Ahh, April…  The snow has finally stopped, the weather is warming, and there is a welcome release from the cabin fever that drives us all outside.  People take to the roads without fear of black ice skids and low visibility.  With February’s hearts and flowers behind us and June’s wedding marches yet to come, what can get our hearts thumping and adrenaline rushing more than…traffic?

Nothing in our modern world brings about more irritation, frustration, or bad behavior than driving…except maybe politics!  Want to really insult someone?  Call them a lousy driver.  Want to witness 3-year-old stubbornness in a 40-yr-old woman?  Try to merge in front of her in a rush-hour standstill.  Want to see a normally sane and mild-mannered gentleman turn into a testosterone-fueled raging bull?  Put him behind the wheel of a pickup truck in…traffic.

The differences in traffic between countries can be startling, especially since it is such a universal activity and there is no universal standard. An example is the high degree of American irritation and blocking behavior brought on by those driving to the end of a closing lane and merging into the waiting traffic.  In Britain, this is an encouraged common practice called Late Merge, and the ensuing “zippering” of traffic is highly effective, causing 35% less congestion.

In Texas, highway travel is ubiquitous and necessary, given the sprawling size of our state. To get to work, to school, to play, we find ourselves stuck in, dealing with, navigating…traffic.  How is the traffic? There was bad traffic. Allow for the traffic! I’m late because of the traffic. While in Italy tailgating is seen as a sign to Move Over, which the tailgatee graciously does, here in Texas we see it as either aggressive road-hogging or as “drafting,” which really doesn’t work as well on highways as it does in NASCAR.

In Denton, we have our own Olympic-style challenges: The double-turn-lane-only-on-arrow slalom at Sherman and Carroll, the 6-name-change road course that starts as Cooper Creek and ends as Nottingham, and the enter-merge-exit triathlon at the Dallas Drive/ I-35/Lillian Miller cluster.  Oh, and did you hear that there’s going to be more construction lane closures on the Loop?  April Fool!  (Not.)

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, nearly 80% of crashes involve driver inattention, 75% of drivers over age 40 have received at least one traffic citation, and 65% of the same age group have been involved in an accident…which makes the 80% self-rating of “above average” in a recent drivers’ poll both highly improbable and statistically impossible.

There’s an old saying:  Everyone who drives slower than you is an idiot, and everyone who drives faster than you is a maniac.  So unless you are driving exactly the same as every other driver around you, you are either someone’s idiot or someone’s maniac.  Let’s find a median between idiotic and maniacal, and remember: If you think you are a member of the special percentage of above-average drivers who can drive and text at the same time, you truly are an April Fool.

Information and statistics courtesy of Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic – Why We Drive The Way We Do (And What It Says About Us) My favorite quote: “Traffic is like a language.  It generally works best if everyone knows and obeys the rules of grammar, though slang can be brutally effective.”

This issue features how to Design Your Dream Day.  All the local wedding information you need to know, as well as articles on a fairytale Denton wedding and how to choose a caterer for your event.

Sue Newhouse discusses how to get ready for springtime by properly preparing your soil.

Are you living with an alien?  Sometimes our teens seem like they are from another planet.  Here are some effective communication skills to help the parent-teen relationship.

Click here to view the current issue.

Remember when we were thrilled that technology had brought us that new little remote device to open our car doors?  One click and the door opened, no key. That was an enormous leap for the auto and technology industries.  Spring forward a couple of decades and now…no remote needed!  You can start, lock and unlock your car just by pushing a button on your iPhone or iTouch.

Technology’s new Viper SmartStart application is introduced by Directed Electronics, already the leader in vehicle security and remote start industry. The application includes a receiver that is installed in the car.  The simple interface gives you control over the features of your installed Viper remote start or security/remote start system:  Lock/arm, Unlock/disarm, Remote car start, Trunk release, and Panic. You can also control multiple vehicles and assign more than one user to control a vehicle.   Anticipation is that this will be great for families and it’s easy with SmartStart.

The Viper SmartStart is the latest example of automotive electronic functions migrating into Apple iPhone and other smartphones. Imagine your keys being locked in the car or losing your keys. Now there is no reason to panic, as long as you have your phone.

Viper SmartStart is available in Denton at Autosound & Security located on I-35 near Loop 288, and at Best Buy on Loop 288.

