2019 December Faulkner Lifestyle

december 2019 

ALSO INSIDE: 

Festive Holiday 

Dinner Recipes 

Christmas Miracles 

with Santa Eric 

Christmas Homes 

Around the County 

The Martin Family Decks the Halls 

faulkner lifestyle 

faulknerlifestyle.com

Wishing you a Merry Christmas 

and a Happy New Year! 

1175 MORNINGSIDE DRIVE • CONWAY • 501-327-7642

Darynne Dahlem 

Miss Arkansas 2019 

General Dentistry 

DR. MICHAEL COOPER • DR. AMY KIRBY

contents 

inside 

42 

46 

34 

20 

6 

14 

ON THE COVER 6 

THE MARTIN FAMILY DECKS THE HALLS 

COMMUNITY 14 

CHRISTMAS MIRACLES WITH SANTA ERIC 

AT HOME | CHRISTMAS 20 

A KINDRED CHRISTMAS 

THE LOOK 26 

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 28 

SPOTLIGHT 32 

PROBLEM SOLVER: JIMMY HEAD, MD 

AT HOME | CHRISTMAS 34 

CHRISTMAS DECORATING IS A FAMILY AFFAIR 

SPOTLIGHT 41 

THE HAIR CO: ELIZABETH SIMON 

FEATURE 42 

READY PLAYER ONE: FLASHBACK ARCADE 

AT HOME | ENTERTAINING 46 

A DOODLE CHRISTMAS TRADITION 

TRUTH ON THE GO 54 

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS 

PETS 57 

HOLIDAY HAZARDS FOR PETS 

BEAUTY 59 

INVEST IN YOUR SKIN, FOREVER YOUNG SKIN 

THE ARTS 60 

THE BARD BALL 

SCENE | HEARD 

THE ROARING 20’S GALA 62 

WLN: “START-UPS & START-OVERS” 64 

THE ARTS 67 

CONWAY SYMPHONY CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 

BALLET AND SYMPHONIC ROCK 

OUR FAULKNER FAM 68 

THE MATYJA FAMILY 

4 faulkner lifestyle | december 2O19

Jennifer Stanley, Andrea Lennon, Mary Ruth Marotte, Mary Etta Qualls, Xochilt Hawks, Detra Clark, Patrick Jamerson, Brandy Strain-Dayer, 

Lori Quinn, Drew Spurgers, Jackie Mahar, Shari Hoover, Colleen Holt, Linda Mars, Robin Stauffer, Leah Ashby, and Courtney Bordeaux 

OUR PEOPLE 

PUBLISHERS / OWNERS 

Lori Quinn, Editor 

Brandy Strain-Dayer, Photography Director 

ART DIRECTOR 

Robin Stauffer 

ADVERTISING SALES 

Jackie Mahar 

Shari Hoover 

ADVERTISING DESIGN 

Jackie Mahar 

FEATURE WRITERS 

Jennifer Stanley 

Leah Ashby 

Colleen Holt 

FEATURE / FOOD WRITER / COPY EDITOR 

Leah Ashby 

FOOD ENTHUSIAST / CONTRIBUTOR 

Linda Mars 

FEATURE WRITER / ARTS CONTRIBUTOR 

Mary Ruth Marotte 

WELLNESS CONTRIBUTOR 

Detra Clark 

SPIRITUAL CONTRIBUTOR 

Andrea Lennon 

FITNESS CONTRIBUTOR 

Patrick Jamerson aka Dr. FiT 

TRAVEL CONTRIBUTOR 

Mary Etta Qualls 

CULTURAL COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR 

Xochilt Hawks 

EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR 

Lindsey Jones 

Conway Arkansas 

EMAIL faulknerlifestyle@gmail.com 

faulknerlifestyle.com 

Brandy Strain-Dayer 

and Lori Quinn 

Faulkner Lifestyle 

Publishers / Owners 

Welcome to Faulkner Lifestyle! 

The Faulkner Lifestyle mission is to entertain, inspire, educate 

and inform our community with a variety of articles that 

will provide something of interest for everyone. People, 

business, travel, food, home, wellness, spirituality, style, 

events, and the arts will be just a few of our featured topics. 

We will have a strong online and social media presence. 

