a magazine for women of all ages and phases

Not your mama’s kitchen

The hottest new trends for
the busiest room in your
house

Women in real estate

Four local women dish on
their careers

A day in Edom
A community of artists lies
just off the beaten path

Great gifts
What’s around town for moms,
dads and grads

May/June/July 

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_1 1 4/10/08 3:42:57 PM

  May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_2 2 4/10/08 3:42:50 PM

 Q
: What is your recommended
daily intake of proteins and
carbohydrates?

A: In general animal proteins such as

meat, fish, poultry, milk, cheese and eggs
are considered good sources of protein.
Vegetable proteins such as grains, beans and
peas contain smaller amounts of protein.

Suggested protein intakes vary for age,

gender and state of health, but most healthy
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should consume up to 65 grams of protein
per day. Whole wheat bread has 5 grams of
protein per slice, a slice of cheese contains
6 grams of protein, and a small hamburger

Q
: I need help for a diabetic who is a do if I were you is to sit down, and tell your patty has about 20 grams of protein.
meat, cheese and potatoes man! husband how much you love him, how you want
My husband is having trouble with him to be around, and that you will do anything Regarding
following a diabetic diet. Today he you can to help. carbohydrates,
started off with two sausage breakfast no less than 40
sandwiches and a pint of chocolate milk, he had In the meantime, I would strongly suggest he percent of your
a double-meat cheeseburger and chili cheese eliminate the sodas, juice and cut out the fried total food for
tots and an extra large cola for lunch. Then for food. The sodas and juice raise blood sugar the day should
dinner he had lasagna and a half a loaf of garlic levels drastically, and the fried food puts him at come from
bread. No doubt he is drinking more sodas and high risk for heart disease. You may find your carbohydrates.
grape juice husband is depressed, which So, for an
during the may make it more difficult 1800 calorie
day while he for him to make changes in diet, 720
is at work. his diet. Depression is very calories should
common when a person come from
After arguing experiences sustained high carbohydrates
about the blood sugar levels. Ask him which translate
issue he told to give it two weeks and I to 180 grams of
me he takes think you will both discover carbohydrate
medicine to he is feeling much better per day.
control his and experiencing improved Carbohydrates
sugar level blood sugar levels. should be spread evenly throughout the day for
so he “could example, 60 grams carbohydrate at breakfast,
eat whatever As far as vegetables, try 60 grams carbohydrate for lunch and 60 grams
he wanted.” cooking a vegetable stir- carbohydrate for dinner. Best choices are complex
He tested his fry with lots of nutrient rich carbohydrates such as fresh fruit, vegetables,
blood sugar veggies such as squash, whole grain bread, high-fiber cereal, brown
but refused zucchini, broccoli and rice, and whole-wheat pasta. For good health,
to show me the reading which ended the cauliflower - sauté the vegetables with onion try to limit your intake of sugary sodas, candy
conversation. He says if I can find vegetables he and fresh herbs in a small amount of olive or and nutrient-poor snacks.
likes he will eat them. He is my best friend and I canola oil. Look for some vegetable recipes next Well wishes!
don’t want to outlive him! month on the website – I will post a few for you. Amy
NEED RECIPES DESPERATELY!
Finally, don’t give up. You and I both know – it’s Amy McLeod, RD, LD is a registered dietitian and
director of Food and Nutrition Services at Woodland
worth the fight. Heights Medical Center in Lufkin.
A: I feel your pain. My Dad has diabetes and I "%7&35*4&.&/5
have seen first-hand how difficult it can be to try
to help a family member improve their health.
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your husband’s decision. It will be of no use for
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“sold” on the idea. I think the first thing I would

May/June/July 

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_3 3 4/10/08 3:43:04 PM

 contents May June July
Charm ASKS FEATURES
What do you look forward to in spring?..... 5 Josie Crowson, The Flower Lady ........ 12
ChickFlicks and Must Reads ....................... 18 Get Involved: Marisa Guerrero ............ 13
Mothers & Daughters  ........................... 26 Women in . . . real estate  ............. 24
26 12 A woman you should know   ........... 38
FABULOUS FINDS
What’s hot for Moms, Dads and Grads ...... 6 GET AWAY
Road trip with the Sole Sisters ........ 14
HEALTH, BEAUTY, FASHION
Daytripper: A day in Edom ............. 16
On the rack: Retro fashions .................. 10
ON THE SCENE
Get moving in the great outdoors ............... 32
Photos from events around town ..... 20
Do or dye: The gray debate .......................... 34
Charm SCHOOL 22
Shedding that winter weight ........................ 36 Massage therapy 101 ...................... 22
HOME
34 This is not your Mama’s kitchen .............. 8
Kick the plastic habit and
Must Clicks ................................... 30

from the editor

The Lufkin Daily News and The Daily Sentinel are women tell us about their careers in real estate.
pleased to unveil the first issue of Charm, a magazine
for women of all ages and phases. In our “Daytripper” series, we’ll explore interesting
lucky charm contest staff
attractions within 100 miles of our area. In this issue, Find the red-and-white animal print Editor Denise Hoepfner
East Texas women are a good mix of fun and serious- we’ll tell you about Edom, a small town with plenty charm hidden in our magazine and charm@coxnews.com
ness. Regardless of where — or who — we are, we to offer. you may be the winner of a $50 gift
share many struggles, fears, hopes and dreams. We (936) 631-2671
certificate to one of our advertisers!
hope Charm will be a Our “A Woman You Should Know” features will in- It will not be hidden in an ad.
link that brings women troduce you to women, like Ella Kegler, who have led Creative Design
together, highlighting interesting lives or who have overcome obstacles. If you spot it, e-mail us with your name
our similarities while Debi Ryan
and phone number and tell us where you
celebrating our diver- There is much more inside and we hope you have found it. Or, mail your entry to: Charm, dryan@coxnews.com
sity. fun discovering it all. Just like we, as women, are P.O. Box 1089, Lufkin, TX. 75902. Sharon Henderson
constantly changing, growing and learning from
Generations ago, the our experiences, this magazine is a work in prog-
shenderson@coxnews.com
We’ll picture the winner in our next
most valuable informa- ress. We’ll listen to your feedback and suggestions to issue.
tion was passed directly make Charm “your” magazine. Photography

on the cover:
from woman to woman. Denise Hoepfner
Even with so many re- But, for Charm to truly be a reflection of you, we
sources now at our fin- need to hear from you. There are many ways you can Christy Wooten
gertips, we feel that is contribute to Charm. Tell us what you want to see cwooten@coxnews.com
still true today. We look in our pages, participate in our “Charm Challeng- Photography
forward to sharing your es,” answer our “Charm asks“ questions, send us a Creative Photography, Clay Bostian
stories, knowledge and opinions with other women movie or book recommendation, or share your story. Advertising
in our area. E-mail us at charm@coxnews.com. We look forward Jewelry Lufkin: 631-2630
to hearing from you. Beard Fine Jewelers Nacogdoches: 564-8361
In our “Women In...” features, we’ll talk to local
women in different stages of the same profession Charmed, Flowers
to find out more about their jobs. In this issue, four Denise Dream Makers Florist e-mail: charm@coxnews.com

 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_4 4 4/10/08 3:43:14 PM

 charm asks
What do you most look
forward to in the spring?
My husband Earl, son Scott, and I each
ride motorcycles, and we particularly
enjoy taking day-long and weekend scenic
road trips on our Harleys to interesting
and fun destinations. We also love hiking,
fishing, and having picnics and campfire
- Wanda
gatherings with our family, friends and my
Peterson-Mouton
Nacogdoches mom, especially when the dogwoods are in
full bloom, on our family property located
near Pisgah in the country.

I look forward to the extra hour Come Casual...Feel Special

of daylight, warmer weather, and
the chance to spend more time
outdoors.
- Sandwiches - Salads
- Burgers - Steaks
Allyson Bennett
Lufkin - Seafood - Pastas
- Sweet Potato Fries
The green grass, working outside in
my flower beds and sitting on my patio
- Lunch Specials Starting at $6.95
drinking my coffee. Relaxed Atmosphere
1411 North Street • Nacogdoches • 939.569.1411
-
Dorothy Patton
Lufkin

I look forward to getting my yard

together, planting flowers, going
to see the beautiful azaleas at the

Comeenjoytheexperience
Stephen F. Austin Arboretum and
taking springtime pictures with my
Samie Montes
beautiful babies.
Lufkin
Reservations Recommended
In our next issue we’re asking: 939.569.1411 - 1411 North Street
“What is your favorite pot luck recipe?” www.shelleysbakerycafe.com
E-mail your answer to charm@coxnews.com. 112 N Church Street • Nacogdoches • 936.564.4100

May/June/July 

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_5 5 4/10/08 3:43:46 PM

 fabulous finds

Flip Video Ultra

What’s hot for Moms, T his easy-to-operate, fits-in-your-pocket

Dads and Grads

camcorder is perfect for the YouTube
generation. Just point, shoot and plug the
fold-out USB arm directly into the computer. With built-in
software, sharing home movies has never been easier.
From $149.
Available at Target and Best Buy, Lufkin; Wal-mart, Staples.
www.theflip.com

The Big Green Egg Pandora charm bracelet

I t grills. It smokes. It bakes. Best of all, it will make him want to cook
more often!
This outdoor ceramic cooker has spawned a legion of EGGheads who
swear by it. E very charm tells a story. Begin with
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From $395. EGGcessories including vertical roasters, shelves and nests are also Bracelets from $27. Bead charms from $20.
available. Available at Morrison Supply, Lufkin. Available at Laine’s Hallmark, Nacogdoches
www.biggreenegg.com and Cavanaugh’s Jewelers, Lufkin.
www.pandora-jewelry.com

Citizen Eco-Drive watches Guitar Hero Aerosmith:

I t’s green time — literally. These watches never need a battery. Instead,
they are fueled by harnessing the light from any light source and
absorbing it into a solar cell, which converts it and stores it for energy.
From $135.
Walk This Way
T
Available at Beard Fine Jewelers, Lufkin; Belk, JC Penney and Gordon’s, Lufkin
he newest version in the Guitar Hero series will be released in
and Nacogdoches.
June. There’s no better way to blow off steam than by shredding
www.citizenwatch.com
alongside Joe Perry. Groupies not included.

