The Women's Issue

FREE FEBRUARY 2020 | VOL. 14 • ISSUE 2 | POVHOUMA.COM

MIRACLES HAPPEN

CONTENTS |

FEBRUARY 2020 • VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 2

CONT HOME + LIVING

Page 14

FOOD + FUN

Page 32

14 CHATEAU CHIC

32 TECHNOLOGY MADE FUN

20 THE OBSERVER

38 OH SNAP

Let the Good Times Roll

No Gifts for Valentine’s Day

22 SPREADING LOVE THROUGH SERVICE

Educator of the Year Lacie Picou

8 Seconds

40 BON APPETIT Meatless Mondays

Junior Auxiliary of Houma

28 OPEN FOR BUSINESS Cinclare Stellar Media

February 2020 2 povhouma.com

MIND + BODY

Page 44

44 FINDING JOY IN GOD’S PLAN

Kayce Danos shares her journey to motherhood.

50 WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE Easy Ways to Adopt a Heart Healthy Diet

ENTS EXTRAS

ON THE COVER

WORD, YA HEARD

SIDESPLITTER Something that is uproariously funny, as a joke or a situation.

WORD ON THE STREET “Last night I laughed so hard I cried, the movie we saw was a real sidesplitter.”

“The award winning act at the talent show was a comedy bit that had one sidesplitter after another.”

Page 56

06 EDITOR’S NOTE

Kayce Danos and her tiniest miracle relax at home.

08 INTERVUE

Photo: Misty Leigh McElroy

Mommin’ ain’t easy!

Say What?

10 POV PICK King cake kit

52 UNDER THE SCOPE

With an Extra Dosage of Christmas Postage

54 RENDEZVOUS

Where you need to be around town

56 SCENE IN

Look at ol’ so ‘n’ so!

58 LOOK TWICE

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DINING

+

C AT E R I N G

+

EVENTS

If you were a conversation heart, what would you say?

PUBLISHER

Brian Rushing EDITORIAL

Mary Downer Ditch EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Drew Miller ASSOCIATE EDITOR “Meh” “Wink, Wink” ADVERTISING Deanne Ratliff DIRECTOR OF SALES Elise Falgout MARKETING CONSULTANT David Gravois MARKETING CONSULTANT Beth Tabor MARKETING CONSULTANT Kimberly Ross SALES ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Michelle Ortego “Just No”

SUBSCRIPTIONS Point of Vue magazine is published monthly.

Subscriptions are available for $36 for 12 issues.

For more information, email mail@rushing-media.com or visit rushing-media.com/subscriptions.

Friday, February 14th

CREATIVE

Amber Duplantis SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lauren Pontiff GRAPHIC DESIGNER PHOTOGRAPHY

Misty Leigh McElroy Channing Candies CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Keely Diebold Jaime Dishman John Doucet Bonnie Rushing CUSTOMER SERVICE

Alissa Vincent SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR

Emily Rini CONTACT

“You Rock”

Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com Editorial: mary@rushing-media.com Creative: graphics@rushing-media.com Sales: sales@rushing-media.com

Copyright ©2017 Rushing Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of editorial and/or graphic content is strictly prohibited.

Business address: 6160 West Park Ave., Houma, LA 70364 985.868.7515

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Point of Vue magazine cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material such as manuscripts or photographs, with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. The opinions expressed in Point of Vue magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Rushing Media, our employees or any of our advertisers. No employee or family member(s) of employees of Rushing Media are permitted to partake in any contests, giveaways or sweepstakes.

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EDITOR’S NOTE |

MARY DOWNER DITCH • EDITORIAL DIRECTOR OF POV

MOMMIN’ AIN’T EASY! Mommin’ is hard y’all. Let me rephrase that… parenting is hard on both mom and dad. I know I could sure use a pat on the back some days! Maybe just a high five to say: “Great job! No one went to urgent care today!”

My son is five now. He’s in Pre-K. We are in that part of life where he is trying to find himself and be independent, yet he still needs the comfort that only a parent can provide. He is growing up before our very eyes, all while inching away from us and exploring the world around him.

Most days are great! No one is running late, he gets a green light at school, eats the dinner on his plate and goes to bed happy.

Some days are tougher than others. Some days he brings home a red light for not listening or being rough with a friend. (or for sitting in the urinal in the boys’ room. Yep, that happened.) Some days he wants nothing to do with bedtime. Some days, both Jackson and I are in tears.

We’re both mad, having yelled and maybe stomped our feet, and are now sitting in our respective time out spots.

Raising children is hard. I’ve looked at my husband more than once and asked, “Are we doing this right?” Ever the positive voice of reason, he usually responds, “There is no one correct way to raise a child. While we might not get every thing ‘right’, we will learn from it, together.”

And somehow we do.

This month, we bring to you our third Women’s Issue.

After all the stories were turned in, we sat back to do a little editing and build the magazine, and we realized a second strong theme runs through this issue – helping children.

We introduce you to the women of Junior Auxiliary of Houma on page 22. JA exists to help the less fortunate in our community with an emphasis on women and children through service project. The ladies of JA explain what called them to service and share a little bit more about some of their most impactful projects.

Molding the young mind is such a scary profession to me! Thankfully, women like Educator of the Year Lacie Picou excel at teaching our children that the sky is the limit when it comes to dreaming and believing you can do it. As an instructor for Technology Lab at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School, Lacie helps her children to code and create projects beyond their wildest dreams. Meet Lacie starting on page 32.

Starting a family was always on the mind of local Kayce Danos. However, the way she and her husband Mark planned to grow their family was far from the plan God had for them. Through Kayce’s struggles with infertility, came the ability to open her heart and home to fostering children, and adoption. Kayce was ultimately blessed with carrying a set of twin girls with the help of IVF, then surprisingly conceived their miracle baby without any assistance. Learn more about the joy of her journey to motherhood starting on page 44.