Not only will we be distributed as a printed magazine in 

high-traffic retail and service locations — like medical and 

dental offices, fitness facilities, boutiques, salons, coffee 

shops, and restaurants throughout our community — but 

will also have live videos and regular interactions with our 

advertisers and our community, both in person and through 

social media. We will saturate the market on all levels so 

our advertisers will see direct results and our audience will 

stay connected. Owners and publishers, Brandy Strain- 

Dayer and Lori Quinn have more than 15 years of invaluable 

experience in the magazine, marketing, and advertising 

industry that they lend to this publication. 

faulknerlifestyle.com 5

on the cover 

The Martin Family 

Decks the Halls 

“ 

My nativity scene made by my grandmother 

is my most treasured heirloom, along with 

the collection of her hand-painted, ceramic 

Santa figures, which I love to display. 

” 

—Brandie Martin 


BY JENNIFER STANLEY 

PHOTOS BY BRANDY STRAIN-DAYER 

Brandie and Trey Martin 

spectacularly deck the halls of 

their West Conway home for the 

Christmas season. The overall effect is 

simple yet elegant. Decor can be found 

throughout the house and incorporates 

the tastes of each family member, 

including children JT, Tinsley, and Jack. 

Walking up the exterior front entry, 

visitors pass through a large swag over 

the archway, which is comprised of 

greenery with pinecones. Two simple 

green wreaths adorn the double 

front doors, which are flanked by 

large planters filled with matching 

greenery and pinecones. “The fabulous 

entryway was fresh garland hung by 

Nikki Burke,” says Brandie. 

The Martin Family 

The interior décor ranges from the 

handmade to the elegant. There are 

seven trees placed throughout the 

home. “The two main living area trees 


are real. Cutting them down is part of 

our annual family Christmas traditions, 

dating back to my childhood,” 

she says. “We always cut down our 

tree, usually one way too big for our 

house! I loved it, and hope my kids do 

as well. Those trees wouldn’t stand a 

chance without Trey; he takes really 

good care of them, keeping them alive 

until Christmas!” 

Brandie’s holiday décor is inspired 

by “happiness and joy. That is what 

speaks to me during the holidays, and 

I hope my home reflects that. How 

that looks is a little different in each 

room. I like the natural feel to the main 

room décor. It’s not too much, not too 

little. There’s almost a calmness that 

makes me want to relax on the couch 

with a Frazier fir candle burning. I love 

greenery and how it’s incorporated 

into the overall theme. It works great 

with our fresh cut trees,” says Brandie. 

She readily admits, “It’s a well-known 

fact amongst my friends that I do 

not do my own decorating. With 

the exception of my ‘memories tree,’ 

which my kids and I proudly decorate, 

the fabulous Tami Risinger helps create 

my space. The beautiful thing about 

our relationship is that she knows our 

family so well, she can create decor 

that fits our lifestyle and our personalities 

and that brings each of us joy.” 

The game room/play room tree brings 

on the nostalgia. “It has ornaments 

as old as Trey and I on it, along 

with every homemade ornament 

our kids have ever made. If I had to 

pick a favorite tree, that would be 

it! Nothing flashy, just a tree full of 

memories,” she says. Another special 

space is the entryway, which houses 

holiday themed artwork created by 

her children. “I see it every morning as 

I walk out the door, and I can’t help 



ut smile. I also love my collection 

of Santa pictures taken each year 

with the one and only Conway Santa 

Claus. My nativity scene made by my 

grandmother is my most treasured 

heirloom, along with the collection 

of her hand-painted, ceramic Santa 

figures, which I love to display.” 

The holiday décor extends to the kids’ 

rooms as well, and Tami has learned 

how to work with the entire family… 

through some comical trial and error. 

“Young Jack is her strongest critic. 

During the construction and initial 

decorating of our home, he rejected 

her first design for his room, as it was 

not ‘blue enough.’ Since then, all decor 

for his room has been run by him first 


for approval. Tinsley always has a 

decor vision, so she eagerly involves 

herself in the decorating of her room. 

JT, well, just keep it tidy and in line 

with the Cowboys theme!” 

In fact, JT’s Christmas décor is also in 

keeping with Dallas Cowboys color 

scheme, complete with a blue and 

silver woodland tree. Even his ornaments 

are blue with silver stars and 

additional sports related ornaments. 

“The kids’ rooms each fit their definition 

of joy,” says Brandie. Tinsley’s 

tree is rose gold and glitter, which 

blends with her room’s design, and 

features shades of pink, blue, white, 

and gold. Ribbon, ornaments, and 

white lights adorn its branches. “They 

love their trees so much, they keep 

them up a long, long time!” she says. 

Christmas can’t come soon enough at 

the Martins’ cozy, happy home, where 

it certainly is the most wonderful time 

of the year! 


