INSIDE
parent life
I
the guide
I
h e a lt h r e p o r t
NOVEMBER 2018
6 RULES FOR A MEMORABLE
friendsgiving
Shop Small
in this issue
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THE GUIDE
November is Shop Small Month!
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
11
PARENT LIFE
6 Rules for a Memorable Friendsgiving
Defeating Mommy Guilt
13
THE LIST
9 Things to Accomplish in November
The List | info@siennalist.com | www.thelist.city | 281-201-5998
10th Annual Gingerbread Market
November 16th | 9:30am -2:00pm | Sweetwater Country Club | 4400 Palm Royale Blvd, 77479 The Gingerbread Market is back for a 10th year with dozens of festive vendors selling gifts for all ages!
Christmas Tree Lighting
November 30th | 5:00 - 8pm | Sugar Land Town Square Plaza | 15958 City Walk, 77479 Mr. and Mrs. Claus bring their holiday magic to Sugar Land Town Square & light up the steps of City Hall with holiday cheer & entertainment. Enjoy face painting, holiday crafts and activities, pictures with Santa, and performances by local artists and choirs.
Cookies with Santa
December 8th | 10:00am - 1pm | HMNS Sugar Land | 13016 University Blvd, 77479 HMNS Sugar Land invites you to cookies and milk with Santa and Mrs. Claus!
The Sugar Land List was developed with the residents of Sugar Land in mind. We offer free services for our members; a platform where members can find jobs, business recommendations, events, and more with the click of a button.
It’s easy to become a member of Sugar Land List:
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Visit www.thelist.city Create a user name and password for your login. Click the Submit button.
Bite Nite Friday
December 14th | 6:00 - 9:30pm | The Club at Riverstone | 18353 University Blvd, 77478 A feast of food trucks with culinary delights is heading to Riverstone for Bite Nite Friday. Music and children’s activities will add to the event, and you’re welcome to bring along your leashed pup!
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To Advertise, Please call (281)201-5998
Visit TheList.city Now
HEALTH MATTERS WITH DR. STEVE HARRIS, DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC WHERE PAIN RELIEF COMES NATURALLY
A Moving Experience
K
by Sara Adams
ent and Marilyn Johnson wanted to be closer to their children and grandchildren so they moved to our area last November. They would have arrived a little sooner had it not been for an uninvited guest called Hurricane Harvey. As the Johnsons were about to leave Dallas and head to Sienna Plantation, the hurricane appeared to be traveling faster than they were. Postponing their move, the Johnsons arrived in Missouri City after Hurricane Harvey and in plenty of time to experience the inspiring and overwhelming support of neighbors helping neighbors in the wake of a natural disaster. While packing for their big move, Marilyn hurt her back. She found it difficult to bend over or do regular chores like loading a dishwasher, laundry or packing. She visited a doctor in Dallas and had a few sessions of physical therapy, but she was still struggling with back pain when they got here. Their pastor recommended Dr. Steve Harris of Sugar Land Health Center, and they both decided to meet Dr. Harris. Kent was starting to experience some pain from an old back injury and Marilyn sought treatment for her back and also enrolled in Dr. Harris’s weight loss program. They both liked Dr. Harris immediately. Kent said, “We’re big fans of Dr. Harris and his entire staff. They really care about people. Dr. Harris is knowledgeable, kind and gentle. He can look at you and isolate the area where you are having pain.” Marilyn resolved her back pain early on and continues to lose weight with the support and counseling of Lee Harris, Dr. Harris’s wife. Marilyn has lost 70 pounds since December 2nd. She said, “The program isn’t that hard and I was very determined. I got a lot of positive reinforcement from Lee and the entire staff.” Dr. Steve Harris offers a wide variety of chiropractic care modalities and associated therapies to help people with chronic pain or to help improve their overall musculoskeletal function and health. Dr. Harris opened Sugar Land Health Center in 1982, and has been in practice for 41 years. Known for incorporating new technology and techniques that complement his safe and holistic approach, Dr. Harris offers chiropractic care, pain relief, spinal decompression, rehabilitation and an effective weight loss program. Returning from a recent trip to Spain where they enjoyed a lot of walking and spending time with their son, both Johnsons were pleased with their level of activity and mobility. And Marilyn said, “I was able to maintain my weight loss while on vacation.
