Contents ON THE COVER: Michelle Doubet Photo Credit: Erica Hernandez Media
Serving the Community of Towne Lake
8 12 8 Resident Profile: Michelle Doubet 12 Holiday Guide to Cypress Eateries 14 Wishing You a Peaceful Holiday Season
6 November | December 2023
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PINPOINTE RESIDENT PROFILE
Michelle Doubet About my business: Every home tells a story about the people living in it. As a little girl, the first 10 years of my life were spent in a very poor neighborhood – my bed was a small, foam mattress on the floor of my grandparents’ room. Fast-forward to today as an owner of an Interior Design Studio in Cypress, Texas, it was that experience that left a strong imprint in my mind about how important it is to create a life you love as well have a space that reflects who you are. My entire life has been a training ground for creating bliss right in the middle of the chaos so even if you are surrounded by toys, dogs and smelly shoes, I can help you! My signature style is combining modern with timeless elements
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as well as using color and texture to create an interesting story. I’m drawn to exploring movement in natural stones with pops of metallics on walls, hardware or lighting. My biggest inspirations come from nature and swanky, hotel lounges. Current projects: I was recently at the Houston Fall Home & Garden show as a panel expert for kitchen and bath design and have current projects in Towne Lake and the Woodlands. About my family: I was a single mom when my husband, Spencer, and I met at a Halloween party 8 years ago. He was Wolverine and I was Emma Frost so he asked for a photo together and had me text it to him. His smooth move worked. Although he didn’t have children of his own, he turned out to be the
Preparing Your Home For Holiday Guests By Michelle Doubet Having guests over for the holidays? Getting your home ready for the holidays can be stressful, but planning ahead can be incredibly liberating. Here are some host-friendly tips that can help you and your loved ones to have a smoother and more enjoyable experience. perfect fit as a Bonus Dad and Papa. I have two older children, Maeghan and Aaron, who are both married. Maeghan and her husband, Sam, live in Buda, Texas and are parents to the most amazing grandsons, Jack and William. Aaron and his wife, Kaelea have two adorable dogs and live in Spring, TX. Currently at home with us are my youngest son, Ashton, and our 3 rescue dogs, Sammy, Cha-Cha and Zoey. Ashton is a junior at CyRanch HS and is on the wrestling team. He plans on attending Texas A&M after he graduates in 2025.
1. Clean and Declutter: Start by giving your home a thorough cleaning and decluttering. A tidy space is welcoming and will make your guests feel comfortable. 2. Decorate: Embrace the holiday spirit with decorations that suit the occasion. Festive wreaths, twinkling lights, and seasonal accents can add a warm and inviting atmosphere. 3. Guest Bedroom: Ensure the space your guests will be staying in is cozy and well-prepared. Fresh linens, extra pillows and blankets, and some thoughtful touches like a vase of flowers or a small welcome note go a long way.
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4. Bathroom Essentials: Stock the guest bathroom with essentials like clean towels, toiletries, and some festive hand soap. 5. Ambiance: Set the mood with scented candles or diffusers for a pleasant aroma. Soft, ambient lighting can also create a warm and inviting atmosphere. 6. Entertainment: Provide options like books, magazines, or board games for downtime. 7. Kitchen Readiness: Make sure your kitchen is well-equipped for hosting. Stock up on food and drinks, and ensure you have all the necessary cookware and utensils. 8. Safety: Ensure your home is safe for guests. Clear walkways of any tripping hazards and check that smoke detectors are working. If you have a pool, follow pool safety guidelines for guests of all ages. 9. Personal Touches: Consider your guests’ preferences. If they have dietary restrictions or specific needs, accommodate them as best you can. 10. Communication: Let your guests know important details, such as how to operate appliances or the Wi-Fi password. Clear communication can make their stay more comfortable. 11. Privacy: Respect your guests’ privacy and give them space when needed. It’s also helpful to provide them with spare keys if they’ll be coming and going independently. 12. Plan Activities: Depending on the duration of their stay, plan some holiday activities or outings that your guests can enjoy.
