february 2015- absolutely katy magazine

Out & AboutSWEETHEARTS

Look andFeel YourBest with

Dr. Shel FITNESS MotivationValentine's DayGift Guide

FEBRUARY 2015

I magine your child could achieve better

memory, attention, focus and reading skills.

Make 2015 the year your child can-

Mention this ad by Feb. 20th and get $100 off an initial Cognitive Skills Assessment This assessment (regularly priced at $199) will give you a detailed look at how your child’s brain skills are performingright now. That’s just $99 for information that will explain why your child struggles and what you can do about it.

at the Katy center told us

Our world-class cardiologists have been pioneering innovations in heart

care ever since Dr. Michael DeBakey revolutionized heart treatment at

Houston Methodist more than 60 years ago. We have built a legacy of

leading cardiovascular medicine by providing patients access to the most

advanced procedures, no matter how routine or complex the condition.

Home to the community’s only fully comprehensive heart care program,

Houston Methodist West is accredited as a Chest Pain Center with

percutaneous intervention by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care, and

has a three-star rating by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, placing it in the

top 10 percent of U.S. programs.

Take your fi rst step toward a healthier heart.

Visit houstonmethodist.org /west or call 832.522.5522

for a physician referral.

WE’RE LEADING HEART CARESO YOU CAN LEAD A HEALTHY LIFE.

S:7.25”S: 9.75”

T:8.375”

T:10.875”B:8.875”

B:11.375”

A hop, skip and a jump.We’re right here in West Houston andready to partner with you in the healthcare of your child.

With a dedicated pediatric emergencyroom, pediatric intensive care unit andmore than 20 pediatric subspecialties conveniently located on site, we offer topcare for kids, close to home. From sportsmedicine to cardiology to ophthalmology,our specialty clinics are staffed by expertsin their fields using the most advancedtechnology, in facilities designed specificallyfor children.

Texas Children’s is ranked #4 in the nationby U.S.News & World Report and is thehighest ranked children’s hospital in thesouthwest. The next time your childneeds medical care, come to us. We’re allabout kids.

For maps and information, visit westcampus.texaschildrens.org.

© 2015 Texas Children’s Hospital. All rights reserved. Texas Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital in Texas on U.S.News & World Report’s 2014-2015 Honor Roll. WC420_110114

Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus

18200 Katy FreewayHouston, TX 77094832-227-1000

FEBRUARY 2015 l TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.absolutelykaty.com4

CONTRIBUTORS

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 | V O L U M E 1 2 | N U M B E R 2

18

Steve KursarAuto EnthusiastPage 18

12

Robin Ebrechtabsolutely! Fabulous FindsPage 12

17

Nancy L. RommelmannFamily Law Attorney Page 17

14

Joan FrancesContributorPage 14F E AT U R E S

15 SMILE DOCS

Meet the Finest Dental Professionals in Katy

28 VALENTINE’S DAYGIFT GUIDEFind the perfect gift for that special someone.

C O L U M N S

12 absolutely! FABULOUS FINDS

14 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOTMeet Macy Medford

17 FAMILY LAW Top Ten Tips for Post Divorce Survival: How to Create theLife You’ve Imagined

B U S I N E S S B R I E F S

13 PURCELL LAW FIRM:A Local Hidden Jewel

16 NEW KATYMASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITYOffers 2,000 New Homes

a b s o l u t e l y !A U T O R E V I E W

18 2015 TOYOTA CAMRY

a b s o l u t e l y !H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

24 FITNESS MOTIVATION

30 absolutely! Q & A Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus Answers Your Questions on Child Life Specialists

8 LOOK AND FEEL YOURBEST AT ANY AGE . . .WITH DR. SHELWith 20 plus years of experience in the medical profession, Dr. Shelena Lalji is considered an expert in the field of anti-aging, wellness and aesthetics. A physician, author, educator, philanthropist, wife and mother and wellness advocate, Dr. Shel has been speaking, educating and inspiring doctors and other professionals internationally for years. At the Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa, wellness means empowering patients to live their best lives possible – both inside and out.

20

Jennifer L. EvansOut & About inthe Heart of KatyPage 20

C O V E R F E A T U R E

32

Cyd WrightWhat’s Kickin’ in KatyPage 32

Dr. Shelena LaljiPhotography by Nesossi Studios. a b s o l u t e l y !

D E L I C I O U S

26 SHOW OFF YOURSWEET SIDEThis Valentine’s Day

B R A I N T E A S E R

27 HOW DO YOU SPELL LOVE?

C O M M U N I T Y E V E N T S

32 WHAT’S KICKIN’ IN KATY

I N E V E RY I S S U E

6 PUBLISHER’S PREVIEW

20 OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART OF KATY

Myles MellorContributorPage 27

27

IT TAKES A TEXAN

here are lots of unexplored tastes in the world of wine. Braman Wines will navigate

you to the best, paired to occasion as much as to meal. � is will be the Braman Legacy.

Learn more at BramanBrands.com.

T

3333 FM 359Tuesday–Thursday: 2–9 p.m.

Friday–Saturday: Noon–10 p.m.

RICHMONDHWY 90A

1429 East 4th StreetThursday–Saturday: 2–8 p.m.

HALLETTSVILLE

Stop by our two tasting rooms and enjoy great Braman wine and our gi� boutique, and book private parties.

BUT DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT.

Job #: 95231.1 Ref #: 94119, 93728Client: Braman Brands Desc: Braman Absolutely Brazos 2.1 FP Tasting RoomSize: 8.375” x 10.875” Color: 4C


We are setting the pace in cardiovascular care. Memorial Hermann treats the most hearts in Houston, with our affiliated physicians performing

more than 50,000 procedures last year alone. This award-winning, innovative care includes nine

accredited Chest Pain Centers. Our technologically advanced cardiac catheterization labs provide

precise imagery that can be seen by your physician from anywhere in the world. So for true

strength in cardiovascular care, contact the body of experts at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital,

part of the Memorial Hermann heart and vascular network.

Learn more at heart.memorialhermann.org

REAL MUSCLEIN HEART

EXCLAMATION POINTS!THE INSIDE SCOOP STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP

absolutely! KatyTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 700, Stafford, TX 77477. Copyright © 2015 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Reproduc-tion without permission is strictly prohibited. absolutely! KatyTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading adver-tising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. absolutely! KatyTM Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.

Subscription requests are free to Katy area addresses. Annual paid subscription

of $25 required outside Katy area.

Publishedby

READER FEEDBACK

Associate Publisher, LARA BELLVol. 12 No. 2February 2015

4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE 700STAFFORD, TX 77477

281-690-4242

WWW.ABSOLUTELYKATY.COM

P U B L I S H E RE DI TOR- I N - C H I E FPatti Parish-Kaminski

A S S O C IAT E P U B L I S H E RLara Bell

M A NAG I N G E D I T O RSarah Bearden

S E N I O R AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V EJessica Kij

AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V E SJennifer Elliott

Molly EllisKay Garrett

Juliet HubbellAndrea Rigamonti

Suzanne StilesBonnie Bell Woodrow

A RT D I R E C T O RGrace Belleza

G R A P H I C D E S I G N E R SCamille Hay

Erin De Veyra

W E B D E S I G N E RJoey Belleza

O F F I C E A D M I N I S T R AT O RAdrienne Boring

P H O T O G R A P H YNesossi Studios

C O N T R I BU T O R SRobin Ebrecht

Jennifer L. EvansJoan FrancesSteve KursarMyles Mellor

Nancy L. RommelmannCyd Wright

I N Q U I R I E S281-690-4242

E D I T O R IA L SU B M I S S I O N [email protected]

When I sat down to write this month’s Pub-lisher’s Preview, I reread Jennifer Evans’ sweet-heart themed Out & About and how each couple met. When I am at a party, a question that typi-cally comes up is “How did you meet your hus-band?” I really enjoy learning how people meet and what makes their relationship stand the test of time. Enjoy this Valentine’s issue!

Also in this issue, you’ll meet Dr. Shelena Lalji, who is a well-known wellness expert and the medical director at Dr. Shel Wellness & Med-ical Spa in Sugar Land. Dr. Shel loves helping women from the inside out. Learn what she is excited about to help you look and feel your best!

Finally, wait until you meet this month’s High School Hot Shot Macy Medford. Talk about talented! Macy is an extremely accomplished theatre and choir student, as well as a singer and songwrit-er. Speaking of students, if you know of a student who is deserving of a community shout out, please e-mail me at [email protected]. Have a lovely Valentine’s Day!

