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The Arts of Denton

A guide to local culture for the new year

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The common factor in all New Year celebrations is hope for change: changes in ourselves, in our luck, in our financial or personal situations, in the world at large. That hope happens at different times, in different places, in different ways.

Because of the division of the globe into time zones, the January 1st New Year moves progressively around the globe, so what is new is still old to the West, and some cultures celebrate on other dates altogether. The Chinese New Year occurs every year on the new moon of the first lunar month, about four to eight weeks before spring. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, falling in the Hebrew month Tishrei, early in the fall. Korean New Year, Seollal, is the first day of the lunar calendar. Koreans also celebrate the solar New Year, but Koreans only get that one day off, while they have a minimum of three days off on lunar New Year, so it’s easy to guess which they prefer.

The New Year in many Southeast Asian countries is a Water Festival, held on the full moon of the 11th month of the lunisolar calendar. Traditionally, people gently sprinkled water on one another as a sign of respect, but as New Year falls during the hottest month in Southeast Asia, many people end up dousing strangers in their celebration (which makes one wonder if Texas shouldn’t have its own New Year during the summer, and adopt this same refreshing practice).

In America, television has made New Year’s a shared experience. Those who are not part of the one million or more squished into Times Square watch on TV as the 12,000 pound, 12-foot diameter Waterford crystal ball falls. Economic concerns are also universal; in order to have a clean slate on which to start the New Year, Americans in times past made certain that they had all their borrowings cleared, but those were the days before credit cards. Now many just make certain they have bought their Lotto tickets.

A common New Year’s theme around the world is the derision of politicians. In the Netherlands and Iceland, they are the butt of much satire and mockery on several December 31st TV shows, and in Ecuador elaborate effigies are created to represent political characters, and are lit on fire at midnight. (Here in the U.S., there is no need for effigies, as our politicians regularly self-combust.)

In France, tradition holds that people toast to the new year and drink till January 3rd. The French believe that it won’t be a good new year if they don’t drink up all the wine left last year. The tradition of drinking Champagne or sparkling wine has an unusual origin. In Spain, it is traditional to eat twelve grapes, one on each chime of the clock. This started in 1909 as a marketing ploy by the grape growers in Alicante, who thought it would be a great way to cut down on the large grape surplus they had that year. Nowadays, the tradition is followed by every Spaniard, and a lot of Latin Americans, and the sparkling wine modification is followed by most of the world. In Russia, they have a New Year’s Night beat-the-clock drinking game: while the clock is striking twelve, one must write a wish on a sheet of paper, burn it on a candle, mix the ashes in a glass of champagne, and drink it before the chimes cease striking.

So the new cycle of a fresh year starts at a different time in a different way for everyone, be it due to time zones or different dates or different cultures. That one tick of a clock, the slight movement of the hand from one second to the next, is the beginning of a new cycle for one person, and simply the passage of time for another.

Because it is all in our minds. That psychological fresh beginning, new leaf, clean slate can happen any minute of any day. All you have to do is believe: One cycle has ended, a new one has begun, and it is ours to make what we will of it.

Make this day your “New Year.” January 1st is past, but today can be the beginning of a new year of a better life…you only have to make the decision and take the first step, and the rest will follow.

A few years ago I came across a Top Ten list from some major publication and I have kept five of them that I feel are worthy of a serious relook and I always revisit them when the New Year rolls around. I would love to say I accomplish the full list each year, but I don’t. I do think the list is worthy of my efforts to keep working on. Of course “get fit” should be on all our lists so I will pass that one by with our mutual agreement that we need to do that.

Build Something / Fix Something

We know that not everyone is a skilled handyman, but learning some basic DIY has all sorts of advantages. First, it saves time and money if you can fix something yourself instead of hiring someone to do it for you. It gives you a great sense of accomplishment when you finish a project, and it is also a pretty impressive skill to have.

Read a Book

How many great books have you heard about, but never actually picked up a copy? Make a point of knocking at least one title off your list this year. Not only will it make you a bit savvier, reading always improves your vocabulary. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, not only does reading enrich our lives, it can enrich the world around us. People who read for pleasure are more likely to visit museums and attend concerts, and almost three times as likely to perform volunteer and charity work. Readers are active participants in the world around them, and that is the best kind of person to be.

