Even if you have only one symptom, you could be suffering from a very common medical condition. This medical condition is easily treatable and treatments are covered by most insurance companies including Medicare and Tricare. This is not a cosmetic concern.
ARE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS IN YOUR LEGS DISRUPTING YOUR LIFE?
• Neuropathy
• Night Cramps
• Leg Fatigue/Heaviness
• Itching/Burning
• Leg/Ankle Swelling
• Pain/Cramps in your Legs
• Leg Throbbing/Aching
• Restless Legs
• Skin Darkening
• Skin Breaking Down
• Open Skin Wounds
• Varicose Veins
Family Law
• Certified Family Law Mediator
• Collaborative Law
• Paternity
• Divorce
• Child Custody
• Modification
• Child Support
Adoption
• Recognition of Foreign Adoption
• Family Planning
• Step-Parent Adoption
• Finalization of Adoption
• Birth Parent Representation
Assisted Reproductive Technology
• Egg Donor Agreements
• Embryo Donation
• Surrogacy Arrangements
• Family Planning
• Sperm Donor Agreements
White Collar Crime
• Internal Investigations
in Psalm 107:1, “Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for his mercy endureth forever”. One thing I’m truly thankful for this year is the blessing of marrying into the fun-loving Daniels family. It’s my turn to host the Daniels family Thanksgiving dinner and I can already hear the laughter. I’m telling you, a holiday meal with this group is funnier than an episode Whose Line is it Anyway.
Mama Daniels leads the pack! Like the time she convinced me she spoke Spanish, when I heard her reading an instruction manual. What a blithe and loving character she is. But the part of the Thanksgiving meal that touches me the most is when we stop to give thanks, with each family member in turn sharing what we’re most thankful for. Some are funny. Some are tearful. But all are from the heart.
As you gather at your own Thanksgiving table this year, I want to wish you family, food, and fun (with lots of laughter sprinkled in). And may each of us take the time to reach into our hearts and tell our Savior what we’re truly thankful for.
VP OF SALES Scott Daniels, sdaniels@livingmagazine.net For advertising/distribution information call 682-556-1246.
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Mayors from our Letters
MAYOR DAVID COOK MANSFIELD
Fall in Mansfield is a beautiful time, although lately it has been an awfully wet time.
All the rain is great for those areas of our region and state that had been in serious drought conditions. But rain has the potential to do damage when it there is too much of it. During these times, we are lucky to have dedicated first responders who work hard to ensure the safety of all our residents.
Our Office of Emergency Management opens so they can monitor weather conditions with information from the National Weather Service and evaluate potential dangers. We have fire and police personnel traveling the city’s roadways looking for areas of flooding. And in some cases those firefighters are performing water rescues.
Even our parks crews are on call, checking all park properties for flooding and closing these amenities when necessary. We are grateful to these city employees for their dedication to our community, particularly in difficult times when their professionalism and expertise are necessary to keep us safe.
While you are giving thanks this holiday season, remember our first responders, and all city employees, for all they do for us. Happy Thanksgiving!
MAYOR RON JENSEN GRAND PRAIRIE
In November, Grand Prairie opens The Epic, a facility unlike any other in the United States. Located in EpicCentral Park at Arkansas and SH 161, The Epic features a spacious lobby with a café and self-serve library; and panoramic views of the Grand Lawn, lakes and trails of EpicCentral Park. Inside this arts, entertainment, education and recreation complex, you will find our internet radio station; an Artist in Resident studio and classroom; teaching kitchen built by IKEA; multi-use and pickle ball courts; and the Texas Trust theater fashioned after the Keel Theater. Just down the hall, you’ll discover $1 million in work out equipment from free weights to machines; a terrific walking track with elevation changes for those who want a more strenuous workout; program, yoga, spin bike and aerobic rooms; an audio visual studio for creating music and video; a teen club; children’s game room; and children’s indoor playground. We even have an indoor pool with lap swim, a play zone, exercise zone, resistance walk and rentable party rooms by the pool. And all with views overlooking EpicCentral Park. Memberships are available for purchase now.
MAYOR JEFF WILLIAMS ARLINGTON
Things are hopping in The American Dream City! One dynamic example is the transformative rebuild of Abram Street through Downtown Arlington. Kicked off in March, the two-year project focuses on encouraging pedestrian traffic and improving access to downtown businesses. Check Arlington-TX.org for scheduled street closings and detours. And downtown merchants want you to know they’re open for business as usual.
SmartAsset recently included the City of Arlington in its 25 Most Affordable Cities for Early Retirement. They compared cities across 10 factors, looking at a combination of cost-of -living and quality-of-living factors. With high scores for low taxes and ample access to healthcare, Arlington claimed the tenth spot on the list.
If you have problems with feral cats near your home or business, the Best Friends Animal Society is once again partnering with the city of Arlington to sponsor Feral Cat Sundays November 4, 11, and 18. The first 20 “community cats” to arrive in a trap or carrier between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. will receive free spay or neuter and rabies vaccination then be released back into their neighborhoods to live out their lives without reproducing offspring that may struggle to survive.
Hope to see some you Saturday, November 3 at the 16th annual Medieval Arts Festival, noon to 5:00 p.m. at the new George W. Hawkes Downtown Library. Y’all come!
SOCIAL CALENDAR
ARLINGTON - MANSFIELD - GRAND PRAIRIE
NOVEMBER 16
THANKSGIVING LUNCH
Share the holiday with others and enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings. There will be prizes and entertainment. Space is limited and reservations are required. Paperwork will need to be filled out at the center prior to the event. 11am-2pm. Free. Ages 55+. Senior Rec Center New York, 2015 Craig Hanking Dr. Arlington Parks and Recreation
NOVEMBER 1
DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE REGISTRATION
Early registration begins now –December 31 for the 2019 Daddy Daughter Dance. Early registration prices are $20 no limo ride/ $25 with limo ride per person. Visit naturallyfun.org/DDD2019 for details.