GPS System Pre-order now at Best Buy, Lufkin and GameStop, Lufkin and Nacogdoches.
www.guitarherogame.com

Gift Cards
P erfect for the directionally-challenged, the
frequent traveler or those who always need
to know the shortest route somewhere.
Prices vary depending on make and model.
Available at Best Buy, Target , Academy Sports and
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Lufkin and Nacogdoches.
P robably the easiest gift
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Choose the amount.
Breathe.
the busy woman’s guide to car maintenance
things you need to know
tire pressure engine air filter
check once a month (including change every 6 months or 7,500
spare) • over- or under-inflated miles • typically done during oil
tires can waste gas and wear out changes • keeps dirt and dust from
prematurely • nitrogen tire infiltrating the engine • enhances
inflation can enhance fuel economy fuel economy
and extend the life of your tires

705 E. Denman • Lufkin

936-639-2401

1800 SW Stallings Dr. • Nacogdoches

936-560-4862

cooktire.com Monday-Friday: 8-5 • Saturday: 8-12

 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_6 6 4/10/08 3:43:43 PM

 May/June/July 

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_7 7 4/10/08 3:43:44 PM

 Mama’s
home

Not your

G
kitchen
one are the days of bulky and
unattractive kitchen appliances in
avocado green and mustard yellow.
Today’s homeowners have seemingly
endless options, and they want them all
— function, design and energy efficiency.
Melissa Railey, of Morrison Supply
Company in Lufkin, gave us the scoop on the
latest kitchen trends.

Hidden assets
Appliances are starting to go underground,
often disguised as cabinetry, giving kitchens a

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seamless look.
Drawer-style dishwashers are very popular, Melissa
says. “They can run independently of one another, which
makes them very energy efficient.”
Also available in an under-counter cabinet drawer
style, are refrigerators, which offer supplemental cold
storage for big families or frequent entertainers, or people
who don’t want the kids opening the main fridge every time they
need a drink.
“Under-counter ice makers are also very popular,” Melissa says. “I’ve also
seen where people will have all under-counter refrigeration and do not have a
freestanding unit.”
New on the market is a drawer-style microwave oven from Sharp, which, Melissa
says, has been a good seller. “It’s great in an island application.”
Fire your barista
How many cups of gourmet java from your favorite coffeehouse
would it take to pay for Miele’s built-in coffee sys-
tem? For those with a cup-a-day habit, the system
would probably pay for itself in a year, Melissa
says.
With programmable settings and the ability to
grind whole beans, the user-friendly system brews
cappuccino, lattes, espresso or regular coffee — froth
and all — with ease.
A plumbed-in model is also available, which elimi-
nates the need to refill the water tank. To keep your coffee warmer longer and
provide instant heat for cold hands, a cup warmer drawer is available separately.

Retro can be fun in fashion, but when it comes

to kitchens, a girl’s gotta have the latest!
 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_8 8 4/10/08 3:44:19 PM

 Steel yourself Lovin’ your
Stainless steel appli-
ances, a trend that
oven
started a few years It’s not unusual for
ago, are still very popu- today’s kitchens to
lar right now. From have several different
high-end Sub-Zero types of ovens.
refrigerators and Wolf The Miele steam oven
ovens, to the less costly makes healthy eating easy, with pre-
brands, the majority programmed settings for vegetables, fish, shrimp and more.
of buyers are seek- “You can even poach eggs in it,” Melissa said.
ing the stainless look Convection microwave ovens are a popular choice as
previously only seen in well, allowing homeowners to switch back and forth from
professional kitchens. convection oven to microwave oven, or a combination of
Another popular brand of stain- both.
less appliances is Viking. “It’s Food-warming drawers are a must-have for families
very upper-end,” Melissa said. with varied schedules and for people who like to entertain.
“We’re talking about $25,000 for a Humidity controls keep foods from drying out.
kitchen.” Ovens are making a statement, with foodies willing to
Fans of contemporary design can pay big bucks for high quality brands and features. “You
choose sleek architect-style handles, while those who prefer a have to want to cook,” Melissa says. “These are not impulse
more traditional look can opt for the heavier professional-style purchases.”
handles. Cook top configurations can be customized to the cook’s
taste, with grills, griddles or up to eight burners.
One thing to consider before making the leap to
professional-grade appliances is ventilation. “When you
get these high-end appliances that are putting out so many
BTUs, you have to have good ventilation,” Melissa cautions.

Everything
else
(and the kitchen sink)
Wine enthusiasts who manage to keep their wine longer than a day,
but can’t afford to build a wine cellar, can purchase a wine storage unit. With anti-vibration
technology and dual temperature settings, those rare vintages can rest undisturbed — at least
until your girlfriends come to visit.
More popular though, are wine coolers and beverage centers, which can be used in indoor
and outdoor kitchens. Once found only in high-end homes, the coolers are now becoming
common in mid-priced homes as well.
In refrigerators, French door styles with the freezer at the bottom, are popular. “It’s a little more convenient,” Melissa says.
“Everything is right there.”
By far, Morrison Supply’s best-selling sink is the Blanco Silgranit sink. Made of 80 percent granite, the sinks are very
affordable and are a nice contrast to stainless steel.
“We probably sell these for 90 percent of our houses,” Melissa says. “They come in a lot of different configurations. It looks
really nice under the granite counter top.”
Trends come and go, so purchases should be made on individual needs, likes and dislikes, rather than what is “hot” at the
moment.
“The key to being happy with your purchase,” says Melissa, “is to work with a knowledgeable and professional individual
who can coordinate your dream kitchen into a reality.”

May/June/July 

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_9 9 4/10/08 3:44:19 PM

 Skincare
on the rack

ish o n
fo T
a
by Sandi
his season’s spring and summer
dresses are blasts from the past,
- Facials

r
as retro fashion styles make a

t
comeback.

eR
• Anti Aging
With feminine and flattering silhouettes and
• Acne Prone a kaleidoscope of patterns, there’s something for
everyone, regardless of body type.
• Rejuvenating Charm visited local retailers to find out what’s on the rack.
- Botox
- Dermal Fillers
• Juvederm
• Radiesse
- Lip Augmentation
- Chemical Peels
• Glycolic & Salicylic
- Acid Peels
Square-necked Border print
• TCA Peels pleated waist
sundress by dBy Ltd.
surplice sundress
by dBy Ltd.
- Revitalash $50 JC Penney $50 JC Penney

You Won’t Believe Your Eyes!

- Biomedic
- Skinceuticals
- Glo Minerals Makeup

Two-piece short
212 Russell Blvd • Nacogdoches sleeve sweater and
Short-sleeved
in the office of pleated surplice
dress combination by
dress with front tie
Aaron C. Polk, MD & Carl A. Davis, MD R&K Originals
by PS...style.
Sandi Lunsford, LVN $80 Sears
$69.99 Bealls
936-569-9238

10 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_10 10 4/10/08 3:44:35 PM

 The Power of A Personal Touch

S. Residential
Commercial
Farms/Realty
Nacogdoches, Angelina & Harris County
MLS (Multi Listing Services)
Phillip Carney, Realtor
Cell 936-552-4512