Women today can be anything they wish. A strong mind and a determined spirit will help you to reach for your goals. Whether your goals are to help others in need through organized service, to help young minds grow and dream or to provide a safe place for family, all these things can be achieved. The world needs more people like you. Keep dreaming. POV

February 2020 6 povhouma.com

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SAY WHAT?

Who is the most inspirational woman in your life and why?

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ALISSA “Kris Jenner—she’s brilliant! She turns nothing into something. Princess Di—Her kindness radiated throughout the world even when others tried to break her; she still wanted to pay it forward. She upheld a level of professionalism, resilience and strength with so much grace.”

LAUREN “The most inspirational woman in my life is my grandmother. She is one of the hardest workers I know and would do anything for anyone! I love her so much!”

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BETHANY “The most inspirational woman in my life is my grandmother. She is the most selfless woman I know who dedicates herself wholeheartedly to helping others, and I aspire to be just as giving and caring as her each day!”

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KING CAKE KIT CANNATA’S

“Laissez les bons temps rouler” this month with these delicious king cake kits! The kits come with a fresh baked mini king cake and all the fixings. Sugary icing - purple, green and gold sprinkles - and a few decorative items will have your tiny chefs creating memories for a lifetime. These would also make great welcome gifts for out of town guests visiting for the Carnival season.

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HOME + LIVING

CHATEAU CHIC | 14 Let the Good Times Roll

THE OBSERVER | 20 No Gifts for Valentine’s Day

SPREADING LOVE THROUGH SERVICE | 22 Junior Auxiliary of Houma

OPEN FOR BUSINESS | 28 Cinclare Stellar Media

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HOME + LIVING |

CHATEAU CHIC

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

BY BONNIE RUSHING | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY

1

Having carefully decided on the type of home they wished to build, Kerry and Debbie Chauvin selected Tony Pellegrin, of Integrity Homebuilders, to build their dream home.

Planning every detail of the interior and exterior to fit their needs both now and in the future, the couple is right at home.

An open floor plan connecting the foyer, dining room, living room, kitchen and bar make the space perfect for entertaining, which the couple does frequently. A consistent color scheme gives the space a cohesive look, while crown

moldings, granite countertops and chandelier lighting add final polish to the interior space.

Directly off of the living space is the outdoor living area.

“The outdoor living area is where we spend most of our time either enjoying it alone or entertaining guests,” Debbie shares. Complete with a 75” flat screen television, gas fire pit, full kitchen, a designated area for boiling seafood and large granite island, the couple is always equipped to let the good times roll.

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6

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Having a long history of celebrating Mardi Gras, two large curio cabinets in the living area house many gifts they have received as royalty over the years.

8

“Kerry has been king of Terreanians and Christopher and together, we were King and Queen of Hyacinthians in 2015. In addition, Kerry was a duke several times in various clubs and I was a maid in Hyacinthians,” Debbie recalls.

Decorating and entertaining for Mardi Gras is special time for the couple. Enlisting the help of her mother Donna St. Germaine to decorate for the holiday puts the icing on the king cake. “She has a special gift when it comes to designing and decorating and she enjoys every minute of it,” Debbie says. POV

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VALENTINE’S DAY Is it ok to discuss a little marriage problem during the month of February?

I mean – it’s the love month and all. I don’t want to ruin anyone’s Valentine’s Day. But there’s a for-real problem, and maybe this is the place to air it out a little.

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Here’s the story….

Remember when I wrote a few months ago that I’m a terrible gift giver? (Let’s just all pretend that we all read every article I write, ok?) In case your memory is a little like mine, and you have trouble remembering what you did yesterday, much less what someone wrote a few months ago, I’ll give you a little recap.

I’m a terrible gift giver. It makes me feel pressure. I put it off. I pick something up last minute that’s usually the worst idea ever.

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There you have it. My gift giving skills in four sentences.

But NOT this year. This year, for Christmas, an entire three and a half weeks before the big day, I bought my husband a gift. This is a big deal, because I haven’t bought him a Christmas gift for at least 10 years. So I’m pumped.

So pumped that I’m tempted to tell him what it is, but I hold back because Christmas is coming.

We talk about it, and every time he asks me about the gift, I smile so big and so wide. Literally almost unable to keep myself from giggling over my very great gift giving.

“How much did it cost?” he asks. “Twenty-something dollars,” I reply.

He’s pretty stumped at this point, and I refuse to give any more information about where it came from, what it is or where it’s hidden.

The day before Christmas Eve, he asks me again about the gift, and I tell him again how it’s going to be his favorite thing ever and possibly his favorite gift of all time.

I can’t keep it a secret anymore so I get it from where it’s been nestled away in my unworn shoes, hiding in the closet that I said I didn’t hide it in.

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I hide it behind my back, bring it to him in the living room, while every kid watches me present the gift that will amaze the world.

I slowly unfold the gift. His face registers the look of bewilderment that comes when something has been so hyped that it can never live up to the actual event.

“Socks?” he questions.

“Not just any sock,” I say. “Camouflage socks with my face on them. Aren’t February 2020 20 povhouma.com

they amazing?”

In my mind, it would combine his love of hunting (hence the camouflage) with his love of me (hence my face all over his socks).

He was unamused. I was undone.

Seriously, I give the man a well thought out gift for the first time in a decade and he’s unappreciative of the thought, time and effort it took for me to submit my face to the sock company to make socks with my face on it? The nerve.

I “gently” remind him to wear the socks on Christmas Eve to my family’s house. Maybe they’ll be impressed.

(They weren’t.)

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He wears them again, the next day for Christmas when his family comes over. Which is gross because it means he wore them two days in a row, but endearing. He tells me he likes them.