Arlington Parks and Recreation
NOVEMBER 1 - 30
YOUTH INDOOR SOCCER REGISTRATION
Ages 3-6. $75. Ages 7-14 $80. Season begins January 5, 2019. Register online at coapar.siplay.com. Arlington Parks and Recreation
NOVEMBER 3
PUPPY YOGA
Come enjoy some “downward dog” time at our Yoga and Adoption event benefiting the Humane Society of North Texas at Arlington Backyard! A table will be set up offering adoption services as well as providing the adoptable puppies during our yoga class! Bring your own mat and water. Free parking. Sign up soon space is limited. 12pm-2pm.Texas Live, 1650 E. Randol Mill Rd. Visit texas-live. com/events/20181103_puppyyoga. Arlington
NOVEMBER 10
RAISE
YOUR
RACQUET-TENNIS TOURNAMENT & FUNDRAISER RAFFLE
All Doubles Men’s and Women’s or Mixed Tournament. Player to pick one event. Fundraiser Raffle
benefitting Cancer Research. 9am-6pm. Walnut Creek Country Club, 1151 Country Club Dr. For tickets visit form.jotform. com/82635215768161. Mansfield
NOVEMBER 10
MOBILE PET ADOPTION
Adorable adoptable pets looking for new homes will be available at the mobile adoption unit for immediate adoption! Visit with adoptable cats available inside PetSmart! Adoptions will be at the Petsmart® in South Arlington, 203 E. I-20 (Arlington Highlands) 10:30am-3:30pm. Arlington
NOVEMBER 19-23
WINTER BREAK CAMP
Come join us for three full days of fun games and activities. Bring a sack lunch and we’ll provide the afternoon snack. Ages 5-12 Cost: $35/day or $125/week. 7am-6pm. Various rec centers. Visit naturallyfun.org for information. Arlington Parks and Recreation
NOVEMBER 22 -DECEMBER 30
PRAIRIE LIGHTS
Enjoy the best holiday lights tradition around! The Holiday Village, Holiday Magic Walk-thru Village, all new Indoor Holiday Show, photos with Santa, gift shop and more! Lynn Creek Park, 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy. Visit prairielights.org for information and to purchase tickets.
Grand Prairie
NOVEMBER 22
TURKEY TRAILS
Start your Thanksgiving off right…10K, 5K or come and walk a mile. Every finisher gets a medal. Bring food for the GPUC pantry and help others give thanks! Visit runsignup.com/Race/TX/ Grand Prairie/Turkey Trails for information and to sign up.
Grand Prairie
NOVEMBER 23DECEMBER 30
ENCHANT CHRISTMAS
Start the holiday season with a family tradition and an adventure
in the light maze, and dazzling Artisans’ Market. So much to see and experience. Globe Life Park. Visit enchantchristmas.com for details and to purchase tickets.
Arlington
NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 1
OLDE TOWN CHRISTMAS
Find a gift to make your Christmas memorable, take photos with Santa and enjoy goodies and concessions at this annual craft fair. Nov. 30 12pm-7pm, Dec. 1 9am-3pm. Dottie Lynn Rec Center, 3200 Norwood Lane. Arlington Parks and Recreation
NOVEMBER 30
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS TREE LIGHTING FESTIVAL
It’s time for the annual Hometown Holidays tree lighting celebration! Make plans to join us for the free family festival that includes games, shopping, food, entertainment, and, of course, Santa Claus! Free! 5pm-9pm at City Hall with the tree lighting and fireworks show around 6:30 p.m. 1200 East Broad. Mansfield
DECEMBER 1 HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS PARADE
Get ready for a parade! Kicks off at 1pm. Historic Downtown Mansfield Mansfield
DECEMBER 2
HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
Our annual Holiday Home Tour is our major fundraiser that benefits area families, women, and children in need. Six homes are on the tour this year. Tickets will go on sale November 1 and can be purchased for $25 in advance at Tom Thumb on Hwy 287, Merle Norman Cosmetics on Debbie Lane, and Poured on Debbie Lane. Tickets will be $30 at the door of tour homes on Sunday, December 2. 1pm- 5:00pm. For further information visit. mansfieldwomensclub.com. Mansfield Women’s Club
Discover A Great Concert Experience!
11/2 – The Kingston Trio
11/3 – Wynonna Judd
11/7 – Richard Marx
11/9 – Don Mclean
11/10 – Average White Band
11/17 – Lucia Micarelli
11/15 – Symphony Arlington
11/29 – Petula Clark
BEST BETS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 @ 7:30PM THE THEATRE AT GRAND PRAIRIE
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE LIVE! 2018
Following the continued success of the hit summer competition series and 15 Emmy® wins, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE is packing up its Top 10 Finalists of 2018 and touring the country this Fall with SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE LIVE! 2018. Come see who will make it onto the next round of the competition!
RICK SPRINGFIELD
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 6 PM
VERIZON THEATRE AT GRAND PRAIRIE
THE KINGSTON TRIO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 @ 7:30PM
ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL
WYNONNA JUDD & THE BIG NOISE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 7:30 PM
ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL
RICHARD MARX
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 @ 8PM
ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL
DON MCLEAN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9 @ 7:30PM
ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL
HANSEL AND GRETEL
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 @ 7:30PM
ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL
THE PLATTERS AND MOTOWN LEGENDS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 @ 3PM
ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL
PENTATONIX - THE CHRISTMAS IS HERE! TOUR
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25 @ 7PM
THE THEATRE AT GRAND PRAIRIE
A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 @ 8PM
THE THEATRE AT GRAND PRAIRIE
CELTIC THUNDER
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 8 PM
VERIZON THEATRE AT GRAND PRAIRIE
PICK
NOVEMBER 21
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET
JOHN C. REILLY, SARAH SILVERMAN
DIR. RICH MOORE (ZOOTOPIA) , PHIL JOHNSTON
Set six years after 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph, this follow-up sees the characters’ popular game go out of commission for repairs, spurring them to go online and meet lots of familiar Disney faces using the arcade’s new Internet connection
NOVEMBER 2
THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS
KEIRA KNIGHTLY, MACKENZIE FOY DIR. LASSE HALLSTRÖM (CHOCOLAT) , JOE JOHNSTON (JUMANJI)
Disney continues its string of live-action adaptations with a big budget fantasy drama based on E. T. A. Hoffman’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King and the famous Tchaikovsky ballet.
NOVEMBER 9
DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH
DIR. SCOTT MOSIER, YARROW CHENEY (THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS)
Eschewing live-action efforts like previous Seuss films featuring Jim Carrey and Mike Meyers, this film presents the classic Grinch story in fully computer animated form. Pharrell Willams narrates.
NOVEMBER 16
FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD
EDDIE REDMAYNE, KATHERINE WATERSTON
DIR. DAVID YATES (HARRY POTTER SERIES)
The second installment in the Harry Potter spinoff prequel series, this one follows Newt Scamander (Redmayne), a Ministry of Magic employee, as he tries to thwart dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).
NOVEMBER 6
HOMEBODY
A GUIDE TO CREATING SPACES YOU NEVER WANT TO LEAVE BY JOANNA GAINES
Let locally-beloved Joanna Gaines show you how to make your house reflect the things you love and represent your own personality, offering tips and tricks to give your home a little body of its own, one room at a time.
THE SERVANT’S HEART OF TILLIE BURGIN
BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
SPEND ANY TIME AROUND MISSION ARLINGTON and you can’t miss the blithe and spirited Tillie Burgin. The octogenarian is much more than executive director. She’s the heart and soul of this non-profit which spends 364 days a year meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those around them. For Tillie, the call to serve began in childhood. “When I was around 13 and learning about missions, I knew I either wanted to be a missionary or fly a military bomber,” she
said. Unfortunately, neither path was considered obtainable for women, in those days. But Tillie kept a dream of the mission field in her heart. “I remember reading the fourth chapter of Ephesians, which said I could serve the Lord as a teacher and decided I could answer that call. But I always felt God wanted more from me.” When Tillie’s husband, Bob, was drafted and sent to Korea, he found a way for her to join him and teach young boys, through the Methodist church there.