Absolutely! yours,

LaraLara Bell-Milam

[email protected]

Dear Sarah, Thank you for all of the time and effort you

expended putting my daughter and son-in-law’s announcement and details together. I loved your choice of photos, and I hope it brings some business to Rob Milton, our photographer, who is so talented, and maybe even more weddings to Brookwood.

Marilyn Murphy

I like reading absolutely! Katy to find out what fun events are going on for my family, and I enjoy the interesting articles.

Joey Saldana

Brent and Lara Milam

Sarah, We received the January edition of your

magazine today in the mail. What an honor to have Haleigh on your cover. You did a wonderful

job on the issue, and thank you for providing an opportunity to showcase her beautiful wedding memories to our family in the U.S.

Sincerely,Beth Land

ON THE COVER:

Dr. Shelena Lalji

Photography by Nesossi

Studios. @larabell

We are setting the pace in cardiovascular care. Memorial Hermann treats the most hearts in Houston, with our affiliated physicians performing

more than 50,000 procedures last year alone. This award-winning, innovative care includes nine

accredited Chest Pain Centers. Our technologically advanced cardiac catheterization labs provide

precise imagery that can be seen by your physician from anywhere in the world. So for true

strength in cardiovascular care, contact the body of experts at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital,

part of the Memorial Hermann heart and vascular network.

Learn more at heart.memorialhermann.org

REAL MUSCLEIN HEART


For Dr. Shel, wellness means much more than its definition of being in good physical and mental health. At the Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa, wellness means empowering patients to live their best lives possible – both inside and out.

“Our mission is to provide the most in-novative integrative medical treatments and the latest in aesthetic technology to attain both inner and outer well-being,” explained Dr. Shel. “Understanding our patients, their symptoms, their wellness goals and helping them achieve those goals is our main priority.”

Dr. Shel’s unique approach to wellness via customized care of the whole patient is achieved by relying on her 20 plus years of experience in the medical profession and her compassion for patients’ well-being. She is considered an expert in the field of anti-aging, wellness and aesthet-ics and has been speaking, educating and inspiring doctors and other professionals internationally for many years.

Achieving inner wellness is the first priority for Dr. Shel with her patients. “Feeling your absolute best is an integral part of our philosophy of care.” Dr. Shel

offers a variety of wellness services from nutrition, hormones, weight loss to more innovative wellness therapies including:

Intravenous Vitamin Therapy

Ninety percent of us are deficient in many key nutrients that are vital for op-timal health. Intravenous Vitamin Ther-apy is a method of feeding essential nutri-ents – vitamins, minerals and other natu-ral substances – directly into a patient’s bloodstream. Bypassing the digestive sys-tem allows 100 percent of the nutrients

to enter the bloodstream as compared to around 15 to 20 percent absorption in most over-the-counter oral supplements.

Dr. Shel offers several types of In-travenous Vitamin Therapies including Vitamin C Infusions, Myer’s Cocktail, Skin Brightening IV and Glutathione to name a few. The various therapies can help to treat many conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, migraines, adrenal fatigue, cancer, arthritic pain, allergies and sinus infections – even the common cold. “Glutathione is our master antioxidant, and this IV Therapy aids in protecting the cells of the body from harmful toxins, helping to prevent can-cers and other chronic diseases. We are seeing tremendous improvements in our patients’ health,” said Dr. Shel. The treat-ments typically last less than an hour and patients can easily return to their normal routine without any disruption to their schedule.

Bio-IdenticalHormone Replacement

Hormonal imbalance remains one of the most common issues affecting wom-en’s health. Symptoms can include de-pression, weight gain, hair loss, insomnia, anxiety, low libido and fatigue. “Many of my patients are told that their symp-toms are a part of aging and nothing can be done. At times, they are prescribed medications such as antidepressants or

with Dr. ShelP hysician, author, educator, philanthropist, wife and mother all

describe Dr. Shelena Lalji, medical director of Dr. Shel Well-ness & Medical Spa, but perhaps the most important descriptor of Dr. Shel, as her patients know her, is wellness advocate.

COVER STORYPhotos by Nesossi Studios

Look andFeel Your Bestat Any Age . . .

Providing customized care to patients like Carole Brown is paramount to Dr. Shel.

The staff at Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa:

Christina, Mia, Caitlyn, Glenda,Missy, Dr. Shel, Dawn, Vickie,Megan, April, Craig and Lori.

sleeping pills among other things. What I have found is that once I balance their hormones and thyroid, they feel revitalized, energized and sexy once again.” said Dr. Shel. Dr. Shel’s phi-losophy of inner wellness includes using natural, bio-identical hormones rather than synthetic hormones, thyroid, nutrients, supplements and lifestyle modifications, which are customized for each patient individually.

Men’s HealthThough Dr. Shel is best known for women’s health, she also

treats men in the same philosophy of overall well-being. One of the most common issues that Dr. Shel sees in men is low testos-terone or “Low T.” According to Dr. Shel, there is an actual time period in men’s lives where their testosterone declines called Andropause, or male menopause, where men may suffer from loss of muscle mass, weight gain, irritability, insomnia, brain fog, low energy and lower sex drive. “Men are often uncertain what to do about these symptoms, so we work with them to replace testosterone if needed, balance nutrients, lose weight and help bal-ance their lives with the appropriate proto-cols to help them re-gain vitality, drive and overall well-being.”

Adrenal FatigueAdrenal fatigue can wreak havoc on your life. In the more

serious cases, the activity of the adrenal glands is so low that you may have difficulty getting out of bed for more than a few hours per day. “Once we have determined that a patient is show-ing symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue, we test their salivary diur-nal cortisol levels and then determine a customized program to help the adrenal glands function better through various courses of treatment including IV therapy, nutrition, hormonal balance and stress management techniques.” Dr. Shel has a counselor and meditation instructor, Dr. Anand Vyas, who helps patients achieve inner harmony and manage stress.

Weight Loss & DetoxificationDr. Shel’s weight loss program is ideal for those who desire

to lose weight and keep it off. Testing is done for each patient and a customized program is cre-ated that may include hCG, dieti-cian services, lifestyle counseling, supplementation and detoxifi-cation under the guidance of a medical professional. Dr. Shel believes that any wellness pro-gram should include detoxification. “The purpose of detoxification is to improve your overall state of health and well-being through internal cleansing and purification. We find that detoxification further assists the weight loss process. Not only do our patients experience weight loss and all of the noticeable improvements that come along with it, but their overall health greatly improves as well. We see our

Dr. Shel conferring with patient Shawn Taylor.

Wellness & Beauty: The Ultimate Combination

Dr. Shel believes you should look and feel your best. By offering both aesthetic and wellness services, Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa is your one stop shop for health and beauty services. Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa services include:

• Injectables• Botox / Xeomin• Juvederm

• Radiesse • Voluma™ XC Filler

Advanced Beauty Treatments & Aesthetic Services

• Ultherapy® Skin Lifting and Tightening

• Titan Skin Tightening• Pearl / Pearl Fractional Resurfacing

Advanced Aesthetic Treatments

Non-Laser Skin Rejuvenation• Microneedling / Platelet Rich

Plasma• Collagen Induction Therapy• Hydrafacial• Microdermabrasion

• Limelight IPL Photofacial• Laser Genesis Skin

Rejuvenation

• Dermaplaning• Mole & Skin Tag Removal• Chemical Peels• Digital Skin Analysis

• CoolSculpting® Fat Reduction• Reaction Tightening & Cellulite Reduction

Body Contouring

Aesthetic Services• BLU-U Acne Treatment• Photo Dynamic Therapy• Laser Hair Removal• Laser Spider Vein Removal• I-Grow Laser Hair Regrowth• LATISSE Eyelash Treatment

• Neotensil for Under-Eye Bags

• Skin Medica / Obagi / Biopelle

• Hair Loss Products

Health & Wellness Therapies• Customized Wellness Programs

for Men & Women• Bio-Identical Hormone

Replacement• Hypothyroidism• Weight Loss / Detox / Dietician

Services• Low Testosterone• Adrenal Fatigue• Yeast Overgrowth (Candida

Treatment)

• Gluten / Food Sensitivities• Nutritional Testing &

Supplements• Intravenous Vitamin

Therapy• Seasonal Allergies• Meditation• Sexual Health / G-Shot /

Vaginal Rejuvenation

Visit www.drshel.com or call 281-313-7435for a free consultation.Mention Fort Bend Focus and receive up to 20% offLaser and Wellness treatments.

Dr. Shel’s insightful book guides readers through a journey of self-discovery and awareness of womens’ health issues by focusing on preventive and integrative aspects of medicine. Visit www.drshel.com to order.

www.absolutelykaty.com l FEBRUARY 2015 9

patients coming off of their meds for diabetes, hypertension, cho-lesterol and much more.”

