I remember the first time I walked into a Hobby Lobby store. I was 17 and my grandmother brought me in. I was blown away! Back then I was obsessed with all of the art supplies. I was in Art all through high school. I loved it! And today I am obsessed with just about everything else: the home décor, craft supplies, fabric, holiday decorations – everything!
Recently on a trip to Hobby Lobby I spotted these awesome faux leather table runners in the fabric department. Of course, my crafty mind started thinking of a thousand ways to use these besides as a table runner. Today, I’d love to show you how I made these Faux Leather Book Covers. Let’s get started!
For this project you will need a few supplies:
Faux leather table runner
Twine
Buttons
Sketch books or journals
Needle and thread
Fabric scissors
Permanent marker or pen
Yardstick or straight edge
I love this table runner. The leather look is so popular now, and this can be used for so many projects!
First, roll out the table runner on a flat surface. Place your sketch book in the top corner. Using the yardstick, draw a line from the bottom of the sketch book just a little bit longer than you think it needs to be. It’s better that it be too long than not long enough.
Cut carefully along the line using your fabric scissors.
Fold it over your book and mark where you need to trim it. I just made a small slit with my scissors.
Trim off the excess.
Next I sewed a button on both sides of my book cover about an inch in and right in the middle.
This is how it should like if you lay your book cover out flat – a button on either side in the same spot.
Next, cut an 8 inch piece of twine.
Wrap the twine around both buttons to close your book cover.
I love how this dresses up the books and adds a little bit of protection to them as well. So fancy!
I have a large family, there are 31 of us in total and getting us all together is a task in itself. But we can count on most of us getting together for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
[pullquote]”We’re all loud and crazy and when you put us under one roof together, it’s chaos. But it’s the best chaos.”[/pullquote]
For as long as I can remember, my family has had non-traditional Thanksgivings. We all travel from wherever we are to my grandparent’s house the Sunday before Thanksgiving to celebrate. There’s no turkey, no dressing, and no casseroles; although, most of the time there is pecan pie. My grandmother cooks pots of seafood gumbo and we fill an entire table with deserts. We sit wherever we can find a place and no one stops at just one bowl of gumbo.
A photo of us all together.
It’s been our tradition, and it’s one of my favorites. Our family has a lot of fun when they’re together. We’re all loud and crazy and when you put us under one roof together, it’s chaos. But it’s the best chaos.
After we all eat several bowls of gumbo and sampled all the deserts, we immediately start Christmas festivities. My youngest cousin and I make pieces of paper with everyone’s names on them and we separate them into two piles: adults and kids. Although none of us are really kids anymore.
Everyone draws a name and whomever you draw, that’s who you’re buying a Christmas present for that year. Our list seems to grow every year as cousins get married and start having children. After we all get our names, we pull out granny’s Christmas tree and start decorating. It’s like the official kick-off to the Christmas season, even though Thanksgiving hasn’t officially passed.
Last year was our first year to not have our non-traditional/traditional Thanksgiving at my grandparent’s. Instead, my grandparents have passed the tradition on to my aunt and uncle.
[pullquote]”However you celebrate, make sure your day is filled with a lot of laughter, yummy food, and that you are surrounded by people that you love.”[/pullquote]
We don’t decorate for Christmas, but that’s the only thing that’s changed. We still make delicious food and enjoy getting to spend together since it’s a rare occasion for some of us. There’s not a single thing I would change about our Thanksgiving, it’s one of my favorite family gatherings.
No two families celebrate the same or share the same traditions, but that’s what makes them great. Most families probably don’t stray far from the customary turkey dinner.
However you celebrate, make sure your day is filled with a lot of laughter, yummy food, and that you are surrounded by people that you love. One thing I can always be sure of is how thankful I am for my family.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of our favorite times of the year since we celebrate such special holidays with family and friends. An important part of our family gatherings is the main meal, which is usually a feast fit for kings. Each family member is requested to bring his or her signature dish, and up until today, that has meant a sweet potato casserole. However, once our loved ones taste this shortbread topped with the sweet and tart fruit of the season, we anticipate this dessert will reign as our newly most requested holiday dish. A plus for this decadent bar is that in the event you will be traveling to your destination days in advance of the special holiday, you can pre-measure and place all of the ingredients into a one-gallon Ziploc bag, take it with you, and then prepare it closer to the celebrated day. We hope you enjoy Kevin’s version of “Cranberry Shortbread” as printed in “bon appétit,” November 2012 editionas much as we do.
