October 2022

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EditorTalkSL

FOREVER EDITED

ELENA ELLIS Publisher / Editorial Director

In editing, there is a term used to describe the last line or word of a paragraph not able to fit at the bottom of a page or column—essentially it hangs alone looking out of place. It’s called a widow. It’s something editors don’t want, so we try to fix it. We work with the text that comes before to adjust the line’s tracking (spacing throughout the entire word) and kerning (spacing between two letters) to bring that lonely word back up with the rest of the paragraph. To prevent widows we aim to have at least two lines of text or words at the top or bottom of a paragraph. It’s not that easy to fix a widow in real life... and I know because I became one in October of 2012 at only 37 years old. I wrote about it here in my Editor’s Letter 10 years ago and I’ve been asked by many people lately who had no idea I was a widow to do it again. So on this milestone anniversary of my late husband’s passing, our sons and I choose to celebrate his life.

The standing alone part is true—about being a widow. Particularly a young one. Our twin boys were only 3 1/2 when he passed away suddenly. The abrupt end to something that was promised as “until death do us part,” I think is much harder on the one who gets to know exactly what this promise means after the death occurs. It’s the sudden space between us that hurts.

In the months and years that have followed his death, I have consistently heard, “I don’t know how you do it all” and “ You are so strong.” The fact of the matter is that no one asked me what I wanted. Becoming a widow just happened to me. It was never something that I wanted. So I made a choice. I could either curl up in fetal position in the corner and cry (which trust me I did want to do on many days) or I could get up and be strong for my boys, be there for my boys, heal for my boys, and God-willing, they would become stronger and heal also by following my example. And that’s exactly what I’ve done—and they have. We stood not alone but together as what we proudly called “The Three Musketeers.” Stronger together even though our lives were forever edited by the loss. And that’s the real truth of the matter. We actually don’t stand alone. There are so many widows and widowers out there. Once I became one, many of them reached out to me to offer support and to tell me I wasn’t alone. Do I still miss my husband... very much. He was my best friend, father of my children, and business partner. We started this magazine together, a family, and had a beautiful life while it lasted. I’m grateful for the almost 20 years we had together. So for any other widows or widowers out there reading this, we stand together. Forever edited, yes, but not alone. “For it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

Ernest Hemingway said, “If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it.”

PUBLISHER

EDITORIAL/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ELENA ELLIS (817) 657-2948

ELENA @societylifemagazine.com

ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR

AMY ACKERMANN (817) 600-8838

AMY @societylifemagazine.com

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

SOCIAL@societylifemagazine.com

PRODUCTION

CHERYL RYBKA

CINDIA FREIWALD

PHOTOGRAPHERS

VERA CROSBY

LORRAINE HAAN-STEWART

ALYCIA SAVAGE

WRITERS / COLUMNISTS

FRANK GESLANI

SANDY LOWE

MARY MACDOWELL

TRISHA MITCHELL

JON SALINSKY

SHANNON SALINSKY

JESSICA SERNA JENNIFER SLOAN

KATIE-ROSE WATSON

JIM VERDI

INTERESTED IN FREELANCE OPPORTUNITIES?

Society Life Magazine is always on the lookout for talented writers and photographers to join our team. If you are interested in learning more, please call or email the publisher at info above.

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Started May 2006

© 2022 Caye Publishing Group, Inc.

FaithFullSL

BY TRISHA MITCHELL

According to this Proverb, success is determined by the people we network with. Meaning, it doesn’t matter how knowledgeable or skillful we are, our dreams and aspirations will only come to pass if we are connected to the “right” people.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where suc cess is calibrated by who we know secularly. For some, celebrities, athletes and social media influencers have become their God. While there is nothing wrong with admiring the prosperity of others, it’s egregious to witness the number of people who choose to accumulate earthly connections while forsaking the spiritual One. Those who neg lect to become LinkedIn with the God Who has blessed them with everything they have (2 Peter 1:3). People who fail to establish a relationship with God Who owns everything (Psalms 24:1). Individuals who remain igno rant of Who He is—and all the promises associated with His name.

Knowing Who God is allows us to call on Him when we’re in need. When we realize that God is Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider, it prevents us from having panic attacks during a pandemic... and we are able to fend off not fret while facing inflation.

Not long ago, I came across a few quotes that caught my attention: Susan RoAne said, “It’s not what you know or who you know, but who knows you.” Contrarily, Sir Francis Bacon believes that “Knowledge is power” and that “A man is but what he knows.” Yet according to Jeffrey Combs, “It’s who you know and who can help you” that really matters. While each of these quotes possess some degree of truth, I believe Combs words resonate with the Believer because they align with Philippians 4:19, “my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” In this scrip ture, the writer identifies God as his own. This means he is connected to Him. He knows Who God is and is very much aware of God’s capabilities. He understands that every need he has or will ever have will be provided by God (Psalms 54:4, 121:2).

This is extremely important because we all know someone who is educated and is still unemployed. Someone who holds multiple

degrees, yet unable to secure meaningful work. This is a stark contrast to Sir Francis Bacon’s quote. Knowledge may be power, but currently it’s not hiring.

On the other hand, we may also know peo ple who’ve never stepped foot on a college campus. Yet, they have a six-figure salary. Did God bless them? Did they perhaps make the right connections? (As Susan RoAne suggest). Or did their parents pull a few strings? Who knows! But as Believers, our focus should not be on the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Our assignment is to affix ourselves to The One Who truly can “help” us when others claim, “there’s nothing I can do” (Psalm 118:8).

It’s common knowledge that there are masses of people who know “about” God, but do not have a personal relationship with Him. However, if they would just take the time to grow closer to God, He will grow closer to them (James 4:8). Hence, when the Lord is our shepherd, we have no lack in our life (Psalm 23:1). We can relax during any recession and not be flustered about our financial portfolio. Meaning, our success does not rely on the people in our personal contact list or a professional Rolodex. (If you’re under the age of 50, you may have to google “Rolodex”)

When really knowing God becomes our #1 priority, picking up the Bible, will be far more important than picking up business cards. As Believers, our success is God’s success (Proverbs 16:3). Not because of our good works, our family name or any professional associations. but because God promised in it His word to those who know Him. It’s my prayer that every reader will get to know Our Lord and Savior through His Son Jesus—and represent Him with a spirit of excellence. In our homes, out in the community, and even more so behind the company doors.

— Y’all be blessed!

STRENGTHEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND LIVE A FULFILLING, FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE

“Jesus prayed that we would come to know Him and His Father.”

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Cover2CoverSL

RIPE READS BOOK REVIEWS BY SANDY LOWE

You have to admire a person who self publishes a book. It’s a gutsy move to launch out on your own without the benefit of a traditional book publisher’s editors, fact-checkers or a marketing team. Self-published authors will don all those hats and more. Multiple hatwearer Mary MacDowell has shared a powerful story she titled Heavens to Betsey, based on her mother Juil’s life. Juil established a home for children with severe disabilities, which in real life was eventually purchased by the Marklund group of nursing facilities in Illinois. The story focuses on Mary, one of the family’s 11 children, and her coming of age challenges, denials and burdens throughout the 60s and 70s.

While it is Mary the author’s memories that anchor the story, she starts the novel by quoting Mark Twain, who said, “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” Like many of us, the character Mary, struggles to leave family troubles behind and become her own person, describing the family connection as “the apron strings tied around my neck.” Turning a phrase to fit the emotions of her characters is clearly this author’s gift.

She deftly describes one of the school teachers as “Sister Theresa Elizabeth...

the oldest of them all and... reported to have taught religion to John the Baptist himself.” This novel effectively grabs at your heartstrings right away with the character Mary’s descent into alcohol and drug addiction.

Flashbacks drop you into the tale of her life at home and her journey to self-forgiveness. The author’s word choices are attention-getting and the captivating characters keep the story moving with their depth.

The book’s author recommended that I purchase the Kindle version of her book Heavens to Betsey, and I will now encourage you to do the same. At the end of each chapter, you will find a curated song relating to the action. The music includes everything from the song “Set Me Free” by the Christian rock band Casting Crowns to a show tune by Irving Berlin.

If you notice typographical errors or other issues in the book’s text, kindly recall that a self published author wore all the hats to bring this story to life. When you reach the end of this book you will have traveled a satisfying path and met some very fascinating new people along the way—all between the pages of Heavens to Betsey.

A REVIEW OF ‘HEAVENS TO BETSEY’

Author, Mary MacDowell

ABOUT THE LOCAL AUTHOR: With actor, singer, personal trainer, and private chef on her resume—Mary loves to create. Her writing career began as a food and entertainment columnist for the Fort Worth Star Telegram’s Hometown Star. Mary grew up in Little Angels Nursing Home with her 10 brothers and sisters. Today, she is a monthly contributor to Society Life Magazine and resides in Colleyville with her husband of 42 years. Mary has three beautiful ‘girlies’ and is Grand Mary to five grandchildren. She is working on her second novel, The Long-Suffering of Rain, an intense mystery. Mary loves hanging in the Enchanted Circle of New Mexico, where most of her writing is crafted. Mary MacDowell is available for speaking engagements. You can reach her at memacdowell@gmail.com.

review,

email: elena@societylifemagazine.com

“Memories will either Tickle Your Heart or Haunt Your Soul.”

A SMALL PART OF A BIGGER STORY

TidBits

FEATURING THREE TOP RATED HAUNTED HOUSES

MOXLEY MANOR IS CELEBRATING 13TH HAUNTED HOUSE SEASON

TEACHER TURN UP

10 DFW TEACHERS SURPRISED

Witherite Law Group recently awarded $1,000 each to two DFW area teachers to help cover classroom expenses. Teachers from the metroplex were nominated by the community through a contest called “Teacher Turn Up” during the month of September. Teachers were nominated via online submission at myk104.com and two teachers were selected every Tuesday in September and awarded $1,000 each, particularly exceptional teachers and those with specific classroom needs. On Friday, September 23, attorneys from Witherite Law Group surprised winners in person with a $1,000 check. The “Teacher Turn Up” recipients include Coach D.Q. Piolet of North Dallas High School and Jonyelle MayesBuchanan of Dr. Linda Henrie Elementary School. “Teacher Turn Up” campaign ran until the end of September and recognized 10 teachers in the DFW area and awarded a total of $10,000 for classroom funding.

myk104.com | witheritelaw.com

Moxley Manor Haunted House delivers three haunted houses for one price—Moxley Manor, a mind blowing 3D Haunted House Big Top Terror, and Regan’s Revenge. Voted as one of the scariest haunted houses year after year, the 2022 season runs through Halloween. This haunted house is based on true events, but the attraction is not located in the actual Manor for safety reasons. The story goes like this... In 1920, Charles Moxley, his wife Grace and son William relocated to Dallas where they bought a mansion using inheritance. They weren’t used to having money and squandered it away. On the verge of financial ruin, Charles got pneumonia. Grace ordered Lillian Marshall, an attractive house maid with a nursing background, to watch over him. The two began spending a lot of time together. It wasn’t long before Grace noticed. Lillian and Grace got into a heated argument and Grace stormed out of the house. The next morning Grace was found lying in the living room, face down and her throat slashed. Grace’s death was ruled a homicide from an apparent botched robbery. In the months following, Charles married Lillian, and within a year young William was found bludgeoned to death in his bed. Even though tragedy loomed over the house, Charles and Lillian felt the only option they had to keep the house was to rent out spare rooms to guests. Converting the mansion into a lodging establishment was profitable and Lillian showered the woman and kids who came through with gifts, earning her the name Lady Bountiful. In 1922, Charles Moxley was found shot to death in his bed. A single bullet pierced the back of his head from a staged suicide. Lillian was charged with murder, but vanished. The house was vacant for many years, eventually sold to a businessman eager to re-open the Inn. But, he was unable to keep guests overnight. Most checked out early, complaining of strange disturbances, a few left without notice running out of the house. The house remains abandoned— rumors of it being haunted turns away buyers. It’s said that Lillian’s ghost still roams tormenting any and all who dare to enter. Moxley Manor Haunted House is located at 510 Harwood Road in Bedford. It’s the perfect place to get your scare on this Halloween season.

moxleymanor.com

TEXAS ANIMAL SHELTERS & RESCUES PART OF LOVE LARGE CAMPAIGN LOVE LARGE AND ADOPT OR FOSTER A BIG DOG TODAY

This October, 26 shelters and rescue groups will unite to help the most at-risk dog population with a “Love Large” Campaign that coincides with National Adopt a Shelter Dog month. From huskies to shepherds, terriers to mutts, animal shelters and rescue groups all over the Lonestar State are currently inundated with dogs over 40 pounds. Each of these dogs are awaiting a second chance at a new life. To help these dogs find homes, Best Friends Animal Society is teaming up with animal rescue groups and shelters for the “Love Large” Big Dog Adoption campaign throughout the month of October. Here are local participating shelters and rescues offering reduced/fee waived adoptions and special incentives through October 31: Arlington Animal Services, City of Fort Worth-Animal Care and Control, Dallas Hearts & Bones Animal Rescue, Operation Kindness of Carrollton, Fort Worth Saving Hope Rescue Fund, SPCA of Texas in Dallas, and The Love Pit in Dallas.

“Our goal is to get as many big dogs as possible out of shelters and into homes this October,” said Julie Castle, chief executive officer of Best Friends Animal Society. “Right now, there is a shelter crisis going on across the country, with many shelters at, or beyond, full capacity. It’s no small thing to adopt a big dog. And by adopting one, you are playing an important role in helping Best Friends reach our goal of making the country no-kill by 2025.” This past June, Best Friends Animal Society released their annual data showing that for the first time in five years, U.S. shelter systems saw a setback in lifesaving. In 2021, the number of dogs and cats killed in U.S. shelters increased from 347,000 to 355,000 and those numbers were especially dismal for big dogs as dog intake increased by nearly three times the rate of dog adoptions. Texas ranked number one in the country for pet shelter deaths. The “Love Large” adoption campaign is an op portunity to educate the public that big dogs can be part of almost any home, no matter the size. “There are so many myths about big dogs that we need to debunk,” said Castle. “Pets are individuals with their own unique needs, and we are excited to dedicate an entire month to showcasing that big dogs have big hearts and can make the perfect pet.” The campaign aims to educate the public on why big dogs can make sure excellent companion pets, including:

• They can make great pets for apartment living

• They tend to bark less than their smaller counterparts

• They can be a great addition to homes with kids and cats

• They are sometimes just oversized lap dogs who can give double the cuddles

Those not able to commit to adoption can still make a lifesaving impact for big dogs by temporarily opening their home to a foster dog through a local shelter or rescue. Food, supplies and medical treatment are typically provided free of cost to fosters. “Whether it’s a foster or adoption, dogs thrive in a home environment,” Castle said. “Shelters are really struggling right now, so we urge those who can open their hearts and homes to a big dog please do. Not only will you be saving a life, but you’ll be also part of the movement to make America a no-kill country by 2025.”

Visit: tinyurl.com/lovelarge (or) bestfriends.org

LIGHTS! ICE! ACTION! GAYLORD TEXAN SO MUCH CHRISTMAS

ICE! is back at Gaylord Texan. And, you are invited to don their signature blue parka and step into a wonderland carved by the expert artisans out of two million pounds of colorful ice. For 2022, experience The Polar Express with all new larger-than-life sculptures and even plunge down slides made entirely of ice in this Gaylord Hotels original experience. Tickets are on sale now and the ICE! exhibit will run from November 11 through January 1, 2023. Bringing The Polar Express to life is a meticulous process and a labor of love. It’s the work of master artisans from 7,000 miles away in Harbin, China, who chip away at two million pounds of ice over the course of several weeks to create the scenes you enjoy when you walk through Experience the beloved ICE! attractions at Gaylord Hotels this holiday season. Carving more than 10 million pounds of ice, it will take a team of 40 artisans from Harbin, China approximately six weeks to create each 19,000-square-foot frozen attraction. These expert artisans follow a 300-page design book filled with sketches and blueprints to create each individual piece. Each Gaylord Hotel property will feature a classic Christmas story or movie, making this is a holiday spectacle not to be missed. Become part of the Christmas stories you love! Book your experience at any of the Gaylord Hotels, where you can enjoy this one-of-a-kind holiday attraction. Unwrap the joy of the season at Gaylord Texan with endless hours of entertainment and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

GET 50% OFF WITH PROMO CODE: DECORATIONS

ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra an nounced appointment of Taichi Fukumura as Assistant Conductor. Mr. Fukumura will begin his two-year appointment beginning in the 2022–2023 season working directly with Music Director Robert Spano. A twotime recipient of the prestigious Career Assistance Award from Solti Foundation U.S., he is a gifted, young conductor who will make a significant contribution to the implementation of the FWSO’s new artistic vision. Mr. Fukumura is passionate about community engagement and education. Taichi will be an integral part of FWSO Education and Community initiatives by building out a new education program featuring TEKS-aligned curriculums and a focus on collaborative opportunities with area educational institutions. He’s a rising Japanese-American conductor known for his dynamic stage presence, resulting in a growing international career. Acclaimed for his musical finesse and passionate in terpretations, he is praised by musicians and audiences alike across the United States, Mexico, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Hong Kong, and Japan. President and CEO Keith Cerny, Ph.D. said, “Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra is delighted to welcome Taichi Fukumura in the 2022–23 season. He will have an extraordinary opportunity to work closely with Music Director Robert Spano over the next two seasons and we look forward to seeing him flourish in Fort Worth.” Taichi Fukumura shared, “I’m elated to join the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra as the new Assistant Conductor... I cannot wait to work with the incredibly passionate mu sicians and visionary leadership of FWSO to share wonderful musical experiences with our community, locals and beyond.”

GOOD RANCHERS DELIVERS 100% AMERICAN MEAT DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR MEAT COMES FROM?

Good Ranchers was founded on the core value of giving back. Through their Good Ranchers Food Drive, they have been able to donate over 500,000 meals to those who need it most since 2018. Their story begins like so many others. It begins with a problem. A problem you face as well. Four years ago, they came face-to-face with the issue that started it all. They wanted to know where their meat was coming from. With a young, growing family, they wanted to buy the best while still staying on budget, but those two goals seemed impossible with the current options. Either they bought the grocery store meat that came from who knows where with who knows what quality, or they spent three times as much on meat delivery services that seemed just as mysterious as the grocery store. Their solution to this problem can be yours as well—Good Ranchers.

Did you know that over 85% of all grass fed beef comes from overseas. That’s true even at your organic grocery store! That’s why they source from local ranches and farms throughout the heartland of America. Their beef is 100% American Beef from partner ranches and farms that meet their Standards of Excellence. They bootstrapped the business from Day 1, traveling to connect with the Good Ranchers all across the United States, researching what American families need, and putting together boxes to connect American products to American people. They believe there is no quality like American quality.They believe that everyone deserves to know where their meat comes from, and they believe each person should be able to afford it. Those are still the beliefs that drive the founders today. The Spell family is here to take the guesswork out of the meat aisle and the premium price out of premium meats with their company—Good Ranchers.

Most of all, they want to ‘Do Good’ while they ‘Eat Good.’ That’s why every box you purchase donates 10 meals to families in need. Over the past 4 years, their customers have helped donate over 500,000 meals to food banks across the country. Good Ranchers ‘Give10’ program is just getting started, and they hope you can join them to reach 1,000,000 meals donated very soon.

Skip the “one cut fits all” grocery stores! Choose Good Ranchers for real 100% American meat. They care about providing your family with high-quality meat at a reasonable price. This means all of their cattle are grass-fed and grain-finished to get that rich taste and marbled texture. All of their livestock grow in a stressfree environment and are never fed anything unnatural. Cattle are pasture-raised, chicken are free-range, and their farms are using the most innovative techniques to ensure every cut of meat that hits your table is a cut above the rest!

Good Ranchers lets you give the gift of unforgettable steakhouse quality that is 100% American. Whether you’re buying for someone you love or someone you work with, their boxes of top-quality meat are a gift they will savor and remember.

Visit: goodranchers.com

fwsymphony.org/Taichi-Fukumura

JOHN WAYNE: AN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE TO HOST BOOK SIGNING COFFEE & SPIRITS TASTINGS AT RED STEAGALL WEEKEND

The Stockyards will be jumping Oct. 28-30 at the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering, making it a perfect time for families attending the festival to visit John Wayne: An American Experience. On October 29, the 10,000-square-foot exhibit is hosting a day full of activities to coincide with the Gathering that include a coffee tasting, Stetson pop-up shop, book-signing and spirits tasting inside John Wayne Stock & Supply, the flagship retail store located at the Experience.