Gluten & Food SensitivityFor years, many gastrointestinal issues such as Irritable

Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, Acid Reflux and Colitis have affected millions of people. Many of these conditions along with symptoms such as chronic fatigue, headaches, brain fog, consti-pation and others are greatly improved by eliminating reactive and inflammatory foods such as gluten, yeast and dairy to name a few. “I believe in a scientific approach, so we conduct advanced tests to check for gluten and other food sensitivities, yeast over-growth and allergies to determine the true cause of gut health is-sues. I don’t believe in labeling patients with diagnoses; I strongly believe in identifying the root cause of patients’ symptoms. We then formulate a customized healthy eating program and treat the gut with medical grade probiotics and necessary enzymes. The results we see are remarkable. My patients are truly getting their lives back.” Dr. Shel also has a dietician on staff who works with her patients one-on-one.

Looking your best is an integral part of feeling your best, and the Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa offers the latest, most effec-tive technologies for aesthetic treatments including:

Micro-NeedlingMicro-Needling with Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP, is used to

treat moderate acne, fine lines, wrinkles, lax skin, burns, scars, broken capillaries and stretch marks. PRP, used for decades to help athletes recover from surgery, is known to help wounds heal faster and improve the texture and color of skin by encouraging new tissue growth.

CoolSculpting®

CoolSculpting is the only FDA-cleared, non-surgical fat re-duction treatment. By literally freezing the fat and reducing the volume, CoolSculpting is perfect for individuals wanting a non-invasive solution for areas of stubborn body fat, including on the abdomen, flanks, and thighs. In line with Dr. Shel’s commitment to being the most cutting-edge practice, Dr. Shel has the latest CoolSmooth flat applicator to be able to treat even the smallest areas of unwanted fat, including the outer thighs. The procedure is relatively painless, and patients can resume their daily activi-ties.

Get Your Sexy Back!Get Your Sexy Back!Women’s Sexual Health Seminar

February 11th, 5 - 7 pmRSVP today to: [email protected]

or by calling 281-313-7435

Find Out About:• Vaginal Rejuvenation• Eliminating Vaginal Dryness• Enhancing Libido & Orgasm• Feeling Confident & Sexy• Hormonal Balance

1437 HIGHWAY 6, SUITE 100, SUGAR LAND, TX

UltherapyUltherapy aesthetically tightens, lifts and tones skin – much

like a face lift but without the surgery, risks and down time. It is the only FDA-cleared procedure for non-surgical neck, brow and under-chin lifts. It is a very safe treatment, which uses ultra-sound energy to stimulate the body’s own collagen to both lift and tighten skin.

Hair Loss TreatmentsDr. Shel takes the same holistic approach to hair loss. By get-

ting to the root causes of hair loss, she is able to create a custom-ized plan to address those issues. Some of the common causes of hair loss that Dr. Shel addresses are hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, unhealthy scalp and chronic stress. Dr. Shel also offers the IGrow Laser, which is one of the world’s most advanced, effective methods of hair rejuvenation for both men and women. Dr. Shel offers her patients a special line of natural hair care products and supplements that help to stimulate hair growth and healthy, beautiful hair. These products can be found on Dr. Shel’s online store at www.DrShel.com/products.

“I strongly believe in the art of beauty and the science of well-ness as key ingredients for a balanced and vital life. My mission is to reach as many patients as possible and help them attain true health and well-being, both inside and out. I am grateful to have this opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives … Mind, Body and Spirit!” said Dr. Shel.

To look and feel your best at any age, call Dr. Shel’s office at 281-313-7435 or go to www.DrShel.com and schedule your free consultation.

Follow Dr. Shel on social media to getdaily inspiration, tips and educational content:

facebook.com/drshel Twitter.com/drshel Blog: drshel.com

Fatigued to FabulousDr. Shel has developed her protocol to go

from feeling Fatigued to Fabulous in 8 easy steps:

1. Food Choices: Get tested and avoid foods such as gluten, yeast, dairy, etc. that you may be sensitive to and heal your gut by reducing inflammation.

2. Adrenal and Thyroid Balance: Have your adrenal function and thyroid levels tested and corrected.

3. Bio-Identical Hormones: Get your hormones tested withsalivary testing and balanced using Bio-identical hormones.

4. Unwind: Manage your stress. Consider yoga andmeditation.

5. Look your Best with Noninvasive Treatments: Pursue thelatest, safest treatments to help you put your best self forward. Don’t change your look, simply enhance it.

6. Out with the Toxins / In with the Nutrients: Considerclean, organic eating. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. Test your nutritional deficiencies with SpectraCell Micronutrient testing.

7. Understand your Body, Mind and Spirit: Balance your lifeand spend time in silence reflecting on your passion and pursuit of true happiness.

8. Sleep and Exercise: 7-8 hours of sleep per night iscrucial. Exercise at least 4 to 5 times per week to be at peak performance.


Houston Methodist West Hospital’s heart and vascular surgery team provides expert, highly experienced surgical capabilities in a wide range of cardiovascular, thoracic and peripheral vascular surgical techniques to patients in West Houston and Katy.

Using the latest technology available, our physicians are skilled in every aspect of patient care, including high-risk cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery; heart valve surgery; endovascular surgery for aortic aneurysms; arrhythmia surgery; thoracic surgery for cancer; pulmonary surgery and peripheral vascular disease.

If you are in need of complex heart care, call 832.522.8600 to schedule an appointment.

ADVANCED TREATMENT FOR COMPLEX HEART CONDITIONS

18400 Katy Freeway, Suite 690Houston, Texas 77094

houstonmethodist.org/west

Dr. Javier Lafuente, cardiothoracic surgeon

Dr. Houssam Younes, vascular surgeon

1-on-1 l Semi-Private l Small Group

to schedule yourstrategy session

Janet has been a dedicated ESN Health Client since 2008.She lost 37 pounds of fat (improving her body fat percentage by 48%) and 4 dress sizes! Janet lowered her cholesterol 30 points and went from 162 to 129 pounds!

Success Story

ESN Health helped me… “Get fit sooner than I thought I could. They made sure I was exercising correctly & tailored the workouts to my needs. I was able to lose weight and develop muscle tone without bulking up. In no time, you will be doing exercises you never thought you could.” - Janet M.

22756 Westheimer Pkwy., Suite 160Katy, TX 77450

281.395.0827www.ESNHealth.com

Ask us about our

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

TRANSFORMATION CONTEST!

BY ROBIN EBRECHT

You may know me as a Katy mom of three amazing boys and wife to Daryn, but what

you may not know is that I love finding cool and unique products because, let’s face it, in a house full of boys, a girl needs her girl stuff! So, here are some things I absolutely love... and hope you will, too!

FabulousFinds

Younique 3D Fiber MascaraThis stuff is amazing! It’s like wearing false lashes without the hassle of false lashes. I love that it is so easy to apply, and it washes off easily too. It comes in a handy little case that makes it easy to carry with you. I promise you will love this mascara!www.youniqueproducts.com

Custom Designed RingIf you’re like me and have jewelry that has been passed down to you from family members and would like to do something with the stones, then you should consider a custom designed piece of jewelry from Amber’s Designs. This ring was made with my husband’s grandmother’s diamonds and put into a setting made by the jeweler there. It really turned out beautiful, and it has such special meaning. It was a Christmas gift for a very special young lady!www.ambersdesigns.com

Kashwere BlanketsI definitely have a thing for soft blankets. My friend told me about these and said that everyone she gives them to absolutely loves them. I have already ordered mine! They come in a variety of sizes and colors. www.kashwereathome.com

Red Chevrolet Corvette Convertible I have never been a fan of Corvettes until now. The new body style is so stylish and sleek! I am in love with this car. It might be time for me to get a little red Corvette – convertible, of course! Hint hint to my hubby! www.chevrolet.com

Elaine Turner Pink Double Wrap BraceletWith pink leather and gold accents, this bracelet is elegant enough to wear with any outfit, yet simple enough to wear every day. Any girl would love this for Valentine’s Day!www.elaineturner.com



TEXAS’ LARGESTLWRC DEALER!

832.363.3783FAX: 832.363.36941110 HWY 90A EASTRICHMOND, TX 77406WWW.XTREMEGUNSANDAMMO.COM

SPECIALIZING IN:

• CLASS 3 WEAPONS• THERMAL SIGHTS• SILENCERS• HAND GUNS• AMMO• NIGHT VISION

WE CARRY ALL MAJOR BRANDS!IF WE DON’T HAVE IT, WE CAN GET IT!

