Life in Castle Hills Magazine December 2018

ARE YOU NAUGHTY

OR NICE?

DEFYING HOLIDAY

WEIGHT GAIN

HOLIDAY STRESS GETTING TO YOU?

DECEMBER 14, 2018 - JANUARY 18, 2019

RESTORE.

RELAX.

REJUVENATE. SEE OUR AD ON

17

PG

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEWISVILLE, TX PERMIT NO. 977

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 3

ELF On The

SHELF

Photos were submitted by area residents. If you’d like to submit your photos for publication or if you have any questions please email us at artwork@murray-media.com.

4 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 5

CastleHillsMagazine.com

Publisher & Editor Scott & Kelly Murray

Administration

Managing Editor Jana Melton Sub-Editors Bobbi Byrne Emily Mitchell

Writers & Editor

Steve Gamel Susan Neuhalfen Barbara Scott-Kolb

Advertising Manager

Lizzy Hoffman 972.900.7302 lizzy@murray-media.com

Production

Art Director Liz Wallace Graphic Designers Caroline Brock Alyson Modene

Photography

Guy T Photography 469.500.5657 WhatsThatGuysName.com

Letters

OUT WITH 2018

&

IN WITH

2019 T he holiday season is in full swing, and 2019 is fast approaching where did the time go? It seems

like just yesterday we were sending the kiddos back to school in triple-digit temperatures, and I can remember

ringing in 2018 with family and friends

like it happened last week. They say time

Life in Castle Hills invites reader

flies when you’re having fun and, while

and general comments.

favorite thing to look back on are all of

feedback, story suggestions

Email artwork@murray-media.com.

All submissions become the sole property of

Murray Media Group.

Editorial and Advertising Inquiries Call 972.899.3637

or email artwork@murray-media.com www.Murray-Media.com

Address: 3513 Yucca Dr., Ste. 200 Flower Mound, TX 75028

Life in Castle Hills is published monthly

by Murray Media Group. Some articles and/or content may be sponsored by advertisers. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Life in Castle Hills is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and its agencies assume all liability for advertising content. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the permission in writing from the publisher. © 2018 Murray Media Group

Enjoy your family, cherish your friends, always be kind, laugh often, and make the best of the bad days.

I’d be willing to bet that you still learned

That’s what I love about life – you never know what the next day is going to bring (or in this case, the next year) and often the unexpected challenges are the ones that help us grow the most. So we’ll make our resolutions, and we’ll try to keep them longer than a month, but we should also remember not to be too hard on ourselves and instead take life as it comes. Enjoy your family, cherish your friends, always be kind, laugh often, and make the best of the bad days.

this year. I know I did.

Happy Holidays & Cheers to 2019!

I definitely had a lot of fun this year, my the things I learned and all of the challenges I overcame.

As we start to ponder on New Year’s

resolutions and how we’re going to make 2019 better than the last, I urge you all to reflect on 2018 – the good, the bad,

and the ugly. Regardless of whether you

nailed every one of your 2018 resolutions, and grew in ways that you never expected

Sincerely, Kelly Murray

Publisher of Murray Media Group kelly@murray-media.com

6 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

17

On the Cover is: Stephanie Sewell of Massage Life Center, The Colony

FEATURED: RELAX.

RESTORE. REJUVENATE.

ASK THE EXPERTS 18 Organizing with Cloud Nine Organizing 20 Lewisville Corner with The Lewisville Chamber 22 Reading with The Reading Ranch Tutorial Center 28 Edit This with Steve Gamel

PHOTOS FROM CASTLE HILLS

24 EDITORS PICK: Tips For

Defying Holiday Weight Gain

10 Foodie Friday DFW with Jay Marks Real Estate 12 Inside Community 13

Inside Education

14 6 Easy-To-Do Tips for New Year’s Resolutions 16 Holiday Stress Getting to You? 20

Stressed Caring For a Loved One?

21 Pet Spotlight

04 Elf on The Shelf

21 Sheriff’s Corner with Sheriff Tracy Murphree

20 You Submit, We Print

23 Pet Adoption

ARTICLES

26 Heron Early Signing Period 2018

08 Are You Naughty or Nice?

26 Holiday Worship Services

THIS MONTH: We’re focusing on New Year’s resolutions. Look for the icon to find out organizational tips and new healthy lifesyle habits for the upcoming new year.

30 Castle Hills Native Wins Prestigious Business Award 30 Hebron Wide Receiver Named All-American DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 7

ARE YOU

HONEY BUTTER FRIED CHICKEN 4 servings | 574 cal/serving INGREDIENTS: 1/4 c.

All Purpose Flour

SPICES:

6 tbsp Honey

1 tbsp Smoked Paprika

1/2 c.

Milk

14 oz.

Boneless Chicken Breast

24 Club Crackers

2 tbsp Garlic Powder

2 tsp Salt

1 tbsp Corn starch 1 tsp Ground Pepper

In a ziplock bag pound crackers into crumbs and mix with the flour, spices and cornstarch.

Boil vegetable oil on stove at medium high heat.

photos and recipes by Brandon Groppi

3 Eggs

DIRECTIONS: Mix eggs and milk together in a bowl.

Take chicken breast and coat them in the flour mix, egg wash and back into flour mix until fully coated.