The day kicks off with a tasting of Gold Handle Coffee, a series of carefully curated blends named after a traditional gift presented by legendary actor John Wayne. During the making of his films, John Wayne gave each of his cast and crew members a personalized Gold Handle mug as a token of appreciation. The Duke's generous and unique tradition was celebrated through these collectible mugs and his love of sharing coffee with friends. Gold Handle Coffee was born of that tradition. The tasting will be held from 10am to 1pm. At the same time, legendary Westernwear maker Stetson will be on-site with a Stetson X John Wayne hat personalization pop-up with Stetson Head Designer Claudia Medina. The collection features hats that are reminiscent of those worn by John Wayne in countless movies. Then from 3-6pm, Marisa Wayne, John Wayne’s youngest daughter, will make an appearance to sign advance copies of John Wayne: The Official Cocktail Book, which doesn’t officially hit bookstores until November 1. The book features more than 70 recipes inspired by the life and legacy of The Duke. The collection takes cocktail aficionados on a trip through some of John Wayne’s most memorable films, with drinks inspired by Rooster Cogburn, Davy Crockett and other characters associated with the actor. Test out some of those recipes with Duke Spirits. The Duke once told his son, Ethan Wayne, that he wanted to create his own liquor lines. Years after his father’s death, Ethan discovered a wooden vault containing an archive, a message and a reserve of bottles dating back to 1962. With this in hand, Duke Spirits, led by vintner and distiller Chris Radomski, brought the recipes and history back to life through award-winning bourbon, rye and tequila offerings. Duke Spirits will be sampling some of its bourbons and tequilas, along with some recipes from John Wayne: The Official Cocktail Book, in John Wayne Stock & Supply from 1-4pm.

While enjoying the activities, guests are invited to buy tickets to tour John Wayne: An American Experience. The exhibit is structured to give guests an intimate tour of the life of John Wayne. Patrons of the exhibit have exclusive access to neverbefore-seen memorabilia, family photos and correspondence that have been thoughtfully curated by the Wayne family to give guests a holistic view of the icon, whose values translate both on and off the silver screen. Red Steagall Weekend at John Wayne: An American Experience is located in the Fort Worth Stockyards His toric Exhibits Building at 2501 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth 76164. The tastings and book signing are free. Tickets to the exhibit are $21.95 for adults and $17.95 for kids 6-12. Kids 5 and younger are admitted to the exhibit free.

Visit: johnwayne.com/experience

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

IN BUSINESS WHO’S WHO

It all starts with an idea—subsequently drive, purpose and perseverance kick in to make something of the conception. Running a successful business must rely on more than just a good idea. Finding success in business is challenging during the best of times—charting a successful course during difficult seasons can make many question their decision to start up their own company. The 18 businesses featured in our 2022 Who’s Who in Local Business section know that by turning obstacles into opportunities and moving forward one step at a time, they will be able to determine their future success . They know that change can sometimes be so vast that it’s hard to tell a disaster from a challenge—however that’s exactly when navigating the ups-and-downs of pursuits proves Who’s Who in Business by those who not only survive, but excel.

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER SLOAN

COVER STORY Susan Semmelmann Interiors

PHOTO BY LORRAINE HAAN-STEWART

Susan Semmelmann Interiors is owned and operated by a distinguished and innovative designer expert in all facets of home design.

Susan’s passion for capturing the dreams and visions of her clients and crafting them into a beautiful reality knows no bounds.

Now more than ever, our homes have become sanctuaries. In the past two years, most of us have spent more time inside our home than any other time of our lives. For many, home also became the workplace, the schoolhouse or both. For a while, nights out on the town became intimate nights in, curled up on the sofa with take-out. Countless memories were made at home during this period of our lives and for some, we’ll continue making home the go-to spot for gatherings because it’s comfortable, reliable and certain. However, with excessive use comes excessive wear. With the season of entertaining upon us, you might be looking for a refresh for your safe-haven. Whether remodeling your bathroom, updating your kitchen or returning those spare rooms back to retreats for out-of-town guests, any home redesign project comes with a lot of moving parts. It can be a daunting task to undertake on your own — but it doesn’t have to be. One person who can assist you with the bulk of the process is interior designer Susan Semmelmann. Together with her team, Susan looks at the big picture and all the little details to design a beautiful, yet highly functional space. Using their training and expertise in space planning and stylistic design, Susan Semmelmann Interiors will transform your space into not only a place, but an experience. It’s not only about making a room look good, but also making sure it functions in a way that serves your household. With services ranging from remodeling an existing house to guiding customers through a new build from the ground up, Susan Semmelmann Interiors has every facet of design and construction covered.

PASSION AND PURPOSE

Susan Semmelmann Interiors

COVER STORY

Susan Semmelmann Interiors

INTERIOR DESIGN WITH YOU IN MIND

Susan Semmelmann Interiors combines innovation and creativity with classic design traditions which in turn make the spaces not just beautiful, but also livable. To create an interior design, you need to consider your favorite color schemes, textures, materials and even the heights of your existing and future pieces. The different combinations of these furnishings can change the feel in the room dramatically. These are details that can be overlooked when taking on a big home project on your own. But it’s these small details that make a big difference on how people experience their surroundings. “We spend our days catching each client's vision and excitement for their home and bringing it to reality,” says Susan. “Our heart-centered approach focuses on excellence, down to the very smallest detail.” The company leverages the experience with custom-crafted furnishings and accessories bringing the vision to life. Though it be residential or commercial, Susan and her team strive to maintain uniqueness in every project.

PUSHING BOUNDARIES

Susan Semmelmann Interiors consistently puts cutting-edge technology first and uses a plethora of tools for project planning, visualization and completion. They have a full design team trained to be progressive in the industry with state-of-theart tech designers constantly at work to create custom spaces and products for their clients, utilizing innovative and state-of-the-art software programs. “We stay at the forefront of today's market to continuously give our clients unique and industry-leading products and designs for their homes,” Susan shares. “We build confidence with our clients in making the leap to give them something that is specifically designed for them and their lifestyle.” [continued]

BEAUTY IN THE DETAILS

“Our heart-centered approach focuses on excellence, down to the very smallest detail.”

— Susan Semmelmann

“I fully believe that if we don’t give back, then what are we working for — it is helping others that makes this world a better place.”

— Susan Semmelmann

HOME IS WHERE WE FIND LIFE

— Susan Semmelmann

IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, WE CAN BUILD IT

Think the perfect size sofa or color of comforter just doesn’t exist, well if you can imagine it, Susan’s team can bring it into existence. They manufacture their own furnishings, as well as partner with other vendors to create one-of-a-kind pieces. They can take a design vision from 2D to 3D renderings to reality. “We have our own manufacturing facility for our Susan Semmelmann Interiors Collection of furnishings, bedding and drapery, so our clients can have a fully custom design experience if they prefer,” admits Susan. Her team goes directly to the mills to source luxury fabrics, in addition to importing fabrics from all over the world— thus allowing them to create pieces to fit any style or space. Furthermore, Susan Semmelmann Interiors is in the process of launching the Fort Worth Design Studio, opening in 2023, where her team will be able to offer hundreds of lines of products to the public. Clients can walk in and receive design advice from one of their designers on any budget to accommodate their design. “With an eye on supplychain issues, we are focused on diversifying product access and availability to cover our clients’ needs. We are bringing more resources than ever before, as well as launching our ecommerce site that will allow people from anywhere to purchase our exclusive products.”

THE SPIRIT OF LIVING IS IN THE GIVING

Susan Semmelmann Interiors has built a reputation around being passionate about bringing their clients’ dreams to life. Apart from her passion for designing homes, Susan is also driven by her charitable work. “The Spirit of Living is in the Giving” is the motto for Susan Semmelmann Interiors. Susan says it truly summarizes her purpose in life for doing what she does. “I live to share my heart and talents with the world around me. One of core values within my company is we all have a giver’s heart—it is amazing the power that comes from a giving spirit.”

Susan’s attitude of gratitude was born out of a trying time in her family’s life. In 2010, Susan’s husband Marc was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. At the time, Susan was working full-time. She then carried over the operations of Marc’s business, all while caring for their children and making back and forth trips to MD Anderson. During Marc’s stay at MD Anderson, Susan came across a charitable organization called Raquel’s Wings for Life—which flew her back and forth through out his treatment. Susan and Marc pledged to pay forward this kindness. Soon after Marc’s recovery, he received his pilot’s license and now flies patients and their families to and from MD Anderson several days a week. Holding herself true to the pledge, Susan surprised non-profit organization Wish with Wings with a complete custom makeover of their office lobby. Susan continues this tradition with the Susan Semmelmann Interiors Foundation, which provides charitable makeovers for one charity each year. “I live and work to give back to those around me. The more you give the more you get back, and what you get back is a full heart to share joy and passion with others.”

clients’ dreams and visions to life.”

A Trusted Texas Company for Texas Families We Value Family, Integrity and Quality Work

Specialty | At Ahlers Roofing and Construction, we believe in putting customer satisfaction first in everything we do. We are more than just roofing. Ahlers offers a wide variety of full construction services to fit all your residential and commercial needs. From roofing to brand new construction, interior improvements, fencing, home restorations, flooring, bathrooms, kitchens, drywall and so much more—Ahlers Roofing and Construction is the company of choice.

Why Choose Us | Ahlers was founded by myself Danny Ahlers, my father Dan, and my wife Tabatha with two important principles—treat customers like family and do excellent work everyday. The key to ours success is keeping their customers happy by treating their property like it’s their own. We’re very forthcoming with information. We educate the consumer throughout their construction process. Our customers don’t get caught off guard. If it’s an insurance claim, we thoroughly go over the insurance process. We disclose the good, the bad and the ugly before we even get started so there are no surprises along the way.

What Clients Can Expect | First of all, on your roof day your salesman or the project man ager will work with you to select the best time to replace your roof—keeping in mind the weather forecast. Your yard will most likely be littered with materials during the process, but rest assured that at the end everything should be cleaned up so you can simply enjoy your beautiful new roof. Your roofer will send you the ‘Certificate of Completion’ which also has your warranty details.

The Ahlers Difference | There are a lot of questions, and even anxiety, associated with any roofing or home construction project. In order to select a reputable company it’s important to select a local company that has a business office and is fully insured. They must be capable of doing all types of roofing and general contracting work. Read their reviews and make sure they get good reviews. Good Contractors List is a great place to find reputable and insured contractors. Choose a company backed by an industry association such as the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) and the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (NTRCA).

What Sets Us Apart | We are committed to quality in our work. That’s why we use only the best materials available today. With our goal of building lasting relationships with our customers in mind, we always strive to provide exceptional service. We want you to be our customer for life. We value family, integrity and quality work. We are a trusted Texas company for Texas families. At Ahlers Roofing and Construction, our customer’s satisfaction is our top priority!

Doing It R.I.G.H.T. | At Ahlers Roofing and Construction, we live by the values of respect, integrity, generosity, honor and time (which form the acronym RIGHT), and those values trickle down to our entire team. We have created this great culture where our employees really feel valued, are truly appreciated and they do a great job because they feel like they are family. That strong company culture finds its way to our customer experience. Not only do clients benefit from a well-functioning team of professionals, they also receive clear com munication and customer education. Our family insists on full transparency with our clients to keep them at ease with each step of the process.

You Should Know | At Ahlers, we take care to provide our customers with high quality services that are personalized for their unique needs. Our staff members are professional, courteous, and efficient. We are a company with many years of experience in residential roofing repair, re-roofs, full home restorations and minor fixes. If you are looking for a top notch residential roofing company in DFW, please call us and allow us the opportunity to give you a free professional estimate. We will work with your insurance company to make sure your cost is as affordable as possible. We even have insurance claim specialists on staff to make the process as painless as possible. Let us know what you need. We’re here for you.

Ahlers Air | At Ahlers Heating and Air, we have industry trained and certified technicians who are licensed for both HVAC and plumbing. We can rectify all of your heating, cooling and plumbing needs for both residential and commercial At Ahlers, our leading focus is 100% customer satisfaction.

Pictured | (l-r) Danny Ahlers and Dan Ahlers

North Richland Hills, Texas 76182

(469) 300-COLD

AhlersAir.com

Ahlers Roofing and Construction

AHLERS AIR, HEATING & PLUMBING

By Remaining Completely

Bryan Clintsman, CFP® FOUNDER / PARTNER

Specialty | We are Fiduciaries, and specialize in comprehensive financial planning provided on a Fee-Only basis. We offer advice on retire ment planning, education funding, insurance analysis, tax planning, estate planning review, as well as investment advice and ongoing portfolio management.

What Sets Us Apart | Just as healthcare professionals can be specialists or generalists, financial professionals can be specialists (brokers, accountants, life insurance agents, etc.) or compre hensive generalists. We believe having a com prehensive financial planner is the best choice

Objective Throughout the Financial Planning Process

for most people—much like having a long-term relationship with a family practice doctor who travels down the road of life with you and manages your overall care.

Characteristics For Success | First is the intimate, long-term relationships we develop with clients. Financial Planning is much like your health fitness in that it is not a one-time event. So going to a doctor or reading a health care article once every few years will not likely lead to being healthy any more than visiting a broker or reading a financial article every now and then will lead to financial success. Second is our client-focused fee structure. We’re among an uncommon group of financial planners called Fee-Only advisors who have taken an oath not to accept financial payments of any

type for any financial product recommenda tions. Many experts consider this a better way for consumers to help ensure objectivity in their financial advice.

Why Choose Us | As a faith-based practice, our mission has always been to do the right thing for people of all walks of life. As one of the area’s largest and most experienced com prehensive, Fee-Only financial planning prac tices, we have the capacity to assist a broad variety of clients and issues. Many of our ad visors have advanced degrees and “big firm” consulting experience, but we also have the ad vantage of being locally-based.

Setting the Standard | Designations can indicate an area of specialty or expertise. The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM

Clintsman Financial Planning

(CFP®) mark is the most difficult to obtain in our profession and is considered the industry standard for financial planners. A CFP® is to financial planning what a CPA is to accounting.

How We Measure Success | Two things: Having built a firm that welcomes those of all wealth levels, and one that honors the Fiduciary Standard. The Fiduciary Standard simply means putting the client’s interests ahead of your own when providing advice. Amazingly, many financial advisors are still not required to adhere to the Fiduciary Standard—something we have done since we were founded in 2002.

What Clients Can Expect | Many new clients comment about how easy it is to talk with us, and to share personal details about their financial lives. We believe that comes from

simply being good listeners. The saying really is true: people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. At our recent 20th anniversary celebration we realized we were not just surrounded by clients, but good friends. We consider it an honor to work with each new client who comes to us.

Words To Live By | For anyone seeking their purpose in life: “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” – Steve Jobs

You Should Know | Our beliefs define who we are. We believe that everyone is entitled ac cess to unbiased financial advice at a fair price. We also believe you should not dread going to see your financial advisor and that meetings can actually be fun and educational. We believe

in the Golden Rule, in having compassion for people and their life situations, in the impor tance of confidentiality and discretion, and that it is an honor to be chosen to guide clients’ financial journeys. Most of all, we believe in the attributes of gratitude and thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon us.

Pictured | (back row l-r) Greg Lanier, Cher Ulrich, Clay Jinks, Bryan Clintsman, Randall Crimmings, Kyle Imhof, Shara Long, Ben Jones, Analiese Holmes. (seated on bench in front l-r) Jaime Ellis, Mandy Sessler. Shelby Huber (not pictured)

1900 W. Kirkwood Blvd., Suite 2500C Southlake, Texas 76092 (817) 410-8200

ClintsmanFP.com

David Martin & Son Roofing

Elevating the Roofing Industry with High Standards

Owners David and Jennifer Martin

Specialty | David Martin & Son Roofing repairs or replaces residential or commercial construction roofing projects—no matter how small the roof repair or large the replacement contract. We build relationships that are based on trust and integrity. Our goal is to provide roofs that will deliver an ownership experience that delights clients and is consistent with the premium products that we sell, service and install. We’re focused on building longterm relationships one roof at a time.

Defining Success | We define success by being able to help and serve others. We are driven by a philosophy that our success will ultimately be determined more by the number of people we help, rather than the amount of roofs we install.

Greatest Professional Accomplishment | It is an honor to be recognized in the industry as one of the top roofing companies in the area. We’re proud to have been designated as a ‘Best’ and ‘Top’ roofer consistently within Tarrant County by the community and local publications. In addition, we’re honored to be inductees into Marquis Who’s Who in America— David was in 2021 and I was inducted this year 2022.

What Sets Us Apart | It can’t just be about money. Sure, we all need it, but it can’t be about that. The consumer is very intelligent. Even if they don’t know the first thing about roofing, they will rely on the truth—and the truth always has a sweet sound to it. They’ll remember if you tell the truth.

Credibility | Our commitment to integrity has also caught the attention of insurance carriers. We are frequently called upon by insurance companies to evaluate disputed or bogus claims. They trust our word about whether a job needs to be done or not, and in turn, we continually work to earn that trust. Insurance companies share information and talk to each other. They look you up to decide if you are credible. We’re at a point now that we’re seeing less and less denial on claims that we are involved in because insurance carriers see us differently.

Giving Back | Paramount to both of us is building relationships that are based on trust and integrity. This belief carries over into community involvement. There are many charities that are important to

both my husband and myself. Supporting children in their sporting programs in our community is of particular importance to us, in addition to also contributing to our local community police depart ments. Most of all, being supportive of our U.S. soldiers that lay down there lives for us and our great country is of utmost importance.

Client Testimonials | “We are very pleased with the entire process of replacement of our roof by David Martin & Son Roofing! The quality of mate rials and fine workmanship are evident throughout the end product. David has an eye for architectural detail and Jennifer worked through all the paperwork with the mortgage and insurance companies. Before replacement our roof just looked bland, but now it really stands out above the others in our neighbor hood! We highly recommend David Martin & Son Roofing to anyone needing their roof replaced.”

“David and his wife, Jennifer, drove us all around Colleyville for an entire afternoon to help us decide on the color and aesthetic details of our new roof. On this drive, it became very evident of the level of service that we would receive. They were extremely knowledgeable and answered all of our questions regarding materials and were able to show us so many options and examples of their completed work.”

Words To Live By | Don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t cheat, and above all, never hurt anyone.

You Should Know | We know that a handful of dishonest contractors can tarnish the reputation of the greater roofing industry. And while we can’t control how those bad operators run their businesses, we stand on integrity, trust and strong personal relationships to build goodwill for our company. So, we fight dishonesty with honesty. Everyone makes mistakes—it’s how you learn, grow and improve. The trick is making new mistakes, not repeating old ones. We are not a perfect company by any means, but we are perfect in correcting our mistakes if ever needed.

At The End of a Long Day… We can be found playing ball by the pool with our Labrador ‘Honey’ and German Shepherd ‘Macallan.’ On weekends, we are on the lake catfish and bass fishing by day, and enjoying a drink (or two) by night on our dock.

Boulevard, Suite A, Colleyville, Texas 76034

DavidMartinAndSonRoofing.com

Dentistry by Greg L. Gist DDS

The Superior

Way is Elevating Dentistry Dentistry for the Quality Conscious

Specialty | Comprehensive restorative and crown and bridge dentistry with an emphasis on cosmetic rehabilitations. All cases are accomplished with comfortable oral sedation to be efficient with every patient’s busy schedule, as well as to put the most anxious patients at ease.

World-Class | As Southlake’s first dentist, Dr. Greg L. Gist has been practicing in the same location since 1984. His treatment philosophy sets his dental practice apart on a national level. His Master Lab Ceramist says that Dr. Gist’s practice accomplishes more all ceramic smile designs and comprehensive dental rehabs than any other single doctor practice in the entire country—attracting patients from all over the United States, as well as many foreign countries.

Three Things That Set Us Apart | 1) Quality. Dr. Gist’s approach to overall systemic health is the difference that sets this practice apart. He is com mitted to a higher standard of clinical and aesthetic excellence using only biocompatible materials that support systemic infection-free health. 2) Worldclass team. Dr. Gist feels blessed to be able to care for their patients in a fun and loving environment, surrounded by the most talented and nurturing support staff. They’ve been referred to as ‘The most amazing dental team in America!’ by many of their patients. 3) No managed care philosophies. They believe that a patient should have the final say as to the level of care that they want to pursue, and that decisions made by insurance companies tend to best serve insurance companies. This practice has no managed care philosophies in place and is relationship driven—they know their patients by their name, not their insurance coverage.

Improving Lives | Dr. Gist’s goal for his patients is to have their teeth for a lifetime, which is entirely possible for the vast majority of Americans today. He knows that the level of care they provide creates value for their patients by delivering what they know to be the finest in dental art and science that’s available today. It’s a responsibility they take seriously and one that improves the lives of their patients and friends. This brand of world-class clinical and

aesthetic excellence in cosmetic and restorative dentistry isn’t for everyone, but those patients desiring a higher level of care have found their practice to be a safe place of extreme excellence.

