January 2012 Ellis County Living Magazine

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HOME OF THE YEAR 2012

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ELLIS COUNTY’S LUXURY HOME BUILDER

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401 N Hwy 77, Suite 8Waxahachie, TX 75165

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FT. WORTH4961 S Hulen St.Ft Worth, TX 76132(817)292-2299

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LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

22 GET SWEPT UP IN A FAIRY TALE

14 CHECK OUT THE LATEST IN LOCAL FASHION

2012

FEBRUARY

36 TAKE A PEAK INSIDE THE 2012 HOME OF THE YEAR

FASHION

LIFE & STYLE

HOME & GARDEN

PROFESSIONAL

MEDICAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

JANUARYA Look For Every Occasion 14Get Your Sexy Back 18A New Year...A New YOU! 20

Fairy Tales 22The Sip 24Comfort in One Pot 26A Guy’s Take on Valentine’s Day 28Super Bowl XLVI 30 Marketplace 32Healing Hearts in Ellis County 34

Rebuilding a Nest 36Should I, or Shouldn’t I? 42January-February Plants 46Jump In! 48

Joe Barton Feature 50Lessons Learned 52Barack Obama & the Interstate Commerce Clause 54The Real World Keeps Score 56Understanding Divorce: Spousal Maintenance 58Discover the Leader in You 60

Resolve to Relieve Your Refl ux 62Asperger’s Syndrome 64Fight Childhood Obesity 66Teeth Time 101 68Cranial Remodeling 70Mother Nature’s Pantry 74

36

http://issuu.com/elliscountylivingmagazine/docs/jan-feb_2012/38





























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Volume 8 Issue 1

Cindy CampPUBLISHER

Jennifer Kemp

ART DIRECTOR

Kate McClendonEXECUTIVE EDITOR

Pamela McCroryPatti Youngblood

Missy GautierADVERTISING

Susan KosorisCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Tyler-Marie EvansINTERN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSDiane Johnson Collard

Melinda KocianJacob A. Hale

Mark SingletonDr. Katherine Donaldson, Psy. D.

Cindy Burch

Ellis County Living Magazine is published bi-monthly

by ECL Media, Inc. using only environmentally friendly ink.

Copyright 2012, ECL Media, Inc.All rights reserved.

For advertising information, please contact Ellis County Living Magazine at 972.935.0938

or [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! www.facebook.com/EllisCountyLiving

twitter.com/ECLiving

We are proud members of the Waxahachie, Ennis, Midlothian and Red Oak Chambers of Commerce.

No portion of Ellis County Living Magazine shall be reprinted

in any other publication without permission. The views expressed herein should not be construed as

medical advice. Please consult your physician.

Guarantee you’ll receive Ellis County Living Magazine by subscribing today! Go to www.living-magazine.com

and click on “subscriptions.”

LivingELLIS COUNTY

M A G A Z I N E

Cover photo by Ami Trull • [email protected] photo by Marie Q Photography • Hair and makeup by Misty Templeton

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE STAFF AT ELLIS COUNTY LIVING MAGAZINE!Front row: Patti Youngblood, Cindy Camp, Roxie, Pamela McCrory

Back row: Susan Kosoris, Missy Gautier, Kate McClendon, Jennifer Kemp

Following college and a brief stint as a semi-profes-sional gambler, Jennifer decided she wanted to start her career in advertising. Having read the Magazine many times, she contacted Cindy and, with timing be-ing just right, Jennifer became the art director for Living Magazine.

As art director, Jennifer works with customers and sales representatives to create ideas and help people promote their business in the most effi cient way pos-sible. She also builds most of the ads and all of the ar-ticle layouts, and puts her personal touch on each and every page before sending it to print.

“It’s a lot of hard work, but the staff here knows how to have a good time, from weekly lunch meetings to brainstorming over drinks at the Pub,” Jennifer said. “It’s been a great mix of both a professional and fun en-vironment. Even during the all-nighters of production, we can still seem to have a good time.”

The balance of hard work and creativity has given Jen-nifer a place to thrive in her professional career, starting at the very beginning fi ve years ago.

“It has been such a great and rewarding experience since starting with the magazine as a young, 48-page publication and having a hand in its growth as it has evolved into the magazine it is today. Living plays such a large role in the communities of Ellis County and I am very proud and honored to be a part of it.”

Please join us in celebrating Jennifer’s fantastic fi ve years by congratulating her on our Facebook page.

With an expanding publication comes an ex-panding work load, but the environment at Living Magazine is one that encourages team-work, creativity and a strong work ethic.

“Even during crunch time when most peo-ple would like to burn down their offi ce and make a run for it, we manage to fi nd enjoyment and, sometimes, maybe even too much of it,” she said. “With all of these amazing women I have the pleasure to call my co-workers, there are always helping hands and one-of-a-kind conversation that gives our group a personality of its own. It is such a positive, creative, sometimes silly but allways entertaining environment.“

“I am lucky enough to have a job that doesn’t feel like a job and that’s pretty awesome.”

FUN FACTSFavorite snack while working: Archer Farms Cheddar & Asiago Sourdough Squares, Cheez-its, Fererro Rocher chocolates and, well, pretty much whatever Kate stocks the shelf with.Favorite lunch spot in Waxahachie: Oma’s, The Pub, Dove’s Nest, Nino’s(R.I.P.) There are too many faves to name just one!Favorite place to work: the cushioned bench on the front porch of the magazine’s offi ce.How you get inspiration: traveling, being forced to look at countless blogs by our wonderful editor, 3-a.m. runs to CVS, Google searchesWorkspace staples: they’re hard to fi nd under the many piles, but snacks, Sharpie pens, fl oss, laptop and desktop computer, a minimum of four cups of water plus several Red Bull cans, moisturizer, toothpaste, multiple to-do lists in various spiral notebooks and of course, a plethora of Living Magazines.

Happy Five-Year Anniversary to Jennifer Kemp, Our Art Director!A little Living MagazineJennsight...

Family Medicine &Cardiology

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Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a great holiday season and a good start to the new year.

This is our annual Home of the Year issue, and I think you’ll enjoy the home we picked for 2012. It’s a house in Ennis that has been through a complete transformation and it makes for a great story!

We’ve also featured articles on the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day, along with wines to enjoy during the colder months and what foods go well with each. Make sure you check out the fashion pages, where you’ll get all kinds of ideas for outfi ts to wear in the coming weeks. We’re also featuring items from a few newer bou-tiques in Ellis County—Chic Boutique in Ennis and Plain Jane in Waxahachie.

Because Valentine’s Day is a day fi lled with love, we invite you to “Share the Love” and attend the CASA of Ellis County Gala on Feb. 11. Enjoy an evening with your sweetheart while you give to a very deserving organiza-tion. Find out more at www.casaofelliscounty.org.

Spring will be right around the corner and we’re already thinking ahead. The next is-sue will be fi lled with all sorts of tips you need for getting the most out of your garden. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned gardener, you’ll be sure to fi nd something worthwhile.

EDITOR’S NOTE

AROUND TOWN

worthwhile. For all local events and updates on what is happening in our area, visit www.living-magazine.com and click on BLOG.

Do you have an event that you want everyone to know about? Send an e-mail to: [email protected]

recognition of Dr. H. LeRoy Fenton. Please plan to “Share the Love” that night at the Waxahachie Civic Center. Visit www.casaofelliscounty.org for ticket information.

WEDDING CEREMONIESTie the knot or renew your vows at the sixth annual Vegas-Style Wedding Ceremony at the Waxa-hachie Civic Center on Monday, Feb. 14. Begin-ning at 8 a.m., ceremonies will take place every hour on the hour until 8 p.m. All-inclusive packages are available for $500. Visit www.waxaciviccenter.com for more information.

LIFESTYLES EXPOOn Saturday, Mar. 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., come out to the Waxahachie Civic Center for the Life-Styles Home & Family Expo. Experience 60,000 square feet of entertainment, shopping and fun for the entire family. More than 130 retail exhibits and non-profi t booths will be featured, displaying cars, jewelry, clothes, home improvement goods and much more. An entire room will be dedicated to serving delicious samples from local restaurants, including a special Texas wine and cheese tasting. Visit the Chamber’s website for more information.

DOWNTOWN WAXAHACHIEMake Having Fun in Waxahachie Your New Year’s Resolution! Downtown Waxahachie will be the place to be in January and February as you plan for Super Bowl parties, shop for gifts for your special Valentine and of course, celebrate Mardi Gras! Mark your calen-dar for these fun events:

SATURDAY, JAN. 14 AND FEB. 11Second Saturday at Gingerbread Antique MallANTIQUE APPRAISAL DAY AND SALE! Shop for great bargains throughout the store. Bring a cherished item for a FREE verbal (non-binding) appraisal from 10 am – 2 pm. SATURDAY, JAN. 14 AT 8 PM Lone Star FloydPink Floyd Tribute BandTexas Theater, 110 W. Main. Tickets: 10

ENNISwww.ennis-chamber.com

CZECH MUSIC FESTIVALCome celebrate the rich Czech heritage of Ennis at the Czech Music Festival on Satur-day, Feb. 11, from 1:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the Sokol Activity Center. You’ll hear the Ennis Czech Boys, Czech & Then Some, Jodie Mi-kula Orchestra, Czech Harvesters and Jak Se Do play while you enjoy dancing and authen-tic food. Put on your kroj and celebrate! Visit www.ennisczechmusicfestival.com.

FERRISwww.cityofferris.org

TRAINING ACADEMY 4 U CLASSESIf you’re interested in training to be a dental assistant, medical assistant or massage ther-apist, classes at Training Academy 4 U be-gin Jan. 23. For more information about the school and registering, visit www.ta4u.org.

WAXAHACHIEwww.waxahachiechamber.com

SCREENING WITH CHUCK NORRISEveryone is invited to an intimate engage-ment with Chuck Norris at Showbiz Cinemas as his documentary, “Answering the Call,” is screened on Saturday, Jan. 7. “Answering the Call” follows Norris’ tour through Iraq as he visits American soldiers. Tickets are $25 and include the movie and a question-and-answer session with Norris. Tickets are available at Showbiz Cinemas in Waxahachie. For more information, visit www.showbizcinemas.com.

SHARE THE LOVE GALAOn Feb. 11, join the community for a Valen-tine Celebration at the “Share the Love” Gala benefi ting CASA of Ellis County. The Gala will be a wonderful evening of fi ne dining, enter-tainment, silent and live auctions and special


MEMBERS OF THE WAXAHACHIEDOWNTOWN MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION:

Boyce Feed & Grain

Buffalo Creek Cowgirls

Check It Out Fabrics

Citizens National Bank

College Street Printing

College Street Pub

Common Threads Quilt Shop

Corner’s Art Gallery & Framing

Crafty Scrapper

Creative Laser Tattoo Removal Clinic

Dan’s Maintenance Service

Ellis County Art Association

Ellis County Living Magazine

Ellis County Museum

Gifts, Etc.

Gingerbread Antique Mall

Glenn’s Warehouse Carpet

Gran’s Antiques

H&H Grocery & Deli

KBEC 1390 Radio AM

Klassy Klutter

Martha Nell’s Clothes Tree

Maxwell Jewelry

Mosaic Madness

NAPA Auto Parts/Marina Pool Supplies

Old Town Village Antiques & Uniques

Patrick Home Partnership

Pearman Oil & LP Gas

Pete & Re-Pete

Plato Loco Restaurant

Salon Friends

The Gilded Lily Pad

The Texas Theater

The Dove’s Nest Antiques & Restaurant

Tina Bohlman Gallery

Tire Town

TLC Event Rentals

Waxahachie Daily Light

Waxahachie NOW

Whitley’s Philly Grille

CHECK IT OUTIf you are looking for fabric for recovering furniture or DIY projects and accessories, come see Michele Hampton. As the creative force behind Check It Out, she and her staff can design, transform and decorate your home from top to bottom. 212 S. Rogers Streetcheckitoutfabrics.net972.938.2403

FRIDAY, JAN. 20 AT 8 PMSoul Sacrifice Santana Tribute BandTexas Theater, 110 W. Main. Tickets: $10. SATURDAY, JAN. 28 AT 8 PM Voodoo Blue Stevie Ray Vaughan Tribute BandTexas Theater, 110 W. Main. Tickets: $10. FRIDAY, FEB. 3 AT 8 PMAlan Jackson, Tim McGraw & George Strait TributeTexas Theater, 110 W. Main. Tickets: $15.

SUNDAY, FEB. 5Super Bowl Watching PartyTexas Theater, 110 W. MainFREE Admission. Enjoy watching the game on the largest screen in town! SATURDAY, FEB. 18 AT 9 PMTrio Loco, ZZ Top Tribute BandTexas Theater, 110 W. Main. Tickets: $10.