Bob’s obligation in Korea met, the couple made arrangements to return home to Texas. “The boys asked me, ‘Who’s gonna’ come and take your place? Who’ll teach us about Jesus’,” Tillie said. “I told them, ‘I don’t know. I’m not a missionary’. And they said, ‘Tell the people back in the United States that’s we’re not as bad as they think we are. Maybe they’ll send someone to tell us about Jesus’.”
The day the Burgins arrived back in Arlington, Tillie received a call from the mayor. “He asked me to come speak to his Sunday school class about my experience in Korea,” she said. “I’ve never been a public speaker, but I knew I’d promised the boys. So, I did it.”
Each time Tillie told her story of the Korean boys, she felt God’s prompting. So, in 1966 she wrote a letter to the Baptist Foreign Mission Board asking to be sent back to Korea. Amazingly, that very day the man in charge received the first-ever request from Korea to send missionary teachers. God began to open doors and, for the next ten years, Bob and Tillie served the Lord as missionary teachers in Korea.
Back home a decade later, Tillie couldn’t shake the thought, “If I can do missions in Korea, I can do them in Arlington”.
“One day I met a woman who needed help in her apartment,” Tillie said. “So, I told her, ‘We can start a Bible study in your apartment and we’ll get your electricity turned back on.”
That was three decades ago. Today, there are more than 350 of these “apartment churches” scattered across the Greater Arlington area with more than 5,000 people in apartment Bible studies each week. “There’s no boring church here,” Tillie said. “It’s the most fun you can have in your life.”
That was the beginning of Mission Arlington which has grown into a $5-million-a-year social services network offering emergency assistance, free dental and medical care, a food bank, summer camps, and more, made possible by more than 40,000 volunteers. A thousand people a day come through the central campus located across the street from First Baptist Church of Arlington for food, clothing, care, furniture, emergency transportation, and even a little cash.
But the most important service they provide is something Tillie calls hanging out and hovering. “It’s just living life with people and loving them,” she said. “When someone leaves this place, we want them to know they’ve been in the presence of the Lord. We’re a motley crew. But God put us together and it’s God who’s caused all this to happen. People are distraught. They’re in need. They’re begging for help. And God has been gracious enough to allow us to give that help.”
How can you get involved? Miss Tillie says to show up. “If you want to help, there’s a place for you.”
HERE,” TILLIE SAID. “IT’S THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE IN YOUR LIFE.”
ARLINGTON - MANSFIELD - GRAND PRAIRIE
A NEW MOVIE FROM THE PAST
In partnership with film preservationists, Orson Welles, the director of Citizen Kane, posthumously delivers The Other Side of the Wind, mostly finished in the 1970s but left unreleased after Welles’ passing in 1985.
November 2, Netflix.com
FINISHING THAT NOVEL
If you’ve always said you’ll get around to writing a book one day, try your hand at November’s NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), which encourages participants to crank out 50,000 words in 30 days.
NaNoWriMo.org
DITCHING THE DONUTS
The well-known purveyor of donuts (and many other things) will officially drop the “Donuts” from their name starting in January, leaving us wondering what would happen if we too were able to remove donuts from our lives (we are not).
DunkinDonuts.com
RICE IN ICE CREAM
My/Mo ice cream turns things inside out by putting the little chewy mochi bits inside the ice cream instead of the ice cream inside the mochi—looks so tasty we don’t care what temperature it is outside.
$5.99, Target and various grocers
GET COZY
You’re gonna need a blanket to snuggle up with for all this movie and ice cream business, and we like wool—check out this Lima throw which uses alpaca wool, which is softer and warmer than lambswool.
$179, Crate and Barrel
PIXIE
“Meet Pixie, our little Frenchie puppy who we just adore!”
- CATH S.
BUD & SISSY
“We have two mini donkeys, Sissy and Bud, who would love to join the pet club.”TARYN B.
SAMMY
Sammy is here! He celebrated his first birthday this year and is happy to appear in the pages of Living.
- NORMA C
THIS MONTH’S GIVEAWAY
Channel your pooch’s inner mermaid with a Mermaid Life collar! Their scaly finds are perfect for strutting your mutt wherever you soak up the sun. Available in pink or teal and three sizes, Mermaid Life has the best fit for your four-legged bestie. MERMAIDLIFE.ME
PET FACT
Though they have a reputation for stubbornness, donkeys can be very dependable once their owners have earned their confidence—and are intelligent animals who love to learn.
PET CLUB MEMBERS
Every month, all Living Pet Club members are automatically entered to win our giveaway! To join the club and receive a free membership magnet for your pet, send your pet’s name, your name, your address, and a clear photo of your pet to pets@livingmagazine. net. They might just turn up in a future issue of Living! PETS@LIVINGMAGAZINE.NET
Michael and Raquel Thornton
THE EPITOME OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY
What a delight it was to visit with Dr. Michael Thornton and his wife, Raquel, in their beautiful Mansfield home. The epitome of Southern hospitality, they were warm and inviting, as we laughed our way through their photo shoot. The family dog gamboled about, the cat made her guarded appearance, and Dr. Thornton’s beautiful baby grand piano awaited his next inspiration. It was easy to see how both Dr. Thornton and Raquel foster trust in his cosmetic surgery patients.
ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION
Because no two patients are alike, Dr. Thornton enjoys getting to know each client individually. Your one-hour relaxed, private consultation with Dr. Thornton offers you time to share your wishes and goals for cosmetic surgery. From there, Dr. Thornton will personally see you during all post-operative visits to actively engage in your healing process and assure the highest physician-level care.
EXPERIENCED AND CARING STAFF
Mansfield Cosmetic Surgery Center was established in 2008 under the surgical directorship of Dr. Thornton. His 3500-square-foot Mediterranean-style office features a spacious foyer, three private exam rooms, a med spa facility, and a private operating room. Dr. Thornton and his seasoned medical staff pay attention to even the smallest detail, doing what it takes to help you feel at ease.
Because of their ability to foster genuine personal relationships, Dr. Thornton and his medical staff are frequently recommended to friends and family, while his regular patients return for additional treatments, for everything from extensive body contouring and breast revision surgery to brow lifts and non-surgical facial rejuvenation.
EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Dr. Michael Thornton is a proud Baylor University graduate and a supporter of the Baylor athletic program. He received his medical degree from UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth and completed a comprehensive five-year residency in general surgery and one-year fellowship in surgical critical care and
Those patients routinely travel from around the country to Mansfield Cosmetic Surgery Center to visit this fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeon. A double board-certified cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Thornton is a Diplomate of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery providing personalized surgical care and expertise in:
• Facial plastic surgery
• Breast augmentation
• Breast lift and reduction
• Revision breast surgery
• Body contouring abdominoplasty
• Liposuction
• Brazilian Butt Lift
• Mommy makeovers
• Gynecomastia and cosmetic surgery for men
• Non-surgical aesthetic skin rejuvenation
trauma surgery at the internationally recognized R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, MD, where he acquired extensive knowledge in the management and reconstruction of complex injuries.