GUNSMITHON SITE!

CHL CLASSESOFFEREDMONTHLY

10%OFFAMMO*Excludes Bulk Ammo*

For more than 28 years, Tim Pur-cell has been a respected name for lawsuits involving serious injuries and wrongful death, as well as insurance and business disputes. Purcell has tried scores of cases to jury verdict and settled hundreds more short of trial. Many of these resulted in seven figure recoveries for his clients. He has successfully prosecuted appeals be-fore the Texas Supreme Court.

A native Houstonian, Purcell gradu-ated from Memorial High School in 1978. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University with honors and his law degree from the University of Houston in 1985. After practicing with a large Houston firm for many years, Purcell opened his own law practice in 2001, the same year he was elected by his peers as Chair of the Houston Bar Association Litigation Section.

Purcell has been board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law continuously since 1992. Less than 10 percent of all Texas attorneys are board certified in any specialty, and less than two per-cent are board certified in Personal In-jury Trial Law. Purcell was also elected to membership in The American Board of Trial Advocates, an honor bestowed on only a small, select group of ac-complished trial attorneys.

Purcell has been married to his wife, Hilary, for 25 years, and they have three children. He believes in client re-lationships built on trust, integrity and total dedication to his client’s cause. The nation’s leading legal directory awarded Purcell its highest rating for legal ability and ethics.

If you or a loved one has been seri-ously injured, contact Purcell, an ex-perienced trial attorney with proven results. As always, the initial consulta-tion is free. Visit www.PurcellLaw.com or call 713-465-8888 for more infor-mation.

Purcell Law Firm:A Local

Hidden Jewel

BUSINESSBRIEFS


Meet Macy Medford

By Joan Frances

K aty Independent School Dis-trict has established a repu-tation in the community

for nurturing students to greatness. Sports, such as football, achieve state-wide recognition, and students in the arts continue to gain acknowledgment. One talented senior at Seven Lakes High School who is a leader, an artist and who has already attained national recognition is Macy Medford.

As a member of the Principal’s Leadership Council, Macy attends meetings every month with the prin-cipal and every club president to learn about and support the school’s ideas and organizations. She is also the president of Studio VII Theater, or-ganizing and running the meetings. “I love being a leader, especially the president of my school theater troupe. This is what I want to do for the rest of my life, and I love being able to be a big part in the decisions that are made in the theater company,” Macy said. “I know that I’m leaving my mark on something very special to me and that I’m helping make our productions the best they can be.”

Macy has devoted all four years of her high school career to the theater and choir. She is a member of the Na-tional Thespian Troupe 7014 and has been in over nine plays. She was a

Macynational qualifier at the State Thespian Convention in Dallas as a soloist com-petitor. When asked what she enjoys the most about theater, Macy said, “There are a few things that make it so special to me. I love playing characters different from myself, because I am able to see the world through someone else’s eyes. I get to be someone else for the time I am per-forming, and experiencing their outlook on the world can alter my view of the world in return.

“I love the way a show can begin with an entire cast and crew of people who may not know each other very well, and by opening night, they have become a family. One of the most exciting feel-ings I get to experience through theater is the adrenaline rush every time I step out onto the stage. The values I most live by are passion and dedication. Both are essential to achieving goals, especially in the entertainment industry. Mozart once said, ‘To play without passion is inexcus-able,’ and I think those are words for an artist to live by.”

Macy is an accomplished songwriter and singer. She performs at concerts and various charities all over Fort Bend and Houston. She was nominated for Pop Artist of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards for her original song Just

Me and You written and performed by Macy. It debuted on Tween Pop Radio and hit Number 1 on the charts the first week. Macy has performed her song on various morning shows, and her music has been featured in over 10 magazine articles. She also performed the national anthem for a crowd of 20,000 at Minute Maid Park for the Houston Astros. She has written nine original songs with one full CD plus one single on iTunes.

Macy is also very generous with her time by volunteering for many organi-zations. She is a member of the broad-cast team at Seven Lakes High School and was voted homecoming queen by the student body. Macy is a member of the National Honor Society and has been on the honor roll all four years of high school. She aspires to attend college at New York University or the University of California in Los Angeles to major in musical theater.

With such a huge resumé of ac-complishments, Macy is destined for greatness. Congratulations on your amazing talent and passion, and good luck in your future.

“Mozart once said, ‘To play without passionis inexcusable,’ and I think those are words

for an artist to live by.” – Macy Medford

HOT SHOTHigh School


Dr. Rachel Perry completed her undergraduate degree at New Mexico State Uni-versity and graduated with honors in the top 10 percent of her class. She then

attended The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dental Branch, now known as UT Health School of Dentistry, and graduated in 2010 with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS).

Dr. Perry recently opened Serene Dental Aesthetics in Richmond after practicing for four years. Her office is located near the front of the Santikos Palladium movie theater. Serene Dental Aesthetics is a full-service, general and family dental office that serves the Katy, Richmond, Sugar Land and Houston areas. Dr. Perry is dedicated to com-prehensive dental care. She offers everything from preventative care, such as check-ups, cleanings and sealants, to restorative care, like fillings, crowns and bridges. Dr. Perry also treats patients with more complex treatments, such as root canals and ex-tractions. She also specializes in the application of Fastbraces, which were developed to straighten teeth differently by allowing for a fast, safe and more affordable solution. Dr. Perry treats patients from six-months-old and up and has a personal goal to edu-cate everyone about their dental health.

With Serene Dental Aesthetics’ grand opening, they invite new patients to take advantage of office specials with 10 percent off their first treatment plan, as well as free second opinions, Fastbraces consultations and teeth whitening for life. Also, with every Serene Fastbraces experience, patients have the choice of $500 off or a free 32G iPad Air. The staff at Serene Dental looks forward to you joining their family!

Rachel Perry, DDSSerene Dental Aesthetics

7417 West Grand Parkway South, Richmond, TX 77407

281-232-8300www.houstonserenedental.com

Rachel Perry, DDSSerene Dental Aesthetics

PROFILES SMILE DOCS


A 1,000 acre site in Katy will be developed into an amenity-rich, mas-ter-planned community known as Cane Island, the first master-planned community in the city’s boundaries, which upon completion, will include over 2,000 new homes priced from the $200s to the millions. Named af-ter the 1872 settlement that later be-came Katy, the Cane Island master-planned community will be accessible from Interstate 10 at the new Cane Is-land Parkway interchange, scheduled to open in mid-2015. The four-lane, north-south boulevard, less than four miles west of the Grand Parkway, will serve as the entry to Cane Island and the major thoroughfare through the community to Morton Road.

Developed by Rise Communi-ties, Cane Island is minutes from the Energy Corridor, Katy Mills, the La Centerra Shopping Center and Memo-rial Hermann Katy Hospital. Families in Cane Island will attend schools in the acclaimed Katy Independent School District. “Cane Island offers conven-ient I-10 access, proximity to major employers, new healthcare and shop-ping, as well as accessibility to other areas of town by the nearby Grand Parkway,” noted Dan Naef, president of Rise Communities.

Concurrent with the opening of Cane Island Parkway, the development team will complete the community’s first phase with 13 model homes in

New Katy Master-Planned Community to Offer 2,000 New Homes

BUSINESSBRIEFS

seven neighborhoods. Both traditional family homes and luxury patio homes will be available in the first phase, and three of the seven neighborhoods will be gated.

Cane Island’s first phase will cover the build-out of a four-acre Amenity Center featuring an outdoor amphi-theater shaded by rescued, 75 year-old oak trees. Residents will have unlimited use of a family pool with ad-jacent splash pad, an adult pool, a ful-ly equipped, two-story fitness center rivaling the finest health spas, a yoga studio and multi-purpose room with commercial kitchen.

Among its many unique touches, the Amenity Center will house a glass-walled, heavily planted conservatory ideal for exhibits, lectures, private events or just a special place to relax and reflect. Residents also will enjoy two spacious tree houses with decks offering elevated views of the amphi-theater and a $1 million, mobile pro-jection system.

The Cane Island Amenity Center will be home to Hub, a trained golden retriever who will meet residents and guests during the day, pose for pic-tures and even present his business card in his official capacity as Cane Island Ambassador. Periodically, Hub will invite residents with the unique opportunity to spend the night in his exclusive, fully furnished Ambassador Suite with direct access to the tree houses.

The community’s heavily forested, half-mile arrival experience will fea-ture Cane Island’s Living Archways, two impressive tunnels made of ever-greens and seasonal colors stretch-ing over Cane Island Parkway. The entry also includes a three-acre lake, a series of water features and occa-sional views of the scores of elk, buf-falo and deer on the adjacent property. Cane Island also will offer a spacious Welcome Center that will incorporate wall-mounted, LED touch screens and other high-tech tools.