SATURDAY, FEB. 18 9th Annual Mardi Gras on the SquarePrepare yourself for one of the best Mardi Gras events in DFW filled with food, music, merchandise vendors, a parade and of course, beads, beads, beads. Hosted by the College Street Restaurant & Pub. Visit www.collegestreetpub.com for more information. I want to encourage you to make hav-ing fun in Waxahachie one of your New Year’s resolutions! For more informa-tion on all of the fun things going on in downtown Waxahachie, visit www.downtownwaxahachie.com. Here’s wishing you and your family a hap-py and healthy New Year from the Waxa-hachie Convention & Visitors Bureau! SINCERELY,Laurie MosleyDirector, Waxahachie Convention & Visitors Bureau

GINGERBREAD ANTIQUE MALLIf you’re looking for antiques, you’ve come to the right place. Gingerbread Antique Mall is one of the oldest antique shops in downtown Waxahachie. They offer quality Victorian antique furniture, fine glass, collectibles, candles, dishes, plates and art from local artists. You’ll also find clothing and accessories, including vintage jewelry. New and vintage collectible Feista dinnerware is also available. This is a true antique store!310 S. College Street 972.937.0968

COAT, Briarpatch, $119JEANS, Buffalo Creek Cowgirls, $99.99

NECKLACE, Briarpatch, $14.95PURSE, Chic Boutique, $75

FLATS, Target, $12.99

SWEATER, Chic Boutique, $44.95BRACELET, Plain Jane, $15

BLACK JEGGINGS, Briarpatch, $49EARRINGS, Maurice’s, $8

HEELS, Target, $29.99

BROWN JACKET, Briarpatch, $60DRESS, Chic Boutique, $34.95

NECKLACE, Briarpatch, $6FEATHER EARRINGS, Maurice’s, $12


Outfits For Every Occasion


FASHION

BLACK DRESS, Turquoise Haven, $42NECKLACE, Turquoise Haven, $20

TIGHTS, Target, $10RING, Plain Jane, $10

BOOTIES, Target, $29.99

FEATHER EARRINGS, Maurice’s, $10TOP, Chic Boutique, $39.95PURSE, Chic Boutique, $75

JEANS, Briarpatch, $88FLATS, Chic Boutique, $24.95

HEADBAND, Target, $9.99DRESS, Turquoise Haven, $42EARRINGS, Briarpatch, $5.95

PURSE, Belk, $278BOOTS, Buffalo Creek Cowgirls, $236

Outfits For Every Occasion

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012 LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM

EARRINGS, Maurice’s, $8TOP, Chic Boutique, $34.95

JEANS, Buffalo Creek Cowgirls, $14.95PURSE, Chic Boutique, $80

BOOTS, Belk, $99.99

BROWN JACKET, Briarpatch, $74BROWN BEAD NECKLACE, Turquoise Haven, $32

TURQUOISE BEAD NECKLACE, Turquoise Haven, $38RED BEAD NECKLACE, Turquoise Haven, $12

DRESS, Chic Boutique, $42.95RING, Briarpatch, $35.95


SPARKLY TOP, Chic Boutique, $44.95EARRINGS, Maurice’s, $10

CLUTCH, Target, $9.99BLACK JEGGINGS, Briarpatch, $49

BOOTIES, Target, $22.99

Outfi ts For Every Occasion


FASHION


http://turquoisehaven.com

Most people know that I live and work as a makeup artist in Ellis County, but few are aware that I manage a luxury spa inside one of the most prestigious fi tness facilities in the nation. I feel lucky to be surrounded by leading personal trainers, Pilates instructors and generally health-conscious people. Being around so many dedicated people motivates me to work hard to stay fi t.

People work out for various reasons, but let’s face it: most of us do it because we want to look good. If you’ve fallen out of your routine, now is the perfect time to get back on track. It takes time to see results when working out, but skin care and makeup can offer some instant gratifi cation in the midst of all your hard work.

FEEL SEXYStart with your body. Use a sugar scrub, such as Boots Cranberry Bliss ($9.99, available at Target) to exfoliate dead skin cells. Not only will your skin feel soft, it will prevent ingrown hairs that come with shaving or waxing. Maintain soft skin daily with an alpha-hydroxy-based lotion like

BY AMBER THOMPSON

GET YOUR Sexy BACK

Amber is an esthetician with more than 10 years ex-perience in the beauty

industry, including top Estee Lauder companies and Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas. She now manages and provides esthetic services at the Spa at Equinox, Preston Hollow. Amber also operates BLUSH Makeup Artistry, servicing brides and others in need of fl awless makeup application. For an appointment, reach her at [email protected].

AmLactin. One negative side effect of working out can be back acne. Keep it at bay with monthly facials on the back, otherwise known as “bacials.”

LOOK SEXYMakeup is an instant confidence booster. You can keep it simple—a little bronzer, mascara and lip gloss. Spice it up for a date by adding eyeliner on the inner rims of the eyes, nude lip liner and a peach blush. Fact: Studies show that men gravitate to warm colors like gold, coral and orange-based reds.

TREND ALERTBoudoir photo shoots are the hottest trend in 2012. You don’t have to be model to do it either. Boudoir pictures make great anniversary, newlywed or Valentine gifts. Many photographers offer packages that include hair and makeup, or you can bring your own glam squad to their private locations. For photographer referrals, or to make a makeup reservation, contact me at [email protected].

FASHION



http://waxahachiedentist.com

http://thedovesnestrestaurant.com

BEFO

RE

PATTI YOUNGBLOOD,ECLM SALES REP &MAKEOVER MAVEN

What do women really want? As women, do we even know ourselves? When Cindy Camp came to me and asked if I would like to do a makeover on Patti Youngblood, a sales represen-tative at Living Magazine, I was hon-ored. After meeting Patti, I am even more honored now than I could have ever imagined. The day before, Patti wanted to back out on the makeover. I know why, we have all been nervous at one time or another—whether it is going to a new doctor or a stylist. They are about equal if you ask me. Building the trust with either one is not easy, but you know after your fi rst appointment if you connect or not, and if you would go back.

As women age, the more beautiful they become, but, often, the less at-tractive they feel. Who they are is not coming across in how they look. And so they feel invisible. Patti is the perfect illustration of what happens when you give up because, “you do not know what to with your hair anymore.” “As I’ve aged, my hair has changed, add-ing more challenges,” Patti said.

So do we really know what we want? Patti came to me and you could tell her nerves were all over the place. I sat down and talked with her for nearly 30 minutes before I even gave her suggestions to what I thought she really wanted. Listening to her was the key to this story. Many times we get rushed because, as stylists, we are often running behind. We hear our clients, but we do not always listen to what they are really wanting. A con-sultation is a must! Having my clients

visually show me what they like and what they do not like is so much easier than just taking what they say as for what they really want.

“I’ve had many good hair stylists through the years, but Misty is the fi rst one to ever devote so much time before ever starting on my hair,” Patti said.

My goal was to make sure that Patti will be able to style her hair herself. So many times when we leave the salon our hair looks great, but we can’t fi x it once we get home. I made sure the cut works with Patti’s natural hair tex-ture and I explained to her what I was doing while I was styling it. Product is very important in recreating the style after you leave the salon—when you leave the doctor’s offi ce, what do you leave with? Yes, a prescription.

With a great hairstyle, new color, highlights and, yes, makeup—we see the true Patti, a woman who wants more from life. The spirit of who Patti really is radiates in her “after” photo, and that’s what any makeover is all about. Stay true to your vision and make it happen.

Misty Templeton is a native of Waxahachie who studied cos-metology at the Ogle School of Hair Design and apprenticed at an Aveda salon in the metro-plex. In 2010 she opened Urban Trends Salon and her passion for great hair and for sharing her knowledge keeps her doing what she loves. You can reach Misty at 972.923.9222.

A NEW YEAR... MISTY TEMPLETON

STYLIST/OWNER, URBAN TRENDS SALON

AMBER THOMPSON

We started with a SkinScriptRx™ Pomegranate Enzyme treatment to bring back Patti's glow. Xtreme™ Lash Hydrating Under Eye Gel Patches applied 30 minutes before makeup smoothed and fi rmed the eye area.

To make Patti’s eyes pop, I applied a smoky taupe on the eyelid and under the eyes in place of eyeliner. This provides a softer, more age-defying appearance. We added a few false eyelash clusters to the outside of Patti's lash line to open her eyes. For a longer-lasting effect, I recommend Xtreme™ Lash semi-permanent lash extensions. With an angled brush, I fi lled her brows in with Merle Norman's™ Brow Powder in brown following her natural brow shape.

Choose colorful lipsticks for thin lips rather than light, nude colors that make thin lips disappear. We used Elizabeth Arden’s™ Perfect Bronze lipstick and a touch of clear gloss, which provided the perfect complement to her new, shiny, chocolate locks.



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LIFE & STYLE

CLASSIC COLLECTIONTHE GOLDEN BOOK OF FAIRY TALESAdrienne Segur (illustrator) and Marie Ponsot (translator)Golden Books

This compilation features the traditional stories we’ve grown to love that can be rediscovered for younger ages. Paired with detailed illustrations, tales like Cinderella, Thumbe-lina and Puss in Boots are brought to life. The stories come from acclaimed Storytellers Hans Chris-tian Andersen, Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm and many others. It truly is a collection every bookshelf needs.

BY KATE MCCLENDON

BEST BOOK FOR CHILDRENTHE REAL MOTHER GOOSEBlanche Fisher Wright (illustrator)Scholastic

Defi nitely one of the most popular fairy tale collec-tions, this book contains many of the world’s best-loved poems to entertain you and your child. The stories will grow with children as they go from listening to the poems be-ing read to reading them alone, all while admiring the beautiful illustrations and learning valuable lessons.

COLLECTION FOR LITERATURE LOVERSTHE OXFORD BOOK OF MODERN FAIRY TALESAlison LurieOxford University Press

For the adults who want to get away from the stresses of daily life, pick up this book and become in-stantly transported. Editor Alison Lurie has collected modern stories fi lled with magic, princesses and morals, written from the late 19th century through present day. Literary greats like Robert Louis Steven-son, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Charles Dickens and H.G. Wells took their chances at writing fairy tales, and as you’ll read in this book, it paid off.

OBVIOUS CLASSICTHE PRINCESS BRIDE: S. MORGENSTERN’S CLASSIC TALE OF TRUE LOVE & HIGH ADVENTUREWilliam GoldenHarcourt Brace

How could we leave this one off? Instantly beloved by all who learn of the story, The Princess Bride contains everything a good fairy tale needs—pirates, swordfi ghts, poison tests, six-fi ngered henchmen, giants and, of course, “twue wuv.”

It seems lately that fairy tales have become wildly popular. You can watch “Once Upon a Time” or “Grimm” on prime-time TV, or you can catch “Mirror Mirror” and “Snow White and the Huntsman” in theaters later this year. We’ve perused our libraries and come up with our favorite fairy tale books to add to your collection and your imagination.



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ESTANCIA Pinot Noir - California

black cherry, caramel and vanilla

deep red

duck, lamb, mushroom dishes

Edam, Gouda, Light Cheddar and Creamy Brie$15.99

FRANCES FORD COPPOLA Claret - California

blackberries, plum, spice and mocha

deep crimson beef

stroganoff, pork and spicy dishes

Aged cheddar and aged gouda$18.99

FINCA EL ORIGEN Malbec Reserva - Argentina

vanilla and chocolate

violet

game, spicy foods, beef tenderloin and pasta

Edam and Blue $18.99

QUIVIRA Zinfandel - California

Cherry, raspberry, blackberry and plum

medium ruby grilled

foods, pizza and spicy cuisine

Roquefort, Muenster, Blue, Gruyere and salty cheeses$19.99

The SipYou don’t have to dole out large amounts of cash on a great bottle of wine to ward off the winter chill. Here are some of our favorite sips, all $20 or less. For an informal get-together, pair wine with a variety of cheeses and chocolates—sure-fi re crowd peasers.

[ PINOT NOIR ] [ CLARET ] [ MALBEC ] [ ZINFANDEL ]

BY PATTI YOUNGBLOOD AND KATE MCCLENDON, WANNABE SOMMELIERS


Vino On The GoHere are some handy apps for your smartphone so you’ll have everything you need to make a good wine choice at the grocery store or restaurant.

WINE RATINGS GUIDEA wine app for the social media lover, this app is full of user reviews and recommendations, and you can post your own for others to see.

HELLO VINOThis simple, basic (and free!) app will help you choose wine for a meal, occasion, taste and region. It will also recommend food pairings for a wine you already have if you’re stumped on what to serve.

iTALK WINEAt a loss when it comes to describing taste every time you’re out drinking wine with friends? Discreetly choose some description words on this app and an eloquent statement will pop up, guaranteed to make you sound like you actually know what you’re talking about.

BLANDY’S MADEIRA ALVADA Portugal

nuts, molassesdark brown

caramel and nut desserts (pecan pie, almond cake) and dark chocolates

Manchego cheeses and aged Gouda$19.99

[ DESSERT WINE ]

THE SIMPLE & SAVVY WINE GUIDELeslie Sbrocco, wine expert, columnist, TV host and author, has created one of the easiest and most comprehensive wine guides for wine lovers and novices alike. All of the information is organized simply—instead of listed only by varietal, wines are listed by food pairings, sea-sons and occasions, like relaxing, a girls’ night out, wedding wines, picnic wines or sexy wines. In the 300+ pages, you can also look up a wine by producer, region, type, price or style, indentify your style profi le, fi nd restaurant faves and discover cheaper wines that are compa-rable to more expensive bottles. It’s a must-own for the budding or seasoned oenophile.

SOMETHING SWEETReese and Vicki of LaBouchée in Waxahachie create a delicious variety of elegant cake rounds that are perfect for every occasion. Here are their recommendations for pairing their chocolates with red wines this winter.

PINOT NOIR Pattys Pecan Turtle or Carmel Sea

SUPER TUSCANS, MERLOT, MERITAGEOh! Chocolat

CABERNET SAUVIGNONFirecracker or Carey’d Away (toffee)

LaBouchee is located at 106A Industrial in Waxahachie. For more information, call 972.937.8181.

rable to more expensive bottles. It’s a must-own for the budding or seasoned oenophile.