Why Choose Us | Dr. Gist’s experience and approach to overall systemic health is the difference that sets this practice apart. For over 30 years, his team has been committed to a higher standard of clinical and aesthetic excellence using only biocom patible materials that support systemic infectionfree health. This is accomplished in a loving and comfortable environment that features a dental team who truly believes this is their calling.

Junior Partner & Protégé | Dr. Gist is excited to welcome Carter Hayes DDS as his junior partner and protégé. Dr. Hayes began working in the dental practice at the beginning of August. He’s a native born Texan, graduated with honors from Abilene Christian and then graduated at the top of his class at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. After graduating from dental school, he spent five years practicing dentistry in North Texas within a corporate dental model. Dr. Gist is excited to share what he’s learned over four decades in dentistry and to keep providing the choice of excellence to keep smiling and be healthy with your own natural teeth—for a lifetime!

What Clients Can Expect | Patients who come to Dr. Gist’s practice can expect for this dental team to deliver the very best service and highest quality dental care in the world—to patients looking for this level of care. Their team will continue to be a blessing to every patient that God brings them.

You Should Know | If you’ve been hiding your smile, putting up with pain or putting off going to the dentist—their safe sedation dental techniques mean that you can have years of dental treatments done quickly and with little to no discomfort. They confidently promise you the finest, safest and most comfortable dental care.

Science to Create Beautiful Smiles

Steven Branberg, DDS

Specialty | With other dentists, if a patient needs help with multiple missing or decayed teeth, they usu ally have to bounce between different dental offices to get everything they need. With The DFW Dental Implant Center, however, even the most complicated dental cases can all be handled in just one convenient location. Dr. Steven Branberg is a general dentist and prosthodontic expert, meaning he has extensive knowledge and experience repairing and replacing teeth using the most advanced techniques and mate rials available today. He’s able to perform the entire dental implant procedure from start to finish. His goal for every patient is for them to have a smile that looks great, feels even better, and can be trusted to last a lifetime. After Dr. Branberg rehabs someone’s smile, he and the rest of his team are also able to provide ongoing preventive care to ensure their patients enjoy optimal oral health for decades to come.

Why Choose a Prosthodontist | Patients choose a Prosthodontist because of their advanced education and training, efficiency, and expertise with advanced technology. Prosthodontists are extensively trained in state-of-the-art techniques and procedures for treating complex dental conditions and restoring optimum function and esthetics. The term “prostho” actually means replacement and “dontist” means dealing with teeth. Essentially, Prosthodontists are the recognized experts when anything needs to be replaced in your mouth. This can range from a single tooth, multiple teeth, or all teeth and gums in the mouth. While many other dentists can do some of these treatments, Prosthodontists are the specialists dedicated to this type of care, and why so many trust their expertise.

What Clients Can Expect | Unlike dentures or dental bridges, getting dental implants is a multi-step process that spans the course of several months. While this may seem like quite a while, it’s this thorough and unique placement that ensures the results are comfortable and long-lasting. In fact, dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime! During your consultation, Dr. Branberg will walk you through your entire treatment plan step-by-step.

What Sets Us Apart | What sets Dr. Branberg apart from other dentists and prosthodontists is that he completes every stage of the dental implant treat

ment himself—including both the surgical placement and the restoration. He’s also given numerous presen tations to general dentists on various aspects of prosthodontics, including lectures titled A Systematic Approach to Complete Dentures, Removable Partial Dentures for the General Practitioner, and Implant and Tooth-borne Full-Mouth Reconstructions. He believes that sharing his knowledge and experience with other dental colleagues only helps to improve every patient’s results!

Dental Implant Difference | The reason dental implants are so special is that they are the only restora tion that brings back an entire tooth both above and below the gumline. Compared to traditional tooth replacements, dental implants provide a stable foun dation by replacing the missing roots and fusing directly to the jawbone. With dental implants, your replacement teeth are bonded securely, so you can enjoy a truly lifelike smile. This is why dental implants have become the gold standard in the dentistry field for missing or failing teeth.

Improving Lives | Dr. Branberg (also known as “Dr. B”) started practicing here in Texas in 2011, and he’s proud to be a dedicated Colleyville dentist and prosthodontist—helping countless patients achieve incredible smile transformations. He not only im proves their dental health, but also helps them feel more outgoing and confident in their everyday life.

You Should Know | Thanks to his prosthodontic training, Dr. Branberg knows a thing or two about replacing missing teeth, having rebuilt countless smiles over the course of his career. Whenever someone comes to see him wanting to replace their missing teeth, his first recommendation is always dental implants. Why? Because they offer the best of every thing in a single treatment—unmatched aesthetics, supreme functionality, and sturdy construction that can last for decades. When you are ready to enjoy a full and confident smile again, dental implants are your best answer—and you can get them at The DFW Dental Implant Center in Colleyville. Is your smile in need of some serious help? If so, Dr. Steven Branberg is ready to provide everything you need at the highest possible level. To learn more schedule your free one-on-one consultation today.

DFW

Implant Center

The Benefit Link

Stewart & Diana Scothern CEO & PRESIDENT/FOUNDER

Specialty | The Benefit Link provides crucial guidance seniors need in order to make educated decisions without being influenced. We help you choose the right Medicare plan for the best healthcare while guarding your finances from high medical bills. As insurance agents and advo cates for seniors, we help you obtain Medicare Supplement (Medigap), drug plans, dental, vision, and life insurance. The Benefit Link essentially takes the place of a benefits coordinator by pro viding ongoing support. Working with seniors is our sole expertise—there is no charge for our services and we’re available on a direct basis. We provide insurance services in all 50 U.S. states and have access to all major insurance carriers.

Defining Qualities | We exceed expectations— we’re purely here to serve our clients and create lifelong relationships by providing continuous support. As leading experts in our field, we value

the friendships and trust established with our clients as someone to rely on—and we rely on our faith. What gets us through challenges is knowing that we are able to give hope to others during difficult seasons as we encourage them. We pray for our clients and remind them God has a good plan for their life.

My Why | Looking back, I realize this is what I was destined to do. I had a seven-year-old sister diagnosed with diabetes who went on Medicare at only 23. I was in my 20s, which is a pretty young age to be exposed to Medicare, and our family wasn’t prepared to handle it. I remember my mother spending so much time and energy trying to find resources to help us through an already tough time. That is when a seed was planted within me. I realized that by giving people on Medicare all the information they need, as well as support, counseling and guidance—we could truly make a difference in people’s lives. That is why I formed The Benefit Link.

Greatest Professional Accomplishment |

It’s an honor to have been recognized in the

industry as one of the top producers in the United States for over 20 consecutive years—and also to have served on advisory boards for some of the largest insurance carriers in the United States.

What Clients Can Expect | We are proud to work independently, and we have access to virtually every major insurance company and their plans. We are dedicated to knowing everything we can by tracking premiums, rate increase history and trends across all companies so we can provide as much information as possible—and at no cost to you!

Making A Difference |

By knowing your specific needs, we can help you make the right decisions that will benefit you in an industry that can typically be impersonal. Providing peace-ofmind is something you just can’t put a price on.

6209 Colleyville Boulevard Colleyville, Texas 76034 (817) 904-2110

TheBenefitLink.com

Beverly

Heather Tindell

OWNER / FOUNDER / SPA DIRECTOR

Specialty | Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Centers (BHRC) are pioneers of cutting-edge services and treatments for anti-aging, as well as inner and outer wellness. We spe cialize in regenerative medicine, Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, vitamin supplementation, and we’re one of the leaders in the country for aesthetics. BHRC Dallas offers an array of services including IV therapy, body contouring, laser treatments, HydraFacials and more. We’re committed to offer services that promote healthy aging and boost your confidence and well-being.

What Sets Us Apart | Our underlying foundation to always be results-driven defines us. There’s nothing cookie cutter about what we do! Everything is customized for each of our client’s needs. Our highly trained and certified medical team is lead by board certified physician, Medical Director Dr. James Kadi, and practitioners who are certified and licensed in anti-aging and wellness. We’re proud to have an impeccable and flawless patient record of care and treatment with the Texas Medical Board.

Why Choose Us | The BHRC brand is synonymous with wellness transformation and we’re fortunate to have the original branding in North Texas. Developed with the oversight of Spa Director Heather Tindell and Medical Director Dr. James Kadi—who established the original BHRC Los Angeles location—only their six North Texas centers maintain the original skill set, foundation and medical protocols of their principal L.A. concept.

Setting Standards | Maintaining both quality and standards is extremely important to me as the founder. I’m very big on education and communication. Through this we can figure out what our clients true goals are and also help manage their expectations to design long term treatment plans. BHRC has safety protocols in place to achieve optimal results. Clients love our clinics for the fun, friendly, beautiful atmosphere that provides comfort while delivering safe and effective treatments.

Defining Success | We measure success by our client referrals, outcomes and growth of the company over the past decade. Referrals are the biggest compliment that you can receive. We have no intentions of slowing down or stopping! BHRC is expanding here still in the DallasFort Worth Metroplex—and now in the Arizona market.

|

Tindell,

Dr. James Kadi, Medical Director

251-9280

379-0566

Cindy Kay Campbell

PRESIDENT / CEO

Specialty | CKM Management is a full-service staffing agency with experienced promotional Brand Ambassa dors for wine & spirit tastings, trade shows, conventions, in-store promotions and special events which also includes bartending. At CKM (also known as Cindy Kay Models Inc.) our mission is to provide clients with high energy brand ambassadors or models who conduct themselves with a professional demeanor and are knowledgeable of the products they are demonstrating.

Defining Success | We believe in forging relationships with effective communication is the key to our success. The result is always positive and professionally conducted product demonstrations that customers enjoy, and which leads to product awareness and sales for our clients.

What Sets Us Apart | When it comes to product knowledge, we go a step further than just offering product technical sheets. We research fun facts and selling points about the products of upcoming demonstrations and communicate that to our team. This makes CKM brands ambassadors a step above the rest.

Setting Standards | CKM increases product and brand awareness to ensure your event is a success while providing peace-of-mind that your event will be handled profession ally. As a statewide Texas agency (and soon to include additional states), we provide coverage in every major market, plus most smaller markets across Texas. We specialize in brand building for both on and off premise establishments.

Education & Expertise | Cindy Kay Models Inc. was started in 2000 and with over 25 years of experience in fashion and print it was the perfect business for me! This is where the name originated from! Soon I moved into other parts of the industry. I updated the name to CKM Management in 2004 to include more than just fashion, but also to include a broader area of the marketplace which would include, wine, spirits and special events. My goal was, and still is, to provide top talent that are well-trained and knowledgeable in all areas.

Glamour Doll Girl | During the pandemic in 2020, I started a new company called Glamour Doll Girl offering a growing glamour line of vintage accessories. With my fashion background, this was something I always wanted to do. It’s a fun new adventure for my fashionable side!

At the End of a Long Day... I love relaxing in my pool, going out with friends and, of course, enjoying a glass of wine or a specialty cocktail in one of the many amazing restaurants or bars in my area. It is the perfect ending to my day and a great way to get ready for a fun new day with CKM Management and Glamour Doll Girl!

Owned - Based in Colleyville

416-7597

management.com

CKM Management CINDY KAY MODELS INC.

Institute of Spinal Disorders

Robert Myles, MD, FAAOS ORTHOPEDIC SPINE SURGEON

Specialty | At the Institute of Spinal Disorders, Dr. Robert T. Myles directs an integrated team approach including: pain specialists, physician assistant, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, chiropractors, nutritionist, counseling, laser therapy, acupuncturist and massage therapy. Dr. Myles and his team treat the gamut of spinal problems and are recognized by peers and patients for providing world-class spine care.

What Sets Us Apart | While my practice has utilized a multidisciplinary approach for years, I have been in focused pursuit of developing a truly integrated, one-stop-shop spine center— assembling an expert team of physicians and care providers all under one roof. This seamless system of care encourages the best outcomes.

Best of the Best | I’m proud to be considered an innovator after I developed and patented a

minimally invasive surgery device. This device is now used in almost all minimally invasive access systems. As a fellowship trained spine surgeon, it’s important to know that this distinction is the result of advanced, specialized training that provides increased proficiency in the operating room. If surgery is the appropriate course of action for you—you will be in the best possible hands!

Surgery As Last Resort | Patients often don’t realize how many new techniques and technolo gies are available to them that can eliminate or reduce back or spinal problems. In fact, I’ve been so successful in finding our patients relief from back and neck pain that less than 10% of them actually require a surgical intervention.

Living Without The Pain | At the Institute of Spinal Disorders, our mission is to provide patients with advanced treatment options and compassionate care utilizing a comprehensive approach to include non-surgical and surgical options. The majority of patients in our practice do not require surgery. For those patients that do, you can trust our years of experience and

advanced treatments options. At the Institute of Spinal Disorders, we are helping our patients live without the pain!

You Should Know | We know every patient is unique and there is no one-size-fits all solution to back or neck pain. Two patients with the same diagnosis could have very different treatment plans based on their goals. This is why Institute of Spinal Disorders utilizes an integrated delivery system for state-of-the-art operative and nonoperative spine care. Simply put, we provide our patients the customized mix of services they need to make their back pain a thing of the past.

729 W. Bedford-Euless Rd., Suite 206 Hurst, Texas 76053

3600 West 7th Street, Suite A Fort Worth, Texas 76107 (817) 288-0084

James Landscaping, Inc.

Rhonda James OWNER / FOUNDER

Specialty | Since 1989, James Landscaping, Inc. has specialized in Landscape Design and Installation of residential properties, including patios, landscape lighting, irrigation (LI 5159), drainage, water features, organic fertilizer and bed maintenance.

What Clients Can Expect | During an initial appointment at a client’s home, my job is to listen to concerns about and vision for their yard. I then formulate possible solutions for problem areas and offer a quote for the design fee if it’s needed.

Strong Foundation | Whether the job is large or small, I play an active role in each project— regardless of size. We’re a full-service contracting company, capable of arranging all aspects of your outdoor living space. We offer integrated plans for phased work or future installation to make the project manageable. A commitment to quality work and customer satisfaction is our cornerstone.

What Set Us Apart | 1) First and foremost, we listen to our clients’ wishes and visions. We provide custom-designed, CAD-generated land scapes and outdoor living spaces without com promising the environment. 2) Secondly, our hard-working, experienced crews strive to be the best out there. 3) Lastly, we prioritize staying educated about the latest research on plant health and encourage organic fertilizing.

Environmentally Friendly | We strongly urge our clients to use organic fertilizers. The science behind the need for organics has grown exponen tially in the last few years. Our staff regularly attends conferences to educate ourselves about these new developments which we then pass along to our clients. We include organic fertilizer in all of our soil preparation. We also offer an annual organic fertilizer program that includes application in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Organic fertilizer will ensure the soil microbes in your garden are rich and happy. After three years of using organic fertilizer, it is possible to reduce watering up to 25%.

Characteristics For Success | Having em ployees that treat my business like it is their own, makes for a powerful team of people that all strive to do work we can be proud of. We do our best to follow through and do what we say we are going to do and show up when we say we will. The result is steady growth of repeat clientele, year after year, and we are grateful to serve them.

Setting the Standard | Landscaping improvements must stand the test of time by offering both longevity and value. They must also provide a relaxing environment, and in the end add monetary value to the property.

Pictured | (l-r) Dyan Brown, owner/founder Rhonda James, Marie Weil, Priscilla French, Eva Lau, Shannon Jeffrey Adam, and Jenny Burggraf

Locally Owned & Operated - Serving DFW (817) 329-0528

KoonsFuller, P.C. Family Law

Heather L. King SOUTHLAKE SHAREHOLDER

Specialty | With four full-service offices across North Texas and a disproportionately large number of attorneys who are board cer tified in family law, we offer a level of clout and a range of resources unmatched by any other family law firm in the Southwest.

What Clients Can Expect | KoonsFuller clients can feel confident that they are speaking to a skilled legal professional who will provide the best possible service with the goal of achieving the client’s desired outcome within the realm of legally available solutions.

What Sets Us Apart | 1) Being one of the largest family law firms in the state, 2) we are blessed with significantly more resources than the typical smaller family law firm, comprised of experienced legal professionals with a wide variety of expertise based upon a combined

many years of practice in family law and related legal fields. 3) We have been able to successfully mold this wide array of skills into a boutique-like experience for our clients by creating the perfect legal team for the size of our client’s specific case, be it smaller and simpler, or larger and more complex. From the simplest divorce to complex appeals, we have the resources and capability to handle it all.

Characteristics For Success | Over the years, we created an environment at Koons Fuller that has attracted some of the best and brightest legal minds to join our team. As a result, we have lawyers here who are skilled in trial practice, collaborative law, mediations, and appeals, as well as highly trained support staff to provide an assist. We believe it is not only the team environment that has created so much success within the firm, but further the way we approach each person’s individual situation. The key to true success in family law is to be tough when it’s time to be tough, and to be kind when it’s the time to be kind. The

recipe for success is a perfect mix tailored to each specific case and a unique solution for each situation.

Words To Live By | “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Theodore Roosevelt

| (l-r) Drew Williamson, Dana Manry

Heather King

Jessica Janicek

Robert McEwan

Paul Leopold, and Courtney

Walker

Reserve Street, Suite

Texas

Kos/Danchak Audiology & HEARING AIDS

Dr. Melissa Danchak AU.D., CCC-A | DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY

Specialty | At Kos/Danchak Audiology, our specialty is better hearing health care. We strive to improve the quality of life for our patients by providing comprehensive and individual hearing health care—all the while also building long-term relationships with our patients and their families based upon honesty, integrity and respect.

What Sets Us Apart | Just one of the reasons we’ve earned over 100 5-star reviews on Google, Facebook, and healthyhearing.com is the longterm relationships we form with our patients and their family members. It’s also why so many of our satisfied patients refer their friends and family to Kos/Danchak Audiology each month!

What Clients Can Expect | Your journey to better hearing begins with a discussion about your unique and personal hearing challenges. Your hearing evaluation will be conducted, and then if

appropriate, a live listening demonstration with hearing devices will be provided. My staff and I understand that investing in better hearing is not just about technology. Our Complete Hearing Health Care program includes all of the services people need to be successful with their investment in better hearing, including free batteries for the lifetime of their devices!

Impacting Lives | Each person has their own story to tell about how hearing loss has impacted their life. I have been helping people hear better for over 25 years. It’s always exciting and emo tional when someone wears hearing aids for the first time. They reconnect to people in their life and realize just how much they’ve been missing!

Education & Expertise | I began working at Kos/Danchak Audiology in 1997 and have owned the practice since 2002. I earned my Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) with University of Florida, Masters in Audiology at UT Dallas, and my Bachelors in Communication Disorders at Abilene Christian University.

You Should Know | Because hearing loss isn’t as noticeable as blurry vision or a toothache, many deny they may need to get their ears and hearing checked. Hearing well is an essential part of life—using the phone, communicating and understanding discussions. Regardless of age, we depend on our ears and hearing. I’m humbled by the opportunity to help people hear better! Being given the opportunity to help people reconnect to their life reminds us why we do what we do!

Kos/Danchak Audiology & Hearing Aids

101 W. Randol Mill Rd., Arlington 76011 (817) 277-7039

NorthTXHearing.com

Advanced Hearing Aid Center 904 Pennsylvania Ave., Ft. Worth 76104 (817) 332-8817

AdvancedHearingAidCenter.net

Opal Esthetics

Leslie Rae Cloin, LMT MEDICAL ESTHETICIAN

PERSONAL TRAINER

LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST

Specialty | Opal Esthetics offers clients deeply revitalizing treatments that use aromatherapy and massage to unwind the body, reboot the mind and transform stress into balance. Owner Leslie Rae Cloin provides medical treatments including the Hydrafacial machine, Oxygen Machine by Intraceuticals, the PRX-T33 (no peel peel), and the Tixel (only one in Texas).

What Clients Can Expect | I’m passionate about skincare and thrive on knowledge about it. My clients are often surprised how much I teach them about their skin. Having been a massage therapist—they love my neck, shoulder and foot massages! At Opal Esthetics, the focus is on you.

What Sets Us Apart | What separates Opal Esthetics is attention-to-detail as soon as you walk

through my spa door. My VIPs have their own champagne glass with their name on it and their favorite drink waiting for them when they arrive for a treatment. Their favorite music plays and their chosen essential oils scents embrace them as they relax on a Tempur-Pedic mattress that’s been custom-designed for my spa table.

Defining Success | How I help people, impact their life and make a difference is my measure of success. Reading positive business reviews also helps me to further affirm my continued success.