Future phases call for the addition of Cane Island Elementary School, part of the Katy Independent School District, and the continuation of an extensive trail system and meander-ing waterways. Future efforts also will cover the build-out of additional resi-dential neighborhoods, open green spaces, pocket parks and several play areas to pay tribute to the area’s histo-ry in railroads, oil and gas, farming and other industries. For more information, visit www.caneisland.com.

The Cane Island monument sign.

Cane Island’s family pool.

The fitness center at Cane Island.


• Divorce Planning• Divorce (Contested or Uncontested)• Child Custody• Child Support• Complex Property Division• High Net Worth Divorce• Parental Relocations• Post Divorce Modifications• Paternity and Parental Rights• Visitation Rights• Grandparent’s Rights• Pre- and Post- Martial Agreements• Adoptions• Collaborative Law• Alternative Dispute Resolution (mediation and arbitration)

Nancy Rommelmann is regularly consulted by local media for her on-air analysis about family law.

Straight Answers • Strategic ThinkingCompassionate • Experienced

Memorial City Plaza – Tower Two820 Gessner, Suite 1630, Houston, TX 77024(across from Memorial City Mall)ph 713-622-3000www.attorneynancyrommelmann.comCall us today for a consultation!

NaNcy L. RommeLmaNN

FAMILY LAW

F a m i l y L a w A t t o r n e y

J.D. JOYCEINVESTMENT MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC

Pantone 874

Black

1811 Bering Drive, Suite 250Houston, TX 77057

713-714-8500

www.jdjoyceimg.com

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. J.D. Joyce Investment Management Group, LLC is a separate entity from WFAFN.

FAM

ILY

LAW

ATT

OR

NEY

By Nancy L. Rommelmann, Family Law Attorney

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.”

– Socrates

Divorce is a significant milestone in a person’s life, and that is no doubt an understatement. How does one navigate through the uncharted waters of life after divorce? Allow yourself to create and embrace a brighter, happier life…the life that you’ve imagined!

1 Re-energize your job skills/career. Take courses if need be to sharpen your existing

skills. Do what you have a strong interest in, or even better, a job that you have a passion for!

2 Think “outside of the box” when consid-ering new relationships, friendships and

neighborhoods to move to. Reinvent yourself! Try something new. Make certain the “new” is emo-tionally healthy for you…not destructive.

3 Become an obsessive accountant of your personal finances. Know where every penny

goes. There is a lot of online information and free financial counseling available through a multitude of companies to help you with your finances and financial planning for your future.

4 Lean on those you trust. Make time to maintain your most important family relation-

ships and friendships.

5 Don’t hold a perpetual “pity party” for yourself. Allow yourself to feel your emo-

tions, but then move on quickly from the negative ones.

6 You are your children’s most important role model. Be mindful of this in all that you

do or say, particularly to your ex-spouse in the presence of your children.

7 Try new hobbies, go back to school or vol-unteer for a charity you are interested in.

Actively seek to broaden your world and experi-ences. Reevaluate how you spend your time, and seek activities that give you joy and a sense of satisfaction. Don’t allow past routine to restrain you.

8 Maintain certain traditions for the sake of the children, but also purposefully create new

ones.

9 Attend worship services regularly – even if you feel like God isn’t being fair.

10 Take care of your body. Eat properly and exercise regularly.

Top Ten Tips for Post Divorce Survival:

How to Create the Life You’ve Imagined


absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

T he Toyota Camry is the best-selling car in the country, and it holds that distinction for a

reason. It’s simply a very well de-signed and made car. But it has also suffered from the reputation of a car that was boring to drive and bland as plain vanilla. The 2015 Toyota Camry blows that reputation away with an all-new design that will turn heads and change minds. The new car looks more like a sports sedan than the fam-ily mover that has been a mainstay on the American highways for decades.

The credit for this transformation goes to Toyota’s race car enthusiast, President and CEO Akio Toyoda, for recognizing that the family sedan de-serves to be as exciting as a roadster. But it wasn’t always that way. The Toy-ota Camry first made its appearance

on American highways back in the early 1980s, and it was boxy, relatively underpowered and pretty undistinguished. It caught on with U.S. car buyers because it was remark-ably reliable, especially compared to its American competitors.

This new Camry is very different from past generations at first glance. The big, aggressive grill reflects the Toyota family resemblance with its luxury cousins at Lexus, as well as its sporti-er cousins at Scion. The bold exterior design carries through to the interior, where the driver is the star. The steer-ing wheel has a more contemporary, thicker feel, and the stick shift hints at being a sporty manual transmission even though it’s an automatic. These design cues cleverly combine to en-able this new Camry to throw off the boring characteristics that bedeviled past iterations.

The base 2015 Toyota Camry comes with a MSRP sticker price of $22,970 and is equipped with a 178 hp, 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine that

delivers EPA fuel economy ratings of 25 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. It’s not the peppiest engine on the road, but the reward is impres-sive gas mileage. And for those of you who need a bit more zip, the Camry’s 268 hp, 3.5 liter V6 engine gives it some of the best acceleration of any car in its segment and makes for a fun ride every time you get behind the wheel.

The 2015 Camry’s makeover may shock some Toyota owners who in the past happily traded dull design for engineering reliability. This new car is sure to win over families who realize they can have it all.

Follow Steve Kursur at KursarOnCars.blogspot.com.

TOYOTA CAMRY 2015


Patio Covers • Outdoor Kitchens • Screened Porches • Decorative Patios • Sunrooms • And More!

281-265-1994Call today to schedule a free design consultation

For Design Ideas, visit TexasCustomPatios.com

YOUR DESIGN-BUILD Outdoor Living Experts

houstongastroinstitute.com | 777 S. Fry Road, Suite 206, Houston, TX 77450

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

BOARD CERTIFIED GASTROENTEROLOGIST VIVIAN ASAMOAH, M.D.

832-304-2004Please call us to schedule

your appointment at

SATURDAY ENDOSCOPIES AND CLINIC AVAILABLE!

or schedule online athoustongastroinstitute.com

NUTRITION 4 LIFE

Customized nutrition

counseling and therapy

for all digestive disorders

W4W

Wellness 4 WomenProviding

specialized digestive care

affecting all women including the pregnant and

post menopausal.

PROCEDURES

State-of-the-art procedures

• upper endoscopy• colonoscopy

• pill camera endoscopy

• hemorrhoid treatment

BRAZOS • FORT BEND • KATY • MEMORIAL

For a detailed job description, and to submit your resumé, visit www.absolutelyfocusmedia.com

absolutely! focus mediais currently accepting resumés for

Graphic DesignerAccount Executiveand


VALENTINE’SK AT Y

OUT&ABOUT

By Jennifer L. Evans

Sarah and Mike HubbellMarried 16 yearsHow they met: They met as chemical engineering students at Penn State. Longevity secret: “Knowing the grace God has shown to us and being able to demonstrate that grace towards each other.”

Greg and Janet BurkettMarried 34 yearsHow they met: They were both high school juniors and met in youth choir at Tallowood Baptist Church in Memorial. Longevity secret: “We have a lot of fun together and laugh often.”

Chris and Vickie TelschowMarried 21 yearsHow they met: A mutual friend at Texas A&M introduced them.Longevity secret: “Our shared faith in Christ and being best friends who enjoy doing stuff together, too!”

Eleni and Tassos VionisMarried 51 yearsHow they met: They met as an arranged meeting at an opera.Longevity secret: “The key is to forgive and above all, to respect each other.”

Lia and Tom MoteMarried 23 yearsHow they met: They met in a Parliamentary Procedures class in college.Longevity secret: “Humility, forgiveness, seeing through each other’s eyes and total reliance on God’s grace and power in our marriage and lives.”

Jo and Chris WalkerMarried 21 yearsHow they met: They met through a mutual friend in high school. Longevity factor: “The number one factor is he is laid back just enough to compliment my obsessive personality!”


Kristi and Drew ReddellMarried 15 years How they met: They met at a club in Houston during his weekend break from Fort Polk, Louisiana and got married six months later. Longevity secret: “The key to our marriage has been communication and the ability to see each other’s perspective.”

Rob and Kirsten OliphantMarried 11 yearsHow they met: They met working together at Cornerstone Church in Katy. Longevity secret: “We have fun and don’t take ourselves too seriously, clearly.”

Jessica and Bryson DuckMarried 16 yearsHow they met: They met as students at Oklahoma Baptist University.Longevity secret: “Communication! We have weekly ‘staff meetings’ to coordinate calendars, discuss issues and current upcoming events every Wednesday night at 9 pm.”