CAREY’D AWAY

FIRECRACKER

CARMEL SEA

OH! CHOCOLAT


Not enough can be said about one-pot meals. They can feed two or 10 and take 30 minutes or eight hours; it is up to you and what you want to make that day. And the best part—the cleanup is a snap. During the grey Texas winters, nothing sounds better than a bowl of something rich, creamy and comforting like a COUNTRY PIE (just like a Shepherd’s Pie but with ground beef substituted for ground lamb).

Country Pie also is a dish that can be made in no time, so walk right past the aluminum packaging in the freezer section and clean out your leftover root vegetables in the refrigerator. This dish makes a great dinner the next night as the fl avors really marry overnight.

An interesting thing I found when developing this recipe was that the dish feels very heavy without the addition of a few things that I found went surprisingly well together. The fi rst is cinnamon. Cinnamon and beef go together wonderfully because the cinnamon adds so much warmth and depth of fl avor with the dish. The second is lemon zest, a surprising yet easy answer to fi nishing a heavy dish. If you don’t have dark beer around the house (although a bottle of Shiner is always in my pantry for dishes like this), use beef stock or more chicken stock because water might dilute the great fl avors too much. So think about balance when adding the liquids!

1 pound 85% lean ground beef 2-3 slices of bacon, diced1 carrot, diced1 onion, diced2 cloves of garlic, minced1 tablespoon tomato paste

3 tablespoons all-purpose fl our1/2 cup dark beer1/2 cup chicken stock or water1 teaspoon red pepper fl akes1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon1 teaspoon lemon zest5 Yukon Gold potatoes, around the same size MASHED POTATO TOPPING:1-2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbedButterCreamPlenty of salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350˚. In a stockpot add potatoes, a few tablespoons of kosher salt and cover with cold water. Bring to a low boil and cook for 15-20 minutes. Drain and toss into your stand mixer with the paddle attachment and stir on low for 2-3 minutes. Add your favorite additions to your potatoes like cream, butter, even blue cheese would be fun. I always add a few tablespoons of olive oil right at the end of mixing for a really smooth texture. In a deep medium saucepan or Dutch oven on medium heat, render the bacon

until cooked through; reserve bacon. Add onions, carrots and a pinch of salt and cook until softened, 7-8 minutes. Toss in garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add ground beef and cook through, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon. Add the tomato paste and mix it thoroughly, then add the fl our. Stir the fl our thoroughly; add spices then the liquids. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 15 minutes until reduced into a thick meat sauce. Stir fi lling and taste for extra seasoning. Pull off the heat and add lemon zest. In a casserole dish, pour in fi lling and smooth top with a spatula. If you are making this for a dinner party or want to make the dish a bit fancier, you can push the mashed potatoes into a pastry bag and pipe them over the fi lling. For an equally nice look, smooth the potatoes with a small spatula creating a smooth cap over the entire dish. This forms a seal over the fi lling so it won’t overfl ow in the oven. Pop in the oven for 10 minutes or until the potatoes brown lightly. Serve in deep bowls next to a fi re or family style in the middle of the table. It will taste great everywhere. This dish can be made ahead and put in the oven just before serving.

COMFORT IN ONE POTBY MEAGAN CAMP

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Let me start with an apology. I am truly sorry. I would much rather write about guy stuff. Sports, fi shing, cars … anything but Valentine’s Day. But the women of Living Magazine are in the majority, and apparently my single vote doesn’t carry much weight. Instead, they thought it would be interesting to hear my take on Valentine’s Day. My initial thought, “What will my wife think, and how long will I be in the dog house?” A guy would have to be an idiot to agree to this, especially if you have a signifi cant other. But for some reason, I just couldn’t resist. So here it goes.

I don’t have a problem with love. I express that sentiment to my wife every day. It’s the romance part that can sometimes be a thorn in my side. If you ask me, romance has be-come a bit … well … romanticized. I did a little research to prove my point. Back around 250 a.d., St. Valentine rebelled against the Roman Emperor Claudius II and was se-cretly marrying people. You see, the Em-peror needed strong soldiers, not wimpy men who wanted to stay at home with their old lady every day. His solution—cancel all marriages! When he found out about these underground ceremonies, he was outraged and developed a facial tic at the mere men-tion of St. Valentine’s name. This was known as the “Roman Tic,” and the people who went against the Emperor’s will and got married became known as a “romantic.”

Great story, huh? Problem is, it’s completely made up. I apologize again. I just wanted to show that I can be a sappy romantic like any other guy. But that’s all romance is when you really break it down. A fi b. A white lie. Don’t believe me? Ask Noah Webster, creator of the Webster’s Dictionary in the early 19th Century.

Look up “romance” and you will get a num-

ber of possible defi nitions. Guess what the noun connotation has to say? “A medieval tale based on legend…” You see, even a textbook used in our public school system says that ro-mance doesn’t exist.

Moving on. Another defi nition calls romance “something (as an extravagant story or ac-count) that lacks basis in fact.” Are you seeing the theme here? And further evidence comes from the intransitive verb form of the word: “to exaggerate or invent detail or incident.”

So for all of you ladies who think your man is a helpless romantic, let’s see what ole Web-ster has for you. The defi nition of “romantic” as an adjective is “having no basis in fact” and “imaginary.” So you might want to think twice before you go bragging to your girlfriends.

But quite possibly my favorite defi nition was 5c—“conducive to or suitable for lovemak-ing.” I want all the guys to remember that the next time your better half calls you romantic. I don’t know of any guys who would settle for being ‘suitable’ for lovemaking. It’s like getting picked last in gym class. She might as well say, “Ehh, you’re a little fat and don’t smell the greatest … but take this Cialis and I’ll meet you in the bedroom after “Desperate House-wives” is over.” Now how romantic is that?

I love this one as wel l, “to try to infl uence or curry favor with, especially by lavishing per-sonal attention, gifts or fl attery.” I can’t make this stuff up! If that’s not romance all wrapped up with a bow on top I don’t know what is. It’s fl attery at its best and bribery at its worst.

To prove this point, I looked up a little info on

Valentine’s Day cards. The Greeting Card Association is estimating that we will pur-chase approximately 160 million Valentine’s Day cards in 2012. This doesn’t even include the packaged kind for school children. This raises a couple of questions. One, why do we have a Greeting Card Association? And two, how much does this freaking holiday cost?! Let’s assume the day’s festivities include a card, fl owers, candy and a dinner. That will run the better part of $100. That makes for a grand total of $16 billion, all in the name of romance.

At the time I wrote this article the national debt was upwards of $15 trillion. So I am proposing a movement. Instead of spend-ing $16 billion on cards and candy, let’s hold out on Valentine’s Day until the national debt is cleared up. If my math is correct, we have 937 more Valentine’s Days to go. Who’s in?Happy Valentine’s Day!

Judd McCutchen is a Waxahachie native and a hopeless romantic.

BY JUDD MCCUTCHENber of possible defi nitions. Guess what the noun connotation has to say? “A medieval tale based on legend…” You see, even a textbook used in our public school system says that ro-

Moving on. Another defi nition calls romance “something (as an extravagant story or ac-count) that lacks basis in fact.” Are you seeing the theme here? And further evidence comes from the intransitive verb form of the word: “to

So for all of you ladies who think your man is a helpless romantic, let’s see what ole Web-

BY JUDD MCCUTCHEN

WARNING:

A GUY’S TAKE ON

LIFE & STYLE



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LIFE & STYLE

Madonna du Soleil?More than 162 million viewers watched last year’s halftime show, making it the most-watched mu-sical event of the year.

For this year’s Super Bowl, Madonna will be performing a 15-minute set co-created by Cirque du Soleil. Madonna will also be working with choreogra-pher Jamie King and multimedia artists from Moment Factory.

SUPER BOWL XLVI WILL BE HELD FEB. 5, 2012 AT LUCAS OIL STADIUM IN INDIANAPOLIS.

In 2011, 30-second

per spot. The top three most popular commercials were:

1. Darth Vader Kid (Volkswagon), 2. Beaver (Bridgestone) , 3. Dog Party (Bud Light)

Create pennants and attach to wooden skewers to identify different foods and drinks you’ll be serving.

For your buffet table, cover it in a green tablecloth and mark off increments with white ribbon or tape to create a “fi eld.” You can add numbers and print off each team’s logo to put in each end zone.

In your viewing room, mark off the center with tape and decorate each side with the teams’ colors using pennants, balloons, streamers or any-thing else you want to add. Have guests choose a side and do some friendly trash talking.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have won the most Super Bowls with six championships; the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers have fi ve wins each.

Madonna will be performing a 15-minute set co-created by Cirque du Soleil. Madonna will also be working with choreogra-pher Jamie King and multimedia artists from Moment Factory.

You can add numbers and print off each team’s logo to put in each end zone.

In your viewing room, mark off the center with tape and decorate each side with the teams’ colors using pennants, balloons, streamers or any-thing else you want to add. Have guests choose a side and do some friendly trash talking.

Player drops the ball to kick; happens when a team decides to give the other team the ball (i.e. on a 4th down)

Player kicks the ball off a tee or when another player holds it; happens at the start of each half, when a team is trying to score an extra point after a touchdown or when team is trying to score a fi eld goal

Often when a player runs toward the end zone, crossing the goal line can get confusing. A touchdown happens when the ball crosses the plane of the goal line while the player has possession. The slightest part of the ball crossing the line counts, and no part of a player has to cross the goal line.

This penalty has so many different rules and it’s very hard to tell between pass in-terference and good defense. Basically, pass interference occurs if one player signifi cantly hinders the progress of an eligible player’s ability to catch the ball.

a job well done, but in the NFL, it can cost you. Excessive Celebration is a 15-yard penalty against the team whose player leaves his feet or uses a prop (usually a towel or the ball) after a touchdown. Spiking the ball (un-less in front of a defender) or jumping on the outer wall to accept contact from fans is not considered excessive cel-ebration.

TERMS TO KNOW

ebration.LIVING-MAGAZINE.COM JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012

SUPER BOWL


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BUFFALO CREEK COWGIRLSChoose from home décor, clothing and accessories for a great present for your sweetheart.207 S. CollegeWaxahachie972.937.7490

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DR. NANCY’S DAY SPAOffering microdermabrasion & facials. Gift certifi cates available—they make special gifts for your Valentine! Dr. Nancy MacDonald, DCEsthetician1014 Ferris Ave. #2155Waxahachie972.415.4740www.drnancysdayspa.com

BLOOMS & MOREWe offer gorgeousselections of arrangements and gifts for your special someone.301 N. Elm StreetWaxahachie 972.937.3111www.bloomsandmore.net

TURQUOISE HAVENStep out in style this winter! Cute boots are a steal at only $78.602 Ferris Ave., Suite 103Waxahachie 972.937.0337www.turquoisehaven.com

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Nationally, one in four women will experi-ence domestic violence; in Texas, one in three women will experience domestic vi-olence. In Ellis County, in 2010, more than 600 cases of domestic violence were re-ported. Healing Hearts of Ellis County is doing its best to decrease those numbers.

“The mission is to end the occurrence of domestic violence and sexual assault by providing emergency housing and crisis intervention to domestic violence sur-vivors and their families, and to provide prevention education throughout Ellis, Dallas and surrounding counties,” Healing Hearts Center’s mission statement reads.

Last year, Alecia Peters, president and founder of Healing Hearts Center, moved to Glenn Heights and looked for a place to volunteer, specifi cally a sexual assault center in Ellis County. She had previously volunteered with a domestic abuse center near her home in Dallas.

“When I found out that one did not ex-ist, I thought, ‘That’s a great need. That’s something that I really want to get started and start working on,’” Alecia said. “I be-gan researching and found out that the statistics were very high for domestic

violence, especially in Waxahachie and Ennis. And so we decided to start having services and start opening one up and start developing a center right here.”

Ultimately, Healing Hearts Center’s vision is to be, “…the hand that compassionately empowers and affectionately guides hurt-ing individuals and encourage them to live enriched, purposeful lives in safety and security, serenity, expectancy and expe-rience restoration and wholeness within their spirit, soul and body.”

One hurting individual that Healing Hearts Center helped was a woman with fi ve children who contacted the center on the day before Christmas Eve in 2010. She had just left a domestic violence situation and didn’t have any money to get her kids presents that year. The staff at Healing Hearts Center were able to collect donations from local retailers in Waxahachie and Ennis and give her chil-dren a Christmas.

“The looks on their faces were priceless,” Alecia said. “It was very emotional. We were really touched by it because they’d been really poverty-stricken, and they didn’t have the means. She was leaving a domestic violence situation because she’d rather live in poverty than tolerate that type of abuse and violence. That was a joy for us to be able to give back and be a blessing for her and her family.”

The center has been collaborating with local police departments and has re-ceived support from all of Ellis County. But in order for Healing Hearts Center to continue to help other victims, they need fi nancial support, volunteers and dona-tions, including old cell phones, which can be given to victims to call 9-1-1 in an emer-

gency situation. Right now they also have temporary offi ces set up in Waxahachie and Ennis but are seeking permanent of-fi ce space in both cities.

In January, Healing Hearts Center will begin a support group for adult survivors of domestic violence. On March 31, they will host their fi rst gala, with the theme of “Facing the Giants, Breaking the Silence.” Guest speakers at the gala will be Susan Still and her son, Dane, who have been featured on “Oprah” and other national outlets. Susan survived more than 20 years of domestic violence from her ex-husband and now promotes awareness by sharing her empowering story. Tickets are available by calling 972.388.4777 or sending an e-mail to [email protected].