Place them in the vegetable oil and cook on each side till golden brown.

Honey Butter (optional)

Microwave butter for 15 sec. and whisk with honey until emulsified. Place on top of finished chicken while hot.

DIRTY GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE 6 servings | 400 cal/serving INGREDIENTS: 16 oz.

Ground Beef

5 oz Smoked Gouda Cheese

1 tbsp Soy Sauce

1/4 c.

White Onion 1 tbsp Heavy Whipping Cream

1 can Green Beans

1/2 c.

White Button Mushrooms

SPICES:

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 tbsp Garlic Powder

1 tbsp Parsley

16 Slices Bacon

1 tsp Black Pepper

1 tsp Salt

DIRECTIONS: In skillet at medium heat cook ground beef, mushrooms, spices & soy sauce.

Preheat oven to 400° F. Cook bacon till slightly burnt. Crumble.

Turn oven to 375° F. Mix beans, mushroom soup, beef and heavy whipping cream in greased baking dish. Cook for 25 mins. Last 5 mins add crumbled bacon. Take out and sprinkle cheese. Let sit until cheese melts.

8 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

HEALTHY PANKO BREADED CHICKEN INGREDIENTS: 2 Eggs

1 c.

Panko Bread Crumbs

16 oz.

Chicken Tenderloins

SPICES:

2 servings | 382 cal/serving

1 tbsp Smoked Paprika

1 tbsp Garlic Powder

1 tbsp Salt

1 tsp Ground Pepper

6 servings | 139 cal/serving INGREDIENTS:

Directions: Preheat oven to 375° F. Mix panko bread crumbs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt and ground pepper in a bowl. In separate bowl beat eggs.

Coat tenderloins in egg wash first then dip into the panko mixture.

Place coated tenderloins on a foil covered baking sheet and cook for 40 minutes in the oven.

NAU G

LIGHT GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

1/2 c.

White Button Mushrooms

1 can 16 Slices Green Turkey Beans Bacon

1/4 c.

White Onion

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup SPICES: 1 tbsp Garlic Powder

1 tbsp Parsley

1 tsp Black Pepper

1 tsp Salt

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 400° F. Cook bacon till slightly burnt. Crumble bacon.

Turn oven to 375° F. Mix beans, mushroom soup, mushrooms, onions and spices in greased baking dish.

H

CE NI

TY

Cook for 25 min. Last 5 mins add bacon.

CRACK AND CHEESE: 8 servings | 1,001 cal/serving INGREDIENTS: 1/2 c.

Butter

1/4 c.

All Purpose Flour

3 c.

Whole Milk

2 c.

1 c.

Panko Bread Crubs

4 c. Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

8 Slices Provolone cheese

Mozzarella Cheese

1 tbsp Corn starch SPICES:

1 lb Mac & Cheese

1 c.

Sour Cream

1 tbsp Onion Powder

1c. & 12oz Evaporated Milk

1 tbsp Mustard

1 tbsp Parsley

1 tsp Black Pepper

1 tbsp Garlic Powder

DIRECTIONS: Cook pasta al dente according to package. Strain & rinse with cold water. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease 9”x13” baking dish.

TIP: Don’t stop whisking EVER Melt 4 tbsps of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in flour. Cook for 2 min. Turn heat to low, add milk, cornstarch, Dijon mustard then all spices.

Turn heat to medium until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce the heat. Once thick remove from heat and add in sharp cheddar cheese until fully melted.

Add pasta and toss.

Pour half of mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Next layer the provolone cheese then sour cream. Pour remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle 1 cup of Mozzarella cheese on top.

OPTIONAL Topping: Sprinkle the panko topping

evenly across the dish. Bake 25-30 minutes or until bubbly. Let dish cool for 10 minutes. Serve.

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 9

Foodie Friday DFW: Hillside Fine Grill

HILLSIDE

FINE GRILL

R

esidents of Highland Village and the surrounding areas anxiously awaited the Grand Opening of Hillside Fine Grill this fall. Located in the former Applebee’s location, Managing Partner, Rick Valley, and his team completely transformed the space to provide a contemporary yet comfortable restaurant right here in Highland Village for local residents to enjoy.

The goal was to make it so that residents no longer felt like they had to travel to Uptown or Southlake for a delicious,

dishes. All of which we’ve heard fantastic things about and look incredible.

To pair with your meal, Hillside Fine Grill also houses an incredible bar and wine selection.

At the bar, you can order We had a sample of some of their ribs and one of their cocktails including their Blood those slow-smoked Orange Margarita or ribs literally fall right their famous Hillside Martini made with Tito’s, off the bone.

Cointreau, Blood Orange, Lime and a shot of Sprite.

contemporary restaurant experience.

That’s exactly what has happened, and our

community has received

them with open arms and TONS of support!

We were there at 2 p.m.

on a Wednesday to chat with Rick, and the place

was absolutely packed the

entire time we were there. Everything from birthday lunches to business meetings to people just quickly grabbing a drink and something to eat at the bar.

Hillside’s menu has something for

everyone. There are lots of fresh seafood options including their Salmon, Quinoa & Kale Salad, and their Fresh Ruby Red

Trout garnished with grilled Gulf shrimp.

