DA JOHN BELTON WAS HONORED AT A FUNDRAISING event hosted by Brian Woodard and Jenifer Johnson. The turnout for this event for Belton exceeded expectations. So many people were in attendance that the food provided by Trios ran out before the event concluded.

More and more people are saying John Belton can win the Attorney General’s race, not just because he’s the candidate with the south/ north geographic voter advantage, but more importantly because of his leadership and experience advantage as a prosecutor, district attorney and businessman who has served on boards of higher education, health care and presently serves on a financial institution board of directors.

John was born in South Louisiana and grew up in Acadia and Evangeline parishes.

John could not run and play like other kids because he had leg braces. With the support and prayers of his parents, his hard work and faith in God, he not only learned to run, but to play sports and was named a high school football defensive All-State MVP at Basile High School in South Louisiana. John played college football at McNeese State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He received his law degree at Southern University Law School.

John attributes his strong faith and perseverance to his mother, Maudie Belton, a school teacher and his father, Willie Belton, a decorated veteran of the Korean war, a small business owner, and a civil rights leader. Willie Belton was shot and wounded saving another soldier during the Korean war and was highly decorated for his bravery, but when he returned home, his own country denied him certain rights.

Regardless of the lack of equality, his father was never bitter. “He always said that America is still the greatest country on earth regardless of its issues of inequality and that one of the greatest things about America is its constitution,” Belton said.

“My parents taught me the importance of our freedom of religion. They taught me not to use obstacles as excuses but to work hard through faith to achieve my goals. I would not be here today if it were not for my walk of faith,” John continued.

Alana and John met in Baton Rouge and married in1991. Later that year, they moved to North Louisiana where John began his career as a prosecutor, working with law enforcement as an Assistant District Attorney in the Third Judicial District, which includes Lincoln and Union parishes.

Alana and John live in Ruston and have two children. Daughter, Alexis, was a successful collegiate golfer and is now a professional golfer. Their son, Jon Randall, played college football at Louisiana Tech. He worked in recruiting at Louisiana Tech and the University of Virginia. He is the new Director of Recruiting for LSU football.

This is John’s 31st year as a prosecutor, and in 2014, he was elected as District Attorney of the Third JDC and re-elected without opposition in 2020. He is the past president of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association and is currently vice president of the National District Attorneys Association.

John and Alana own the Belton Companies, which have a portfolio of six restaurants, plus residential and commercial real estate and timber land holdings.

John served on the board of the University Medical Center Management Corporation, which is a key partner of LSU Health Science Center New Orleans, Tulane University School of Medicine, and other academic institutions.

From 1999 to 2005, Belton served on the Southern University Board of Supervisors. In 2001, he was unanimously elected as Chairman of the Board and re-elected to a second term in 2002 by a unanimous vote of his peers.

He has served as a member of the board of Life Choices North Central Louisiana, Lincoln Health Foundation and Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.

He presently serves on the Board of Directors of Louisiana National Bank, the Eddie G. Robinson Museum, and Teach One to Lead One mentoring program. He is a co-founder and board member of the North Central Louisiana Boys & Girls Club. John recently received the McNeese State University 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award.

John is pro-life, pro-family, pro-Second Amendment, pro-justice and pro-law and order. He is the candidate with the most experience in the race for Attorney General.

The Christmas Holidays are a time to sit back and take stock of this past year’s accomplishments and run through a seemingly endless list of possibilities for next year’s gardens. What did you grow in 2022 that was new and exciting for you? For me, it was the assortment of new heirlooms we grew in the Louisiana Kitchen Garden Exhibit at Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo. Case Knife pole beans, Roseland Small White Pickling cucumber, Pitre’s Red Bush okra, Montelaro Family eggplant, Calhoun Gray watermelon, and several very old LSU tomatoes were very successful! At home, it was Red Ripper peas lining a section of fencing and producing all through the hot, dry summer! Hopes for next year include growing the Red-N-Sweet watermelon out again. Maybe there will be enough to share with local restaurants! And, there is still a list of beans I want to grow next year. High on my list is the “Ma Savage” pole bean from Tiger Bend Road in Union Parish. “Ma Savage” was Mrs. Ruby Jane Green Savage, and her famous bean was used by Dr. J.C. Miller of LSU in pole bean breeding trials! What’s on your priority list for next year?

