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Visit houstonmethodist.org/er to find emergency care near you. If you are experiencing a serious or life-threatening medical emergency, please call 911.
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3
LIFESTYLE LETTER
DECEMBER 2020 PUBLISHER
Peggy Garner | peggy.garner@lifestylepubs.com MANAGING EDITOR
Joy and Cheer in Cypress
Erica Hernandez | erica.hernandez@lifestylepubs.com PHOTO EDITOR
Shannon Valentine | shannon.valentine@lifestylepubs.com
AS 2020 DRAWS TO A CLOSE, IT’S TIME FOR US TO CIRCLE TOGETHER
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
WITH LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS, REFLECT AND CELEBRATE. And while this
Samantha Eklund | samantha.eklund@lifestylepubs.com
year our celebrations might look a little different, we can still embrace the fact that this season is all about discovering joy and sharing cheer. And that’s where we can help. This month’s issue includes the ultimate gift guide for everyone on your list. You can find almost every item from the comfort of your computer.
AD DESIGNER
Whitney Lockhart L AYO UT DESIGNER
Dani Moore CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Erica Hernandez, Hannah Kothari CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Staying home this holiday season? Brighten your doorway with our holiday decorat-
Shannon Valentine | Lunalux, Mary Beth Finigan
ing tips on page 26. Want to get out but not stray too far? Get to know local musician John Armour whose acoustic guitar tunes can be heard at local live music venues. And be sure to read all about Operation Snowstorm, an incredible non-profit which gives snow play days to terminally-ill children. This holiday season there is so much to be grateful for. Let’s decorate that tree, bake those cookies, reconnect with loved ones, give abundantly and enjoy all the brightness this season brings.
CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson
Happy holidays, Cypress! We can’t wait to see you next year!
AD MANAGER Chad Jensen REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams
Erica Hernandez, Managing Editor
WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell
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ON THE COVER Decor by TLM Designs PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANNON VALENTINE | LUNALUX 4
Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
Proverbs 3:5-6 Cypress Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Cypress area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Cypress Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.
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INSIDE THE ISSUE DECEMBER 2020
FEATURES 12 Making it Snow on Childhood Cancer Operation Snowstorm Brings Joy to Terminally Ill Children
16 Meet John Amour Local Musician Brings Classic Tunes Close to Home
20 Holiday Gift Guide Gifts to Help Your Loved Ones Keep Their New Year’s Resolutions
16 34
34 Having Grace and Guts Shannon Perry Shares How to Live Life with Grace, Courage and Purpose
20
12
DEPARTMENTS 4
Lifestyle Letter
8
Good Times
10
Around Town
12
Giving Back
16
Back Stage
20 Local’s Choice 26 Renovate & Refine 30 DIY 33 Realty Report 34 Local Limelight
CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
7
GOOD TIMES
Women Empowering Women Event Amy Lipponcott and Debbie Benzel started a group to support other women-owned small businesses and pass referrals to each other. The night included horseback riding lessons along with great food and mojitos. The group plans to meet each month and are open to more women joining in, so if you are interested in joining contact Debbie Benzel at DBenzel@highlandsmortgage.com.
8
Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
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AROUND TOWN in both academics and athletics. Reporter Nate Griffin honored Perkins and recorded the segment with her parents, coaches, campus and district administration. In her junior year, Perkins was named the district’s Most Valuable Player, Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston, Texas Association of Basketball Coaches all-region, and Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state. A three-year varsity captain, she is verbally committed to play college basketball at the University of Oklahoma.
HAIRGROVE ELEMENTARY STUDENT WINS ‘IMAGINE A DAY WITHOUT WATER’ ESSAY CONTEST Hairgrove Elementary fourth grade student Elizabeth Diaz was one of four level two winners of the “Image a Day Without Water” essay contest put on by Houston Public Works and the City of Houston. She was recognized by Councilman David Robinson during a Houston City Council meeting and received a certificate and gift card. The contest was open to all students in the City of Houston between the firsteighth grade. More than 300 students participated in the writing competition.