Blessings for safe travels and a wonderful holiday with family and friends!
Happy Cooking,
Kevin Wilson & Mom
Cranberry Shortbread
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup coconut sugar (or white sugar)
½ cup white sugar (or coconut sugar)
1 stick unsalted butter, chilled and cut into cubes
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1 (10 ounces) bag fresh cranberries
¼ cup orange
A photo of Cranberry Shortbread.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8x2” pan with parchment, leaving a 2”overhang on two opposite sides. Whisk flour, ¼ cup coconut sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Using your fingertips, rub butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer to prepared pan. Press evenly onto bottom of the pan. Prick dough all over with a fork. Bake shortbread until cooked through and pale golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely in pan. Bring ½ cup sugar, 1 ½ cup cranberries, and orange juice to a simmer in a small saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally until cranberries burst and the mixture is syrupy, about 8 minutes. Stir in remaining cranberries and cook until skins begin to split, about 3 minutes. Let cool. Spread cooled cranberry topping over shortbread. Chill for at least one hour. Using paper overhang, lift shortbread from pan, and transfer to cutting board. Cut into squares. Serve. Enjoy!
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen people found out that my best friend and I were going to the same college, they automatically told me not to room with her. They told me that our friendship would be ruined by spending so much time together, but they were wrong.
[pullquote]”They told me that our friendship would be ruined by spending so much time together, but they were wrong.”[/pullquote]
Anastasia and I have been friends for 12 years; we went to elementary school together and from there our friendship blossomed. We became closer in high school when we both joined the marching band and bonded over our love for One Direction. Throughout the years in high school, Anastasia and I became much closer and we spent so much time together. When it was time to think about applying for colleges, my heart was already set on Stephen F. Austin State University. It was not until later when I found out that Anastasia had also applied and been accepted to the same school as me. Both of our parents had told us to get random roommates so we could get the “college experience,” so we did.
A photo of Shannon Poe, right, and her roommate and best friend, Anastasia.
Both of our roommates were friendly people, but it felt different not spending so much time with each other. Our first semester in college was spent with us going to each other’s rooms and watching videos together or eating dinner with one another. Even though we lived apart, we would always make time for each other. At the end of the semester, my roommate told me that she was moving out and that I should have Anastasia move in. By some chance, Anastasia’s roommate was also thinking about moving out, leaving us both without a roommate. Both Anastasia and I agreed that we should try to live with each other for one semester to see if we were compatible roommates.
By the end of the spring semester, Anastasia and I loved living together and knew we would live together the next school year. Living with my best friend has changed my entire college experience. We have created new memories together and have a better understanding of each other with our late-night talks and weekends in.
[pullquote]”My one piece of advice is to make sure that you both understand each other’s boundaries and are honest with one another.”[/pullquote]
For anyone thinking about living with their best friend, I say go for it. There is something different about living with your best friend; we have a deeper knowledge of one another. My one piece of advice is to make sure that you both understand each other’s boundaries and are honest with one another. I believe that the backbone of our friendship is honesty, which is a huge part of us getting along. Now that I am in my second semester of living with Anastasia, I look back to all of the people who told me otherwise and cannot imagine my living conditions any differently than they are now.
A photo of Obstetrician and Gynecologist Sheila Hill.
CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Clinics welcomes Obstetrician and Gynecologist Sheila Hill to its growing team of physicians and specialists in Lufkin.
Dr. Hill specializes in gynecology, routine and high risk obstetrics, robotic surgery and minimally invasive surgery, Urogynecology, and infertility diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Hill uses compassion and skill in treating women of all ages including performing well-woman exams, complete prenatal care and delivery, providing solutions for bladder incontinence and menopause management, hormone therapy, family planning, HPV vaccination and STD screening. She has served both the Angelina and Nacogdoches County communities for many years and is now in her new location on the CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial campus.