But, don’t forget to enjoy a little holiday horticulture in the here and now. Camellias are what I look forward to every fall and winter. Sasanquas (Camellia sasanqua cultivars) start us off with colorful blooms when just about everything else is on the way out for the year. Japonicas (C. japonica cultivars) pick up in mid to late December and take us over to early spring, just as warm season color is getting underway again. Camellias are right at home in all areas of Louisiana. They perform best in areas that receive either part shade or dappled sun, and that have acidic soil with good internal drainage. “Leslie Ann” and “Shishi Gashira” are Louisiana Super Plant selections and will perform beautifully in the home landscape if properly planted and cared for. Feel free to deck your landscape with boughs of holly, too! Several species of holly are native to our part of the world. Among them, American holly (Ilex opaca) may reach heights of between 50 and 70 feet in native habitat. Yaupon holly (I. vomitoria) is widely scattered in upland woods in our area, and Deciduous Holly (I. decidua), also called Possum Haw holly, will retain its red fruit after leaves have fallen away, as botanical name suggests. Hollies are dioecious trees and

> Camellias are right at home in all areas of Louisiana. They perform best in areas that receive either part shade or dappled sun. < Feel free to deck your landscape with boughs of holly, too!

shrubs, meaning there are male and female plants. Male plants will produce only male flower for pollen production. Female plants will produce the familiar berries (drupes, to be botanically correct). Hollies are now available commercially with a wide array of leaf shapes and berry colors range from red to orangish yellow. Hollys are great options for those interested in installing natives in their landscape. The small, white flower are insect pollinator magnets, the berries are consumed by birds, and the trees and shrubs also provide good bird habitat.

Now, let’s go indoors where most holiday horticulture happens. Don’t forget that, as the holidays start earlier and earlier, plants used for festive, indoor décor will need TLC all season long to make them not only aesthetically pleasing but also safe. Floral departments of grocery stores have various holiday potted plants for sale, and they are usually in pots wrapped in a decorative foil. When watering these plants, remove them from the foil wrappers so excess water can drain out. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) should be situated in a sunny location where room temperature ranges from 60 to 70 F. Water only when soil is dry and do not fertilize while it is flowering. The bright red, leaves (bracts) are actually not the flowers. The poinsettia’s flowers occur in small, yellow clusters in the centers of the red bracts. Poinsettias can be moved outdoors during next year’s warm weather, too. Once poinsettias start fading after Christmas, allow the potting medium to dry out but not the point that the stem shrinks. Either repot in March or April, or move to an outside bed once temperatures are consistently above 40 degrees F. At repotting or planting outside, cut the stem back to about 4 to 6 inches above the medium level. New growth should begin in 2 to 3 weeks.

Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera sp.) should be kept between 70 and 80 F. Water only when soil is dry and keep watered indirectly much like for African violets (Saintpaulia sp.). Fertilize only with a low nitrogen fertilizer (less than 10 percent N) and pinch off new growth in spring for rooting. Both can be put back outside in a shaded area once warm weather returns.

Are you using a real Christmas tree this year? If so, chances are it’s either Fraser fir, Scotch pine, Leyland cypress, or Eastern red cedar. With its Christmassy scent, Frazer fir (Abies faseri) is the most popular Christmas tree species used in the southern United States. Unable to tolerate the heat and humidity of Louisiana, Fraser firs are farmed in many counties of the Southern Appalachians and trucked all over the country. Keep your live Christmas tree well-watered and away from fireplaces or space heaters. When the holidays are over, remember that used Christmas trees make great habitats for wildlife. If you live near a pond or lake, sink the tree with cement blocks to provide structure that fish and other aquatic wildlife will use for habitat. As many of our native game fish ambush their prey, the tree will provide them a good hiding place. Next spring, when the bite is on, you’ll be glad you put your used Christmas tree to good use. If you don’t live on or near a body of water, then consider using your Christmas tree in your backyard as a way to attract birds. Treats made from suet, peanut butter, birdseed, and like material can be hidden among the branches for our feathered friends that overwinter in the area.