CY-WOODS GRADUATE’S PHOTO EARNS HCDE SUPERINTENDENT’S AWARD Cy-Woods 2020 graduate Cody Marxhausen received the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) Superintendent’s Award for his photo titled A Loving Embrace. Marxhausen’s photo is part of his photography portfolio titled The Beauty of Animals Frozen in Time, which was entered into the Scholastic Art & Writing regional competition hosted through HCDE. Each year, HCDE selects one photo for the Superintendent’s Award and Marxhausen’s photo was chosen as this year’s winner out of 5,000 submissions. HCDE bought Marxhausen’s photo for $250 and it’s being displayed in the HCDE Trustee’s Scholastic Art Gallery.
LANGHAM CREEK BASKETBALL STAR FEATURED ON FOX 26 ‘MAKING THE GRADE’
10
LSC-CYFAIR FILES PATENT FOR ENGINEERING TEAM’S NASA-TESTED SPACE TOOL DESIGN Lone Star College-CyFair filed for a patent for one of the two award-winning space tools, Team
Langham Creek basketball standout Kaley
C.R.A.T.E.R.’s (an acronym for Cultivating, Retrieving,
Perkins was featured during the Fox 26 “Making
Analyzing and Testing Experimental Rocks) design
the Grade” segment, which showcases top
for a dust tolerant pivoting mechanism. In 2018,
Houston student-athletes for their excellence
NASA developed a previous LSC-CyFair team’s
Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
award-winning zip-tie cutter tool for use by astro-
at Horne Elementary. With the help of family and
nauts at the International Space Station. LSC-CyFair’s
campus staff, the siblings were reunited and shared
Honors Engineering teams garnered top awards
an emotional embrace after Kyle recognized the
in multiple categories at the Texas Space Grant
uniformed soldier. Pfc. Handy joined the military
Consortium Design Challenge. Team C.R.A.T.E.R.
during the COVID-19 pandemic, and followed
took first place in the fall, while Team C.O.S.M.O.S.
non-traditional protocols including the lack of a
(acronym for Collecting and Obtaining Scientific
traditional farewell or embrace from family when
Moon Objects and Specimens) took first in the spring.
he left for basic training. Upon graduation, there
Both teams also co-participated in the nationwide
wasn’t a chance to return home so Pfc. Handy
NASA Micro-g NExT Program Design Challenge
reported to his duty station at Fort Carson, Colo.
and advanced to the next level of that challenge. The competition year concluded last month when they remotely directed NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab divers in the successful testing of their tool prototypes.
CYPRESS WOODS HS STUDENTS WIN HACKERRANK PROGRAMMING CONTEST A team of Cy-Woods students placed first overall at a HackerRank computer science programming contest hosted by Seven Lakes High School in Katy. The team, consisting of seniors Zeki Gerbuz, Sidh Suchdev and Ronak Malik completed all 18 problems in the competition with 20 minutes to spare. More than 200 teams from across the country competed and the average number of questions solved by teams was 10 out of 18. A second Cy-Woods team made up of seniors Alexander Huang, Ashay Swadi and Letizia Fazzini, also placed at the competition, completing 14 out of 18 problems.
SOLDIER RETURNS HOME, SURPRISES YOUNGER BROTHER AT HORNE ES Private First Class Camden Handy, a Cy-Falls graduate, surprised his 10-year-old brother, Kyle,
Would you like to get in touch with us? We would love to hear from you! Contact us at CityLifestyle.com/ Cypress using the Get In Touch link and let us know what you think.
CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
11
GIVING BACK
MAKING IT SNOW ON CHILDHOOD
CANCER
OPERATION SNOWSTORM BRINGS JOY TO TERMINALLY ILL CHILDREN
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Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
ARTICLE ERICA HERNANDEZ PHOTOGRAPHY MARY BETH FINIGAN
RAELYN CUTBERG WAS JUST FOUR YEARS OLD BATTLING A RARE FORM OF CHILDHOOD CANCER WHEN SHE SAW SNOW FOR THE FIRST TIME. Her disease was aggressive, treatments were brutal and there was scarcely time for her to be a kid. But for just a few hours one warm Texas day, the pains from her sickness melted away when a band of volunteers filled her front yard with 10,000 pounds of snow. It was all part of an effort by Operation Snowstorm, a group that focuses on brightening the final days of children with terminal cancer by giving them a play day in the snow. Ed Newby, who owns an air-conditioning business, thought up the idea after meeting Raelyn’s parents at a fundraiser in 2014. After days of trying to figure out how he could do something special for Raelyn he finally found an idea that stuck. “As an AC company we make it cold inside..lets make it cold outside,” Ed says. Operation Snowstorm has served more than 40 terminally-ill children since 2014. The children, who are lovingly called “snow warriors,” are from all parts of Houston. The non-profit gets referrals from hospitals, children’s hospice groups or social media and within days mobilizes a team to bring snow to each child’s home. An ice vendor trucks in 10,000 pounds of ice to the child’s location. Ed then uses specialized farm equipment to shave the ice into snow and blasts it in thick layers across a front yard or parking lot. Volunteers bring snow shovels, snowball makers, winter gloves and buckets for kids to make snowmen. Ed’s own children serve snow cones. A professional photographer documents the entire day and gifts the photos to the children and their families. “You can’t make them feel any better,” Ed says. “You can’t make them well. So you come in at the end of life and you make the effort to make it just a little bit better than what it is.” The days offer a fresh relief to families whose lives are consumed with doctor’s visits and cancer treatments. Most kids are apprehensive at first. They’re unsure about the snow, weak from rounds of chemotherapy. Some are able to move about while others are in wheelchairs or need support to sit up. After a bit of coaxing, they’re often tossing around snowballs and smiling.
CONTINUED >
CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
13
GIVING BACK (CONTINUED)
Ed remembers Raelyn giggling and smiling for the first time in weeks. She ate snow cones after days of eating nothing. Ed pulled her around on top of a trash can lid he’d fashioned into a makeshift snow sled. “There’s no doctors. No needles. Just kids being kids,” he says. Raelyn’s parents later made a special photo book with pictures of her snow day. They carried it with them to the rest of her treatments as a reminder of her happiest final moments. For most families the snow day offers a last chance to be together and make a happy memory before a child dies of cancer. “You get to have a day where the family is there and you’re not worried about cancer. You’re not worried about treatment,” says Barry Heslop, a parent whose son, Creighton, received a snow day just days before passing away. Barry - who has since been diagnosed with cancer himself - is now a board member for Operation Snowstorm. He helps out on snow days and often shares his story with other parents who have children with cancer. For Ed, the work is just as personal. He attends the funerals of snow warriors who’ve passed away and keeps their photos hung around his home. After each snow day he saves a snow shovel marked with the name of the snow warrior. He has a collection of more than 40 in his garage as a reminder of their lives. He hopes one day to grow the group and offer more snow days to kids in other cities. “If you want a better world to live in you have to create it,” Ed says. “You have to make it the best place that it can be.” OperationSnowstorm.org
14
Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
SNOW WARRIORS
Raelyn
Morgan
Brock
Laekyn
Chris
Creighton
Kayla
Stevie
Rainbow
Chelsea
Ciera
Daysha
Isabelle
Lemarcus
Kyleene
Monica CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
15
BACK STAGE
MEET JOHN ARMOUR 16
Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
ARTICLE ERICA HERNANDEZ
LOCAL MUSICIAN PERFORMS CLASSIC TUNES CLOSE TO HOME
Houston. It was me on the guitar, a guy playing the fiddle and a guy playing the stand-up base. The group broke up, but I kept getting calls and I said, ‘I don’t have a group anymore, but I’ll come do a standup solo show.’ That’s how it started. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC STYLE? Typically I do classic rock, pop, blues and country. I do some Lynyrd Skynyrd and Stevie Ray Vaughn, Steve Miller, Van Morrison and country. I do a lot of Texas country. Willie Nelson, Josh Abbott, Dale Watson and many others. They lend themselves to the acoustic guitar. A lot of their songs were originally done with electric guitar and can get a little crazy. It kind of tones it down with the acoustic guitar, but it’s still music people enjoy and they like to hear. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS? Playing acoustic guitar through high school and later on I got with a Southern gospel quartet. I played the bass for them. I’m self-taught. FROM SOUTHERN GOSPEL TO CLAS-
Later I got into a bluegrass group, bought a banjo and learned how
SIC ROCK JAMS, JOHN ARMOUR CAN
to play that and a mandolin. I’ve been open to a lot of different styles
PLAY IT ALL. John grew up in a musical
and types of music, which I enjoy.
family and picked up his first guitar when he was 12 years old. These days you can
WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING A MUSICIAN?
catch him strumming and singing at live
It’s a combination of using talent to do something people enjoy
music venues like The Barn at The Frio or
listening to and just the whole aspect of being creative as an artist
Murdoch’s Backyard Pub. We connected
and creating something people enjoy. Your typical artist motivation
with him this month to learn a bit more
I suppose. My music performance has increased over the last few
about this local artist.
years as I begin to focus more time on it. I did close to 100 shows this year. Now I’m booking more restaurants.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED PLAYING MUSIC?