For more information about Healing Hearts Center, please visit www.healing-hearts-center.org. If you or someone you know are in a domestic abuse situation and need help, please call their crisis hot-line number at 1.800.828.7893.

HEALING HEARTS IN ELLIS COUNTY

“WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE’RE HERE FOR THEM,” ALECIA SAID. “THEY’LL RECEIVE SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT AND RESOURCE REFERRALS, AND WE’LL GIVE THEM OPTIONS. NO ONE HAS TO STAY IN A SITUATION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IF THEY CHOOSE TO LEAVE.”

ALECIA PETERSFOUNDER OF HEALING HEARTS CENTER

IN

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HOME & GARDEN


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Marvin and Mary Ann, along with their two children, moved to an empty farmhouse on the outskirts of Ennis in August of 1980. Both Marvin and Mary Ann grew up in the area and thought about coming back many times.

“We’d always talked about moving back to Ennis at one point in time, maybe to retire, because this is kind of where our roots are,” Marvin said.

The Trojaceks used to make week-end trips to Ennis from their home in Mesquite to visit family members, most of whom live in and around Ennis. During one such visit, Mar-vin’s father mentioned that the farm next door to their home was for sale. Marvin quickly made a decision to buy the 113-acre farm and move the family to his and Mary Ann’s home-town.

“I moved Mary Ann and the kids from a very nice house in Mesquite

that was up to date and right around the corner was a big grocery store…to the country in an old, old farm-house that had no air conditioning,” Marvin recalled. Mary Ann put her foot down after a few weeks in the Texas summer with only the attic fan to ventilate the house, and Marvin promised to build their dream house in six months.

“It was a long six months,” Mary Ann said, as eight years went by before the Trojaceks used Wesley Betik to build their initial dream house.

A DREAM HOUSE?The 2,900-square-foot home pro-vided a nice and comfortable house for the family of four for 22 years. But, as time went by, the original 1988 home became a little out of date, needing updating to bring it into the present. Remodeling be-came the main topic of discussion.

“Mary Ann was giving her ideas of

what she wanted to do, and my head kind of started spinning,” Marvin said. “We always talked about totally remodeling and doing an addition.” These discussions happened right before the economy took a down-turn, which put the Trojaceks’ plans on hold.

However, the economy didn’t look like it was going to pick up, so Mar-vin decided to bite the bullet and start making plans. But instead of a simple remodel or add-on, Marvin started sketching what he thought their dream house could be—dou-bling the size of the existing house.

“So I had on one occasion kind of sketched out a plan of the house and modifi cations I was interested in do-ing,” Marvin said. “Mary Ann bought on to that as well; she was kind of excited about it.”

They chose one of Marvin’s sketches and decided to move forward. Mar-vin contacted Steve Shuert, of Steve Shuert Residential Design in Waxa-hachie, to discuss the possibilities.

“We met him and took him my tablet scratch that I wanted and the existing

REBUILDING A NEST

BY KATE MCCLENDONPHOTOS BY AMI TRULL

HOME & GARDEN


house plan and said, ‘Can you make this into that?’ and he just kind of looked at us and said, ‘Oh I can do anything you want,’ Marvin said.

INITIAL DECISIONSSteve Shuert came to the home and let the Trojaceks know that their plan was feasible and they began to go on to the next steps—finding a builder and a team to do all the work that goes into creating a brand-new house out of an existing one. Steve introduced Marvin and Mary Ann to Mike Cusack, a local builder, and they were impressed with him from the start.

Mike took them to a few homes he built in Ovilla and the Trojaceks actually ran into a couple that was moving into their home. The man at the house told Marvin that Mike was a good builder and a lifetime friend and if he was to build his house all over again, he’d choose Mike to do it. That was all Marvin needed to hear—Mike was

chosen to do the remodel. Planning soon began with Mike and his team.

“It’s important to me, especially on a re-model, that I go out there and investigate pretty thoroughly so there’s no surprises,” Mike said. “My bids don’t go up unless someone adds changes to it.“

GETTING STARTEDThe Trojaceks moved out of their home in August of 2010 so building could get underway. Marvin and Mary Ann moved into a home owned by Mary Ann’s broth-er that was located only half a mile away. This allowed them to know exactly what was going on in the project.

“We were here on a daily basis,” Marvin said. “We were by here everyday to see the progress or ask questions. And we talked to Mike several times a day once he got started into things. Any question he had, any clarification he had, he’d give

me a call.”

This is something Mike believes is crucial to a successful project.

“I call you and let you know what my agenda is that day or, if we had a problem, what I did to resolve that problem,” Mike said. “Because that’s the most important part of working with the customer—com-munication.”

CHALLENGESFor the most part, the project went smoothly, except for a few snags here and there. The biggest challenge every-one agreed on was a huge brick prob-lem that came up partway through the project.

“When we started the whole process and we knew we were going to make a major addition, we kept telling Mike that we did not want it to look like an add-on; we


wanted it to look like it was all going to be one initial build,” Marvin said.

In order to make the addition appear seamless, the outside of the home had to have the same treatment, which meant finding the exact brick that was used on the initial home. The Trojaceks tracked down what they thought was the original brick at a nearby brickyard and ordered what they needed. When the brick was delivered, it was com-pletely wrong. This was a big frustra-tion and a big setback, both time-wise and budget-wise.

“So at that point in time, Mike said, ‘Well you’ve got a decision to make. You’re either going to have a brick that doesn’t match or you can totally re-brick the ex-isting house with the new, and that way you’re guaranteed it’s going to match,’” Marvin said.They decided that having the addition ap-

pear original was the most important fac-tor in the remodel, so they decided to go ahead and re-brick. This meant that the Trojaceks had to find a new brick to use. Marvin and Mary Ann spent many eve-nings and weekends driving around Ellis County looking at brick they may want to use. Eventually they found a stone and brick combination they liked and Mike was able to track it down.

Marvin always dreamed of having a sepa-rate barn/garage/workshop that comple-mented the house. Though this separate space wasn’t part of the original plan, the Trojaceks decided to move forward with it because they didn’t want to have to do another brick search a few years down the road.

“So I had a good excuse to convince Mary Ann that I needed to go ahead and do the barn and garage and all that stuff at the time we were doing the house,” Mar-

vin said. “It all matches and I’m happy and pleased. And she kept telling me I was us-ing her furniture budget to build my barn and I did.”

DETAILSOne of the more exciting things the Tro-jaceks got to do was choose all the finish-es like tile, paint colors and granite. Many of the decisions had to be made without seeing things in person, something Mary Ann had a hard time doing, claiming she is not a person who can visualize. That left Marvin to make a lot of the decisions while keeping Mary Ann’s taste in mind.

During the search for countertops, a few of their favorite granite choices didn’t work out. They kept searching and finally settled on a granite type that was being shipped to Dallas from Brazil. The gran-ite shop kept telling the Trojaceks that “it was on the boat” and would arrive in a few weeks. They chose a back-up option just

HOME & GARDEN


in case.

“The boat finally docked and they got the granite to the gran-ite place in Dallas and Mary Ann hadn’t even seen it,” Marvin said. “And I saw it and liked it and made the decision that, yes, I want that one. Trying to describe granite to somebody like Mary Ann who can’t visualize is like kind of a mission impos-sible thing. So I said, ‘Just trust me,’ and she did.”

They moved on to other things like wall color, tile and ac-cents—all the small things that make a big impact.

“We had so much fun picking out tile and little details around the tile to go along with it and the accessories,” Marvin said. “It was a fun six months. A lot of decisions were made, of course, but it all came together in the end and we were pleased.”

THE COMPLETED HOMEMarvin and Mary Ann were pleased with much more than just the decorative accents, though they have favorite things about the home they’re drawn to. Mary Ann loves the spacious kitchen because she loves to cook and entertain for both of their large families. Marvin loves the family TV room and, of course, his new barn.

“I was really pleased with all of it,” Marvin said. “It all turned out great. I don’t think we would have done any different after it was all finalized. I feel good about all those decisions and Mike’s recommendations.”

One of the main recommendations Mike suggested was to do the entire remodel with more energy-efficient materials. This was a bit costly up front, but saves a lot of money over time. Even though their home doubled in size, their electricity bill only went up $35.

The Trojaceks are enjoying the energy cost savings as well as the added space—large enough for their two children, six grandchildren, multiple siblings, spouses, nieces and nephews to come and spend holidays and other occasions together.

“We’re enjoying it; we’re very happy with it,” Marvin said. “The kids and grandkids love coming and spending time here.”

Which is exactly what the Trojaceks wanted.PHOTOS BY MATRIX PHOTOGRAPHY


PHOTOS BY MATRIX PHOTOGRAPHY

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HOME & GARDEN

My 133-year-old farmhouse has seen more children run through it than one could possibly count. The original family had nine children, so this fi ne lady was off to a good start to prove its endurance to withstand “child abuse.” I feel certain that countless pleas for silence have bounced off her walls like, “Shut the door!” “Don’t slam that door again!” “Stop running!” “No yelling in the house!” The list goes on and on. I have said them all a million times.

Les and I have 12 grandchildren between the two of us. Their ages currently range from 4 to 22. I have four local nieces and nephews who have another eight children who, also, call me Nana. Among all those children, eight of them are either the same age or two or three years apart in age. At one time we had eight ranging from 1 to 5. Imagine the family gatherings…if you dare.

Now most people expect my home to be a picture out of Southern Living. I have truly tried through the years to accomplish that because I thought I had to live up to a standard that I created for myself. That idea actually worked for a long time…until grandchildren, that is.

My children were raised to know what could and could not be touched. I can remember very few things that were ever broken…

except when my daughter, Missy, was determined to eat the rubber grapes from my fl oral arrangement…but I digress. At some point along the line, probably by the seventh or eighth birth, I had to come to terms with the idea that things were going to be broken and touched no matter what I did to prevent it. I had lost control.

In my home there is a “running circle” that will be the death of me, I am sure. One can start at the entry and go either right or left and make a full circle through the den, the kitchen, the dining room and end up in the entry again, without a hitch. As a matter of fact, so many toy trucks have driven through that path that I actually have seen evidence of a road appearing in my hardwood fl oors. If stocking feet could make a rut I would have a ditch in that same path. Short memories prevail, no matter how many times you say, “No running in the house!”

It is amazing how children forget that you can hear them or sense that something is amiss when you are out of sight. I am often reminded of a time when my very mischievous nephew, Lance, was visiting my

brother in Illinois. Lance was a live wire. He had a smile that would melt a glacier, but could not stay out of trouble. This little story was evidence that he just could not help himself.

My brother had installed an electric rail on his fence to keep in his farm animals. Lance was watching the animals and getting too close to the fence, even though he had been told time and time again not to get near it. My brother shouted out the door to him, “Don’t touch that fence; it will hurt you!” Then he turned to the rest of us and said, “Now watch this.” Yep. Lance looked around to see if anyone was watching and stretched his arm out to touch the fence. Yikes! Tears were fl owing. He was hurt…but not badly, just enough to make him know that he could not touch the fence without getting hurt. He was more stunned than hurt. He wasn’t interested in touching the fence anymore, but did it change his future curiosity? Not in the least.

Although we thought Lance was one of a kind, my youngest grandson, Seth, is exactly like him. He has to push the limit on every issue. But, he does it with a smile that

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will charm your socks off. Somehow, that is supposed to make it all OK.

Today I was getting some things out of the attic while my three youngest grandchildren were playing downstairs. Seth is 4 and Carsen and Taylor are both 6. That is a very dangerous combination, at best, but with Nana out of sight, it is a moment to relish.

Things were going well until I started hearing very loud noises. Screaming, yelping, laughing and running that sounded like the house was going to start shaking. Somebody was having just too much fun…Nana was nowhere in sight and surely deaf. That infamous trail was being put to its fullest capacity. Three banging little Indians were having a ball.

A few years ago I discovered the best tool ever invented—the plastic spoon. Just the sound of the kitchen drawer opening can change havoc into silence. I rarely have to actually use that spoon, because it holds great power—the power I thought I lost long ago.

I quietly came down the stairs as if I wasn’t noticing a thing. The excitement of the moment kept them from even noticing me. I slowly walked into the kitchen and opened my drawer. The screams and laughter covered the sound of the drawer opening…oops!

I walked to the edge of the island, which is sideline to the trail, holding my spoon out for all to see. One little Indian was in the den and stopped in his tracks. The other two, Seth fi rst, were coming from the dining room and landed in the kitchen, dead in their tracks. I just said, “Go ahead. Run as fast as you can.” They all looked at me, not knowing exactly what to do. Seth never lost the smile on his face. His eyes were like saucers and he was twinkling from head to toe.

I repeated, “Go ahead and run as fast as you can.” Seth raised his body back like a stallion and shot past me. As his hind end was just getting out of range I swatted him with the spoon. He was stunned

and crashed to the den fl oor rubbing his booty. Then I said to the other two, “Go ahead, run!”

Taylor, in her most girly girl swagger said, “I really don’t want to run anymore. I am tired of running.” Carsen fell right in line with her thoughts and drifted away from the scene quietly. But Taylor wasn’t quite through.

Now you have to picture my attire to get the real feel of this transaction. I was wearing old grey striped pajamas that my children had been trying to throw away for years. I was a train wreck, but my dear granddaughter saw through all of that morning ugly. She swept into her next sentence without any hesitation. Using her “teen” voice and girly girl attitude she said, “Nana I love your shirt. I just love stripes. I love to wear them, but then I love lots of kinds of fabric and lots of colors.”