Characteristics For Success | I have been in this industry for over 20 years and I believe what has led to my success is being honest. The health of my clients is the most important thing— helping them feel their best is what has helped me to be at the top of this industry.

You Should Know | My Hydrafacial machine is my busiest machine because it’s customizable to any skin type and offers incredible scalp, lip or eye treatments. My oxygen machine helps Botox and fillers last longer, as well as reduces bruising

and recovery time after cosmetic surgery. And, the PRX-T33 gives instant glow to skin with no downtime. The Tixel Treatment tightens and tones skin—and combines with PRX-T33 for amazing anti-aging results. After a day of being pampered, you step away confident and refined.

Words To Live By | Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” This speaks to me because we can get obsessed with looking a certain way. This verse helps me to focus on my heart, soul, mind, and not to be consumed by my outward appearance. I know beauty comes from within— no amount of Botox can hide a nasty heart!

New Client Offer | Receive 20% off your first visit to Opal Esthetics and get a free gift!

2801 E. State Hwy. 114, Suite 16 Southlake, Texas 76092 (817) 992-9233

OpalEsthetic.com

OsteoStrong Colleyville East

Jacqueline D’Amico CENTER DIRECTOR

Specialty | OsteoStrong is the largest biohacking facility with a 10-year history of increasing bone density—known to slow the effects of osteoporosis. Our goal is to help you develop a strong, healthy skeletal system with our innovative, non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical, and holistic solutions to improving bone health. In just 15 minutes per week, you can increase strength and bone density, improve posture, balance and athletic performance.

What Clients Can Expect | Your journey starts with a complimentary assessment. During your first-visit, your coach gives you a personal facility tour, reviews goals, and sets up your per sonalized program. During each visit, members will perform four specialized “trigger events” on our patented technology, monitored by a trained session coach to deliver the precise stimulus needed to activate the human body’s natural adaptive responses. For each trigger event, your objective is to push or pull as hard as you can

comfortably for each of the four movements. Your complete session is less than 15 minutes, and you are in complete control of your entire session.

Why OsteoStrong | For over 100 years we’ve known that Osteogenic Loading really works!

OsteoStrong is an innovative approach to bone health. Our safe, science-based system is proven to improve bone density while strengthening the joints and muscles. It is fun and safe for all ages. At OsteoStrong, we help you break the limits of what age and injury may be trying to impose on you. The result is a more resilient body and a more confident you—get back to living your life!

You Should Know | In the late 1800s, Dr. Julius Wolff discovered bones will adapt to loads under which they are placed (Wolff’s Law). The 2012 Deere & Tobias study found there is a minimum threshold to triggering osteogenesis. Body weight in 4.2 multiples is the minimum required force to trigger bone growth in the hip joint (the most im portant place to avoid fracture). Peak forces with adults in conventional resistance training/weight-bearing exercise only show 1.26-1.54 multiples of weight.

About Our Members | OsteoStrong members include business professionals, cancer thrivers, active grandparents, student athletes, and anyone looking to lead an active and pain-free life. We believe growing older does not mean becoming weaker—stay strong with OsteoStrong!

Pictured | (left to right) Jacqueline D’Amico, Rachelle Limosnero, Titi Hunt, Cynthia Gaston, Roseanna Gasparre and Rita Foltz

Free Offer & Open House | We’re offering a complimentary one-on-one first-visit assessment. We also invite you to our 1-Year Celebration and Open House on Saturday, November 12th at 2pm. All are welcome to tour the facility and experience biohacking technology. Healthy food and drinks will be served. Join us for bone-building fun as we celebrate our 1-Year Anniversary!

707 Glade Road Colleyville, Texas 76034 (817) 751-7588

OsteoStrong.me

Savage Studio

Alycia Savage

OWNER / FOUNDER / PHOTOGRAPHER

Specialty | I own a commercial, fine art photography studio in Keller Town Center. Savage Studio is a product based boutique providing clients a luxury experience and premium art pieces including, custom heirloom albums, canvas gallery wraps, hand torn art, acrylic blocks, metal masterpieces and custom frames. We cater to families, high school seniors, corporate professionals, beauty and portrait sessions. I have always had a passion for photography!

Defining Success | True success comes from knowing I’m creating family heirlooms by preserving once in a life time memories for generations to come. The excitement, smiles, and tears of happiness on my clients’ faces is one of the most rewarding feelings I experience.

Priorites Then and Now | When I began my career as a professional photographer 20 years ago, my priority was to provide relaxing and fun experiences with amazing art products for my clients. With the rise of cell phones and digital photography, the industry saw an increase of clients compromising for digital files over artwork in their homes. I have never wavered from my belief that your artwork should not ‘live’ on your phone and social media. Over the years I have discovered even more beautiful ways to display the family heirlooms I create for my clients.

Best Advice | I am often asked what it really takes to be a professional photographer. First and foremost, it is important to hone your craft and educate yourself about your equipment, proper and flattering lighting (studio and natural), posing, styling sets and editing techniques. Equally important (if not more important) is learning how to interact with your clients to make them comfortable and allowing you to capture their real self.

Work-Home-Life Balance | With the flexibility of working for yourself, life can become unbalanced easily. I feel it is important to set a daily schedule and stick to it.

Greatest Professional Accomplishment | I am very honored that I still photograph almost all of my very first clients after almost 21 years in business. It’s an amazing feeling to get to photograph a high school senior I’ve been photographing since their mother’s maternity session!

Words To Live By | “Don’t just make a living. Make a life.” My goal in life is to do what I love and love what I do... with passion!

At The End of a Long Day… While I have a huge love for traveling all over the country and world, at the end of the day I am in my happy place laughing with my friends and family (including my doggo!) trying a new recipe or grilling out by the pool in my flip-flops.

251 Town Center Lane, Suite #2105 Keller, Texas 76248 (813) 924-8356

AlyciaSavage.com

Spiral Photography & Spiral Paws

Lorraine Haan-Stewart PHOTOGRAPHER / SUPER-FOSTER

Specialty | Commercial imagery including, family photography (family, seniors, maternity, pets), but also business needs (headshots, executive portraits, food, product). I have a lot of strings in my bow!

Defining Success | For some, success can be measured in the amount of money you earn, the number of shoots you do in a week, or the likes you get on Facebook. But for me, success is when you have loyal clients who come back year after year, who respect and value your work, and that feeling you get when they love their images so much that they are near to tears.

Challenges | Many challenges of starting anew in a foreign land. I’m British and when I moved here from England 17 years ago I was on a visa with my (also British) husband so I was allowed to live here, but not work. With no social security number, no drivers license, no form of I.D., I had

to get a lawyer to apply for a work visa, so I could get a SSN—and only then could I get a drivers license and then a bank account. For the first few months I could go nowhere nor do anything. It was tough, but I did have my camera so it was put to good use and saved my sanity!

Giving Back | I support many dog rescues, by fostering, donating (money or my photography skills for fundraising events and calendars). My husband and I also have a small beekeeping business and 25% of all proceeds goes to various local dog rescues.

What Clients Can Expect | First meeting is a fact finding exercise about what the client wants, their expectations and their goals. It is a very friendly, very relaxed meeting either in person, or by phone. Then a follow up written communication outlining and agreeing to the shoot plan (date, time, location, costs, contingencies). It is all very fluid and efficient, and completely stress-free. I have a very high standard and my focus is delivering a quality product that I am proud of. I communicate well with my clients

so that there are no surprises for either party. I am extremely flexible, and can usually help clients get what they want and need in a very short time. My shoots themselves are typically relaxed and most clients think they’re even fun!

Words To Live By | Life is like a camera. Just focus on what’s important and capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if things don’t work out, just take another shot.

You Should know | I have all the fun I need doing my photo shoots and activities with my dogs. But if I have an hour at the end of the day, I practice my violin. A skill I have been trying to master for years, and my progress may be slow, but I enjoy using a different part of my brain whilst I learn. My 17-year-old blind boston terrier sits with me as I tickle the strings—he’s also deaf so I guess he won’t mind if I’m slightly off key!

XAR Clothier

Roy Rizwan OWNER / FOUNDER

Specialty | XAR Clothier is deliberate in offering unique and high quality attire, exquisite fashion, superior service, and a keen eye for design. We specialize in catering to our segmented audience with exactly what they need—dressing them for their exceptional events, occasions and gatherings.

Why Choose XAR | Our broad closet has something for everyone—from diverse dresses to smooth suits. With my sharp eye, I can tell your precise size at a glance ensuring an exceptional experience that promises no difficulty creating an intense and delightful look that’s explicitly custom-made for you. You will never go wrong by choosing XAR Clothier.

Characteristics for Success | By zeroing in on energy and staying positive, I’ve remained on the right path. Giving each customer our best leads to success. Every business has its highs and lows, however by remaining positive I can ensure each

difficulty or misfortune turns into the fuel I need to refocus and accomplish increasingly great things.

What Clients Can Expect | You can always expect a lot of positive energy, enthusiasm, and the highest level of customer service from my amazing team. You will be thoroughly taken care of while discovering the very best outfit for you from XAR’s exclusive attires.

Professional Inspiration | The way of life I was raised in is in sharp contrast to my chosen path. Picking fashion as my life’s journey was incredibly difficult. Since then, I’ve never looked back knowing that it has been the best decision for me. Working in the fashion industry was the most natural choice. I’m ecstatic about following my dreams, my talents and my God-given gifts.

Setting Standards | Merchandise buying is the most important part—collecting exclusive apparel for customers, moving commodity and staying updated about the latest trends is imperative. Our aesthetically appealing displays of curated pieces will make the store sparkle and sets XAR apart.

Defining Success | For me, achievement has to come from living with outright sincerity and a true commitment to others. My success is defined by the smiles on all of our clients’ faces.

Words To Live By | “Preserve a right mental attitude—the attitude of courage, frankness, and good cheer. To think rightly is to create. All things come through desire and every sincere prayer is answered. We become like that on which our hearts are fixed. Carry your chin in and the crown of your head high. We are good in the chrysalis.”

Elbert Hubbard

Pictured | (at center) Owner/founder Roy Rizwan with his amazing XAR team

1253 Main Street Southlake, Texas 76092 (214) 315-2134

XARclothier.com

WANDERLUST TRAVEL

texas travel and beyond

SLEEP IN CREEPY ROOMS AT THE HISTORIC JEFFERSON HOTEL

Historic Haunting

Aside from its haunted rooms, the Historic Jefferson Hotel has a rich history that remains a fixture in the property, including operating as a hotel, a brothel, and a secret speakeasy. Being able to be immersed in this history and enjoy the adventure of sleeping in one of its creepy rooms makes staying at the Historic Jefferson Hotel a hauntingly cool experience with a scary ghost story waiting to be told!

If you are looking to try out a spooky experience for your next getaway, then the Historic Jefferson Hotel in Jefferson, Texas should be at the top of your list of places to visit! The Victorianstyle hotel has been offering hospitality for over a hundred years, and it is well known for its array of creepy rooms and countless ghost sightings by guests over the years. Family owned and operated, this beautiful Antebellum Hotel has a Guest House feel. You’re invited (if you dare) to come see the famous Historic Jefferson Hotel in beautiful Jefferson, Texas and all that she offers. Antiquities gallery throughout—including the very rare and eclectic oddities and fears. With 171 years of history, there’s mysteries throughout and some of it tragic while others just plain unexplainable happenings.

Sleep in a Haunted Room

Staying at the Historic Jefferson Hotel promises the unique ex perience of sleeping in one of their rooms that are rumored to be haunted, plus the chance to see one of the ghosts suspected to inhabit the hotel’s rooms. The rooms are all completely

unique, as each one is a different color and features entirely different decor and designs. Despite their different looks, all of the rooms at the Historic Jefferson Hotel have a certain style that highlights its history, like the antiques that are spread throughout the hotel, feeding into the creepiness of the haunted spaces. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a ghost hovering in your mirror or disappearing down the hall.

Explore Beyond Your Room

This hotel is one-of-a-kind in more ways than just its rumored hauntings and creepy rooms—there is also an array of hotel features that you can enjoy while staying there. While the historic hotel does not have the conventional luxuries of things like a pool or numerous restaurants, it boasts plenty of inter esting spaces to enjoy. Aside from the usual eclectic guest rooms, there are even crazier rooms to check out—the Historic Jefferson Hotel features an all-mirror room, a doll room, and a clown room if you are really looking to sleep in a creepy room. The hotel also has a space called the Crystal Palace

Saloon, which was a vibrant nightspot during the Prohibition era. The ballroom is still used to host events and offers night time entertainment with dancing and music. There is also a new speakeasy room being developed in the hotel, offering even more fun and entertainment.

Hauntings at the Historic Jefferson Hotel

The Historic Jefferson Hotel is famous for its creepy rooms and haunted halls, with dozens of guests recounting their encoun ters with different paranormal spirits. The ghosts are thought to be in some way tied to the hotel’s history as a former cotton warehouse and a brothel. Some of the most frequently sighted ghosts include a pair of mischievous twins who often run through the halls and prank the guests, a teenage girl who writes messages on the mirror in Room 19, and a young bride who was left on her wedding day.

Read the Jefferson Hotel’s Book of the Dead

If you’re brave enough to sleep in the creepy rooms at the Jefferson Hotel, then checking out their Book of the Dead will be a perfect addition to the adventure. The book is kept be hind the front desk by the staff, and guests are encouraged to record the details of any encounters that they have with ghosts in an effort to keep track of the stories. You can check out the volumes of the book if you are interested, or you can add your own experience if you happen to encounter a ghost.

Explore Nearby Jefferson

The Historic Jefferson Hotel conveniently sits near the Big Cypress Bayou right next to the Louisiana border, offering plenty of things to do and places to visit in close proximity to the hotel itself. Cool sights to check out while in Jefferson include the Howe Truss Lighted Bridge, which was built in 1879 and now displays a LED light show every evening, and Bicycle Hill. There are various shops and dining options nearby in Jefferson as well. You can also go on a historic walking tour of Jefferson, which takes you past many of the well-known sites and attractions in this historic city. The Carnegie Library is also

worth a visit while in town—it was aided in construction by Andrew Carnegie back in 1907 and is one of only five Carnegie libraries still operating in the entire state of Texas.

Checking Into the Historic Jefferson Hotel

Choose a room, then select the Book Now button. Choose one of their unique rooms to stay in, then choose a date after you click on a room. Every room is equipped with 1800 count Egyptian cotton sheets, flat screen television with Sling Tv and high speed wireless Internet. Every bathroom has comfortable clean towels with Shampoo and Body wash dispensers. Check in is at 3pm. Check out is at 11am (if you make it that long!)

Historic Jefferson Hotel History

At a time when steamboats plied the Big Cypress River from New Orleans and true Southern gentility was the order of the day a stately structure, now known as the Jefferson Hotel, was built. Near the banks of the Big Cypress Bayou, a hop, skip, and a jump from the Louisiana border, the Jefferson Hotel has offered decadent hospitality for over a hundred years, and its quaint early Victorian structure stood for 50 more. The many ages and ownership changes of the property have left their

subtle marks beneath the preserved period decor, and hand written records overflow with guest sightings of at least five separate entities from beyond.

Step back to a time when true Southern gentility was the order of the day. The stately Victorian structure, fondly known as The Historic Jefferson Hotel, has stood for 170 years while offering hospitality for 100 of those. Whether it be for the massive collection of Eclectic Antiques or the whispers of Specters roaming the hall, The Historic Jefferson Hotel has something for them all. Guests have seen their fair share of unexplained, but unlike many allegedly haunted locales where stories are passed from one guest or employee to another, the staff of the Jefferson Hotel have taken care to record as many encoun ters as possible in the experiencers own words. During the latter years of operation, a Book of the Dead was kept behind the front desk, in which guests were encouraged to write down the details of any contact with the hotels spirits. Sadly one of the past owners of the hotel took the book with them and wants to keep it without lending a copy, but the Jones's (current owners) have started a new one. You can check this book out from the front desk to read and write about experi ences if you are a guest at the hotel. There are many reported specters of the Jefferson Hotel. So many in fact that they are

known as “The Worlds Most Haunted Hotel ” Come join us and explore the beautiful Antique covered hotel, and maybe you can also have an unexplained experience.

Historic Jefferson Hotel - Final Thoughts

The Historic Jefferson Hotel is definitely one of the most unique and interesting hotels you can find to stay at in Texas. It draws a lot of attention due to its reputation as being haunted, making it a fun experience to sleep in creepy rooms and learn about people’s reported encounters with ghosts. Texas has all types of unique lodging options for you to check out if the Historic Jefferson Hotel inspires you to get out there and explore! Not only does the possibility of sleeping in a haunted room promise to make the stay a fun experience, but the rooms themselves all have unique designs that make the hotel stand out from others. The Historic Jefferson Hotel is a great place to stay if you are looking for a unique and exciting experience—it features a lot of cool spaces and history to learn about, as well as offering easy access to everything Jefferson has to offer. It’s a spooktacular stay for the brave!

More Texas Travel and beyond at: mycurlyadventures.com Reservations and more info at: historicjefferson.com

Momilies

INTERVIEW BY SHANNON STEWART SALINSKY PHOTOS BY LORRAINE HAAN-STEWART because

In this issue of Society Life’s Mom’s column, we asked local business owner and healthcare professional, Ronda Polansky to answer 20 questions about her experiences both in becoming and being a mom. Ronda has one child: Caden 20. Ronda lives with her husband Steve and son Caden in Colleyville. Here’s what she had to say…

I said so

Want to be featured with your kids?

Simply email your contact info to the editor at: elena@societylifemagazine.com. Then you will answer 20 questions and we will take professional photos of you and your kids (we will even give you some!)

SOCIETY LIFE: What’s one of your earliest memories you have of your Mom? RONDA POLANSKY: Her deli cate hand and gentle touch—touching my hair/face, holding my hand. Even after Alzheimer’s slowly and painfully took her from me, her touch made me feel like she remembered me, even when she didn’t.

SL: What is something you thought about Motherhood that was totally wrong? RP: I could always be the cool mom. Before becoming a mom, no one ever prepared me for raising a teenage boy. Someone once said, ‘Your son growing up will feel like the slowest breakup you’ve ever known.’ There is nothing further from the truth. You never get to properly say goodbye to the little person. The shift is so subtle and steady. A woman loves with all her heart and soul and in a matter of a day, their lives no longer hang on the presence of their mom, yet you continue to long for the presence of them. As a boy mom, you continue to love and care for them, all while gently nudging them away, in a sense, out into the world to be an independent, responsible man. It is guaranteed to make every last one of us cry on numerous occasions.

SL: What was something you always wanted to do but didn’t….. and why didn’t you? RP: Travel internationally more. I have a bucket list of locations I wanted to visit. Unfortunately, I think in America we’re groomed to function in a work culture that’s become based on the idea “live to work” more than we “work to live.”

SL: Was there something your mom did when you were a kid that you swore, you’d never do as a parent? RP: I swore, I would never make my child eat liver and onions for dinner.

SL: What did you think you wanted to be when you grew up? RP: In my fantasy world, I wanted to be a professional singer and dancer. I love music and I love to dance. Why walk through life when you can dance? I met my husband on a dance floor. I must admit the dance through life with him has been the best dance of all.

SL: How have the notions of what it means to be a mom changed over your lifetime? RP: I am a Boy Mom! It is an

experience, not a description! I have always been a fulltime working mom and this has enabled me to embrace all the aspects of my being. I hope being a working mom has pro vided my son with examples of finding a sense of purpose in life, recognizing the re sponsibility you have in this world to give back, and accountability to other people. To care is human, but to serve is heart!

SL: What was the best family vacation you ever had? RP: I think my son would agree, some of our best memories occurred on the beaches of Maui. We loved hiking, snorkeling, boogie boards, the waves, sun, sand, tropical delicacies, and sunsets. We loved just enjoying the beauty of nature in its purest form.

SL: Is there a moment or event that radically changed the way you saw Motherhood? RP: My son suffered a severe head injury in 2020, during the pandemic. He had just turned 18 and they would not let me stay with him in the hospital. As I sat alone in silence processing what was happening, it was a moment that made me evaluate my job as mom. I prayed any mistakes I have made as a parent are covered in grace. I prayed he will always know, despite all my faults and failures, I did my very best with always the best of in tentions. I wanted him to know without a doubt that I loved him the most in his life time, and he would always carry that with him wherever life takes him and whoever loves him next. Not all children will follow a parent’s advice, but they will follow an ex ample. I hoped I did enough, recognizing we only have them to ourselves for a short time to prepare them for an unforgiving harsh world. He endured hours of surgery, but I am happy to say that he has miracu lously recovered, and is now in college, pur suing his passion and talent for videography and photography.