WHAT IS IT YOU HOPE YOUR AUDIENCE EXPERIENCES?
I’m the youngest of four. I have three
I’d like for them to relax and enjoy the music. I understand it’s
older sisters. My mom - all four of them -
going to be background music, they’re not there to see me, but they
are excellent singers. I grew up with a lot
compliment my music and it lets me know they are listening. It lets
of music in our household, so I just kind
me know they appreciate the talent and time invested.
of came by it...I couldn’t get away from it.
When you’re not making music what are you doing?
I grew up singing mainly in church and
I’ve been selling T-shirts, screen printing and embroidery. My son
later on in school. Then I had a bluegrass
recently started a commercial real estate firm and I’m doing some
band. We played for several years around
marketing for him.
CONTINUED >
CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
17
BACK STAGE (CONTINUED)
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONGS AND WHY? “Mary Did You Know.” It’s the story of someone having a conversation with Mary asking her if she’s aware that this baby she has delivered is Christ, the savior of the world. It goes into questioning how she is going to handle that. Of course, I like “White Christmas” - all versions. “Silent Night” lends itself to the classical guitar. Some folks request that with classical guitar with no singing. 832-506-6755 JohnArmourMusic.com
DEC. 5TH DEC. 17TH
MURDOCH’S BACKYARD PUB 18541 MUESCHKE RD, CYPRESS
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Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
THE BARN AT THE FRIO 16416 MUESCHKE RD, CYPRESS
Experience the Bristol Park dierence.
CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
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LOCAL’S CHOICE
unique ideas FOR THE H O L I D AY S GIFTS TO HELP YOUR LOVED ONES KEEP THEIR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
HO
YS HAPPY H DA OL LI I 20
LIDAYS HAP HO PY
Y DA
PY
APPY HOLI DA S H YS
Y HOLIDAYS PP HA HA P
Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
ARTICLE HANNAH KOTHARI | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
g i f t s fo r
RESOLUTION: READ MORE
01 J+S VISION BLUE LIGHT SHIELD GLASSES, JandSVision.com, $25 | 02 HIMIMI STORE BAMBOO LAPTOP DESK, Amazon.com, $40 | 03 FRED & FRIENDS SPROUT BOOKMARK - SET OF 6, GenuineFred.com, $8 | 04 RECHARGEABLE CLIP - ON BOOK LIGHT, Amazon.com, $10 | 05 PAPERWHITE WATERPROOF KINDLE, Amazon.com, $130 | 06 HANDCUT CITY SKYLINE BOOKENDS, UncommonGoods.com, $65 | 07 BOOKSTAND PILLOW, Amazon.com, $25 | 08 JUNIPER COLLECTIBLE BOOK SET, JuniperBooks.com, Varies | 09 SEMIKOLON STICKY PAGE TAB MARKERS, Levenger.com, $11 CONTINUED >
CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
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LOCAL’S CHOICE (CONTINUED)
g i f t s fo r
RESOLUTION: HEALTH & WELLNESS
01 CLASSIC CLEAR BENT GLASS STRAWS, HummingbirdGlassStraws.com, $20 | 02 VOYAGER MAT, JadeYoga. com, $40 | 03 MINI FACIAL ROLLER SET, Sephora.com, $25 | 04 MINDFULNESS CARD PACKS, Target.com, $15 | 05 BENTOHEAVEN BENTO BOX BUNDLE, Amazon.com, $22 | 06 OLIVIA CARE LAVENDER HAND SANITIZER, Target, $8 | 07 REUSABLE ANTIMICROBIAL FINISHED FACE MASK (5 PACK), Jaanuu.com, $25 | 08 MUST-HAVE MINI MASKS, Kiehs.com, $32 | 09 NALGENE WATER FUND EXCLUSIVE BOTTLE, Nalgene, $15
22
Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
g i f t s fo r
RESOLUTION: STRESS LESS