Now imagine her using her big girl gestures and her teen sophistication, which, of course, is supposed to make me think that she had nothing to do with the events that had just taken place, and she was far above such behavior. She fi nished off with, “I really love you Nana,” which, without a doubt, was the chocolate frosting on her snow job.

In the meantime, I am dying. I want to fall on the fl oor laughing, but I have to keep a straight face and just move on. This 6-year-old girl has just tried to dupe her old Nana and she is very confi dent that she did it, while Seth is still rubbing his bottom trying to fi gure out where he went wrong. Between those two personalities, life can be a challenge but is always good for a laugh, under your breath, of course.

It is all in a day of Nana’s world. You’ve got to love it! But, don’t expect your home to look like Southern Living with all this drama going on. It will just look like Nana’s house, and that is OK with me.

Stay warm and I will talk to you again in the spring.

DIANE JOHNSON COLLARD Diane has been decorating Ellis County for more than 20 years. Contact Diane Johnson Interiors at 972.935.8899 or [email protected].

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PLANTING• Transplant small trees and

shrubs while they are dormant. It is best if they were root-pruned in the fall so that roots will be established before the heat and draught of the summer. Water the root ball well before digging.

• Plant peppers, tomatoes and warm-season annuals from seed mid-month. They need bright light and warm temperatures (60 to 70 degrees). Use grow lights for best results.

• Sow snap peas and plant onions in well-prepared soil.

FERTILIZING AND PRUNING• Prune trees, including live oaks

and red oaks, to remove dead, broken and unwanted branches or to “limb up” (that is, raise the canopy to allow more light underneath).

• Pruning oak trees in late winter may help prevent oak wilt disease, which can be fatal. Pruning paint may help prevent the entry of the disease.

• Apply a liquid root stimulator monthly to newly planted trees

and shrubs.• Peach and plum trees should

be pruned to stimulate lateral branches and keep their “bowl” shape.

GARDEN WATCH• Remove broadleaf weeds such

as clover, dandelions, henbit and chickweed in lawns and beds by hand. If necessary, spot spray large areas of the lawn with a broadleaf weed killer when temperatures are above 70 degrees. Be careful not to spray desirable plants. Read and follow labels carefully before using any pesticide.

ODDS AND ENDS• This is a good time to have

your soil tested in your lawn, vegetable and fl ower garden. Contact the Ellis County Master Gardeners or the Texas AgriLife Extension Service – Ellis County at 972.825.5175 for the necessary collection and mailing supplies or for more information.

• Order seeds you intend to plant later to obtain the varieties you want.

PLANTING • Sow cool-season vegetable seeds

directly into well-prepared soil. Cabbage, caulifl ower, broccoli, kale and potatoes should be planted four weeks before the last average frost date, which is March 15 in Ellis County. Lettuce, radishes, carrots, spinach, beets, chard and turnips should be planted two to four weeks prior.

• Plant blackberries, grapes and fruit and nut trees. After planting, cut off the top half of peach trees and all side branches to encourage new lateral branches. Contact Texas AgriLife Extension Service – Ellis County at 972.825.5175 for the best varieties.

FERTILIZING AND PRUNING• Prune bush roses on Valentine’s

Day, Feb. 14. Prune old, dead and weak canes back to the ground. Wear heavy-leather gloves to protect hands; use long-handled loppers to remove large and dead canes. Leave four to eight vigorous canes, removing one-half of their growth above an outward-facing bud. Feed roses with a balanced fertilizer, compost or aged manure.

• Wait to prune climbing or leaning roses until after they bloom.

• Cut or mow old foliage of liriope and monkey grass before tips of new growth emerge.

• Dead tops of ornamental grasses can be pruned to the ground or four to six inches from the ground. Dig and divide large clumps of

warm-season ornamental grasses, especially if the center of the grass has died. Mexican feather grass should be cut back only if needed.

• Cut back the tops of herbaceous perennials to the ground or to basil foliage. If they are hardy, new growth will emerge from the roots in the spring.

GARDEN WATCH • Begin controlling insects and

diseases on fruit and nut trees. Spraying is essential for a successful harvest. Contact an Ellis County Master Gardener or the Texas AgriLife Extension Service – Ellis County for a copy of the Homeowners Fruit and Nut Spray Schedule.

• Watch for aphid and caterpillars on cool season vegetables. Control aphids with insecticidal soap and caterpillars with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis).

ODDS AND ENDS • Plan to have color in your

landscape year-round by using a mixture of annuals and perennials. Add some fl owering trees and shrubs to your landscape such as Mexican buckeye, redbud, crepe myrtle, vitex, Mexican plum, butterfl y bush, salvias, desert willow, fl ame acanthus and abelia.

• Install a system to collect rainwater. Visit the website http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind for more information.

• Turn the compost pile and keep it moist.

FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY TIPS: BulbsSuccess with spring bulbs will depend to a large extent on the selection of good, healthy, qual-ity bulbs. Second-rate bulbs, or bargain bulbs, produce second-rate fl owers and often fi rst-rate disappointment.

Planting spring bulbs in the fall is as natural as falling leaves and football games. It is an op-

portunity lost if the home gar-dener does not include some of the hardy, easy-to-grow spring beauties in the garden this f all. Bulbs are truly some of the sim-plest of fl owers to grow—easy to care for and inexpensive. All they ask is a fall planting and they will reward you with weeks of early spring color, fragrance and beauty.

JANUARY

JANUARY TIPS: Wildlife GardenEssential to any true understand-ing of the wildlife gardening con-cept is an appreciation of the sym-biotic relationships between plants and animals. This interdependence is the result of species evolving

alongside one another over mil-lennia. Wildlife gardens come in many different forms depending on the species to be attracted. They all require food, water, shelter and space—places to raise young.

NEED ASSISTANCE ATTRACTING WILDLIFE TO YOUR PROPERTY? Do you have a nature-related question? Call the Texas AgriLife Extension Service – Ellis County at (972.825.5175) and ask to talk to an Indian Trail Master Naturalist.

Members of this volunteer program serve Ellis and Navarro Counties. The program is sponsored by Texas Parks & Wildlife and Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

BY MELINDA KOCIAN, ELLIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS

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ongressman Joe Barton’s roots run deep in the district he serves. Barton has lived or worked in Ennis, Waco,

Crockett and Arlington before deciding to move back to Ennis in 1984. He now splits his time between his offi ces in Ennis, Arlington and Washington D.C., but he calls Ennis home.

“Well, it’s 18,000 people so you can’t really say everybody knows everybody, but it appears as if everybody knows everybody,” Barton said. “It’s just a very friendly place and I just like the environment here.”

While working as an industrial engineer before his political career, Barton was active in church, coached little league and volunteered with various campaigns. He was chosen for the White House Fellows program in the early eighties, which gave him a taste of federal politics.

“After I became a White House Fellow, I looked at the federal level and thought that I may be able to help in some of the issues back in the eighties … and I could have an impact to help a lot of people and I still believe that.”

When Congressman Phil Gramm ran for thde Senate in 1984, Barton decided to run for Congress. During his congressional career, he’s focused on

energy policy, environmental policy, health care policy and budget issues. Barton is running for re-election in the upcoming congressional race.

Recently, Ellis County Living Magazine was able to ask Barton about some topics of concern to residents in Ellis County. What follows are his responses to some of the issues our country is facing.

We need to get the budget under control and I think you need to do that by reducing spending, so I think that will be the No. 1 issue. I don’t think there’s any area of the budget we couldn’t save money in ... And I think we just need to do a comprehensive review. We have so many federal agencies and so many programs that you literally can’t keep track of them and a lot of them can be consolidated. There’s a lot of administrative expense that, I think, could be reduced. And then programs that just have no benefi t to the general population ... There’s not any federal program that can’t be looked at and there’s probably not many that can’t be reformed in some way to save money ... It would be nice to pass the balanced budget amendment and send it to the states before I retire. It would be nice to have a balanced federal budget.

The next specifi c move is going to

be to implement sequestration since the super committee didn’t report a recommendation. And that’s an across-the-board cut ... The total is $1.2 trillion but that’s not in any year, that’s over a 10-year period. And Congress can change it, but it can’t change the total. In other words, we could pass on the fl oor instead of having an across-the-board sequestration we could say cut x amount here and y amount there, but the total still has to be $1.2 trillion over 10 years.

You can’t increase jobs by just increasing federal spending. If that were the way to do it, we would be awash in jobs now. We’ve borrowed $1.5 trillion, and we’re in our third year in a row and it ain’t working. The way to do it is to restore confi dence in the economy so people go out and invest more money and create jobs.

You have to give the investor, the owner, the opportunity, the decision-making ability to decide what’s best for them—to make a profi t so that they can hire people. I would hope that people would make the decision to do it right here in the U.S. ... The state of Texas has a program that if you bring a factory from outside of the state, they’ll help pay for the land and give you a break on utilities. That’s an incentive. If the jobs created offset the cost of it, I’m fi ne with that. But just to give something to somebody to locate and then they stay


two to three years and then leave, that doesn’t make a lot of sense.

I think it would be nice to have some replacement for the president’s health care plan in place. There are a lot of people in America that need help from the federal government with their health care, but the law that was passed two years ago is going to destroy the private health care system if it’s implemented.

I think the Supreme Court is going to overturn parts of [President Obama’s health care plan] within a year. The individual mandate is, I think, unconstitutional. And if you repeal that, a lot of the law is unsustainable. But if we elect a Republican president, we will definitely repeal it and replace it with something that is much better for the American people.

The reason that there’s less bipartisanship in Congress is that the country is divided. We reflect the country. And the stalemate on the super committee is a perfect example of that. It was absolutely, totally balanced. Six house members, six senators, six Republicans, six Democrats.

And there was just a fundamental difference in the worldview. The Republicans felt like the problem was too much spending and the Democrats felt like the problem was too low taxes ... I mean, if you can’t even agree on problem identification, you’re certainly not going to agree on problem solutions.

So the partisanship in Congress reflects the different worldviews in the country. When the country’s united, Congress

can do stuff in days ... But on how to reduce the budget deficit, the country’s not united and so Congress reflects that … We’re not getting a lot done because the two political parties reflect the country and the country’s divided on what needs to be done.

I would support a flat tax. You’ve got to decide what the rate’s going to be and what the exemptions are going to be. But it’d certainly be simpler and I think it’d be just as fair. You probably raise a little bit more revenue because you wouldn’t have all the tax shelters. The more people have of something, the more they’re going to protect it. Whether it’s income or land or property and a flat tax kind of levels the playing field.

I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the United States [to have all troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2012]. I don’t think we should have all of our troops out of Iraq. Why do we still have troops in Korea? Why do we still have troops in Germany? Because it’s in our national interest to have a projection of power for us in those countries. And that’s true in Afghanistan and that’s true in Iraq. But is it technically mechanically possible? Yes, sure. There’s not going to be peace in Afghanistan if we remove our ground forces; it’s just going to open the gates to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda to move back in. I doubt the Afghan government is going to be ready to maintain security in the country.

The concept of giving people control over part of their Social Security taxes, I support ... But over time, they need to be addressed and the basic Social Security program is sound and I think a part of the

American fabric, but the concept it was built on is not true today. The concept, when it was established in the 1930s was that there was always going to be more people working than retired. It was like 33 to one then. It’s three or four to one right now. And in the not-too-distant future, it’s going to be down to about one-and-a-half to one. So you can’t sustain a program where they always felt like there’d be a lot more money coming in than was going out. I think beginning in about seven years there’s going to be more going out than is coming in.

For anybody under 40, we ought to be making changes today so that they have a Social Security benefit that they can depend upon when they retire. Giving people control over some of their taxes, as long as you understand the risk involved, you make a decision to put it in a common stock fund or a government bond fund or something, I’m OK with that. You’ve accepted that you’re probably going to get a much greater return on that … giving you one third of your taxes that you can invest and two-thirds that stay in Social Security bonds so that you still get a basic benefit and the basic benefit will be a little bit lower but the expanded benefit, if investments in the economy do well, is a lot more. And then you just decide whether you want to do it or not. I wouldn’t force it but as an option, you should have it. Let it be your choice.

In the 26 years that Barton has represented the Sixth District of Texas, he has been proud to serve our area. Before the upcoming election, though, the Sixth District will likely be redrawn to add a large portion of east and south Dallas County, which will add new challenges and possibly a more competitive political situation.

“Change is good and challenges are good,” Barton said. “The good news is that we’ve got a very open, dynamic system and I enjoy people and I enjoy interacting. I still think I have a value to give to the people I represent. I enjoy being a congressman. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a real privilege.”

The Congressional Primary will be held this spring. To register

to vote and find your voting precinct, visit

www.canivote.org.

When asked by a reporter where in the Consti-tution is Congress granted the authority to im-pose an individual mandate to buy health insur-ance, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sneered, “Are you serious?”

Twenty-six states found the question serious enough to bring suit on behalf of their citizens and in March, the Supreme Court, our national embodiment of seriousness, will hear argu-ments with a decision expected by June.

The Justices will take up four questions regard-ing aspects of the law, the most important of which is whether the individual mandate, under which all persons must either purchase health insurance or pay a fine, falls within the Con-gressional power to regulate “interstate com-merce.”

ObamaCare requires virtually every American to obtain health insurance by 2014. Support-ers of the law insist that stripping the individual mandate from the 2,400-page bill will render its other provisions ineffectual.

