Mommy Makeover • Abdominoplasty
Breast Augmentation
Breast Lift & Reduction
Brazilian Butt Lift • VASER liposculpting
Facial Rejuvenation • Botox & Dermal Fillers
Male Gynecomastia
Aesthetic Medical Spa
Restylane/Perlane/Juvederm
Botox/Dysport
Medical Facials/Peels
IPL Photorejuvenation
Microdemabrasion/Microdermapeel
CoolSculpting
Breast Enlargement
Breast Lift
Tummy Tuck
Lipo Selection Liposuction
2013, 2015, 2017
..blessings. For the strength you give me each day and for all the people around me who make life more meaningful.
As I flip the calendar to September, I’m a little sad to say “good-bye” to Summer 2018. It was a wonderful time of slowing down, unplugged when we could, and connecting with those we love—especially our spectacular grandkids. We made lasting memories shopping with them, buying school clothes, enjoying late-night ice creams, and having sleepovers; savoring every minute. Now they’re back in school and doing great, my husband’s hard at work on a playhouse in their yard, and we’re looking forward to cooler weather and Cowboys football. Life is grand!
You’ll find this month’s magazine crammed full of inspiration, including ideas on getting your home and property winter-ready. Now’s a great time to start. We investigated the latest trends in lash extensions and sank our teeth deep into some Texas barbeque with a story on the history and regional variations of this most popular of indulgences. And as always, we hope you’ll enjoy our fun fashion offerings, travel ideas, investigative pieces on the latest tech advancements and health findings, and ideas to feed your soul and nurture your home. Thanks for sharing another glorious autumn with Living Magazine!
MISTY DANIELS , OWNER/PUBLISHER mdaniels@livingmagazine.net 682-556-1246
livingmagazine.pub
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EDITOR Brandon Daiker, bdaiker@livingmagazine.net
SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR Todd Collom, Don Beene
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Lisa Landry, Anna Charles, LaRue Novick, Meredith Knight,
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS Derek Gower, Lauren Medean, Diana Raines
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ART DIRECTOR Kelsey Higham
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VP OF SALES Scott Daniels, sdaniels@livingmagazine.net For advertising/distribution information call 682-556-1246.
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MANAGEMENT Lindsay Clark, lclark@livingmagazine.net
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The northeast corner of U.S. 287 and East Broad Street is being transformed into the shopping and lifestyle center envisioned for the property for the last 10 years.
The Shops at Broad kicks off this fall, first with the opening of the StarCenter Mansfield facility and then with the opening of the first two anchors in the center – Academy Sports + Outdoors and At Home.
The grand opening of StarCenter Mansfield showcased how this dynamic new sports facility will be utilized by the entire community. The retail is not only providing additional sales and property tax revenue for the city but giving residents an even larger retail landscape to patron since spending your dollars locally goes back into the Mansfield community.
Our goal has been to make Mansfield a place where our residents could live, work, play and shop. This long-awaited project is an important part of that plan.
Grand Prairie residents now have 24/7 digital access to how much water they are using through the city’s new H2Know system. The network of water meters and communication devices allows customers to monitor water usage from computers and mobile devices. H2Know transmits hourly water usage data—older systems could only provide a single monthly total.
With the new system, customers:
• See how much water they are using hourly
• Receive alerts of higher than normal usage spikes within a day of occurrence
• Receive alerts of long term continuous usage (indicating possible leaks)
• Establish a monthly “water budget” and be alerted when reached
• Monitor usage patterns such as irrigation to better manage frequency and duration of watering H2Know will also help the city find and repair its own leaks, better manage its water conservation programs and provide more useful information to customers. To register, customers may email waterbilling@gptx.org.
There are many factors that go into making Arlington the “American Dream City”. But without a doubt it’s our people that set up apart; people like Rangers Hall of Famer Tom Grieve. Tom first came to Arlington in 1972, when the Rangers were moved from Washington, and says he was astounded that such a small town had so many big city amenities yet managed to maintain its hometown friendliness. This made Arlington the perfect place to raise his two boys (both of whom went on to play baseball at Martin High on their way to a pro career). “To have had the opportunity to become a major league player and then to have had almost all of it happen right here in Arlington certainly was a dream come true for me,” Tom said.
Following on Tom’s heels is a much younger but equally gifted athlete, Caleb Hicks. Caleb turned heads on the Lamar High golf team, was a three-time district golf champion, qualified for the state high school tournament twice, then landed a spot on the UTA golf team. He says Arlington was a great place to grow up, go to school, and play golf because he could stay right here and have everything he needed. “All I had to think about was golf and school,” Caleb said.
These and other athletes, business people, caregivers, artists, musicians, parents, officials, and many, many more come together to make Arlington the amazing town it is; a place like no other.
ARLINGTON - MANSFIELD - GRAND PRAIRIE
SEPTEMBER 8
$10 pre-registration or $15 at event. Adults 21+ only. BYOB. No glass containers. Richard Greene Linear Park, 1601 E. Randol Mill Rd. For details or to pre-register call 817-277-8091.
Arlington Parks and Recreation
SEPTEMBER 8
Our popular new festival is back for a second year and is ready to rock & roll again! This year we’re hitting the beach with the tropical tunes of The Landsharks, a Jimmy Buffet inspired cover band, headlining on The LOT at 8pm. Before that, we’ve got four stages of concurrent live music, interactive art exhibits and plenty of food and drink to please everyone. Dance, sing, create and eat with your friends & neighbors!