01 SERENE HOUSE ASTRO DIFFUSER, HomeDepot.com, $40 | 02 A|R WORKSHOP CHUNKY KNIT BLANKET, ARWorkshop.com/Cypress, $85 | 03 PLANT THERAPY TOP 6 ESSENTIAL OILS, Walmart.com, $30 | 04 ADAGIO TEAS 42-OZ GLASS TEAPOT WITH STAINLESS STEEL INFUSER, BedBathandBeyond.com, $50 | 05 LUSH RELAX GIFT SET, Lush.com, $40 | 06 CHESAPEAKE BAY REFLECTION + CLARITY SCENTED CANDLE, YankeeCandle.com, $12 | 07 THE MINDFULNESS ANTI-STRESS COLORING BOOK, BarnesandNoble.com, $9 | 08 JUST BREATHE SPA GIFT, Knack.com, $84 | 09 YNM WEIGHTED BLANKET | YnMHome.com | $64
CONTINUED >
CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
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LOCAL’S CHOICE (CONTINUED)
g i f t s fo r
RESOLUTION: TRAVEL MORE
01 TINGGLY EXPERIENCE GIFT BOX, Tinggly.com, varies | 02 AIRSELFIE DRONE, BHPhotoVideo.com, $250 | 03 CHIC LIGHTWEIGHT CARRY-ON, Sportique.com, $100 | 04 TRAVEL WALLET, CALPAK.com, $75 | 05 B A S U EALARM PERSONAL EMERGENCY ALARM, Amazon.com, $20 | 06 PHONE CAMERA LENS, Amazon.com, varies | 07 JMFONE UNIVERSAL TRAVEL ADAPTER, Amazon.com, $20 | 08 KANI SLIP-ON SNEAKER ORTHOHEEL, VionicShoes.com, $130 | 09 SUMMER FRIDAYS JET LAG MASK, Sephora.com, $25
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Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
g i f t s fo r
RESOLUTION: LEARN TO COOK
01 DOUGHROLLER PERSONALIZED ROLLING PIN, Etsy.com, $30 | 02 UNCOMMON GOOD MASON JAR HERB GARDEN, UncommonGoods.com, $20 | 03 ARTISAN KITCHEN ENAMELED DUTCH OVEN, BedBathandBeyond. com, $40 | 04 BLACK+DECKER PURIFRY 2-LITER AIR FRYER, Walmart.com, $65 | 05 LIBERTYWARE STONE GRANITE MORTAR AND PESTLE, Amazon.com, $46 | 06 CELEBRITY CHEF SAMIN NOSRAT’S SALT FAT ACID HEAT COOKBOOK, BarnesanNoble.com, $34 | 07 MICROPLANE CLASSIC ZESTER/GRATER, Williams-Sonoma.com, $15 | 08 CHICAGO CUTLERY INSIGNIA STEEL 18-PIECE KNIFE BLOCK SET, BedBathandBeyond.com, $150 | 09 BREVILLE CONTROL GRIP IMMERSION BLENDER, William-Sonoma.com, $100 CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
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HOLIDAY RENOVATE & REFINE
ARTICLE ERICA HERNANDEZ PHOTOGRAPHY SHANNON VALENTINE | LUNALUX
Southern magnolia charm
DOOR DÉCOR STYLISH FRONT DOOR LOOKS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON
BRING
THE
CHRISTMAS
SPIRIT
TO YOUR FRONT DOOR WITH A FEW
STYLISH
LOOKS
THAT
These styled doorways are bound together
BOTH TRADITIONAL AND FESTIVE.
by classic Christmas themes like nutcrackers,
We teamed up with designer Tisha
sparkly candies and wintery blue and silver
McLemore, owner and designer of TLM
colors. One minimalist look also incorporates
Design, for these handcrafted doorway
Southern charm using magnolia leaves.
looks. Each is its own unique blend of
For those looking to create their own
eye-catching greenery and sparkle that
Christmas garland, don’t be afraid to mix
will give your front doorway a warm and
textures and patterns, Tisha says. Contrast
inviting holiday feel.
shiny ornaments with velvet ribbons, pair
“It’s the place in your home where you can
plaid designs with stripes and repeat some
have an outward reflection of how you feel
elements for continuity. You can match your
about Christmas,” Tisha says.
doorway decor with the inside of your home
choosing Christmas decor, Tisha suggests finding one holiday theme and sticking to it. Ask yourself what makes you happy about Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
your doorway decor, she says.
