Wellness

It’s a Beautiful Life

How Kris Norvell and her beautiful succulents teach us all a lesson about survival Article by Christian George, PHD | Photography by Kris Norvell Buckled beside me in the passenger seat of my car is a little pink pot, overflowing with succulents from Kris Norvell of It’s a Beautiful Life Succulent Gardens. Kris had given it to Rebecca, and I was merely the courier, entrusted with getting it home safely. That was the mission. Beforehand, I asked how Kris how to keep it alive. “Neglect them...

Finance + Legal Services

A Heart That Keeps Going

At twenty-four, Isabelle Owens brings inherited resilience, compassion, and hope to families facing uncertain futures Article and Photography by Christian George, PhD According to Murphy’s Law, if something can go wrong, it will. But inside Zeringue & Associates Law Firm, Murphy’s Law has encountered a formidable opposing counsel. Meet Isabelle Owens. At 24, she is the firm’s youngest attorney, and her résumé speaks for itself: 33 college credits before finishing high school...

Food + Beverage

The Art of the Autumn Table

Seasonal Touches and Simple How-tos for a Table Made for Gathering Article by Rebecca George, LeAnn Parker, and Sarah Juenemann | Photography by Janie Jones Gathering with the people we love is a gift, whether we find ourselves eating off paper plates or Grandma’s fine china. Even so, adding a few beautiful accents can bring extra meaning to the moments we share, and it doesn’t take much time at all. In this tablescape, LeAnn Parker of @silvertoothhome uses touches of the outdoors—real leaves...

Professional Services

Helping Treasures Find New Homes

Sharifah McKay helps Northshore families navigate downsizing, relocation, and life transitions while finding new homes for decades of treasured belongings Article by Christian George, PHD | Photography by Abby Sands Sharifah McKay is holding a glass woman in her hands. The one-of-a-kind sculpture once rose from a block of Lucite in heavy lead glass, a female figure whose long neck tilts gently above her body, one hand resting near her heart. Sharifah discovered her through an online estate...

Auto + Marine

Riding in Style

Inside the life of Blaine Nolan, the man behind Bleu Bayou, one of America’s most celebrated custom Mustangs Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Tommy Bennett and Tyler Duplechin Ask Blaine Nolan what he’d take for Bleu Bayou , his nationally celebrated 1969 Ford Mustang, and his answer is pure John Wick. “She’s not for sale.” In three years, the one-off icon has earned near-mythic acclaim. It was featured in the History Channel’s one-hour special, SEMA: Battle of the...

Finance + Legal Services

What Happens Next?

Christie Tournet helps families protect what matters most Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Abby Sands American journalist Sydney J. Harris once said, “Happiness is a direction, not a place.” I turn the line over in my mind as I sit in Christie Tournet’s office, preparing to interview one of the Northshore’s more respected estate attorneys. Her reputation proceeds her, but so does my preparation. A week’s worth of questions fills the binder on my lap. Tabs. Notes. Arrows...

Local Services

Fear Free on Monroe Street

Inside a Restored 1910 Home, Two Veterinarians Treat Pets with Trust, Comfort, and Individualized Care Article by Rebecca George | Photography by Trent Spann, Tiffany King A home in Old Mandeville now houses a unique kind of care. Built in 1910 as a private residence, the cottage at 2130 Monroe Street watched families come and go, storms pass, and a town change around it. Today, after renovation guided by the local historic commission, it holds Monroe Street Animal Hospital, a veterinary...

Education

Tots-N-Tunes

Inside Northlake Academy of Music, where music education helps children build confidence, community, discipline, and life skills through live music, song, and daily play Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Abby Sands, Leslie Domingues A woman walks into the Mandeville Post Office carrying two $20 bills and a dream. With the first, she purchased a mailbox. With the second, paper supplies. She printed flyers, slipped them onto doors, and carried them through parking lots...

Beauty

Exploring Beauty Through Art

How Louisiana artist Jessica Williams Speakman transforms color, texture, and memory into art Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Jessica Williams Speakman, Abby Sands, and Michael Populus Camellia sinesis, commonly known as the tea plant, is a broad-leaved evergreen shrub or small tree in the tea family, Theaceae. It has glossy, dark green leaves and small white flowers with yellow stamens, and grows best in acidic, well-drained soil with consistent moisture ad partial shade. ...

Professional Services

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Charles Cuti keeps businesses compliant, protected, and right side up Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Abby Sands I must confess: when I first heard the word compliance , my imagination didn’t leap to heroism. It wandered toward fluorescent lighting, government forms, and fine print that comes with a magnifying glass. Then I met Charles Cuti. After we talked for a bit, he led me upstairs to his office/man cave in the home he shares with his wife, Leslie. On the wall beside...