Historic Downtown Mansfield. Mansfield
SEPTEMBER 8-9
Make a racket with the Mansfield Summer Slam Pickleball Tournament. Tournament includes a Friday night social and two days of competition including lunch both
days and great tournament play for all skill levels. Awards will be given in all age categories for men’s, women’s and coed doubles teams. $35/person. Tournament players also enjoy a free shuttle to Mansfield’s Music Alley music & arts festival on Saturday night, and hotel discounts are available for out of town guests. Fieldhouse USA, 650 US 287 N. Visit mansfieldtexas.gov/event/7399/ mansfield-summer-slam-pickleball. Mansfield
SEPTEMBER 8 AND 22
Adoptions will be at the Petsmart® in South Arlington, 203 E. I-20 (Arlington Highlands) 10:30am-3:30pm. Arlington
SEPTEMBER 9
Attention pet parents-bring your pups for a day of fun in the sun at the water park before we say farewell to summer. Expect a tail-waggin’ good time with pups allowed in the Waikiki Beach Wave Pool, Splashwater Reef Kiddie Pool, and the Kona Kooler Lazy River. Free admission to active military members, veterans and first responders who reserve a ticket online and show proof of service at the gate. Refreshments for pups and people, games, giveaways, pet adoptions, and
Come and enjoy our 48th Annual Craft Fair at the Eunice Activity Center. The fair will feature quality homemade goods from over 50 local artists in the local community. Items available for sale will include baked goods, wall canvas pieces, handmade jewelry, crocheted and knitted items, handmade wooden furniture, gourmet candy, quilts, wreaths, and more at price points ranging from under $1 to over $100. Food Truck: Chicago’s Taste & More. This is a family friendly event that will feature a bounce house, face painter, and balloon artist. This FREE event will take place 9am- 3pm. 1000 Eunice St. Arlington Parks and Recreation
more! Noon to 5pm. $20 adults/$15 children under 48 inches tall. One dog is included with adult ticket purchase, $5 for an additional dog with a limit of two dogs per adult. Visit thedriven. net/houndsat-hawaiian-falls.race_reg/ eid/10338015678. 490 Heritage Parkway Mansfield
SEPTEMBER 13
Join us for a relaxed evening with good music, light bites and great shopping! Come to learn about the non-profit organizations that make our community great while you enjoy complimentary wine tastings, appetizers, VIP bag, store specials and more. Registration starts at 5:30pm and ends at 8pm at the Village Green. For more information visit shophillsidevillage.com/event/ cheers-to-charity/2145495173/. 305 W. FM 1382.
Hillside Village, Cedar Hill
SEPTEMBER 15
The session instructed by CorePower Yoga will begin at 8:30am and will last approximately one hour. Gates open at 8am. Ages 14 and up. All levels welcomed, as there will be modifications. Bring a yoga mat (only a limited amount will be provided). Win free yoga gear and other prizes after class provided by Academy and Outdoors. Globe Life Park. Arlington
SEPTEMBER 22OCTOBER 28
Fright Fest, presented by SNICKERS®, is back for select days at Six Flags Over Texas. It’s a spooky time of year as zombies and ghouls take over the park. Enjoy thrills and activities for the whole family throughout the day and come back for a truly frightening evening of fun after the sun goes down. Fright Fest offers a wide variety of places to get your scare on including several haunted houses and scare zones located throughout the park. The ghouls are set free for their daily hunting rituals. Visit sixflags.com.
Six Flags Over Texas
27
Hosted by The Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce. Come and enjoy some amazing food, meet with different businesses and crafters and ride on some spectacular rides! All food samples are FREE! Gates open 4pm for seniors and 5pm for all others. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for Senior Citizens, $5 students (K-12). A rides wristband can be purchased for an additional $5. All proceeds benefit the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce. Traders Village, 2602 Mayfield Rd. For more information call the Chamber at 972-264-1558 or go to tasteofgp.com. Grand Prairie
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 @ 7PM
VERIZON THEATRE GRAND PRAIRIE
AIR1 POSITIVE HITS TOUR
The AiR1 Positive Hits Tour is back for 2018 and it’s going to be better than ever. This years line up includes Zach Williams, We Are Messengers, Joshua Micah, Aaron Cole, and Branan Murphy. Get ready for a night of worshiping our GOD!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 @ 8PM LEVITT PAVILION ARLINGTON SUNDANCE HEAD
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 @ 8PM DOWNTOWN ARLINGTON THE DRIFTERS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 @ 8PM DOWNTOWN ARLINGTON BRUCE & KELLY’S HONKY TONK
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 @ 8PM LEVITT PAVILION ARLINGTON DALE WATSON
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 @ 7:30PM ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL MURRAY SAWCHUCK
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 @ 8PM
LEVITT PAVILION ARLINGTON THE DIRTY RIVER BOYS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 @ 8PM LEVITT PAVILION ARLINGTON DAWN & HAWKES
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 @ 7:30PM ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL WHO’S BAD: A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 @ 8PM LEVITT PAVILION ARLINGTON UTA JAZZ ORCHESTRA
JACK BLACK, CATE BLANCHETT
DIR. ELI ROTH (THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS)
Known for more adult stuff, director Roth helms an adaptation of the 1973 children’s book of the same name, about a young orphan who moves in with his uncle (Black) only to discover he’s a good-hearted but mediocre warlock.
SEPTEMBER 14
RICHIE MERRITT, MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY
DIR. YANN DEMANGE (’71)
This comedy/drama is set in Detroit in the 1980s and tells the real-life story of Richard Wershe Jr., who became history’s youngest FBI informant at the age of 14.
SEPTEMBER 28
LEA THOMPSON, SARAH DAVENPORT
DIR. CLARE NIEDERPRUEM (DEBUT FILM)
This “modern retelling” of Louisa May Alcott’s classic 1868 novel, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, will serve as the thirteenth film or TV adaptation of the story that follows the lives of four sisters as they grow from children to adults.
SEPTEMBER 28
CHANNING TATUM, JAMES CORDEN
DIR. KAREY KIRKPATRICK (OVER THE HEDGE)
A Yeti named Migo stirs up his community when he discovers something that he didn’t know existed--a human.
SEPTEMBER 18
BETTER HOMES & GARDENS
NEW COOK BOOK, 17TH EDITION
BY THE EDITORS OF BH&G
America’s favorite cookbook—known colloquially as the “Red Plaid” book and originally published in 1930— continues its evolution with the latest edition this year, with more than 1,000 recipes and photos covering everything from new favorites like cold brew coffee to traditional classic brownies.
There’s been another exciting development in Downtown Arlington with the opening of the new George W. Hawkes Downtown Library. Opened in June, the new state-of-the-art facility means a major shot in the arm for city library services. The 80,000-square-foot library is located at 100 Center Street across from Arlington’s City Hall.
Over three and a half years of construction, the public watched with excitement as the beautifully-designed structure emerged. Now they’re discovering all this three-story building has to offer including interactive features, a focus on sustainability, and an extensive collection of books and other materials.
The new downtown library provides access, knowledge, and resources through cutting-edge technology, large print and digital collections and dynamic and enriching programming for the entire community. The building was designed to adjust to new technology and the needs of future generations, incorporating flexible meeting spaces that focus on group and community connection, as well as spaces for reading, learning rooms that can be used for classes and workshops, and expansive areas for community gatherings and events. Patrons can read the latest bestseller or work on their laptops all while looking at the lovely sustainable landscaping surrounding the library.