SL: When did you know you were ready to have kids? RP: There was always a knowing I would be a mother, but I don’t know that you are ever fully ready. My hus band and I were married eight years before having Caden. I think it is so important for a married couple to define themselves as one unit before expanding their home by two little feet. Those first eight years of our marriage gave us quality time to get to know

Momilies

each other very well, travel, have no curfew, mature, and solidify a trust and bond of commit ment. Having a child can be stressful on a mar riage and we were better parents and spouses having waited.

SL: What was your favorite photo of your family or kids? RP: I love a good photo! Any photo that I can see my husband and son’s spontaneous gorgeous smiles is a favorite photo. They are such good-looking guys, and both their smiles instantly melt my heart!

SL: What was the first year of motherhood like for you? RP: The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman did, but not the mother. Becoming a mom that first year meant letting my heart literally walk around outside my body. I realized the greatest contribution to the world would not be something that I would do, but someone I would raise. I had to get to know and understand this new little person and the new person I was becoming as well.

SL: What do you want or wish most for your kids? RP: Teaching him to grow up in such a changing, unsettled world can be difficult when spiritually we work so very hard to not be of this world! I want my ceiling to be his floor. Of course, I want to see him grow up to be happy, healthy, self-reliant, and confident in himself and his abilities. I always want him to give respect, earn respect and expect respect. I have always told him that it is important to always be content in life. I hope he can find joy, love, and embrace his passions. I wish for him both good physical and spiritual health. Just as others have contributed to his life, I want him to also be a contributor to the lives of others.

SL: What are some of the biggest struggles as a mom? RP: For me, not taking things personally is the hardest part of motherhood. It has been a roller coaster of emotions, some good, some not so good. No one warned me how much the responsibility of the health and happiness of your child weighs on you. I will be honest—I did not know how to parent a teenager. Raising a teenager is, hands-down, the loneliest part of being a parent. I have never experienced so much joy and so much heartache as I have in rearing a teen. I despised the cell phone that continually stared me in the face when all I wanted to do was look at his. You put so much into their childhood when they are younger, teaching them right from wrong, how to eat, potty training, dressing them selves, and to be nice and polite to other people. Once they hit their teens, you have your heart filled with so much love you think it just might explode and then to have it broken all in the space of less than 60 seconds with their rejection as they seek their independence.

SL: What would your perfect day off be in life? Describe it. RP: A sunny 75-degree day, no

schedule, no distractions, lying on the beach listening to the waves hit the sandy shore, with peace-of-mind and peace in my heart.

SL: What is the one song that means most to you? RP: I relate to the song “The Woman with You” by Keith Urban. The lyrics are: “She said the girl I was with the business degree probably wouldn’t recognize me. I was gonna run the bank. I was gonna run the map. Now all I want to run is a bubble bath. Back then you know I had this plan. Before all of this reality set in. Here comes life boy ready or not. Hey I wanted it all and that’s what I got. Been gopherin’, chaufferin’, company chairmen, coffee maker, copy repairman. Anymore there ain’t nothin’ I swear man that I don’t do. Been juggling, strug gling, closing big deals. Dancing backwards in high heels. Just when it feels like I can’t make it through. She said it sure is nice to just be the woman with you.” That sums up my day, every day, coming home to be a wife and mother!

SL: What advice would you give your younger self about Motherhood? RP: Once you become pregnant you realize that there’s no turning back—you have committed yourself to this lifelong role. Being a mom can hurt. Preg nancy hurts. Childbirth hurts. Sleep deprivation hurts. Worrying hurts. Letting go hurts. Wrinkles don’t hurt... but then again looking at them in the mirror every morning as the years pass, that hurts, too. You somehow live through childbirth, 2am feedings, lack of sleep, temper-tantrums. Then there’s this thing called postpartum depres sion with struggles of self-worth as you give every part of your being to every single breath of this precious gift from above. You gave sight to those beautiful eyes that will never see what you see in them. There is some indescribable divine connection to this human being that was once literally an extension to your physical body, an appendage that grew, and then separated from you at nine months. On that day, life stops being about you and becomes all about them, carrying and caring for a life completely dependent on you for survival. In the midst of this amazing new role, you can never ever stop being your husband’s girlfriend. He will be the one you spend the rest of your life with, long after they leave and/or fly the coop to start their own lives.

SL: Is there a quote, saying, words of advice or scripture you consider words to live by?

RP: My mom always told me “This too shall pass.”

The basic idea of these words always reminds me that whatever situation I am currently going through in life, it is temporary and will change.

SL: If you could share a meal with any woman, past, present, or future who would it be? Why? RP: Mary, mother of Jesus. As a mother, I have often wondered what it must have been like to be Jesus’ mother. Like the rest of our children, Jesus was born into a sinful world. Was he a perfect child? Did he disobey, did she have

to punish him, sit him in the corner or ground him? Although she was chosen to be the mother of a king, Mary did not have it easy. She was subjected to a lot of scrutiny when she became pregnant and gave birth in very difficult circum stances. I know she must have picked him up when he cried and kissed those skinned knees and elbows. Then from a front row seat, she watched her child, undeserving of punishment, suffer and die a traumatizing death at the hands of others, all the while knowing that God’s plan for Him was bigger than her. It must have been difficult to not question God as to why it had to happen this way. As a mother, I cannot imagine anything more difficult than my child suffering, let alone suffering because of my own sins. I would have so many questions for her.

SL: What mom from real-life or TV/movies do you admire most? RP: I admire the single working mom. I have always been a full-time working mom. I think I was a better working mom than I would have been a stay-at-home mom. I worked hard to make myself available for all his activities and was always there when he needed me so he would remember, “Mom always put me first.” Between my two medical compa nies, family commitments which included caring for my aging parents with Alzheimer’s disease, and other extra activities and appointments, scheduling could become a challenge and the days could lengthen into 15-18 hour days. If anything came of my challenging schedule, I wanted Caden to know that he could be anything he wants to be, do anything he wanted to do, and to not be afraid of working hard for it under standing that passion is the way to success. My dad was raised by a single mom. I was fortunate to have a very supportive husband as part of my team. I know the struggle of being a single mom is real... physically, mentally and emotionally. I am in awe of those I know who do this without complaining by being the perfect example of strength and determination.

SL: At the end of a long day, what do you do for fun or relaxation? RP: Being at home, closing off the outside world, and embracing family time to fill me up for the next day.

Momilies Column

Would you like to answer our 20 questions about motherhood and becoming a mom? If so, you could be featured here in our next Momilies column with your kids and family? We’ll have our photographer take professional photos of you all for the article as well. We even give you some to keep! Please send an email with your contact information to the editor at: elena@societylifemagazine.com.

FatherHood Column

Dads can also send in their stories about fatherhood to be considered for an upcoming issue. He can share his memorable moments with our readers by emailing the story to our editor at: elena@societylifemagazine.com.

strength of our purpose

New studies suggest that having a sense of purpose makes dads healthier, happier, and stronger in the face of challenges

FatherHood

HIS PERSPECTIVE: STORIES FROM FATHERHOOD | JEREMY ADAM SMITH FOR GREATER GOOD

Sooner or later, our kids will make us suffer. When they’re babies, their crying keeps us up at night. Later, their teenage shenanigans might rob us of more sleep. Some of us stay at jobs we hate so that our kids will never have to wonder where their next meal will come from. We can battle with our co-parents over issues like housework and discipline, testing love we might have once thought would last forever.

These stresses and these sacrifices can be painful, but studies are finding one thing that can help us to weather them—a sense of purpose. That is to say, our long-term, meaningful goals as fathers. A sense of pur pose shapes day-to-day goals and behavior. Seeing a destination on the horizon helps us to lift our eyes over the dirty dishes and temper-tantrums, to a future that is better than the present. Purpose makes that pile of dishes matter. It reminds us that we matter, if only to our kids. Purpose keeps us at home with them when we wish we were elsewhere. While purposes can vary, recent studies suggest that just having one is good for you and your family. So, what does purpose look like in a father’s life? How can you find your purpose as a father? These are existential questions that every man must answer for himself. But research does provide some insights to help us to understand ourselves better—and see the fathers we want to become.

THE EVOLUTION OF PURPOSE

The chances are good that your purpose is different from the one held by your own father and grandfathers. Scholars say that fathers of previous generations saw their purpose as financially supporting their family and providing discipline to their kids. Some saw themselves as leaders and role models for their families, especially when it came to religious instruction. Inherent in these missions is a sense of authority, which sometimes became authoritarianism—“the enforcement of strict obedience to author ity at the expense of personal freedom,” as the dictionary says. As a group, today’s fathers see their role somewhat differently.

For more than a century, the number of women in the workforce has steadily in creased. Today, there are roughly as many women as men working for pay—though men still tend to make considerably more

money than their female coworkers, ac cording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What does this have to do with purpose?

As women have made more money, men’s participation at home started climbing. Today’s dads are spending much more time with their children than did their fathers. Moreover, the United States has become increasingly diverse. Immigrants have now brought new conceptions of fatherhood to America. Fathers of color face challenges that are shaping their sense of purpose.

As a result of these developments, many fathers today add nurturing to their pur pose, along with providing. In a discussion

I hosted on my Facebook wall, a number of dads said their purpose was to be better than their fathers—and to raise kids who would be better than them. What they meant by this, more often than not, was to be physically and emotionally present in the lives of their children. “I lost my dad a few months ago,” said Jason Avant, a dad in California. “Nowadays I tend to find myself looking through the lens of my childhood, and I do my best to be everything he was, and everything he wasn’t.” San Francisco writer Andrew O. Dugas, one of those who defines his purpose as “to be a bet ter father than mine was,” says, “My son turned out better than I did. Stronger. Tougher. Kinder. Smarter. Wiser.”

For many men, raising kids means that they need to make self improvement and self care part of their purpose. After the birth, “It was no longer acceptable for me to simply go through the motions,” said Blake Overbay, a sergeant with the Army National Guard. “I had to outwardly demonstrate that I was working to better myself. Like deliberate and exaggerated movements to warm-up before a work out.” In fact, a new study links a strong sense of purpose to healthier behaviors.

College psychologist James R. Mahalik and his colleagues surveyed over 200 men about their sense of purpose and health behaviors like eating right or exercising, and then analyzed how those factors inter acted. “Our results suggest that when men who are fathers experience greater purpose, they lead healthier lives,” write the authors. “It would be logical to pre sume that they do so to promote out comes such as improving their health to make a difference in their children’s lives.” This finding adds to a rising number of studies that show that more purposeful people are happier, have better health and cognitive functioning, and live longer.

From an evolutionary perspective, it makes sense that purpose might lengthen life— and that the purpose that comes with fa therhood might drive healthier behaviors that could be taken up by our kids. After all, evolution involves passing on our genes. Our offspring have a better chance of growing old enough to have their own chil dren if we stick by their side to make sure they stay healthy and strong. A sense of purpose is a tool evolution put into the hands of fathers, to remind us to do that.

THE EVOLUTION OF PURPOSE

In the Facebook discussion I hosted, many fathers mentioned how a sense of crisis— the pandemic, police brutality, economic turmoil—is affecting or clarifying their sense of purpose. Sense of crisis hasn’t fun damentally changed the paternal purpose of Scott Behson, a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University and author of The Working Dad’s Survival Guide. However, the recent movements have led him to redouble his efforts “to make sure that he is a good man to women and a good ally to people.”

a story to share about Fatherhood?

COVID powerfully affected how writer and Dads4Change founder Whit Honea sees his purpose. The global pandemic provided “many more examples of right and wrong, empathy, kindness, ignorance, sacrifice... The lesson plan changes by the headline.”

Right now, he said, “History isn’t only being told, but fought, lived, and written. It has made my boys realize that their previous, comfortable view of the world was framed in window treatments and could benefit from a brick or two. Granted, these are the lessons my wife and I have been teaching our boys all along, but the reality of the mo ment is that they are now paying more at tention. They are finding their voice and amplifying others. Their masks can’t muffle the message and they don’t hide anything. We’ll yell again tomorrow.”

John Anner has three grown daughters— and he has found that raising them has changed his sense of purpose in life. Today, he is the business development director for a nonprofit called Women for Women International. “I long ago landed on my two central values—generosity, and care for women. So, my purpose, as I age, is to focus intently on those two things, building off the things my daughters have taught me. Women have labored for too long for no recognition and no pay. The world is built on their uncompensated and unac knowledged labor. So now is a great time for guys like me to do the work—for free— and make sure women get paid.”

Oakland author and illustrator Innosanto Nagara sees his purpose as going beyond the self—a quality inherent in the scientific definition of purpose, which includes goals that are not just meaningful to us, but make a difference in the world. Nagara sees his mission as creating the space for his son “to explore, challenge himself, and push his limits, take risks, fail, and succeed but not incur or cause irreparable damage or trauma in the process.”

For Nagara, this goes back “to the basic Khalil Gibran idea that our children are not ‘our’ children. They are the children of life’s longing for itself. They are with us, but don’t belong to us. Their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which we cannot visit, not even in our dreams.”

DADS FINDING THEIR PURPOSE

There are almost no recent scientific studies of how fathers develop a sense of purpose. However, researchers are starting to under stand the factors that shape our purposes across our lifespans, providing insights that can help fathers to find their purpose. Here are some of the pathways you might take to explore your own purpose.

#1 - Read books and watch movies

There are countless novels, comic books, movies, and TV shows that thoughtfully portray fathers, as well as nonfiction books and articles on the history and meaning of fatherhood. When I was becoming a father, I found particular inspiration in Michael Chabon’s novels, the short stories of Alice Munro, the graphic-novel series Starman, movies like The Pursuit of Happyness, daddy blogs, and other books by scholars like Stephanie Coontz and Arlie Hochschild. The stories that inspired me may not inspire you. Perhaps you’ll look more to religious texts, or even to the stories of sports stars. The important thing is the search for inspi ration. Seeing the purpose of other fathers, both real and imagined, can help you to also see your own.

#2 - Talk to your co-parents, friends, and family While purpose is a very personal thing, it often emerges from our connections to other people. It’s important to thoughtfully, intentionally sit down with your co-parent and talk explicitly about what shapes your idea of a good father and what your goals are—and to listen to what the other parent has to say. It was incredibly meaningful for me to interview my grandfather and father for my book, The Daddy Shift, because in my family, we never discussed fatherhood. You can talk to the fathers in your own family right now. If your kids are young, think about joining a neighborhood group for moms and dads—and then, later, try volunteering at school. All of these conver sations will help inform and sustain your purpose as a father.

#3 - Look to your hurts and turn them into healing Many men have described to me feeling hurt by their own fathers. Sometimes, the pain came from physical punishment. More often, it’s emotional, arising from absence or verbal abuse. As we saw in my Facebook discussion, men do turn this pain into a pur

pose to be better than their own fathers. Other fathers described being hurt by racism or some other form of collective discrimination—and so are raising their children to fight back against injustice. You’ll incur hurts as a parent, too, when you feel overwhelmed or heartbroken. Instead of beating up on yourself, you can ask your self what that pain means and how you can do better next time. Your purpose as a father never stops evolving, because we learn something new—about ourselves and others—at every stage of our child’s life.

#4 - Move toward joy and meaning

There’s more to purpose than pain, of course. Many fathers describe their pur pose as raising happy kids, and so they try to be happy themselves. “I want my kids to be happy and to put good into the world, to do the right thing rather than the easy one,” says Honea. “My purpose is to model that, sometimes and often fail, and let them see me learn from it.” In his book The Path to Purpose, Stanford psychologist William Damon argues that purpose happens when our skills meet the needs of the world. While that idea doesn’t precisely translate into parenting, it’s always the case that we’re better at some aspects of parenting than others. When you play with your kids, you shouldn’t always just do the things they enjoy—it’s important to do the things you like to do, too. If you’re good at base ball, see if they will play ball with you. If it’s Star Wars you love, watch the movies over and over with your kids, and talk about the messages the movies impart. “We constantly inject joy into our lives,” said Taylor. “We dress up, we play, we talk about what make us happy and ask what makes each other happy.” He’s on the right track. There is a great deal of research suggesting that fostering these positive emotions—like happiness and gratitude—can lead us to a sense of purpose.

Making the pursuit of positive emotions a part of your purpose as a father can help your family to navigate the multiple, inter locking crises that we have all been facing. Confronting those crises provides us with a sense of purpose, too. The gift of having a sense of purpose is that it reminds us of the future that we want for our children, and it shows us how we can work toward that future today.

to

be featured here:

Natasha VermaFormer TV Anchor a Cancer Survivor and Co-Founder of Verma Foundation Provides Support to Cancer Patients with Free Cap Wigs

greater

greater good

THE VERMA FAMILY CREATED VERMA FOUNDATION OUT OF LOVE TO HELP, INSPIRE, EMPOWER AND GIVE HOPE TO THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING. IN 2017, CO-FOUNDER NATASHA VERMA WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA AT 23. TOGETHER

AS A FAMILY THEY TURNED THE NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE. THROUGH THE “PUT A CAP ON CANCER” PROGRAM, THEY CREATE CUSTOM HIGH-QUALITY CAP WIGS AT NO COST FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIGHTING CANCER AND DEALING WITH THE EMOTIONAL SIDE EFFECT OF HAIR LOSS.

The five Verma family members: Dr. Omesh, Shama, Natasha, Manisha and Akshay Verma created the foundation out of love, much like their most recent “Put a Cap On Cancer” project that best exemplifies their mission to lift others up. When Natasha Verma was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at just 23, they came together to create custom highquality cap wigs made from human hair at no cost for anyone whose financial means doesn’t allow them to purchase one. In the first year of the program’s launch, they provided 416 cap wigs to cancer patients across the United States and partnered with 204 hospitals to provide this invaluable support. Today,

VERMA FOUNDATION

is a national registered 501c3 nonprofit organization committed to giving high-quality cap wigs to cancer patients suffering from hair loss.

they have given almost 3,000 cap wigs to patients around the world, as well as pro vided support at almost 2,200 hospitals.

NATASHA’S STORY

Natasha Verma had a unique upbringing having graduated from high school at the age of 15. By 17, she became the University of Texas’ youngest-ever graduate, earning two undergraduate degrees—in broadcast journalism and biology/pre-med. At 18, she earned a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. After working her way up the ladder in the television industry, she became an anchor and reporter for NBC10 Boston in 2016. “I had no thoughts of slow ing down until one morning in August, I felt

a sharp pain down the left side of my shoul der. I felt around that area and found a lump. I didn’t think anything of it at first other than perhaps I had pulled a muscle at the gym and a cyst formed. My father is a physician so I consulted him about the pain. Both of his parents passed from cancer,” she shared. After multiple doctor’s visits Natasha was eventually diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Not only was there a tumor on the left side of her collarbone, but she had a tumor on the right side and a mass growing in her chest.”I remember sitting on the bed in the exam room, staring at my scans, thinking how could that be my body! The scans lit up

on right: Natasha Verma Cancer Survivor and Co-Founder of the Verma Foundation

like Christmas trees showcasing all of the cancerous activity in my body,” she admits. “After hearing about my diagnosis, I was shocked, heartbroken, and honestly, angry. Why me? Then came the hair loss.”

Women battling cancer find hair loss to be one of the most devastating side effects of chemotherapy. Most wigs are ill-fitting, itchy and expensive so Verma Foundation offers the ideal solution—a cap attached to 100% human hair. They are committed to helping people battling cancer maintain a sense of normalcy, dignity and privacy during their treatment. “It may sound trivial and super ficial, but most women will tell you that hair is a big part of our identity. While I knew hair loss was imminent, nothing prepared me for the emotional toll it would take,” she said. “After a week, most of my hair was gone, and I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes, too.”

She bought a synthetic wig and hated it.”It didn’t look like me. The hairline looked fake and the actual wig was too big for my head. I couldn’t style the hair because it was syn thetic and worst of all—it was so itchy. The wig stressed me out so much that I would throw a baseball cap on top, and that solved the problem of the hairline, but not the itchiness. I always wished I had a cap wig (hair attached to the brim of the baseball cap). I got to thinking. I moved around some resources and I designed just that—cap wigs made of 100% human hair attached to cotton or velvet cap wigs,” she stated.

Now, through her non-profit organization she gets to give free cap wigs to women and children fighting cancer. She and the Verma family believe that every woman and

child going through cancer treatment de serves access to a quality wig in which she can feel beautiful and confident. Wigs can cost $1,000 and up, so that’s why they give them for free. On top of amounting hospital bills, the cost of a wig is the last thing any cancer patient need worry about paying for. The gift of a cap wig can give patients hope, confidence and strength.