The mother of the bride is an important role, so your dress and outfit should reflect that for the special day.  While the bride is the main attraction on her wedding day, the mother of the bride should also have special attention. Once decisions are made such as budget for your ensemble, length of dress, and wedding colors, you can start your search.  It is best to shop for a dress six months before the event, if you have that much time, which allows you to casually shop without feeling rushed.

Only the bride should be in white or off white. You may have seen other mothers of the bride wear white to a wedding, but this is generally considered a major faux pas.  Although gaining acceptance for wedding attire, it is still viewed inappropriate for the mother of the bride to wear black, no matter how good it looks or how slimming it is. Even dark shades of brown can be detrimental to the ambiance of the occasion. Your dress color should complement the wedding colors, but not exactly match the bridesmaid’s dress. Tones lighter or darker than their dresses are a good start. You may even consider silver, gold, or pastel, and choose solid colors over busy prints.

This is a great time to begin conversing with the new extended family.  Many bride mothers coordinate with the groom’s mother to assure their dresses are color pleasing and have no style clashes. The next step is finding the right shoes.  You will want something that matches or is the same tone as the dress and they are comfortable enough to stand in for several hours.  Many times strappy heels look nicer with a formal dress than closed toe flats.  Additionally, plan to treat yourself to a pedicure and manicure for the special day, especially if you select an open toe strappy shoe. Last but not least, plan the jewelry you will be wearing, particularly earrings, necklace, watch, and bracelets. The key to success is getting your entire outfit selected and purchased early, so you can handle other wedding matters.  When the time arrives you will be ready to focus on the bride and her special day.

Anyone from the overworked executive or time-stressed parent can fit in a Minute Work-Out. This workout can build strength and develop lean muscle mass to burn calories long after the workout is done, fight the effects of aging by improving bone density, reduce the risk of heart disease, increase flexibility, no impact on joints, and everyone, regardless of age or conditioning can improve in just 4 minutes per day!

The 4 Minute Work-Out is the equivalent of 20-45 minutes of aerobic exercise, 45 minutes of weight training or 15-20 minutes of stretching. Ask about our 21-day program for weight loss and purification: lose weight, improve digestion, increase energy, sleep better and live better.  Experience a life filled with vitality and well being using Standard Process® vitamins and herbs. This 21-day program will transform your life and it’s easy to do with a busy schedule. Stop making resolutions and start making changes.

Join us for our free public lectures on topics such as Weight Loss, Heart Health, Women’s Health and Stress.  They are held Tuesday evenings at seven o’clock. There is limited seating, so please contact Peak Performance at 940-591-0700 to register and for more information.

Whether a simple cake reception or a full service catered event, so many new and fun ideas for receptions are out there and the possibilites are limitless!  What to cater should be determined by several things:  budget, size of your wedding, time of day, and most importantly, what you want.  Remember, a good caterer works within your budget to provide you exactly (or as close as possible) what you want without sacrificing quality.

A nice option for afternoon receptions that is budget friendly is simple but beautiful fruits, vegetables and cheese displays. The addition of melons carved into swans or your names carved into watermelons can be used to highlight the presentation. The addition of mini-croissant sandwiches or a nice spinach dip with bruschetta can round the display nicely.

A noon wedding usually requires heavy hors d’oeuvres or a light lunch.  The afore mentioned reception menu plus stuffed mushrooms, chicken and beef flank steak skewers with dipping sauces, or delightfully filled filo cups.  These may be plated or served buffet-style.  If it is lunch you are serving, let your caterer know what you would like or ask for creative ideas and suggestions.

An evening wedding will warrant a dinner or very heavy appetizers for hungry guests and also serve as a balance if alcohol is served.  Dinners may be plated or buffet depending on where they are held and what facilities are available. Prime rib and steamship round beef carving stations are great additions here.

Let’s not forget about the brunch; a wonderful way for a morning wedding to be followed.  Usually served around ten or eleven in the morning, everything from scrumptious pastries, tasty pasta salads, to ham and turkey carving stations are found in brunches.  Coffee bars with plenty of flavors and condiments to accompany along with mimosas and wine.

Many other creative options are out there as well from mashed potato bars, dessert receptions, themes from around the world and whatever your imagination thinks up. Remember this is your wedding – your food!

A stay-at-home mother of four,  Lynette began questioning her purpose in life.  “We all have a purpose, and I thought mine was to raise great kids.” But after months of feeling that she should be doing something more, she realized she had a passion to write.  Luck was on her side when the local owner/editor of her hometown newspaper needed a story covered.  Before long, she was working part-time for The Town Charter.  She quickly gained popularity, which resulted in a weekly inspirational column.  She also had several articles published in the Lifestyles magazine. When one of her readers approached her and suggested she write a book, Lynette giggled at the notion.  “I didn’t have the confidence to take on such a tremendous task,” she said.  However, when several more of her readers suggested it again, she became intrigued with the idea and considered it whole-heartedly.