Finally, as we say goodbye to 2022, I want to thank each of you who tune in every Tuesday at 4:30 for “In The Garden on Louisiana Living.” If there is a gardening topic you would like to hear about, just let me know! I also want to thank everybody at KTVE NBC 10/KARD Fox 14 for making the last six years such a joy. I look forward to Tuesdays!

Tune in to Louisiana Living every Tuesday at 4:30 for In the Garden with Kerry Heafner of the LSU AgCenter.

ARTICLE BY DAN CHASON

He was born in the fall of 1958 in a non-descript town in rural Tennessee. His parents were devout and he was raised as the son of a evangelical minister and a teacher wife. His childhood was memorable with his whole life being spent in and around the church. When he was 2 years old, he welcomed a little brother. Both of them were “two peas in a pod” with days spent roaming the fields and woods that surrounded their home. He was a good kid. Mischievous and boisterous, the two boys discovered the secret of the woods and water where any outdoor activity was a daily competition. As he grew into a young man, he avoided things of the “world” as he never tasted alcohol or tobacco and lived the life that his parents laid out for him. He left home at 18 and traveled to a “biblical college” where he hoped to find the right kind of girl to make his parents happy. He married and was blessed with a son. And that is where our story begins.

He worked in a textile plant where he soon found his calling as a safety engineer. He worked long hours but still took the time to spend quality time with his family. He taught the ways of the church and the outdoors where the son became a noted angler and hunter. Many memories were made in those trips but none came close to when the man bought a small farm that held a 50 acre track of woods where he and his son constructed a deer stand. It just wasn’t any deer stand. He chose Cypress to construct it and the sturdy oaks that anchored it sat on a hill where a food plot was carved out. It was their place where hours were spent taking in the sounds and sights of nature.

Not long after the son graduated high school, they decided to place another stand nearby as the son wanted his own deer stand. This stand was identical but there was a distinction between the two. You see every time the father harvested a deer, he would take a knife and carve the day and what was harvested into the wood on the interior of the stand. The inside of the stand showed great success as there were dates back to the origin of the stand and farm. It was Dad’s spot and he proudly looked at that wall with memories of the past. In the spring of 2018 the father began to have what he called “sick headaches.” The headaches became too much to bear and he finally broke down and went for a checkup from the local doctor he had used for years and a man he considered to be a good friend. The checkup was complete and the news was blunt and life altering. The doctor came in and told his friend that there was a tumor, golf ball size, and it didn’t look good. The father took it in stride and plans were made for a biopsy. It was confirmed a week later... glioblastoma. Brain cancer. His doctor referred him to a specialist who confirmed that it was the most dreaded and deadliest cancer and surgery was scheduled. After the surgery, he was told to get his affairs in order and that he had roughly a year to live. The summer was long, chemotherapy, radiation and pills that made him so sick he could barely get out of bed. But as summer became autumn, he felt good enough to venture into the woods in early October. His wife secretly had the son follow his dad to assure he was okay. The son watched the old man who now was a shadow of his former self. He watched as the old man struggled to mount the Farmall tractor and sow seeds of hope for his last hunting season. Day after day, the old man would go to the deer stand and nurture the seeds he had sown. He fertilized and worked the area in a manner unlike any year. And by early November, the hard work showed. The old man would take his four wheeler and sit at the edge of the field, reliving all of the memories that were etched into that deer stand.

The night before opening day, the father and son met at the aging farm house and talked about the possibilities that tomorrow would bring. They set up a time to meet and both trudged off into the darkness well before daylight the next morning. They took with them their snack bag that the mother had prepared and the faithful thermos of coffee for the cold solitude that awaited them. The morning started as expected. A good frost hung over the meadow he had planted as the old man watched the woods come alive. He was for once in a long time, completely content. He watched a bear slip through his food plot and shortly after the first deer moved into the field. When the doe suddenly alerted, he saw another larger deer slip in from the woods. It was a good buck and he slowly gripped his rifle and looked into the familiar scope.