Daniel and Sara Jackson Married 14 yearsHow they met: They met when Sara was 16 and Daniel was 19 while working at Sears in Baytown, Texas. Longevity secret: “Listening and supporting each other always – and goodness, he is funny!”

Amy and Chris HinesMarried 17 yearsHow they met: They met in high school. Longevity secret: “Put God first in your relationship and be honest with each other.”

Anna and Paul MarshMarried 15 years How they met: They met coachingat the T Bar M Sports Camp.Longevity secret: “Loving God, each other and serving others together out of our love.”

Brian and Jennifer GardnerMarried 19 yearsHow they met: They met in high school when they were 15, and they started dating in their senior year. Longevity secret: “We truly enjoy being around each other and making each other laugh.”

Gabriel and Bryana HoweMarried 7 years How they met: They met at a social club while living in San Antonio. Gabriel pretended to have car trouble so Bryana would drive him home.Longevity secret: “We agree to reinvent the wheel from time to time, realize that we are both only human, and know that passion sprouts from letting go – and wine!”


John and Beth FortierMarried 22 yearsHow they met: They met at a dance club where Beth asked John to dance.Longevity secret: “We are both committed to the vows we made to each other, because a good marriage takes work.”

Luc and Kami HuyseMarried 12 yearsHow they met: They met online! They joke that Kami was Luc’s online bride.Longevity secret: “We are willing to work through anything, no matter how tough, and we make time to touch base every day and really talk before we drift off to sleep. Twelve years and three kids later, we’re going strong!”

Flavia and Peter ScalzittiMarried 15 yearsHow they met: They met ona high school trip to Paris, France.Longevity secret: “We put our marriage first and always communicate.”

Jennifer and Mark EvansMarried 20 yearsHow they met: They met at a club. Mark asked Jennifer to dance, and she said, “No thanks.” He charmed and debated his way to a yes.Longevity secret: “Like that first interaction 24 years ago, we never let our differences of opinion keepus from dancing together.”

Brent and Lara MilamMarried 11 yearsHow they met: They met after a birthday party for Lara and herbest friend Roseann Rogers.Longevity secret: “I think what makes us a great couple is the fact that we are total opposites. He slows me down, and I add spunk to his step!”

Lauren and Brandon LayhewMarried 3 yearsHow they met: They met through mutual friends – it was a love match!Longevity secret: “We sacrifice our own desires for our common goals as a couple, a family and as business owners.”

VALENTINE’SK AT Y

OUT&ABOUT

Belinda and Mike PursleyMarried 18 yearsHow they met: They met on a blind date, set up by a mutual friend – unbeknownst to him at the time. Longevity secret: “We love each other even when we hate each other. Only married people can understand that.”


Timothy M. Purcell

Medical MalpracticeLegal Malpractice

Dangerous Rx Drugs & Medical Devices

Serious Personal Injuries & Wrongful Death

Insurance Claim DenialsBusiness Disputes

• 28 Years Litigation Experience• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

• Past Chair of HBA Litigation Section• Highest Rating for Legal Ability & Ethics• Vanderbilt University with Honors & University of Houston Law

Call for a free consultation713-465-8888Patriot Bank Building

7500 San Felipe (at Voss), Ste. 600Houston, Texas 77063

www.PurcellLaw.com

Board Certified Attorney at Law

Customized sports mouth guards

with school colors and mascots

$250 OFFNew Orthodontic

Treatment*Must bring in ad to receive offer.

February isNational Children’s

Dental Health Month

Providing the Finest Quality Orthodontic Services

www.brightbraces.com

281-377-1846810 S. Mason Road, Ste. 290

Katy, TX 7745026440 FM 1093, Ste. B 170

Richmond, TX 77406

* One coupon per patient. Not to be combined with any other offer.

• Traditional & Clear Braces• Damon Provider• Child & Adult Orthodontics• Invisalign & Invisalign Teen• AcceleDent - Shortens Treatment Time

Ann Bertles, MDBoard Certified Ob/Gyn

832.437.9690 (p) | 832.437.9694 (f)23232 Kingsland Blvd., Ste. E, Katy, TX 77494

www.myobgynofkaty.com

Comprehensive, compassionate and cutting edge care

for women of all phases.

Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery

Adolescent Gynecology

Routine and High Risk Obstetrics

Wellness Exams & Contraception

Evaluation & Treatment of Pelvic Pain

Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms

Preconception & Infertility Counseling

4D Ultrasound in Office

Second Opinions Welcome

www.BeforeAfterConstruction.com

Serving theGreater Houston Area,

The Woodlands, Cypress, Katy, Spring and Galveston.

Outstanding workmanshipand customer serviceis what sets us apart!

Request your free estimate today! Contact us at: (713) 205-7134 or (832) 248-5899

Additions

Custom Bath andKitchen Remodeling

Flooring

Painting

Outdoor Kitchens

Remodeling and Construction

After

Before

Refresh your space for the new year!

FITNESS MotivationT hey say February is the busiest time of the year for gyms, weight loss products

and trainers. Many people start off the new year with strong intensions of weight loss and fitness but blow their New Year’s fitness resolutions by the third week of January. Check out these cool gadgets and gear to keep you motivated through spring break!

techGLAMMany fitness gurus received a Fitbit for the

holidays, but some are reluctant to use it due to the limited looks of the rubber bands. The Etsy company techGLAM combines designer Joann Mantovani’s passions and being inspired by all of the colors, im-ages, people and places that surround her every day. The Bohemian style leather wrap bracelets are made of genuine leather cord, as well as stone, czech glass, semi-precious and Swarovski beads in a variety of colors.

Dress up your look with this beautiful piece instead of wearing the traditional rubber wrist band that seems to clash with dressy outfits. In addi-tion to this bracelet, Mantovani has also designed pendants and bracelets that store the Fitbit Flex, Fitbit One and Fitbit Zip devices, as well as beaded sliders for Up Band by Jaw-bone. Visit www.techGLAM.net to see the full collection.

Power Shower Refreshing Wipes

Who doesn’t love feeling clean? When you’ve got to squeeze a run into the middle of the after-noon, these portable wipes can help make it so you’re not grody for the second half of the day. Ideal for a quick refresh after a group run, they are safe to use on the entire body and perfect to carry to the gym or keep in your car. Now, go break a sweat! Find them at www.nathansports.com.

ab

solu

tely

!H

EA

LTH

Y L

IVIN

GB

y L

ara

Be

ll


One of the best ways to stay healthy and flush toxins is to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Motivate yourself to consume more water

by adding a splash of freshness with this handy water bottle that boasts a built-in flavor infuser. Simply add fresh fruit or your ingredients of choice to the infuser for a dose of fun flavor throughout the day. Find a variety of fun colors at www.adnart.com.

HAPIfork

Eating too fast leads to poor digestion and poor weight control. The HAPIfork is an electronic fork that helps monitor and track your eating habits, as well as coach you into healthier eating habits. Pair the tool with your smart phone or tablet over Bluetooth to see your eating stats, such as how long it took to eat your meal, the amount of fork servings taken per minute and intervals between fork serv-ings. Then, upload your eating data for analysis and coaching on an online dashboard. For more infor-mation, visit www.hapi.com.

PortionMate is a set of six color-coded cylinders with volumes from largest diameter to smallest diameter: green is one cup, yel-low is 3/4 cup, orange is 1/2 cup, blue is 1/3 cup, red is three ounces and purple is one ounce. The pur-pose of these products is to help you lose weight and stay on track with portion control as you measure foods directly into your plate or bowl. Brilliant!

These measuring tools work with any diet plan. Each set includes a detailed 64 page Nutrition and Meal Planning Guide, which contains carbohydrate and calorie counts for over 500 whole foods. Visit www.portionmate.com for more information.

Glass Water Bottlewith Built-in Fruit Infuser

MonogrammedYoga Mats

Are you looking to improve your core strength, posture, balance and flexibility by taking up yoga this year? Don’t forget to acquire a cute mat first! These high-quality foam mats designed by Sassy Southern Gals Boutique are perfect for yoga, Pilates or meditating. They offer superb grip, amazing durability and premium graphic designs that are printed directly onto the mat. Visit www.sassysoutherngals.com to choose a pattern, color, monogram style and more.

PortionMate™


absolutely!DELICIOUS

Source: Family Features

Show Off Your Sweet Side ThisValentine’s DayT reat family, friends

and co-workers to

something they will all love

this Valentine’s Day by making

easy and impressive cookies.

Start with your favorite roll-

out cookie recipe, or simply

dress up store-bought ones

by adding some simple details

with icing.