NATASHA’S REMISSION

“Today, I am in remission. I returned to work as an anchor in January 2018. Initially I wore a wig on TV, but a couple of months later when I was comfortable, I decided to ditch the wig and reveal the hair growth under neath. I overcame my vulnerability and was very proud to debut my newfound strength. My new hair was a symbol of struggle, rebirth and growth. I’m moving forward and have found purpose in giving hope and inspiration to others who are now battling cancer with Verma Foundation,” she boasts. “Thank you all for your support and help to #PutACapOnCancer.”

TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE LIVES

The Verma Foundation couldn't achieve their mission of supporting cancer patients without the generosity of their volunteers and donors. You can help make a difference, too. Become a volunteer, participate in a fundraising event, donate a wig, or make a tax-deductible donation to help change lives—and put a cap on cancer for good!

(512) 582-0171

Apply For A Free Cap Wig Here: vermafoundation.org/apply email: contact@vermafoundation.org

NOW-OCT 23 • STATE FAIR OF TEXAS • Join us in celebrating the 2022 theme “Treats of Texas” by coming out to enjoy this year’s 24-day exposition and trying some tasty treats! We like to think the Fair is the most Texas place on Earth and once you’ve se cured your season pass, you can spend the rest of the summer dreaming about all the mouth-watering food, thrilling rides and ex citing shows that await you. It’s 24 days of a “howdy” from Big Tex and it is just a click away! Visit bigtex.com for tickets and event schedules for the 2022 season.

OCT 22 • COMMUNITY STOREHOUSE RUN IN THE DARK • Run in the Dark is Commu nity Storehouse’s signature race to help raise funds to make a positive impact for local children. The 23rd annual event will be held Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Keller Town Hall. Please help make this event a memorable one as we come together to continue our mission to make a positive im pact for local children living in Keller, North west, Carroll, and Argyle ISDs. Step in aid those who need the help. CSH needs the support of amazing donors like you! Visit: communitystorehouse.org/run-in-the-dark

OCT 26-30 • THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW AT MAJESTIC • Celebrate Halloween by dressing up and doing the “Time Warp” in the aisles of the Majestic Theatre with Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show October 26-30, 2022. This rock concertstyle show is a tribute to the science fiction and horror movies of the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. Audience participation bags will be available for purchase in the lobby. Parents, beware: this show is rated R and is intended for mature audiences. Showtimes are Thurs day, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30pm plus a college preview night on Wednesday at 7:30pm. A special late-night showing will be Saturday at 10:30pm for a spooktacular way to celebrate Halloween at midnight. Tickets cost $28 for general admission and $18 for students by calling the box office at (214) 871-5000 or and visit ticketdfw.com.

OCT 27-30 • TASTING TEXAS WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL

• Tickets are now on sale for the Tasting Texas Wine + Food Festival hosted by Culinaria and Visit San Antonio and flavored by the James Beard Founda tion. October 27-30, San Antonio will host top culinary leaders from across the U.S. and Mexico and showcase their talents at events ranging from walk-around tastings, intimate dinners, outdoor lunches, hands-on workshops, educational panels, and more. Festival attendees will be able to customize their gastronomic experience by choosing

between all-inclusive festival packages or ala-carte options starting from $100. Each level grants access to events featuring James Beard Award winners, nominees, and other titans of the food and beverage indus try. To buy tickets and see full schedule, chef and beverage lineup, hotel partners, travel hosts, and more, visit CulinariaSA.org.

OCT 29 • NORTH TEXAS WALK FOR PKD

We are excited to return to in-person events this fall, where you will be part of the largest gathering of the PKD community. This year’s PKD walk will take place at Southlake Town Square’s Rustin and Family Park. Registra tion/site opens at 8am. The Walk for PKD is the nation's largest fundraiser supporting PKD research. Every year, thousands of peo ple across the country support our cause— to find treatments and a cure for PKD. Lace up your sneakers and register today. With 100% of your donations funding critical PKD research, you will make a difference in the lives of millions worldwide who have polycystic kidney disease. To register and for info visit: walkforpkd.org/northtexas

OCT 29 • DEATH OF A GANGSTER MURDER MYSTERY DINNER

• Bourbon & Banter speakeasy in The Statler Hotel in downtown Dallas is hosting Death of a Gangster: A Murder Mystery Dinner Saturday, Oct. 29. Doors open at 6:30pm, dinner and show at 7pm. At this “married to the mob” murdermystery dinner, you’ll never know who to trust. With two families merging, someone is bound to lose power, and in this case, their life. You and fellow wedding guests must solve the murder. Dress like the cat’s meow—flapper dresses, zoot suits, feather boas, pin-striped suits and fedoras—for this mafia wedding. Tables for 2-4 guests. Tickets include admission and a 4-course chef-prepared dinner plus a non-alcoholic drink. Table prices from $160 for two to $320 for four. Hotel is at 1914 Commerce St., Dallas 75201. Event has limited seating. Tickets from eventbrite.com and more info at: BourbonAndBanterDallas.com

OCT 29 • THE REBEL INDUSTRY SHOWCASE

Rebel Theatrics is proud to announce The Rebel Industry Showcase, a vaudeville-style show featuring some of the most iconic Broadway songs, scenes, and dance num bers. The two-hour Rebel Theatrics show case is the culmination of the Rebel Theatrics Limited Series and is the perfect way to introduce the whole family to the arts! The Rebel Industry Showcase is Octo ber 29, 2022 at 1pm and 6pm at Hamon Hall at the Winspear Opera House. Tickets cost $10 at: /tinyurl.com/rebelseries

NOV 1 • DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CONCERT

On Nov. 1 at 7:30pm the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will present the annual Día de los Muertos concert celebrating the cherished Mexican tradition. The program will feature works by Mexican composers representing the diverse styles and influences of the cul ture. This celebration will include an Altar de Muertos on behalf of the Consulate General of Mexico. The altar will be installed by Beto Nava of the Mexican Consulate. Ailyn Pérez, soprano, will be the featured soloist. Tickets for the concert start at $10 and are available for purchase at: dallassymphony.org

NOV 5 • GRACE GALA ANGELS AMONG US

The GRACE Gala was conceptualized in 2004 as a way to generate funds to serve a growing population in need. The GRACE Board of Directors put together a dynamic GRACE Gala Advisory Board made up of prominent community members from Grapevine, Southlake, and Colleyville. In its first year, the GRACE Gala sold out six months before the event. With each year that passes, the GRACE Gala funds allow us to provide much needed services to the Northeast Tarrant County community. We hope to continue the tradition of raising funds to provide all that we can to those in need and having a good time while we do it! Your support is very much needed. Please visit gracegala.com for tickets.

NOV 11-13 • ELF THE MUSICAL • Elf the Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true iden tity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. A Christmas classic that’s sure to make everyone embrace their inner elf. Tickets on sale at: basshall.com

NOV 12 • JOHN WAYNE GRIT SERIES • The John Wayne Cancer Foundation is inviting all North Texans to celebrate the spirit of the Old West in a race so accessible you don’t even have to take off your cowboy boots. The John Wayne Grit Series returns to the historic Fort Worth Stockyards on Saturday, Nov. 12 with a 5K course that be gins at John Wayne: An American Experi ence and traverses the cobblestone streets of the stockyards and the Trinity Trail. But it’s more than just a race—it’s a party! The cel ebration will host members of the John

Wayne family and lots of fun activities at John Wayne: An American Experience, the museum dedicated to the legendary actor in the stockyards. Visit: johnwayne.org

NOV 12-13 • CHS LIGHTNING DANCERS

CRAFT SHOW • Join us and over 200 vendors for a fall craft show that will include auction baskets, pictures with Santa, raffles, concessions and food trucks. Come shop until you drop and get great gifts for every one on your list! Craft Show location is at Central High School (9450 Ray White Road, Fort Worth 76244). Show hours: Saturday, November 12th from 9am-5pm and Sunday the 13th from 10am-5pm. For more details, please visit: lightningdancers.org

NOV 18 • AN EVENING WITH THE STEEP

CANYON RANGERS • This year’s Circle T Ranch Music Festival kicks off with The Steep Canyon Rangers! GRAMMY Award winner and perennial Billboard chart-topper SCR has become the most recognizable modern name in bluegrass music, most no tably due to their frequent partnership with comedian and banjoist Steve Martin. The band will bring their incredible style to Westlake for a solo show. Please note: This event will not include the Dallas Symphony Orchestra or Steve Martin. The Rangers are made up of Woody Platt on guitar and vo cals, Graham Sharp on banjo and vocals, Mike Guggino on mandolin/mandola and vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle and vocals, Mike Ashworth on drums and vocals, and Barrett Smith on bass and vocals. Circle T Ranch is located at 2451 Westlake Pkwy. in Westlake 76262. The event starts at 7pm. Adult tickets are $25, and 12 and under are $5 available at: tinyurl.com/CTRfestival

NOV 19 • ADDISON AFTER DARK HOLIDAY CHEER • ‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry! Kickoff the holiday season sipping on complimentary samples in the Winter Wine-derland, stroll through the holiday marketplace for a little retail therapy. Buy unique holiday gifts for everyone on your list! From 7-8:30pm In-N-Out Burger will be giving free burger meals to the first 1,000 guests! While there will be no other food trucks at the event, there are restaurants nearby at the intersection of Addison Circle and Quorum Road. Save some room for a sweet treat! To learn more about this event visit: addisonafterdark.com/holiday-cheer

NOV 20 • FORT WORTH PARADE OF LIGHTS

At 6pm on Sunday, November 20, the GM Financial Parade of Lights will take over the streets of Downtown Fort Worth for the 40th year, with more than 100 illuminated

floats, an array of festive performers, holiday decor, live music, and hundreds of thou sands of sparkling lights. With a sold-out crowd expected for this milestone year of Texas’ largest holiday parade, attendees are encouraged to purchase reserved “Street Seats,” which start at $18. For the last four decades, North Texas-based nonprofit or ganizations, private and public businesses, schools, art and cultural groups, and more have dazzled crowds with their profession ally designed floats, sparkling vintage cars, festive horse-drawn carriages, spirited marching bands, and carolers as they prance through the 1.59-mile parade route. Carrying on the tradition, this year’s parade will conclude with a special appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus on their aweinspiring finale float. Tickets available at: fortworthparadeoflights.org/paradeinformation/street-seats

NOV 25-JAN 1 • ENCHANT CHRISTMAS AT DALLAS FAIR PARK • Let Enchant light up your holiday season. Bring your friends and family for a magical evening with over 4 million sparkling lights, story themed walkthru light maze, Ice Skating, and so much more! All new Dallas Fair Park location at 1438 Coliseum in Dallas, Texas 75210. Experience a world of adventure with aweinspiring animated light sculptures. Discover a charming Village offering live entertain ment, interactive games, dining, holiday shopping, Santa & Mrs. Claus, and so much more. Open Nov 25 - Jan 1. For more visit: enchantchristmas.com/dallas-tx-fair-park

NOV 29-DEC 4 • MY FAIR LADY • Boasting such classic songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “On the Street Where You Live,” My Fair Lady tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics pro fessor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a proper lady. Tickets are on sale now at: basshall.com

DEC 3-4 • KELLER INDIANETTES CRAFT SHOW

• Join us and over 250 local ven dors at the Keller Indianettes 41st annual Craft Show. It's a Craft Show, Farmers Market and Holiday Boutique all in one place! There will be a bake sale, a silent auction, entertainment, and Santa will be there both Saturday and Sunday from 122pm. Fun for the entire family! Saturday hours are 9am-5pm and Sunday is 11am4pm. There is a $5 admission fee and free parking. Craft Show location is Keller High School (601 Pate Orr Rd N., Keller, 76248) For more please visit: indianettes.com

DEC 8 • AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HATS FOR HEART • Hats For Heart is a special Go Red for Women Tea Time to be held at the Charles Schwab Headquarters in Westlake. Did you know that one in three women will die from cardiovascular disease? That’s a third of mothers, sisters and friends. It’s time to change this fact. It’s time to be demanding when it comes to women’s heart health and ask others to do the same. By joining the Go Red for Women movement, you can make a difference. December 8, 2022 we can come together to save lives. Join us for some delicious eats, fabulous entertainment, and really inspiring survivor stories. Interested in learning more? Please visit Event.Gives/HatsforHeart.

DEC 26 • PEPPA PIG LIVE! PEPPA PIG’S ADVENTURE • Peppa Pig Live! Peppa Pig’s Adventure will bring the lovable, cheeky lit tle piggy to audiences across the United States in time for the holidays! Come join Peppa this Holiday season on an exciting camping trip in the winter woods with George and her school friends, including Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep and Gerald Giraffe. With lunchboxes packed and Daddy Pig driving the bus, Peppa and friends are ex cited about their outdoor holiday adven ture, full of singing, dancing, games and surprises. Little piggies everywhere will love celebrating the season with this 60-minute live musical experience! The tour will make a stop in Arlington, Texas at College Park Center on Monday, December 26, 2022 at 6pm. Tickets for the live, family-friendly experience are on sale at: utatickets.com

JAN 18-29, 2023 • THE LION KING AT BASS HALL

• For the first time in 20 years, Disney’s The Lion King returns to Bass Performance Hall for just two weeks! Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. This is Disney’s The Lion King! More than 100 million people around the world have experienced the awe-inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music, and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular—one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage. Tickets at: basshall.com

Free listings available on a first-come, first-served basis. Include name of event, date, time, location, the ticket pricing, contact info, website, a brief explanation of activities. Email your complete listing to us at: elena@societylifemagazine.com

GRACE GALA 2022 BY MARY MACDOWELL

AS WE HAVE RECEIVED TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.

— GRACE GRAPEVINE

GRACE GRAPEVINE • GRACE GALAangels among us

A community is more than just a group of people living in the same area with similar characteristics. Community is where bonds are made, emotional connections are formed, and mutual support is found. Most importantly, it is a place where needs are being met. A commitment to compassionate actions is vital to building a healthy, flourishing community. Here in Northeast Tarrant County, we are incredibly blessed to be a part of a community that continues to step up to the plate when a need arises. While the past few years have looked very different, one thing still ties us together— GRACE. Without the support of this incredible community, GRACE would not be able to con tinue serving those less fortunate in our backyard. Based in Grapevine, GRACE (Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange) is a nonprofit relief agency that provides food, clothing, financial assistance, and other vital necessities to people struggling with a limited income or recent emergency. GRACE believes that encouraging self-sufficiency will in turn, encourage community cohesiveness.

In partnership with municipalities, businesses, civic organizations, and individuals, local churches offer compassion and assistance in response to God's grace. The GRACE Mission is firmly built on Matthew 5:14-16; "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glo rify your Father in heaven." Light in the darkness—that is what our community of donors, volunteers, and GRACE staff provides. As a steward of God’s blessings and resources in the community, GRACE was organized in 1987 in response to the growing need for emergency assistance services in far northeast Tarrant County, an area almost 20 miles from state, county, and other major resources at that time. Before GRACE, people were usually routed to at least three churches to meet their basic needs until a steering commit tee of church and civic representatives formed to lay the groundwork for a relief center. They believed that centralizing resources and including the business community could result in more resources with better accessibility for local people who needed help. Today, GRACE continues to be a centralized, coordinated effort of churches, businesses and individ uals donating food, clothing, monetary donations, and even professional services to homeless and transient families in need. Programs include: Low-cost medical services, transitional housing, general emergency assistance (food, clothes, furniture, financial assis tance, information, referrals). That is why the assistance and involvement of our community are so imperative.

GRACE is thrilled to announce its 19th Annual GRACE Gala Angels Among Us, presented by The Thompson Group at Classic Chevrolet. In its first year, GRACE Gala sold out six months before the event. Its succes—and your generosity— make a profound impact on local families in need. Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 5th, 2022. Co-Chaired by Sheila and Jason Ridley, the Gala will be held at the Irving

FAST FACTS GRACE GALA

Saturday, November 5, 2022

IRVING CONVENTION CENTER 500 WEST LAS COLINAS BLVD. IRVING, TEXAS 75039

19TH ANNUAL GRACE GALA ANGELS AMONG US

Gourmet Foods

Fine Wines

Luscious Desserts

Dance to R&B Soul Funk by The Walton Stout Band

Live Auction Unique

and Oncein-a-Lifetime Chances

Big Board featuring Hundreds of Valuable

for

Benefiting the Mission of GRACE Grapevine to learn more visit: gracegala.com gracegrapevine.org

SL 6 Questions About

GRACE GALA 2022

Convention Center at Las Colinas. The evening will be filled with gourmet food, fine wine, and the highest caliber entertainment and auction items. Attendees will have an opportunity to bid on hundreds of valuable items, including, local treasures, great travel, and unique experiences. At the end of the program, there will be the annual Gala raffle drawing. This year's prize will be a Trip to the Dominican Republic. If you've attended the GRACE Gala, you know this event is unforgettable and is a meaningful celebration of community generosity. As wise stewards of your resources, GRACE promises to deliver compassionate care to as many families as possible. Together we make a lasting, tangible difference to families struggling to make better lives!

WHO: GRACE (Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange) is a nonprofit relief agency that provides food, clothing, financial assistance, and vital necessities to people struggling with a lim ited income or recent emergency. GRACE believes that encour aging self-sufficiency will encourage community cohesiveness.

WHAT: 19th Annual GRACE GALA - Angels among Us

• Gourmet Foods, Fine Wines, Luscious Desserts.

• Dance to R&B Soul Funk by The Walton Stout Band

• Live Auction Unique Experiences, Once-in-a Lifetime Chances

• Big Board featuring Hundreds of Valuable Items, Silent Auction

• Raffle Tickets - $50 each, or five for $200

Trip for 2 to the Dominican Republic including Airfare, 4-Night Stay in Ocean View Room at Westin Punta Cana Resort & Club Purchase Tickets at: grace.ejoinme.org/GalaAdmissions2022

WHEN: Saturday, November 5th, 2022 with a 5:30pm Cocktail Hour and Silent Auction, followed by Dinner and Dancing

Individual Tickets: $375 each | Table of Ten: $3,500

Full-Table Sponsorships begin at $3,500 | Visit: gracegala.com —

WHERE: Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas 500 West Las Colinas Boulevard, Irving, Texas 75039

WHY: You don’t want to miss out on an amazing evening of en tertainment, silent and live auctions, and more. Most importantly, all proceeds go towards GRACE to provide food, clothing, shelter and medical care to over 5,100 family members each year.

HOW: GRACE programs rely on the generous people power provided by local individuals and group volunteers. The Gala’s success comes from your generosity, which profoundly impacts local families in need. Plus, 82 cents from every dollar raised goes directly to the people GRACE serves.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Donations to GRACE help families going through a crisis become self-sufficient again. They offer many ways you can contribute to their mission: Financial contributions, in-kind donations, host a third party event, sponsor, or volunteer. Learn more: gracegrapevine.org/donate

Become a Lead Sponsor for the 2022 GRACE Gala! Each sponsor ship level offers: Positive Brand Exposure, High-Profile Involvement, Valued Networking, Heartfelt Thanks of those served by GRACE, and the satisfaction of knowing your partnership advances the mis sion of GRACE. Please call GRACE Special Events Manager, Basha Ramsey at (817) 305-4653 or email: bramsey@gracegrapevine.org.

Become a Family-2-Family Sponsor! Your family can sponsor as a family in GRACE’s brand new Family-2-Family program. This new program allows each family to direct their donation to a program at GRACE that speaks to them. To learn more about this unique opportunity download packet at this link: tinyurl.com/GRACEf2f

Here are a few of the many ways GRACE helps the community:

FOOD PANTRY - Client Choice Food Pantry provides a wide variety of options for families and individuals experiencing food insecurity.

EMERGENCY AND HEALTHCARE ASSISTANCE - Provides food, clothing, toiletries, household goods, financial assistance, and referrals to those in need. Healthcare Assistance helps handle emergencies for uninsured families.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING - Allows individuals and families the stability, comfort, and safety of their own apartment for up to two years while they work towards independence.

COMMUNITY CLINIC - A medical home for uninsured families that do not have access to traditional health care.

FRIENDS & FAMILY PROGRAM - Connects seniors aged 55+ and individuals with disabilities to resources and volunteers in an effort to combat isolation and loneliness.