The son heard the shot and the familiar hit of the bullet. He smiled as he knew the father was hunting horns. He looked at his watch... 7:15. Deciding to sit until the agreed time of 9:30 the son sat and thought in thanks to the heavens that his father had been awarded the chance to take another deer. He remembered his first buck and thought that this could very well be the last deer his dad would take. He eased out of his stand and slipped over to the food plot and the old familiar deer stand. There was no greeting or movement in the stand, so the son climbed up. He found his dad sitting in his chair, coffee cup on his knee with the steam still rising. No movement, no response. Just a last cup of coffee still there where it was just poured. As he looked around the stand, he looked at the carvings of hunts of old. The one that caught his eye as he wiped away tears of grief was the newest one, freshly carved with today’s date. His dad made that last hunt and the tears turned to laughter amid his grief. His dad had died happy and would suffer no more. *Although this story is partly fictional, and most is true from all these men, it is a tribute to the men I’ve known who no longer are with us. Dedicated to my brother, Steve Chason and friends Allen Butler, Dana J. Walker, Doyle Machearn and Gary Yelverton. Love your friends and family while you have them. Happy Holidays

We all experience them. Those moments that come out of the clear blue and leave us feeling like the sleigh is in a downhill spiral because everyone has stopped believing.

I’d been tending the fire all evening, the embers seemingly fluorescent when the girls walked through the door. We were supposed to shoot for the Christmas issue - this issue.

While it was to be posed for the purpose of shooting, it’s story was authentic. The girls are the ones who coined “Family Friday” for this clan. They are the ones who continue to guard it and honor it - even at 15 and 13. It would be nothing out of the ordinary for us to sit around the fire and roast marshmallows or string garland and chat all things Christmas. Together.

They’d just come in from being with friends and were warming up by the fire roaring with fresh logs as though it had anticipated their chills. Perhaps, even now, maybe it was me who flicked the first ember that caused the blaze; I did interrupt the chatty details of the night with “Did you hear our conversation yesterday? I would like for you…” 15 and 13.

Do you know the scene in the movie “Brave” where mother and daughter are at an empasse, and Merida, the daughter, slashes the tapestry of her family that her mother had been carefully weaving since she was born. This is that scene. You don’t even need to see the movie to imagine that one. Tale as old as time. Conflict of parent and child.

Now, I sit here, pondering how it is that I will be able to teach them all that I need to before the world eats them alive or at least tries. A world that is seemingly splitting in two. I am in a race with Father Time even though I know he need not participate to win. I am a mere mortal - a modern day mother trying to hold fast the truths while simultaneously delicately unraveling the lies of the world - all the while juggling my dignity and their respect on the toes of the one foot balancing on solid foundation. If this all sounds immaculately dramatic, you must either not have kids, have not reached teenage years or have not had conversations with your teenagers. Or, perhaps you have existed under a rock. We have all been the teenager - paradoxically all knowing and knowing nothing at all. Pair that with the last few years of the Conjuring and you have yourself a mighty fine doomsday cocktail.

My girls, they are independent - both by nature and my doing. I gave them permission years ago to respectfully call me out and debate should they feel me to be out of line. This has proven very humbling to say the least. As much as I would like to regret it, I see it’s benefit tenfold. Debate is not for the faint of heart. It can certainly make a brave man cower and a passionate woman unleash. For a teenager and their parent, it can drive a wedge.

It can throw a dust storm in our faces and sling rocks at our hearts. It is where we go from there, though, that counts.

Enter the Mediator. The Peacemaker. The First Born. The Sister. She is there to tell me to take a breath. She is there to tell me she hears and sees me and even agrees with me - “like, for real.” She is also there to tell me she hears and sees her sister - who is young and still trying to form her own opinions and needs me

BY HEATHER LAND

to give her space to do that so she can, in fact, come to the podium with a shred of confidence.