Stan Carney, Realtor

Sheila Carney, Broker
Cell 936-569-4097

Linda Coughlin, Realtor Adriana Morones,

Cell 936-552-6010 Cell 936-552-9310 Bilingual Realtor
Cell 936-645-2175

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May/June/July 11

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_11 11 4/10/08 3:45:00 PM

 feature
J
Josie Crowson
osie Crowson managed to turn a brown
thumb green, and as a result, found a new
career as “The Flower Lady.”
Although she has always loved flowers, Josie
had never been much of a gardener. “My
children even joked about how many plants I
killed — mainly by neglect,” she said.
Eleven years ago, after taking an early
retirement from her job as an economist, she
bought a farm in Nacogdoches.
“Wanting to do some landscaping, but not
knowing much about what grows here, I audit-
ed a horticulture class at SFA,” she said. “That
led to volunteering at the (Mast) Arboretum to
learn more, and then, one year the Arboretum
got a grant to do cut flower research.”
Josie’s interest was further peaked after
attending an SFA cut flower conference, which
led her to join the Association of Specialty Cut
Flower Growers and attend the regional and
national conferences in 2002.
“By then I was hooked on cut flowers,” she
said.
She decided to start her cut flower business,
Josie’s Fresh Flowers, in 2002 after talking to
growers at the Wisconsin conference that year.
“Many of them are people like me, who
started a cut flower business after a career at
something totally different,” she said. “When I
asked about their businesses, everyone gave me
the same kind of response: ‘I’m not making a lot
of money, but I love what I’m doing.’ That was
12
CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_12 12
THE FLOWER LADY
enough to convince me to try it.”
After getting her nursery/floral and business
licenses, Josie prepared her quarter-acre plot
and planted seed varieties that had been recom-
After retirement, Josie Crowson
began a new career in cut flowers. She
sold her first flowers in 2003 and
now grows more than 40 varieties.
mended by other growers.
She sold her first flowers to florists in
Nacogdoches and Lufkin in the spring of 2003.
Now, Josie grows more than 40 different
varieties of flowers on an acre of her 51-acre
farm. Some of her largest crops include assorted
varieties of delphinium, snapdragons, hybrid
lilies, sweet William, zinnias, sunflowers,
lisianthus and celosia.
“Breeders come up with many new
cut flower cultivars every year, so there
is always something new and tempting
to try,” she said.
It takes a lot of time, effort and knowledge
to successfully grow florist-quality cut flowers.
Josie starts most of hers from seeds or bulbs,
growing them indoors, then moving them to
her greenhouse, and finally, outdoors. During
that time she is managing light and tempera-
ture, weeding, fertilizing, irrigating and deal-
ing with garden pests.
But, it’s all worth it in the end, when she sees
the joy her flowers bring to others, like her cus-
tomers at the Nacogdoches Farmer’s Market.
“People in our area seem to know and love
flowers, and they appreciate the fact that these
flowers are truly fresh,” she said. “It makes me
very happy when customers respond with big
smiles and ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ to my flowers. I en-
joy meeting the people who buy my flowers and
giving them tips about keeping them looking
fresh longer.”
With the help of her life partner, George,
Josie’s flower area has expanded to as large a
size as she can handle, quadrupling in size since
her first year in business.
This year she is trying a subscription service,
offering full buckets of flowers to customers, or
weekly arrangements to businesses.
Josie is one of a group of vendors trying to re-
vitalize the farmer’s market and make it a place
where the community gathers.
“We are trying very hard to rebuild the
market as a true farmer’s market,” she said.
“Everything there is locally grown or made, and
the market is growing, both in customers and
vendors. We regularly include activities such as
cooking demonstrations, music and children’s
activities.”
Her regular appearances at the market have
earned Josie a new nickname. “People have
started calling me ‘the flower lady’, which I think
is pretty funny, but I rather like it,” she said.
May/June/July
4/10/08 3:44:53 PM
 get involved

Marisa Guerrero For the whole family

How you can help
Community Cinco de Mayo The family-friendly
event will be held from 11
 Monetary donations are
accepted.
 Corporate sponsorships are

M
arisa Guerrero, 38, human resources
supervisor at Pilgrim’s Pride in Lufkin,
has been a volunteer with the Commu-
nity Cinco de Mayo since 2003. Marisa is a 1987
graduate of Lufkin High School.
Tell us a little about the
organization.
Community Cinco de Mayo was formed in
1997 at the request of Mayor Louis Bronaugh,
who wanted a Hispanic heritage celebration.
It happened to fall on Cinco de Mayo. After
money was raised at the first celebration, the
idea for college scholarships began. We are a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

How many members belong to
the organization?
Our chairman is Ino Reyes and our president
is Maria Reyes. There are six other board mem-
bers and a group of volunteers. We recruit the
majority of our volunteers at our main event, the
Cinco de Mayo celebration.
What is your involvement with
Community Cinco De Mayo?
I am in charge of the Miss Cinco De Mayo
contest. The contest isn’t a pageant, but a schol-
arship competition. The girls sell raffle tickets to
raise money. The first place winner — the girl
who raises the most money — is guaranteed
a $1,000 scholarship; second place, $750 and
third place, $500. On top of that, after all the
money raised is combined, 60 percent goes into
the general scholarship fund. The remaining 40
percent goes back to the girls, with first place
getting 50 percent of that, second place getting
30 percent and third place getting 20 percent.
Last year’s first place winner ended up with a
$4,963 scholarship.
Through Miss Cinco De Mayo, we have
reached girls from different areas including Cor-
rigan, Center and Martinsville. This year I even
have a candidate from San Augustine.
Who are this year’s candidates?


Reyna Santana of San Augustine, Tania
Hernandez of Center and Diana Ramirez of
Hudson.

What other projects does the
organization support?
We donate to organizations that help promote
the betterment of the community. Some of those
are Love INC., Lufkin Parks and Recreation,
The Adult Learning Center, Stubblefield Learn-
ing Center and the Boys and Girls Club. And,
we award scholarships to students at almost all
a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday,
May 3 at Kiwanis Park on
Tulane Drive.
There will be “lots
of food, music and
fellowship,” Marisa said.
The Miss Cinco de Mayo
coronation will take place,
and a pinata will be filled
for this year’s poster child,
with the money collected
going to the child.
the Angelina County high schools and Nacog-
doches High School.

How much did you give away in
scholarships last year?
Last year, we awarded nearly $40,000 in
scholarships. We don’t limit scholarships to His-
panic children. We consider them all.
We also have non-traditional scholar-
ships, which are awarded to returning college
students. What we’re seeing is our graduating
high-schoolers are going off to college and then
available.
 Participate in the Cinco de
Mayo celebration by buying food,
supporting one of the Miss Cinco
de Mayo candidates and/or filling
the pinata.
 Volunteer at one of the events.
 Contact any board member or
call (936) 632-8444.
they’re applying for scholarships again. In the
future, our plans are to award a full four-year
scholarship. We’re not there yet, but that’s our
goal.

What is the most rewarding part
of the experience?
The most rewarding part is when we sit down
and review the scholarship applications and
award those. Reading what these kids do — be-
cause they have to put down all their extracur-
ricular activities — it’s amazing.

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May/June/July 13

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_13 13 4/10/08 3:45:15 PM

 Sole Sisters
road trip

Two dozen women

set a marathon-sized
goal and achieved it!

You are S ometimes a trip cannot be measured by the number of actual

miles traveled, but rather by the effort it took to get there.

One of a Kind.
Such is the case with the nearly two dozen Lufkin women who
decided to walk the Chevron Houston marathon held in
January, something none of the women had ever before
attempted.
The decision was at first met with skepticism by some of

Your dress
the group’s family members. “The more people who said
we couldn’t do it — it made us want to do it even more,”
said Terra Fidone, one of the organizers.

should be too.
With just four months to prepare, the group, calling
themselves the “Sole Sisters,” began early morning walks,
getting up as early as 3 a.m. to train.
When some of the women acquired injuries from walking
too many miles in a short time period, they called in local
experts for help. Armed with new knowledge, Terra created
a training schedule, working the group up to longer walks,
ending with a 20-mile trek the week before the marathon.
We d d i n g G o w n s Though all the women have busy schedules, all 23 who
committed to the marathon, stuck with the training. “Nobody
Dress Making wanted to be the one quitting,” Terra said.
The day of the marathon the women started walking at
Evening Gowns 4:30 a.m. Accompanying them was their “pit crew” — Nickie

Fa s h i o n C l o t h i n g Ashby, Bianca Walker and Jennifer Wesoloski — who provided

them with both physical and spiritual nourishment along the
Draperies entire route.
“It brings tears to my eyes thinking about it,” Karen Watson
Slip Covers said. “Mentally and physically we were so drained, and then to see
their bright shiny faces there with our stuff ... They were just there to
Alterations see us through, and with nothing in it for them.”

Evening Gowns Everyone eventually crossed the finish line to the cheers of the
pit crew, friends and family members. “You would have thought we
Fa s h i o n Je we l r y won the Olympics,” said Terra. “We were hugging. Some people
cried. We were so proud of each other.”
Some Sole Sisters will walk a San Antonio marathon in Novem-
ber, and have vowed to tackle the Houston marathon again in Janu-
ary. “Where there is a will, there is a way,” Terra said.
The Sole Sisters are: Kelli Blackerby, Shanna Carriere, Lorelle
Have you and your girlfriends bonded during a road
The Red Thread Coleman, Terra Fidone, Dessa Glass, Kristi Golden, Courtney Gould,
Cristina Graves, Melissa Handley, Karen Harris, Karen Howell,
trip?
Tell Charm about it and we may feature you in a
3506 North Stree t Stephanie Huber, Beth Jones, Ghazala Khan, Donna Martinez,
Kristen Martinez, Mary Gail McCarty, Keela Morgan, Tracy Nichols,
future issue.
E-mail us at charm@coxnews.com or write to us at
936.564.9409 Linda Stafford, Martha Vines, Paula Werner and Karen Watson. Charm, P.O. Box 1089, Lufkin TX 75902.

14 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_14 14 4/10/08 3:45:35 PM

 Up NACOGDOCHES
Get Revved for Spring! STONE FORT CYCLE CENTER

Be ready when the open road calls your

name this spring!
May is Motorcycle Safety Month

Sign up now for a rider safety course (motorcycle provided)

5419 S. US Hwy 59 • Nacogdoches • 936-GO-BIKER
462-4537
May/June/July 15

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_15 15 4/10/08 3:45:36 PM

 SPRING
daytripper

CLEANING! T ucked away at the

crossing of three
farm roads, Edom,
population 322, is home
to a community of artists,
a trio of world-class
eateries, a nursery more
aptly described as a
gardening experience
and a picturesque
blueberry farm.