The game room/play room tree brings on the nostalgia. 

“ 

It has ornaments as old as Trey and I on it, along with every 

homemade ornament our kids have ever made. If I had to pick a favorite 

tree, that would be it! Nothing flashy, just a tree full of memories. 

” 

—Brandie Martin 


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CELEBRATING 

40 YEARS 

OF LIFE — GALA 2020 

OCTOBER 1, 2020 

CONWAY EXPO CENTER 

Featured Speaker: Pam Tebow 

Pam Tebow travels and speaks across the country, encouraging audiences to use the incredible 

influence God has given them to eternally impact their world. When her youngest son, Tim, 

won the Heisman Trophy, Pam was featured in national media for her decision to choose life 

for Tim against a doctor’s advice. Their story has been highlighted on Good Morning 

America, on ESPN, and in a 2010 Super Bowl commercial celebrating family and life. 


community 

Samantha and Eric Lamb 

BY: JENNIFER STANLEY 


AND SUBMITTED PHOTOS 

Eric Lamb of Conway orchestrates 

true magic through Eric’s 

Christmas Miracles Ministry. 

His motto is “Making a difference in a 

child’s life, one-by-one.” 

Christmas Miracles 

with Santa Eric 

“ 

After leaving some homes, I am in tears so 

bad that I have to pull over and pray. One of 

the greatest blessings is when someone on my 

list the year before is now sponsoring a family 

and returning the good deed. 

” 

—Eric Lamb, Eric‘s Christmas Miracles Ministry 

The Monticello native has called Conway 

home for 11 years and has worked as 

a data center IT hardware engineer at 

Acxiom Corporation for eight years. He 

is married to Samantha Lamb and has 

a son, Deontre, who lives in Olympia, 

Washington and a daughter, Eryana, 

12. He also has two beautiful granddaughters, 

Brynlee Grace Lamb, four and 

Jaycee Leigh Lamb, two. “I also have a 

host of godchildren who I raised as my 

own: Naylin Lamb, Kenya Campbell, 

Kenyail Campbell, D’Travius Neal, 

Damontre Neal, D’Karre Lynch, Dajun 

Byes, and Shanee Neal. My mother is 

Dorothy Lamb-Terry, and my siblings are 

Dantanese Ridgell, Freda Grandy, Edward 

Grandy, and Kristopher Hudspeth.” 

Eric has mentored and raised children 

his entire adult life. “Since I was young, 

children who didn’t have a father in 

their lives were always drawn to me. I 

raised Deontre by myself since he was 

born and have taken many children 

into my home. I also took in Deontre’s 


aunt when she became pregnant at 11 

years-old and raised her and her son as 

if they were my own because family 

wasn’t able to. You can say I’m the 

godfather for children without their 

fathers in their lives,” he says. 

Despite the obvious challenges that 

accompany mentoring young people, 

Eric remains steadfast in his work, and 

he has rightfully earned the love and 

respect of many former mentees. “They 

call me all the time and say, ‘If it wasn’t 

for you taking me in and showing me 

unconditional love, listening, feeding 

me, and clothing me, I wouldn’t be 

where I am today,’” he says. 

Eric also lead his church’s nursery at 

Grace Temple. In this role he had the 

opportunity to impact many young lives. 

“They knew they were in good hands and 

that I would treat them as my own. My 

pastor, Bishop Steven Arnold, has been a 

big influence in my life and always knew 

that was my gift from God,” says Eric. He 

credits his grandmother, Luvenia Daniels, 

for teaching him to cook, care for children, 

love with all his heart, and always give his 

best effort. This upbringing prepared him 

for the journey of giving to come. 

Though Eric’s ministry is but five years 

old, he has cared for children for over 

35 years. “God woke me one night and 


placed this vision of Eric’s Christmas 

Miracles Ministry into my spirit,” he 

says. In a nutshell, the ministry provides 

children in need with toys, clothes, 

underwear, socks, and shoes (when available). 

It also provides blankets and coats 

upon request and food items in the event 

an entire family is in need. “I personally 

delivered to each home all over Arkansas 

and other states, plus I mail boxes to my 

friend, Elva Luna’s Christmas ministry in 

Mexico,” he says. 

When Eric originally conceptualized 

the ministry, he began by contacting 

his best friends Angela Washington 

and Cassandra Thorne. “I told them 

what God placed on my heart, and they 

said, ‘What do you need us to do?’” he 

says. Angela created an application and 

posted an add on Facebook requesting 

referrals for applicants. 