We believe the success and adoration of Hillside Fine Grill can best be summarized by this Yelp review from Angie D: “We will make this a future date night spot, family night spot, out to lunch spot, you name it! Don’t wait to try Hillside, go now and see for yourself!”

972.317.9711

www.hillsidefinegrill.com

3140 FM 407 | Highland Village, TX 75077

We learned that all of their seafood is wild, not farmed, which just makes it all taste so much better.

They also offer a fantastic selection of

steaks and ribs. We had a sample of some of their ribs and those slow-smoked ribs literally fall right off the bone.

You’ll also find hamburgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, and even some pasta

10 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

972.724.2540 | JayMarksRealEstate.com jay@jaymarksrealestate.com 1013 Long Prairie Rd., Ste. 102 | Flower Mound, TX 75022

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 11

INSIDE COMMUNITY TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR HOLIDAY PACKAGES

Purchasing gifts online is incredibly convenient but leaving packages in plain sight

lures holiday thieves. Here are 3 easy tips to keep your packages safe. Use Amazon

Locker for all your Amazon deliveries. Simply select the locker closest to you, add it

to your address book, select the locker location when you order and use the pickup code to open the locker. You can also choose to have your packages delivered to

your work address since there is usually someone there to receive them. Lastly when placing an online order, include special delivery instructions like leaving it behind a shrub or a cleverly placed pot.

THE BOHO MARKET AT THE SHACKS Are you the type of person to wait until the last minute to purchase a gift? Well don’t worry because the Shacks at Austin Ranch in The Colony is having a Boho Market on December 20th from 6-9 p.m. The Boho Market will have local makers, artists and small business owners for you to shop handmade, vintage and fair trade gifts. You can also enjoy great food and drinks. The Shacks at Austin Ranch is six small restaurant spaces that share a large open-air patio overlooking a public one-acre dog park so you can even bring Fido for some holiday fun.

DALLAS FASHION WEEK IN CARROLLTON

GRAND OL’ CHRISTMAS SHOW AT MCL GRAND

Want to know what the newest trends in fashion are but don’t feel like traveling all the way to New York? You’re in Luck! Dallas Fashion week is January 3-6, 2019 and will be hosted at the Courtyard Marriott in Carrollton. Enjoy the fashion experience that is transforming the industry with the leading fashion designers, entertainment, and production all under one roof for an unforgettable experience! Guests have the opportunity to interact with Fashion Designers personally through our VIP opportunities as well as our Pop Up Shops. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.

Take your visiting family out for some family holiday fun at

12 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

the MCL Grand Theater in Lewisville. On Saturday December 22nd at 4 p.m. & 8 p.m., the theater will have their Grand Ol’ Christmas Show which is a live musical variety show with Christmas classics and original slapstick antics. This staged production is performed “within the studio” of a live 1940s radio show and broadcasted on the 1225 AM, N-O-E-L radio network. The show is appropriate for all ages and tickets can be purchased online a mclgrand.tix.com

INSIDE EDUCATION CH ELEMENTARY WINTER PARTY Castle Hills Elementary school will be hosting their winter parties and would like to invite parents to join their tots. The schedule is as follows: Kindergarten 11:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m., First grade 1:002:00pm, Second 12:45-1:45 p.m., Third 1:45-2:45 p.m., Fourth 1:302:30 p.m. and Fifth 1:50-2:50 p.m. They do request that younger siblings are left at home This fun event is hosted by the Castle Hills Elementary PTA.

Support your High School Choir by joining them for the winter

concert on Tuesday December 18th at 7p.m. in the High School

Early Release Day! December 21

Auditorium. The Hebron High School Choral Department consists of approximately 200 students in four performing choirs:

Boys Basketball Cougar Classic Dec. 27-28 Home Game

A Cappella Choir, Belle Chanson, Concert Choir and Harmony!

Show Choir. The event is one of the highlights of the year as it features beautiful holiday songs. The event is free so be sure

photo courtesy of Pam Parham, HHS Theatre

photo courtesy of ourtesy of Deanna Buffington

to join them.

HEBRON

NEWSIES THE MUSICAL AT HEBRON

THE COLONY BAND WINTER CONCERT

Hebron High School will be presenting:

Come out and support The Colony High

Award-winning Broadway phenomenon

December 18th. The concert will feature

in the school’s auditorium next year on January 19, 24,25, 26 at 7p.m. and a

Sunday matinée on January 20 at 2p.m.

Tickets may be purchased in advanced at

hebrontheatre.com or at the door. Premium

reserved seats are $20 and regular reserved seats are $15.

EVENTS

Girls & Boys Basketball Dec. 18. vs Denton High Away Game

HEBRON CHOIR WINTER CONCERT

Disney’s Newsies The Musical - the Tony

THE COLONY

EVENTS

Boys Basketball Dec. 18 at 8p.m. vs Flower Mound High Away Game

School Band at their winter concert on

a full orchestra where 140 students will

This is a free event that begins at 7p.m.

Rotary Breakfast & Student of The Month Dec. 20 at 7a.m.

Visit www.tchsband.com/ for additional

Early Release Day! December 21

perform. Experience some holiday music

along with their full musical arrangement.