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Lastly, remember to take care of yourself and enjoy the holiday season as well. Your positive energy will contribute to a great experience for both you and your guests.
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Holiday Guide
The Best of Cy-Fair P L A C E S T O E AT
Cypress Eateries
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Story & Photos by Metta Archilla-Ishida
f you are visiting our fabulous community for the holidays, or if you live local and just want a refresher list, here is my Top 10 Guide of Cypress Eateries:
1. If you are seeking an upscale environment with elegance and class, my top two picks would be for Salt & Sugar Gastro Bar, (16010 West Rd), and Passerella, (945 Barker Cypress Rd #122). Both offer stunning surroundings with Executive Chefs that are vested in the finer details of your food journey. 2. Equally fun with a casual atmosphere, I would include d’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro, (25202 Northwest Fwy Ste 100), and The Union Kitchen Boardwalk, (9955 Barker Cypress Rd Suite#104). Fantastic food offerings with a comparable wine variety to create a perfect dinner pairing.
Steak Dinner - Salt & Sugar
3. What about a place with bold action, lots of laughs, and live music? I’d most definitely recommend you seek out
Chicken Piccata - - Passerella
Andy’s Bar & Grill, (27200 US-290 Ste 160), or Creekwood Grill (12710 Telge Rd,). Libations and a cheer of a good time. 4. Interested in a delightful menu of breakfast offerings to bring a relaxed start to your day? Head on over to Café Marrese, (11729 Spring Cypress Rd), or just down the way to Sizzle & Brew, (16949 N Eldridge Pkwy #700). But don’t discount the deliciousness at Hannah’s Café, (25282 Skinner Rd), and Just Love Coffee Café, (13727 Sunset Canyon Dr). Cypress does breakfast really well and if you are an avocado toast fan like me, then these spots will surely please.
5. Feeling frisky for brunch? First Watch, (28902 Northwest Fwy Ste. J10) and Seasons Harvest Café, (17303 Shaw Rd),
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offer two of many great brunches around town. Seasons Harvest Café takes a holistic approach on all natural, locally sourced ingredients, while First Watch is a healthy alternative that offers big flavors and milliondollar bacon. But it's the craft cocktails that will suck you in to stay awhile. 6. Speaking of coffee, there are so many clever spots around town to explore! You could pick a different small local mom and pop shop every day of the week and not hit the same one twice. My personal favorites are Plum Coffee Shop, (11688 Barker Cypress Rd #A2), located just off of Barker Cypress and 290 and Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee & Bakery, (9935 Barker Cypress Rd Suite 130). We all need to recharge and refuel, so stop by and say hi. You can certainly grab a bite of breakfast or pastry, too. 7. Nothing wrong with the deliciousness of sushi or sashimi during the holidays; the best can be found at Yokohamaya, (27200 US290 #150), and Edojin Sushi Restaurant, (12344 Barker Cypress Rd #210). Great Ramen and fantastic creative starters!
Avocado Toast - Cafe Marrese
Mexican Hot Chocolate - Plum Coffee
8. If you’re looking for a roll up your sleeves and kick off your boots kind of casual atmosphere, then head on Bang Bang Shrimp - The Union Kitchen over to The Frio Grill – Hill Country Grill & The Barn, (16410 Mueschke Rd,) or check out Local Table, (Lakeland Village Center, 10535 Fry Rd Ste 100) with Local Bar just across the way. 9. We all have a sweet tooth to satisfy; mine takes me over to the Copper Kettle Chocolate Factory, (15014 Spring Cypress Rd Suite 145), or Sleek Creperie & Café ,(28610 US-290 STE F-02). Y’all are encouraged to allow the kid in you to freely enjoy all ya want. Truffles, chocolates, and sugar. Oh, My! 10. And last in my Cypress tour of recommended eateries is a fanfare of Mexican flavors. My favorites for the Cypress area include Juanita’s Mexican Kitchen,(29110 US-290 Suite 500), La Viva Cantina, (29040 Northwest Fwy Suite A15), and Rita’s Cantina Mexican Kitchen, (32015 TX-249 #100). Trust me when I say this is a pinch of a few grains of salt amongst hundreds of fantastic eateries that Cypress houses. This is simply a high-level guide for those visiting family and friends for the holidays that may ask that impossible question, “Where do we eat?” For an all-inclusive list of fantastic eateries around this community, join Metta’s Local Eats Facebook food group for instant guidance and an interactive consult of where to go and what to do in Cypress, Texas. PinPointe Magazine
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Wishing You A Peaceful Holiday Season T by Liz Arrington
here’s a meme that has been circulating online for several years, usually shared by parents at the beginning of the school year or around September. In a nutshell it says, “It’s September, which means Halloween is just around the corner. Time to thaw out the turkey, and start shopping for Christmas presents. Happy New Year everyone!” Every time is see it I have to laugh to quiet the creeping dread that comes with this reminder that the last few months of the year really are a marathon!