Thanks to all who attended the grand opening and enjoyed a day jammed with programs and events for all ages including story times, technology demonstrations, guided tours, live music, dessert, and more. “The Downtown Library represents our commitment to grow with the City of Arlington,” says Yoko Matsumoto, Director of Libraries. “The modern resources and opportunities in the downtown library will empower Arlington residents to transform their lives and achieve their dreams.”
(The temporary Central Express library location at 200 North Cooper Street, which picked up the slack while the new library was under construction has now been closed to the public.)
“We’ve been truly blessed with a great practice, an outstanding staff, loyal patients, and the the opportunity to treat folks from all over North Texas.”
DR. ERIC AND WIFE LEANORA EIDSON
Your leg problem could be a vein problem!
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREN MARIE
Imagine a world where we all became what we wanted to be when we were little; a world filled with ballerinas, ninjas, astronauts, and firefighters. As a young boy, Thomas Eidson had his sights set on aviation. But that wasn’t in the stars for him. Fortunately, he had a second dream and that was to practice medicine. Born and raised in Arlington, he jumped into medical school, brighteyed and eager to work toward a family medicine degree. “While in residency though, I saw patients coming through the hospital complaining of leg pains,” he said. “Phlebology wasn’t on my radar originally, but I feel I found my calling when I switch to vascular care.”
His patients would agree. “To me there’s no greater satisfaction than hearing stories like the grandmother who’s able to spend days walking through Disney with her grandchild without
the pain her legs used to cause her because of underlying vein disease,” Dr. Eidson said. “When we can change a life for the better like that, that’s a great day.”
Beginning his career in Colorado, Dr. Eidson jumped at the chance to return to his hometown to care for his family, friends, and neighbors in Arlington. “Then two years ago, my wife and I took a chance on ourselves and opened Atlas Vein Care,” he said. “We’ve been truly blessed ever since with a great practice, an outstanding staff, loyal patients, and the the opportunity to treat folks from all over North Texas.”
Atlas Vein Care focuses exclusively on the diagnoses and treatment of vein-related problems in the legs. Each medical vein treatment is performed by a doctor, never by a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Since 2011, Dr. Eidson has safely and successfully performed thousands of vein treatments to help improve patient self-confidence and quality of life. “I consider it a true pleasure to help guide patients to healthier legs with safe, minimally-invasive vein treatments,” he said. “My goal and the goal of my staff is to treat each patient as an individual, never just another patient. To do that, it’s vital that we slow down and speak to each one; make them a part of their treatment and recovery; to
allow them to feel like they’re the only patient we’ll see that day.”
When not on the job, he is a husband, fisherman, hunter, gym buff, and musician. He and his wife are active members of Gateway Church where he recently joined the Men’s Brigade for Gateway’s Grand Prairie campus. “We help serve single mothers, elders and widows in need of tasks, chores, or repairs they either can’t do themselves or can’t afford to pay someone to do.” He also volunteers for Special Olympics and mentors local students aspiring to enter the medical field.
“My life’s philosophy is to be a good steward of all God has given me,” he said. “Ultimately everything we have is God’s. Luke 16:10 says, ‘If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.’ From the moment you step into our clinic, you are family. We want you to ask questions and understand the treatment. We want you to feel better. We thank God for each day that He gives us a chance to help someone feel better, help them get back to a pain-free, normal life.”
(817) 795-8346
2701 Matlock Road, Suite 103 Arlington, Texas 76015 AtlasVein.com
1. If I don’t have large varicose veins, I don’t have a vein problem.
False. Varicose veins are just one symptom of possible vein problems in the legs. Others include leg pain, aching and heaviness, restlessness in the legs, swelling that gets worse as the day goes on, and skin discoloration or breakdown.
2. Treatment requires “vein stripping” which is very painful with significant downtime.
False. Treatments can now be done in-office using local numbing medicine with little to no pain. Most treatments take less than an hour. People typically drive themselves home and resume most activities within 24-48 hours.
3. All Vein treatments are considered “cosmetic” and not covered by insurance
False. If vein disease in the legs is causing medically significant symptoms and affecting a person’s life, treatment is typically covered by insurance. It’s a medical problem that only gets worse if it goes untreated and can lead to major problems and decreased quality of life.
BY LISA JENKINS-MOORE
The Marvel comics franchise has made billions of dollars capitalizing on our fascination with super heroes. For some, it is simply entertainment. For others, it speaks to the deep desire within us to be more than we are, to transcend human frailty, and make an impact on the world at large. I’m the latter of the two. Though the action-packed adventures are usually a fun ride, very few days go by that I don’t long to be a better version of myself.
This desire is God-given. He creates each of us with a God-shaped hole that no amount of human achievement can fill. The spirit part of us cries daily for more as our body and soul struggle in vain to respond. Temporary gratification becomes the norm as we move from experience to experience, material item to material item, desperately hoping to alleviate the ache, if only for a moment. Bible commentator Derek Kidner explains, “What spoils the pleasures of life for us is our hunger to get out of them more than they can ever deliver. Getting eternal and ultimate meaning out of temporal and temporary pursuits is destined to fail.”
Deep down, mature Believers know the answer to the nagging emptiness is in Christ and Him alone. Yet we continue walking the treadmill of life, never slowing to readjust our priorities and schedule time for Him, seeking Him first above all else. The church in Ephesus was exemplary in every way but one. They had left their first love—a serious issue—one worthy of true repentance: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent”
(Rev. 2:5, ASV) Repent. Though we’ve endured patiently, toiled and worked industriously, and not fainted under immense pressure, if we have left our first love, we are told to repent.
In our politically-correct culture and seeker-friendly churches, repentance isn’t a word we hear too often. People are too afraid of offending one another or making someone feel uncomfortable. Christ isn’t concerned with our comfort, but our character. If we are to walk worthy of Him, we must allow Him to live through us. As Paul says, “I no longer live but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20) So many of us have accepted Christ as Savior, but not surrendered to Him as Lord. If He is Lord, he will be first—number one in our daily to-do-list, number one in every relationship and decision.