But, here’s the truth. He hasn’t worn them since. I know this because I wash all the clothes around here, and they’ve yet to turn up in the dirty clothes. I thought about donating them to a thrift store, but that would be weird if someone was around town wearing socks with my face on them.

So I’ve decided that there are no gifts happening for Valentine’s Day. Not that I’ve ever given him anything for Valentine’s. But still. It’s the principal of the matter at this point. Maybe I’ll try writing a poem. About men who love when their wives give them socks with their face on it. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll get the hint.

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So Happy Valentine’s Day to all. May your gifts make someone smile. (Even if that person is you!) POV

February 2020 21 povhouma.com

SPREADING LOVE THROUGH

Service

BY KEELY DIEBOLD | PHOTOS SUBMITTED

St. Teresa of Calcutta, most famously known as Mother Teresa, lived a life characterized by service to the “poorest of the poor” and the most hopeless of humanity. Her service was radical to say the least. She lived among and served the most impoverished and sickest people in the slums of Calcutta, reaching out to them on a personal level. She preached that loving those in need was the most valuable way of serving them.

“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough. Money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go,” she once said.

of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA). JA of Houma’s first president was Mrs. Glenny Lee Buquet.

Members of JA become involved with service projects and events that allow them to be actively involved in aiding needy people in the community in a hands-on way, with a main focus on child welfare. Locally, the group offers aid to the Haven, the Hooper Dorm, Louis Children’s Crisis Center and more local organizations and charities that support children in need.

However, members welcome service to all kinds of organizations

Mother Teresa’s radical life of service is one that seems nearly impossible to imitate, but that doesn’t mean that going out into a community and serving its poor and needy in a hands-on way is impossible. In fact, that type of service is taking place at the hands of a group of women right here in Houma.

“A community is only as strong as its weakest members, and if we help those people who are in most need of help, it only makes our community stronger and benefits the entire area...

If we don’t recognize the needs that are there, we’re just not doing what we should be for those who need it,” Kellie Walters, JA vice president, says.

Junior Auxiliary of Houma is a non-profit service-based organization comprised of women from the local community.

It was founded in 1973 as a branch of the National Association

Membership in JA is centered on a five-year commitment.

Women enter the organization as provisional members each November, and undergo six months of training to learn about

February 2020 22 povhouma.com

the chapter and its projects. Once their training is complete, they become active members in May. After five years of active membership, women can become associate members and remain involved however they choose. Even with a fiveyear commitment in place, members of JA don’t see their service as an obligation, but rather a privilege.

“We get to serve. It’s not a ‘we have to do this’ kind of thing. That makes a big difference,” JA President Natalie Falgout says. “It’s a privilege to be able to do this.”

While JA’s goal is to transform the lives of others, the women involved have found their own lives transformed in the process.

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“I was very naive to what kids go through...You don’t realize what other people go through and how hard it is for those children, like going to the different homes, and just the different projects in the schools to see what they go without,” JA Treasurer Desiree Neal says.

Desiree became a member of JA three years ago and says that she quickly found herself “all in” with the organization’s mission. Though she was hesitant at first to join the board of directors, she now leads JA’s efforts with MacDonnell Children’s Services, a residential home that houses boys in need of a safe and nurturing living environment. JA hosts events such as birthday parties, crawfish boils and bowling parties for the home’s residents.

As someone who grew up with only brothers in a divorced home, Desiree made an easy connection with the boys at the MacDonnell home.

“When I first got there, I’m like, ‘Okay, these are kids that you don’t

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“Send us, O God, as Thy messengers to the hearts without a home, to lives without love, to the crowds without a guide. Send us to the children whom none have blessed, to the famished whom none have visited, to the fallen whom none have lifted, to the bereaved whom none have comforted.

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Grant us clear vision, true judgement, with great daring as we seek to right the wrong; and so endow us with cheerful love that we may minister to the suffering and forlorn even as Thou wouldst. May the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, rest upon us and upon all our work. May He give us light to guide us, courage to support us, and love to unite us now and forever more.”

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PROTECT

know their story, whether they’re there because of them or because of their situation at home, and they have a chip on their shoulder.’ So coming from a divorced family with a chip on my own shoulder, I kind of understood,” Desiree says.

WHAT MATTERS

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For Natalie, becoming a member of the board of directors, and eventually president, was a quick and unexpected move. When she took over, her dream for the organization was to see its members reach into the untapped potential of service projects in the community.

Members of JA certainly delivered.

Each provisional class is required to develop and complete a project as part of their training. The 2019 provisional class hosted the first “Krewe of You,” a sensoryfriendly Mardi Gras event complete with a quiet parade. This year’s provisional class is set to offer a workshop for women in need of employment but who may not have the resources to obtain a job. The workshop will help with aspects such as résumé creation and proper clothing for interviews.

“That’s why [JA] is set up the way it is with the five-year commitment and new classes every year because you don’t ever want to be doing the same thing every single year and not branching out and finding other needs in the community,” Natalie says.

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Currently in her third year as a member of JA, Kellie found herself as a co-chair of one of the organization’s largest events.

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The organization’s primary fundraiser, “Dancing with the Stars” is an annual event that pairs local “celebrities” with professional dancers in a dance competition. The night is complete with a silent auction, food and cocktails.

“It’s a huge undertaking to plan an event like that; however, our members are a huge part of that, and we break them up into committees...Our committees help to lead the entire event as well, so we have really been able to streamline the process with the help of our other members,” Kellie says.

Kellie says that being a part of JA has been “wholeheartedly rewarding” and has

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“The volunteering that I had done in the past throughout my life has been kind of, what I would consider, on the surface level, and Junior Auxiliary brings it on a deeper level,” Kellie says. “[It] brings us into the parts of the community that I don’t think people really realize exist or think about.”