The stakes are even higher to the law’s detrac-tors. If the Court finds that it is within the federal government’s power to order the purchase of a particular item, there is no limit to what activity the government can command.

If Congress can require you to buy health in-surance because your lack of coverage may, in some vague way, impose costs on the wider economy, then by the same reasoning it can re-quire the purchase (or sale) of almost any good or service, since the failure to have or use any product can always be said to have some eco-nomic impact.

In order to fully understand the question the Court will address and the enormous impact the decision will have on not only our health

care system, but our basic notions of federal-ism and individual liberty, we must begin with the actual text of the Commerce Clause and the Court decisions interpreting those words.

Clause 3 of Article 1, Section 8 of the Consti-tution grants Congress “the power…to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states and with the Indian tribes.”

Early court decisions interpreting the Com-merce Clause held firm that economic activity conducted within the boundaries of a single state were beyond the grasp of Congress.

In Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) Chief Justice John Marshall held that “state inspection laws, health laws, and laws for regulating the internal commerce of a State…are not within the power granted to Congress.”

By the 1930s, the country was in severe crisis and an expanded federal government seemed to be the only solution. The programs of the New Deal enjoyed wide popular and biparti-san political support. The Supreme Court did its part by slowly eroding the limitations of the Commerce Clause in a series of decisions.

Then, in 1942, the dam broke. Roscoe Filburn, a small Ohio dairy and poultry farmer, planted 23 acres of wheat in the fall of 1940 and by July of the next year he had harvested 462 bushels. Unfortunately, this exceeded the production allotment imposed by the Agriculture Adjust-ment Act of 1938. The goal of the Act was to stabilize the market price of wheat by prevent-ing shortages and surpluses. For Filburn, this meant a steep fine of $.49 per bushel and an order to destroy the wheat. Filburn refused to pay and used the excess wheat as feed for his livestock and food for his family.

The case eventually wound up at the Supreme Court. Because Filburn’s crop reduced the amount of wheat he would buy for chicken feed on the open market, the Court held that the wheat grown on the Filburn farm, though consumed on the premises and never shipped out of state, sufficiently affected the national

economy to permit federal regulation of Mr. Filburn’s crop.

The current Supreme Court now has the chance to revisit Wickard v. Filburn and restore the original meaning of the clause.

So how will it all turn out? It is almost certain to be a five-to-four decision, but in favor of whom? The four Democrat-appointed Justices—Gins-burg, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan—will likely uphold the mandate. Likewise, Justice Thomas will unquestionably vote to strike the law.

That leaves Justices Scalia and Kennedy, who share mixed records in Commerce Clause cases, and Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, who have yet to hear such a case since joining the highest court.

Speaker Pelosi’s flippant dismissal of the Con-stitutional question has long been the prevail-ing attitude of Congress at large, a body which must cite Constitutional authority for the laws they pass. Who can blame them? The Com-merce Clause is no longer read as a limitation on federal power, but carte blanche to impose sweeping edicts on unwilling states.

If the individual mandate is enforced, the gov-ernment’s power will extend from the regula-tion of existing commerce to the compulsion of its citizens to participate.

In Federalist No. 45, James Madison affirmed the Founders’ insistence that the powers del-egated to the federal government are “few and defined,” while those left to the states “are numerous and indefinite.” We will soon learn whether those words still have meaning.

BARACK OBAMA AND THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE CLAUSE

Jacob A. Hale is an elder law and estate planning attorney at The Hale Law Firm,

P.C. in Waxahachie. To learn more about this topic, please visit www.TheHaleLawFirm.

com or send an e-mail to the author at [email protected].

BY JACOB A. HALE / THE HALE LAW FIRM

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In the United States, 99 percent of all households have at least one television set. That means a huge percentage of Americans are watching sports, awards, reality, game or other types of shows where there is a winner and a loser. On TV, we are bombarded with programs that keep score.

Ironically, we live in a society where it is insensitive to judge people on what they contribute to society. One in six people are receiving some sort of financial help from the government, while almost 90 percent of all federal income tax is paid by just the top 25 percent of taxpayers. However, to “keep score” on those types of facts is considered politically incorrect.

We all watch TV, in fact, on average of almost seven hours a day. We watch program after program where winning is everything and even second place means nothing. But when people step away from the tube, the rules change.

When I attempt to bring the same work ethics, accountability and demand for excellence that I have made part of the CNB of Texas culture to those outside the walls of the bank, the backlash is incredible. However, in my world of business no one gets a free ride. If you are a slacker, you lose. If you make too many errors, you forfeit your place on the playing field. In the business arena, everyone keeps score.

But that’s not the way it has evolved in society. People who want to protest what they perceive as economic and social inequality started the Occupy Movement. The first sit-in was Occupy Wall Street that began in September 2011. Now it has been in Dallas and almost 100 countries around the world. The common slogan these protesters use is “We are the 99%.”

What I see is a whole lot of people who

would rather pump their fists at the world than have a job and be productive. They despise the concept of hard work that brings rewards. They want a free ride. They feel entitled to laziness. They want to keep score in regard to the one percent they hate because of wealth, however, they are indignant to anyone wondering what usefulness they have in our society.

The Occupy crowd represent why we must also be vocal. We cannot be afraid of speaking out in regard to our obligation to ourselves, our ethics, our responsibilities and our communities. No one should get a free ride—everyone should be held accountable.

The Pulitzer Prize winning author and writer of the Steve Jobs’ biography, Walter Isaacson, was interviewed in regard to Jobs’ bombastic personality. It is common knowledge that the co-founder of Apple was demanding of those around him with little patience for people who did not perform at their highest levels. He did not have much of a filter between his feelings and his mouth in regard to his disdain for irresponsibility or lack of a work ethic.

According to Isaacson, Jobs defined his cantankerous, in-your-face personality as something he had earned by the commitment to excellence he demanded of himself. He simply was saying if he was willing to put in 14-hour days, be obligated to produce at a high level and be judged on his actions, then he had the same right to insist the equal of others. And, he vocally did.

We all keep score. CNB of Texas’ customers and the community demand that we run a safe, sound and secure

bank. We work long, hardto maintain that trust. Like Jobs, I’ve earned the right to seek the same dedication from those who are employed by or serve our financial institution. The quid pro quo is: if I work hard, then I expect the same from you.

As a city council person, a position that is a 100-percent volunteer, I join other council members and committee members in contributing countless hours to listening to the needs of our residents and acting in their collective best interests. That gives my colleagues and I the right to demand excellence from all those who work for the city or profit by its financial backing. I believe that I was elected to do just that!

Recently, I came across a testimony by Mother Theresa, the Noble Prize honoree famous for her humanitarian work in India. She said:

“People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway.”

If the real world keeps score, I pray it is done by Mother Theresa’s words and actions.

BY MARK SINGLETON / PRESIDENT & CEO / CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK OF TEXASPROFESSIONAL



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Divorce. It is synonymous with confl ict, dis-cord, brokenness and even hate. Sadly, it affects more and more people every day. One of the keys to easing the pain involved with divorce is building an understanding of the laws that bind attorneys and judg-es who carry out divorce proceedings. Knowledge always provides a powerful advantage, and by knowing your rights, you may be able to ease the uncertainties and emotional hardships that so often ac-company divorce.

First passed in 1995, the Texas spousal maintenance laws were recently amend-ed by the legislature. Not coincidentally, Representative Senfronia Thompson of Harris County authored both the original 1995 spousal maintenance bill and the recent House Bill 901, which contained the amendments. The new spousal main-tenance laws provide favorable new rights to certain individuals who fi le for divorce on or after Sept. 1, 2011.

Texas law defi nes spousal maintenance in section 8.001 of the Family Code as “an award in a suit for dissolution of a mar-riage of periodic payments from the future income of one spouse for the support of the other spouse.” In other words, spousal maintenance is Texas’ term for alimony, a word commonly used in other states to describe support payments from one spouse to another following divorce.

There are several ways that a divorcing spouse in Texas can qualify for an award of spousal maintenance. Before the re-cent changes to the law, spousal mainte-nance was available only for a period of up to three years, and only to individuals who were either (1) victims of family vio-

lence propounded within two years of the divorce fi ling by the spouse from whom maintenance was sought, or (2) mar-ried for at least 10 years, lacking suffi cient property under the division of property in the divorce, and unable to adequately sup-port themselves due to disability, clear lack of earning potential in the labor market, or custody of a child with special needs. House Bill 901 broadens the maintenance laws, allowing for maintenance to be paid for a period of up to 10 years in certain circumstances and relaxing the barriers to entitlement of a maintenance award. A spouse who has been married for 10 years or longer may now seek an award of maintenance if he or she simply lacks the ability to earn suffi cient income to provide for minimum reasonable needs. However, such a spouse must exercise diligence in trying to earn enough money to provide for those needs, or developing a market-able skill to become able to so provide. The 10-year marriage requirement has been removed from spouses who seek maintenance due to a disability or custody of a disabled child requiring special care and supervision.

Spouses victimized by family violence may still seek a maintenance award, and the laws now also provide for maintenance in cases involving family violence against a child of the spouse seeking maintenance. Still, spouses who satisfy the above re-quirements have merely passed through the fi rst door in the complex weave of maintenance eligibility. The Court presid-ing over the divorce will consider numer-ous factors affecting the maintenance award, including each spouse’s relative

ability to provide for their needs, the fi nan-cial resources of each spouse, the educa-tion and skills of each spouse, the length of the marriage, the age of each spouse, the physical and emotional condition of each spouse, the spouse’s contribution to the marriage as a homemaker, and more. For a complete list of statutory factors, see Texas Family Code § 8.052.

House Bill 901 also extinguishes the three-year maximum for spousal mainte-nance and establishes maximum periods of maintenance, which increase with the duration of the marriage. For example, a spouse married for more than 30 years may receive a maintenance award last-ing up to 10 years. Of course, marriages of shorter duration are not always entitled to the 10-year maximum. Spouses divorc-ing after 10 years of marriage or less must fall within the family violence, disability or disabled child provisions to be awarded maintenance.

This article only summarizes some recent changes in Texas law, and does not pro-vide a complete understanding of spousal maintenance laws. You should always con-sult a licensed attorney for legal advice, especially if you are considering divorce.

Kevin Kosoris practices law as an associ-ate attorney at the Law Offi ces of Michael W. Hartley in downtown Waxahachie. A Waxahachie native, Kevin returned home after completing his education and joined Mr. Hartley’s practice focusing on com-mercial, civil and probate litigation, family law and criminal defense. For more infor-mation about the Law Offi ces of Michael W. Hartley, please visit www.elliscountyl-awyer.com.

UNDERSTANDING DIVORCE:SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE

BY KEVIN KOSORIS

PROFESSIONAL



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Northwood University, Texas Campus is a unique campus surround by lush hills and green trees just south of Cedar Hill State Park. The student-faculty ratio is approximately 20:1 with an average class size of approximately 19. Professors strongly believe in experiential learning and offer students opportunities to gain real-life business experience through hands-on techniques.

Students are empowered to earn a Bachelor of Business degree with a unique concentration in Advertising, Aftermarket Management, Automotive Marketing & Management, Economics, Entertainment, Sport & Promotion Management, Entrepreneurship, Fashion Marketing, Finance, Hotel, Restaurant & Resort Management, International Business or Management Information Systems.

Northwood University also offers a four-year BBA/MBA program which is an intensive program of study that allows high-achieving, focused students to complete their Bachelor of Business Administration degree in three years and their Master of Business Administration degree in one additional year. This program allows for and encourages students to participate in the Honors Program and co-curricular campus life programming

such as varsity athletics, business clubs or academic, service and social organizations while at Northwood University.

NU students are also encouraged to participate in international opportunities that will allow them to travel to such destinations as Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia and more. In addition, there are numerous exchange programs and mini session offerings for interested students.

The Texas campus is a founding member of the Red River Athletic Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I, and competes in baseball, men's and women's cross country, track, women's softball, men's and women's golf, and men's and women's soccer. Additionally, Northwood students may participate in intramural competition sports. Prominent NU athletic graduates include Robert Alexander Childress, the head coach of the Texas A&M baseball team, and Humberto “Bert” Miranda, a Texas Rangers minor league instructor in the Dominican Republic Instructional League.

Annually, Northwood honors two alumni members with the Outstanding Alumni Award. Candidates are selected based on various criteria with emphasis on those who have shown dedication and achievement in their professions, community involvement and their support and commitment to the university. One of this year’s honorees, NU Director of Enrollment Dr. Terry J. Silva, completed his BBA while serving in the United States Navy and continued his educational pursuits by earning a Master’s Degree in Human Relations and Business, and an Educational Doctorate Degree in Organizational Leadership. The other honoree is Mr. John Eagle, who in 1987 became president of John Eagle Dealerships, a nationally renowned domestic, foreign and luxury dealership company with stores in Dallas, Houston and Austin, as well as in

Panama City, Florida.

Education at Northwood expands students’ minds in terms of their careers and their role in society. Dr. Jerome Fullinwider, a strong Northwood supporter, founded the "Values Emphasis Speakers Series" on the Texas campus. This series highlights the importance of personal values for students and includes campus-wide speakers as well as classroom presentations. Topics span from ethics in business to the value of the free-market system. This year NU was honored to host two internationally known speakers—John Stossel, a New York Times bestselling author and broadcast journalist with Fox Business Network who has won 19 Emmys, and Stephen M.R. Covey, co-founder of Global Speed of Trust Practice.