Dr. Thornton’s extensive surgical training finally culminated after he completed a dedicated 12-month advanced fellowship in cosmetic surgery focusing specifically on facial plastic surgery, rhinoplasty, cosmetic breast surgery, liposuction, body contouring surgery, non-surgical aesthetics, skin care rejuvenation, and laser medicine.
PIONEERING ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY
To offer his patients the latest cosmetic
surgery techniques, Dr. Thornton attends annual national cosmetic surgery meetings and participates in advanced courses. With more than 15 years of combined surgical training and operative experience, it is no wonder that Dr. Thornton is consistently named “SuperDoc” for the past 6 years in addition to being selected as Reader’s Choice “Best Cosmetic Surgeon” for the past three years in Living Magazine Arlington & Mansfield for 2016, 2017, and 2018. In addition, Dr. Thornton is past president of the Texas Cosmetic Surgery Society and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) where he’s also serves as an oral-board examiner for the ABCS.
Soft spoken, passionate about his work, and devoted to his patients, Dr. Thornton’s appreciation for beauty and his strong Christian faith are central to his relationship with his patients and his approach to medicine and surgery. Dr. Thornton is also a gifted pianist and loving husband. His innate artistry combines seamlessly with his meticulous attention to detail to produce beautiful results for his patients. Dr. Thornton and his wife support local charities, such as Mansfield Cares, Harvesting International of North Texas food bank, and Dallas Holocaust Museum.
AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER
Joining her husband at Mansfield Cosmetic Surgery is his wife, Raquel, who currently serves as the Director of Marketing and Patient Coordinator. Raquel directs her talents toward
making the overall patient experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible, where patients see Raquel’s hand in the little touches of relaxing ambient music, the soft flow of water fountains, and the inviting Tuscan decor.
Raquel works closely with Dr. Thornton to ensure smooth doctor/patient communication. “I make sure each patient has a great experience and understands what’s available to them in our extensive array of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, non-surgical aesthetic treatments, and medical spa services.”
She also handles social media, website design, marketing outreach, and more. “I’m constantly toying with new ideas to integrate into our practice to better serve our clients,” she said. “I like taking on new responsibilities to fill in the gaps and tie up loose ends.”
Raquel was a featured professional dancer in all three of Disney’s High School Musical movies, and she dedicates her personal time to teaching competitive dance at a local dance studio where she helps young dancers build self-esteem and confidence and passes the core values of dance on to the next generation.
Browse Dr. Michael Thornton’s before/after gallery at MansfieldCosmeticSurgery.com then call 817-4779000 to schedule your own complimentary consultation.
The insufferable heat of Texas summer has finally abated. Hope is in the air, whistling through the trees with the promise of a new season. Though I’m a native Texan, I’ve grown weary of the miserable summers. Every year they seem hotter and longer. There are days when I’m not sure I can survive another year. My family mocks me as my pattern remains constant—from June to September I look for houses in other parts of the country, calculating a way to move to a cooler climate to leave the heat permanently. Then comes the first 80 degree day and 60 degree night and I can breathe again; the restlessness begins to calm as subtle glimpses of fall appear.
bBut maybe your least favorite time of year is winter and the cold sends you indoors for months of hibernation. Regardless of which camp we’re in, we know at some point the season will change. But what if it didn’t? What if extreme temperatures never waned? What if our harshest seasons and hardest challenges never seemed to end? I know a family who recently buried their teenager who was taken suddenly in a tragic accident. Another friend lost her dear sister to a long battle with cancer and left three young children behind. At least two in my sphere have become widows in the last two years, losing their husbands decades before they should have. One woman lost her sight to diabetes only to have her life cut short in her fifties. A sweet lady I know suffers year after year with cancer, hoping the next surgery or treatment will be the last. Couples struggle with infertility, others mourn the death of an infant. All of these individuals have put their faith in Christ and wonder, why the suffering?
What do we do in the darkest of times, when our faith is weakened and the struggle never seems to end? How do we press on when the life we thought we’d have doesn’t manifest and tragedy we never expected becomes a reality? The Bible tells us to give thanks in all things. His Word says, “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering our faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude” (Phil. 4:6, TPT).
When all hope seems lost and every ounce of joy has been drained from your present life, keep seeking Him. If you’ve nothing to be thankful for in this life, put a laser-like focus on Jesus—the sacrifice He became for your redemption and the great promise of eternal life. I’ve endured loss in my life. I’ve felt pain and disappointment—not to the degree that some have, but I have suffered. I’ve been battling a visual disability caused by a constant (24/7) migraine aura for over nine years. There are days—many days—I do not want to leave my bed. I’d rather
keep my eyes closed and imagine I see with clarity. On the most difficult days when the anger rises and my cry for healing goes unanswered, I grapple with gratitude. Taking thankfulness to task, I wrestle and slowly begin to count my blessings. I’m not blind and I enjoy what I see even though it’s somewhat distorted. I have a beautiful, healthy family. There’s a nice roof over my head and plenty to eat and wear, and I have Jesus and the freedom to worship Him. And these are just the basics—gifts abound all around me.
Many of you don’t have the blessings I have; some of you have much more. Wherever you find yourself today, you have something, at least one thing, for which you can give thanks. Fight for it. If this Thanksgiving is clouded by tragedy, by disappointment, by health issues or something else, look beyond the present and imagine eternity. See His face; see the place He has prepared for you; cling tight to His promises and know that one day there will be no more tears. One day, you will embrace that loved one again; you will hold that infant; you will be completely healed absent of all pain and suffering.
This life may not be what you hoped. The next life will be more than you imagine. As Thanksgiving comes and goes another year, wrestle with your flesh, grapple with gratitude. Squeeze out thankfulness; it will do you and those around you a world of good. Like Ann Voskamp reminds us in One Thousand Gifts Devotional, “There is so much joy in seeing how He uses our simple act of noticing the blessings He bestows all around us to transform our lives and the lives of those we touch.”
LISA IS A SPEAKER, FREELANCE WRITER AND AUTHOR OF FOUR BOOKS. TO CONTACT LISA OR FOLLOW HER BLOG, VISIT LISAJENKINSMOORE.COM OR CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ LJENKINSMOORE
WELLNESS
how i learned to LOVE JUICING
BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
There’s no doubt what got me started on my juicing journey. It was the night I was flipping around Netflix and came across Joe Cross’ award-winning documentary, Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead . Originally released in 2014, the film follows an Australian businessman on his 60-day journey across the US as he adheres to a juice fast, loses 100 pounds, regains his health, and discontinues the medication he’d been taking for years. That got my attention. And I bought my first juicer.
A juicer is basically a centrifuge with a blade or disk that spins at high speeds, grating fruits and veggies, straining them through a fine sieve, and making the nutrients in the resulting juice immediately available to the body. The first thing I noticed is that I can’t just sip my juice. One taste and it’s like my body is crying out for more. I gulp!
