Spring is here, which means it’s time for throwing memorable celebrations for friends and family. Whether you are hosting an Easter brunch or attending a spring picnic, you can make these occasions unforgettable with a few fun and festive additions.
Egg Hunt
No Easter celebration is complete without an egg decorating station for children and the young at heart. Stock up on a variety of paints, glitter, dye, stencils, and textured fabric, and let imaginations run wild.
Plan for your Easter egg hunt to take place outdoors, but have an indoor back-up in case the weather does not cooperate. Make sure to take all the ages of participants into account when deciding where to hide eggs!
Sweet Treats
Anyone with a sweet tooth knows that Easter and delicious treats go hand in hand, so pay extra attention to this essential element of your party. A candy buffet invites guests to try an assortment of treats. To satisfy everyone’s taste buds, offer milk and dark chocolates, lollypops, springtime truffles and sour bunnies.
Stick with go-to candy makers like See’s Candies, which uses high-quality ingredients and is one of the few remaining candy makers that ages its chocolate — a process that imparts a smoother, mellower flavor and elevates the overall taste experience, making it a great option for Easter entertaining.
Spruce Up
Take an opportunity to spring clean your home before your gathering. A new season and knowing guests will be coming over can be great motivators for sprucing up your home.
For décor, gather flowers to create colorful centerpieces, including tulips and Easter lilies. Use brightly colored tablecloths and runners, scattering confetti and small sweet treats on tables for a special touch.
Easter Basket
Whether crafting Easter baskets or looking for a gift to take to your host, candy is always a great choice. No matter what your basket or gift budget is, treats can be found in a variety of sizes and price ranges — from hand-decorated Rocky Road Eggs to chocolate bunnies and Strawberry Cream Lollypops. For more Easter inspiration, visit Sees.com or their Instagram page.
With a few sweet twists, you can spring into Easter with flair this year.
Angelina College first baseman Kaylee Parker (16) stretches for a throw to nab Trinity Valley College runner Hannah Scullion (4) during Monday’s doubleheader. The No. 21 Lady Roadrunners swept Trinity Valley College, taking 3-1 and 6-4 wins at Roadrunner Complex in Lufkin. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
Angelina College shortstop Miranda Wiggins makes a long throw for an out during Monday’s doubleheader. The No. 21 Lady Roadrunners swept Trinity Valley College, taking 3-1 and 6-4 wins at Roadrunner Complex in Lufkin. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
Playing back-to-back doubleheaders didn’t appear to bother the No. 21 Angelina College Lady Roadrunners. In fact, they seemed to ride momentum from Sunday’s walk-off win right into Monday’s twin bill with Trinity Valley College.
AC’s ladies made it a Monday sweep, downing the Lady Cardinals 3-1 and 6-4 at Roadrunner Complex in Lufkin.
Angelina College’s Kaylee Parker blasts her third homer in two games, giving the Lady Roadrunners a lead during the nightcap of Monday’s doubleheader with Trinity Valley College. The No. 21 Lady ‘Runners swept the Lady Cardinals, taking 3-1 and 6-4 wins at Roadrunner Complex in Lufkin. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
AC’s Kaylee Parker homered for the third time in two games, blasting a go-ahead, two-run shot in the fourth inning to provide the Lady ‘Runners with the winning margin in the nightcap. The Lady ‘Runners opened the game with four straight doubles, with Lauren Garza, Taylor Davis, Kali Holcomb and Parker banging the outfield walls for a quick 3-0 lead. Halie Pritchett added an RBI groundout, and the Lady Roadrunners led 4-0 after one inning.
The Lady Cardinals tied the game with a four-run fourth inning, getting a three-run double from Breana Florez and an RBI infield single from Alyssa De Los Santos.
Parker and the Lady ‘Runners answered in the bottom of the inning. Davis singled through the right side, and with one out, Parker lifted a drive far over the left field wall for the eventual game winner. Whitney Howerton, who earned the win in the opener, came on to pick up the save by pitching a scoreless seventh inning, despite allowing a bunt single from former Diboll Ladyjack Kayla Trekell.
Davis finished with three hits and an RBI in the win. Garza and Parker added two hits each.