Seeking Him and His Kingdom first is simple, yet we make it mysteriously complicated. It comes down
to prayer, meditation, worship, and reading His Word, and acts of love and service to those around us flow naturally from our time in the secret place. God’s desire for us is to be wonder-working women and super-natural men. As children of the King and Christ’s ambassadors, our lives are to be more than the 9-5 grind. The enemy keeps us busy so we forget that our purpose is eternal.
What would happen if today we all purposed in our hearts to keep Christ first in our lives, to pursue Him more passionately than any other pursuit? What if not a day went by without us pressing into prayer and reading and studying His Word? I Thessalonians 2:13 tells us, “The Word of God is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it]” (AMP). The apostle Paul was his own kind of Superman. He said, “For this I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and work within me” (Col. 1:29, AMP).
Superhuman power and energy is found in complete surrender to Christ. “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by the same Spirit living within you” (Rom. 8:11, NLT). What? Resurrection power living on the inside? That sounds remarkably similar to a Marvel superhero, no? And yet there it is in black and white, the inspired, authoritative, infallible Word of God inviting us into the supernatural life.
Will we accept the invitation? Will we seek Him, His Kingdom, and His righteousness above all else? There are no shortcuts. Olympic athletes train for excellence, and so must we. I’m asking God for supernatural grace for all of us to become the Wonder-Working Women and Super-Natural Men He longs for us to become!
Lisa is a freelance writer and speaker. To contact Lisa or follow her blog, visit LisaJenkinsMoore. com or connect on Facebook: Facebook.com/ ljenkinsmoore
Thanks to our Living Readers and wonderful patients for voting us
“Best Cosmetic Dentist” of Mansfield, Arlington & S. Grand Prairie
Everyone wants to have a smile they feel good about, no matter their age, gender, profession, or circumstance.
Understanding that simple fact has allowed Dr. Sandi Hamm to provide not only exceptional results, but also a pleasing experience.
So whatever the story may be… Dr. Sandi Hamm would like to be a part of yours!
Dr. Sandi Hamm Offers:
• Teeth Whitening (At Home or In Office)
• Checkup & Hygiene Care
• Porcelain Crowns/Veneers
• Dental Implant Restorations
• Invisalign (Invisible Braces)
• White Fillings/Cosmetic Bonding
• Teeth Grinding Relief
• Gum Disease Therapy
• Smile Makeovers
• Snoring Relief (Not your ordinary Dental Team!)
BY BRANDON DAIKER
Proclaimeth the operators of the State Fair of Texas:
“Since 2005, the Big Tex Choice Awards contest has solidified the State Fair of Texas as the top fair for great food creations.”
Clutch your hand to your chest gingerly and think of your arteries, dear reader, cause that’s not all a decade of fried delights have solidified. The question, of course, is whether we’d have it any other way.
It is now a Texas tradition, and essentially a prerequisite, that the yearly winners of the infamously famous Big Tex Choice Awards—the results of which make the classic Fletcher’s Corny Dog look like a quaint relic of a bygone era— be inexorably deep fried, cast into that molten abyss in an unfinished, cocoon-like state, and fished out as beautiful, golden brown butterflies (nobody has yet attempted to deep fry butterflies, please don’t get any ideas). Previous contests have brought us such revelatory morsels as the Deep Fried Cuban Roll, Chicken Fried Bacon,
the Fried PB&J and Banana Sandwich (inaugural victor), Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger (a non-deep fried thing sandwiched between two other deep fried things), and even Fried Beer™, which is listed with a trademark after it, technically innovative human creation that it is.
By the time you hold this issue in your hands, the still-glistening winners of the 2018 contest will have already been chosen, one savory, one sweet. To make their decisions, the judges will sample beer, pickles, both sweet and savory nachos, and bacon, bacon everywhere. Statistically, entrants have the best chance of winning if they not only deep fry their creations but also make sure the word “fried” is included in the name—of the 26 items to receive Big Tex honors since 2005, 19 of them contained the label.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Perhaps it is a primal urge that causes us to seek out our own nutritional destruction like
moths to a flame. As so many other great things in life, the beauty of fried food is fleeting, wonderous—best seized and experienced only moments after prepared, virtually unpalatable the longer one waits to eat the items after they’ve emerged from their magmatic immersion in fat.
In a sense, these violent delights may actually be the perfect representation of the State Fair of Texas itself, such as it is— available for just a short time to be enjoyed in an outsized, selfindulgent fashion, then left to linger as memories until the next time Big Tex suits up.
Despite everything, there is one truism of which you can be certain. Whichever grave sneers at healthy living end up reigning supreme this year, I will be in line, ready to throw myself at them and forget all about what I’ve done to my body until next year when I will do the exact same thing. I will see you there.
Misty seems to be enjoying a little nap in the grass indoors, where we’re sure it’s much cooler! - Kaleigh I.
“Our three Italian Greyhounds, Duke, Dillon, and Dexter, love playing together, going for walks in the neighborhood, and saying hello to people they meet!” - Cesar and Travis
“Introducing Rocky, our African Pygmy Hedgehog. He’s our family’s first pet. He loves cuddling under his blanket and hates the bathtub.” - Katie S.
THIS MONTH’S GIVEAWAY: Make an impression of your beloved pet’s nose print to be created into a hand-crafted custom silver pendant to wear on a necklace from PreciousMetalPrints.com!
BY DAVID BUICE
We all know Texas is big. Almost three United Kingdoms or more than six Icelands could fit inside the Lone Star State. Unfortunately, Texas is also a huge hot spot for allergy sufferers. In its report released in spring of this year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) listed McAllen as the No. 1 most challenging place to live in the entire nation for spring allergies, and San Antonio ranked fifth. Austin, Waco, and Dallas are not far behind. So what makes Texas so bad for allergies? The short, simple answer is the state’s temperate climate. Most states have to endure regular freezing temperatures that halt pollen from spreading in the air. Plants in Texas, however, endure only brief freezes, if any at all, and this situation allows them to pollinate the year round, even in winter.
The bad news is that these year-round allergens are not going away, but the good news is that there are many ways you and your physician can deal with them. Here are some of the most common allergens found across Texas.
In the spring, oak pollen spreads throughout many areas of the state, leaving a yellow residue on just about anything that’s outdoors. Also, pollen from elm, pecan, pine, poplar, and hickory trees contribute to the usual allergy symptoms of sneezing, sore throat, watery eyes, congestion, lethargy, or some combination of all these.
Bermuda, Perennial Rye, and Nodding Fescue are among the common grasses in Texas that can produce the usual allergy symptoms.