Make an Appointment for a Check-Up

Most adults are very bad about visiting their doctor/dentist for a check-up, reserving such appointments for their children only. By and large, most prefer to say nothing and hope that a problem goes away rather than be seen as a hypochondriac or weak, or perhaps fear of what the issue could possibly be. Others use the excuse of “I just don’t have the time.” This year is the time to change that and make an appointment.

Open a Savings Account

We can all do better with our personal finances. A small step would be to open a savings account, and put a percentage of your salary in each month, or whatever you can spare. Pretty soon you won’t miss the money you have saved, and it will gradually grow into the beginnings of a nest egg.

Help Someone Else

A great way to feel better about yourself is by helping those in need. You may not have lots of time to devote to this, but whatever you can do to help is worth doing. Whether that is volunteering in a soup kitchen or helping your elderly neighbor carry out her garbage each week, make this the year when you start thinking about making the world better for others.

As you can see the list is a concise little group of plans that I think could make me a better person. Can you imagine if we all made a serious stab at these five little things, the changes that would be made in our lives?

I have to go now and put my new James Patterson book back on the shelf and place a call to my doctor’s office…
I Wish You a very Happy New Year!

Denton, we ask you to nominate someone deserving of a complimentary makeover.  Mail us or
facebook private message us a 200 word or less summary of why they deserve the makeover along
with a picture of the nominee. Please include your name, address and phone number and the same
information of the nominee.   This contest is open to anyone 18 or over and does not have to be a
client of our salon. The winning names will be posted on our facebook HeadRush the Salon on
February 1, 2012 and each winner will be contacted by their stylist that same day.  Thank you Denton,
for making our jobs so much fun and allowing us to keep giving even after the holiday season is over!

A new year always brings new fashion trends and styles, and this year is no different because this spring season has a lot to offer. Explore this sneak peak into trendy spring fashions and get your shopping list ready so you can stock up early.

Spring trends will focus largely on colors and prints with a few innovative styles making their way to stores and the runway. As far as colors go, keep an eye out for tangerines and oranges, pastels and pinks. All shades of orange will be hot this season and will be present in all outlets of style. Pastels are the perfect spring color as they are seen on longer flowy dresses and skirts. Pink will also be a huge color for the season, but it will come with an interesting new style—the short suit. This suit will come in all shades of pink, along with other colors, and will feature different styles of blazers with coordinating shorts. The shorts can be all lengths—from super short and beachy to a longer, more business-like length.

Prints will also storm the runway in a huge way. From bold and bright to futuristic, we will be seeing it all. Colorful camo print will also be an interesting new look as we see the military influences in a bright new way that is perfect for the spring season. For the more daring, metallic fabric will also be an asset to the season’s trends as we see metallic pants, cropped jackets, and so much more.

Perhaps the most flattering style of all this coming season is the peplum look. For those who have not heard, the peplum look comes in a variety of styles and it simply features a flared ruffle that sits at the natural waistline. Not only is the waist defined and “pinched in,” but the ruffle also disguises the hips. This style is perfect for the body conscious who want to look feminine and chic. Peplum shirts can be casual or dressy and can be paired with dress pants, skirts, or even jeans. This extremely versatile and flattering style for the spring should be at the top of your shopping list—so stock up!

We are not talking just about your face; we all tend to concentrate on our faces. The rest of the body skin needs attention to keep it youthful and fresh. There are plenty of old basics and some trendy adages for healthy fresh skin. Drink warm water with lemon first thing in the morning, practice yoga, smile a lot, use only natural products, and of course keep stress levels low. Obviously all of these would be good for you. Whether they help your skin, your nature or your temperament, none of them can really be bad for you. But there are a few that are just no-brainers to help keep your skin fresh.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

A triple plus. Most people are mistaken that exercise is to be solely for keeping the body in shape. The fact is exercise will also help make your skin look younger and healthier. It will give good strong blood flow and that will help keep skin looking firm and young. It will also keep you fit and will keep you toned which can also help you avoid getting sagging skin. With proper exercise, you will get good sleep, which is one of the most essential habits for looking fresh and healthy.

Basic Care

Women all too often forget the smallest efforts of taking care of the skin, such as exfoliation. Routine exfoliating habits need to be as standard as brushing your teeth. When bathing, always make sure you scrub the dirt and dead skin cells off your body because good but gentle cleansing can add a youthful glow to your skin. Also, exfoliation is actually a good way to keep sensitive skin from developing problems.