Want to support them even more? sponsorship opportunities

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 13

New Year’s Article

O D

S IP

T

s

n o luti

so e ’s R

9 1 r u O o 0 Y T n 2 w O Y o N T S I A r

ea Y w Ne

l me

a eG tev

S by

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MAKE SURE YOUR

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

STICK

14 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

W

e are inching closer to Christmas, which means the calendar will soon flip to the New Year and everyone will break out those pie-in-the-sky resolutions.

Sadly, very few of us will follow through.

Wow; talk about a Debbie-Downer statement to usher in 2019, right? But you and your friends here at Murray Media all know it to be true. While New Year’s resolutions are a great way to make a positive change in your life, whether it’s finally getting organized, losing a few extra pounds before next summer, quitting smoking, or taking the plunge and starting a new business, most reputable statistics show that 92 percent of all resolutions will fail by February.

That means only eight percent of us will attain whatever goal it is we set.

To make sure your New Year’s Resolutions stick, here are six tips to follow. At the end of the day, your friends here at MMG want to see you make the most out of the rest of this year and beyond.

92 PERCENT OF ALL RESOLUTIONS

WILL FAIL BY FEBRUARY At Least Initially, Don’t Get Too Lofty With Your Goals

You may want a “sky is the limit” mentality in 2019, and we are in no position to tell you differently. But mentally, it’s easier to hit goals and stick with them longer if they are smaller at first.

For example, instead of focusing on the big target of losing 100 pounds, start with the first 25-pound mark. As you get closer to hitting that first target, then get more adventurous. Sometimes, this road merely begins by being more active today than you were yesterday.

Write Your Goals Down Writing your goals down helps make them real, which leads to accountability. But don’t just write them down and stick them in the bottom of your purse or in a junk drawer – put them on the corner of your desk at work or pin them to the front of your refrigerator door with a magnet.

Seeing your goals every day keeps them top of mind and keeps you motivated.

Keep Track of Your Progress Speaking of writing things

down, tracking your progress in a journal or on a calendar

is a great way to stay mindful

of your goals and to see what

type of progress you are making.

Find an Accountability Partner Finding that one person who will hold you

accountable every step of the way, no matter what

your resolution may be, makes keeping

the promises you made to yourself at the beginning of the year so much easier to

achieve. The best accountability partner is someone who is trying to achieve the same goal you are, or has at least been in your shoes before and succeeded.

Create Smart Goals

Remember The reasons Why You Decided to Do This

We mentioned earlier about

If one of your New Year’s

not getting too lofty with

your goal-setting. It’s equally as important to make sure your goals are Specific,

Measurable, Achievable, Results-

Focused, and Time-Bound. New Year’s resolutions have a better chance of

sticking if you are clearly defining what

you are going to do, how you are going to do it, and in how much time.

Resolutions is to quit

smoking, your reasons

for doing so may include being able to have the

energy to play with your kids in the backyard, to keep your house from

smelling bad, and just overall better

health. When you start to lose sight of

your goal, think of the reasons why you got into this to begin with.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS ARE A GREAT WAY TO MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE

Clearly, this is not an exhaustive list of tips to avoid failing at your New Year’s resolutions. What are some of the tips and tricks that have worked for you over the years? Share them with us, and let’s all help each other be a better version of ourselves in 2019.

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 15

Holiday New Year’s Article

S

T

R

E

S S

GETTING To YOU?

by Susan Neuhalfen

‘T

is the season for present-giving, New Year’s resolutions, eating, parties and, of course, family.

What should be one big happy couple of weeks can become very stressful.

Life in Castle Hills sat down with Wayne Cagle, a licensed professional counselorsupervisor at Lifeworks in Carrollton.

Mr. Cagle listed some of biggest contributing factors to holiday stress, but instead of just discussing the problems that arise, he gave solutions as to how to deal with these issues:

Having to be with family tends to be a

really big stressor for many. One may have to have Christmas dinner at her husband’s house but she hates her sister-in-law, etc.

How do you cope with family stress?

Solution:

Remind yourself that you’re not going to

see the family, you’re going to spend time with your husband and it’s important to

him. Now, pull back and think about who

else will be there. Do you hate all of them?

Chances are, you don’t. Reframe your

perception of the idea or activity; stop

focusing on the negative (i.e., your sisterin-law). The stress will not be eliminated,

If you have lost your job, see where you can cut back. Take some time and make a list of all of your expenses monthly, weekly, annually, etc. What can you do without?

will lessen the stress and make the activity

Finally, find out if there is a way to “pass” on some of the Christmas presents this year. In some families, the adults don’t exchange presents. See if that is acceptable within your family.

Problem:

LOSS OF RELATIONSHIPS

baked, it isn’t the end of the world. This

Problem: Many people lose their jobs just before the holidays and there isn’t a lot of hiring going on during the holiday season.

This causes an extra amount of stress for people during a time where more money is spent than usual.

Solution: We don’t have control over losing a job; we only have control over what we do.

Before you find yourself in this situation, take a good look at your lifestyle. If this happened, how long could you survive?

Try to take yourself out of debt and, if possible, put some money into an “untouchable” savings account now.

Solution: The good news is that with the passage of time, things get better every year.

Instead of turning that moment into grief, celebrate the person you’ve lost.

Remember the good times and start a new tradition in order to remember the best in that person. This will help everyone to cope.

16 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

Problem:

but by not focusing on the negative, you

Problem: Whether it be divorce, death, or simply the loss of a relationship, people realize that something is missing during the holidays.