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Dr. Harris, Lee Harris and the entire Sugar Land Health Center staff have contributed to our well-being.” All in all, relocating to the Sugar Land area has been a truly moving experience for Kent and Marilyn Johnson.
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Sugar Land Health Center 281-980-1050 3425 Highway 6, Suite 101 (behind McDonalds near Williams Trace Blvd) Sugar Land, TX 77478
November 2018
3
November is Shop Small Month
Every year it seems the holiday season starts earlier and earlier. We are already looking at twinkling holiday lights and focusing on our holiday shopping lists before the carving knife ever touches the turkey. As a magazine that focuses on community and lists, this year we are working with local small businesses to help take some of the holiday shopping stress off of your shoulders.
SuiteBaby
SuiteBaby is a hip & trendy designer collection of crib bedding and baby accessories. Five years ago this month, Courtney Wyckoff started selling on Etsy because she felt a lack of creativity and selection in the traditional markets. Her passion for style and design has fueled her company. One of her favorite things to do is help customers come up with their dream nursery, whether it is helping find fabrics, coordinating pieces, or designing the fabrics from scratch. The possibilities are endless! Need a baby shower gift? SuiteBaby can help! Reach out to Courtney at courtney@suitebaby.net or on her shop website www.suitebaby.net
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To Advertise, Please call (281)201-5998
the guide
Sara Nguyen, Realtor®
Sara Lyn Nguyen - Realtor, wife, mother and volunteer. Sara, a Realtor with Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene in Sugar Land, lives in Sienna Plantation with her husband, Huy, and their 2 beautiful daughters, Emma and Ellie. She grew up in the small Texas town of Rockport-Fulton and graduated cum laude from the University of Houston with a double BBA-Finance and Management. She prides herself with being attentive and trustworthy. She holds product knowledge, integrity and being detail oriented as the foundation of her success and is well aware of the intricacies that exist with relocating families. Sara volunteers countless hours with their family church, her daughter's schools and several other organizations. Nguyen holds numerous designations and awards such as 2017 Emerald Elite-Nationally & Texas Monthly Five Star Realtor for 7 years. Contact Sara Lyn at Sara@SaraLynHomes.com
Bean Here Coffee
Bean Here Coffee is Missouri City’s very own independent and family-owned full-line coffee shop and small batch coffee roaster, right in the heart of Sienna Plantation. Enjoy a variety of coffee-based drinks, cool refreshers, loose leaf tea and scrumptious pastries in a friendly, casual and cozy environment. Our coffee beans are sourced from well-known coffee regions around the world and roasted in-house to deliver you the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had. It’s that simple. We hope you’ll be our guest soon! Visit Bean Here Coffee at 4340 Sienna Parkway, 77459
November 2018
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LOGAN’S GENERAL CONTRACTING CO. Kitchen And Bathroom Remodeling • Total Exterior Repairs Roof Replacement • Painting Interior And Exterior Hardie Siding • Stamped Concrete And Driveways Energy efficient construction and retrofit are our specialties!
Logan Guthrie 281.460.1587 3907 Panorama Dr., Missouri City, TX 77459 www.logansgeneralcontracting.com
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To Advertise, Please call (281)201-5998
silver screen MEAGHAN BARSAMIAN C o F ounder - P ublisher @MeaghanBarsamian
ALLEN BARSAMIAN C o F ounder - A ccount M anager
Mary queen of scots december 7th Mary Stuarts attempt to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England, finds her condemned to years of imprisonment before facing execution.