Now, you may already be buying cold-pressed juice from your grocery store, so you know how delicious the right blend can be. But, because produce begins losing nutrients almost immediately after it’s been juiced, investing in an at-
home juicer meant I could drink fresher, more nutrient-rich juice. With a decent home juicer starting around $99 and many store-bought juices costing $8 or more, it didn’t take long for it to pay for itself. Besides, it was fun to experiment and find the combinations I like.
From there, I spend around $20 on produce per week for one glass of juice a day. Cross recommends a ratio or 80% vegetables to 20% fruit. But I started a bit fruit-heavy and worked my way toward that ratio. Now it’s your turn. Begin with several large handfuls of greens, some apples, carrots, and whatever additional produce you like. Organic is best, since you’ll be juicing skin-and-all. But if you can’t find it, use a good produce wash.
Just toss your produce in your juicer—peel, core, seeds, everything—and watch the gorgeous colors flow out the other end and blend into something truly life-giving. I practice delayed gratification, not allowing myself a sip of juice until my juicer is washed and dried and ready for tomorrow. Then… wait for it… Mmmmmmm!
DR. RICHARD R. KNIGHT, MD
No yo-yomorediets!
Hello, I’m Soraida! I am 54 years old and want to tell you how great the DSC program is. I always thought that being healthy was so hard until a co-worker told me about the Diet Solution program. It is not that I have been overweight all my life, it’s just after having my children I ran into the rush and unhealthy lifestyle. With this came high blood pressure and other health issues. I am thankful for the staff members of DSC and without taking away from other staff I really want to thank Heather. She has been there the entire way on my journey from losing 30 pounds in 5 months going from a size 12 to a size 5. I love going in with no idea of what to eat and coming out with a new meal schedule. Today I can tell you that I am off blood pressure medications, and I feel healthier and happier and I no longer struggle to keep up with the grandkids. I can tell everyone that without Heather and Jennifer at Diet Solution I would never have met my goal.
Thank you, DSC!
Soraida B, Fort Worth | 30.6 lbs in 19 weeks
SOME TIPS I’VE LEARNED ON MY JUICING JOURNEY.
1. Juice product “pieces” you’d usually toss such as pineapple cores, broccoli stems, broccoli, cauliflower, or eggplant leaves, eggplant or banana peels, kiwi skins, and melon rinds.
2. While produce with a consistency of bananas or avocados won’t juice, you can mash them with a fork and mix them into your finished juice.
3. When juicing leafy greens, either roll them into a tight ball or wrap them around something like a piece of celery or a carrot.
4. If you don’t have a certain type of produce on hand, substitute a few drops of its essential oil.
5. Squeeze citrus and freeze the juice in ice cube trays. Then use the cubes in your juice.
CARROT AND GINGER DETOX JUICE
• 5 medium carrots
• ¼ to ½ medium cucumber
• 1 medium apple
• 1-inch fresh gingerroot
• ½ medium lemon (peeled)
love’s great CHALLENGE
CARING FOR AN ALZHEIMER’S PATIENT
BY DAVID BUICE
The current statistics regarding Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S. are sobering—and are only projected to grow worse. Today more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and the number is projected to climb to perhaps 16 million by 2050.
fFor family members caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, the costs can be enormous. In 2016, family caregivers provided an estimated $230 billion and 18.2 billion hours caring for those with dementia.
The cost of care, however, often goes far beyond money and time. The role of an Alzheimer’s caregiver can be stressful, exhausting, and frightening, especially as the disease progresses into more advanced stages.
For those caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, we hope these suggestions will be helpful.
REDUCE FRUSTRATIONS
An Alzheimer’s patient can easily become agitated when once simple tasks become more difficult. To ease frustrations:
• Establish a basic routine to make each day less confusing. Schedule tasks such as bathing at times when they’re most alert and refreshed. But allow some flexibility for spontaneous activities.
• Provide simple instructions. Patients best understand clear, onestep communication.
• Keep them involved. Allow your loved one to do as much as possible, such as setting the table or helping you mix ingredients for a dish.
• Provide choices. It’s best to minimize choices, but give them some. Provide two outfits to choose from, for example, or ask if they would like to go for a walk or watch a movie.
• Take your time. Things will take longer than they once did, so schedule more time for tasks so they don’t feel hurried or pressured.
MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT
• Avoid scattered rugs, extension cords, and any clutter that might lead to a fall. Install hand rails in critical areas.
• Install locks on cabinets that contain potentially harmful things like weapons, tools, dangerous utensils, medicines, alcohol, or toxic cleaning substances.
• Lower the temperature on the hot water heater to avoid scalding.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach, and if they smoke, make sure they’re supervised.
EATING
• Turn off the radio or TV, keep unneeded items off the table, and if necessary, serve one thing at a time.
• Don’t hurry, and give them plenty of time to eat.
• If swallowing is difficult, serve softer foods like cottage cheese, applesauce, or scrambled eggs.
PREVENTION
Specialists really don’t know how to prevent Alzheimer’s, but exercising your brain by learning new things, along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, are thought to help keep your brain healthy.
seasonal SOAK
OUR RECIPES FOR THE PERFECT HOLIDAY BATH
BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
The holidays— whether they’ve yet to actually take place or have recently passed—can wear you down like few other times of year. Amid all the hubbub, it can be super helpful to take an hour or two to slip away, unplug, and revive your spirit with a long, soulreviving bath.
starter PACK
IDEAL BATH BASICS
Temperature: 92 degrees
Fahrenheit
Length: 20 to 30 minutes
Lighting: Dim
HANDY TO HAVE:
• Candles
• Music, audio book, ambient sounds, or blessed silence
• Coffee, tea, or wine
• Bath caddy or shelf
• Bath pillow
• Bubbles, bath bomb, or essential oils
RELAXING DIY BATH BOMBS
• 4 ounces baking soda
• 2 ounces each of corn starch,citric acid, and Epsom salt
• 1½ teaspoons water
• 1 teaspoon essential oil of your choice
• 1¼ teaspoon coconut oil
Combine dry ingredients, removing clumps. In a separate bowl, mix wet ingredients, then add wet ingredients to dry slowly, mixing as you go. Spoon this mixture into a mold. If you’re having trouble, add additional water, a little at a time. Remove from mold and let dry overnight on parchment paper. Store in an airtight container, and drop one in the bath next time you’re ready for a good soak.
REST AND RELAXATION lavender oil
Lavender is the go-to essential oil for treating everything from migraines and emotional stress to dry skin and digestion problems. To create a soul-soothing bath, add six to eight drops of lavender essential oil into a warm bath, close your eyes, and let your thoughts drift far away.
RECLAIM YOUR PEACE grapefruit oil
Grapefruit essential oil, with its uplifting citrusy smell, can stimulate your endocrine glands, producing natural, beneficial hormones that help increase energy, alertness, and stamina. If the holidays have sapped your energy, a few drops of grapefruit oil in a slow, soaky bath can put the spring back in your step.