Year after year, it feels like my family is racing through the highlights of each season. Hardly pausing to take a breath before moving on to the next stage of planning. Being out in the stores doesn’t help to calm that sense of panic, with products for the next major holiday stacking the shelves before I’ve had time to prepare for the one right in front of me. Each year I tell myself “I’ll do it better this time” I’ll be more intentional, I’ll plan ahead better, I’ll start in September so I’m a calmer, happier person in December. Yet, year after year, it’s the same race to the finish line. I’m beginning to realize that the hurried, frantic, feelings that settle around me during the months leading up to the end of the year actually have little to do with planning ahead. This chaotic feeling comes from a lack of peace in the process. I know I’m not alone in this, but my solution of doing MORE actually contributes to the feeling that I’m not doing enough. It leads to a level of multi-tasking that is unsustainable and leads to burn out so quickly. Above all, it sucks the joy right out of the season. When I’m scrambling to stay ahead of the chaos, worrying about all the details and requirements for everyone around me, I stop taking care of my own needs. This endless loop of self-sacrifice, something mothers know all too well, is the real problem here. 14 November | December 2023
It’s not the stores with their Christmas decorations up before Halloween. Not the schools with their added events and endless spirit days. This year, I’m choosing to take control of protecting my own peace. I’ve made a little list for myself, and I’m sharing it here so everyone in NW Cypress can hold me accountable, or maybe do this with me?
Eight Ways to Protect My Peace 1. Set timers for necessary tasks 2. Focus on what I can control and what my priorities are 3. Do something just for me every day, allow time for what I enjoy 4. Plan the simple things first 5. Spend less time on social media apps 6. Slow down, pause, and breathe before reacting 7. Stay mindful and present in a moment 8. Keep it simple, done is better than perfect! This is just a sample of eight ways I’m trying to protect my peace as the end of the year rolls out. I encourage you to build your own list, personalized to the areas that stress you out the most in your life. Maybe your list will help you create room for more rest and relaxation, more self-reflection, more music, or more quality time with the people that you love. Whatever it looks like, my wish for you this holiday season is more peace. You deserve to slow down and enjoy the moments as they come. We all deserve a little more peace. Liz Arrington combines her background as a professional children’s therapist with her love of music to provide early childhood music and movement classes to families of Cypress. Outdoor, Weekday, and Saturday classes available. See more at songfulbeginnings.com
Leading Medicine in
TOWNE LAKE Quality Primary Care — in Towne Lake From yearly checkups to treating chronic conditions, we look forward to partnering with you in your care — in person or virtually. Our expertise includes: • • • •
Acute and chronic care Diabetes management High blood pressure High cholesterol
• Preventive care • Routine immunizations • Thyroid concerns
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HOUSTON METHODIST PRIMARY CARE GROUP IN TOWNE LAKE
BARKE R CYP ES R S R D.
Our team of board-certified family and internal medicine providers is proud to offer quality care in Towne Lake.
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9915 Barker Cypress Rd., Building 5, Suite 200 Cypress, TX 77433
Schedule online at houstonmethodist.org/pcg/towne-lake or call 713.394.6638.
16 November | December 2023