Health + Wellness

It’s Not Flu Season, It’s Sugar Season

Every winter, as soon as the holidays begin, we brace ourselves for what we casually call “flu season.” Offices empty out, families pass around coughs at gatherings, and pharmacies stay busy. But what if a big part of what we label as flu season is actually something else entirely? What if it’s really sugar season?From Halloween through New Year’s, sugar becomes the unofficial food group of celebration. Candy bowls on every counter, cookies at every gathering, festive lattes every morning...

Shopping

Pets as holiday gifts? 

Thinking of giving a pet to a loved one as a holiday gift? Best Friends Animal Society is all for it, but we want to help you make the right choices along the way to ensure a successful match. Here’s what you should think about in advance.  First, does your giftee actually want a pet?  If you’re not sure whether the gift of a pet will be appreciated, talk with your intended giftee in advance about it. Take them through some of the questions and scenarios below to be sure it’s...

Local Services

Mission: Service Dog

How One Woman Uses Dog Training To Offer Life-Changing Support For Families Like Hers Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis Tell us about your background and why you got into training service dogs.   “I’ve been pet training for 20 years and service dog training for 17 years. Pet training was something I started in college, but I learned to train my own service dog around 2004 when I started experiencing seizures. In 2008, when my daughter, Cassidy, was diagnosed in utero with spina...

Life + Culture

Tradition: The Nutcracker

How This Iconic Ballet Stokes Gratitude For The Arts Article by Andi Darling | Photography by Teagan Kenny “You're watching the dancers grow in so many ways,” says Jennifer Davis, school principal at the NWA Conservatory of Classical Ballet. “You're watching them grow as human beings. They're coming up and maturing. They’re learning life skills that are going to serve them no matter what they do in life. The Nutcracker is a way we can invest in bettering the kids we work with and providing a...

Health + Wellness

Living With T1D

Type One Diabetes "Looks Like Me" Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis Type 1 Diabetes [T1D] is a dynamic and often misunderstood condition. While many are familiar with Type 2 Diabetes – typically associated with lifestyle choices – T1D is an autoimmune disease, commonly linked to genetic markers and environmental triggers. Individuals living with T1D are unable to produce insulin on their own and rely on injections or a pump to manage blood sugar. For some, including the ambassadors in...

Travel

Elegant Expeditions For Your Winter Escape

Amber Crabtree Curates Diverse Holiday Season Experiences Around The World Article by Amber Crabtree | Photography by Michelle Bazis & Provided Lapland, Finland | Families with Children "Lapland is where the storybook version of Christmas comes to life. Imagine reindeer rides through pine forests, glass igloos under the northern lights, and cozy cabins where hot cocoa is a nightly ritual. From Santa's Village to dog sledding, it's luxury blended with wonder." Stay: Santa's Igloos Arctic...

Beauty

Sun Lovers, Meet BBL

Premier Dermatology Corrects Decades of Damage, Rewinding The Clock On Aging With Personalized Care Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis During my twenties, while living in sunny Florida, I watched a news story about ‘Super Agers.’ These men and women in their 80s and beyond were defying time with active lifestyles and balanced diets. Aside from their physical vitality, I noticed the interviewees also looked much younger than their age. Realizing their biohacking began well before the...

Food + Beverage

Aromatic Potatoes

Carmelita's Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes Article by Karla Putts Creamy, fragrant, and full of flavor, Carmelita's Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes are a perfect side dish for cozy dinners and holiday gatherings. Ingredients 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces 1 head of garlic 1 tablespoon olive oil ¾ cup whole milk (warm) ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature) 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary 2 teaspoons kosher salt  ...

Arts + Culture

Find Holiday Hominess at BlakeSt.

Birdie’s transforms BlakeSt into a holiday refuge of warmth and wonder Article by Hannah Davidson | Photography by Philip Thomas at Novo Studio Within the historic walls of a house once belonging to Birdie and Thomas Blake, the holiday bar at BlakeSt, Birdie’s, is designed to attract those seeking an escape from the loud and cluttered seasonal pop-ups, offering an ambiance of understated elegance and heartwarming comfort. From 4 PM to 10 PM daily, Birdie’s opens its arms wide to BlakeSt...

Food + Beverage

The Local NWA

The Bentonville Supper Club Curated by Two Gals Who Found Friendship Through Design & Travel Article and Photography by Michelle Bazis What do you get when you mix two Arkansas natives with design backgrounds and a mutual appetite for experiencing global cultures? A culture-inspired supper club concept called The Local NWA. Friends, Hannah Morehart and Chef Meleah Minard met in New York City through a mutual connection. Minard had moved to the city to work in UX design while Morehart focused...