REGAIN YOUR FOCUS peppermint oil
The spicy scents of peppermint essential oils have been known to wake up the most sluggish holiday reveler and sharpen the senses. If you hit a mid-morning slump, instead of a cup of cof-
fee or a candy bar, try several drops of peppermint oil in your bath. The peppermint smell can awaken the mind, boost cognitive function, and improve concentration.
HEAL SORE MUSCLES
epsom salt
Absorbed directly through the skin, Epsom salt helps replenish the magnesium your body loses during a workout or marathon shopping excursion. Soak in Epsom any time you find yourself with sore muscles and tired bones.
FEED YOUR SKIN milk and honey
The legendary Egyptian beauty Cleopatra credited her soft, silky skin to regular baths in milk and honey. You can do the same. Honey possesses soothing antibacterial properties and milk has high vitamin and mineral content. Add one and a half cups of milk (or even milk powder) and half a cup of honey to your bath water and stir. Don’t make the water too hot though, or you can affect the helpful properties of the milk and honey.
AESTHETICS
flawless skin for THE HOLIDAYS
MEDSPA TREATMENTS FOR A VIBRANT, SMOOTH COMPLEXION
BY LARUE V. GILLESPIE
The holidays are just around the bend, and we’re betting you’d love to look picture perfect for all those snap-worthy occasions lining up lickety-split on your calendar. If your skin needs some freshening up—or some serious TLC—you might consider some of these promising treatments you can schedule and have taken care of at your local medspa in no time at all.
INJECTABLES
For worry lines and crow’s feet, nothing beats injectables like Botox for a smoother, younger looking face. Results are realized within five to seven days and last about three to six months.
FILLERS
Marionette lines, scars, and areas that have lost volume and collagen can be handled with fillers such as Juvederm, HylaForm, Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane. How to choose the right filler for you?
First, “find a doctor [you] trust, and ultimately let the doc decide,” said Anna D. Guanche, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon specializing in cosmetic procedures in Calabasas, California. “It should be someone with proper training, an artistic eye, and experience. An experienced and established injector will have a variety [of fillers] to choose from and will guide you based on your skin thickness, goals, upcoming events, and budget.”
LASERS
Fraxel lasers help with erasing fine to medium lines, improving skin texture, and brightening your skin, explained Nancy Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Spec -
trum Dermatology in Scottsdale, Arizona. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) lasers help with darker or tough pigmentation issues and even out your skin tone.
PEELS
Peels, such as the Jessner peel, are less expensive and less invasive treatment options—but don’t discount their potent ability. “The Jessner peel is a smooth, even peel with beautiful results and virtually no downtime,” said Guanche, who does a Jessner peel once a month on her own face.
MICRONEEDLING
Bella FX harnesses radio frequency introduced into the dermis with microneedles. “Almost anyone is a good candidate, and it’s safe and effective in tightening the skin, reducing pore size, and minimizing broken capillaries,” said Guanche.
MICRO-CHANNELING
Aquagold is a first-of-its kind treatment that boasts 24K hypoallergenic, gold-plated needles that inject Botox and filler at the same time in micro-doses all over the skin, making the skin look smooth and airbrushed. “Aquagold is the perfect procedure for the holidays!” Guanche said. “My patients say it is the facial that lasts forever.”
BOTOX FOR THE NECK?
Most people know Botox is great for those lines on the forehead, crow’s feet, and between the brows, but did you know that it can help make your neck look smoother and younger? “Botox can help with vertical pull lines, tiny muscles that we no longer use,” explained Anna D. Guanche, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon specializing in cosmetic procedures in Calabasas, Calif. “When no longer contracting, they lay flat, providing a neck that looks smoother.”
SKIN FACTS
November has been designated as National Healthy Skin Month by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Here are a few skin facts from the AAD—some fun and some a little weird.
• The average adult has approximately 16 to 22 square feet of skin, which weighs around 20 pounds on average
• Skin accounts for about 15 percent of your body weight
• The skin has three layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutis
• Skin is thickest on the palms and soles, and thinnest on the eyelids
• Your skin completely renews itself every 28 days by constantly shedding dead cells
• Skin sheds around 30,000 cells per minute
• A large part of the dust in your home is actually made up of dead skin cells
a chill in THE AIR
HEAVIER FABRICS AS THE DAYS GET COOLER
POLO RALPH LAUREN
Notch Lapel Custom-Fit Blazer
$268
POLO RALPH LAUREN Fair Isle Wool-Blend Sweater $298
FASHION | A
POLO RALPH LAUREN Flag Rollneck Sweater
$198
HAYLEY MENZIES
Sunset Stripe Jumper
$235
Lauren Marie Photography
FASHION |
HAYLEY MENZIES
Long Sunrise Rodeo Cardi-Coat
$699
POLO RALPH LAUREN
Ruffle-Trim Pointelle Sweater
$248
life among THE MOUNTAINS
LODGEPOLE RETREAT, NEAR ALLENSPARK, COLORADO
PROJECT BY AND COURTESY OF ARCH11
A MODERN CABIN The couple who owned this property enjoyed a 1960s-era two bedroom stone cabin for years, spending weekends skiing and hiking with their kids. But to accommodate their now grown children and their new families, it was time to get bigger—and more contemporary.
COMFORT IN CONSTRUCTION
The cabin is constructed with sustainable features for a near net zero energy use and rugged design to stand up to strong winds from the nearby mountains. Triple-paned glazing, in-floor radiant heat, LED lighting, and a rooftop photovoltaic power array ensure the cabin is comfortable and kind on the environment.
STEPPING UP The living space is set off above the ground on a concrete base to heighten the experience of floating above the meadow—a 30 acre space punctuated with high alpine forests and beautiful views of the
PHOTOS BY RAUL GARCIA
BUILT BY J.A. LONG CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Rocky Mountains surrounding the site.
GREAT GLASS Floor to ceiling glass provides a nearly cinematic experience, offering 180-degree views of the mountains and trees. The glass-enclosed great room gives the sense of living outdoors, with herds of elk regularly being sighted in the adjacent meadow.
ABOUT THE ARCHITECTS
Founded in 1993, Arch11 is recognized for precision, craft, and a modern sensibility that anchors buildings to their sites, heightening the experience of materials and place. They design solutions specific to place, purpose, and client, and are continuous learners, makers, teachers, and mentors. Arch11.com
ADVENTURE
fall in NOVA SCOTIA
FALLING FOR ATLANTIC CANADA
BY ANNETTE BROOKS
The lyrics from “You’re So Vain” kept replaying in my head as we sped northward, trying to make it to St. John, New Brunswick before the ferry to Digby, Nova Scotia departed. Listening to Carly Simon’s 1972 hit back in the day initially ignited my curiosity about Nova Scotia (Then you flew your Learjet up to Nova Scotia/To see the total eclipse of the sun), and it stayed with me over the years. Finally, while on a fall “leaf peeping” road trip with my friend, Rosemary, from California, I was going to visit the place I’d been wondering about for decades.