SEASONAL PROGRAMS - Summer Feeding Program, Back-toSchool efforts, and a Christmas Cottage 837 E. Walnut Street, Grapevine, TX 76051 | Mailing Address: P.O. Box 412, Grapevine, TX 76099 | (817) 488-7009 | GraceGrapevine.org | GraceGala.com

dining

Babe’s Chicken Dinner House • Fried chicken as good as grandma’s, but she’s got better things to do, like chow down on unlimited sides. Warm biscuits with butter and honey are reason to go. • Roanoke and NRH babeschicken.com $ L D

Blue 22 Sports Grill • Locally owned, family gathering spot with a scratch kitchen offering prime sporting events—what more could you ask for? This is a perfect family friendly sports bar! • Trophy Club blue22sportsgrill.com $-$$ L D

Chef Point Modern Bar & Restaurant • Fine dining redefined. With indoor and outdoor dining spaces, they accom modate private and semi-private parties. Catering available. • Colleyville and Watauga chefpointcafe.org $-$$ (Sat.B) L D

Chill Restaurant & Bar • Sports headquarters for business meetings, company parties, wedding receptions and rehearsals, birthdays and anniversaries. Outdoor patio, live music and ladies night. • Grapevine chillgrapevine.com $ L D R

Stunning indoor-outdoor watering hole. Everything from expansive beer and wine choices to a menu of shareable plates invites conversation. Happy hour with martinis and sunsets. Roanoke craftandvine.restaurant $$ L D

American grill comfort cuisine serving memories with a twist. A decidedly casual neighborhood spot where you get both a good burger and a dressed-up plate of mussels. The Keller fngeats.com $$ (Brunch) L D R

• Healthy has never been more indulgent. Using all-natural, minimally processed ingredients, the menu satisfies almost anything, whether you’re on a restricted diet or throwing

• Trophy Club hgsplyco.com $$ L D

Order a burger served “bone-in” or topped with mac and cheese and bacon, or chicken pot pie made with fried chicken chunks and crowned with a crispy chicken tender. Build horizon76.com $$ L D

Wine should be easy, eco-friendly and enjoyable—that’s why their wine is on tap. Tap is less bottles, less waste, consistent quality—glass after glass. Consider this your new wine bar. • Trophy Club leelaswinebar.com $$ D

Mason & Dixie • Celebrating all things Southern—a neigh borhood gathering place. Take them up on their BYOB invite when shrimp and grits is on their specials board. • In Grapevine Antique Market facebook.com/masonanddixie $ L

Moxie’s Grill & Bar • Crowd pleaser serving globallyinspired fare like Thai curry bowls, tuna ceviche, steak frites. Fun, sophisticated setting that’s equal parts sports bar and eclec tic brasserie. • Southlake us.moxies.com $$-$$$ L D

Next Wood Fired Bistro & Vino Bar • Intimate, and re fined restaurant serving everything from simple roasted chicken or crab cakes, to lamb tagine or surf and turf. Acclaimed wine program. • Colleyville nextwoodfiredbistro.com $$$ L D

Oak Street Food and Brew • Food hall with chef-driven food—from fish and chips to overstuffed baked potatoes, to craft bbq. Expansive in and out—gathering place for groups. • Roanoke oakstreetfoodandbrew.com $-$$ B L D

PIAF Kitchen+Wine+Bar • From power lunch to happy hour, to a romantic date night. Weekends start with buffet brunch and end with drinks on rooftop bar. Flatbreads, seafood, steak. • Grapevine piafkitchen.com $$-$$$ (Brunch) L D

Sky Creek Grill • In Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club—bistro dishes with contemporary western flair. Steak, salmon, pasta, salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, cold beer. Restaurant and bar open to public.

• Keller skycreekranch.com $-$$ B L D

Sky Creek Kitchen + Bar • Sky Creek embodies casual elegance with sleek, understated décor—prime destination for a special celebration, family dinner, romantic evening, or afterwork drinks. • Southlake skycreekkitchen.com $-$$ L D

Stone House Restaurant • Regionally inspired, locally sourced proteins and a chef’s garden. Sharables, craft beer, cocktails, wine, chops. Must-try 1200-degree broiled steak. • Colleyville stonehouse-restaurant.com $$-$$$ D

The Trophy Table • Scratch-made food, daily specials, chefdriven menu, ample indoor/outdoor dining—everything from comfort food to seafood and steaks. Live music in a casual, fun atmosphere • Trophy Club thetrophytable.com $$ L D

TruFire Kitchen & Bar • Consistent menu, exemplary burger of akaushi beef or truffle-scented mac and cheese. Ba nana split and handcrafted cocktails are a must. Gluten free and vegetarian menus. • Southlake trufire.us $$ B L D

ASIAN / SUSHI / THAI

Cowtown Sushi • Unexpectedly refined sushi and sashimi. They’ve had “hidden gem” status for way too long. Chefs are eager to impress diners, making this an environment to expand your palate. • Southlake cowtownsushi.com $-$$ L D

Foster’s Sushi, Seafood, Bar & Grill • Creative style to fill your appetite. Indoor and outdoor bar with friendly staff and total of 10 flat screen TVs to suit all sports fans, plus happy hour from 3-6pm. • Roanoke fostersushi.com $-$$ L D

Honey Teriyaki • Quality Japanese food—teriyaki and sushi. Many sauces made from scratch with honey—hence the name. Large portions, reasonable prices, friendly service, legit food. • Colleyville tinyurl.com/honeyteriyaki $-$$ L D

Maki & Poké • Sushi rolls and Hawaiian bowls—here you don’t have to choose! Incredibly fresh and generous sushi rolls. BYOB (build your own bowl) is a fav. Very deserving of their many 5-star ratings! • NRH tinyurl.com/nrhpoke $-$$ L D

Malai Kitchen • Thai-Vietnamese mash-up—with silky cur ries, sriracha made in-house. Imaginative beverage program with house-brewed beers. A rand finale, Mango Sticky Rice Smash. • Southlake malaikitchen.com $$-$$$ L D

My Lan Vietnamese Kitchen • Big, steaming bowls of pho, heaping rice plates and rows of crispy egg rolls. Vietnamese staples are soulful and flavorful with reasonable prices . • Col leyville my-lan-vietnamese-kitchen.business.site $ L D

NAPA Thai Asian Cuisine • Unique Thai restaurant that offers a glimpse of traditional Thai culture—where balance and harmony come together in a relaxing, yet elegant atmosphere. • Colleyville napathaicuisine.com $-$$ L D

Noodles @ Boba Tea House • Generously portioned, skill fully prepared Vietnamese, pan-Asian dishes. Try the spicy beef noodle soup, Thai beef salad and the Mocha Madness smoothie.

• Fort Worth noodlesbth.com $ L D

Sabai Sabai Southeast Asian Kitchen • Expect pad Thai, massaman curry, pho, also explore Lao beef jerky, steamed fish or a marinated beef salad. Dine in or takeout. Food packs plenty of flavor. • Grapevine sabaisabaikitchen.com $ L D

Saikou Sushi & Ramen • Well-executed Japanese cuisine. Slurp tonkotsu ramen, pork-forward broth, superb vegetable ramen, classic miso, shoyu and shio varieties. Sushi and bento boxes. • Alliance saikousushiramen.com $-$$ L D

Sushi Dojo • Premier fast-casual sushi restaurant specializing in party trays, office/event catering, and food truck service. Known for sushi tacos and burritos. Delicious, affordable, high quality sushi. • Southlake sushidojodfw.com $-$$ L D

Sushi Nomi • Modern Japanese with inventive sushirolls, ramen, teriyaki and more, plus beer and wine. Choose from delicious lunch options like bento boxes, fried rice, sushi specials. • Fort Worth facebook.com/SushiNomiTexas $-$$ L D

Sushi Sam • Lunch deals like loaded bento boxes. Manage ment is always warm and personable, which is reflected in their friendly service. Amazing salmon skin rolls (not the easiest to pull off). • Southlake sushisam.net $ L D

Thailicious • Authentic Thai in a contemporary, relaxed en vironment. Soft shell crab, creamy curries, Crying Tiger and pad Thai. Seek out tom yum-inspired martinis and mojitos. • Southlake ThailiciousSouthlake.com $$ L D

Trending Kitchen • True scratch kitchen with rotating menu that changes weekly. Family owned and run. Top-notch ingre dients. Best cakes around—come early as they sell out fast! • NRH facebook.com/thetrendshopdesigns $$ L

V’s House • Family-owned Vietnamese restaurant offering up scale takes on classic dishes—plus surprises. You’ll find staples of Vietnamese cuisine, including pho varieteies—all made in-house. Creative cocktail menu. • NRH vshouse.net $-$$ L D

j Wine:30 • Wine bar featuring Texas wineries/wine makers, complimented by wines from California, France, and Italy— also offering a handfull of locally brewed craft beers, flatbreads and charcuterie board pairings. • Roanoke w30.wine $-$$ L D (continued)

BAKERIES / TREATS / COFFEE / TEA / JUICE

Axiom Coffee • Coffee house with purpose. Organic beans sourced from small Hon duras producers from a farm run by World Gospel Outreach employing single moms to harvest and supports an orphanage. • NFW axiomcoffee.com $ B L D

Board + Brie • A curated array of noshables that pair perfectly with wine and talk. Cheese and charcuterie grazing boxes and boards, crowd-pleasing fare or feasts for one. Pick up or delivery. Catering for tables. • Roanoke boardbrie.com $$-$$$ L D

Brew & Batter • Locally owned, stand alone house serving good coffee! Not to mention waffles! There offer two bases— cornbread and a liege waffle (a european waffle made with yeast daily) • Grapevine brew-batter.business.site $ B L D

j Buzzed Bull Creamery • A premium, made-to-order, alcoholic and non-alcoholic frozen dessert and coffee company. They harnesses the power of liquid nitrogen to bring you a one-of-a-kind-experience • Grapevine buzzedbullcreamery.com $ L D

Creative Memories Bakery • Cupcakes, smash cakes, wedding, birthday, gradua tion, shower, gender reveal and baby shower cakes, petit fours, cookies, brownies, cake balls/pops, ding dongs. • Fort Worth yourcakeplace.com $-$$

Crumbl Cookies • Giant cookies delivered! Chocolate chip, chilled sugar cookie and rotating flavors like key lime pie, salted caramel cheesecake, birthday cake or German chocolate. Open ‘til midnight! • Southlake crumblcookies.com $

DessertsRx Organic Café • High quality, organic, non-GMO, real food and drinks offered with the knowledge to empower you to make informed decisions when it comes to what goes into your body. • Colleyville dessertsrx.com $ B L D

Doughlicious • Offering scoops of raw, safe-to-eat dough in chocolate chip, snicker doodle, sugar cookie, banana pudding and s’mores. Grab a multi-pack of mini scoops to share. • Grapevine doughlicioususa.com $

Dr. Sue’s Chocolate • Doctor by trade, master chocolatier at heart, Dr. Sue Williams crafts the finest chocolate specimens you’ve ever had. Delightful creations like chocolate bark, truffles, and chocolate bars. • Grapevine drsueschocolate.com $

Elegant Cakery • Beautiful designs that make magnificent centerpieces for any oc casion—and the taste makes them unforgettable. Cupcakes, birthday and wedding cakes—made with quality ingredients. • Southlake elegantcakery.com $-$$

Hey Sugar Candy Shop • Bulk candies and popcorn, syrups and flavorings from an old-fashioned soda fountain. Chocolates by Nib Chocolates. Ice cream made in a ma chine from the 1920s. • Roanoke heysugarcandy.com $-$$

JudyPie • Time-tested recipes, anchored by shortbread crust, elevate flavors like apple, pecan, buttermilk, banana cream into their best versions. By the slice or whole (large or small rounds). Gluten free, vegan, paleo. • Grapevine judypie.com $ L D

Juice Junkies • No need to be a health nut to appreciate juice blends, smoothies, whole food snacks and cold-brewed coffee drinks, but they just might convert you. Coldpressed. Restocked regularly. • Keller juicejunkies.com $ B L

Kindred Coffee Co. • A love for craft coffee and local community—they find the best coffee and roast it at their shop. Stop by for a cup, fresh salad, gelato or one of their pastries.• North Richland Hills kindredcoffeeco.com $ B L D

‘Lette Macarons • Elegant French sandwich cookies ready-made for gifting. Endlessly customizable. Offers a selection of fine shortbread cookies and will soon offer macaron ice cream sandwiches. • Southlake lettemacaron.com $

Native Coffee + Kitchen • Refreshing, independent voice serving unapologetic in terpretations of comfort food favs—pancakes, tacos, burgers and nachos—alongside coffee made with Texas-roasted bean. nativeck.com $ B L D

Nothing Bundt Cakes • Made fresh daily using eggs, butter and cream cheese. Bitesized Bundtinis, single serving Bundtlets, 8” and 10” cakes and double-tiered cakes. Daily samples show how yummy it is! • Southlake nothingbundtcakes.com $

Redefined Coffee House • Locals gather for birthdays, meetings, and conversa tion—and everyone sips macchiatos and iced lattes made with Avoca coffee beans. • Grapevine redefinedcoffeehouse.com $ B L D

Texas Harvest Pie Co. • Small pie shop feels like home. Lovingly crafted pies like apple, blueberry, buttermilk, key lime taste like grandmas if she’s an expert baker. Serving lunch. • Keller facebook.com/texasharvestpiecompany $-$$

The Garden Party • It’s party time—experience North Richland Hills’ newest tearoom, located in Golightly’s Antiques. Stop by and enjoy fresh tea, food and treats. They look forward to serving you! • NRH & Grapevine thegarden-party.com $ L

BARBECUE

Back Forty Smokehouse • Brisket, ribs, full bar, outdoor patio, friendly service, locally owned—should we keep going. Back Forty is conveniently located next to the new Tex Rail train station. • NRH backfortysmokehouse.com $-$$ L D

Feedstore BBQ • Local fav with quality meats and the freshest veggies available. Ridiculously good chopped beef, chicken, sausage and fall-off-the-bone ribs, fried okra, spicy beans and amazing rolls. • NRH feedstorebbq.com $-$$ L D R

Hard Eight Pit BBQ • Authentic mesquite barbecue. Award winning cuisine. “Old World” slow cooking over pits adopted from German settlers who came to the Texas Hill Country long ago. • Roanoke hardeightbbq.com $-$$ L D R

Meat U Anywhere BBQ • “Meating” your BBQ and cater ing needs. Slow smoked with seasoned oak and hickory. Exclu sive sides, special offerings, ultimate breakfast tacos • Grapevine and Trophy Club meatuanywhere.com $-$$ B L D R

Red Barn Bar-B-Que • Best all you can eat catfish on Friday nights, and sausage and turkey around town. Rustic counter service with generous plates and comfort grub in. • Colleyville redbarnbarbque.com $-$$ L D

BREAKFAST (+ lunch/dinner) .............................

Another Broken Egg Cafe • Twists on Eggs Benedict and Omelettes, Biscuit Beignets, Cinnamon Roll French Toast and much more. Brunch is the most important meal of the week! • Southlake anotherbrokenegg.com $-$$ B (Brunch) L

Bacon’s Bistro & Cafe • Breakfast diner with really good service, food and company—sandwiches, soups and salads for lunch. It’s common to have a wait on weekends because it’s just that darn good! • Hurst baconsbistroandcafe.com $$ B L

Black Walnut Cafe • Classic fare, upscale flair. Handcrafted sandwiches to chilled local craft brews to swirly rows of gelato. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner every day of the week. • Colleyville blackwalnutcafe.com $-$$ B L D

DeVivo Bros. Eatery • Rustic comfort food on American ized menu with Italian flair. Bold flavor, large portions, meatloaf, pastas, sandwiches with rustic simplicity and refined elegance. • Keller devivobroseatery.com $-$$ B L D

Kassandra’s Mexican Kitchen • Hidden gem. Great lunch with well-priced specials. Tortillas live up to the name. Put it on your list for breakfast, served all day. Breakfast quesadilla, beans and potatoes—a good reason to get up early! • Keller $ B L D

Main Street Bistro & Bakery (Bistro M) • Local gem with foodie following (and a Gallic accent). Best croissants. Chocolate bomb cake that makes your toes curl. Must-try are their pastries and desserts. • Grapevine themainbakery.com $$ B L D

Mangos Breakfast Brunch • French toast, chicken, waffles, omelets. Taking shots at convention with duck bacon burgers, s’mores waffles, skillets with chicken fried steak, stuffed avocados. • Southlake, Keller mangosbb.com $$ B (Brunch) L

Oldwest Cafe • Big menu, big portions, good value. Saddle up that horse and hit the trail for Oldwest Cafe... pretty darn sure ya’ might like it! Breakfast served all day long (or until we go home for the day)! • Grapevine oldwestcafe.us $ B L

Rush Bowls • Smoothies in a bowl with fruit and toppings. Featuring all-natural fruit and açai blended until thick and creamy, these are a healthy alternative dessert or a perfect meal. Perfect refueling stop. • Keller rushbowls.com $ B L D

Seven Mile Café • Fans flock for specialty pancakes, Gouda grits, egg dishes and Stumptown coffee. You cannot go wrong with benedicts or the pancake sampler. Vegan and gluten-free options. sevenmilecafe.com $-$$ B (Brunch) L

Stevie’s Diner • A unique, family-owned and operated throwback dining experience. Whether you’re in the mood for a delicious breakfast or lunch, head over to Stevie’s Diner. • North Fort Worth steviesdiner.com $ B L

Starwood Cafe • Specializing in breakfast and lunch at eight locations around DFW, and serving breakfast all day—this is your new brunch destination. Vast menu serving all your favs.

• Trophy Club, NRH starwoodcafe.com $-$$ B L

Sunny Street Café • Serving hearty American fare—with gluten-free options. Dine-in or carry-out, this is your neighbor hood destination for fresh, wholesome food and friendly service served daily. • Roanoke sunnystreetcafe.com $-$$ B L

BRITISH

From Across the Pond

• Get your British classics—fish and chips, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie and more—plus, burgers, sandwiches, pastas and salads from beyond the pond.

• Colleyville acrossthepond.site $ L D

The Londoner Pub and Grill

• Pub turning out English classics like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and bangers and mash with confidence. Their decor screams typical English pub. • Colleyville thelondonerpub.com $$ L D

BURGERS / SANDWICHES .................................

Bottlecap Alley Icehouse Grill

• 100% Fresh Angus Beef, name brand quality meats, whole veggies chopped in-house daily and local artisan buns. A place where kids and adults co-mingle successfully. • Grapevine bottlecapalley.com $ L D

Chick & Biscuit

• Southern food done right! Home-style comfort food—from spicy hot chicken to pulled pork, brisket, and sausage gravy, the menu honors the South. Inside Harvest Hall. • Grapevine chickandbiscuit.com $$ L D

Fred’s Texas Cafe

• Nationally acclaimed hamburgers, fabulous chicken-fried steak, the coldest beer in town—that’s Fred’s—a beloved local dive that’s serious about food! • TCU, Fort Worth, NFW fredstexascafe.com $-$$ L D

Kincaid’s Hamburgers • Where friends meet to eat! Hypefree, good-old-burgers, ice cream shakes, deviled eggs, stuffed jalepenos, fried okra, chicken sandwiches, banana pudding. • Southlake and Alliance kincaidshamburgers.com $ L D

LA Burger • Beautifully seared meat, thoughtful layering, oozy cheese and toasty buns—burgers solidly executed with California flair. Tacos, fries, hot dogs, salads and shakes served counter-style, but all with a fresh multi-culti twist. • Keller la-burger.com $ L D

Mighty Chick • Reinvigorating fried chicken with bold flavor and big crunch. Wings, pieces, tenders with sauce like BBQ Soy Garlic or Hot and Spicy Seoul Nashville-style hot chicken. • Watauga mightychickdfw.com $-$$ L D

Old Town Ice House • Burgers, po-boys, wings, tacos, salads, artisan brews—celebrating the ice industry in its heyday, as well as the founding of Keller during that era. Raise an ice-cold glass with us! • Keller oldtownicehouse.com $ L D

The Pour Shack • Comes alive as the sun sets! Cover bands and DJs pump up the scene and the music at this big indoor/outdoor bar serving up burgers and drink specials. Your neighborhood bar. • Keller thepourshack.com $-$$ L D

The Station Patio Icehouse • Gathering place to enjoy good food, good drinks and good music. It’s everything you’d want your own backyard to be, with all the people you love and none of the work! • Keller stationicehouse.com $$ L D

CAJUN ...............................................................