• Prepare and roll out cookie dough following recipe directions. Use the three smallest cutters from four-piece heart nesting cookie cutter set to cut out shapes. Bake and cool cookies.

• Divide royal icing into three equal portions, and tint three shades of rose. Thin aportion of each shade following recipe directions. Use tip three and full-strengthtinted icing to outline cookies. Use thinned tinted icing in cut decorating bag tofill in cookies; gently tap to smooth icing. Let dry overnight.

• Use icing to attach cookies, stacking largest to smallest; place icing decorationon top.

Stackable Ombre Heart Cookies

Favorite Roll-out Cookie RecipeRoyal Icing – Recipe on wilton.com

Rose Icing ColorHeart Micro Mini Icing Decorations

Scalloped Heart CookiesEach cookie serves 1.

• Prepare and roll out dough following recipe directions. Use largest cutter fromthe four-piece heart nesting cookie cutter set to cut out shape. Bake and coolcookies.

• Divide icing into four equal portions. Tint one of each portion light burgundy,dark burgundy and combination of red-red/Christmas red. Reserve last portionwhite.

• Starting from top edge of heart, use tip 102 and icing in dark burgundy, lightburgundy, red and white to pipe V-shaped groups of two petals, one piped fromleft and one from right, to create row of petals in alternating colors. Repeat with second row between petals in first row. Continue to repeat pattern until cookies are covered.

Each stacked cookie serves 1.

Favorite Roll-out Cookie RecipeReady-to-Use White Creamy Decorator Icing Icing Colors: Burgundy, Red-Red and Christmas Red

From the cupids at Wilton, here are three ways to leave them smitten with sweets this Valentine’s Day.

• Desserts with dimension.Triple your treats by stacking three decorated cookies in different sizes together and attach them with icing.

• Complement with color. A simple piping technique looks stunning when piped in different colors on your cookies.

• Get to gifting.Wrap your finished treats in a Valentine’s Day treat bag or box.

For more fun and delicious Valen-tine’s Day recipes, baking tips and inspiration, visit www.wilton.com.



Escape to your own Backyard...

Imagine the Possibilities...

JPATRICKCUSTOMPOOLS.COMCUSTOM WATeR FeATUReS · SPAS · OUTdOOR KITChenS

281.341.7665

BRAINTEASER

By Myles Mellor

How Do You Spell LOVE?Crossword by Myles Mellor

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9

10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23

24 25

26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34

35 36 37 38 39

40 41 42

43 44 45

46

47 48 49 50

51

52 53 54

Across

"____ believing in just one mind" Phil Collins (2 words)

1

Rose holders5"I ___ you" Bob Dylan9Dream for the future (3 words)10Main squeeze14Toni Morrison's "___ Baby"16Girl's name in Hawaii that means "beautiful"18"Come Away with Me" singer, first name19Aragorn's love in "The Lord of the Rings"21Armand Hammer art museum is here23Ego's pals24Well-kept secret, for some25"__ of a Woman" movie26For ever Valentine's Day gift28Hospital show31

Down

Katie's beau1Yellow ribbon location? (2 words)2Longoria of "Desperate Housewives"3International Bollywood star (last name)4Kilmer of "At First Sight"5Any day now6Time for love messages (3 words)7Celebs' cute daughter8Cheyenne locale11Bering, e.g.: abbr.12Romantic island13"Bambi" character15Boat races17What an eskimo kisses with19Will Smith romance movie20Oakland baseball players21

Across1 “____ believing in just one

mind” Phil Collins (2 words)5 Rose holders9 “I ___ you” Bob Dylan10 Dream for the future

(3 words)14 Main squeeze16 Toni Morrison’s “___ Baby”18 Girl’s name in Hawaii that

means “beautiful”19 “Come Away with Me”

singer, first name

21 Aragorn’s love in “TheLord of the Rings”

23 Armand Hammer art museum is here

24 Ego’s pals25 Well-kept secret, for some26 “__ of a Woman” movie28 For ever Valentine’s Day gift31 Hospital show33 “What was ___ think?”

(2 words)34 Haul35 Cleopatra’s valentine?

39 Long for40 Date41 Award43 Sweet Valentine’s day gift45 MJ’s sweetheart, in film47 Boldly49 Diamond or heart, e.g.50 Average name52 “Casablanca” pianist53 Actress who plays

Spiderman’s love54 Coyly

See answers on page 29.

Down1 Katie’s beau2 Yellow ribbon location? (2 words)3 Longoria of “Desperate

Housewives”4 International Bollywood

star (last name)5 Kilmer of “At First Sight”6 Any day now7 Time for love messages (3 words)8 Celebs’ cute daughter11 Cheyenne locale12 Bering, e.g.: abbr.13 Romantic island15 “Bambi” character17 Boat races19 What an eskimo kisses with20 Will Smith romance movie21 Oakland baseball players22 Lost fish27 Film about racism and

tolerance - that won an Oscar in 2006

29 Juan starter30 Gotten to fall in love with,

in a way (2 words)32 Nicole Kidman’s

character’s lover in “Cold Mountain”36 Keanu Reeves role37 Sherlock Holmes, for short38 To this day42 Take off43 Celebration items?44 Gazed amorously46 Keats’ creations48 Bottom line51 Hot


DETOX MADE EASY

Dr. Shel’s Advanced 14 Day Detox Kit is a comprehensive, science-based nutritional program designed to support safe and effective detoxification. Everything you need is consolidated into daily packets to ensure that you don’t miss any necessary nutrients! Dr. Shel Wellness and Medical Spa, 1437 Highway 6, Suite 100 in Sugar Land. Call 281-313-7435; www.drshel.com.

K AT Y VA L E N T I N E ’ S D AY G I F T G U I D E

things weLoveTEXAS MUSCAT BLANCThe Braman Eaglefire 2013 Texas Muscat Blanc was selected by Texas Monthly as one of the best Texas wines in 2014. Enjoy a glass in their tasting room.Braman Winery, 3333 FM 359 in Richmond. Call 281-762-1375; www.bramanbrands.com.

A CUSTOM OUTDOORLIVING SPACE

Surprise your sweetheart, and give a gift that will add value to your home. Cuddle up in a new outdoor living space! Call Texas Custom Patios today. Texas Custom Patios. Call 281-265-1994; www.TexasCustomPatios.com.

RIDE IN STYLE

Give your sweetheart a hot new ride this Valentine’s Day from TexasDirectAuto.com. With thousands of vehicles in stock, you’re sure to find a ride that you will love! Texas Direct Auto, 12053 Southwest Freeway in Stafford. Call 281-499-8200; www.TexasDirectAuto.com.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAYFROM SUGAR LANDPLASTIC SURGERY

Don’t know what to get your loved ones for Valentine’s Day? Avene Cold Cream Lip Cream is the perfect gift for soft, subtle kissing lips, in combination with the all-in-one day cream Journee, for a complete rejuvenated look. Purchase both in February and receive 10% off with a free makeup bag. Sugar Land Plastic Surgery. Call 281-980-8000; www.mybodysurgeon.com.


T1

W O2

H E3

A R4

T S V5

A6

S7

E S8

O A V A W9

A N T U

M10

A K E A W11

I S12

H13

L14

O V E15

R

T Y T16

A R17

N18

A N I

N19

O R A H20

A21

R W E N22

L23

A

O E I24

D S A25

G E E

S26

C27

E N T D28

I A M O N D29

S30

E31

R C I32

I33

T O T34

O W

A35

N36

T37

H O N Y38

T P39

I N E

S40

E E M41

E D42

A L N P

C43

H O C O44

L A T E S K45

E N T

O G N P O46

S A

R47

A S48

H L Y C49

A R D D50

O W

K U E I51

R E A A

S52

A M D53

U N S T S54

H Y L Y

Answers to puzzle on page 27.

How DoYou Spell

LOVE?

RosenbeRg CaRpet & FlooRingcenter Since 1958

WWW.ROSENBERGCARPET.COM • 281.342.5193

What’s on your floor matters. Wood Floor RefinishingWood & Laminate Flooring

Ceramic Tile FlooringCounter Tops

Commercial & Residential1006 1st Street • Rosenberg, Texas

What’s on your floor matters!

Gorgeous Hill Country Home Site

Waterfront Lot in Comal County

Just 20 minutes from San Antonio and minutes from the Guadalupe River in Spring Branch, this 1.72 acre lot is your Hill Country dream come true!