Professiona cates intricate and interesting one-of-a-kind wear-

Carpet, Tile l T
ime seems to pass more slowly in Edom, able art pieces.
the third oldest town in Van Zandt county, A couple of doors down at Arbor Castle Bird-

Oriental Ru & where locals can be found shooting the

breeze outside the filling station or grabbing a bite
houses, Joseph Hopps creates whimsical birdhous-
es from cypress, stone and gourds. With its fanciful

Cleaning g
on the porch of one of the town restaurants. canopy of hobbit-like houses, a visit to his studio
The easy way of life is like stumbling across
suits those who came to Middle Earth.
the town to create and Hopps’ designs, per-
share their art. fected over the past ten

FREE “There are no rules

in Edom,” said Downey
Stephens, one of the
years, are more than
just art pieces. “They’re
really designed to be

ESTIMATES
town’s more colorful functional for birds... and
characters. fairies, and gnomes, you
Stephens has worked might say,” Hopps said.
at Potters Brown, a pot- Next door to Hopps,
tery shop, since 1972. Its jewelry designer Ken
proprietor, Doug Brown, Carpenter uses nature’s
has been part of the treasures to make

Grogan
community for 37 years, uniquely designed
moving from California pieces.
to open his studio in what Working in turquoise,
used to be an old general merchandise store. agates, onyx, obsidian, opal and other natural pre-
Brown and his wife, Beth, hand cast their func- cious and semi-precious stones, Carpenter turns

Clean Care
1406 E. Starr, Nacogdoches
936-564-5722
www.grogancleancare.com
tional and artistic pottery, then glaze it in rich jewel
tones created by custom mixing different minerals.
Edom’s “anything-goes” atmosphere extends to
Brown’s shop, where customers are asked to leave
a check in the register if no one is there to ring
them up.
Jewlery designers Zeke and Marty have called
Edom home since 1976, after Brown invited them
to move into one of the three studios he owned.
Using found objects, precious metals, natural
materials and stones, the duo designs and fabri-
out heirloom quality pieces and has gathered a
large following of regular customers from around
the country.
The toughest decision you’ll make in Edom is
deciding where to eat. Get there early enough for
breakfast at the Edom Bakery and Grill, where
everything is baked fresh daily.
The Shed, a home-style eatery, has been voted
best cafe in East Texas by Texas Monthly, Texas
Highway and Ride Texas magazines. The atmo-
sphere, like everything else in Edom, is relaxed.

16 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_16 16 4/10/08 3:45:51 PM

 Edom Marketplace offers vegetables fresh from From Lufkin:
the grower, specializing in fresh-picked black-
eyed peas, pinto beans, butter beans, purple Take Hwy 69 North toward
hulls, snap beans and more. Also for sale are the Tyler.
grower’s canned goods, including more exotic Take a left on W Southwest
fare like squash pickles, spicy pickled garlic and Loop 323. Drive for 5.5 miles.
pepperooms. The cafe and ice-cream parlor offer Take a left onto TX-64, Erwin
traditional dining favorites. Street and follow for 5.6 miles.
Make sure to set aside an hour or so to visit Turn left onto FM 279.
Blue Moon Gardens, just outside of Edom. It will End at Edom, 11 miles.
take you that long to see, and appreciate, every-
thing the nursery has to offer. Before you leave, From Nacogdoches:
check out their Texas State Fair Blue Ribbon fairy
gardens — enchanting tiny plantings home to a Take TX-21 West for 21 miles.
multitude of sprites. Turn right onto US 69 to Tyler.
Other Edom attractions include Mountain Magic Drive for 49.6 miles.
Gifts Gallery, where you can find homemade Take a left on W Southwest
goat’s milk soaps, scented candles and decorative Loop 323 and drive for 5.5
metalwork; Sherry’s Pottery, which features hand- miles.
thrown stoneware; Lamb’s Antiques; and Blueber- Take a left onto TX-64, Erwin
ry Hill Farms, where you can pick your own from Street and follow for 5.6 miles.
mid-June through July. Turn left onto FM 279.
The community hosts the Edom Festival of End at Edom, 11 miles.
Arts in October, which last year drew a crowd of
thousands. Along with the dozens of artists show-
ing their work, the event features food, music and
children’s activities.
Located 20 miles west of Tyler, the town is an
easy side trip for those making their way to Can-
ton First Monday Trade Days, but can also hold its
own as a separate day trip.

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May/June/July 17

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_17 17 4/10/08 3:46:10 PM

 charm school



Juno • PG-13
The Shop Around
Juno MacGuff, the titular the Corner • Unrated
heroine from ‘Juno’ is everything
you wish you were as teenager: Set in pre-WWII Europe,



witty, bold, creative, unique this romantic comedy por-
— uhh, pregnant. Okay, most of trays the idyllic 1940s suitor.
the things you wish you were Handsome and dashing
as a teenager. Still, when Juno in his three-piece suit, Ma-
(Ellen Page) discovers impend- tuschek & Co. store clerk
ing motherhood with best
friend Paulie Bleeker (Arrested
Love Actually • R Alfred Kralik (James Stew-
art) is hard at work one af-
Development’s Michael Cera), ‘Love Actually’ is a roman- ternoon — paying particular
she considers her options with tic comedy set mostly in London attention to the details of
amazing clarity and decisive- during the holiday season. his task — when a bubbly
Mary Turner ness. Driven from the abortion Mechele Marcotte
The plot involves the lives blonde strolls into the shop
Nacogdoches clinic by a crusading fellow teen of several characters including Nacogdoches in search of a job.
who informs her that her baby an aging rock star (Bill Nighy) Klara Novak (Margaret
already has fingernails, Juno de- searching for a comeback with Sullivan), who he will later
cides she’ll put her baby up for an awful Christmas song; a discover is the same woman he has been conversing with through
adoption after selecting suitable parents from the weekly circular, newly elected Prime Minister romantic letters, snags an unavailable clerk’s position through her
PennySaver. Even after Juno has found what she considers to be (Hugh Grant) who becomes charismatic sales ability, and begins work immediately.
an ideal family, the turmoil has just begun for the young woman smitten with his secretary (Mar- While working side by side, Kralik and Novak develop a mu-
who plows through difficult situations with grace and surprising tine McCutcheon); a waiter tual distaste for each other, which is humorously portrayed
comedy. Nine months pregnant and still walking bravely through Trish Inselman (Kris Marshall) throughout the film.
her high school’s hallways, Juno quips “Yeah,
I’m a legend. You know, they call me the cau-
Lufkin determined to This 1940 film, directed by Ernst Lubitsch, was a
find love in precursor to Nora Ephron’s 1998 film “You’ve Got
tionary whale.” America, be- Mail.” And as such, has many similar scenes. One
For those unfamiliar with the tribulations of lieving American women will love his ‘cute British of my favorites, is the coffee shop scene, which,
teen pregnancy, this quirky romantic dramedy accent,’ and several other characters that become while cute and entertaining in “You’ve Got Mail,”
will still resonate with any woman, or man, linked as the story progresses. remarkably produces an appreciation for the
who was ever once a teenager. That is to say: ‘Love Actually’ is one of those movies where adorable attraction between the two characters
Juno has something for everyone. A brilliant you will laugh, cry, then laugh again. Granted, in “The Shop Around the Corner.”
soundtrack and an all-star cast add to Diablo the movie is not an Academy Award winner, but Stewart’s charm and good looks are enough
Cody’s superb script to make Juno simultane- it’s a hilarious, feel good, ‘chick flick. to keep any woman entertained for 90 minutes.
ously hilarious and remarkably poignant.

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18 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_18 18 4/10/08 3:46:15 PM

 on the scene
Think about this . . .
Dodge Charger
Inferno Red

s Kyle and
rtye and Donna Ros Angela and Scott Marcotte Valena Sp
Heather Ka radley
Chrysler Sebring
Modern Blue
The Junior League of Lufkin
Lone Star Charity Ball
February 9, 2008
Emily Parks and Gi
David and Elizabeth Perkins Pitser Garrison Civic Center na Green

Jeep Liberty
Brilliant Black

Chrysler Aspen
Cool Vanilla
David and Martha Wilson, Virigina Duncan, Judy and Joe
McKnight, Elizabeth Walker and Sarah Vier Todd Kassaw, Melinda Ross, Sandra Sorrell, Kim Kassaw

organ Malott
Heather and M
Dona and Savana Spillers

Shelly and Sava

Princess Tea nnah Rearden
March 29, 2008
Ruby M. Mize
Azalea Garden

Tammy and Jenna Hughes

Bianca, Sylvia and Diana Walker

Genesis Cox, Emileigh Chassell and Jayden Cox
www.southerndodge.com
on the Loop in Lufkin • 936-634-7793
20 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_20 20 4/10/08 3:47:16 PM

 Brenda Williams and
Shirley Reeves Alex Alexa
nder, May
o
, Mary Jo Go r Jack Gorden
ic k ie Ya rborough rden
aniel, V avis
Frances D a Brown, Marie D
Delm
Lincoln Movie Night
February 25, 2008
Museum of East Texas

ymeka Davis
Tyreka and T

Bobbie Whitehead, Louise LaVane, Victor Travis,

J.P. McDonald, Jacqueline Hale
Phil and Paula Metzinger,
Nancy and Robert Gilmer

Velma Anderson, Michelle Smith

and Carol Tollefson
Stacy Jacobs and April Slagaj
Shelba Coe and Ri
ta Butler
Fashion Show
April 4, 2008
Commercial Bank and Trust

3055 South John Redditt (K-Mart Shopping Center)

Shannon McClellan, Ging
er Stephens
we
Francine Tieperman
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May/June/July 21

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_21 21 4/10/08 3:47:09 PM

 charm school

C
hoosing a massage can be a lot like placing that
first order at a gourmet coffee shop. The array
of choices is dazzling, but also overwhelming,
as you try to figure out what best suits your tastes.
Charm turned to Christel Patel, registered massage
therapist at Om Shanti Massage Studio in Nacogdoches,
to make sense of it all.