Top off your bathing regime with a good hydrating cream or body moisturizer to keep your skin feeling fresh, soft, and squeaky clean. It is good to choose skin care products that are made from natural extracts of fruits or herbs, to save you from any harsh chemical reactions or allergies.

Load up on H2O

Hydration does not just mean slathering on moisturizer and other skin care products to keep your skin soft. The old rule of drinking eight glasses of water every day was established because it’s effective for the whole body. When you make water a regular part of your daily regime, you will be flushing out toxins and waste materials from your system, which will reflect on your skin. Remember, having a sound body does not only mean having smooth skin on the outside, but also a healthy and working system on the inside. You cannot give off a youthful glow if you are clogged with toxins, oils, and fats.

Keep the skin fresh and glowing to keep you fresh and glowing.

In their most traditional form, black-eyed peas are cooked with a ham hock (or other pork product) and served with Southern delicacies like collard greens (representing money) and corn bread (representing gold). These hearty little peas are inexpensive, high in fiber and they hold up really well to hot sauce (well, it is the south).

Here are other traditions for New Years Luck:

• In Brazil and Italy, eating lentils are a sign of riches to come, since they expand as cooked. As well as eating pomegranates and saving 7 seeds in your wallet, only after dedicating 3 seeds to the three kings who visited Christ by throwing them over your shoulder after calling their names.

• In Spain, consume twelve grapes at midnight – one grape for each stroke of the clock and each grape symbolizing each month of the year. This dates back to 1909, when grape growers in the Alicante region of Spain initiated the practice to take care of a grape surplus. The idea stuck, spreading to Portugal as well as former Spanish and Portuguese colonies such as Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru.

• In France some people eat heart or log shaped desserts, sometimes made of ice cream.

• The Danish eat Kale sprinkled with sugar.

• In Japan, the osechi-ryori, a group of symbolic dishes eaten during the first three days of the New Year, includes sweet black beans called kuro-mame.

• Roast suckling pig is served in Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, and Austria—Different pork dishes such as pig’s feet are enjoyed in Sweden while Germans feast on roast pork and sausages often with sauerkraut.

• In many Asian countries, long noodles are eaten in order to bring a long life. One catch: You can’t break the noodle before it is all in your mouth.

• Poland, Hungary, and the Netherlands eat donuts, and Holland has ollie bollen, puffy, donut-like pastries filled with apples, raisins, and currants.

SOUTHERN BLACK EYED PEAS

Ingredients
1 pound dried black-eyed peas, rinse and sorted
1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon butter
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt to taste

Additional crumbled bacon, optional

Directions
In a large Dutch oven, place the peas, bacon and enough water to cover; bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. Do not drain.
In a small skillet, saute onion in butter until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in thyme and salt; add to pea mixture. Return to the heat; simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until peas are soft. Top with crumbled bacon if desired. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Many times, people put off saving for retirement, which can seriously derail retirement planning. While it’s always a good idea to have a trusted financial advisor with whom you can speak about your goals and progress, these 10 tips will get you started on the right track to saving for retirement.

1. Put as much money into your company’s 401(k) as you can. The maximum cap is 15%, but at the very least, contribute up to what your company matches. Otherwise, you’re throwing away free money.

2. If your company does not offer a 401(k) plan, open your own IRA (Individual Retirement Account).

3. Pay yourself first. Have money automatically deducted from your paycheck and invested for retirement.

4. Do not dip into your retirement savings, before seeking advice from your financial advisor.

5. Set new priorities to spend less and save more – now. Sometimes this means selling a more expensive car and buying a cheaper one to cut back on your car payments, thus giving you more money to sock away.

6. Develop a retirement savings plan with the help of a financial advisor. It’s important to be realistic and know how much money you will need to live the lifestyle you want in retirement.

7. Invest your savings appropriately. Learn when to take on more risk and when to take on less.

8. Commit to saving more. Calculate the most you think you can put away for retirement, and then add 10% to that amount. That’s a big commitment, but well worth the rewards.

9. Don’t “cash in” your retirement money when switching jobs as you could lose money to taxes and penalties. Instead, roll your money over to another plan or an IRA.

10. Start now! No matter how young or old you are, you don’t have time to waste. Starting to save immediately will get you on the right track for retirement that much sooner.

Oxide Gallery it is a gallery “where local art is exposed” offering fine art, pieces from local artists, and works from all genres. It is one of Denton best treasures.