T O L U FA L A D E P ublication A ssistant
MARJORIE MCCLENDON G raphic D esigner @Margiebargie
C ONTRIBUTORS :
JASON LUTHOR C olumnist
SPIDERMAN:INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE DECEMBER 14th In the “classic Spider-Man mold”, Miles Morales must juggle his high school life with his status as Spider-Man when he crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the Spider-men of those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.
ALISA MURRAY C olumnist
@AlisaMurray
second act DECEMBER 14th
On the Cover ‘Friendsgiving’
Struggling with frustrations from unfulfilled dreams, a 40-year old woman gets a chance to fulfill her career ambitions and prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts, and that it is never too late for a Second Act.
mary poppins returns DECEMBER 19th Photography courtesy of
Decades after her original visit, the magical nanny returns to help the Banks siblings and Michael's children through a difficult time in their lives.
PINKOWLSTUDIOS.COM
November 2018
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6 RULES FOR A MEMORABLE
friendsgiving By: Meaghan Barsamian
The season brings delicious food, meaningful interactions and of course stress to get it all done. Friendsgiving is an ingenious tradition to adopt and host a Thanksgiving dinner for the friends you consider family. The List Magazines has compiled a top 6 list to help you plan a stress-free Friendsgiving and enjoy your quality time.
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Why not potluck? Send invites requiring RSVPs and then set up a Sign Up Genius or assign each attendee a plate to bring. As host you prepare the bird, because no one wants to prepare and tow a 15-pound bird to your house. (examples: meat & cheese appetizers, potatoes, stuffing, green beans or vegetable, cranberry sauce, rolls, dessert, and even assign someone to bring togo containers)
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Cheers!!! For the friends that like to partake in a celebratory drink, make sure you have stocked your bar. If budget is a concern, ask each guest to bring a bottle of their favorite to share. Make sure you keep a bottle of two of sparkling cider so no one needs to miss out on the fun.
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Airplane Mode. The most important part for the evening is to enjoy each other’s company. Once guests arrive keep a basket handy and gently suggest they keep their phone in the basket to ensure an evening of quality time. Be understanding when not every guest can participate, sometimes careers or children will not allow. If your guests have never met introduce them and initiate an icebreaker game. Find a list of icebreaker
questions on our blog at www.thelist.city.
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To Advertise, Please call (281)201-5998
Styled by at First Colony
community spotlight
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Set the mood.These days experience is everything and what better way to set the stage than creating a beautiful tablescape. With great food and drinks, and even better conversation we anticipate most of your evening will be spent around the table. Start with some greenery. Use greenery as a table runner or maybe keep it simple with a sprig on each place setting. Add some candle sticks. Give dimension to the table by using different sizes (some tall some short). Then place a few pumpkins. You can pick up from a home dĂŠcor store, or maybe even chalk paint a few small ones you pick up from the grocery store if you have the time. Set the place settings, light the candles and voila.
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Say Cheese! Keep a camera handy or designate one person to take pictures. Make sure you set up your camera to timer and get at least one group shot. Not only great for the quintessential social media post, but also fun to look back on years to come and see how the group dynamic grows and changes.
6 Models: Meaghan Barsamian, Kimberly Handy, Courtney Cain, Chloe Cherry
Just get together! And if time or hosting at home are not set on your horizons this year, make it easy on yourself book a Friendsgiving night out at one of our many local great restaurants.