ARE
While it’s easy to get overwhelmed
26
Christmas and incorporate that theme in
or choose something completely different. It’s all about what brings you joy. “I always tell my clients that your home should serve you,” Tisha says.
peppermint lollipops, metallic stems and gigantic shiny ornaments. Inspired by Christmas candies, this look is loaded with so many eye-catching trimmings it’s hard to miss. White glowing lanterns accent this style and bring a cozy feeling to this festive front-porch design.Â
CANDYL AND CHRISTMA S
Give your front door a whimsical look with this colorful garland layered with rich ribbon textures,
STYLE TIP Repeated elements such as the oversized green and red ornaments make this garland pop while the faux candies give it a party-like vibe.
CONTINUED >
CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
27
RENOVATE & REFINE (CONTINUED)
NUTCR ACKE R DRE AM It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a classic Christmas nutcracker. As an old German tradition, these soldier-like dolls were gifted to families for luck and protection over their homes. Nutcracker ornaments carefully strung throughout the garland unify this look while two five-foot figures stand guard over the house threshold. This garland design mixes white buffalo plaid with red, green and black tree ornaments for a twist on the traditional nutcracker theme.
28
Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
STYLE TIP Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns like plaids with checkered prints.
Give your doorway a fresh seasonal look with bright navy, silver and greys. This winter wonderland garland is
STYLE TIP This holiday season navy and silver tones are trendy
and silver foliage. Neatly-wrapped gifts also give this
pairings for decor color palettes. Incorporate these
entryway a welcoming holiday ambiance. Â
into your designs for a modern Christmas look.
WINTE RY WONDE RL AND
loaded with yards of curled ribbon, glittery tree ornaments
CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
29
DIY
bullet journaling 101 ARTICLE NICOLETTE MARTIN
PHOTOGRAPHY ESTÉE JANSSENS
Let’s face it—in today’s so-much-to-do-and-so-little-time cultural mindset, it
can be hard to keep track of everything we need to do. Wake up—did you get enough sleep? Brush your teeth. Feed the kids. Feed the dog. Get ready for work. Make your lunch. Those are just six things to think about in the span of 15 minutes after your alarm goes off.
With all of these things to keep track of and our lives moving a mile a minute,
anything we can find to streamline our obligations (and our thoughts) can be a lifesaver! Enter: bullet journaling. It’s equal parts calendar, meal tracker, diary, self care and, well, really anything else that you want to keep tabs on! The “mindfulness practice disguised as a productivity system,” coined by creator Ryder Carroll, can help you master the art of intentional living—any way you want to.
THE BASICS YOU NEED TO KNOW TO START ORGANIZING YOUR LIFE + ACCOMPLISHING YOUR GOALS
start simple
make it your own
There’s so much you can do
When you start searching for
The most important thing to
here with just a notebook (you’ll
bullet journaling on Pinterest,
remember is that it is for you
probably want one with a dotted
it can get really overwhelming
and not anyone else. Find lay-
grid) and a pen! If you want to
really fast. Decide what is most
outs that help with what you
add some creative flair, consider
important for you to keep track
need, use your favorite colors,
incorporating markers, stickers
of and start with that! If you try
doodle things that help you out
and washi tape.
to do too much at once, you’ll be
and make it work for YOU and
less likely to stick with it.
your goals!