In parts of Texas in the late spring, the air can become clogged with “cotton” from these trees. Technically it’s not pollen, but it can trigger allergic reactions, and it might also clog your air conditioning system, preventing fresh air from flowing through your home.
Ragweed typically peaks in the late summer and early fall. It’s a small, inconspicuous plant easily overlooked, often making allergy sufferers think their problems are coming from other plants and trees.
Unfortunately, mild Texas winters offer no respite from this allergy culprit. Mountain Cedar thrives in cool weather, releasing clouds of pollen into the air. In addition to the usual allergy symptoms, some may respond to Mountain Cedar pollen with flu-like symptoms including fatigue, severe headaches, and body aches.
In a bit of anatomical irony, the tendency to become allergic to anything is carried in your genes. In addition to the usual antibodies called Immunoglobulin G, which we all have, an allergic person has extra antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IGE), and these special antibodies cause your allergic reaction.
Attempting to defend against an allergen, your body dispatches an army of IGE antibodies to destroy it. But instead of destroying the allergen, the IGE antibodies actually join up with it, forming complexes. These complexes, in turn, release the chemical histamine, and the usual symptoms begin, including large amounts of mucus, the expansion of tiny capillaries leading to a stuffy nose and headaches, and the sneezing, watery eyes, and sore throat that are usually part of an allergic reaction.
• Take a shower and wash your hair to remove pollen from your skin and hair.
• Change and wash clothes worn during outdoor activities.
• Dry your clothes in a dryer, not outdoors.
• Wipe pets off with a towel before they come inside.
• Wash your bedding in hot soapy water once a week.
• Rinse the inside of your nose with a nasal solution to remove the pollens you’ve inhaled.
In addition to these precautionary steps, many over-the-counter remedies are available. These include antihistamine tablets (Allegra, Zyrtec) and those containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine (Claritin-D). But be careful with decongestant sprays as these can become addictive.
If your allergies become extreme, consider seeing an allergist, and make sure that the physician has been certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology Specialists.
ERIC WIESER, M.D.
A lifelong Texan, Dr. Eric Wieser is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon, who has been practicing in North Texas for nearly 15 years. After graduating with honors from Trinity University in 1994, Dr. Wieser completed medical school with honors from the Baylor College of Medicine. In 2003, he finished his residency at Vanderbilt University. Following his fellowship in Spine Medicine at the prestigious UCLA School of Medicine, Dr. Wieser returned to North Texas and joined the staff of Arlington Orthopedic Associates where he became one of the co-founders of the Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital in Arlington.
In addition to his many professional accolades, Dr. Wieser is the founder and medical director of the Texas Comprehensive Spine Center, where he specializes in minimally-invasive spinal surgery as well as complex cervical and lumbar spinal reconstruction. Dr. Wieser has been consistently recognized by his peers as a “Top Doc” in Fort Worth Magazine, Big D Magazine, Living Magazine, Texas Monthly, and has been featured in several periodicals in Texas.
Aside from his medical accomplishments, Dr. Wieser is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, fishing, running, going to the lake, and cheering on his favorite sports team, the Dallas Cowboys.
BY ANNETTE BROOKS
Texas has embraced and nurtured an attitude and style all its own from the very beginning. Not surprisingly, when it comes to fashion, design, and tastemakers, natives of the Lone Star state make an impact. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite style icons to highlight in our edition that celebrates everything Texas.
When it comes to world-renowned fashion designers, many would agree that Austin-born Tom Ford is the most notable native Texan. As Gucci’s prodigy creative director, he was instrumental in increasing the company’s annual sales from $230 million to $3 billion. In 2004, Ford started his own label and has dressed countless top-tier celebrities and social luminaries. Jay-Z even dedicated entire song to his namesake. In addition to fashion design, Ford is a film actor, producer, and director. Pretty impressive for a kid
who spent much of his childhood on his grandparents’ ranch in Brownwood, Texas.
If you’re wondering, “Can a department store really be considered a style icon?” then you may not know the history of Neiman Marcus, one of the greatest long-standing luxury chains in U.S. retail history. In 1907 Herbert Marcus, his sister Carrie Neiman, and her husband, Al, opened a store in Dallas that sold fine women’s clothing and extravagant merchandise. Soon, glamorous movie stars, wealthy New Yorkers, and even wellheeled Europeans were making special trips to Dallas just to shop at Neiman Marcus. Over the decades the ownership has evolved, but the impeccable Neiman Marcus brand and reputation remains a testament to the idea that “service and quality never go out of style.”
If you came of age in the 70s and 80s, you grew used to seeing supermodel Jerry Hall’s iconic face on the covers of Vogue and in the media with the likes of rocker Bryan Ferry and of course, Mick Jagger, with whom she has four children. The statuesque, six-foottall blonde from Gonzalez, Texas pulled off the vibe of the times with seemingly effortless style.
Now, at age 62, she’s married to media mogul Rupert Murdoch and is still turning heads.
For longer than many of us have been alive, Lucchese has been the go-to bootmaker for A-list actors and musicians, athletes, and U.S. Presidents, as well as regular folks from around the world. It began when Salvatore and Joseph Lucchese set up a boot making shop in San Antonio at Fort Sam Houston in 1883, and the rest is history. In 1986 the operations moved to El Paso, and today, the brand continues to flourish, using time-honored craftsmanship techniques to create handmade boots of unrivaled quality, fit, comfort, and style.
Texas continues to inspire its inhabitants, from the Big D to Magnolia City, and everywhere in between. Creativity and talent abound, with many state natives making a huge splash in the fashion world today. Lela Rose is just one example. It’s said that her “aesthetic of adding whimsy to elegance through brilliant color and handcrafted details has brought a fresh point of view to modern American fashion.” Of course a Texan might say she’s as bright as a new penny and running with the big dogs now.
BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
If you suffer with sparse or skimpy eyelashes, even the best mascara and eyelash curlers can only do so much. But eyelash extensions can provide that WOW factor your hoping for, by adding volume and length to your existing lash line.
There are three popular types of lash extensions: synthetic, mink, and silk. Ask yourself what look you’re going for. For a cat-eye style, add a few extra millimeters to your outer lashes. For a showgirl look, opt for long lashes across the eye. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, consider lash extensions in a different color. Your aesthetician can show you other options.
