos Submitted â&#x20AC;¢ January 13, 2018

6 1.Allison Julien 3. Taylor Dunn, Andrea Rendon and Joe MacGown 4. Paisley Hamilton and Gerard Woods 5. Luisa and Ella Porter

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