what you need
30
Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
Transforming Houses Into Homes Full Service Interior Design
Tish McLemore
Remodeling and Construction
tlmdesign.net
Custom Window Treatments and Shutters
281-793-4917
Space Planning
tishmclemore@gmail.com
ASID Allied Member
@tlmdesign
@tlmdesign
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REALTY REPORT REALTY REPORT
NEIGHBORHOOD
CYPRESS
ORIGINAL PRICE
SOLD PRICE
%SOLD/ORIG
DOM
BDRMS
BATHS
Copperfield Southdown Village
$265,000
$265,000
100%
8
4
2\0
Blackhorse Ranch South
$275,000
$275,000
100%
4
4
2\0
Miramesa at Canyon Lakes West
$279,440
$279,440
100%
1
4
3\0
Canyon Lakes West
$290,000
$295,500
102%
3
4
2\1
Westgate
$283,500
$298,500
105%
2
5
3\1
Coles Crossing
$300,000
$300,000
100%
3
3
2\1
Fairfield Garden Grove
$299,999
$310,023
103%
2
4
3\1
Longwood Village
$314,900
$318,000
101%
4
4
3\0
Bridgeland
$345,490
$345,490
100%
1
4
3\1
Cypress Creek Lakes
$384,998
$384,998
100%
1
4
3\1
Wildwood Oakcrest
$399,000
$395,000
99%
21
5
4\0
Towne Lake
$425,000
$425,000
100%
2
4
3\1
Cypress Creek Lakes
$465,000
$465,000
100%
1
4
3\0
Blackhorse Ranch South
$465,000
$465,000
100%
17
4
3\1
Copper Lakes Estates
$478,888
$485,000
101%
10
4
3\1
Bridgeland
$569,758
$570,208
100%
1
6
5\0
Hidden Arbor
$579,000
$584,000
101%
4
4
3\1
Fairfield Village North
$625,000
$625,000
100%
2
5
4\1
Kluge Lake
$758,000
$730,000
96%
9
5
6\0
Bridgeland First Bend
$850,000
$845,000
99%
2
4
4\1
This reflects a 30 day time period prior to our print deadline. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and not a complete list of all activity. *DOM=Days on Market
CALL FOR A
COMPLIMENTARY MARKET ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOME
281-687-8077
www.BHHSPreProperties.com
CityLifestyle.com/Cypress
33
LOCAL LIMELIGHT ARTICLE ERICA HERNANDEZ PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
H av i n g Grace and Guts SHANNON PERRY SHARES HOW TO LIVE LIFE WITH GRACE, COURAGE AND PURPOSE
WHY DO YOU SHARE SO MANY PERSONAL STORIES IN YOUR WORK? I believe stories help make me relatable. Getting stuck in a toilet paper holder in the Nashville airport, getting my lips injected with collagen the day before an event (my lips were numb) and leaving a sandwich in my purse for two weeks are just a couple of the stories I tell. I’ve always believed that humor combined with God’s word is a winning combination. Women need to laugh and they want truth.
SHANNON PERRY IS A WOMAN OF MANY TALENTS. A former
Stories are a great way to help deliver both.
school counselor and professional singer, Shannon is passionate about helping women find purpose. She’s a humorous, down-to-
THE HOLIDAYS LOOK DIFFERENT THIS YEAR FOR MANY PEO-
earth speaker who hosts a weekly TV show and is the author of sev-
PLE. WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS SEASON?
eral books including Grace and Guts, which uses relatable stories to give practical solutions for everyday life.
Gratitude changes our thinking. If we have a roof over our head, food to eat and people to love, we are blessed. This pandemic has done a lot, but it can’t dictate the attitude of our heart, the things we
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE GRACE AND GUTS? In one year, my best friend, my mom, and my dad were diagnosed
fix our thoughts on, or determine the foundation of our hope. What we choose to think on is key this holiday.
with cancer, I lost part of my finger in a freak horse accident and our property was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. In that same year,
WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW
my only child was deployed to the Middle East, doctors believed
ABOUT YOU?
they found cancer in my eye and my mom passed away. I wrote the
My favorite story to tell is how I became a mom. My son, Sean,
book Grace and Guts because I desperately needed grace (divine,
was my first-grade student and was raised by a single father. Ten
unmerited favor) and guts (the courage to do something) to survive
years later, his daddy and I reconnected and married. I never had
the punches being thrown my way. When life hits us repeatedly, we
children and that little boy who never had a mom is now my son. He
can find victory when we have the guts to enter the ring, the grace
is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado
to endure the fight and throw the knockout punch of truth. For me,
Springs and is a C-17 Pilot for our United States Air Force.
that truth is found in the Bible.
34
Cypress Lifestyle | December 2020
ShannonPerry.com