In the opener, AC fell behind 1-0 following Lady Cardinal Ryah Kaniho’s RBI single to score Savannah Martinez. In the bottom of the inning, the Lady ‘Runners scratched out two runs: Holcomb reached on an error, eventually scoring on Kisselburg’s single. As Kisselburg lodged herself in a rundown, Ashley Hallmark scored the go-ahead run. Hallmark would add two-out, RBI double in the sixth to pad the AC lead.
Miranda Wiggins went 2-for-2 in the game. Kisselburg finished with two RBIs on one hit. Howerton tossed a complete game, allowing a single earned run while striking out three Lady Cardinals.
The Lady Roadrunners (31-9, 7-5) are scheduled to host Northeast Texas Community College in a Wednesday doubleheader. Game time is 1 p.m.
Angelina College shortstop Miranda Wiggins gets the tag down just late as Trinity Valley College runner Ryah Kaniho (29) dives back to the bag during Monday’s doubleheader. The No. 21 Lady Roadrunners swept Trinity Valley College, taking 3-1 and 6-4 wins at Roadrunner Complex in Lufkin. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
Can you imagine going on an extended vacation without making any plans?
No websites or tour guides consulted. No hotel reservations made. No itinerary mapped out.
Of course not. If you wanted your vacation to be a success, you’d budget enough money to cover your costs. You’d know when you were going, how long you could stay and at least generally what you would do while there.
But when it comes to the longest vacation most people will ever take – retirement – fewer than half of all Americans have a formal plan.
And that can spell trouble.
“There’s nothing worse than being 85 years old, full of life, and being flat broke,” said Randy Becker, a retirement planner and co-founder of the Becker Retirement Group in Bellevue, Washington (www.beckerretirement.com).
But it takes some work to avoid the many pitfalls that can ruin your golden years, Becker says. Inflation, taxes, bad health and bad investments can be devastating.
“It’s up to you to have a sound plan, so you can focus on the important aspects of a wonderful retirement life,” he said.
Becker offers these tips for getting started so you’ll know you’re ready to begin your retirement journey:
• Get everybody on board. You and your spouse need to agree on your retirement goals – and the financial decisions that will get you there. Start talking about priorities: Do you want to relocate? Stay close to the grandkids? Are you emotionally and physically ready for retirement? How long will each of you keep working, and how will that affect the income streams you’ll rely on when those paychecks stop? • Make a budget. Most people think their expenses will go down after they retire, but usually that doesn’t happen. Your wardrobe budget might go down when you aren’t working, but other expenses might go up if you travel, enjoy new hobbies, or start going out more for dinner, movies and concerts. • Know where your money will come from. Most financial professionals agree that income is king when it comes to retirement planning. A pile of scattered paperwork and account statements is not a plan. A good advisor can help you maximize your Social Security benefits, come up with tax-efficient distribution strategy and talk to you about other options, such as annuities, that can guarantee income in retirement. This is vital as people now live 20, 30 or even 40 years after retiring. • Know your retirement timeline and reevaluate your risk tolerance. One of the biggest mistakes investors nearing retirement make is sticking with the same advisor and portfolio they had when they were younger. You’ll need to move to a more diversified approach, with fewer risks and more protection for that all-important income.
Although he’s a financial professional, Becker says retirement is about more than money. There’s also the adjustment retirees must make from working every day to suddenly having too much time on their hands.
“Perpetual Saturdays are exciting for about a week,” Becker said. “Maybe you’ll find ways to volunteer. Maybe you’ll learn to paint or play guitar. Maybe you’ll end up working part-time. But most people discover that they need something in retirement that will keep them engaged and excited about life.”
The state of Texas leads the nation in total energy production and new residents, according to an updated 50-State Scorecard unveiled today by the Comptroller’s office.
Texas also ranks high in its growth in employed workers and gross product, according to the web tool, which uses data from a variety of sources to score each state in six key categories: population and demographics; business and workforce; economic indicators; tax and debt; and, new this year, quality of life and natural resources.
The Comptroller’s office originally released the 50-State Scorecard in June 2015.
“Texans should be proud of our state’s rankings in this newly updated 50-State Scorecard,” Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said. “Our abundant natural resources and tremendous economic opportunity are some of the reasons why so many people move to Texas every day. But challenges remain, and this tool allows us to identify not only areas where we are doing well, but also areas in which we can improve as a state.”
