Arts + Culture

Life Is What You Bake It

Artist Natalie Tischler Uses Cake as a Canvas Article by Amy Young | Photography by Provided by Natalie Tischler Julia Child said, “A party without cake is just a meeting.” With cake holding such an important role, choosing a delicious and beautiful cake can elevate your gathering from mundane to magical. Artist Natalie Tischler certainly understands this sentiment. Natalie Tischler began painting abstract landscapes on canvas with watercolors and acrylics. After discovering a palette knife...

Life + Culture

Nonprofit of the Month

How Independence Gardens is Growing Healthy Futures in Schools Article by Sophie Betzhold | Photography by Provided by Independence Gardens After her non-profit’s annual event, Chonnie Richey describes a phone call she will never forget. Her non-profit, Independence Gardens, had just finished its program, Come and EAT IT, that allows kids to explore and expand their culinary knowledge by creating their own meal with a chef’s instruction and sharing the meal together at the end. One can only...

Life + Culture

Love-lit at Lakeside

3 Date Night Options Both Beautiful and Delicious Article by Isabella Van Trease | Photography by Adeline Merrick: Merrick Multimedia As the Autumn breeze drifts in, Flower Mound’s Lakeside neighborhood becomes the perfect date night backdrop. Dine beneath glowing patio lights, stroll along shops and restaurants, and cuddle up near warming fireplaces. For your next night out, here are three restaurants ideal for a cozy, love-lit meal: Los Caminos Modern Cocina Located across from the...

Home + Design

Entertain with Ease

A Beginner’s Guide to the Perfect Charcuterie Board Article by Amy Young You’ve likely seen them on Instagram, admired them at parties, and may have even attempted one yourself, only to end up with a few sad chunks of cheese, sweaty meat, and a pile of crackers. But with the help of charcuterie stylist Dawn Aviles, creating a board has never been easier. Step One: Select the Board If you don’t already have the ideal wooden charcuterie board, chances are you can find one in a pinch at a...

Life + Culture

Everyone Deserves a Happy Halloween

Goblins, Goons, and Gummy Worms for All Article by Fatima Durrani Halloween is a widely anticipated holiday, but it can bring on anxiety and dread for those who suffer from food allergies, sensory overload, or certain diseases.  As a community, it’s important to educate ourselves on the physical and emotional impact these conditions have on our kids. For those children who feel excluded—and yet have to watch their costumed friends giggle as they devour Kit Kats and Snickers —we can make a...

Beauty

Wash, Blo, Go

The Empowering Experience of a Professional Blowout Article by Fatima Durrani | Photography by Heather Caplick: Heather Lane Photography The philosophy behind Blo Blow Dry Bar is simple: give people the power to feel runway-ready at a moment’s notice. No cuts, no color; just wash, blow, and go. In a world where time is short, this concept has “blown” up in popularity! Blo Blow Dry Bar Flower Mound officially opened its doors in May of 2021. “Whether it’s for a weekly blowout, special event...

Life + Culture

Hats Off to Style

Top Off Your Look With a Customized Hat Article by Amy Young | Photography by Provided by Cadillac Hats Like many successful small businesses, Cadillac Hats began as a way to have fun together. For Kim Cothes and her daughters, fancy hats began as a fun way to dress up for concerts and parties. “We enjoyed playing around and accessorizing hats as a hobby.” Then the craft quickly snowballed into an online business, receiving custom orders and growing into a retail presence at Painted Tree and...

Arts + Culture

Capturing Moments that Matter

How This Local Photographer Turns Everyday Life Into Lasting Memories Article by Sophie Betzhold | Photography by Alison Aberdeen Photography It’s said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but some eyes, like those of local photographer Alison Foreman of Alison Aberdeen Photography, may see opportunities for a beautiful shot a bit better than others. To Foreman, photography is an art - a way to tell a story and capture a memory as it happens. In her ten-plus years of experience as a...

Arts + Culture

Story of The Rustic Warehouse

Equal Parts Teamwork, Creativity, Coziness, Shared Visions, and Faith Article by Mallory Newell | Photography by Provided by The Rustic Warehouse The Rustic Warehouse began in Rockwall, Texas, in 2015, born from a season of unexpected loss when Mattie unexpectedly became a single mom. But from the tragedy, Mattie says, “I felt like the Lord told me that he would give me the store of my dreams – all I had to do was be faithful.” The origin story of The Rustic Warehouse really goes back to...

Arts + Culture

The Colors Bloom

Artist Beth Dilley on Viewing Emotional Landscapes Article by Mallory Newell | Photography by Provided by Beth Dilley The first step to creating an emotional landscape begins with the palette, local artist Beth Dilley says. First, she approaches it from her own emotional landscape. “I lay out my palette colors, mixing and blending until I get colors that feel like where I'm at.” Next, is the creation of a focal point, “I take a piece of charcoal and scribble a few lines so I know where the...