Swedish
The most popular massage, this
technique involves light to firm
strokes over the body. “It’s a more
relaxing, soothing massage,” says
Christel. “Some people come in
asking for deep tissue massages, but
what they really want is a Swedish
massage with firm pressure. We do
many more Swedish massages once
they get in here.”

Good for: General stress,

promoting health and well-being.

22 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_22 22 4/10/08 3:47:07 PM

 Deep Tissue
This more intense massage penetrates all layers of muscle,
including connective tissue.
Good for: Athletes and those who may have a buildup of
lactic acid, which is making their muscles sore; people with chronic
muscle tension and those who need therapeutic work.
Hot Stone
A soothing massage where smooth basalt
stones are warmed and rubbed over the clients
oiled body. “The heat of the stones penetrates the
deepest level of muscles, easing them up so they
can be more easily worked,” Christel says.
Good for: A more relaxing massage.

Ashiatsu
A barefoot massage technique that uses deep
compression strokes that glide over the body. The
client lies comfortably on a table as the therapist
uses her foot to apply gentle, but deep, pressure
to the client’s body. Bars above the therapist’s
head are used for support and balance. “With
the broader surface of the foot you can get more
pressure without the ‘ouch’ that’s associated with
deep tissue massage,” Christel said.
Good for: Neck pain, upper and lower
back pain.
Reiki
A subtle massage, similar to aligning the chi of
the body. “It’s similar to acupuncture in that the
therapist is tapping into the energy centers by laying
her hands on certain areas of the body,” Christel
says.
Good for: Someone who does not like to be
touched much.
Who should get a massage?
“Those in pain or in need of relaxation can benefit from massage,” Christel
said. “It helps with detoxification and releases all the ‘happy hormones.’”
Check with your doctor to make sure massage is right for you.

You
At Aesthetic Laser Center & MedSpa, our services are designed to enhance

Indulge
your appearance and rejuvenate your skin, while soothing your soul.

· Laser hair removal

· Chemical peels
· Laser skin tightening
in · Laser tattoo removal
· Laser spider vein treatment
· Microdermabrasion
· Laser hyperpigmentation treatment
· IPL™ Photofacial
· Lash Extensions
· Permanent cosmetics
· Botox®
· Restylane® & Juvederm®

Come relax and rejuvenate for an hour, a day or for a lifetime.

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Jennifer Caster, Owner/Manager
Barbara Roe, Receptionist
Lisa Jackson, Laser Technician

Jon Caster, MD, Medical Director

3312 N. University, Suite H • Nacogdoches • 936.560.9131

May/June/July 23

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_23 23 4/10/08 3:47:36 PM

 feature

Considering Women in ...

a career
in real estate?
Charm asked four women,
in different phases of the
profession, to tell us more
about their jobs.
Diane McClain, The Newcomer
when they get ready to buy or sell their home.
Diane McClain, of Nacogdoches’ Alamo Realty, received her
real estate license in January.
Q: How many hours are you putting in each week?
A: It is hard to know how many hours are spent in real estate.
Q: Why did you decide to become an agent?
Even when I’m not at the office, I am reachable by phone. I think
A: I can’t remember actually ever “deciding” to become a real
many look at this profession as a “part-time” job. I have found the
estate agent. I have worked with agents as office manager for
opposite to be true. Real estate is more “full-time” than a nine-to-
years and have always admired what they did. Buying a home
five job. Of course, if you enjoy what you do, it is not really “work”
is one of the most important decisions that people make. How
at all, just helping others fulfill their dreams.
rewarding is it to be able to help people with that process? After
I hurt my back last year and was unable to work the last few
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: I would like to be considered a well-respected, successful,
months, I began looking into real estate course requirements,
and professional person who is nice to work with... unless I have
and decided I would look into becoming an agent. I took several
already made a fortune, in which case I see myself on a beach in
courses locally and thoroughly enjoyed them. When I became
Hawaii.
home-bound I finished my courses on-line. By the end of 2007, I
completed my studies and took my test, and now... well, here I am.
Q: What are your career goals?
A: I have three children and when they were young I tried to be
a stay-at-home mom as much as I could. Now that my “baby” is
a junior in high school, I have more time to focus on what I want
to do. It may sound simplistic, but buying a home is the American
dream. It’s what makes people happy. I guess my goal then, is to
help people find their American dream.
Q: What do you think your biggest challenges will be in the
business?
A: Getting the word out with buyers and sellers in our com-
munity that I am now a real estate agent and no longer the office
manager at a real estate firm. I would like for people to think of me
24 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_24 24 4/10/08 3:47:50 PM

 Annysue Emmons, The Newly Established
Annysue Emmons, of Gann Medford in Lufkin, received her real estate
license three years ago.
Q: Why did you decide to enter the business?
A: I have been involved with real estate in some form for over 10 years.
My sister was a broker in Houston, and I have always enjoyed all facets
of real estate — especially the people, research, and buying/selling.
Q: What has been the toughest part of becoming established?
A: Learning how to budget for the lean times. Going from a salaried
position to a commissioned position, is a huge adjustment.
Q: What are your future goals?
A: My future goals include becoming an eight-figure producer (10
million or more in sales), and building nice affordable homes in pre-revi-
talization areas.
Q: Now that you’ve been in the biz a few years, looking back is there
anything you might have done differently?
A: I would have “bit the bullet” and started full-time from the begin-
ning.
Q: What advice would you offer someone who is thinking of becoming
an agent?
A: Make sure they are ready to deal with people everyday all day,
have a few months of living expenses in savings, and choose a broker/of-
fice wisely. I have learned so much from my broker and the other agents
in my office; it has been invaluable to my business.
Q: What personality traits do you consider helpful in your job?
A: Determination, enthusiasm, being self-driven, and outgoing.
Q: How many hours do you put in weekly?
A: On average I put in at least 40 hours between the office, the car, and
at home on the phone and computer. Some weeks it’s more like 80!
Q: What do you consider the best part of your job? The worst?
A: The best part of my job is helping people find the perfect home, and
helping first-time buyers who never thought they could buy a home. The
worst part is all the driving. I wish I had a driver so that I could focus on
listening to my clients while we ride around looking at homes!

Liz Jeffrey, The Veteran

Liz Jeffrey, of Lufkin’s Coldwell Banker Donovan Real Estate, has been
in the business for 17 years.
Q: Why did you become a realtor?
A: It gave me more flexibility than most full-time positions. I was a single
parent with two young daughters, so I needed to be able to still do the
Mom things I wanted to do.
Q: What is the best part of your job? The worst?
A: The best part is meeting so many wonderful people from all over the
United States. Many of my clients have become my friends over the years.
The worst is the crazy hours. You never know if you will be off for the
weekend or not. Some people don’t know their plans until the last minute
and then you have to adjust your schedule accordingly.
Q: What has changed most about your job over the years?
A: We used to use our MLS books to keep up with the inventory. Now,
everything is done on the computer. Looking back, I don’t know how we
functioned without them.
Q: What advice would you offer someone thinking of becoming a real-
tor?
A: My advice is to realize it takes a long time to build your business.
People are told that in their classes, but some don’t believe it. When I first
started there were around 65 realtors in our Multiple Listing Service and
now there are around 130 realtors. The pie is the same size but the pieces
are getting smaller.
Q: What is the average salary a realtor can earn, depending on the mar-
ket? What expenditures do you have as a realtor?
A: An average salary for our area would be around $35,000. Because you
are self-employed, you have to pay for your advertising and marketing, and
dues to national, state and local associations. There are costs for continuing
education and license renewal.
Q: What is one thing most people would be surprised to learn about your
job?
A: We help people find a home from beginning to the end. It might take
months or years, depending on the people. Those buyers pay nothing for
our services during that time. Sellers pay for their services through the list-
ing contract. If a house doesn’t sell during the listing period, sellers do not
pay anything. So, for all the time and money spent on the listing, you get
nothing if it doesn’t sell. Many people have the misconception that realtors
get paid a salary from the owner of the company. It doesn’t work that way.