With the loss, traditions change, and change is always hard. The thing is, grief doesn’t actually go away, it just changes.

Some may not even go into the grief consciously, it’s the holidays that remind them subconsciously.

LOSS OF WORK

FAMILY STRESS

easier. Many times, the things we dread

the most aren’t anywhere near as bad as we think they will be.

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION The perception that you’re a bad person if your children’s Christmas isn’t perfect is hogwash. If the tree isn’t perfectly

trimmed and the cookies aren’t perfectly isn’t a competition.

Solution:

Think back to your favorite holidays. Were they great because of a gift? Were they great because the turkey was perfectly cooked? The best gifts are memories.

Try this: let your kids decorate the tree

however they desire and leave that way.

The memory of the activity will likely

stand out longer in their memory than a perfectly trimmed tree.

The most important thing to remember,

according to Mr. Cagle, is to focus on the positive. Your expectation automatically assumes reality. Stress cannot be

completely eliminated. You have to have

stress in your life; the trick is to manage it so it doesn’t manage you.

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 17

Ask The Expert: Organizing

Organizing The

P R O C E S S

1. Take the trash out.

2. Put donation boxes in your car.

3. Relocate items to the correct rooms.

4. Make decisions on the revisit items.

It’s easy to forget what you own when you can’t see clearly through all the clutter.

Once the clutter is gone, you will have a clearer picture.

STEP 4 - SORT ALL YOUR “KEEPERS.” At this point, you should only have a keep pile hanging around. Group all like-items together. All pencils together, all t-shirts together, all random cords together, all widgets together, etc. It’s tempting to skip this step, but don’t.

Sorting will make step 5 easier.

G

etting organized is a popular New Year’s resolution. This was actually my personal New Year’s

resolution a few years ago. Once I got started, I couldn’t stop! Living decluttered, de-stressed, and simplified is now a way of life for me, and I enjoy teaching others how to do the same.

If getting organized is your 2019 resolution, I have an efficient organizing process to share with you. You can use this process with any room in your home.

I suggest starting with an area that feels

heavy or stressful to you. You know

that feeling, right? That annoying weight that you can’t exactly pinpoint, but you know it’s there.

STEP 1 - MAKE A MESS.

This sounds counterintuitive, but it’s

necessary to drag everything out and

create one big cluttered pile. It’s easier to deal with the clutter when it’s out in the

open. You may be surprised by the clutter that’s been hiding inside drawers, under beds, and inside boxes.

STEP 2 - SORT YOUR CLUTTER INTO FIVE PILES:

Relocate, revisit, trash, donate,

and keep. The relocate pile consists

of items you want to keep, but don’t

belong in that particular area. The revisit pile should be very small. These are

items you’re having a hard time making

STEP 5 - TIME TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL! This is the step we usually see on Pinterest.

This is when we get to decide how we are going to display or store everything, but keep in mind that using cute baskets and containers is not going to get you organized. Being organized is about purging and keeping like-items together in smart locations. For instance, it’s smart to store all your spices next to the stove because that is where you use them.

Getting organized is about making life more efficient and less stressful.

Stay organized all year long by putting everything where it belongs and repeat Steps 1 - 5 at least four times a year. Getting organized is such a great resolution, but staying organized is even better.

Overwhelmed? Crystal can guide you through the organizing process and create a personalized organizing plan just for you.

a decision on. Sleep on it and make a

decision tomorrow. The trash, donate, and keep piles are self-explanatory.

STEP 3 - DECLUTTER.

After you have completely sorted the clutter, it’s time to get things moving.

18 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

by Crystal Nerpel Cloud Nine Organizing Cloudnineorganizing.com

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 19

Ask The Expert: Lewisville Corner

“Havana Nights” 56th Annual Awards Gala

Lewisville Convention Center at Hilton Garden Inn | 785 TX-121 | Lewisville, TX 75067

Are you interested in becoming a 56th

of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and

questions on advertising opportunities?

Please review the award criteria and

annual Awards Gala Sponsorship or Please contact Corey Koif – corey@ lewisvillechamber.org Award Nominations

Each year the Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes its members for the outstanding work that they do

in their business and in the community.

Nominations are now open for the Citizen

Volunteer of the Year for 2018.

submit your nominations by 5pm on Friday, January 12.

Visit http://www.lewisvillechamber.org/

annual-awards-gala to view past Citizens of the Year and photos from the 2018 Annual Awards Gala

To register for tickets, please go to www.

lewisvillechamber.org/annual-awards-gala

STRESSED CARING FOR A LOVED ONE? The care you are looking for is now available in Castle Hills Community this holiday season.

During this holiday season, have you noticed a change in your loved one?

Do you need assistance with caring for your loved one? At LynnDales, we provide stress relief for the family while maintaining a sense of dignity for the care recipient. “When you need care, our care comes to you”. For any questions on services and rates, contact us at 214.457.3713 or lynndalesdfw@gmail.com 20 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

Photos were submitted by area residents. If you’d like to submit your photos for publication or if you have any questions please email us at artwork@murray-media.com.

photo and info courtesy of The Lewisville Chamber

Friday, February 8th | 7:00pm - 10:00pm| Doors Open at 6pm

photography by Kim Ortiz Photography

on m a n n i Meet C

She is a Vizsla mix, who reached a doggie milestone on Thanksgiving Day...her 17th birthday!