Members of JA see a bright future for the Houma chapter. The organization is set to nearly double in size when the

current provisional group becomes active members in May. For Natalie, growth means new ideas and new ways to serve the community.

“The more people, the more ideas. People are passionate about different things,” Natalie says.

At the end of the day, we can’t all be Mother Teresa, but there are ways to imitate her actions toward those around us. The women of JA are setting that example every day. POV

February 2020 26 povhouma.com

February 2020 27 povhouma.com

CINCLARE Owner: Michael Dalmau Type of business: Restaurant Local Since: February 2016 What’s In Store: Cinclare specializes in dinner and drinks...and a fun night out! I consider our food to be Contemporary Southern Cuisine but we try not to limit ourselves creatively. To stay seasonal and fresh, our talented kitchen changes its menu every 3-4 months with several new specials each week. Our skilled bar staff stays rooted in classic cocktails but is always super creative with its offerings and methods. Our rotating wine list is concise yet thoughtful and we have 5-6 regional craft beers on tap every week.

The Difference: I think what makes us unique is our staff and how every one seems to be singing from the same page. Our Chef, Logan Boudreaux, and our Manager/Bar Director, Jeffery Markel, head teams that truly care about what they do and take pride in their hard, detail-oriented work.

The Latest: We look forward to an exciting 2020! Cinclare celebrates its 4th anniversary in February. We also plan on reprising our Easter Brunch again this year. Stay tuned for all our delicious Chef’s Specials and Jeffery’s Signature Cocktails! POV

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STELLAR MEDIA Owners: “Big Mike” Fesi and Rhett “DJ Rhett” LeCompte Type of business: Marketing firm Local Since: 2019 What's In Store: We are currently stationed at the Event Center at 200 Moffet Rd. in Houma. Our new building is currently being renovated and will be located at the old Post Office across from the Houma courthouse.

The Difference: Our unique vision for marketable media places us far apart from the crowd. We specialize in creative writing, comedy and serious production to effectively deliver an engaging product with our clients.

The Latest: Stellar Media will be the production company for LCN TV (Louisiana Connection Network). We will deliver the best down south content and really showcase what Louisiana is all about. You can currently watch on Charter channel 150 and Cox channel 140. POV

February 2020 29 povhouma.com

FOOD + FUN

TECHNOLOGY MADE FUN | 32 Educator of the Year Lacie Picou

OH SNAP | 38 8 Seconds

BON APPETIT | 40 Meatless Mondays

February 2020 30 povhouma.com

February 2020 31 povhouma.com

TECHNOLOGY made

FUN

BY MARY DITCH | PHOTOS BY CHANNING CANDIES Women dominate the professional workforce in so many ways and yet, the tech world is still viewed as a boys club.

But women are breaking down the door to the labs and forging ahead. Computer Science and Engineering majors are increasingly women, with numbers around 18-20 percent. According to Girls for Technology, only 28 percent of proprietary software jobs are held by women, and 25 percent of IT jobs are held by women.

Enter the Educator of the Year, Lacie Picou.

Lacie is the Technology Lab instructor at St. Francis De Sales Catholic School. Students in kindergarten through 7th grade all visit the Lab as part of their curriculum. For students in Pre-K 4, the lab goes to them.

Technology Lab is more than just your standard computer class. “We call it technology lab because it’s not just computers,” says Lacie. “I incorporate coding and robotics.

We do a lot on iPads and with multimedia. We make stop motion movies and have fun with green screen projects.

I try to incorporate as many different things as possible to give them a taste of what’s out there. We try and find new and different stuff to peak their interest in computers because they learn so much faster than we ever did.”

In her 19th year of teaching, Lacie says she enjoys her Technology Lab more than anything else. She credits the children she teaches with keeping her career choice fun and interesting.

“I learn just as much as from them as they learn from me,” Lacie laughs. “If I can’t figure something out, I’ll ask a student, ‘hey, do you know how to do this?’ or ‘do you think you could figure it out?’ We learn together.”

In Lacie’s lab, the students enjoy the creative challenges the most. She finds a way to even incorporate lessons from

February 2020 32 povhouma.com

Fa in Love

with a Po’boy

other subjects into her projects.

For example: Students designed and built a labrynth out of recycled campaign signage as a way of combining STEM projects with their Greek Mythology lesson. They then had to code the robot to go through the maze to defeat the minotaur.

For Lacie, the best part of it all is just seeing the light bulb click on.

She encourages all her students, boys or girls, to forge ahead with the technology provided to them. “Most of the time, I just say ‘Go to work.’

It’s amazing to see how quickly they problem solve and how creative they are with everything.”

Her Lego League, however, has more girls participants than boys. Often the girls will ask to stay in the lab through their recess to finish coding or working on projects.

“I find that today’s girls versus when we were children, they’re a little bit more assertive, and there’s no gender bias between what boys can do and what girls can do,” said Lacie. “Girls can be engineers just like boys can, and I encourage it. I want them to

“I want them to know this is not difficult: Don’t be afraid of the math. Don’t be afraid of the science. I love this too and that’s why I get so excited about it with them.”

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embrace it. I want them to know this is not difficult: Don’t be afraid of the math.

Don’t be afraid of the science. I love this too, and that’s why I get so excited about it with them.”

Lacie is also helping to lead the way for technology at St. Francis. The school will begin using Nearpod, which is an interactive presentation program. As the teacher goes through the lesson, the students can participate and answer via a handheld device. It helps keep the student actively engaged in the lesson. The school is also licensed for Google education and is in the process of converting to ChromeBooks in all classrooms.

With all the technology that is at the students’ hands, Lacie also incorporates Digital Citizenship and Internet Safety into each of her lessons.