Get our free printable
The List’s Icebreaker Game
thelist.city/icebreaker
November 2018
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HOUSTON METHODIST UROLOGY ASSOCIATES Dr. Laura Martinez and Dr. Neel Srikishen with Houston Methodist Urology Associates at Sugar Land, are dedicated to the treatment of the entire genital and urinary tract. They combine their clinical expertise with the advanced technology at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital to treat the following conditions: • Bladder disease • Erectile dysfunction • Female urology
• Incontinence • Infertility • Kidney stones
• Prostate issues • Urologic cancers
To schedule an appointment, call 281.746.6611 or visit houstonmethodist.org/spg to learn more about the practice. Dr. Laura Martinez
Dr. Neel Srikishen
16659 Southwest Fwy. Medical Office Building 2 Suite 401 Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.746.6611
houstonmethodist.org/spg
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To Advertise, Please call (281)201-5998
Mommy
Defeating
Guilt
The job of motherhood comes with so many insecurities and unknowns. It can be terrifying to shape the life of a little human! How can we ever be sure we are doing it right? Every mom has that nagging internal voice that creeps up from time to time, pointing out what we did wrong or questioning our decisions. That voice gets even louder when family and friends chime in to give their opinions. We need to build armor to protect us against the mommy guilt that is inevitable. Here are a few things to remember: You are doing the best you can with what you have and what you know. Looking back, we can always find things we wish we would have done differently. We didn’t know then what we know now AND we may not have had the tools we needed at the time. At any given moment, we are using the knowledge and resources we have available to make the best decisions we can. Learn to forgive your past self, because she did the best she could. There is more than one “right way” to parent a child. Your friends, colleagues, and family members will have neverending advice on the “right way” to handle your children. This advice can be well-meaning but so very confusing and overwhelming. What may have been “right” for them may not be “right” for you. Although they have the best intentions, others often assume that their way must have been the best way because it worked. What they often overlook is there are countless options that will work – depending on the child,
the family, and the situation. Listen and be thankful for the advice, but choose the option that fits best for you and never look back. You are the expert on your child. We know that child behavior is made up of personality, temperament, neurological differences, genetic differences, developmental stages, family and peer influences, life experiences, and the list goes on. This is why no two children develop or behave the same way. We have all had that moment of internally judging another parent with the thought “If it were me, I would never…” or “When I have kids, there is no way…” Once we are on the flip side of that judgment, we realize that no one truly understands our child the way we do. He may be having a tantrum in the grocery store because he has been sick for the past three days, because his father just deployed overseas, or because he has Autism and feels overstimulated by the crowd. Brush off the judgmental stares and remember that they have not stepped inside your shoes. Be sure to give other moms the same grace.
parent life
by Lindsay Asawa Ph.D Facebook photo. All parents make mistakes and have bad days.We have to learn to give ourselves a break. Moms are human (though sometimes expected to be superhuman) and we make mistakes every day. We raise our voice when we should stay calm, we show up late to soccer practice, we forget to pack their lunch, we do too much or expect too much from them, we slip and say something we shouldn’t, we make decisions we regret, and we absolutely want to lock ourselves in the bedroom from time to time. This is just part of being a mom. There are times we all feel angry, exhausted, frustrated, overwhelmed, worried, and guilty. The good news is we can learn from the mistakes and the feelings will pass, so allow yourself to be human and keep moving forward. Do you have behavioral or developmental questions about parenting? Email us at info@siennalist.com include ASK THE DOC in the subject line. We will keep your questions anonymous.
Things are not always what they seem. Thanks to Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, there is no shortage of mommy guilt. Perfect photos of homemade birthday cakes and sweet siblings holding hands can break down even the most confident mother. Limit your social media time and when you glance through those pictures of perfection, don’t forget the 15 outtakes of crying babies and sweating moms it took to get the golden
November 2018
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To Advertise, Please call (281)201-5998
Things To Accomplish
9 In N ov e m b e r In the garden it is time to plant cilantro, parsley, dill, mint, lavender and rosemary. Start your leeks and garlic so they will be ready early spring. If you want some blooms going for the holidays you’ll need to choose Crocus, alliums, ranunculus bulbs. Put your tulip bulbs in the refrigerator and on January 1 st , start planting them every two weeks through mid-February. On my nightside table.... Walter Isaacson’s Leonardo da Vinci & Matthew Klam’s Sam the Cat: and Other Stories. Both are about men on two different places on the spectrum!
Make a list of friends and family that you are planning on gifting to this holiday season and begin gathering from your year-round shopping. I try to take a day over Thanksgiving break with Black Friday being the most ideal, so you can stay at home and extend the break; avoid the crowds and get down to the business of wrapping and getting gifts under the tree. We always have the Christmas tree up right at Thanksgiving so we can enjoy all our efforts from decorating at least a month. Presents under the tree keep the children excited and a running tab in your mind as to who is still needing to be crossed off your list!