From that humble beginning, the ministry 

has grown by leaps and bounds. Proving 

how far one motivated person can take a 

vision, Eric’s Christmas Miracles Ministry 

served 65 children in 2015, 90 children 

in 2016, 150 kids in 2017, and 235 in 

2018. He is on track to serve even more in 

2019, and Eric could not be more pleased 

with the ministry’s trajectory. Beyond 

that, fulfilling the dreams of children is 

incomparable. “It’s such a warming feeling 

to deliver to each of the children; they 

are so excited and happy to receive gifts. 

Some want to open them right away. 

Some hug the bags of gifts, and I see tears 

in the parents’ eyes, which has me in tears. 

They say they asked God to send them 

a miracle...I always give the children and 

parents a hug, and I pray with them. Most 

send me pictures or videos of the children 

opening their gifts and saying, ‘thanks 

Black Santa,’” he says, an ode to Eric’s 

ministry nickname. 

“After leaving some homes, I am in tears 

so bad that I have to pull over and pray. 

One of the greatest blessings is when 

someone on my list the year before is 

now sponsoring a family and returning 

the good deed. I take my children out 

with me to deliver, so they can see how 

blessed they are and can learn to always 

give back,” Eric says. 

Eric’s Christmas Miracles Ministry accepts 

applications each year from July 1 through 

September 15. Requestors must show true 

need, and applicants cannot be ministry 

recipients for more than two consecutive 

years. Those who wish to sponsor a child 

can contact Eric, who will match them 

with a list of items from an application. 

Donors provide the gifts and items to him 

by November 30 for delivery. People are 

able to refer other families and children to 

the ministry as well. 

Eric raises funds for the Christmas ministry 

by cooking and selling plate lunches, and 

he also personally funds a large portion 

of the ministry. He can always use more 

donors and accepts money, toys, clothes, 


lankets, shoes, gift cards, or gas cards 

and, of course, those who are willing 

and able to sponsor a child in need. “Bale 

Chevrolet in Little Rock has sponsored 

a truck to deliver the gifts to homes all 

over Arkansas. Arkansas State Troopers 

are also teaming up with Black Santa to 

help deliver gifts to the families. I’m so 

grateful and blessed,” says Eric. “I also 

have a retired Marine who is going to be 

my chauffeur this year, so I can sit on the 

passenger seat and be Santa.” 

He adds, “This ministry has truly 

blessed me tremendously, and I love 

being a blessing to some deserving 

children for Christmas! I hate seeing 

so many children who don’t receive 

anything. I don’t take any credit; I give 

God all the praise, glory, and honor.” 

CONNECT 

Eric‘s Christmas Miracles 

Ministry on Facebook 

EMAIL: 

EricLamb499@yahoo.com 

$20 per book 

FEED MORE THAN 

Just Your Family. 

Arkansas ranks 3rd highest in the nation for child hunger. Over half a million 

Arkansans struggle with food insecurities. And, 1 in 4 Arkansas children suffer 

from hunger. We want to do something about it. That’s why all of the proceeds 

from the sale of our cookbooks go to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. 

Help us feed Arkansas children by purchasing a First Security Cookbook today. 

For the perfect Christmas gift that gives back, pick up 

your cookbook today at any First Security location. 

Member FDIC 


scene | heard 

1052 HARRISON STREET 

STE. 1-6 • CONWAY 

























at home | christmas 


The Brainerd Family 

A Kindred 

Christmas 

BY COLLEEN HOLT 


The abundance of loving holiday traditions shared by 

family and friends keep Jessica Brainerd of Greenbrier 

excited about Christmas year after year. 

Jessica recalls her favorite Christmas memories when 

she and her husband, Brent, decorate their home for the 

holidays. “Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. 

It was my late MaMaw’s favorite holiday as well. I enjoyed 

going and seeing all of my family on Christmas Eve and 

Christmas day, as well as Christmas celebrated at church. I 

can still remember the smells and the sights in each of their 

homes, including the staple recipes that were made and how 

the trees were decorated.” 


For Christmas 2019, the Brainerd home 

features the traditional colors of red and 

green, with specific family items placed 

throughout the home as small reminders 

of years gone by. “I’m always drawn to the 

traditional reds and greens because they 

make me happier and I don’t grow tired 

of them. I’ve tried to tone a room down to 

just creams and golds, but it’s not as warm 

and Christmas-like to me,” says Jessica. 