Northwood is honored to have such a distinguished Texas Board of Governors. The board serves as an advisory panel that provides leadership by assisting the provost, Dr. Kevin Fegan, in the strategic planning and implementation that leads to campus development and advancement opportunities. Notable board members include Amanda Hinton-Skinner, the community outreach co-chair for NU and current president of the Cedar Hill Chamber of Commerce, and Martha Tiller, president of Martha Tiller Company, NU’s PR chair and an award-winning public relations executive.

The Northwood Texas campus also offers events that are open to the public, such as Haunted Forrest, LitFest and the Distinguished Women’s Program. Northwood University, Discover the Leader in You.

DISCOVER THE LEADER IN YOU

KNIGHT’S COVE, NORTHWOOD’S NEWEST DORM

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PROFESSIONAL


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MEDICAL

Did holiday feasting put your heartburn in high gear? Are you ready to get rid of your gastroesophageal refl ux disease (GERD) once and for all in 2012? Bay-lor Waxahachie can help you stop the GERD pain and pills for good through a new minimally invasive procedure.

Many GERD sufferers control their heartburn and other GERD symptoms with lifestyle changes or over-the-coun-ter or prescription medications. How-ever, some people are concerned about the long-term effects of taking GERD medication for the rest of their lives or have not experienced the control they need with medication.

“For some people, medication can con-trol the heartburn caused by GERD, but they are still bothered by secondary symptoms such as nighttime aspiration and hoarseness,” said Watson Roye, M.D., surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Waxahachie.

Until now, the only other solution for those who wanted an option beyond medication was major surgery. A new, minimally invasive procedure called transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) couples the long-lasting benefi ts of sur-gery with shorter, easier recovery time compared to other methods.

WRESTLING WITH REFLUXGERD is a condition in which the stomach contents (food or liquid) leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). This action can irritate the

esophagus, causing heartburn and other uncomfortable symptoms.

When you eat, food passes from the throat to the stomach through the esophagus (also called the food pipe or swallowing tube). Once food is in the stomach, a ring of muscle fi bers pre-vents food from moving backward into the esophagus. These muscle fi bers are called the lower esophageal sphincter. If this sphincter muscle doesn’t close well, food, liquid and stomach acid can leak back into the esophagus. This is called refl ux or gastroesophageal refl ux. This refl ux may cause symptoms, or can even damage the esophagus.

BUILDING A BARRIERThe TIF procedure corrects the root cause of GERD, an anatomical prob-lem with the lower esophageal sphinc-ter. During the completely incisionless procedure, a special tool called an Eso-phyX® is used to build a barrier that keeps acid out of the esophagus.

Surgeons thread the tool through the pa-tient’s mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach. The tool uses tissue from part of the stomach to build a valve between the stomach and the esopha-gus, without an incision.

“We actually take tissue from the top part of the stomach and pull it up onto the lower esophagus,” said Dr. Roye. “The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and most people go home the next day and are back at work in a few days.”

STRONG RESULTSOnce the patient recovers from the sur-gery, they can typically indulge in foods that might have triggered symptoms before, such as citrus, tomato sauce, carbonated drinks and coffee. They are also generally able to enjoy a late-night meal without ex-periencing heartburn at bedtime.

Studies have found that almost 80 per-cent of people who undergo the TIF pro-cedure are still free of acid-controlling medications two years later.

“We’ve seen very good results with the TIF procedure, and I believe it is an ex-cellent option for individuals with signifi -cant GERD symptoms,” said Dr. Roye.

For a referral to a physician on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie who specializes in TIF, please call 1-800-4Baylor.

Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affi liated medi-cal centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie or Baylor Health Care System.

OF THE

FOR TREATING

• Provides a long-term solution to GERD• No external skin incisions—no scarring• No internal cutting, which enables a quicker recovery• Improves quality of life • Lessens dependence on medication for heartburn relief• Can be revised if required



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Asperger’s is a pervasive developmental disorder that is diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. However, I have worked with adults who suffer with Asperger’s and were never diagnosed prior to age 18. The hallmark signs of Asperger’s are impaired social interactions and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, interests and activities.

SOME SYMPTOMS OF IMPAIRED SOCIAL INTERACTIONS INCLUDE:• being inattentive to environmental or

social stimuli• having difficulty getting along in groups• difficulty playing with other children• being unaware of social rules• lacking empathy• requiring excessive reassurance when things

go wrong or if their routine is changed• showing distress out of proportion

to the situation• inappropriate expression of anger or

frustration • being easily frustrated

EXAMPLES OF RESTRICTED PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR INCLUDE:• staring or looking unhappy when praised

or humored• being insensitive to the needs of others• having a preoccupation with a specific

subject or object that is abnormal in intensity or focus

• requiring extensive direction• being clumsy or uncoordinated

COGNITIVE DIFFICULTIES INCLUDE:• talking about one subject excessively• displaying superior knowledge or skill in

specific subjects or activities• being very concrete with words• difficulty understanding jokes• having an excellent memory

• an intense, obsessive interest in certain subjects

If your child exhibits many of these symp-toms, you will want to meet with a psycholo-gist to have him evaluated. The sooner he is diagnosed and begins receiving treatment, the easier it will be for him to learn coping skills. Treatment may include psycho-ed-ucation, social skills training, occupational therapy, physical therapy and stress man-agement to improve frustration tolerance. Although his therapist will likely involve you in aspects of his treatment, you may also benefit from having someone with whom to talk about the impact his disorder has on you and other family members.

MEDICAL

DR. DONALDSON is a clinical psychologist practicing in Waxahachie. She can be contacted at [email protected] or by visiting donaldsonwellnesscenter.com.

ASPERGER’S SYNDROME



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Health and fitness are natural ways of life around our house. My daughter, Clara, saw her mom and dad working out at the gym when she was still in a sling. She was doing push-ups, burpees and squats at 2 years old just for fun. Now at the ripe old age of 3-and-a-half, she still thinks it’s the best thing ever to go to “The Box,” aka CrossFit Waxahachie, to set up an ob-stacle course of tires, gymnastic rings and cones to run around. And being a chiropractor, fitness trainer and her dad, I’m inclined to agree with her—it’s a blast!

Much like any other concerned parent, I want a lot of things for my child. I want her to grow up healthy and strong. I want her to be athletic and confident. I want her to live a happy, fulfilled and long life. I want to set the tone early so that she can be or do anything. I know that the habits she establishes in regards to play, exercise and nutrition will shape her life for years. That’s why I believe it’s important, even at this age, to cultivate the right attitude towards fitness and well-being.

Sadly, while I believe every par-ent shares this sentiment, it’s just not happening. Obesity rates in children are skyrocketing and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, formerly known as adult onset diabetes, is increasing. Obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (or BMI—a measurement using a child’s height and weight) at

or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.1 Recent trends in regards to child-hood obesity are very alarming. According to a 2007-2008 study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 are obese. Those numbers were almost three times greater than findings by the CDC in 1980. This statistic certainly con-stitutes a problem.

Many factors are at work in this epidemic—sugary drinks and foods, lack of physical exercise and increased portion sizes, along with time spent watching television and other media (elec-tronic games, computers, etc.). It’s a tough battle for sure, but the consequences of not fight-ing it are potentially devastating. Some experts are postulating that our children might be the first generation not to outlive their parents. If that isn’t enough, childhood obesity can create im-mediate and future problems for kids. It has been linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint problems and musculoskel-etal discomfort. What’s worse is that obesity in childhood and adolescence is related to obesity in adults that is likely to be more severe.2

BY CHRIS BILES

What Can You Do?This growing problem can be stopped in its tracks if we as parents make some simple changes in our daily lives to posi-tively impact our future generations.

SET THE EXAMPLE. Kids are great imitators. They want to do what you’re doing. If you’re sitting on the couch, they’re going to model that. Video games, movies and computer time should be limited. Get out—walk, play and have fun as a family.

MAKE HEALTHY EATING THE NORM. Most waiters are surprised when Clara exclaims, “Oh broccoli, my favorite!” when we’re out to eat. She’s been eating what we eat since she got her teeth (our homemade coconut-lime fish pate was really good). If everyone is eating the same healthy food, the whole family benefits from it.

IF YOU DON’T BUY IT, IT WON’T BE IN THE HOUSE. Given a choice, most kids will pick potato chips over an apple or a cookie over a carrot. By limiting what types of food are in the house, you will ensure that your kids are getting better, nutritious foods. Sure they’ll make a fuss, but one thing is for sure—they won’t starve.

MAKE FITNESS FUN. Most sports are fitness disguised as fun. Find one that your child enjoys and let him or her reap the benefits.

Remember, as parents, you’ve been entrusted with a gift. You have the opportunity to greatly affect and shape your child in many ways. By giving them the tools of fitness and good nutrition, you can ensure they have an active, healthy life. And you know what? It’ll be good for you, too. Lead the way.

Chris Biles, DC is a chiropractor and fitness trainer with more than 10 years of experience. His work at CrossFit Waxahachie fulfills a passionate desire to Build a Fit Community. For more information, visit www.CrossFitWaxahachie.com.1Barlow SE and the Expert Committee. Expert committee recommendations regarding the preven-tion, assessment, and treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity: summary report. Pediatrics 2007;120 Supplement December 2007:S164—S192. 2Freedman DS, Khan LK, Dietz WH, Srinivasan SR, Berenson GS. Relationship of childhood over-weight to coronary heart disease risk factors in adulthood: The Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics 2001;108:712—718.

fight childhood Obesity

MEDICAL



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After celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiv-ing, Christmas and New Year’s Day, you are probably not lacking in sweets. And now Valentine’s Day will have come and gone with an even greater abundance of candy. No wonder February is the Na-tional Children’s Dental Health Aware-ness Month, so that not only children but also adults can be reminded of some valuable dental habits.

Sadly, statistics show that 75 percent of all Americans have some form of periodon-tal disease. From bad breath to periodon-titis (an advanced gum disease), there is a road of dental decline that no one should follow because, aside from caus-ing unwanted pain, poor dental health heightens the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory issues. On the other hand, if you develop healthy den-tal habits, then you lessen your chance of health problems, just by taking care of your teeth.

It’s important to get your children into the habit of regular brushing at a young age. Having trouble getting your kids on board? Make it a fun and enjoyable ex-perience—let them watch you brush while you make it seem like an exciting event; let your child brush your teeth before you brush his; put on a favorite song and brush to the music; make it a game to get all the “sugar bugs” out of their mouths; reward them with simple awards, like stickers, for goals met each day, week or month.

Some essentials in taking care of your teeth begin with your toothbrush and toothpaste. Concerning your tooth-paste, a good option would be one that contains fluoride and is approved by the American Dental Association. Some fa-vorites include Colgate Total, Sensodyne Pronamel and Ultra Brite Advanced Whitening. When deciding on the best toothbrush, you may want to speak to your dentist for better product approval. One more thing—remember to change your toothbrush every three months or sooner, if possible!

Once you have the appropriate tools, you should consistently brush your teeth and gums at least twice a day (preferably in the morning and at night). Since cavities are caused by bacteria build-up, brushing your teeth provides a solution to most dental issues. However, too much of a good thing can lead to awful results. If you take more than three minutes to brush your teeth, then you could be in danger of damaging them.

Interestingly, brushing your teeth isn’t all there is to dental care. Another vital concept includes the foods that you eat. There are many foods that advance your dental wellness, yet there are some foods that you need to stay away from for your mouth’s sake. Sugar is trouble from bite one; not only because it is a great threat to all of your body, but also because it’s the main cause of all teeth complications.

However, what could a healthy solution look like when you have a kitchen full of candies? According to Delta Den-tal’s survey given to dentists, 79 per-cent of the dentists were more likely to buy chocolate candies rather than the gummy ones. The gooier candies have a tendency to hide in small teeth crevices and, furthermore, attribute to bacteria build-up. Besides sugary products, gum and more refined foods can also cause problems.

On the other end of the food spectrum are the foods that can help your teeth like celery, cheese, green tea, kiwis, onions, parsley, sesame seeds, shiitake mushrooms and wasabi. A vitamin C-filled food that keeps your gums from being exposed to bacteria can be an-other tremendous benefit for your teeth. Some vitamin C foods include bell pep-pers, broccoli and potatoes, but there are many more. Statistics show that peo-ple who take in less vitamin C are 25 percent more likely to experience gum disease.

Cleaning your teeth not only helps your health, but it can also give you a better smile. A lot can be said about a person who has a good smile, a healthy smile. Even the orphans in “Annie” sang, “…you’re never fully dressed without a smile.” So, as you take better care of your teeth, remember to show them off by smiling a little bit more each day.

TEETHTIME

101BY TYLER-MARIE EVANS

MEDICAL



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How many times have we asked ourselves, why do all the medical specialists have to be in Dallas or Fort Worth? It takes so much more time and effort to make the trip into the city; I wish I could see a specialist right here close to home. Well, now you can!

North Texas Regional Orthotics & Prosthetics has been open in Waxahachie since 2005. Greg Wimbish, owner and American Board Certifi ed Prosthetist and Orthotist, has more than 15 years of experience in the orthotic/prosthetic fi eld. With extensive experience with both children and adults, North Texas Regional is highly qualifi ed to meet your orthotic and prosthetic needs. Wimbish has experience from his past work at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, as well as with adults as he is a requested orthotist/prosthetist at some of the top rehabilitation clinics in the North Texas area, such as the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, Cleburne Orthopedics and Forth Worth VPA. He brought his capabilities and practice close to home to be in his own community that he has lived in for almost 14 years.