Visit our online scorecard tool and click on the map for in-depth descriptions, key takeaways and additional data for each ranking.
The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.
If you’re a nerd like me, you’ll recognize this as a Bilbo Baggins quote from “The Lord of the Rings“ by J.R.R. Tolkien. If you’re not a nerd like me, well, you should be.
For those dear readers who are not familiar, Bilbo sings this quietly to himself as he travels from his cozy little Hobbit hole in the Shire to the beautiful, yet distant and mystical, Rivendell. In the book, Bilbo, Frodo and their other Hobbit compatriots step outside their comfort zones to expand their horizons and save Middle Earth in the process. Sound vaguely metaphorical?
The story relates to my life in the sense that change is hard and it takes time. When we accomplish major milestones in our life, we can’t attribute it to our own inherent awesomeness (although that kind of heroism plays a part). We often need backup, those who love us and support us in all we do. We have to be kind, compassionate, friends to ourselves as well, because we never know what lies around the next corner.
Making wise decisions about our healthy lifestyle is easy when you can see for miles ahead, but what to do when an unexpected adventure arises?
Human beings, much like Hobbits, are creatures of routine. We wake up, get ready for work, go to work, come home, cook dinner, go to sleep, wake, repeat. Hopefully go the gym at some point. Making wise decisions about our healthy lifestyle is easy when you can see for miles ahead, but what to do when an unexpected adventure arises?
One of the biggest challenges with living the Fit Life is trying to do so on the road. Whether it’s a business trip or day trip out of town, being out of routine is so hard. This article is a double-whammy. It can be a guide for those weary travelers looking to stave off weight gain while out and about, but it’s also going to keep me honest.
Let me explain.
As I am writing this, I am looking forward to a short vacation from work. I am taking off Thursday, Friday and Monday of the following week to head up to Dallas to visit some of my husband’s friends that we haven’t seen for a year. I am very excited. My husband and I have an agreement: If I don’t want to do something, he leaves me to my own devices and he to his. That means that I could do absolutely nothing if I want to. This is a glorious prospect that my mind cannot even process. No 8 to 5 job, no personal training clients in the evenings (or very early morning), no gym to run or classes to be at. What is this magic?
So, you see where I could get myself into trouble.
Look for natural dried fruit without extra sugar, your favorite kind of unsalted nut, and the darkest chocolate you can find.
Here are some ways I make fit trips happen.
Pack your bags.
Duh, right? But imagine if you pack clothes with actual mindfulness. What is going to keep you on the straight and narrow: sweat pants and a roomy tee, or an outfit just fitted enough that looking like a stuffed sausage after eating way too much is a real possibility? Save the sweats for the long ride home.
Choose wise road snacks.
Yes, chips and candy bars are energy-dense, cheap fuel, but that does not mean they’re good for you. Look for natural dried fruit without extra sugar, your favorite kind of unsalted nut, and the darkest chocolate you can find. Mix it up and you have a healthy trail mix! Turkey jerky isn’t a bad idea for some satisfying protein. Chewing it passes the time! Most gas stations sell fruit like bananas, apples, and oranges. Finally, liquid calories. Skip the soda and opt for flavored sparkling water. In our road trip excitement and upheaval of routine, we often dehydrate ourselves.
Use menustat.org.
This is a nifty website that basically operates as a database for chain restaurant’s nutritional information. So, basically, you know you’re dining out, so dine out wisely. I rented a condo in Florida once so that I could cook in the available kitchen. Did that happen? If you answered yes, then you don’t know me. Also, don’t forget how gross you’ll feel pounding back hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza meal after meal. Use the 80/20 principle to eat in moderation: 80 percent of the time, eat well. 20 percent of the time, game on.
Use the fitness facility.
Hope you packed some gym clothes. Brighten that sad, lonely treadmill’s day! Walk on it! People actually pretend they don’t know that their hotel has a gym, tiny though it may be. You’ll boost your mood and energy levels, not to mention you’ll sleep better, with 30 minutes worth of activity. It’s better than reruns of Law and Order in a boring hotel room.