Having missed the ferry despite our efforts, we drove the extra 250 miles to Digby. This left us barreling across dark, desolate roads in my German sports sedan at speeds I dare not mention, only to arrive at Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa just after their acclaimed restaurant had closed. To make matters worse, it was Rosemary’s birthday and we were looking forward to a culinary celebration. Yet out of this unfortunate circumstance, we learned about gracious Canadian hospitality. Knowing our predicament, Chef Dale Nichols stayed late and prepared a homemade meal for us—roasted vegetables in a light tomato-wine broth with seared Digby scallops and a creamy risotto. So, there we sat in my room around 11 pm, toasting life with a bottle of sparkling wine, and enjoying a quiet meal
made especially for us by a celebrated Canadian chef—a birthday to remember with a tale to tell.
The next morning, with cameras ready, we drove from Digby to Halifax via Annapolis Valley. We anticipated a show of autumn colors, but instead discovered the leaves were hanging on to their chlorophyll until the last hurrah. A few rebels garnered our eager comments. “Oh look, there’s some color! Over there… see that leaf?”
The staff at our downtown Halifax hotel consoled us. “With a late fall, the leaves can change almost overnight.” We took this to heart as we happily toured around the city for a few of days, waiting for the autumn change.
Downtown Halifax was a pleasant surprise. The clean, modern
hub of culture, food, business, and the arts offered the perfect balance of big city flare and small town charm. The harbor area was especially lively with restaurants on the water, boutiques, jewelry shops with handmade items from local artisans, galleries, and of course, a few tourist traps. Embracing our tourist status, we took a narrated Halifax Harbor Hopper Tour on a duck boat that traveled over land and water. It was a great way to sightsee and learn about local history.
Halifax’s food scene was equally exciting, mirroring the city’s urban revitalization. From upscale seafood restaurants such as The Five Fishermen and the trendy, bistro-like Bicycle Thief to the clubby CUT Steakhouse, we wined and dined our way through Halifax. And, as bonafide foodies, we made sure to try Nova Scotia’s official dish, the donair, which is like a Greek gyro, but with a sweet and garlicky sauce.
After a few days in Halifax, we decided to take a day trip up the coast in search of colorful leaves. The hotel concierge looked at us quizzically when we inquired about things to do along the way. “There’s nothing much to see up there,” he said. “You might want to go down to Peggy’s Cove instead.”
Determined and admittedly a bit stubborn, we headed up the coast anyway, which took us past scenic coves, a smattering of quiet coastal villages, and some interesting homesteads. One photo-worthy home had whimsical artwork attached to its whitewashed
wooden clapboards—a true expression of individuality. Lunch was a simple but deeply satisfying bowl of hot homemade soup at a roadside café. (Nova Scotians know how to do soup.) And the leaves? They were just beginning to change. We were encouraged.
When it was time to leave Halifax and catch the CAT ferry to Maine, we traveled down along the coast before cutting inland over Yarmouth. To our delight, and as if by magic, trees with yellow, red, and orange leaves appeared along the waterways and throughout the hills as we made our way to Peggy’s Cove.
A quaint fishing village perched on an austere, windswept, rocky shoreline, Peggy’s Cove, replete with its own lighthouse, looks like a living postcard. You’ll find brightly hued boats moored to its docks and a handful of homes, either colorfully painted or weathered grey, dotting the land. It’s a small, pic-
turesque community—and one of Nova Scotia’s most beloved—with a couple of restaurants, a gallery or two, and a several retail shops.
Heading further down the coast, Mahone Bay was a big surprise. We discovered the entire town goes all out for Halloween. The streets come to life with over 250 hand-made, life-size, creatively dressed scarecrows. Volunteers in the town spend their summers building these scarecrows and dressing them creatively in themed groups. The display has attracted visitors to Mahone Bay for many years.
Ever since I experienced Nova Scotia, I’ve had an urge to return. Our whirlwind visit only gave me a taste of what the area has to offer. I’m ready to see and learn more about this Canadian Maritime Province—and have already talked my husband into a trip there soon, colorful leaves dancing through my memory.
WE'RE EXPANDING
You can earn an above average income selling advertising for Living Magazine right here in Arlington, Mansfield, Grand Prairie. Just imagine the freedom and lifestyle that would bring. We are looking for the best, so only the highly motivated need apply. To be considered for this exclusive job opportunity email your resume to mdaniels@livingmagazine.net Those with successful past sales experience will be given top priority.
walking with JESUS
BY FRAN DANIELS
Can you feel the love of Jesus as you walk with Him today?
Do you see Him in the face of strangers you will meet along the way?
Does your smile reflect His Glory?
Will your words just speak His Truth?
Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?
Will you share this Holy Fruit?
Will you open your heart to hear Him?
Do your burdens seem too much?
Will your faith in Him uphold you?
Can you feel His gentle touch?
Do you give Him Praise and Glory?
Will you seek Him as you pray?
Jesus’ Love and Grace are with you
As you walk with Him this day.
DEUT 4:29
DEUTERONOMY 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR HOSTING YOUR FIRST THANKSGIVING
GATHERINGS & GRATITUDE
BY LISA JENKINS-MOORE
SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE GORE OF HALLOWEEN AND THE GLORY OF CHRISTMAS IS A HOLIDAY WE SHOULD TAKE TIME TO SAVOR— THANKSGIVING. WITH SO MUCH TO GIVE THANKS FOR AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR GOOD FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP, THANKSGIVING IS TO BE CHERISHED. IF YOU HAVE THE HONOR OF HOSTING THE CELEBRATION IN YOUR HOME THIS YEAR, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING TIPS.
KEEP IT COZY
Anytime we entertain guests in our home, extra attention to detail is required. Beyond your regular cleaning, pay special attention to the restrooms, baseboards, air vents, ceiling fans, and countertops. Be meticulous in the areas where guests will spend the most time. A clean house is the foundation of a relaxing time, but don’t forget the atmosphere. Creative lighting, candles, oil diffusers, and background music can add to the warmth of the environment and make guests feel even more at home. Consider your furniture arrangement—is the seating accessible and inviting? Are any of the guests disabled and in need of a larger path to walk through? Evaluate your home with guests in mind, as the day should be focused on their comfort and convenience rather than the perfect layout.
KEEP IT CLASSIC
Pinterest carries an appeal of its own, and holiday ideas are abundant. However, there are as many Pinterest fails as there are successes. If you are drawn to try a new recipe or presentation, make sure to do a test run before your actual party. The last thing a hostess needs is the added pressure that comes from uncertainty. Thanksgiving holds centuries of tradition, so classic fare such as turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole is always a hit. If possible, find out in advance if guests have food allergies or sensitivities in order to offer them a substitute.
KEEP IT CORDIAL
Family gatherings are not the time to discuss hot emotional issues like politics and religion, especially if guests have differing views. As the host, be aware of conversations and try to be proactive to steer guests in a positive direction if topics veer off course. It doesn’t hurt to have a few conversation ideas prepared— interesting books you’ve read, vacation experiences your guests recently enjoyed, or a review of a new restaurant— light, engaging conversation will make your guests feel at ease and more likely to interact with one another.