Amazing views on the hillside lot that features a meadow with waterfront along Spring Creek, The Crossing at Spring Creek, an acreage home site community, is the perfect place to build your Hill Country getaway. The community offers all underground utilities, paved, county maintained roads, plus a beautiful 10+ acre owners-only park with scenic hiking trails, a swimming pool and pavilion and a playground. REDUCED

For Sale By Owner

281.728.1204


abso

lute

ly!

Q A&Child Life Specialists

Q: WHAT CAN A CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST DO FOR MY CHILD?

Child Life Specialists are known for their dedication to mak-ing a child’s trip to the hospital a friendlier one. Each special-ist promotes coping in these stressful environments through play, preparation, education and self-exploration. Whether this means going step-by-step through a procedure with pretend

equipment on a teddy bear or learning a new deep-breathing exercise, it is clear that each child feels much more at ease with their treatments, procedures and surgeries. Keeping children in-formed about what is happening has a huge impact on their outcome. Even the ability to make small decisions themselves, such as choosing their flavor of anesthesia or which toy they want to conduct medical-play with, can make all the difference by giving children a sense of control.

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TECHNIQUES THAT CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS USE TO

HELP CHILDREN? First and foremost, our knowledge of child development and

understanding of the effects of hospitalization on children are the best tools we have as Child Life Specialists to help children through their treatments. Many times, it is more fear of the unknown – not knowing or understanding what health compli-cations they face, not knowing what types of treatments they will have to undergo, not knowing where Mom and Dad are through the whole process – that leads to a child’s unease. If we can help children have a better understanding of all of these things by explaining it in ways and words they grasp and allow-ing them the opportunity to ask questions, we find that children are more comfortable, more compliant and more confident with their health care.

A Child Life Specialist can assist your child during procedures by teaching breathing techniques and allowing children to make small decisions in the treatments they undergo. All specialists are trained in a number of distraction techniques to help chil-dren get through the treatments. Based on our developmental assessment, the child’s anxiety level/interest and previous ex-perience, we may use iPad play, I SPY books, toys with lights or sound, bubbles, music, comfort touch or guided imagery.

Visit westcampus.texaschildrens.org or call 832-227-1180 for more information about Child Life services at Texas Chil-dren’s Hospital West Campus.

at Texas Children’s HospitalWest Campus

EXPERT: Rachael Walker, Child Life Specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus.

Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. Photo by A. Kramer.

Texas Children’s West Campus’ third floor playroom. Photo by A. Kramer.

Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, located at I-10 and Barker Cypress, houses 19 subspecialty outpatient clinics, in-patient hospital services and the only 24/7 dedicated pediatric emergency center in the West Houston area.


Paul S. Metz, DDS, MD • Shelley Seidel, DDS, MDJohn Orfanos, DDS, MD

713.464.2833 www.OMSH.us8800 Katy Freeway, Ste. 210 • Houston, Texas 77024

HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING YOUR SMILE?

We can help.Tooth Extractions • Dental Implants • Computer Guided Implant Surgery

Teeth in a Day • Bone Grafts • IV Sedation • Facial/Dental Trauma RepairOrthognathic/ Reconstructive Surgery • Oral Pathology

Photo by Simon Gentry. Pictured is Brit Wallis.

YMCA Mission: To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice throughprograms that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Everyone is welcome.

IT’S GOODTO BELONGJoin the Katy Family YMCA

Learn more at ymcahouston.org/katy

The Y offers the support you and your family need to learn, grow and thrive.

Benefits of Membership•Discounts on Y programs

including Child Care, Youth Sports and Swim Lessons

•Free Child Watch while you work out

•Wide variety of free group exercise classes

•Free SMART Start wellness orientations

text YMCAHoustonto 41411

STOCK MARKET MAKING YOU NERVOUS?

Berges Investment Group 11757 Katy Freeway, Ste. 1300, Houston, TX 77079

INVEST IN APARTMENTS WITH MARKET LEADER STEVE BERGES,

AUTHOR AND INVESTOR WITH OVER $250 MILLION IN TRANSACTIONS!

TO LEARN MORE GO TO

WWW.STEVEBERGES.COM

EARN FIXED RATES FROM 10% TO 12%

EQUITY POSITIONS ALSO AVAILABLE

281-647-8100WWW.KATYCARPETS.COM2020 S. Fry Rd. #F • Katy , TX 77450

OwnersGlen & Angel Baney

• Kitchen & Bath Remodeling• Granite Counter Tops• Hardwoods• Tile• Laminate/LVT• Natural Stone• Wrought Iron Stair Case• Carpet & Rugs• Painting/Sheetrock• Custom Designs

February may be the shortest

month of the year, but

there is no shortage of fun

and activities kickin’ in Katy this

month. From Super Bowl mania to

rodeo fun, find something to get

out and do this month in Katy!

What’s Kickin’ inKaty

By Cyd Wright

February 6th National Wear Red Day Celebrate National Wear Red Day with “Go Red for Women” to help fight women’s number one killer: heart disease. Join the movement nationwide, and learn how you can honor women on this important day. Visit www.goredforwomen.org for additional information.

February 7th Katy Half Marathon 5 am – Parking Opens 6:30 am – Race Begins Katy Mills Mall 5000 Katy Mills CircleThe flat and fast course includes hydration stations every 1.5 miles starting at mile two, as well as mini medical stations at miles five, eight and 11. Runners are treated to an epic finish line and post-race celebration with professional announcing, live music, delicious food, hot chocolate, beer and age group awards. For registration details, visit www.katyhalf.com.

February 14thHappy Valentine’s Day

February 14thRun 4 The Children 9 am 22765 Westheimer Parkway Katy TexasRun 4 The Children, a four-mile run, began in the spring of 2011 as a fundraiser to help families adopt-ing children. Race day instructions, registra-tion and frequently asked questions are available at www.run4thechildren.com.

February 14thValentine’s Date Night 5 pm Central Green Katy 23501 Cinco Ranch Boulevard Enjoy an evening under the stars and the movie Blended. Dessert will be given to the first 50 couples, and picnic baskets are wel-come. The evening is compliments of the Wil-low Fork Drainage District. For more informa-tion, visit www.centralgreenpark.com.

February 16th Presidents Day

February 19th – 21st 72nd Annual Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo 7 pm L. D. Robinson Pavilion 6301 South Stadium LaneThe Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo Association, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) cor-poration that supports agricultural education within Katy ISD. The event includes youth events, concessions, music and more. For more information, visit www.katyrodeo.org.

February 20th Fashion Show and Luncheon 11 am The Brookwood Community 1752 FM 1489 Enjoy fashions from your favorite stores to go from everyday chic to rodeo ready! Produced by Fashion and Image Consultant Rebecca Matthews, the show benefits The Brookwood Community. Tickets are $28.95 plus tax, and reservations are required. Call 281-375-2100 or visit www.brookwoodcommunity.org

February 1stSuper Bowl XLIXNo matter which team you love to cheer for, the Super Bowl is a great time to gather with friends and family you love to be with! Visit www.nfl.com/superbowl/49 for additional in-formation.

February 5thNottingham Country Garden Club (NCGC) 9:30 am – Meet and Greet 10 am – Program Begins Municipal Utility Building #81 805 Hidden Canyon DriveNCGC is a non-profit organization that pro-motes beautification of the community, sup-ports local and national educational and civic organizations and educates the community about the environment. This month’s program features guest speaker Mary Karish. For more information, call 979-885-6199 or visit www.nottinghamgardenclub.org.

February 5th – 7th Once Upon a MattressPerformances at 7 pm each evening and at 2 pm on February 7th Mayde Creek High School19202 Groeschke Road Mayde Creek High School Fine Arts depart-ment presents Once Upon a Mattress. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Kelley Hughes at 281-237-3803 or [email protected].

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS E-mail [email protected]. Include the event date, time, location and a short description of the event.


Wherever life takes you

C A L L O N U S

W E ’ R E S O L D O N K AT Y14340 Memorial Drive • 281.493.3880 23123 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Suite 200

Kelly Chamberlain281.582.3984

rita Donnelly281.582.3930

rebeCque DemarK & nanCy SCott

281.582.3964

JoSh ClarK281.582.3929

laCey Cannon281.582.3992

ChriStine DunCan281.582.3959

Clarann mCCoy281.582.3907

liSa JoneS281.723.2614

JaniCe irelanD281.620.8427

Suzan PheniCie281.582.3904

robin mueCKPreSiDent/Ceo

marCia Serafin281.582.3908

Julie PiCKett281.582.3974

martha ClarK281.582.3949

Kim Craig281.582.3916

february 2015- absolutely katy magazine

Documents

houston methodist west

healthier heart

leading heart careso

west houston andready

child struggles

childneeds medical care

pediatric subspecialties

katy center