“Safety is a huge component of what we do,” she says. “With children having internet and social media at their fingertips,

we make sure to discuss etiquette when it comes to using these devices.”

Lacie received her award for Educator of the Year on January 25. The award is from the American Legion Post 31 and Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence.

As Educator of the Year, Lacie is truly humbled by the honor and recognition. She feels that the honor represents more than just her, however: “I was very surprised when I found out,” shared Lacie. “We do pour a lot of time and effort into what we do as teachers. It’s nice to be honored for my achievements, but I don’t think I’ve done it on my own.

Your classroom is not built around one person. You’re only as good as your faculty, your support staff and your parents and students. Without any of them, I couldn’t be the teacher that I am.” POV

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Special raffles to be held throughout the evening benefiting The Haven, a women’s outreach program.

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OH SNAP |

PHOTO BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY • MISTYMACPHOTO.COM

8 SECONDS

A young buckaroo hits the ring for his eight seconds of glory at a recent rodeo at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.

FOOD + FUN |

BON APPETIT

MEATLESS

MONDAYS No, we didn’t make it up! Meatless Mondays are a real thing, launched in 2003 with the goal of reducing meat consumption around the world. Locally, more individuals are choosing to go meat free as part of lifestyle changes, aimed at being healthier and more plant-based with their eating habits.

While most of us can’t imagine life without a juicy cheeseburger, there are some very delicious alternatives to meat even when it comes to burgers! This black bean burger is full of flavor! The recipe also calls for avocado as a binding agent rather than a traditional egg, adding a healthy dose of fat, and also making the recipe vegan friendly.

BLACK BEAN BURGERS Ingredients

Directions

• 2 (15-oz.) cans black beans, drained and rinsed • 1 (3.5-oz.) package shiitake mushrooms, roughly chopped • 1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil • Kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper • 1/2 c. old-fashioned oats • 1/2 avocado, chopped • 1/4 c. loosely packed cilantro or parsley leaves • 2 cloves garlic, chopped • 2 tsp. smoked paprika • 1 tsp. chili powder • 1 tsp. ground cumin • Vegetable oil, for cooking

1. P reheat oven to 375°. Place all dry ingredients in a medium-large mixing

bowl and combine them very well.

2. S pread beans in an even layer on a large baking sheet. Place

mushrooms and onion on another large baking sheet, and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat, then spread in an even layer. Bake beans until they are dry and the skins are beginning to split, 7 to 9 minutes. Bake mushrooms and onions until tender, 18 to 20 minutes.

3. Add beans, mushrooms, and onion to the bowl of a food processor,

along with oats, avocado, cilantro, garlic, paprika, chili powder, and cumin. Blend until smooth, scraping down sides of food processor as needed. Let mixture rest 10 minutes in refrigerator, then form into 4 patties.

4. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat enough vegetable oil to coat

FOR SERVING Toasted hamburger buns, lettuce, sliced red onion, sliced avocado, vegan or regular mayonnaise

the bottom of the pan. Add veggie burgers to skillet and cook until outside is crisp and golden, and inside is heated through, about 4 minutes per side.

5. Assemble burgers with preferred toppings.

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February 2020 41 povhouma.com

MIND + BODY

FINDING JOY IN GOD’S PLAN | 44 Kayce Danos shares her journey to motherhood.

WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE | 50 Easy Ways to Adopt a Heart Healthy Diet

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BY KEELY DIEBOLD | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY

The last eight years of Kayce Danos’ life could be described by countless words.

Challenging. Between the uncertainty, the questions, the shots and medications, there have been challenges at every turn.

Joyful. While her life went down unexpected paths, there was no shortage of joy at the hands of unexpected gifts and changes.

As Kayce now sits in a home full of toy houses and play mats and baby-proofed door handles—a home she shares with her husband Mark and their children—the word she uses to describe those eight years is gratitude.

“It’s not anything I ever expected or wanted to go through, but...I could cry thinking how grateful I am for the whole journey,” Kayce says.

The mother of five knew she always wanted to be a mother. She knew she would have a home full of children as she does now.

The road that has led her to that point, though, was not the one she planned on taking. It’s been challenging, it’s been joyful and it’s been one powered by love and faith.

Kayce and Mark married in November of 2012. By December of 2013, the couple decided they were ready to start adding to their family.

After a few months of trying without success, Kayce’s doctor told her to report back if she still wasn’t pregnant by the time she had been off of birth control for six months. She waited until the eight-month point.

It was then that the couple learned they would struggle with something that hopeful parents long to never face: infertility.

“I remember at the beginning just having so many questions, like never walking away from my faith, my faith was always the foundation of who I am, but...I just remember having a lot of questions, and it’s okay to ask God questions, like ‘Why?’ Kayce says. “Lord, why? Why can’t we get pregnant? Why isn’t this happening for us?”

Kayce began taking Clomid, a fertility medication that intends to stimulate ovulation, on her and Mark’s two-year anniversary in November of 2014.

Another setback would find its way to Kayce’s journey, though. She learned that she had a cyst at the time, which would require her to stop taking Clomid so that the cyst would not grow to a size that needed surgical removal.

Always your

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When her cysts cleared and she finished her final round of Clomid with no success, Kayce turned to intrauterine insemination (IUI). The treatment proved also to be unsuccessful after four attempts.

The next step would be in vitro fertilization (IVF), a treatment that Kayce was hesitant to consider.

“I was very unsure about it. It was something I was not very open to...I just assumed I would get pregnant before I got to that point, and that was our next option,” Kayce says.

Through Kayce’s struggles and setbacks, it was her Christian faith that kept her going. She says her faith has always been the most important part of her life, and it has helped her to believe that God has had a plan for her in the midst of her difficulties.