C

innamon’s early life wasn’t easy. She was abandoned in a shopping cart as a puppy, afflicted with various ailments and conditions.

SHERIFF ’S

CORNER T

with Sheriff Tracy Murphree

he Denton County Sheriff’s Office Professional Standards Unit consists of one Captain, a Personnel

Assistant and Administrative Assistant,

Pet Spotlight Cinnamon was adopted by Ken & Sherri Walker on Super Bowl Sunday in 2002, and diligently nursed Cinnamon back to health. Once healthy, her boundless energy and enthusiasm never ceased.

She ‘raced’ anyone who ventured into the lap pool, did her best to out-jump everyone off the diving board and tried to climb trees after squirrels.

Cinnamon was even instrumental in selecting the right house to buy in Castle Hills. She simply stationed herself in the middle of the backyard, and ‘refused’ to leave.

Nowadays, sweet Cinnamon’s activities are more befitting of her age. She patrols the yard’s perimeter deterring unwanted critters and takes long naps in front of the fire.

training, and manages the Denton County

Firearms Training Facility. The unit consists of one Lieutenant, a Training Coordinator, and one Training Deputy. Training is very

important in keeping our skills sharp. We

train mentally and physically every day to maintain the highest mindset. Nothing is

“routine” in Law Enforcement, we all want to make sure we go home to our families after our shift.

into all internal and external applicants

The Quartermaster is responsible for

Office. We are currently hiring Detention

management of uniforms, equipment, and

who apply for positions within the Sheriff’s

the acquisition, maintenance, inventory

Officers to work all shifts. Our Detention

surplus of all Sheriff’s Office personnel

and three Background Investigators.

Officer’s starting pay is $17.36 per hour

to the onboarding and out-processing of

description, requirements, and application

Personnel is the liaison between the

dentoncounty.com/sheriff.

and vehicles. The Quartermaster’s duties

Personnel handles responsibilities related

plus benefits. The Detention Officer Job

all employees within the Sheriff’s Office.

can be found on our website, www.

Sheriff’s Office and Denton County Human

Our Training Unit is responsible for

trailers. The unit consists of one Sergeant

requirements for all the agency’s 600+

employees to be outfitted with the best

maintains all training records, schedules

duties to the best of their ability.

Resources for all fleet, workers comp,

and the first report of injury paperwork.

Investigators conduct preliminary

interviews and background investigations

also include the management of the

Sheriff’s Office vehicle fleet. This fleet

includes marked and unmarked patrol

cars, trucks, boats, watercraft, ATVs and

meeting the training needs and

and one Vehicle Outfitter. We expect our

personnel. The Training Unit also

equipment so that they can perform their

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 21

Ask The Expert: Reading

TEACHING

PHONICS

I

s there anyone else out there old enough to remember the “Hooked on Phonics worked for me” commercial tagline? These educational materials are still popular and do a stellar job giving children a solid foundation of early literacy support, but there are likely many parents who dismiss the program as unnecessary.

school systems aren’t trained to teach phonics. According to an article written by APM

Reports and later published

by The Hechinger Report,

children who don’t learn to read by the end of third grade are likely to remain poor readers for the rest of their lives.

schools too often leave out a

key piece of the reading puzzle because teachers aren’t trained to teach phonics.

We’ll get back to that article in a second.

But first …

If you have a child at The Reading Ranch® Tutorial Center, you probably have heard the term phonics thrown around quite a bit. Phonics is a method of teaching

reading and writing by correlating sounds

The article goes on to point out that the starting point for reading is sound. Children must figure out how the words they are hearing and know how to speak correlate to the letters on the page.

According to experts, research indicates that phonemic awareness is the best predictor of the ease of early reading acquisition – better even than IQ, vocabulary, and listening comprehension. Phonological awareness is not only correlated with learning to read, but it is the foundational ability underlying the learning of spellingsound correspondences.

with letters or groups of letters. More

than just giving kids lots of books and

hoping that practice will make them better readers, phonics is a tool to help them hear and sound out new words.

22 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

The article states that more than 60 percent of American fourth-graders are not proficient readers, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Furthermore, children who don’t learn to read by the end of third grade are likely to remain poor readers for the rest of their lives. These are statistics we preach all the time at The Reading Ranch.

Phonics is a critical piece in reversing that trend because the brain is NOT wired to read. It is wired to speak, which And why? Well, that’s what teachers is why language is so much easier for us at school are for – to teach our kids to pick up at an early age. If your parents how to read. speak English, you will undoubtedly pick it up quickly. It’s the same thing for any It’s widely assumed that teachers have all other language. But the the answers, but believe it ability to read is an entirely or not, even the best ones Furthermore, different skillset. currently leading the charge in our private and public

Phonics is a method of teaching reading and writing by correlating sounds with letters or groups of letters.

Once beginning readers have some awareness of phonemes and their corresponding graphic representations, further reading instruction heightens their awareness of language, assisting them in developing the later stages of phonemic awareness; thus the process of learning to read begins.

by Kim Southwell, Ph.D. Founder, Owner & Director Reading Ranch Tutorial Center www.readingranch.com

photo courtesy of Gene Carey Animal Shelter and Adoption Center

PET ADOPTION Hi my name is Sunny,

I am about 1 1/2 years old. I am a very sweet, friendly gal and would love to meet you. I walk great on a leash and would make a good running buddy. Come by today and get to know me!