Dr. Hill is seeing patients at 1105 W. Frank Avenue, Suite 200, located inside the Medical Arts Pavilion above Temple Imaging Center. Patients can schedule an appointment by calling (936) 632-2220. Her office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to noon. Her office accepts most major insurance and Medicare.
CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Clinics, a division of CHI St. Luke’s Health, employs nearly 40 providers in 17 locations across East Texas, including Lufkin, Livingston and San Augustine. Our physicians pride themselves on delivering exceptional health care via the latest in technology and patient comfort. The Memorial Clinics specialties include Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Practice, Ear, Nose & Throat, and Chiropractic care. Memorial Clinics accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance. Visit memorialclinics.com to learn more about our physicians and connect with the personalized patient portal,
The Texas Forestry Museum invites you and your family to celebrate the holidays at our annual Santa Claus Express. This event will be on Friday, December 2nd from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the museum. Families will have the chance to drink hot chocolate, decorate a sugar cookie, play games, and take pictures with Santa Claus!
Tickets are $5 per person. Current Kids’ Club members will receive the discounted price of $3 per person! Tickets are limited so be sure to purchase yours soon. A special thank you to JM Management and Whataburger for sponsoring this year’s event!
The Texas Forestry Museum, a private non-profit organization, is located at 1905 Atkinson Dr. in Lufkin. We are open from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except major holidays. For more information on the Texas Forestry Museum and its scheduled events, please call 936-632-9535 or visit our website at www.treetexas.com.
Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful awarded seven grants, totaling $2,250, to Nacogdoches County educators during the 2016-17 school year.
The projects funded by the grants will benefits students at Thomas J. Rusk Academy of Fine Arts, Emeline Carpenter Elementary School, Mike Moses Middle School, Central Heights Elementary, Nettie Marshall Academy of Dual Language, and Nacogdoches High School.
“All of the grant recipients are creating gardens or implementing recycling programs this year,” said Katie Blevins, KNB Executive Coordinator.
“Recipients of KNB grants create beautification, litter management and waste reduction projects throughout Nacogdoches County,” said Cheryl Bartlett, KNB board member, “They involve kids and teach them how to improve the quality of the environment in their own community.”
Any pre-K through grade 12 classroom or campus in Nacogdoches County, public or private, was eligible for a grant. Qualifying applications featured beautification and/or education projects that align with one or more of Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful’s core values: litter prevention, beautification, community improvement, waste reduction and resources, conservation, recycling and environmental education.
KNB is a volunteer organization that promotes beautification, waste reduction and litter prevention through individual responsibility across Nacogdoches County. More information about KNB and the current programs can be found at keepnacbeautiful.org.
Pictured from left to right are members of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center staff: -Sonia Langford, RN; Landon Evans, Registered Certified Exercise Physiologist; Briana Munfus, Exercise Specialist; Nancy Sanchez, RN, Cardiac Rehab Coordinator; Dr. Ravinder Bachireddy, Medical Director; Laura Zamarripa, CAN; Lindsay Montario, RN; and Joshua Robertson, Exercise Specialist.
Following a significant cardiac event, such as a heart attack or heart surgery, there is a proven way to enhance a patient’s quality of life – a specialized program called cardiac rehabilitation. Research indicates that patients who undergo cardiac rehabilitation have 25-30% reduction in heart attacks and strokes.CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial takes heart health seriously and is proud to announce the certification of its Cardiac Rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).
Cardiovascular rehabilitation is designed to help patients recover faster and improve their quality of life. The program includes research-centered patient-specific care including individualized exercise plans, risk factor assessment, nutritional assessment, lifestyle modification education, counseling and support for patients and their families. CHI St. Luke’s Health was recognized by AACVPR and its peers for a steady commitment to improving the quality of life by enhancing standards of care.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation program opened in Lufkin in 2014 and has since had 248 graduates from the program. Our highly trained staff includes the area’s only certified exercise physiologist.