A Creative Arts Studio serves the community with classes in oil and acrylic painting, stained glass, jewelry, mosaics, watercolor, drawing, writing workshops and on and on. Buy, learn or enjoy!

Wonderful museums like Courthouse-on-the-Square and Selby House recall the history of Denton. The opera at UNT is both amazing and world renown. Our celebrated One O’clock Lab band is internationally known.

Denton Arts and Jazz Festival is a weekend long event that is attended by not just locals but extended area art enthusiast. Studios such as Denton Ballet Academy teaches superior ballet, Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker is a twenty three year production and a denton tradition. The Campus Theatre is a performing community theatre delivering high quality plays and musicals.

Materials: Hard & Soft, an annual competition and exhibition of contemporary crafts is now in its 25th year. It is recognized nationally and attracts hundreds of entries from every state in the union. (February 3 – March 30, 2012)

The Thin Line Film Festival, beginning February 15th, is an international documentary film festival held at the Campus Theatre on the Square. See the interesting and exciting films before anyone else in Texas, then meet and socialize with the filmmakers after the screenings.

These are just a few examples of the art of Denton, getting exposed to this enriching culture will open a new space in your heart and your mind.

Denton no longer has to depend on the arts from Dallas and Fort Worth museums, music scenes and galleries. We are setting the pace now and have come into our own with our acclaimed area. Known for its long, rich history of both music and art, Denton welcomes unique individuals and celebrates their contribution in enhancing the lives of the entire community. Get out and enjoy the galleries, performances and music of Denton…it will awaken your senses.

Reduce the Attention – Your pet is used to being the center of attention. If a pet is demanding, nudges, paws, or barks for attention, he could injure or frighten the baby. Get him used to sharing you.

The Baby’s Room – Before the baby comes, let him spend time in the room while you set up the crib, etc. Teach him to lie down in a specific place; if he doesn’t, remove him from the room and try again later. If the room is off limits, install a barrier/gate or a screen door, allowing him to see and hear what’s happening.

Check Up & Groom – Visit the vet for a routine exam and vaccinations. Make sure nails are trimmed and edges smoothed before the baby comes home.

Obedience – Your dog should respond to verbal commands (sit, stay, place, etc.) and remain calm when sitting next to you. Practice walking “nice” on a leash when pushing a stroller, in noisy, hectic and new situations. NO jumping on people, furniture, the baby’s crib or changing table; NO play-biting, this can cause serious injury.

Crate Training & Doggie Sitter – Crates provide a safe haven and a place that he can call his own; never crate more than a few hours. Establish a private spot for your dog; stock it with his favorite toys, blanket, food and water. Make plans for a “doggie” sitter; a friend/family member is perfect during the birthing time.

Sights, Smells and Sounds – Using a controlled process, expose your dog to as many babies as possible. Babies look, smell, sound and move differently than big humans. Use treats, toys and positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior. A doll can help them get used to the real thing; take a stroller when you walk your dog; sprinkle baby powder or baby oil on your skin to introduce new smells. Before the baby comes home from the hospital, bring home a blanket they have been wrapped in and present it to your dog. Let him smell it completely. After the blanket is received with good behavior have him “sit” and give praise/treats. Use your baby’s name often, socialize your dog, play a recording of baby sounds, toys, mobiles, etc.

Bringing the Baby Home – Have a neutral person carry the baby into the house while you do your normal “greeting,” and keep it brief and calm. Use a leash for better control during the first few encounters. It’s important that “new baby” and “first baby” have a chance to bond. Introduce him to the newest member of the family by holding the baby in your lap; let the dog “smell” but not touch the baby, and be careful that the dog does not nudge or paw the baby. If he misbehaves, remove him from the area, calmly and without emotion, and try again later.

Tending to the Baby – Don’t exclude your dog; instead, let him be part of the activity, allowing him to sit next to you while you are feeding or bathing. Never allow him to sleep or lie under the crib or cradle as they can easily be knocked down. Never leave your dog alone with your baby, make sure that they are supervised at all times.

Play Time – Reserve one-on-one doggie play time; incorporate the new baby at the end of that time. It’s important your dog maintains his position in the “pack.” It’s no longer the same, but he is still a member of the pack.

Remember that no matter how much you plan ahead, the addition of a new family member may be difficult for your pet so please remember patience and love go hand in hand!