Mechele Dietert, The Broker

Mechele Dietert has been a broker for two years and is co-owner of 1st
Choice Realty in Nacogdoches, a seven-agent office that opened in June 2005.
Q: What type of experience, training or licenses are required to become a
broker?
A: You are required to have no less than two years active experience in
Texas as a licensed real estate salesperson or broker during the 96 month
period immediately preceding the filing of the application to become a broker.
In addition, you need 270 classroom hours of core real estate courses and 630
classroom hours in related courses acceptable to the Commission.
Q: What is a broker’s role as compared to an real estate agent?
A: The broker is responsible for the actions of the agents he/she sponsors
and making sure the agents he/she sponsors are doing their job correctly.
Q: How do brokers make their money?
A: Each real estate office is managed differently. In my office, I make my
money the same way as the agents. I list and sell real estate!
Q: What expenses do brokers incur?
A: Brokers pay higher fees and/or dues than an agent does. If the broker
owns the company, there are the expenses of running an office.
Q: What advice do you have for someone thinking of becoming an agent?
A: If you are doing it for the money, you are doing it for the wrong reason.
You must enjoy meeting and helping people.
Q: What are some traits that make a successful agent?
A: You must be accessible! A successful agent also needs to be ethical and
honest, and should always look out for the best interest of your client.
Q: What are some common mistakes you see in new agents?
A: New agents are so eager to get started they sometimes get taken advan-
tage of, meaning they have not yet learned that not everyone who calls is truly
a legitimate buyer. These rookie agents will spend hours or days with custom-
ers who have not been to the bank yet to find out if they qualify for a loan or
for how much.
Q: What is the worst part of your job? The best?
A: The worst part is you will spend time and effort on things that will never
come to fruition. It is hard losing that kind of time with your family for some-
thing that doesn’t pay off.
The best part is I have the opportunity to meet WONDERFUL people! I get
to help them find the home of their dreams where they will make memories.
I get to help people sell property so they can move into something that suits
them better or leave to follow their dreams elsewhere.

May/June/July 25

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_25 25 4/10/08 3:47:40 PM

 Puttheromance
backintoyourlifeat
Offering over 150 wines
from all over the world.
Featured in Texas Monthly Magazine.
Manhattan’s has been voted number
one in Lufkin for the best place to take
a date, best wine selection, best overall
dining experience and best continental
and italian food. Reserve your party or
let us cater your next event.
Two banquet rooms available.
107 W. Lufkin Avenue
Lufkin,Texas
936-639-8400
26
CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_26 26
&
charm asks
Mothers Daughters
What have you learned about
each other in the past year?
Blaire B
ooker a
nd her m
of Lufkin other, Lynne,
Blaire
“W ow, what a year... Moving to a new city,
starting college, pledging a sorority, and
meeting hundreds of new people — it has all
been a challenge; but, the best part has been being able to
share all of my successes, failures and wild stories with my
mom, my best friend.
I lost my father almost two years ago. I was incredibly
close to him and shared so many things with my dad,
with a love of classic rock music and old movies being our
biggest bond. I wish I could share all the new events in my
life with him, but through it all I have found a closer bond
than movies and music could ever create — a friendship
and mutual admiration that my mother and I have come
to find. I have often told my mom that I wish she could live
with me in my dorm, not just to cook for me, do my laundry,
Tell Charm what you think. In our next issue we’re asking local mothers and their daughters:
“How are you alike? How are you different?”
Write to us at charm@coxnews.com or Charm, P.O. Box 1089, Lufkin, TX 75902
Lynne
“
A
n unbelievable time of growth and discovery
— that’s how I would describe this year with Blaire.
Actually, the past 19 months since my husband,
Robert, unexpectedly died, has been a difficult grief
journey that has led to many amazing realizations
of the kind of person my daughter is. She went from
being “Daddy’s Girl” overnight to being a person I
really didn’t know well — no longer a little girl but
now an amazingly strong young woman.
I found that Blaire is tough and much stronger than I
am in many ways, and that her faith is deep. There were
days when I didn’t think I could make it and I looked to
her — facing her senior year without her father, handling
duties as captain of the Lufkin High School Panther Pride
Drill Team, secretary of the National Honor Society; and
I knew if she could do it at her tender age, I could as well.
He would be so proud of her!
I have learned that I can depend on her. I know now that
the day Robert died, the dynamics of our mother/daughter
relationship completely changed, and I won’t tell you it has
been easy. I will say that, although I thought I would never
find true joy again, I have — in her. This past August, Blaire
moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas. I’m so
proud of her. What I have learned most of all this past year
is that I lost my best friend one day and gained a new one
the next.”
and clean my room (although that would be wonderful...),
but to be able to come home to her and just dish about the
events of my day. Not many 19-year-old girls can honestly
say they wish their mother lived with them in college.
The biggest thing that I have learned about my mother
this year, has really been something that I’ve learned about
myself; and is probably a realization that many women
come to at some point in their lives. I am my mother; and
by that I mean that I am literally morphing into her. We
share the same mannerism, quirks, cheesy sayings, but
most of morals and values. Of all the women that I could
become, whether a lawyer, doctor, professor, or even the
first female president, I can’t think of a better woman that
I could ever want to become than my amazingly strong
mother.”
May/June/July
4/10/08 3:48:28 PM
 May/June/July 27

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_27 27 4/10/08 3:48:20 PM

 charm challenge

The lip gloss

challenge
Charm asked four women to
test L’Oreal’s “infallible” lip gloss,
which L’Oreal claims will last six
hours. Here’s what they think:

DawnElla M. Rust Cathi Chlebnikow

Nacogdoches Lufkin

“ I thought my trip to Austin

would be the perfect opportunity
to try out the L’Oreal six-hour Infal-
“ The 6-hour lip gloss
only lasted about three
hours when I wore it. When
lible lip-gloss. I had my handy you first put it on, it has a
glass of orange juice and I was on strong eucalyptus-like taste,
the road with my new application which disappears after a
of “infallible” lip-gloss. Well, it while. It’s a pretty lip gloss,
made it to Crockett, but by the time so I’ll keep wearing it, even
I picked up a friend in College Sta- though it did not last as long

”
tion it was “failing,” as my friend as it claimed.
could not even detect it on my lips.
I did like the color and the shine,
but the product did not live up to

” “
its six-hour claim.
I was shocked on how
much I loved the lip gloss.
In fact, after drinking a cup
of coffee and eating some

“
I tested the L’Oreal
“Infallible” 6-hour, never-fail
lip gloss. While it doesn’t hold
up to its claim, it is a pretty
good lip gloss. The “gloss”
faded in about an hour, but
oatmeal I was surprised to
find the lip gloss still on my
lips, I ran to Target to buy
more of it in a different color.
It made my lips so soft, and
I absolutely fell in love with
Gloria McDonald the product. I would highly

”
the color lasted nearly three. Lufkin recommend it.
This product also transferred
Michele Peck

”
heavily.
Nacogdoches
Would you like to take part in a Charm Challenge?
Send us an email at charm@coxnews.com or write to us at:
Charm, P.O. Box 1089, Lufkin, TX 75902

28 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_28 28 4/10/08 3:48:27 PM

 Sterling
Vintner’s Collection Merlot

Sterling Vintner’s Collection Merlot is a clear ruby

color with aromas of ripe blackberry, jammy
red fruit, vanilla, and nutmeg, dark chocolate
and toasty oak. On the palate are flavors of rich
black fruits: ripe black cherries, blackberries
and a lingering finish of fine grain tannins.

Enjoy with filet mignon, grilled portabella

mushrooms or beef stew.

Sterling
Napa County Sauvignon Blanc

Clear medium straw in color, Sterling Napa

County Sauvignon Blanc offers aromas of
ripe fresh topical fruit: pineapple, mango and
passion fruit with hints of crisp lemon and fresh
apricot. On the palate this wine shows notes
of ripe fresh pineapple and mango, refreshing
Meyer lemon, with a dry clean finish.

Enjoy with pork tenderloin, fettucini alfredo or

fish & chips.

Your
Choice
$
12 99
750 ML

May/June/July 29

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_29 29 4/10/08 3:48:52 PM


it’s all about you!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Pitser Garrison Civic Center
Ladies! Bring your friends and come shop & enjoy this
very special event where YOU are the top priority!
Explore your personal style, renew your spirit and
uncover your passions when you shop and explore
all of the exciting retail and service demonstration
booths aimed at your interests.
lufkindailynews.com
30
CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_30 30
charm school
Kick the plastic habit
M ore than a billion single-use plastic bags are
handed out each day. They cost U.S. retailers
an estimated $4 billion per year, and take up to
1,000 years to biodegrade.
Charm spotted eco-friendly reusable bags at Wal-
mart, Target and Brookshire Brothers for about a
dollar each. The bags will give you peace of mind
knowing you’re helping to
save the world.
Must clicks
www.dogfessions.com
What is a dogfession? A confession concerning canines; a secret in your heart that
you’d only share with your dog; or a secret you wouldn’t want your dog to ever find out,
according to the Dogfessions Web site. Decorated post cards reveal shocking confessions
like, “I schedule photo shoots with my dog,” and, “I let my dog lick my feet.”
www.dontdatehimgirl.com
Unlike many Web sites for singles,
this one manages to set a tone
that does not reek of desperation.
With a love panel of experts
on hand to answer burning
questions, interactive reader forums,
tips and articles on empowerment and
building self-esteem, an online store
and music playlists to fit your mood,
every unattached female — or male,
for that matter — is likely to find
something useful. Check
out the posts in the reader
forums titled, “Don’t
date this man,”
and see if you
recognize anyone.
www.nature.org www.lonelyplanet.com
Use The Nature Conservancy’s carbon calculator The ultimate surf-before-you-travel reference, this
to measure your household’s climate impact. By Web site offers hints, videos, vacation packages,
entering details of your energy consumption, destination information and blogs, photographs
transportation, air travel, food preferences, and and much more. Visit the Thorn Tree forum for
shopping and recycling habits, the calculator will personal accounts and secrets from seasoned
total your footprint and compare it to the United travelers. Also on the Thorn Tree forum are
States average. Also included are ways to reduce house-sitting and house-swapping opportunities
your carbon footprint and slow climate change. located around the globe.
May/June/July
4/10/08 3:49:04 PM
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Old Town Consignments &Antiques