All of the adoptable pets at the Gene Carey Animal Shelter and Adoption Center are sterilized, up-to-date on vaccinations, tested for heartworm or FELV/FIV (if applicable) and microchipped. Their hours are 10:00-5:00 Monday thru Friday and 1:00-5:00 on Saturdays. Call for more information 972.219.3478.

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 23

New Year’s Article

TIPS FOR DEFYING

Holiday Weight Gain

by Dianna Rissell

24 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

E

very year, just before Thanksgiving, my gym hangs a poster that reads: the average person gains 5-8 lbs over the holidays. Bah Humbug!

I’ve read enough to know that this probably isn’t accurate. It seems to be one of those frequently cited stats that has “stuck”, much like old wives’ tales do. We’ve said it so often that we believe it and we forget where it came from or what it’s based on. It’s great advertising for gym memberships (and nutrition coaches!) but recent studies refute it. Yet knowing all of this only soothes the sting of that sign a little.

Because, while we can debate the ‘5-8 lbs’ – FYI it’s probably closer to 1-2 lbs -- we have to agree that weight gain over the holidays is real: we gain more weight at the holidays than at any other time of the year; most of us never successfully lose what we gain, leading to weight creep (gaining 10-20 lbs per decade); and if you are already overweight, you risk gaining more than the average and 5-8 lbs may be very real for you. The specifics of the gym sign may be misleading or inflated but it’s a Public Service Announcement!

So, in the face of the Christmas parties, family get-togethers and ‘feasts for weeks’, how do you beat the odds and survive the holidays, current healthier weight intact?

GENERAL TIPS 1

8

Lap the entire buffet table before putting any food on your plate. Check

out everything there is to eat before serving yourself. Make choices.

Be realistic. Work to maintain your current weight rather than setting unrealistic, stressful goals to lose weight.

you to stand up every 30 minutes or so.

The other sign in my gym says so.

9

Stress contributes significantly to weight gain. Be mindful of what causes you the most stress and find work arounds.

Hate shopping at a crowded mall? Use online shopping. Frazzled by doing all of the cooking? Hire a caterer. Make the holidays about bringing people together versus the best gifts or the best food at the expense of your health.

Headed out to a party?

the other stuff. Picture proteins and fresh

2

3

Respect your routine including eating breakfast, working out and getting good sleep during the holidays. If you do these things today, do your best to maintain them during the holiday.

Routines reduce stress.

4

Keep moving. It’s probably not the right time to start working out if it stresses you out. But moving throughout the day is important now and always…no gym needed. Set your watch to remind

Take a walk. Sitting is the new smoking.

5

Set a plan before you go to the party.

Are you abandoning yourself to the

full celebration, all of the food and alcohol available? You won’t if you think about it first. Amazing how this works!

6

Drink. Water. It’s filling. It will help you cut back on mindless grazing if you put

a glass in your dominant hand. And it will reduce the impact of alcohol. Alternate a

glass of water with every glass of alcohol.

Start with water. I serve ice water in a

glass pitcher with unpeeled thin slices of cucumber with whole fresh raspberries.

Go for the proteins. Chicken skewers, grilled shrimp, brisket and cheeses

are probably better choices than most of foods like veggies and fruit on 80% of

your plate to feed your hunger. A couple of bites of Grandma’s sweet potato

casserole – because she only makes it once a year and she’s 90 –and other

special holiday goodies can be on the

other 20%. Keep in mind that 95% of taste satisfaction is in the first 3 bites.

10

You do you. You decide the role food plays in your holiday and

don’t allow others to decide it for you. Be present in other ways: Praise your hosts.

Work the room. Lead the carols. Gather

It’s beautiful on the table, in your glass.

everyone for a game. We could all benefit

7

the gathering of family and friends over

Everyone will want some.

Eat before. Don’t show up hungry and never save yourself for the big meal by

not eating all day.

from more importance being placed on food. No calories in that.

You’ve got this! Happy healthier holidays!

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 25

Hebron Hawks

EARLY SIGNING PERIOD 2018

A

nother signing day is in the books for Hebron High School, and once again, a slew of prospects in multiple sports are moving on to the next level.

The Hawks had nine athletes ready and eager to sign on the dotted line at a

special ceremony on Nov. 14, which marked the first day of the early signing period for all sports except football.

That list was highlighted by six baseball players, including Drake Boggan, who signed with Tarleton State and Diego Johnson, who penned a deal with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

by Steve Gamel Not to be outdone, the Lady Hawks’ volleyball team had a trio of standouts extend their careers to the college level.

Emma Clothier signed with Florida State while Jessica Stancliff (UT-Arlington) and Kassandra Ortega (TWU) opted to stay close to home. Hebron came into this season having won three straight Class 6A state titles. While they couldn’t make it to state for a fourth year in a row, the Lady Hawks still made the playoffs in what was widely considered a rare rebuilding year.

Below is a list of the nine Hawks who participated in the early signing period ceremonies on Nov. 14.