“You have to be okay with, [God] has a plan for my life. This is a journey that I’m on, and I have to be okay with it. Like I have to be at peace,” Kayce says. “I kept saying the Lord has put a desire on my heart to be a mom, and I’m ok with however that happens.”

It’s also her faith that allows her to look back at her life and recognize the way her dream family was beginning to take shape—that she would indeed become a mother, even if that dream looked a little different than she imagined.

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“What I didn’t know at the time was everything else that was going to happen, like never would we have gotten involved with fostering and [adoption]...Looking back, I really see how the Lord’s hand was in the whole process. He’s like, ‘Just wait, I have a family in mind for you,’” Kayce says.

February 2020 45 povhouma.com

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“Look for the light and cling to hope…God does have a plan.”

-Kayce Danos

Kayce and Mark began to consider fostering children after Kayce heard a story about six sisters who had been separated from one another in the foster system. The couple decided to look into taking the girls into their care. Though they ultimately were not able to foster the sisters, the couple went through the steps required to become foster parents. Their first foster children were a group of sisters who stayed for only six weeks.

Kayce and Mark then welcomed a little boy into their home through foster care—a boy who, unbeknownst to the couple at the

time, would be officially adopted into their family a few years later.

“That was kind of the start of it all. We can do something bigger than what we’re doing now,” Kayce says.

Kayce quickly learned the challenges and rewards that go along with being a foster parent. She says the hardest parts are the transition that occurs for both the child and the parents, as well as the unknown and the lack of control over the situation. The reward, of course, is the joy of getting to love each child.

February 2020 46 povhouma.com

The Danoses wound up fostering between 15 to 20 children in total. Kayce says they made it a point to treat each child they welcomed into their home as part of their family and to love them as if they were their own children.

The couple wanted to do even more, though. In 2016, they decided to begin pursuing adoption.

“I always wanted to adopt a baby, so then when we started our infertility journey, that was always in the back of my mind...

Throughout the process we had been given several opportunities for adoption but just never felt like it was the right time,” Kayce says.

While Kayce was volunteering at Hope Restored Pregnancy Resource Center, an opportunity for adoption presented itself, and the couple committed to it in March of 2016. Along the way, they developed a relationship with the birth mother and were even present the day their daughter was born in October of that year.

As Kayce’s foster care and adoption story was unfolding, another story was just beginning.

All while welcoming the first two young members of their family, Kayce would begin her IVF treatments. An egg retrieval was performed in the summer of 2016, and one baby successfully implanted.

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Kayce says she believed she was carrying two babies, though. At her second ultrasound, she learned that it was not just a feeling.

“At first we only saw one little sac, but I just kept [saying], ‘I know there’s twins. I know it.’ So, when we went back and saw there were two, all I could do was just laugh,” Kayce says.

Naturally, Kayce began to experience a new set of fears and doubts throughout her first pregnancy.

“Okay, we’re pregnant, but we still have to make it to the end of a pregnancy. Like, can I carry a baby? I don’t know, I’ve never been pregnant before. We’ve had all these struggles. This isn’t the end. We’re just beginning now,” Kayce says.

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However, her fears were not realized, and February 2020 47 povhouma.com

she gave birth to her twins in November of 2017.

In just a short time, a couple that once learned its dreams of starting a family would be more difficult to reach than expected was a family of six.

And yet, the story didn’t stop there.

When the twins were only eight months old, Kayce began to experience the same sciatic pain and sickness she experienced while pregnant for them.

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“A light bulb went off in my head. I remember telling Mark, ‘I’m either getting sick or I’m pregnant, but I feel so bad, like just so nauseous,’ and he was like, ‘Well, you’re not pregnant,’” Kayce laughs.

Kayce was in fact pregnant. For the first time, she was pregnant without the help of medicine or treatments.

In March of 2019, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

“We had never experienced pregnancy on our own. I mean, we tried for years and nothing ever happened...but we knew

there was always a chance,” Kayce says.

Who knows where the Danos’ unexpected journey will take them next. For now, Kayce says if there’s anything she could tell the woman who found out years ago that she would struggle with infertility, it would be to just wait.

“Just wait. Life is going to be so good.

Right now you’re not sure what’s going to happen...You think you’ve reached the end, but it’s so [much better]. Just wait,” Kayce says.

And good it is. There’s Zay, the energetic former foster child who’s “all boy” and loves to be a helper and a leader; Lucy, the sweet little nurturer who takes her baby doll Annie everywhere she goes; Lillie, the “daddy’s girl” who’s reserved, but determined and unafraid; Gracie, the “mama’s girl” with a big personality and a compassionate heart; and Maggie, the happy “angel baby” who’s always smiling.

Kayce says she’s thankful for the support of her family and friends around her who showed no shortage of encouragement, prayers and excitement throughout her journey.

February 2020 48 povhouma.com

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200 POINT ST. HOUMA, LA | ALLIESSPA.COM | 985-917-0009 Of course, she’s especially thankful for Mark, the man who’s been by her side through it all.

“He was my rock. Whenever any struggle or any change happened...he was the one who would help me through it all. He was so understanding, and a listener, and just supportive” Kayce says. “We’ve both been changed through the process,” Kayce says.

Kayce has documented her story since the very beginning on a blog known as “Punchbag Ponderings,” a name that represents the frustrations she felt that were accompanied by trust in God’s promises.

Her story is a testament to waiting and hoping and trusting that, no matter what the road looks like, every person will end up where they are meant to be. She hopes her journey will encourage people who are facing their own struggles to look for the light in darkness.