THE

OASIS
SPALON
Full Service Salon
Front Row Seated (L to R): Carla J. Redfield, Owner/Stylist, Brian Boone, Stylist,
Elecee Whitsett, Nail Technician
Back Row: Calin Mobley, Stylist, Lois Fitch, Office Manager, Charles Longbine, Senior Stylist,
Susan Kingham, Aesthetician, Janice Hamblett, Stylist and Tiffany Shafer, Receptionist.
Specializing in
Haircare, Manicures, Pedicures,
Facials, Massage and Waxing
Monday - Saturday
401 E. Hospital St. • (936) 564-7724 • (936) 564-SPAH
May/June/July 31

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_31 31 4/10/08 3:49:17 PM

 health

Get moving
in the great outdoors
S
pring is in the air and, sport that burns up to 584 calories 5. Take a hike.
as a result, working out an hour. For information call: LPAR Hiking those same trails can burn
in a gym every day has at 633-0250 or NPAR at 559-2960. 438 calories in an hour. from which
suddenly lost its appeal. 8. Hit the water. Water to choose.
Instead of skipping your workout
altogether, why not supplement it
aerobics burns 292 calories an hour. 4. Raise a racquet. Singles
Swimming laps burns 511 calories tennis burns about 584 calories
with outdoor activities to get the an hour.
best of both worlds? an hour; doubles about 422. Go to
7. Be a gardenista. Garden- www.tennismaps.com to find a court
Here are 10 ways to get moving ing is a great overall exercise, it’s near you.
outside, along with the number relaxing and it burns approximately 3. Tee time. Golf is grow-
of calories burned in an hour for 352 calories an hour. ing in popularity among women
each activity.* 6. Ride a bike. Check out of all ages. Reserve a tee time with
the bike trail at Kit McConnico park friends. Carry your own clubs and
bike you can burn 329 calories an hour.
10. Walk, jog or run. It’s in Lufkin. A leisurely
ride, at under 10 2. Row, row, row your
free and you can do it anywhere. mph, burns around
Walking at a 3.5 miles per hour pace 292 calories an hour. boat. Canoeing burns 256 calo-
will burn 277 calories. ries an hour. The Neches River
To connect with Rendezvous will take place
Want to take it up a notch? Jog- cyclists in your area
ging at 5 mph will burn 584 calories visit www.bikena- June 7. For more information
in an hour. about the 10-mile canoe trip,
cogdoches.org or call (936) 634-6305.
For those with even more endur- angelinabicycleclub.
ance, running at 8 mph will burn a com. 1. Inline skating.
whopping 986 calories an hour. Remember when you
9. Join a sports league. were queen of the
Sign-ups for summer co-ed softball, roller disco? You can
which burns 365 calories an hour, re-live your glory
begins June 17th at Lufkin Parks days by inline skat-
and Recreation, and May 1, at ing, which burns
Nacogdoches Parks and Recre- about 913 calories
ation. For gridiron gals, NPAR an hour.
will also offer a summer all-fe-
male flag football league, a

* Data from mayoclinic.com. Calorie expenditure is based on a 160 pound

person and varies depending on the exercise, intensity level and individual.

32 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_32 32 4/10/08 3:49:29 PM

 Jewelry for Your Home.
We carry a fabulous selection of fine decorative hardware for your home.

Classical
Rustic Whimsical

910 N John Redditt Dr. • Lufkin • (936) 632-7444

www.morsco.com
May/June/July 33

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_33 33 4/10/08 3:49:44 PM

 beauty
We Help You
Make The
Right Choices! Do or dye?
The gray debate
I
 t’s a rite of passage we all go through
— discovering that first gray hair.
Eventually, as our bodies produce less
melanin, that one gray hair is multiplied
by a hundred and we’re forced to make
a decision. Should we embrace the
If you color
silver-haired fox within, or dye
fighting? Whichever road we
your hair but
choose, proper hair care is a must.
Charm talked to Carla Redfield,
want to stop
Ceramic • Floors • Walls Carla Redfield
of Oasis Spalon in
owner of Oasis
Spalon to
Hair cannot be dyed
gray. However, there
Showers • Countertops Nacogoches find out
more.
are some ways to
ease the transition
Carpet • Hardwood If you decide
from dyed hair to
gray, Carla said.
Laminate • Blinds to go gray
Temporary or semi-
permanent dyes can
Shutters • Vinyl    Expect to start using more product in your
be used until the
permanent dye grows
hair, as gray hair tends to have less out. Temporary hair
body, or can be unruly or wiry. colors wash out with
Products made for gray hair can each shampoo and
help keep it looking its best. Carla are not popular with
recommends Matrix Essentials the younger set, but
“So Silver” shampoo, a violet- semi-permanent
toned shampoo which, when colors last for eight to
used once a week 12 washings.
for five minutes on the Hair can be cut short,
hair, can keep it from with trims every few
turning yellow. So Silver weeks until the color
can only be purchased through grows out.
your hair care professional. Gray “new growth”
Clairol “Shimmer Lights” can be disguised
shampoo is good for brightening through side-parting
white or gray hair, and can be or teasing.
found at beauty supply stores.

If you    About 75 percent of Carla’s business involves hair coloring, she said.
Clients can choose between highlights and/or lowlights or an all-over color.
decide “Adding several colors while foiling gives it more dimension,” Carla said.
To avoid a drastic change, choose a color similar to your natural color, or the

to color color your hair was when you were a child.

   Colors that are too dark can be harsh and age you even more.

303 N. Medford, Lufkin your “Some types of hair color work better than others, depending on the client’s
hair,” Carla said. “Work with your stylist to find the one best for you.”

(936) 699-4477 hair    Shampoos and conditioners made for dyed hair are available at retail
stores, and can help color last longer.

34 May/June/July

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_34 34 4/10/08 3:50:06 PM

 Improve Your Drive
The New E-Z-GO Freedon RXV
In a Class of its Own.

(PMG
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May/June/July 35

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_35 35 4/10/08 3:50:14 PM

 empowering you
Coming
out of
hibernation
Advice for shedding winter weight gain
W
inter is officially over, but some of
us are still refusing to give up our
cold-weather wardrobe in a desper-
ate attempt to hide our winter weight gain.
Because Charm knows that no one wants to
be known as “the crazy sweatpants lady,”
we asked registered dietician,
Amy McLeod, to help us kick-start
a healthy weight loss program.
Q: Say we gained 15 pounds
over the winter. What should our
plan be to lose weight?
The first step to weight loss is to begin
with exercise. Exercise helps to clear the
mind, burn calories and promotes self
esteem which tends to be down in the
dumps after gaining weight. Provided you
don’t have a medical reason to change
your diet immediately, such as high
cholesterol or diabetes, exercise for about
two weeks before trying to make any
Amy McLeod, diet changes. You’ll find you feel so much better about
RD, LD is yourself that you are more apt to take some real steps
a registered towards weight loss.
dietitian,
Once you’ve begun an exercise program, focus
Texas Dietetic
on creating a 250 calorie deficit each day by mak-
Association
ing healthy substitutions for the high calorie foods
State Media
and beverages you may be consuming. For example,
representative
swap regular soda for diet soda and you’ve saved 150
and director
of Food and
Nutrition
calories. Instead of a turkey and cheese sandwich for
lunch, just have turkey. That’s another 100 calories
Services at saved, for a total of 250 calories. Combine the 250 calo-
Woodland ries saved with a regular exercise routine and you will
Heights Medical be well on your way to weight loss success.
Center in
Lufkin.
Q: What is the most common dieting
mistake?
The most common dieting mistake I see is people
36
CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_36 36
following extreme diets such as a zero carbohydrate
diet. People do well on such a diet for a few weeks,
then when they find they cannot maintain such
extremism, they put on the weight again. A more
healthful and effective approach to dieting includes all
food groups. It may take you a little longer to lose the
weight, but I find that people are better able to main-
tain the results, and they feel good in the process.
Q: Are there any dangers in losing weight
too quickly? What is a realistic weight loss
expectation?
A safe rate of weight loss is one to two pounds per
week. Some people lose three to four pounds the first
week they are dieting, and one to two pounds a week
thereafter. Any more than that and it’s likely you are
losing fluid, lean muscle tissue and a small amount of
fat.
Q: What are some healthy food alterna-
tives that can be kept on hand to curb crav-
ings?
The best foods to control cravings are foods high
in protein such as low-fat string cheese, a handful of
almonds, or low-fat yogurt. Protein helps to stabilize
blood sugar and will keep you feeling fuller longer.
Another tip I have learned is to keep herbal tea on
hand for times you tend to crave sweets. A mild herbal
tea such as chamomile tea is helpful in curbing the
nighttime munchies.
Q: What other healthy living tips can you
share that will cut unnecessary calories
from our meals without sacrificing taste?
Instead of high fat salad dressing, try balsamic
vinegar which has relatively no calories. Or, make your
own dressing with the juice of one lemon, one or two
tablespoons of olive oil and some salt free seasoning,
such as Mrs. Dash.. You can also try it on fresh steamed
veggies, chicken or fish.
May/June/July
4/10/08 3:50:19 PM
 tagedHomes ¡