Remember not to get so caught up in the execution of the perfect Thanksgiving experience that you miss the significance of the day. Take time to relax, take a few deep breaths, and reflect on the beauty and grace in your life. Don’t do it all yourself if you have friends and family members offering to contribute. Let someone bring a side dish or dessert, or allow someone to arrive early to help you with last minute pick up or décor. Regardless of the circumstances, we can all find something to be thankful for—and gratitude is good for the soul.
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BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
HOW TO ADJUST WHEN IT’S TIME FOR THEM TO LEAVE
Something happens to me each day at about three in the afternoon. I suddenly panic, thinking I forgot to pick the kids up from school. Then I realize “the kids” are down to one and that beautiful boy got his license and car this summer. He’s not waiting for me in the school carline. He’s pulling out of the parking lot with a cute blonde in the passenger seat and probably a
couple buddies in the back (sigh). This isn’t the first transition my mind—and heart—have had to make over the past twenty-plus years. First there was sending each child off to school, then to high school, then all too soon to college. And of course, this has all been practice for the day my husband and I will find ourselves with an officially empty nest.
Discuss the change before it happens
Whether your child is headed to kindergarten, college, or the big bad world, it’s a transition for them as well. Begin talking together about the changes that are coming as early as possible. When will you see each other? How will you stay connected? Let them know you know they’ve got this.
Give yourself time to adjust
These are major life changes. Experts say that it can take 18 months to two years for you to adjust to the new norm.
Accept support
Spend time with other parents who’re going through the same adjustment period. Plan some visits to commiserate and compare notes.
Celebrate your child’s independence
From the time you brought them home from the hospital, your job has been to work yourself out of a job. If your child’s ready to take this next step, it’s because you got them ready. Congratulate yourself on a job well done.
Find identity elsewhere
If you’re a person who finds identity in being a parent, look elsewhere for validation. Take up a new hobby. Tackle a new challenge. Cultivate a new circle of friends or reconnect with old ones.
Remember, no matter what major step your child is taking and how far away they’re going, you’re still their parent. And no one can take that away from you.
Soiling the Nest
There’s a phenomenon that often occurs right before a child heads for college or out into the world. After you’ve spent 18 years nurturing them, helping them work through problems, guiding them through personal issues, and preparing them to leave your nest and enter the world, don’t be surprised if they spend the time before they leave going AWOL, being irritable, and treating you like dirt. Although they probably don’t realize what they’re doing, it’s called “soiling the nest” and it’s a protective instinct that makes it easier for them to leave—and easier for you to let them go.
PUMPKIN SAGE
FETTUCCINE ALFREDO
SERVES: 4
TIME: 30 MINUTES
an autumn ASSORTMENT
• 1 pound fettuccine
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 cups low-fat milk
• 2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
• 1 ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• ¾ cups pumpkin puree
• 1 ½ tablespoons freshly chopped sage leaves
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• Freshly shaved Parmesan
• Sage leaves for garnish
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to the directions on the package, cooking for 1 to 2 minutes less than directed. Drain pasta and set aside. Toss with olive oil to prevent sticking.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Once melted, whisk in butter to create a roux. Cook until golden brown, stirring constantly. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Whisk in milk and increase heat slightly until the mixture is thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in mascarpone, Parmesan, pumpkin, sage, salt, pepper, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir well until the cheese is melted and the sauce is thick and smooth.
Add pasta to the sauce and cook for a couple of minutes until warmed through. Serve immediately.
PHOTOS AND RECIPES BY MEGHAN BASSETT
EASY APPLE CRISP
SERVES: 6-8
TIME: 65 MINUTES
• 4 medium Granny Smith apples
• ⅓ cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, spreadably soft
Preheat oven to 375˚F.
Cut each apple into 4 sections and thinly slice. Add the apple slices to a 2 quart baking dish. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a bowl. Stir until combined. Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the apples. Pour water over the apples.
Add flour, granulated sugar, and butter to a medium bowl. Mix with your hands until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle over the apples in an even layer.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
TIPS & TRICKS
These three recipes make for a great three-course dinner for your next gathering! All the recipes come together in a little over two hours of cooking time, plus dessert can cook while you eat the main course.
BACON PARMESAN STUFFED MUSHROOMS
SERVES: 6-8
TIME: 35 MINUTES
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese
• 6 slices bacon, fried and chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound stuffer-sized mushrooms, cleaned and stems removed
Preheat oven to 400˚F.
In a medium bowl, stir together Parmesan cheese, bacon, parsley, basil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Add mushrooms, top side down, in an even layer on the baking sheets. Drizzle the mushrooms with olive oil. Fill each mushroom cap with approximately 1 to 1½ tablespoons of the bacon mixture.
Bake for 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
TIPS & TRICKS
Do you like a spicy kick? Add some red pepper flakes to the bacon Parmesan filling.
something NICE
BY BRANDON DAIKER
FOR THE KIDS
IT’S TRUE THAT IT’S BETTER TO GIVE RATHER THAN RECEIVE, BUT WHO HAS TIME TO PICK OUT PRESENTS FOR EVERYONE? WE’VE TRIED TO MAKE IT A LITTLE LESS STRESSFUL BY OFFERING UP SOME CAN’T-MISS GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUR FAVORITE PEOPLE.
FOR THE VIEWER
Celebrating the 100th birthday of a visionary director, the Criterion Collection is releasing a massive collection called Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema, which contains his most famous films on Bluray—from Persona to The Seventh Seal and everything in between—along with a 248 page book of essays, in case your recipient somehow finds some free time between films.
$240, CRITERION.COM
If you’re worried that all those video games are rotting out the little ones’ brains, worry no more, because Nintendo has turned toys into tech with Nintendo Labo, a toy construction kit for the Switch system that lets you create and decorate machines out of cardboard and then use them to play while learning the basics of engineering, programming, and physics.
$69, VARIOUS RETAILERS
FOR THE CHEF
We first reported on sous vide wands way back in 2015, and now the water-bath immersion cooking method has found its way into millions of kitchens and even the Starbucks menu in the form of those tasty egg bites. Convince your favorite cook to be a convert with the best device on the market that’ll help make perfect steak and hundreds of other delicious delights.
$159, ANOVACULINARY.COM
FOR THE SIPPER
We’ve come a long way since jelly of the month clubs— how about a grape-inspired Twelve Days of Christmas? Twelve little tasters of wine from around the world—one for each day leading up to the 25th—are included with the Twelve Nights of Wine package from Vinebox.
$129, GETVINEBOX.COM
FOR THE LISTENER
2018 marks 50 years since the Fab Four released the White Album , regarded as one of the greatest of all time. What better way to let a loved one celebrate this anniversary than with a fully loaded box set containing a 164 page hardback book, a new remix of the album, a disc of “Esher demo” recordings, and three CDs full of unreleased recordings from the studio?