“Cardiac Rehabilitation helps heart patients live longer,” said Dr. Ravinder Bachireddy, Medical Director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center and President of the Heart Institute of East Texas. “Cardiac Rehabilitation is evidence based and is strongly recommended by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.We are proud to have been nationally accredited by AACVPR.Our program promotes healthy lifestyle changes with exercise, diet and weight loss.Our goal is to provide the best patient care possible and demonstrate our commitment to the East Texas region and to our patients by improving their overall health and wellbeing.”
The CHI St. Luke’s Health Cardiac Rehabilitation Program participated in an application process that requires extensive documentation of the program’s practices. AACVPR Program Certification is the only peer-review accreditation process designed to analyze and observe individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by AACVPR and other professional societies. Each program is reviewed by the AACVPR Program Certification Committee and certification is awarded by the program’s Board of Directors.
AACVPR-certified programs are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation because they offer the most advanced practices available.
CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial’s individualized cardiac rehabilitation program typically lasts between 6-12 weeks and consists of 2-3 exercise and/or education sessions per week. The team uses a multidisciplinary approach to meet the needs of each patient, including continuous heart and hemodynamic monitoring to ensure healthy progression and cardiovascular wellness. AACVPR Program Certification is valid for three years.
Tickets are still available for rare live performance here in Lufkin — Jimmy Webb – America’s Songwriter will be onstage at the Temple Theater on the Angelina College campus Tuesday November 22, at 7:30 pm. Angelina Arts Alliance is thrilled to present Jimmy Webb, an internationally acclaimed award-winning songwriter, as he reflects on forty plus years of writing by sharing his hit songs and the stories behind them. For decades Jimmy has penned amazing songs including “Wichita Lineman,” “By The Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Galveston,” “The Highwayman,” “Up, Up and Away,” “MacArthur Park,” which have become all-time hits for the artists that have performed them. Tickets are on sale now and range from $30-$40 (Premium/Box $45). Angelina Arts Alliance proudly presents Jimmy Webb – America’s Songwriter along with show sponsors First Bank & Trust East Texas and The Stafford Family. 2016-2017 Season Sponsors are Georgia – Pacific and CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial.
Jimmy Webb’s songs have been recorded or performed by the best including Glen Campbell, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Linda Ronstadt, and Carly Simon. Webb is the only artist ever to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration. At the age of nineteen, he was the youngest man ever inducted into the National Songwriters’ Hall of Fame, and is dedicated to the preserving the rights and the craft of the songwriter.
On a personal note, Buddy Temple was a long-time fan of Jimmy and inspired by his music. Several years ago they formed a friendship that remained to the end. This intimate evening with Jimmy at the piano is sure to include inspiring songs, and memories of the times they spent together as friends.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Temple Theater Box Office on the Angelina College Lufkin campus, Monday through Friday 11 am – 5 pm or call (936) 633-5454, or go online at www.angelinaarts.org. Details and video clips from the entire season are on the Arts Alliance website. Follow Angelina Arts Alliance on Facebook for late-breaking news, photos, videos and ticket giveaways.
The Made in Lufkin Competition is a program started by the Lufkin/Angelina Chamber designed to encourage and fund local entrepreneurs. To participate, an entrepreneur must submit the idea for their startup business for a chance to win funds.
“Made in Lufkin is a business competition in Angelina County with a focus that we will find anyone with great up startup ideas and help those ideas succeed,” said Jim Johnson, Chamber president. “The focus is truly to know that there are great business ideas out there and that our community has the opportunity to win the reward from the best business ideas while supporting local businesses.”
During the application process, entrepreneurs must provide an executive summary, financial history/projections, a business plan, and a variety of short narrative questions.
Made in Lufkin Competition’s theme is drawn from a quote by Peter Drucker:
“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”
Dec. 12 is the deadline to enter the competition. After Dec. 12, all applicants can be seen on this website, and finalist and winners will be posted there after they are chosen.
Those interested in becoming a sponsor can apply by contacting the Chamber here.
For more information or other questions, contact the Chamber at 936-634-6644.