Holiday WORSHIP SERVICES

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH THE COLONY Christmas Eve Family Service of Light with Communion Service December 24th: 5:00PM Candlelight & Communion Service December 24th: 7PM & 11PM www.fumctc.org 4901 Paige Rd. • The Colony, TX 75056 26 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH LEWISVILLE Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 24th: 9:30AM & 5PM www.fbclewisville.org

1251 Valley Ridge Blvd • Lewisville, TX 75077

VOLLEYBALL Emma Clothier, Florida State Jessica Stancliff, UT-Arlington Kassandra Ortega, Texas Woman’s University BASEBALL Drake Boggan, Tarleton State Aiden Davis, Angelo State Diego Johnson, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Braeton Matthews, Eastern New Mexico Camden Matthews, Eastern New Mexico Dakotah Mote, Sterling College

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH THE COLONY Candlelight Christmas Eve Service December 24th: 5:00PM www.fbcthecolony.org

4800 S Colony Blvd • The Colony, TX 75056

FIRST BAPTIST CARROLLTON Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service December 24th: 5:00PM www.fbcc.org 2400 N Josey Ln. • Carrollton, TX 75006

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 27

Ask The Expert: Edit This

DON’T LET APOSTROPHES

RUIN YOUR FAMILY

HOLIDAY CARDS T

he holiday season is upon us, which means it’s time to get those family cards in the mail asap.

As the resident writer and editor, this is your friendly last-second reminder that before you send them out, make sure you do a final glance over to make sure you didn’t put an unnecessary apostrophe in your family’s last name. Trust me; it’s a massive grammar faux pas.

If you really don’t think you can remember all of this in the crunch, another option is to avoid the scenario altogether and write around it!

“Merry Christmas from the Gamel Family!”

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about: WRONG: Merry Christmas from the Gamel’s CORRECT: Merry Christmas from the Gamels While the correct version admittedly looks a little weird to most people, using the apostrophe actually makes your last name possessive. I see this mistake being made time and time again, so I thought, why not give a quick tutorial just in case you’ve fallen into this trap once again.

If the last letter of your last name ends in a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, t, u, v, w, y ... simply add an s to the end of your name.

Examples: *The Murrays *The Meltons *The Wallaces If the last letter of your last name ends in s, x, z, ch, sh ... add an es to the end.

Examples: *The Joneses *The Gonzalezes *The Maddoxes 28 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

by Steve Gamel Edit This 469.360.3611 EditThisLLC.com

DECEMBER 2018 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | 29

Castle Hills Native

WINS PRESTIGIOUS BUSINESS AWARD

by Steve Gamel

C

ongratulations are in order for former Castle Hills resident Andy Hernandez, who was recently

named Entrepreneur of the Year at a

winner of the award, owns CTA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation, a familyowned and operated business that is now considered a leader in luxury ground

Luxury Coach Transportation-National

Limousine Association trade show and convention in Atlantic City.

travel to any destination around the world.

Started in 2014, CTA’s revenues reached $3 million by 2017. They currently have

The annual event recognizes the

humanitarian, charity, and entrepreneurial activities of limousine operators from

across the nation. Hernandez, a first-time

offices in San Antonio and Austin.

“I was very humbled and appreciative of this award,” Andy said.

Andy, a 2004 graduate of Antonian High School, got his start in the profession in 2006 by helping his father, Tony, grow his business, A-1 Limousine and Sedan Service. By 2014, the family had sold that business and formed CTA, with Andy as the managing partner. To date, the company employs almost 50 people, 27 of those being full-time. CTA also has a strong affiliate network of companies it works with to ensure quality and commitment to service.

All the while, Andy has been insistent on maintaining what he calls a family business. Tony is now semi-retired, but is always available to discuss industry trends with his son and give guidance where he can. Andy’s mother, Cathy, sold her transcribing business when CTA was formed and serves as the company’s CFO. The Ford Motor Company was the sponsor of this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year award.

And by the looks of it, this could be the first of many awards for Andy moving forward.

H

by Steve Gamel

ebron High School senior wide receiver Trejan Bridges dominated opponents all season long with his speed and athleticism, so it should come as no surprise that he’s now being recognized as one of the top players in the country.

Bridges, an Oklahoma commit and the No. 6 receiver in the 2019 class, was named a 2019 All-American during a school pep rally on Nov. 12 and has been invited to participate in the 19th edition of the AllAmerican Bowl, slated to be played on Jan. 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Per a press release from All American

The bowl will be nationally televised on NBC at noon and will feature the nation’s Top 100 high school football players.

the All-American Bowl are unparalleled,

30 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILLS | DECEMBER 2018

Games, The All-American Bowl is the

most watched, most talked about, and

most prestigious high school all-star event with more than 4,500,000 unique annual television viewers and over 35,000 in

attendance. The history and tradition of

as NFL players past and present, including Odell Beckham Jr., Andrew Luck, Jalen

Ramsey, Tim Tebow, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Peterson, Joe Thomas, and Tua Tagovailoa all made their national debuts on NBC during the All-American Bowl.

Trejan led the Hawks to the playoffs this season. Through 10 regular-season games, he racked up 615 receiving yards, 426 rushing yards, and 15 total touchdowns. He was Hebron’s leading receiver and averaged 14 yards per catch.

photo courtesy of 247 Sports

HEBRON WIDE RECEIVER NAMED ALL-AMERICAN