The release date of her first book Through the Night is scheduled for early April and the book is stirring some real excitement.  Complete with humor and battles between supernatural forces, this exciting love story is filled with plenty of suspense and inspirational messages for the soul.  Through the Night will keep the reader captivated to the last page.  For more information, visit www.lynettetheisen.com.

Spring hairstyles are demanding one thing; “oomph.”  It’s a welcome change to see lots of curls, texture, and volume, volume, volume. Versatility and quick-change looks are also big this year.  Add soft weightless layers to any hair length for desired volume and ease of style change. Razor cutting is great for removing weight and adding movement and versitility to hair styles.  When done correctly, it gives layers a soft look and grows out beautifully.  Changing your hairstyle at home can be easy with a few tips from your stylist and great products.

We invite you to visit our website at www.headrushsalon.net to help you choose a stylist that is right for you and make your quick-change into spring simply beautiful.

By Stacey Duncan

As an eighteen-year-old college freshman, she had it all: a new red Mustang for graduation, the latest designer clothes, and some great friends . . . when suddenly she discovered she might be pregnant.

What would she do?  How would she find help, information, and a caring, listening ear?   A friend told her about the Woman to Woman Pregnancy Resource Center, a clinic that offers free pregnancy testing and information on all pregnancy options. Woman to Woman is an organization that offers practical assistance to women and their families facing unplanned pregnancies.  But Woman to Woman doesn’t only serve pregnant women, it also offers services like STD testing, relationship education, and peer counseling at no charge.

Woman to Woman is a nonprofit organization supported through monetary and material donations.  New and gently used household items, furniture, and clothing are donated and sold through the Twice as Nice Resale, located at 413 East Oak Street (at the corner of Bell and Oak) in Denton.

This year’s Walk for Life offers an opportunity to gather pledges and walk a short two mile distance to benefit this local organization that has been providing practical assistance to women in unplanned pregnancies since 1986. Multiple locations offer supporters a convenient location to walk and enjoy family-friendly activities.

If you would like to help Woman to Woman Pregnancy Resource impact generations by participating in the Walk for Life, pledge forms are available at Twice as Nice Resale after March 15th. The Walk for Life will be held Saturday, May 1st. If you have any questions, email info@dentonprc.org or call 940-383-3150.

Woman to Woman is impacting generations one step at a time – won’t you walk with us?

Broken roads can create a great deal of confusion, doubt, and outright fear.  They can also lead to incredible blessings.  The Bible tells us about two travelers on a road following the death of Jesus Christ (Luke 24). A third man joined them and carried on a conversation during the journey.  They discussed the events of the past few days and how they were puzzled and confused about the man they thought would be “the one”, the hoped-for Messiah.  He had died, and although there were reports of his tomb being empty, everything seemed so unclear.   Their broken hearts led to a temporary “blindness” and they were unable to perceive that the third traveler was none other than the resurrected Christ.

“Bless the Broken Road” is the title of a Grammy Award-winning song that has been recorded by several American Country and Christian music artists – most notably, Rascal Flatts.  The lyrics tell a story of pain and confusion culminating in a blessing unseen during the turmoil of the moment.

Every long lost dream
led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart
they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way
into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
(It’s all part of a grander plan that is coming true)

We may be blinded, numb, and confused on our own broken road.  Perhaps the loss of a relationship, job, health, finances, or some other trial has brought us to a crossroads.  Our limited insight makes it difficult for us to understand why God would allow us to go through such an experience.  This is all part of a grander plan.  Some of God’s greatest blessings are unanswered prayers. Eventually, Jesus revealed His identity to the confused travelers over a meal.   He had been with them all along.  When He broke bread and blessed it, their eyes were opened and they realized that even in the darkest moments of life, God was in control. As a matter of fact, He was providing the salvation they longed for. When King David of Israel was on a broken road, he wrote:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;  He rescues those whose spirits are crushed (Psalm 34:18 NLT).

Broken and blessed is not what we would choose, but it is often what God uses to make Himself known to us in a greater way. Even when we cannot see His hand, we can trust His heart that a greater plan is underway.  We don’t have to be afraid to continue down our broken road because God will meet us there.