And in that moment, I know she is the one that has it right. Each of us was actually debating our insecurities and fears under the guise of the true issue now buried under rubble.

Crystal clear. I felt a giant smile taking hold of me (even though pride still had its hand on my strings) and I wrapped my arms around her - “You are going to be alright.” To that she responded with confidence, “I know. And I also know that I am not going to even try to talk to her about any more of this tonight, and neither should you, but don’t worry, she will come around, just give her space.”

What of the rest? Left to her own space, my previous “opponent” came to me shortly after, herself as humbled as I, sat on the foot of my bed, and we conversed. There was emotion and there were hugs. me: “I am terrified of turning around and you are too far for me to reach. I am your mother.”

Her: “I feel like you say your frustrations are not aimed at me but it certainly feels like they are. I don’t disagree with you. It’s that I don’t care about all of these issues right now. I am 13. I don’t want to have to.”

Aaaaawwwwwwlllllllll that for a simple Truth, you ask? Yes. Every. Single. Time. `“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.”

“Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias.”

Merry Christmas to you, readers, and may even the hardest conversations be worthy of a good fire.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WE HAVE SOME GREAT DEALS for you as we celebrate with the Twelve Days of Christmas this month. The Medical Spa’s Twelve Days of Christmas celebration will run from December 1st - 16th, with a featured special to be announced daily. Let it GLOW this season, whether you’re treating yourself or gifting to someone special! All who purchase during the Twelve Days event will be entered into a drawing for product giveaways! December 1: We’re Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree with 25% off radiofrequency treatments December 2: Don’t have a Blue Christmas-Receive 15% off Botox purchase December 5: Fa-la-la Facials – Oxygeneo Facials and Retail Masques 25% off December 6: Have a Holly Jolly Christmas! Purchase a $100 gift card for $75; limit 5 per customer December 7: Making Spirits Bright with Vitamin C serums at 20% off December 8: Wishing you a Merry Christmas with 25% off laser hair removal December 9: Let it snow with 20% off corrective products December 12: On the 8th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 25% off Microneedling sessions December 13: Santa Claus is coming to town with cleansers, toners, and moisturizers for 20% off December 14: Deck the Halls with luscious lashes and defined brows - NuCil Serums are buy one, get one 50% off December 15: Santa Baby - NuDerm Kits 20% off December 16: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Take advantage of ALL Twelve Days of Christmas!

As the colder temperatures approach, dry air, cold winds, and constant exposure to indoor heat suck the moisture from your skin, stripping it of oils essential for healthy skin barrier function. These conditions can cause skin sensitivity redness and irritation, so it may be time to switch up your routine by using products that help with moisture retention: SkinCeuticals Emollience – Intensive, restorative cream containing a blend of natural extracts and oils. This cream is ideal for dry/dehydrated skin. SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 – Anti-aging corrective cream, containing ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. This restorative cream reinforces the skin’s barrier, improves dryness, appearance of smoothness, laxity, pores, and radiance. Obagi Hydrate – Moisturizer that provides 8-hour moisture with natural ingredients such as shea butter, mango butter, avocado and glycerin. Hydrate Luxe – Provides moisturization and rejuvenation for extremely dry skin. This comedogenic moisturizer contains hydromanil, which captures water and assimilates it into the skin both immediately and over time. Phyto Corrective Essence Mist – A hydrating facial mist that is clinically proven to strengthen the skin’s barrier and immediately reduce visible redness. A botanical blend of cucumber, thyme, olive leaf, and rosemary extracts soothe and calms the skin, while a blend of hyaluronic acid and glycerin helps draw and retain water in the skin. This essence mist can be reapplied throughout the day, even over makeup, for all-day hydration!