“There’s light in dark situations and dark circumstances. Look for the light and cling to hope…God does have a plan. He is with you, and He does not leave us or forsake us,” Kayce says. POV February 2020 49 povhouma.com

WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE |

BY THIBODAUX REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM

EASY WAYS TO ADOPT A HEART HEALTHY DIET You’ve heard the facts before: heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. It bears repeating and paying attention to because while heart disease is fatal for so many, it is also preventable.

Many of the risk factors associated with heart disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity) can be tied back to an unhealthy diet. So, adopting better eating habits can help reduce your risk of a heart attack.

Choose Heart-Check Certified Foods Making heart-healthier food choices has been made easier with the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark.

Simply look for the name of the AHA along with their familiar red heart and white check mark on food packaging and menus. Foods with this symbol have been certified by the AHA as heart healthy.

Easy Ways to Incorporate More Vegetables Into Your Diet We all know we need to eat more vegetables! Here are some ways to “sneak ” more veggies into your diet.

• Using a box grater, shred zucchini, beets and carrots into your muffin batter before baking •Add shredded carrots or squash to your pasta sauce.

•Replace half of the ground meat in your burger, meatloaf or meatball recipes with cooked, chopped mushrooms. Finely

chop or use a food processor, sauté in a little olive oil and once cool, gently mix with your lean ground beef, turkey or chicken.

Keep Fresh Food Fresh, Longer You shopped heart healthy at the store. Stretch your produce and food budget with proper storage.

•Don’t wash, cut or peel fruits and veggies (except lettuce and greens) until you are ready to eat.

•Keep apples, bananas and pears away from other produce as they give off ethylene gas which can make other produce ripen or rot faster. Store bananas on the countertop and apples and pears in the fridge.

•Store mushrooms in the fridge but keep in the container they came in. Leave them dry and unwashed until ready to use.

•Potatoes, onions, yams, hard squash (winter, acorn, spaghetti, butternut) and watermelon should be stored in a cool, dark place like your pantry or cellar.

•Store cucumbers, eggplant and peppers on the upper shelf in your refrigerator, which is the warmest part of the fridge.

Reduce your risk of heart attack by adopting better eating habits. Start today and purge your pantry, freezer and fridge of unhealthy foods, and stock up on better choices. A healthy diet truly is the heart of the matter.

For more information on available resources or to schedule an appointment with a dietitian call Thibodaux Regional Wellness Education Center, 985.493.4765.

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FUN FACTS VALENTINE’S DAY TRIVIA

FALL IN

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WITH YOUR • In Japan women give chocolates to their significant others on February 14 and the quality of the chocolates indicate their true affection.

• The first heart shaped chocolate box to celebrate the holiday was introduced in 1861 by John Cadbury to increase chocolate sales.

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It’s February 2020, and I have come to the late realization that I bought too many Christmas stamps in December 2019. We all typically buy Christmas stamps to adorn our red- or green- or white-colored Christmas card envelopes and help show our holiday spirit. But what to do with them after Christmas is over?

Seeing surplus Christmas stamps makes me despair for a moment: Do I have such a little family? Do I have so few friends? Do I no longer see or talk to them? A couple of egg nogs and a few New Year’s toasts, however, remind me that those seasonally-affected thoughts are not true.

But after all the celebrations are done, there’s still unused pads of Christmas stamps on my desk.

And I can’t use them next Christmas: That would be like giving someone in 2020 the same gift you gave them in 2019.

Instead of re-gifting, it’s called re-stamping, and that would be a surefire way to make those despairs about family and friends come true.

Christmas stamps laying around after Christmas also make me think of injustices. For instance, why must people in PoV country be forced to use government-issue Christmas stamps showing scenes of snow?

Why are we not entitled to stamps featuring rain and fog? Or why show a series of wintering mammals in their snowy-white coats when the USPS knows darn well that we’ll get the envie to develop a recipe with brown sauce for each one? At least, with a good red pen, you can convert the image of a round Christmas wreath on a Christmas stamp into a heart shape suitable for mailing a Valentine card. But, actually, that’s defacing government issue, rendering the stamp worthless, and possibly committing a crime. Don’t ask how I know this.

Admittedly, too many Christmas stamps is not an immediate problem.

After all, as the slogan says, they’re valid “forever.” In the midst of my auld land syne last month, as I spied the orphaned Christmas stamps on my desk, I remembered the national apprehension when Forever stamps were first unveiled in 2007. Many distrusted the new stamps and felt they were a way for the USPS to raise rates without forewarning. Further, no one wanted to be reminded of a mail tax that was immortal like a lip virus. However, once people realized that they could actually save money by buying stamps in advance of rate increases, sales soared. It became okay to print a likeness of Elvis Presley on a Forever stamp because he would be living forever and in fact was last seen in the old Georgia Dome, a guest of former Atlanta Falcons coach Jerry Glanville.

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My real issue with excess Christmas stamps is that I refuse to use them on non-holiday mailings. I mean—really—mailing off a mortgage payment is not my idea of “joyful and triumphant.” My insurance agent doesn’t need a stamp featuring a kid on a snow sled to remind her of an accident with bodily harm. And, frankly, no gasoline credit card

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bill should have a stamp with religious artwork stating “Peace on Earth” after what the earth looks like following oil extraction.

Of course, you can say that I should relieve these disturbing notions about unused Christmas stamps by paying electronically, directly from my bank account. Well, like many of you out there, I follow the practices of my parents and my grandparents: No one should be touching my banked money, and if any of it goes out to pay for something I want to touch it and sign off on it.

And I also want to touch stamps, as I have a deep appreciation for them since collecting them as a kid. As a young boy, I learned the history, economics, and geography of all the countries of the world—including those that no longer exist. I learned to recognize Sierra Leone on the coast of Africa from the shape of its stamps. I learned great works of European architecture and art from images commemorated on stamps. I knew all the British protectorates and former colonies from that immortal silhouette of the immortal Elizabeth II printed on each stamp. Because of stamps, I knew before ever hearing that famous novelty song that you can’t get back to Constantinople. I even knew Greenland belonged to Denmark before President Trump offered to buy it. And I still remember all these things. Talk about “Forever” stamps!