Each year, Jessica will place her favorite 

items in her holiday décor, and then add 

to it “as the inspiration hits.” This year, 

for instance, she added a Santa and Mrs. 

Clause on her hearth. Family items used 

in the decorating scheme include glasses 

that belonged to her MaMaw, Carole 

Mobbs, placed on a dining room table. 

Also featured are white and pink glass 

ornaments from her Great-Grandmother 

Winnie Bell Snowden hanging on a tree 

in daughter Cove Caroline’s room, and 

a wooden deer decorated by Brent’s 

mother Linda Brainerd (aka Nonnie) in 

their son John Ridge’s room. Her Great- 

Grandmother passed away in October at 

age 100, so the ornaments are especially 

meaningful this year. 

More family specific items include 

wooden ornaments on Cove’s tree made 

by Uncle Billy McAllister; the initials over 

John Ridge’s crib; and the nine-foot dining 

table and coffee table, in which the legs are 

made from a 300-year-old white oak tree. 

“Family and tradition are so important to 

me. I have old Christmas cookbooks that 

my MaMaw bought for my Grandma 

that I display in the kitchen along with my 

MaMaw’s cookie jars that I fill with her 

Christmas goodies recipes for my family,” 

she said. “In my bedroom I have one of my 

Great-Grandma’s old wool blankets. This 

will be the first year that both my MaMaw 

and Great-Grandma will not be here, but I 

hope and plan to keep alive their traditions 

that I hold so dear to my heart.” 

New or recycled items also find their 

way into Jessica’s décor. She and her 

business partner, Holly Stigall, have a 

store in Greenbrier called Kindred Folk 

Farmhouse, and items for her home are 

sometimes found during shopping trips 

searching for things to sell at the store. 

“Holly and I go junking and fill our 

store with vintage finds that are easy for 

people to use to decorate their homes. 

We also sell retail décor items, and I can 

pull from that,” she said. 

“A lot of my personal décor is vintage 

inspired. I like to take something that 

someone views as junk and make it 

beautiful again. I have these four-foottall 

plywood Santa and Mrs. Clause 

that looked like something from my 

childhood. I bought them at a vintage 

market for $40 for the pair and I thought 

to myself, ‘what a steal and my kids are 

gonna love them for years to come’. I 

really like to use stems, and emphasize 

that God gives us so much in nature that 

we can use to make our homes beautiful 

without spending a lot of money. For 

instance, this year I chose to decorate a lot 

with real cedar, magnolia leaves and holly 

stems from outside Kindred Folk Farmhouse, 

which incidentally is the home my 


apartment in Conway on a tight budget. I 

design because it’s fun for me, but also for 

entertaining. My husband and I both really 

enjoy inviting friends and family over and 

cater to them. I try to keep it where children 

and adults alike can enjoy the décor.” 

Brent and Jessica have been married 

since 2013, and are enjoying Christmas 

this year with Cove Caroline, who is 3, 

and John Ridge, who is 9 months. “Brent 

typically acts as the supervisor. He sits 

and watches football and critiques and 

gives me feedback. He says he enjoys 

it, and I believe he does, because I 

married someone who sings, ‘O Come 

All Ye Faithful’ all year round! He loves 

Christmas as much as I do and we hope 

to pass that love onto our children.” 

great-grandparents built in 1954 and my 

Papa (Ronnie Mobbs) grew up in.” 

Jessica said she has been decorating and 

designing for as long as she can remember, 

and it’s the actual work that she has always 

enjoyed the most. “Now, we try to make 

it fun, we listen to music and finish by 

reading the Nativity, Luke Chapter 2, in 

the bible before we top the tree,” she said. 

“I would always help my parents decorate 

our tree and my MaMaw decorate their 

home. I started doing this on my own 

while I was in nursing school. I remember 

decorating my boyfriend’s (now husband) 

The Brainerds say it’s important that 

their children understand the value and 

the true meaning of Christmas. “We try 

to keep our topper as a star each year 

as it represents the star of Bethlehem. 

Cove Caroline is now 3 and this is the 

first year that she’s really been into and 

understood what we’re doing. She tells 

me, ‘Oh Mommy, my tree is so pretty’, 

and wants to help decorate and put 

ornaments on the tree,” Jessica said. “She 

told my mother, Ronda Woodrome, 

recently, ‘Mimi, that’s not a ball, that’s an 

ornament!’ She’s quite the little sassafras. 