North Texas Regional is excited to offer the Star Scanner to its patients. “This type of equipment is top-of-the-line technology; only a select few offi ces in Texas even have this advanced device,” states Greg Wimbish CPO. “No

more messy casting or upset babies, this completely safe laser scan literally takes less than two seconds to get a perfect image of your baby’s head, and also allows for comprehensive proof for your physician and insurance company to see why there is a need for the remolding helmet. We can easily compare the changes that start to happen almost immediately from the computer-generated image once the helmet is worn!”

WHY WOULD MY CHILD NEED A CRANIAL ORTHOSIS?Parents, grandparents and caregivers are often the fi rst ones to notice the unusual shape of the head, and they are the ones who bring it to the pediatrician’s attention during an offi ce visit with their child. Deformational plagiocephaly is characterized by unusual fl attening of an infant’s head and often a prominent or fl attened forehead is visible. Plagiocephaly exhibits a variety of different head shapes, including fl attening on one side of the back of the head with an asymmetric forehead and brachycephalic head shapes that are fl at across the entire back of the head with very prominent foreheads.

There are certain signs that may indicate that your infant needs a cranial remolding orthosis. However, please keep in mind that some degree of asymmetry in the skull is normal for everyone, so it is

actually the magnitude of the asymmetry that indicates whether treatment with a cranial remolding orthosis is warranted. If you recognize that your infant’s face is not symmetrical, their head is higher or wider than normal, or that there is fl atness on the back side of their head, you may want to visit your physician for further assessment.

HOW DO CRANIAL REMOLDING ORTHOSES WORK?The cranial remolding orthosis treatment program focuses on redirecting cranial growth toward greater symmetry. This is accomplished by maintaining contact through a custom-fi t cranial helmet over the prominent areas of the head, and allowing room for growth in the areas of fl attening.

WHAT IS THE IDEAL AGE FOR CRANIAL REMOLDING ORTHOSIS TREATMENT?The best age for treatment is between 3 and 9 months when the skull is still growing at a fast rate. However, cranial remolding orthoses can be used successfully between 3 and 18 months of age.

HOW IS A CRANIAL HELMET MADE FOR MY CHILD?North Texas Regional O&P uses the non-invasive STARscanner for cranial helmets.

BY TAMMY WIMBISH

CRANIAL REMODELING

MEDICAL



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THE BENEFITS OF THE STARSCANNER:• The open-ended scanner creates a

scan that is proven safe and take less than two seconds to complete

• Three-dimensional images of the baby’s head shape can be obtained

• No messy traditional plaster casting is necessary

• Technologically advanced scans are recorded for patients, parents and physicians to monitor changes in the patient’s cranium

• The state-of-the-art software creates printable scanned cranial records of the patient’s head and measurements provide insurance companies with needed information to make a more objective decision on whether to cover these needed devices

• A quicker turn-around time allows earlier treatment and improves initial fit and function of the cranial orthosis

ONCE MY CHILD IS SEEN BY NORTH TEXAS REGIONAL, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET MY CHILD’S CRANIAL REMOLDING ORTHOSIS?Ideally, your child will be fit with a starband cranial remolding orthosis within eight to 10 days of the scanning date to ensure proper fit and function. Since most insurance companies require approval prior to initiating orthotic treatment, it is important for the family and/or the orthotic facility to obtain this prior approval with an initial scan of the infant. Delays related to insurance coverage can be lengthy and frustrating because success in treatment is time sensitive and can have an impact on treatment results. We at North Texas Regional will work diligently to have your insurance company understand the need for this device in a timely manner.

HOW OFTEN WILL MY INFANT NEED TO SEE THE ORTHOTIST FOR FOLLOW-UP AND/OR ADJUSTMENTS?Frequency of follow-up visits usually depends on the severity of the initial head shape, age of the infant, and individual treatment protocols. Typically, the infant is seen at two-week intervals

for the first two follow-up appointments. After the caregivers are comfortable with the treatment, we then go to a two-week or longer follow-up schedule for the duration of treatment. Younger infants may require more frequent follow up appointments since their heads are growing so rapidly—another benefit of being close to home.

HOW LONG WILL THE CRANIAL REMOLDING ORTHOSIS TREATMENT PROGRAM LAST?The average treatment program lasts about four months, with younger infants typically completing treatment sooner than older infants. Other factors such as severity of head shape, consistency of wear and individual growth patterns of the infant affect the length of time for treatment. Your orthotist can best estimate the length of time necessary for completing the treatment program after the first evaluation.

WILL MY INSURANCE COVER STARBAND CRANIAL REMOLDING ORTHOSES?North Texas Regional is in contract with most major insurances, including Medicaid. This is an added benefit, as other cranial remolding offices are not in-network with insurances, and patients are asked to pay cash for the remolding device. Insurance companies and state plans have different criteria for coverage depending on the type of plan and premiums paid. All of these plans require extensive documentation to process the claims, including the prescription and a letter of medical necessity from the referring physician, proof that repositioning techniques were not successful in correcting the infant’s head shape. Additional information, such as specific measurements and clinical photographs, may also be required. This is where the computer-generated scan is very effective in getting approval for the cranial helmet, as they are verifiable evidence of the need.

WHAT PATIENTS’ PARENTS ARE SAYING?As for Ovilla resident Rachel White, she was very excited to know North

Texas Regional offered this service, for her daughter Jaclyn, whose physician referred her to get a cranial helmet. “I was not looking forward to the long commute to North Dallas every two weeks for follow-up visits for my daughter,” Rachel said. “Knowing there was a location right here within 15 minutes of my house was a great relief, and when I met the staff at North Texas Regional, I knew they had the utmost concern for my daughter and we felt they truly listened to our concerns and did not rush us through the door. The scan was so fast and easy, and we were so thrilled that our insurance would cover most of the device.”

North Texas Regional also offers several specialties, such as prosthetic devices, custom bracing and diabetic footwear as well.

Come see why this “state of the art technology” is so exciting to have right here in Ellis County. Ask your physician for a referral today, the consultation is FREE! For more information call 972.923.2285 or visit www.northtexasprosthetics.com.

Tammy Wimbish is the business manager at North Texas Regional Orthotics & Prosthetics.

DEFORMATIONAL PLAGIOCEPHALY is characterized by unusual flattening of an infant’s head and often a prominent or flattened forehead is visible.

MEDICAL



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MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S MOTHER NATURE’S

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BY MATT MUNCHRATH

As we look back at 2011 and look forward to 2012, the new year provides us all with renewed hope and desire for a healthy and prosperous life. While the previous two months are usually fi lled with warm memories and joy, it’s those same two months that barrage our bodies with waste. Ailments like arthritis, diabetes, constipation, obesity and many others come alive!

With the increases in artifi cially colored, fl avored, preserved and processed foods that are eaten, the realization comes that we were hurting our bodies. Fortunately, help is just a body detox away!

The main goal in detoxifying is to keep the bloodstream as clean as possible. When blood carries toxic material, it can cause a wide variety of problems large and small.

Your body is constantly working to detoxify and cleanse itself of waste like metabolic debris and toxic material we bring in through diet, air intake and skin absorption. Several bodily processes work together to break down and eliminate particles and waste. From the digestive system to the liver, many organs play an integral part in this extremely important process.

The digestive system breaks down foods and liquids so they can transfer through intestinal walls into the bloodstream. As toxins in the bloodstream circulate through the liver, it performs several steps to cleanse the blood and get rid of unnecessary waste. But the

liver can become overwhelmed with toxic material and become sluggish and unable to eliminate wastes properly.

This means that toxins may remain in cells circulating in the bloodstream. As cells divide and create new cells, the excess toxins can become caught in the cells’ building material, damaging cells throughout the body and disrupting the body’s delicate internal balance.

To take some of the burden off the body’s processes, we can assist in cleansing and detoxifying ourselves with a wide variety of cleanses available. Detoxifying targets all of the organs needed for elimination to clean up the blood and help your body as a whole run more smoothly.

There are seven-, 14- and 30-day gentle cleanses available with prices in the $20 to $30 range. If your body is feeling heavy from the holidays, I encourage you to do some research and try a gentle cleanse that’s right for you!

In Good Health, Matt

Matt Munchrath is the owner of Ann’s Health Food Center and Market. Ann’s Health Food Center and Market is located at 2305 North Highway 77 in Waxahachie. You can reach Matt by calling 972.923.1400. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure.

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In searching for a new location to scuba dive and celebrate my father-in-law’s birth-day last month, we decided as a family to vacation on the largest of the United States Virgin Islands, St. Croix. Claims have been made it is the only place in the Caribbean where you can dive a wall, a reef, a wreck and a pier all in the same day. That’s all the divers in our family needed to hear, but I wasn’t sure I would like it as well as other remote destinations we tend to choose. I thought St. Croix would be a busy port, like its sister island, St. Thomas. Nothing is worse than being invaded by 2,000 tour-ists off cruise ships. Instead, St. Croix is more like the “Cinderella” of the Caribbean, be-moaning its position as the overlooked U.S. Virgin Island, sitting alone in the sea like a forgotten stepsister, while St. Thomas and St. John attract more attention.

When we arrived, I found St. Croix to be a sleepy, tropical island full of green roll-ing acres strewn with old stone sugar mills dating back 300 years. The topography is beautiful. White sand beaches, crystal clear water and luscious rain forests lie be-tween the two main towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted, where colorful build-ings established by the Danes in the 18th century surround palm-shaded courtyards fi lled with good restaurants and shopping. Although St. Croix has a number of hotels, it is not full of upscale resorts like its sister islands. However, there are plenty of private villas to rent, and that tends to be my choice for accommodations anyway.

Our villa manager, Twila Wilson, met us at the airport. We followed her into the un-spoiled, winding hills and around hairpin turns, until all that was left was a dirt road leading to the magnifi cent six-acre Clair-mont Mill Estate. The fi ve-bedroom luxury villa is built around one of the island’s old

sugar mills, which houses the gourmet kitchen and serves as the heart of the home. Twila purchased the plantation more than 30 years ago. As a top interior designer, she has rebuilt several times when hurricanes swept all but the stone chimney away. Ap-proaching each renovation as an interesting challenge rather than a devastating blow paid off when her home graced the cover of Architectural Digest, showing off her pas-sion and talent for such a unique property. She has since sold the estate, but continues to serve as tour guide, concierge and instant friend. She even picked up a bunch of live lobsters for us one night and joined us as my husband, Andrew, grilled steaks and lobster over coconut husks under a full moon.

I loved staying at Clairmont Mill. It is a sanctuary where I immediately felt at home. Filled with antiques and treasures Twila has collected around the world, my family had trouble getting me to leave and explore the island. I was perfectly happy waking up in my huge four-poster West Indies bed and spending hours in the cobalt-tiled infi n-ity pool pondering how I could live in the tropics full time. On clear nights I would smile as I watched the steady stream of cruise ships sailing out of the St. Thomas port forty miles away.

When I did venture out, St. Croix had plenty to offer. From the west end’s hilly rain forest, to the east end’s high bluffs and arid land-scape, there is something new to explore around each bend. Our villa was closest to the North Shore, where you can dive dra-matic reef walls just minutes from the beach. We also enjoyed casual dining at a gourmet

burger joint called Eat and delicious fi sh tacos down the road at Rowdy Joe’s. The drive along the North Shore takes you past awesome views of the ocean on one side, the rainforest on the other, and an occa-sional stop for a herd of goats to cross the road. Ultimately the twisting lane leads to the exotic Carambola Beach Resort, where a day at their spa will make you forget the work waiting for you back home.

We spent our last day of vacation sailing on a 37-foot trimaran owned by the island’s legendary Llewellyn Westerman. Leaving from Teaque Bay, Captain Llew and his brother Glew have been hoisting sails for more than 50 years. Both men, now in their 70s, sprint from bow to stern like teenag-ers, dropping anchor in the pristine waters so guests can snorkel or swim to shore at the uninhabited Buck Island National monu-ment. If you sweet talk ole Llew, he will give you one of his CDs. When he isn’t sailing, you can fi nd him crooning Calypso tunes at restaurants and bars on the island.

Our week on St. Croix went by way too fast. I don’t understand why this unpretentious piece of paradise doesn’t get its proper accolades. Soon I predict this Cinderella Island will be dancing at the ball, while her sister islands look across the water, envious of her newfound popularity.

Cindy Burch

CINDY BURCH

THE CARIBBEAN

CLAIRMONT MILL ESTATE

Cindy Burch, and her husband, Andrew, own and operate The Doves Nest Restaurant & Cindy Burch, and her husband, Andrew, own and operate The Doves Nest Restaurant & Cindy Burch, and her husband, Andrew, own and operate The Doves Nest Restaurant & Cindy Burch, and her husband, Andrew, own and operate The Doves Nest Restaurant & Cindy Burch, and her husband, Andrew, own and operate The Doves Nest Restaurant & Gifts in historic downtown Waxahachie. Cindy is a freelance writer, caterer and consultant. Gifts in historic downtown Waxahachie. Cindy is a freelance writer, caterer and consultant. Gifts in historic downtown Waxahachie. Cindy is a freelance writer, caterer and consultant.

Her award winning cookbook, “The Doves Nest Restaurant: New American Recipes From A Her award winning cookbook, “The Doves Nest Restaurant: New American Recipes From A Her award winning cookbook, “The Doves Nest Restaurant: New American Recipes From A Historic Texas Town,” has sold more than 30,000 copies.


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January 2012 Ellis County Living Magazine

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Transcript of January 2012 Ellis County Living Magazine