Yes, like you, I will ultimately use those extra Christmas stamps and with much care and discretion. And as I use those holiday Forever stamps, being an older boy now, I’ll wish for other Forever rates, like those on credit cards, flood insurance, cars, taxes, and healthy food. Like stamps, I am willing to consciously surplus some life costs forever—in any season. POV

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Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or a longtime homeowner, we provide the unmatched service you need to choose a home mortgage plan that works for you.

Annette Dupont Mortgage Loan Originator NMLO #487985

Stop in or call our Mortgage Specialist, Annette Dupont.

She will match you with the perfect loan to meet your needs.

Better (Banking) Together ayeee.com • 985.851.3434 February 2020 53 povhouma.com

RENDEZVOUS |

WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AROUND TOWN

Heels for Hearts February 6, 5:30-8 p.m.

Mary Bird Perkins TGMC Cancer Center 2nd Floor events room

This inaugural event hosted by TGMC and Cardiovascular Institute of the South aims to educate women about the number one killer of women each year, heart disease. An evening featuring a Q&A session with a panel of physicians and wellness experts as well as a hearthealthy dinner, wine, signature cocktails, games, prizes and more will be enjoyed.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

POP-U P • Celebrating Women •

POV Pop-Up: Celebrating Women February 13, 5-8 p.m.

Geri Lynn Nissan, Houma

Join us for our second annual Celebrating Women Pop-Up event, featuring womanowned boutiques and businesses. Enjoy shopping at all of your favorite locally owned stores under one roof at Geri Lynn Nissan of Houma. Browse spring fashions, shoes, accessories and more. Bring all of your girlfriends, admission is free. Visit povpopup.com for more information.

Live Healthy Houma Work Group Meeting February 20, 2:30 p.m.

Main Branch Library, Houma

Rotary Club of Houma Cast Iron Cookoff February 8, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Downtown Houma

More than 40 cooking teams will prepare and serve their best dishes out of their cast iron cookware. Pass a good time by eating, enjoying live music and outdoor yard games. General admission is $5 which allows you to taste all dishes and vote for your favorite. Drinks and beer will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit service projects of Houma Rotary.

Join this action-oriented group with a mission to improve the quality of life for all citizens of downtown Houma through policy development, environmental change and lifestyle programs that promote healthy living. Any community member, organization or business is welcome to attend.

Harlem Globetrotters March 9, 7 p.m.

Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center

See the legendary basketball team in action showcasing exceptional skills and entertainment. This family friendly event features elite dunkers and Guinness World Record holders. Tickets are for sale in advance with Ticketmaster or at the Civic Center box office.

February 2020 54 povhouma.com

985.872.1431

1000 BARATARIA @ TUNNEL BLVD., HOUMA

WWW.VALLEYSUPPLYCO.COM • FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/VALLEY-SUPPLY-CO

WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT IN OUR CALENDAR? Shoot an email to mary@rushing-media.com and we’ll help spread the word.

BY APPOINTMENT 601-917-6366

1244 BARROW ST • SUITE 101• HOUMA, LA • February 2020 55 povhouma.com

TERIESINTERIORS

SCENE IN |

LOOK AT OL’ SO ‘N’ SO!

TWELFTH NIGHT WITH A TWIST The Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center opened their doors to all the Houma Mardi Gras krewes to celebrate the kick-off of Carnival season in style! Floats carried this year’s royalty through the civic center before the band Karma took the stage.

VISIT THE

OPEN Monday through Friday 10AM to 4PM Saturday 10AM to 2PM 1154 Barrow St., Houma, LA (985) 873-8200 regionalmilitarymuseum.com

February 2020 56 povhouma.com

BEASLEY

PEST CONTROL

• Pest control • termite control • wood destroying insect reports

Complete Pest Control Services

OVER 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE New Location! 119 Rome Commercial Place Servicing all major brands of outboards.

Locally Owned & Operated Serving the Tri-parish & Surrounding Area Houma (985) 872-5019 • Thibodaux (985) 446-1811

Filling Your Healthcare Needs

Since 1960...

282 Corporate Drive Houma, LA 70360

Conveniently located next to Thibodaux Regional.

We can accept ALL major insurance plans, and offer a wide variety of gifts, cards, and candies.

Fast, Friendly, Local Service That No One Else Can Beat!

SOUTHLAND DRUGS

Auto•Home•Life Real Service. Real People.

1117 Audubon Ave. • Thibodaux • 985-447-5852 February 2020 57 povhouma.com

Phone:985.876.2876 Fax: 985.851.5392 lafarmbureau.com

LOOK TWICE |

WIN A $50

COURTESY OF SYNERGY BANK

GIFT CARD

Find the six differences in this photo from our feature on page 40. Drop off your answers along with your name and daytime contact number at the PoV office, 6160 W. Park Ave., Houma. Stuck at the mail it to us at looktwice@povhouma.com.

A winner will be picked by random drawing February 17.

The winner will receive a $50 Visa® gift card courtesy of Synergy Bank.

Congratulations to Kasharon Duncan for winning last month’s contest.

February 2020 58 povhouma.com

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CONTEST 1 Changed out painting 2 Recolored the vase on the mantle 3 Added lemons on the table 4 Recolored the pillow on the chair 5 Recolored the book by the lamp 6 Added a bird on the table

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE NEW

TO BE LUXURIOUS

6161 WEST PARK AVE., HOUMA, LA | 876-1817

www.southlanddodgechryslerjeep.com February 2020 povhouma.com 59

February 2020 60 povhouma.com