Here’s one place where you want to call in the pros. DIY kits abound on the internet, but can cause side effects such as irritation, loss of existing eyelashes, and gaps between applied lashes and natural ones. Going to a pro who’s well versed in proper techniques greatly limits your risk of damage. Read reviews of salons in your area to find the best, most experienced one for the job.
A full set of lashes takes approximately two hours to apply. With your eyes closed and you seated comfortably, each lash is dipped in a safe, semi-permanent glue, then applied to your existing lash line. It shouldn’t hurt, and you may even dose off, during the process.
You won’t be able to expose your eyes to heat or water for 24 hours or the glue won’t set properly. Even after the first day, you should use lukewarm water to wash your face and avoid rubbing your eyes with a towel. Your lash technician can recommend foundations, makeup removers, mascaras, and liquid eyeliners that are more compatible with your new lashes.
Your lash extensions should last as long as your natural lashes or approximately six to eight weeks. To maintain that look you want, go ahead and plan on having your lashes filled every three to four weeks.
Just to be on the safe side, it’s a good idea to have your lash technician do a patch test, before applying your extensions, to determine if you’re sensitive or allergic to the glue she’s using.
Prayer/Bedtime Routines • Cooking with Mom • Playing in the Pool
Gardening Breakfast Life Real Families Real Life
Though it might not feel like it now, winter is right around the corner—and like so much Texas weather, it’s impossible to predict what it might have in store. But even if we don’t see any snow, cold temperatures are worth paying attention to. Get your home cold-weather-ready with these simple steps.
A professional technician can inspect your furnace or heat pump to be sure the system is clean and in good repair and to measure any carbon-monoxide leakage. And now is a great time to call, before there’s a waiting list.
At least scan it closely with binoculars looking for damaged, loose, or missing shingles or flashing that may lead to leaks during a possible winter freeze. Consider looking for a local handyman or roofing company to repair any issues.
Water can back up in debris-filled gutters, damaging roofing, siding, and wood trim—and can cause leaks and ice dams.
If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, use it to run the fan’s blades in a clockwise direction once you turn on your heat. Because hot air rises the fan will produce an updraft and push the heat down into your rooms.
Undrained water in pipes can freeze, causing pipes to burst as the ice expands. Disconnect garden hoses and drain the water that remains in faucets. If you have a lawn irrigation system, consider having a professional drain your sprinkler-system pipes to help avoid freezing and leaks. It’s more than worth it to prevent expensive repairs.
Mow your leaves instead of raking them the last time you mow in fall, preferably into dime-sized pieces that will fall among the grass blades and decompose to nourish your lawn over the winter.
If you have a working fireplace and enjoy fires throughout the winter, make sure your fireplace, chimney, and vents (or any heating appliance burning gas, oil, wood, or coal) are clean and in good repair. Regular cleaning can prevent chimney fires and help stop carbon monoxide from creeping into your home.
This project involved the renovation and expansion of a kitchen and breakfast room area on an historic home that had been partially modified in the 1990s by a previous owner. The goal was to update and unify the modified spaces while enlarging the bay window and trellis to reflect the gravitas of the original construction.
The only thing the owners insisted on keeping was the range. Both are avid cooks, and the high quality of this unit plus the built in pot filler makes this a foodie’s dream kitchen. A spacious island containing a separate prep sink makes things even more convenient.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER: FOUNDED IN 1991 BY PRINCIPAL JAY BAKER, JAY BAKER ARCHITECTS IS HOUSTON’S PREMIER RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE FIRM KNOWN FOR HARMONIZING FORM AND FUNCTION. FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, THE FIRM HAS DESIGNED NEW HOMES, RENOVATIONS, AND ADDITIONS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS, LEAVING AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE ARCHITECTURAL TAPESTRY OF THE REGION. THE FIRM HAS COMMITTED ITSELF TO PROVIDING A UNIQUELY ENGAGING AND EARNEST APPROACH TO ARCHITECTURE THROUGH PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ENDEAVORS ALIKE. JAYBAKERARCHITECTS.COM
“We reunited the areas, which had been separated from each other, and extended the bay window to be meaningful, bringing the outside in,” said Jay Baker, architect. “Now the house feels like it has a larger, happier, sympathetic relationship with the rather large back yard.”
HOME IMPROVEMENT IS ON THE UPSWING IN TEXAS—AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY MIMI
GREENWOOD KNIGHT
Whether you’re a new homeowner or a long-timer looking to jazz things up, there’s always something you can do around the house to improve its aesthetics and function—and in turn, your opinion of it, and by extension your happiness.
As summer heats up, an estimated 60 percent of the cost of running your home will likely be energy-related. An HVAC professional can evaluate your home and make recommendations for small but significant changes to help curb your energy usage. Some potential recommendations are:
• Adding insulation and/or radiant barriers to your attic
• Updating your doors and windows
• Upgrading your HVAC system
• Switching to a tankless water heater
• Installing air purifiers and/or dehumidifiers
• Adding zoning to your HVAC system
• Adding a smart thermostats that adjusts for different times of the day
Some folks only require a car to get from here to there. Others want luxury and pizzazz and for heads to turn as they drive by. In the same way, you may only require a simple pool to cool you off at the end of the day. But if you want a backyard oasis with all the bells and whistles, here are some things to consider.
A professional landscape company can install hardy, native varieties of plants, which can help to section off private outdoor spaces, provide a break from the summer sun, and make your yard bird and butterflyfriendly.
WATER FEATURES
A weeping wall, waterfall, sprayer, or fountain provide soothing sights and sounds, and can help buffer some neighborhood noises.
Professional landscape lighting can extend your outdoor hours and add beauty and intrigue to your landscaping.
Fire bowls, fire pits, and fire tables add intrigue and drama to your poolscape.
Keep the party going with meals and snacks prepared poolside.
Add a gas or electric heat pump for comfortable swimming no matter what the temperature outside is.
Even if it’s not quite winter, attractive fire features add visual intrigue and coziness year round.
If you’re dreaming of achieving a new
look through new flooring in your home, you’ve got a few options.
Hardwoods look nice and have excellent resale value. They’re easy to clean and maintain and usually require only vacuuming. But depending upon the type of hardwood, they can be more expensive. Engineered wood can cost a little less. The best place for hardwoods is the living room where it adds elegance, but watch out for high-traffic areas or areas with water.