Legend Pro by Lumenis offers TriPollar Radiofrequency Technology. Radiofrequency triggers regeneration of collagen and elastin fibers by applying controlled heating to the deep dermis layer of your skin. This technology can be applied to areas of laxity on the face and neck. What sets the Legend Pro apart is the equipment offers a combination treatment as well with VoluDerm (radiofrequency (RF) Microneedling). RF microneedling encourages the generation of new healthy skin by applying RF-assisted thin electrodes and creating controlled micro wounds. These micro wounds also trigger the production of new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Your treatment is completely customizable. TriPollar and RF micro-needling can be completed separately, or you may choose a combination treatment, depending on desired results. Downtime is very minimal. You may experience mild redness which can last from a few hours and up to a few days. We recommend not wearing makeup for 48-72 hours post treatment to allow for better healing. Results are best with a course of 3-5 sessions, with the sessions being 4-6 weeks apart. You can take advantage of this amazing treatment during our Twelve Days of Christmas specials! Contact us today at The Medical Spa to schedule your consultation.

Be sure to come by The Medical Spa this month to take advantage of our specials, events, and to find out more about the medical grade skincare products offered here! We are in the James R. Wolff Building (also known as the P&S Building) in downtown Monroe. Our address is 312 Grammont Street Suite 406, across from St. Francis Medical Center. Also, be certain to follow The Medical Spa by St. Francis Medical Group on Facebook and Instagram to stay up today on our weekly specials, sales, promotions, and giveaways.

by ERIN SHARPLIN LOVE

erinlove@panachebyerin.com

Instead of waiting for January and the new year, consider decluttering and refreshing your home in December. Afterall, December is the month of getting, giving, and hosting, so there will be many more “things” coming in and going out of your home during this month than almost any other time of year. Let’s get ready for it. Below is a list of 15 things, or spaces, that I recommend decluttering in December.

THE TOY ROOM. December is the time to get rid of any toys that your children are not using anymore to make room for the new things they will be receiving. If you have an organizing system, refresh it to make sure everything is in its place. If you do not have a system already, do not take the time to do that now. Move on the next thing instead.

THE PANTRY. During December you will have more food than typical in your pantry. Maintain order by decluttering expired and ruined items.

THE REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER. The same thing that is true for the pantry is true for the fridge and freezer. There will be more food coming in and going out of it, so getting rid of any expired or ruined items is a must. You will have enough room for all of the ingredients for your famous Christmas casserole. No stress.

YOUR CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. Do you decorate your home and tree the same way year after year? Most of us do not, so you will find things that you no longer use, nor want to use, in your current decoration inventory. I suggest weeding out the old to make room for the new. If you have keepsake pieces that you are holding onto for posterities sake, I suggest creating a storage solution that is separate from your current decorations. Not only will this keep them safe from accidental breakage, but it will make holiday decorating faster and easier.

YOUR GIFT WRAP AND SUPPLIES. Now is the time to take stock of what wrapping paper, bags, gift tags and such that you will need. Get rid of any small pieces of wrapping paper that you may have saved “just in case” and toss the crumpled, overused gift bags that you have been using for years. There is nothing like receiving a neatly-wrapped gift, COOKBOOKS. I bet December is one of the only months that you even think about pulling out a cookbook. With that in mind, this is also the month to throw away or donate any cookbooks that you no longer need, use, and/or love. Getting rid of cookbooks is difficult for some, but don’t hold onto them for no good reason. For instance, if there is only one or two recipes that you use, I suggest making copies of them and placing them in a recipe binder or simply writing them on note cards. Fewer cookbooks will make cooking easier and faster because you will have only the most important books and recipes in your kitchen.

THE MEDICINE CABINET. Your medicine cabinet should be cleaned once a year, and December is the best time. For most of us, it is the coldest part of the year, not to mention, flu season. Get rid of anything expired and replenish tissues, cough drops, and other oft-used items.

THE GIFT CLOSET. If you do not have a gift closet, or basket, you definitely should. How many times have you needed a last-minute gift? My household has been spared unneeded stress more times than I can count because of my “gift area.” You can find small gifts that can be combined to make the perfect package for a teacher, child, parent, or neighbor. December is the month of gifts, so making sure your gift closet is fully stocked and operational is a must.