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May/June/July 37

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_37 37 4/10/08 3:51:01 PM

 feature
feature
a woman you should know
W hile it was her knowledge of numbers that opened doors for Ella Kegler, it is her love of words that inspires her now. A
1966 graduate of Dunbar High School in Lufkin, Ella left for Houston a week after graduating, to major in accounting at Texas
Southern University. “There weren’t many women in accounting, so I did that,” she said.
A
fter getting her degree she went to work for the
accounting firm, Arthur Andersen. “I was just a
small town girl from Lufkin, so that really broadened
my horizons,” she said. “In my incoming class there was only
one other woman, Nancy Stewart, so we clung to each other
throughout. That was the time in Houston when administrative
people still wore white gloves. We were both new and trying to
figure it all out.”
Her gender turned out to be more of an issue than her race.
“Our managers would have to get permission from the wives
for us to travel with the male managers,” she said. “As a result,
I did not have that many out-of-town trips... and neither did
Nancy.”
Ella transferred to the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, but
left to pursue her master’s degree at Howard University. She
then moved to New York City to work for Exxon — a job that
required she travel extensively. Then, when she was offered a
job with the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation, she jumped at
the chance.
“When there are programs at the library,
I encourage the community to show up.
You may decide you want to stay.”
~ Ella Kegler
It was during this time she made her first trip to Africa. “I
was thrilled when the person I reported to called me in and said,
‘I hate to ask you this, but would you mind going?’” she said.
“Oddly enough for me, I felt right at home. It was a good experi-
ence to come into the airport in Kinshasa, Zaire and see people
who looked a lot like people I knew back home.”
Her work involved closing down a program that funded edu-
cation from high school through graduate school, which was be-
ing discontinued because of difficulties doing business in Africa.
The Cold War was nearly over, and there was a tug between
the United States and Russia for what Ella calls, “the hearts and
souls of the African people.”
Her next endeavor was a wearable art accessories showroom
that she and two friends opened in New York’s garment district.
While the business was successful, Ella felt drawn to move on,
accepting a job at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she
38
CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_38 38
eventually became part of the senior staff.
She would go on to spend 14 years at the Met. “It made a
great impression on me, because growing up in Lufkin, obvi-
ously during that time, we knew little about art,” she said. “Al-
though, we had a fabulous instructor at Dunbar, Maggie McCoy,
and she gave us some exposure to art.”
Coming home
Five years ago, Ella came back home to spend time with
her parents, Jerlean and Robert Kegler, and to get to know her
Lufkin relatives.
“I’d been away since I was 17, except for visits,” she said. “It’s
been really wonderful to see my parents because they were, and
continue to be, the greatest influences in my life.” Ella credits
her mother for giving her the courage to leave the North Lufkin
home where she had lived since 1955.
“She said, ‘Don’t look back; just go forward. I often marvel
at my mother and I try and find a lot of what came from her. I
realize too, that I’m fortunate as I come from a very strong line of
females. I learned early on that all things are possible.”
A new passion
Now, Ella is an independent contractor for The Wildlife
Conservation Society, conducting financial and operational
reviews for WCS around the world. In the last four years, she
has worked in Belize, Gabon, Indonesia, Guatemala, the Fiji
Islands, and Zambia.
But her new passion, continuing a family legacy of volun-
teering, is the Kurth Memorial Library. Volunteering with the
Friends of KML led to her involvement with the library Board of
Trustees and culminated this year with her election as president.
“It is such an honor,” she said. “I am very humbled by the op-
portunity because, growing up in Lufkin, I have absolutely no
memory of going to the library in Cotton Square, although my
mother said, ‘Oh, you had a library card.’ For whatever reason, I
guess I never went back.”
She is diplomatic enough not to say why she never went as a
youngster, instead saying, “It’s ironic for me to be a part of the
library as a volunteer, and not to have had that early experience
of library-going. At Dunbar High School we had a wonderful
library, and we had great teachers in the role of librarian, so per-
haps because of that, we were spared the long trek downtown
to this library. But, that is in the past, and I do think we need to
look to the future.”
That future involves developing the collection, growing the
endowment and increasing community involvement.
To attract the next generation, the Board is planning to redo
the Young Adults area with advice from area youths. “If we can
get young adults in here early, and have them develop a comfort
level, love and passion for the library, then in 10 to 15 years, they
may be generous in their donations to the library,” Ella said.
There is room to grow at the library, and the Board hopes to
make it a place where the community gathers.
Community support
Although the City of Lufkin pays for library employees’ sala-
ries and benefits and maintains the building, it does not provide
for the books, DVDs, computers, programs or other resources,
something many in the community do not realize. The build-
ing was donated to the library, and money is raised through the
Friends’ annual book sale and the Library Board’s gala, through
income from the Board’s endowment and from donations and
bequests.
The library is an asset to the community and should be sup-
ported, Ella said. “Down the road there will be more program-
ming. When there are programs at the library, I encourage the
community to show up. You may decide you want to stay.”
Today, seeing the diversity of the people who use the library,
Ella says she feels welcome there. It’s a feeling she hopes is
shared by all.
“No matter who you are, it is highly probable you had that,
‘Aha!’ moment when you first learned to read,” she said. “We
would like the community to recall that ‘Aha!’ moment, because
it joins us together. You often try to find a common thread with
other people. I think in terms of the library, it is that thread.”
Do you know a woman we should
know?
Write to us at charm@coxnews.com or at
Charm, P.O. Box 1089, Lufkin TX 75902.
May/June/July
4/10/08 3:50:40 PM
 Flashback 1983
It was a year of big hair and even bigger shoulder pads. We were listening to Michael
Jackson’s “Thriller,” making out in our Pontiac Trans Ams and collecting Swatch watches.
If you graduated in 1983, you’ll be
celebrating your In entertainment, the movie
“Flashdance” inspired us to rip the necks
25th
U class reunion this year.

Your high school sweetheart

probably looked like this:
off our sweatshirts and start wearing leg
warmers.

Tom Cruise hit the big screen in “Risky Business”

introducing us to Ray-Ban Wayfarers and the joys of
dancing to Bob Seger songs in our underwear.

Or this:
You probably owned one or more of the following: a
boom box, a Rubik’s Cube, a Cabbage Patch doll, a hacky
sack, Jellies shoes.

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that is a perfect representation of contemporary fashion. With a stylish look and
comfortable feel, it can define any person’s home.

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May/June/July 39

CHARM 04-24-08 CHRM_39 39 4/10/08 3:50:50 PM

Improving lives with a circle of care.

From highly-trained physicians and experienced nurses to the most advanced technology available
and continuing community education, Memorial Health System of East Texas has a circle of care that
keeps East Texas women healthy and strong for generations to come.

NURSING TEAM
• Our nurses have an average of 12 years experience in obstetrical and women’s care.
• Spanish speaking nurses.
• All of our Labor and Delivery nurses are certified in advanced fetal monitoring from the
Association of Women’s Health Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses, and neonatal resuscitation.
AMENITIES
• Labor and Delivery Suites with the most advanced technology and utmost comfort.
• Enjoy Room Service with personalized meals.
TECHNOLOGY
4D Ultrasound
• 4D images of the baby inside the mother’s womb.
• Provides multi-dimensional pictures of internal organs.
Digital Mammography
• Enables physicians to see suspicious breast lesions in greater detail.

• Stores data on computerized files instead of traditional films, which allows image

magnification, fewer call backs and fewer film deliveries.

• Reduced radiation dose exposure.

• The new paddle design reduces discomfort.

• Digital screening, diagnosis and stereotactic biopsy available in Lufkin only at Memorial

Health System of East Texas.

Pediatric Echocardiograms
• The exclusive provider of pediatric echocardiograms in East Texas.
• Highly-trained sonographers can detect cardiac abnormalities, including murmurs, in children

from birth to adolescents.

• Tests are reviewed by Pediatric Heart Specialists in Dallas.

• Results are returned to the primary care physician in less than 24 hours.

SECURITY
Babies and Moms
Hugs and Kisses provides an electronic ankle bracelet for pediatric patients, up to age 12, and a
matching wrist bracelet for their mothers. The bracelet works with sensors at all exits; assuring
that the baby cannot leave the area undetected. The mother’s electronic bracelet assures she’s
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staff alerts.
COMMUNITY CLASSES
Our experienced nurses provide free Child Birth Classes and Parent CPR Classes.

Lufkin •Livingston • San Augustine • Memorial Specialty Hospital

936-634-8111 • Visit us online at memorialhealth.org