Glazed ceramic tile is durable, water-resistant, easy to clean, and resistant to scratches. Tile comes in a variety of sizes and materials, from marble and porcelain, to travertine, slate, and granite. Since tile can be cold and noisy, consider it for places where water resistance is important, like bathrooms and kitchens.
Laminate can look like wood or tile, is difficult to scratch, and most scratches can be treated with a little vegetable oil. It’s easy to clean and is great for homes with pets. Because laminate flooring can be ruined by standing water, it’s not recommended for places where water is usually present, but its durability makes it a good choice for high-traffic areas.
Carpet feels soft and offers any room a cozier look. It’s quiet to walk on and prevents echoing. Carpet is quick and simple to install and can
go over most subflooring. Standard carpeting and padding is generally affordable, while luxury carpeting can run more. Carpet works well in low-traffic rooms, such as bedrooms, where it also lends a comfortable feel.
Like carpet, vinyl is quiet and easy on your feet. It’s relatively inexpensive also. Though it’s rarely exactly like the real thing, vinyl flooring has come a long way toward looking like wood or tile. Vinyl can dent or tear, so consider it for lower-traffic places like a laundry room, where it can shield the sound of the machines and add a little warmth.
Cork is warm, soft, and absorbs sounds. Because it’s a natural material, it’s environmentally friendly. It’s also antimicrobial and resists mold. But it can fade in direct sunlight, and may be damaged by heavy furniture or swell in standing water. Cork works great in bedrooms because of its softness and warmth.
Outdoor spaces can extend your living area, enhance your family time, and increase your home’s resale value. If you’re thinking about adding some open-air rooms, consider this.
Outdoor spaces invite a little whimsy. Have fun with unexpected, quirky elements such as an artsy totem pole, a sidewalk mosaic,
vintage signage, or bottle tree. Vintage finds can make things homey and relaxing. And zany things like a cactus planted in a salvaged utility sink or blossoms sprouting from cowboy boots make things feel fun.
Use natural elements like plantings, or outdoor structures like pergolas or retaining walls, to cordon off some areas for group activities and others for a little peace and solitude.
Include natural elements, such as natural stone, trees, and vines into your outdoor decorating, but don’t forget water and fire features to keep things exciting. A fountain or water wall will add soothing liquid noises, while fire brings unpredictable yet calming elements. For real drama, combine the two.
Keep most lighting low and indirect but have fun spotlighting some favorite areas of the garden. String lights in trees. Use portable lights to move as your seasonal landscape changes. Be eco-friendly by opting
Things you’ve never seen— just outside your front door
BY JENNIFER SIMONSON
In addition to its well known wideopen ranges, rolling vineyard-filled hills, and action-packed theme parks, Texas has its share of odd destinations—really odd destinations. From kitschy roadside attractions to towns devoted to beloved rodents to alien gravesites, Texas truly has it all.
Amarillo
When people think of Texas oddities, it’s possible that they first think of the spray-painted vintage Cadillacs rising up from red dirt. In 1974, eccentric Amarillo billionaire Stanley Marsh 3 (he thought III was pretentious) commissioned a group of traveling artists to install a tribute to the evolution of the Cadillac fin. The group buried ten Cadillacs nose down, tilted at the same angle as the Great Pyramids. Today the kitschy roadside attraction along Route 66 west of Amarillo is a must-stop for anyone driving through the state. Visitors are encouraged to leave their mark on the car by bringing spray
paint or grabbing a half-used discarded bottle from the pile circling the piece.
Marfa
First reported by early settlers, the strange ghost lights in the middle-of-nowhere West Texas town of Marfa have been mystifying Texans for generations. A young cowhand first reported the mysterious dancing lights in 1883. Since then, World War II servicemen, farmers, and townspeople have talked about seeing pulsating, colorful lights on the horizon. The best place to view the lights is nine miles east of Marfa at the Marfa Mystery Lights Viewing Center. Every night, strangers gather at the viewing center’s benches, look through binoculars, and speculate on what the lights could be. A bronze plaque reads, “The Marfa Mystery Lights are visible on many clear nights between Marfa and Paisano Pass as one looks towards the Chinati Mountains. The lights may appear in various colors as they move about, split apart, melt together, disappear, and reappear,” but offers no explanation on what causes the mysterious lights.
San Antonio
Nicknamed the “King of the Commode,” former plumber Barney Smith has spent 50 years collecting and decorating toilet lids. To date, he has hand decorated more than 1,300 toilet seats. He opened up the garage of his San Antonio home to odyssey seekers wanting to see his work in 1992. Naming it Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Art Museum, it is the only museum of its kind in the world. His artwork is part collage, part hand lettering, and part painting. Some of his favorite lids include pieces of the Berlin Wall, barbed wire from Auschwitz, and a lavatory seat from the airplane that carried billionaire Aristotle Onassis’s body home to Greece. He has a story behind every seat. The 97-year-old artist is getting too old to curate his mass collection of toilet seats. He hopes to someday sell the collection to a person who would keep it intact and display them for free to the public.
Lubbock
Lubbock’s largest state park includes a golf course, an amusement park, a museum of agriculture, and prairie dogs. A lot of prairie dogs. So many that they have their own town. In the early 1930s, a park commissioner named Kennedy Clapp started the first protected prairie dog colony of its kind with four prairie dogs and two burros. Today, hundreds of prairie dogs live in the seven acre field of dirt on the north side of Mackenzie Park. Visitors to Lubbock can take a break from wine tasting or pie eating to stand under the shaded pavilion and watch the chubby animals pop up from their homes, burrow down again, play with each other, and run from one side of the park to the other. The furry brown creatures are a hit. A recent survey showed that Prairie Dog Town is the fifth most visited attraction in Lubbock. For all his efforts, Mr. Clapp will always be the official mayor of Prairie Dog Town.
Some think it was an ancient astrological calendar. Some say it was used for religious ceremonies. And some believe it was an alien landing pad. The mystery surrounding Stonehenge contributes to its popularity, making it one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions.
For those not wanting to travel the 3,000 plus miles to Salisbury Plain in England to see the real Stonehenge, two Texas cowboys with time and money to spare built the roadside attraction Stonehenge II. This replica is 90 percent as wide and 60 percent as tall as the original, and stands near the side of Highway 36, about 30 minutes southwest of Fredericksburg. Unlike the site of its uber-popular predecessor, visitors can walk through the grounds, take pictures, read in the shade and soak in the silence, as they will likely be the only ones there.
BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
In the state of Texas, barbecue is more than just a meal option. It’s a source of regional pride, a celebration of community, and the passing down of family tradition. Depending upon which area of the state you visit, there are regional differences in just what denotes the quintessential Texas barbecue. While there are no hard-and-fast rules, regional preferences look something like this.
• East and South Texas barbecue emphasizes sauce while Central Texas is all about the rub.
• West Texas barbecue is cooked at a high temperature with meat directly over the heat while Central Texas prefers meat cooked low and slow over indirect heat.
• Central Texas burns oak and pecan wood while West Texas prefers mesquite.
A quick history lesson of the state explains the origins of many of these preferences.
• Czech and German settlers made Central Texas their home where they opened butcher shops and often smoked leftover meat to preserve it then offered these smoked meats to customers. They were so popular that many butcher shops transitioned into barbecue joints.
• In South Texas, Mexican farm hands introduced “barbacoa” made by wrapping a cow’s head in damp leaves and placing it in a pit with hot coals for several hours.
• African-Americans settled in East Texas bringing with them their traditional saucy, chopped barbecue.
• West Texas barbecue dates back to the days of cattle drives and trailblazing when cowboys cooked over open fires, hence the name “cowboy barbecue”.
One thing’s for sure. When you say “barbecue” in Texas, you generally mean beef. But whether you’re smoking brisket, ribs, sausage, or even turkey or pulled pork, barbecue is a part of our Texan identity. And wherever you are in this big state, you can rest assured there’s a slap-your-mama good barbecue joint not far away.
A Timeline of Texas Barbeque
• 1700s (and earlier)
Caddo Indian, Spaniard, and Mexican residents cooked game, goat, and lamb over open fires, long before Texas became a state.
• Early 1800s
The first barbecue pits were built spurring large holiday cookouts of family, friends, and communities.
• Mid 1800s
After the Civil War, Texas barbecue began to take on regional differences as beef became more common in Central Texas and pork more prevalent in Southern Texas.
• Late 1800s
Czech and German swarmed to Central Texas bringing with them the European style of smoking meat in enclosed smokers.
Arlington-Mansfield 5001 S Cooper St
Arlington, TX 76017 (817) 557-2253
Arlington-North 839 E Lamar Blvd
Arlington, TX 76011 (817) 583-6522
NothingBundtCakes.com
Expires 9/30/18. Limit one (1) coupon per guest. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Valid only at the bakery(ies) listed. No cash value. Coupon may not be reproduced, transferred or sold. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. Must be claimed in bakery during normal business hours. Not valid for online orders. Not valid with any other offer.
If you are looking to add more dishes to the plate, consider freshly grilled vegetables or homemade cornbread!
Trying to prep things ahead of time? The vinegar slaw can be made the day before, if it remains covered and in the refrigerator.
For your older guests, don’t forget to pair this decadent BBQ spread with some beer! IPAs and sessions are a great place to start to counterbalance the richness in the baked macaroni and cheese and ribs.
BY AUDREY ASHE
There’s an old saying, “You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the girl.” Years ago, I would’ve rolled my eyes at this. I still may, but perhaps with a little more whimsy. As a child who grew up in rural Texas just north of Dallas, I have memories as far back as I can remember of distinctly not wanting to be in Texas. Being a decidedly shy kid who was much more interested in art and theater than sports, I had a tough time fitting into a place that seemed to live and die by hometown football games.
One thing my upbringing did instill in me was my love for nature. Right behind my house were acres of untouched woodlands with an old, twisting, dried out ravine that held buried treasures such as old teapots and bits of mosaic glass. Countless hours were spent exploring and getting dirty, collecting leaves and treasures, making up lore of faeries and fantasy of the woods, and listening to the sway of branches in the treehouse my father built.
Of course, the older I became the more isolated I felt not being surrounded by “my people.” When my parents eventually split and my mom moved to a picturesque community in New Jersey up near Manhattan, I jumped at the opportunity to try someplace new. My remaining high school and college years spent in the Garden State were refreshing, and I eventually looked back on my small-town upbringing with nostalgia. Yet at the time, if you asked me if I would ever return to Texas to live, I would have answered with an enthusiastic “No way!”
Then, in December, Austin happened. On a whim, I decided to take a trip to this town that has a penchant for individuality and creative expression. Besides the fact that the December weather was blissful compared to the Northeast (and something I knew I’d pay for in the summer months), I instantly fell in love with everything Austin had to offer. The art and music in every corner dazzled me, and even during my brief stay, I met so many brilliant minds and beautiful souls. Within a week I knew I had finally found my home right here in Texas after all!
As I drove across the state line at Texarkana a few months later, my SUV packed to the brim with belongings, I marveled at the once forgotten beauty of the Texas sunset—bright oranges, pinks, and blues splashed against the endless open sky. The first few months spent getting settled were rainy, and I found myself, perhaps against my better judgement, sitting on my little balcony at night soaking in the natural, earth-shattering force of Texas’ thunderstorms.
No matter what part of the Lone Star State you hail from, there is beauty everywhere. And no matter what you’re looking for in life, every piece of Texas has something to offer.
A smattering of stuff that’s making us say “we like it!” this month
For those who want the enjoyment of properly seasoned food without needing to manage a spice cabinet 50 bottles deep, check out the cleverly themed blends from Just Spices, which take inspiration from real cooks from around the world. $4.99 to $7.49, JustSpices.com
If you can’t tell, we’re fond of the State Fair of Texas around these parts. Make a trip of it and stand in the shadow of Big Tex, marvel at the gastronomic splendor, and witness some awardwinning livestock.
September 28 to October 21, Fair Park, Dallas
If you’re getting antsy for the feel of the holidays, we encourage you to consider jumping the line a little bit with Wax Buffalo’s seasonally-appropriate soy candles, featuring the scents of warm ginger, cinnamon and clove, and evergreen trees. 9 oz. candle/$22, 16 oz. candle/$34, WaxBuffalo.com
It seems implausible to state that Josh Groban (the singer) and Tony Danza (Tony Danza) will star in a father-son family-friendly police procedural series from the creator of Monk, but that’s the world we live in, and we think we like it.
Starting September 21, Netflix
School’s back in full swing and that means germs are pleased as punch. CleanWell offers an alcohol-free spray alternative to normal hand sanitizers that just might be worth sending back to school too.
$15 to $25, CleanWellToday.com