THE CAR. Now, please don’t wait until December to clean out your car. This should really be a weekly task, but I wanted to mention it here because your car will be used for so many different things than usual during the month of December. For instance, you will be hauling gifts, coats, winter sporting equipment, and probably more people than usual, too. Clean out the back seat pockets and the trunk so there is plenty of room. December is also a good time to check that all supplies and tools are in working order and are where they are supposed to be. Don’t forget to add a few cozy items, such as blankets and snacks.

YOUR PLANNER SUPPLIES. Do you use a paper planner? If so, now is the time to start looking forward to January and the new year. What worked for you and your planning system this year and what didn’t? What do you need to rethink and/or repurchase?

YOUR COUPON DRAWER OR ORGANIZER. This is also something that should be done monthly, but if you haven’t kept it up, do it this month. Get rid of anything expired or anything you no longer need.

COINS – So, how many pennies and quarters have you accumulated from your husband’s pant pockets this year? Now is the time to cash them in! Woohoo!

OLD BEDDING. Go through your sheets, comforters, and blankets and toss anything that has seen better days. You, and your Christmas guests, will enjoy crisp, new sheets more; I promise.

THE COAT CLOSET. This is most important if you have little ones who grow quickly! Get rid of any outgrown or worn-out jackets and sweaters.

STORAGE CONTAINERS. There will be a lot of leftovers kept during December, so freshen up your storage container drawer now. Make sure everything has a matching lid and bottom and toss anything that is stained.

Did I leave out anything? Can you think of something else that would be perfect to declutter in December? Please share with me on Facebook (panachebyerin) or Instagram (erinlovedesigns).

BY JUDY WAGONER

CHRISTMAS IS the one day of the year when you really need to pull out all of the stops and get it right. No one wants to be in the dog house for the festive season, and with so many amazing gifts to offer, there’s no excuse not to get it right. Why not give a gift certificate that keeps on giving? A gift that can reverse aging and restore wellness. Professional Laser Center has an array of nonsurgical aesthetic services and procedures to help with your gift-giving.

Botox and Hyaluronic Acid Fillers, such as Restylane, Versa, and Juvederm, are two of our most requested services. Botox addresses fine lines and wrinkles, whereas fillers plump the lips, cheeks, nasolabial folds (smile lines) and marionette lines (puppet lines).

If aging or weight loss has caused your skin to sag, a PDO Thread Lift is a perfect choice. These safe, dissolvable, barbed threads pull the skin taut, giving an immediate lift to the skin, anywhere on the face, neck, or body. There is little to no downtime, results are immediate, and can last 18-24 months.

If too much sun damage is a problem, Intense Pulsed Light can take years off the appearance of the skin by removing unsightly pigment, brown spots, facial spider veins and Rosacea in less than three weeks.

Laser Hair Removal can permanently remove unwanted hair on the face or body, in as little as eight months.

PinPointe Foot Laser, the first FDA cleared laser to treat nail fungus, is another popular service.

Dermapen Microneedling induces the production of new collagen through the delivery of tiny needles into the skin. You can expect a tighter and fuller appearance to the skin, as well as better texture, especially for those who suffer from scarring. We incorporate new technology that optimizes this procedure. AnteAGE MD serum, an FDA cleared product that contains stem cytokines, is microneedled into the skin or hair to restore its youthful states. Plus, AnteAGE MD also offers a complete skin care line to improve the health and appearance of your skin in just two steps. Our AnteAge MD Holiday Box makes a perfect gift. It includes $100 worth of free skin care products. We have a limited number of these gift boxes, so hurry and purchase yours today.

This month, we celebrate our 19th year in business. Since that time, Professional Laser Center has grown into more than just a laser center. For the last decade, we’ve been deeply involved in Integrative Medicine, which integrates natural medicines with traditional ones. This includes Bio-identical Hormone Replacement, which is now our most popular service. We’ve changed lives and relationships by restoring the exact, natural hormones we made in our youth. This is achieved with pellets inserted just under the skin, or with creams, gels, troches, shots, etc.

Make this Christmas magical by giving a unique gift or gift certificate from Professional Laser Center. For more information, or to order your gift certificate by phone, call 318-361-9066.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.