Explore!
Expand your horizons and your fitness levels by exploring the place you visit. Walking tours are one of the best ways to see a new city on your own terms. Certain hotel chains like Westin and Hyatt, among others, have a fitness concierge that can help you stay active on your trip with walking/jogging routes, classes, and even shoe rentals (with disposable insoles, which definitely decreases the ick factor of wearing borrowed shoes).
Expand your horizons and your fitness levels by exploring the place you visit. Walking tours are one of the best ways to see a new city on your own terms.
Dear reader, you are my support network. I have packed cute, well-fitted clothes and gym clothes. I have bottled water, Cuties, apples and sunflower seeds stowed away for safe snacking. I will splurge, but just a little, because vacations don’t come around often enough. I intend to use the gym each day I am there. Pics or it didn’t happen!
Part 2: I have returned from my trip! For the most part, the trip went as planned. I used the gym, but not everyday, as my husband became ill and we had to return home earlier than expected. Despite that, it was a blast. Vacations never last long enough. Here’s a pic of me going for a jog at the hotel’s fitness facility as promised. I look rough, so don’t judge!
Happy travels.
Here’s a picture of me going for a jog at the hotel’s fitness facility as promised.
On March 23 during an appreciation luncheon, CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Volunteer Auxiliary recognized several of its members who have dedicated thousands of hours in service to the hospital staff and guests.
Whether it is popping popcorn for academic scholarships, answering phones or helping family members in hospital waiting rooms, the Memorial Volunteers are a critical component to the hospital’s success.
Linda Sue Mills received a pin to put on her uniform recognizing her first 100 hours served. Other service award pin recipients include Desiree Barnett, Onnie Jordan, Barbara Shea, and Pat Troudt.Pictured from left to right: O?Deane Ellisor, 500 hours; Doris Harkness, 500 hours; and Anita Jackson, 3,000 hours.Pictured from left to right, recognizing 400 hours served: Melinda Smith, JoAnn Handley and Sylvia Goff.Pictured from left to right, recognizing 300 hours served: Pat Guinn, Carolyn Crawford, Marianne Bryson, Dorothy Brock, Betsy Brock, and Evelyn Blattner. Amy Porter (not pictured) was recognized for 200 hours served.Also at the appreciation luncheon, System Director of Marketing Yana Ogletree swore in the new Volunteer Auxiliary officers for 2016-2017. They are (from left to right) Linda Smith, Treasurer; Jean Mizell, Vice President; Gloria Gregory, President; and Sarah Page, Secretary.
“Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth,’ and it was so. And God saw that it was good. So, the evening and the morning were the third day.”
Driving towards Jasper with a couple of winding roads through Huntington and Zavalla, Abby and I made our way to Third Day Farm and Ranch on a windy Saturday morning with Abby’s 15-month-old son, Cooper in tow.
We stepped out of the car and looked in front of us – rows and rows of a home grown, pick-your-own strawberry patch. Past the rows were acres of green grass with a herd of cattle lounging around. Then a few bumble bees buzzed around as we made our way to the opening of the strawberry patch.
We grabbed a couple of baskets and started picking.
Some of the strawberries were green, but then I saw the juiciest strawberries and I started picking. My mouth just watered with the thought of eating them one by one, and then later making delicious jam.
Cooper enjoying the sand at Third Day Farm and Ranch.
Cooper was having fun playing with the dirt and helping his mother with picking a strawberry or two. Also, there were a few families enjoying the beautiful day along with us as we all picked berries that Saturday morning at the Ranch.
Just to add a few notes to the enduring trip on the farm, it is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed on Sundays. Berries sell for a $1.80 per pound when you pick them, and a flat of strawberries sell for $30.
Not only selling strawberries, farm officials also offer honey, strawberry jam, pickle okra and more produced on a twelve acre garden. The garden also yields English peas, Snow peas, green beans, pinto beans, variety of onions, squash, cucumbers and much more.
Third Day Farm and Ranch is located at 373 County Road 092 in Jasper, off of Hwy 63 North. Here are step-by-step directions, just in case your GPS takes takes you someplace else: From Hwy 190 in Jasper, take Hwy 63 at the intersection of Hwy 190 and Lowe’s, traveling north about six miles. Then take FM 254 to the right and go one and 1/4 miles taking a left on CR 092. The patch will be on the left.