Schedule your family holiday portraits and begin addressing the envelopes to friends and family. I always write a newsletter giving everyone an overview of what the past year has brought to us. In most cases my family prefers a printed letter rather than to receive a text with updates. Funny how some things never change!
As always spend time with the children and, when you have a chance, the elderly. Both are readily agreeable to give their opinions and the advice you will receive in most cases will be priceless!
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the list BY ALISA MURRAY
WWW.ALISAMURRAY.COM
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PORTRAIT ARTIST & AWARD WINNING COLUMNIST.
My studios are collecting for House of Tiny Tots who serves our homeless children. I am the drop off point this year and will be taking donations until December 15. Please bring me diapers and swim diapers (sizes 5-6) baby wipes, hand sanitizer, laundry detergent, band aids, first-aid wipes, insect repellent, travel size toothpaste, child size toothbrushes, water, clothing, shoes (sizes 3-7) and unwrapped toys and bikes. Text me at 713-598-2207 to get the best time and where to drop off the supplies.
At my house we have been cutting back trees, washing exterior windows and pulling out sections of the attic closets to determine what could be donated as holiday décor. Good Will can always use a few extra Christmas trees and trimming. Now is a great time to purge those decorations and give away so someone else can use it for their fall decor and the stuff you don’t really want any more doesn’t get put back up there to sit another year.
It’s time to plan Spring break! There are many different options from warm to cold and historic places in between. As always, the early bird gets the worm so you’ll need to plan in advance to get the best rates on air and accommodations.
Make a list of things that you would like to accomplish in the coming year. Most of our goals are not met because of poor planning. By starting to think about these goals now you can begin to think through the steps you need to take to achieve them and you’ll have a jump start on 2019 by doing this before the new year.
November 2018
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health report Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sets The Pace With Tiny Heart Device SUGAR LAND—(October 11, 2018) — Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is the first in Fort Bend County to treat a patient with an irregular heartbeat using the world’s smallest pacemaker. Electrophysiologist and cardiologist Jie Cheng, M.D., successfully implanted the Micra™ Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS), developed by Medtronic, into a Beaumont man at Houston Methodist Sugar Land. Cheng was supported by cardiothoracic surgeon, Uttam Tripathy, M.D., and the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab staff.
large vitamin – and it can be implanted without the need for a surgical incision. It’s also self-contained so there is no need for a pocket under the skin to contain the wire lead that delivers the pacing therapy. That means no visible signs of the device, which is a positive for many patients, and a reduced risk of complications.”
The tiny pacemaker is implanted via a minimally invasive procedure; the pacemaker is delivered through a catheter inserted into the patient’s femoral artery in the groin area and placed directly into the heart’s right ventricle.
Slow or irregular heart rhythms, known medically as bradycardia, can cause dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath or fainting spells, because the heart doesn’t beat fast enough to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Pacemakers are the most common way to treat bradycardia; they send electrical impulses to the heart to increase or stabilize the heart rate, restoring its normal rhythm and relieving symptoms. The pacemaker automatically adjusts its pacing therapy based on the patient’s activity levels.
“This pacemaker is a major step forward for patients with slow or irregular heartbeats because it offers a number of significant advantages over traditional pacemakers,” said Cheng. “Most importantly, it is one-tenth the size of regular pacemakers – about the size of a
In addition to its other benefits, the tiny pacemaker is the first and only transcatheter pacing system to be approved for full-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. “That’s an important benefit because patients often fear their pacemaker will
be damaged or disrupted by an MRI,” said Cheng. “With the pacemaker, patients can feel comfortable undergoing an MRI scan in the future without worry of complications.” The pacemaker can be remotely monitored by the physician. The device and its implementation are covered by Medicare. Visit houstonmethodist.org/spg to find a cardiologist or other specialist in your area, or call 281.274.7500. Visit our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.
November 2018
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