Bayou Jack’s Cajun Grill • Part soulfuajun, part vibrant cocktails, two parts bon temps. Jambalaya, po boys, grilled oysters, étouffée. Drink swamp juice, Hurricane Kris and Abita on tap. • Roanoke bayoujackscajungrill.com $-$$ L D

Copeland’s • Authentic taste of the Big Easy adjacent to the Hilton Southlake lobby. Soul satisfying eggplant pirogue and mind-blowing bananas foster French toast. • (In the Hilton Hotel) Southlake copelandsofneworleans.com $-$$ B L D

The Lost Cajun • Real and authentic Cajun food from the gumbo and jambalaya to the fried seafood—it’s like you’re in Louisiana! Awesome frozen drinks and food you can taste! • Keller thelostcajun.com $-$$ L D

GREEK

Café Medi • Devoted fans—they give as much attention to vegetarian dishes as their succulent grilled and braised meats. BYOB. Salads, hummus, falafel and fool. Their lamb shanks really shine. • Keller and Hurst cafemedi.com $-$$ L D R

INDIAN

• Perfectly poached eggs, strip after strip of crunchy bacon, layer upon layer of turkey and pastrami—these are delicacies we dream about at night, and they’re the ones we want to wake up to! • Keller thetoastedyolk.com $-$$ B L

j Toasted Yolk

F2 Fusion Flavors • F2 combines the sensibilities of the Mid dle East with Asia, offering Indian flavored Kebabs, lamb and even goat dishes for a global tour of cuisines and cultures. Daily buffet. • Southlake fusionflavors.site $-$$ L D

• Twists on omelettes, benedicts, pan cakes, salads, sandwiches. Lean sweet (banana Nutella crepes) or savory (“everything spiced” avocado toast), your cravings is covered.

Townhouse Brunch

• Colleyville townhousebrunch.com $$ B (Brunch) L

Mughlai Fine Indian Cuisine • Courtly cuisine of Mughal royalty—familiar dishes like lamb roghan josh and chicken tikka masala served alongside more obscure dishes from authentic Indian street fare. • Southlake mughlaidfw.com $$ L D

ITALIAN / PIZZA

Armend’s Restaurante • Laid-back, family friendly pizza place reminiscent of Naples. Plenty of hearty Northern Italian favorites with great prices and friendly, fam ily-owned service. • Southlake armendspizza.com $ L D

Bosses • Brick oven pizza using the finest cheese and meats—and freshest veggies. They set out to make the best pizza in town and some say it’s “The Best Darn Pizza in Texas.” • Lake Worth, NRH, North Fort Worth bossespizza.com $ L D

Brio Tuscan Grille • Buzzing from the shaded outdoor patio to the courtyard bar. Upscale enough for the date-night crowd, but casual enough for locals wandering in from their shopping. • Southlake Town Square brioitalian.com $-$$ L D R

Calabrese Ristorante and Bar • Authentic Italian fare with ingredients imported from Italy—modern and traditional Italian dishes to please every palate. Wine list as se ductive as the atmosphere. • Southlake ilcalabrese.com $$ L D

Coal Vines • Pizza wine bar separating good pizza from great—a perfect crunch and just a speckling of char. This pie was made for good vino. Fortunately, they have plenty of that on hand as well! • Southlake coalvinespizza.com $ D R

Delucca Gaucho Pizza & Wine • Slice-after-slice of gourmet pizza—garlic picanha, shrimp and fontina, Turkish lamb—along with cheese or pepperoni—brought to your table oven hot. All you can eat perfection! delucca.com $$ D

Farina’s Winery & Café • Elegant but unassuming withsolid food and wine to back up the atmosphere. Italian classicsheadlined by popular pizzas, are Farina family recipes. • Grapevine farinaswinery.com $-$$ L D

Ferrari’s Italian Villa & Chop House • Beautiful banquet and private dining. Boun tiful antipasti bar. The roasted entrées from the wood fired oven are standouts. Desserts prepared tableside. • Grapevine ferrarisrestaurant.com $$ L D

Fireside Pies • Swanky pizza served in a casual environment. Who knew my favorite veggie pie (Peta Pie) would come from the same place as my favorite meaty pie (Triple ‘Roni)? • Grapevine firesidepies.com $ L D

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria • Brooklyn’s iconic pizza has now arrived—crust is perfectly thin and crisp and cheese and toppings first-rate. Brooklyn charm here to go with some ex cellent pizza. • Grapevine grimaldispizzeria.com $ L D

i Fratelli Pizza • Distinctive thin-n-crispy pizza, handmade sauces, dressings, dessert— favs for 30 years. Delivery committed to exceeding expectations with their exemplary serv ice and fast delivery. • Southlake, Keller, NFW ifratelli.net $-$$ L D

Inzo Italian Kitchen • Old-world menu with a new-world accent. Using fresh ingre dients and doing things the way Nonna did years ago. One taste is all it takes to be amazed. Buon appetito! • Roanoke inzoitalian.com $-$$ L D R

Loveria Caffe • Emilia-Romagna is Italy’s premier destination for food lovers—pre mium pastas, cured meats, cheeses, wines, meatballs, lasagna, eggplant parm perfected centuries before landing right here. • Colleyville loveriacaffe.com $$ L D

Napoli’s Italian Café & Creamery • Italian-America classics in cozy historic Grapevine Main Stree setting. Linger in or drop by the creamery for freshly made gelato and Italian desserts. • Grapevine napolisgrapevine.com $-$ L D

Oliva Italian Eatery • Italian staples rendered with verve—spaghetti and meatballs, lobster ravioli, anticipated featured items. Expertly curated wines at a remarkable value. Popular wine dinners. • North Fort Worth olivaeatery.com $$ L D

Palio’s Pizza Cafe • Food tastes better, and they swear it’s better for you with fresh in gredients made-from-scratch. Pizzas with pesto, artichoke hearts, chicken and mush rooms. • Keller, Colleyville, Grapevine paliospizzacafe.com $ L D R

Stellini Trattoria • Shareable arancini (crisp risotto balls) or taglieri (meat & cheese board). Housemade pastas and pizzas. Steaks and chops with polenta, gnocchi and potatoes. Creative cocktails. • Grapevine stellinitrattoria.com $$ L D

Vinny’s Italian Restaurant • Good food, great people. Like being invited to your Italian uncle’s house for dinner—serving authentic New York style pizza and Italian clas sics. • Roanoke vinnysrest.com $ L D

Wise Guys Pizzeria • Exceeding expectations and providing Fresh food, family hos pitality, hard work, and a hands on approach to pizzas, pastas, premium drafts—all made from scratch. • Roanoke & Grapevine wiseguystx.com $$ L D

Zeppole • Refined pasta dishes, seafood and soulful renditions of Italian specialties showcased in an open setting that feels like your favorite outdoor patio. • Located inside the Gaylord Texan Resort Atrium gaylordtexan.com $$$ D

LATIN AMERICAN

Boca 31 • Drawing from Mexico, Peru, Caribbean, Americas—elevating street food with creative flare—barbacoa tacos to pulled pork to guava and cream cheese empanadas, the menu is anything but standadr. • Keller boca31.com/keller $ L D

Del Campo Empanadas • Empanadas with savories like chicken, ham, spinach, pi canha steak. Dipped in chimichurri it’s a no-fuss meal or grab-and-go snack. Pick up sweet treats here also. • Fort Worth delcampoempanadas.com $ L D

Gloria’s • Fine Latin cuisine that hints at humble mom and pop roots. Sleek design draws crowds as much for their pupusas and margaritas as for the weekend salsa dancing. • Colleyville and Southlake gloriasrestaurants.com $-$$ L D R

MEXICAN ...........................................................

Baja Cantina • Coastal Mexican with seafood and amazing steaks. Fajitas are a fav, also fish tacos, spinach queso, frozen margaritas that make you swear you’re on vacation! • Watauga, NRH, Roanoke, Keller bajagrilldfw.com $-$$ L D R

Cristina’s Fine Mexican • Lively setting, unique menu with Tex-Mex favorites, as well as unique central Mexican dishes. Must-have margaritas. • NRH, Trophy Club, Southlake, Flower Mound and Lewisville cristinasmex.com $ L D R

Elote Mexican Kitchen • Little taqueria with style. Slow roasted meats, fresh ingredients, marvelous margaritas. Entire menu is gluten free (except flour tortillas). Plus soy cheese and tofu sour cream. • North Fort Worth elotemex.com $ B L D

Enchiladas Olé • Specializing in enchiladas filled with chicken, cheese, veggies or beef, then topped with Perez’s famed sauces from a classic ancho chili to a rich queso. Tamales and happy hours. • NRH enchiladasole.com $-$$ L D

Esparza’s Restaurante Mexicano • Possibly the coolest patio scene in the area. Feast on Mexican classics, but don’t miss out on their famous margaritas, fajitas or their authentic Mex ican favorites. • Grapevine esparzastexas.com $ L D R

Fresco’s • Vibrant joint serving traditional Mexican dishes and Tex-Mex using quality ingredients. Unmistakable flavor and freshness, and awesome margaritas. Fair prices. • Watauga frescosmexicanfood.com $ L D

Los Molcajetes • Start with warm tortilla chips and red or green salsa. Enjoy a margarita and a sizzling plate of fajitas, top it off with sopapillas, flan or fried ice cream—the ultimate Mex ican comfort food! • Roanoke losmolcajetes.com $ L D

Manny’s Uptown Tex-Mex • Dragon-ritas, brisket tacos, signature queso, fajitas and enchiladas—perfect with a Manny’s Taxi. Weekend breakfast is a fav, happy hours and catering.• Southlake mannysuptowntexmex.com $$ B L D

Martha’s Mexican Cocina • Reliable Tex-Mex in a relaxed, setting with a great patio. Try brisket tacos and pollo poblano. Vegetarian options with daily specials and happy hour. • Keller marthasmexicancocina.com $ L D R

Mesa • Elevated coastal cuisine in a bright, elegant restaurant to match its vibrant, upscale menu. A magic touch with seafood, including lobster enchiladas, Mexican gumbo and chipotle shrimp. • Grapevine mesagrapevine.com $$-$$ D R

j Mesero • Beyond Tex Mex, but lives up to its promise of Mexican Spirit American Life. One taste of the iconic Queso Mesero and brisket tacos will keep you coming back... don’t skip their amazing drinks! • Southlake mesero.net $$-$$ L D

Mi Cocina • The original see-and-be-seen spot is still a crowd favorite. A sleek but festive interior draws locals for “modern” enchiladas and first-rate Tex-Mex. • Southlake and Alliance mcrowd.com $-$$ L D R

Mi Dia From Scratch • Traditional Mexico City recipes with modern Santa Fe and Tex Mex flavors. Experience a true fusion of the past and present. • Grapevine, Plano, Flower Mound midiafromscratch.com $-$$ L D

So-Cal Tacos • Former food truck is now a great taco joint with the same delicious food and laid back vibe. The truck, Woody, paved the way for fresh tacos, delicious margarita, and ice cold beer. • Grapevine eatsocaltacos.com $ L D

SEAFOOD ...........................................................

Big Fish Seafood • Fresh seafood, including lots of Cajun options, plus great drink specials and frequent live music in a rustic and relaxed setting. Known for treating all guests like family. • Grapevine bigfishgrapevine.com $-$$ L D

Bonefish Grill • A menu full of fresh flavors of the season and innovative dishes—specializing in seasonal fresh fish. Taste today’s freshest catch and try something new on each visit. • Southlake bonefishgrill.com $$-$$$ L (sat-sun) D (daily)

The Crab Station • Promises the best seafood in a family ori ented experience. Have fun cracking and peeling with your hands—getting messy while you’re at it! Entrees, wings, kettles, shareables, peel-n-eat • NFW crab-station.com $-$$ L D

Fish City Grill • Menu of crawfish, Gulf and east coast oysters, and other fresh seafood selections. Favs like fish tacos, Gulf shrimp, renowned oyster nachos. Chalkboard specials are a great deal. • Southlake fishcitygrill.com $-$$ L D R

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen • From the warm waters of the Gulf, the icy Alaskan coast, the mighty Atlantic and Pacific, they go to any depth to bring you the finest seafood available— all year long. • Grapevine pappadeaux.com $$-$$$ L D

Rockfish • Local favorites like the shrimp basket, fish tacos, wild copper river alaskan salmon, rock-a-rita margarita, schooners, and Mexican shrimp martinis. Great seafood—not a lot of clams. • Southlake rockfish.com $-$$ L D

Shuck Me • Seafood spot with bountiful fried baskets, peeland-eat shrimp, crawfish, oysters, po-boys, gumbo. Big portions. Plenty to choose from—perfect seafood fix without breaking the bank. • Southlake and Alliance shuckme.net $-$$ L D

The Blu Crab Seafood House and Bar • Inspired by travel and culture—offers vast menu of culinary delights using the freshest ingredients. Come in to and celebrate your senses! • Colleyville blucrabseafoodhouse.com $$-$$$ L D

Truluck’s Seafood, Steak & Crab House • Iconic for stone crab claws—beloved for freshness! Chic dining room hosts sophisticated dinners with inventive foodie twists served in the mix. • Southlake Town Square trulucks.com $$-$$$ L D

STEAKS ...............................................................

Bob’s Steak and Chop House • Bob’s is ranked as one of the top steakhouses in the country—and for good reason. The steaks are prime, the portions are big and the drinks are stiff. • Grapevine bobs-steakandchop.com $$$ L D

The Classic at Roanoke • Unlikely fine dining destination. Nicely focused menu serving grilled steaks and seafood. Worldclass food, casual atmosphere, family friendly environment. A true classic. • Roanoke theclassiccafe.com $-$$ L D R

Del Frisco’s Grille • Spend the day shopping the square before meeting for dinner and drinks. Luxurious dining room or patio. Local flavor—diverse menu has something for every one. • Southlake delfriscosgrille.com $$-$$$ (Brunch) L D

Dino’s Steak & Claw House • Serving a variety of seafood, steak and poultry dishes in a vintage bank building along historic Main Street. This romantic spot also offers live piano music. • Grapevine dinossteakandclaw.net $$-$$$ D

Kirby’s Prime Steakhouse • Prime aged beef, the freshest seafood and uncomplicated sides. No wonder it’s a favorite for impressing out-of-towners—their kitchen rarely (if ever) gets it wrong. • Southlake kirbyssteakhouse.com $$-$$$ L D

Mac’s on Main • Southwestern, cajun and global influences. Steaks, signature prime rib and seafood. Cocktails, beer, 30+ single malt scotches, wine list. Locally owned and operated, oneof-a-kind. • Grapevine macsteak.com $$ (Brunch) L D

Old Hickory Steakhouse

• Savor premium Black Angus Beef seared to perfection, sample artisanal cheeses from around the world, indulge in the Texas inspired wine cellar. Inside Gay lord Texan gaylordtexan.com $$-$$$ D

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

• Vibrant twist on traditional steakhouse fare with unexpected specialties. Bar 79 offers hand crafted bites, fine wine, cocktails, beer, live music and patio seat ing. • Grapevine perryssteakhouse.com $$-$$$ D

Keller Chophouse

• Signature dishes like fried calamari with tomato risotto, sides of truffle Parmesan fries, a roster of seafood, chicken and steaks (New York strip, bone-in ribeye, and filet mignon).

• Keller kellerchophouse.com $$-$$$ D

Winewood • American fare with modern flair: Waldorf sal ads, Dagwood club, Niman Ranch pork chops and chicken Cordon Bleu. Ideal for family meals, business lunches or cele brations.

• Grapevine thewinewood.com $$ L D

Send us your favorite local dining spots. We will then check it out and list them here to share with our readers who are craving what’s on the menu. Please email your crave-worthy local dining destinations to us here at: societylifemag@verizon.net. And stay hungry!

HALLOWEEN SWIRL BROWNIES

These are just about the prettiest brownies I ever did make! In an effort to bring you more beginner recipes, here is a dessert teenage me baked all the time: cheesecake swirl brownies using brownie mix. Ghirardelli is my brownie mix of choice, but you can use whatever you like! These are so easy to make. Just mix together brownie mix according to the package directions, then mix together cheesecake ingredients.

The key here (and with all cream cheese recipes) is to have the cream cheese at room temperature. Do not use cold cream cheese. It will not blend properly. You can use orange food coloring if you want a really vibrant color, but most grocery stores don’t carry orange, so just mix red and yellow together. I used about equal parts of each and just kept going until I got a shade of orange I liked.

Pour all but a quarter cup of brownie mix into a pan, then top with the cheesecake layer. Now, take that reserved brownie mix and then drop spoonfuls on the cheesecake layer. Then use a chopstick or knife to swirl the brownie batter into the cheesecake layer. Feel free to ooh and ahh as you do this because it’s so darn pretty! These need to be refrigerated since they have a cheesecake layer. They are delicious served chilled! They’re moist and delicious.

(1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray an 8

square pan with nonstick spray.

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup of brownie mix for the topping. Pour rest of the brownie mix into prepared pan.

Beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Beat in red

and yellow food coloring to tint desired shade of orange. (Or use orange food coloring for a more vibrant look.) Pour cheesecake mixture on top of brownies, carefully spreading to over the brownie layer to the edge.

Drop spoonfuls of remaining 1/4 cup brownie mix around the cheesecake layer. Use a chopstick, knife,

toothpick to swirl the brownie mix and cheesecake together.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until cheesecake is set in the middle and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.

Let cool in the pan, then refrigerate for two hours before slicing.

WhereLocalsGo

PHOTOS BY LORRAINE HAAN-STEWART REVIEW BY JENNIFER SLOAN

CREAMERY

It’s no secret Historic Downtown Grapevine is home to more than a few wineries and tasting rooms. There’s at least one for every day of the week. Grapevine also recently added breweries to its repertoire with Outlaw Cider Company and the award-winning Hop & Sting Brewing Company. It seems fitting Main Street would be host to an out post of the world’s first alcoholic ice cream shop: Buzzed Bull Creamery. Originally founded in Cincinnati, Grapevine is the first in North Texas.

Buzzed Bull creates made-to-order ice cream, shakes, sorbets, coffees— specialized in 32 alcoholic and nonalcoholic flavors. Alcoholic flavors start at 5% ABV so adult patrons are sure to feel a bit “buzzed” by the end of their customized dessert. Buzzed Bull Creamery harnesses the power of liquid nitrogen to make the fresh est creations right before your eyes. It’s a one-of-a-kind-experience that’s perfect for a fun night out with the kids, a unique date night or girl’s night out. Since each ice cream and milkshake is created when ordered, they’re customizable. Considerably different than standard methods for creating the popular frozen dessert, the liquid nitrogen offers noticeably smoother texture and fresher taste than big box or store bought options

Here’s how it works. Step 1: Pick your base—go for an original dairy cream, vegan non-dairy cream or an

icy sorbet. Step 2: Pick your flavor. With well over a dozen to choose from, this will be your hardest step. Of course, there’s classic vanilla and chocolate, but if you’re feeling extra creative, there’s also peanut butter, Nutella, cake batter, honey, brownie batter, pineapple and coconut—just to name a few. Step 3: Pick your mix-ins and toppings. Along with your favorite candies, there’s also a variety of nuts, waffle cone pieces, brownie bites and cookie dough. The final and optional adults-only step is to “Buzz It” by adding vodka, bourbon, whiskey, gin, spiced rum, rum or tequila. This may sound odd as most of us aren’t used to such a combo. Here are some of Buzzed Bull’s buzzy creations for inspiration:

Death By Chocolate—Chocolate, Brownies, Chocolate Chips, Choco late sauce on top. Suggested Buzz: Chocolate Vodka

Hard Apple Pie—Apple, Caramel, Graham Cracker. Suggested Buzz: Apple Pie Moonshine

Tiger Stripes—Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Cups, Peanut Butter Sauce on Top. Suggested Buzz: Spiced Rum

Buzzed Bull Creamery also has an Espresso Bar. This was my favorite part. As an avid coffee drinker, I thought I had tried it all, but Buzzed Bull truly makes coffee like none other. Not only do they offer a large

selection of specialty drink flavors that you won’t find anywhere else, they also used steamed ice cream base as their “milk.” This makes their drinks rich and velvety. And of course, for the 21 and up crowd, you can make it “buzzed” by adding your spirit of choice. My go-to is the Buzzed Bull. It’s simply espresso blended with steamed cream base and a healthy drizzle of caramel sauce. The simplicity allows you to enjoy the steamed cream base with the caramel adding just a little extra. Their suggested buzz with this one is bourbon. Other specialty drinks include the Girl Scout—a thin mintesque creation that pairs well with Peppermint Schnapps Feeling extra spicy, try your hand at the Bonfire— a blend of espresso, steamed cream base, marshmallow and cinnamon

syrup with a suggested buzz of everyone’s party favorite: Fireball. It screams “Fall” as loud as pumpkin spice, but in a punk rocker voice.

Following suit of the area’s wineries and breweries, Buzzed Bull also has buzzed ice cream “flights” and the selections change monthly—giving guests something to look forward to each month. Combining the liquid nitrogen experience with the nonalcoholic flavors and alcohol infused options, makes this sweet treat an ideal family-night-out destination. Kids are enticed as they watch their dessert start liquid and magically transform to frozen state in seconds, while parents are unwinding from a long day with their drink or dessert of choice. Or heck, why not grab the bull by the horns and try both!