By the end of our trip, Cooper was covered in dirt, I was running away from bees, and Abby had a basket full of red, juicy strawberries.
For more information on Third Day Farm and Ranch, visit their website by clicking here or by visiting their Facebook page here.
Rows and rows of a home grown, pick-your-own strawberry patch at Third Day Farm and Ranch.Abby picking strawberries at Third Day Farm and Ranch.Strawberries picked at Third Day Farm and Ranch.
Sure red wine has some antioxidants, but nothing compares to the real deal.
“This sangria gives alcohol a run for its money and keeps you hydrated with plenty of vitamins,” said Karliin Brooks, founder of The Squeeze Juice and author of “Squeeze Life: Your Guide to the Best Bare Body at Any Age.”
Follow this recipe for a delicious taste!
INGREDIENTS:
2 beets
1 bunch beetroot leaves (that are attached to your beets)
2 oranges
2 pears
2 cinnamon sticks
Pinch of cayenne pepper
3 tbsp maple syrup (optional for sweetness)
2 cups any chopped fruit you like (apples, oranges, limes, pears, and melons are a good combo)
DIRECTIONS:
Wash all produce very well. Juice all produce, except the 2 cups of chopped fruit. Add the juice along with the cinnamon, cayenne and maple syrup to a large pitcher. Add the chopped fruit and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Angelina College left fielder Halie Pritchett goes all out for a diving catch in Sunday’s doubleheader against Tyler College. The No. 21 Lady Roadrunners earned a split, falling 9-0 in the opener before winning 10-7 in the nightcap on a walkoff grand slam. (AC Athletics photo/Gary Stallard)
Kaylee Parker kept her team in the game. Kali Holcomb got her team out of it.
Parker homered twice to help Angelina College keep pace with a red-hot Tyler College team, and Holcomb blasted a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to give the No. 21 Lady Roadrunners a 10-7 win and a split of Sunday’s doubleheader at Roadrunner Complex in Lufkin.
Parker put the Lady ‘Runners up 2-0 with a two-run shot in the first. Tyler went up 4-2 with a run in the second and three in the third, then Holcomb singled home a run in the third to cut the Lady Apache lead to one at 4-3. Parker then blasted a three-run shot into the wind for a 6-4 AC lead.
The Lady Apaches, who had won nine straight conference games – including a 9-0 win over AC in Sunday’s opener – continued to work their way back into the lead, getting an RBI groundout from Haille Weber in the fourth. In the fifth, Tyler scored two runs with two outs, taking a 7-6 lead into the seventh inning.
In their final at-bat, the Lady Roadrunners started the rally with Halie Pritchett’s single, Miranda Wiggins’ double and Lauren Garza’s walk to load the bases. One out later, Holcomb launched a ball far over the left-field wall for the game winner in AC’s 10-7 win.
Parker and Holcomb each finished with five RBI. Freshman pitcher Courtney Stephenson of Jasper earned her first collegiate win in a relief role, entering in the seventh and stifling a Lady Apache rally long enough to set up Holcomb’s heroics.
With coach Barbi Mattson cheering her on, Angelina College’s Kali Holcomb (17) reacts after blasting a walkoff grand slam to beat Tyler College 10-7 in the nightcap of Sunday’s doubleheader against Tyler College. The No. 21 Lady Roadrunners earned a split after dropping the opener 9-0 at Roadrunner Complex in Lufkin. (AC Athletics photo/Gary Stallard)
Struggling to choose the right doctor for your family’s orthodontic treatment?
Here is a list of important questions that Dr. Jamie Reynolds, author of “World Class Smiles Made in Detroit,” came up with to ask yourself while doing your research.
1) Is the doctor a specialist in orthodontics?
2) When should your child be evaluated?
3) Does the office have a great reputation?
4) Does the office treat adults?
5) Are the results guaranteed?
6) Is the quoted fee all inclusive?
7) Is the office up to date with the latest technology?
8) Are there affordable payment options?
9) Does the office run efficiently?
10) Does the office support the community?
11) Does the office feel fun?