John Ridge is only 9 months, in the last 


two weeks he’s started pulling up and 

crawling at a faster pace. He finds all the 

décor quite amusing to say the least and I 

have to be very mindful of what’s around!” 

Jessica has specific ideas for the designs 

in the kids’ bedrooms. “I try to keep John 

Ridge’s room more masculine and Cove 

Caroline’s room more feminine. I want 

their rooms to be something they enjoy, 

not necessarily for me. The rest of the 

house is just traditional Christmas.” 

Born and raised in Greenbrier, Jessica 

graduated from high school and went 

straight into college and nursing school. 

“I’ve been practicing as a nurse for 12 years 

this December. I’ve worked at Conway 

Regional in the Critical Care Unit for 

eight years and recently started at Baker 

Eye Institute as a pre-op nurse part-time.” 

Kindred Folk Farmhouse opened in 2015. 

“As a child I looked forward to Christmas 

more than any vacation you could have 

taunted me with. My MaMaw left the 

biggest impression on me as far as my love 

for decorating and cooking, most especially 

around Christmas. She was the best hostess, 

and could make a deviled egg look pretty. 

She would have around eight Christmas 

cookie jars filled with her homemade 

chocolate and peanut butter fudge, Oreo 

balls, gourmet chocolate chip cookies, hello 

dollies and pecan pralines to name a few. 

She decorated her entire house and it was 

something that I enjoyed doing with her. It 

was such a fun time for all of her family.” 


Grateful 

for our patients 

and 

new doctor 

Dr. Caitlin Haley Corona.





development 



spotlight 

Problem Solver 

Jimmy Head, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon 

Jimmy Head, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon 

A 

middle-aged woman with 

bunions, an athlete with an 

injured Achilles tendon, a physician 

who needed a hind-foot infusion, 

and a man with diabetes facing a foot 

amputation are just a few of the patients 

who have visited James Head, MD. 

Doctor Head is a fellowship-trained 

orthopedic foot and ankle specialist 

whose tools can include plates, screws, 

hammers, and drills. He is certified by the 

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. 

“My fellowship training uniquely 

qualifies me to resolve difficult and 

complex problems with the feet and 

ankles,” says Dr. Head who describes 

himself as a problem solver who likes 

to “think outside the box.” Dr. Head 

recently shared what it’s like to be a foot 

and ankle surgeon and why he chooses 

to practice his specialty in Conway. 

How long have you been an orthopedic 

surgeon? I have been practicing 

in Conway for just over three years. 

What inspired you to enter into this 

field of medicine? I love the complexity 

of the anatomy related to the feet and 

ankles. The surgery is awesome. I 

remember my first week in orthopedics 

as a student seeing knee and shoulder 

replacements, and I was immediately 

hooked. Every medical student has a 

unique personality, interest, and talent, 


hone my skills in topics such as fracture 

care, ankle replacement, treatment 

of diabetic feet, advanced fusion 

techniques, and minimally invasive 

bunion surgery, Achilles repair, and 

ankle fusion just to name a few. 

“ 

Every medical student has a unique personality, 

interest, and talent, and I knew that orthopedics 

was where I belonged. Orthopedists have the 

ability to help someone go from daily severe pain 

that limits their quality of life to being pain-free, 

smiling, and walking. That is incredibly rewarding. 

” 

—Jimmy Head, MD 

and I knew that orthopedics was where 

I belonged. Orthopedists have the ability 

to help someone go from daily severe 

pain that limits their quality of life to 

being pain-free, smiling, and walking. 

That is incredibly rewarding. 

What do you enjoy the most about 

being a surgeon? I love fixing broken 

bones and reconstructive surgery, 

which includes using plates, screws, 

hammers, and drills to repair and 

reconstruct the bones. It is especially 

rewarding to treat a unique problem 

that requires some combination of 

previous experience and training, plus 

thinking on my feet or outside the box 

to come up with a new and original 

way to treat the particular problem. 

What sets you apart in the field of 

orthopedics? Being the only orthopedic 

surgeon in town to complete a foot and 

ankle fellowship, I am able to use my 

highly specialized training to best serve 

people with foot and ankle pain. I have 

completed rigorous training through 

medical school, a five-year residency, 

and a year of fellowship training. 

Can you tell us more about your 

advanced training? You have to be 

in the top 10 percent of your class in 

medical school just to get into an orthopedics 

residency. In medical school and 

residency training, I acquired a broad 

knowledge base that enables me to 

care for the whole patient and solve 

complex problems. I trained under one 

of the world leaders in foot and ankle 

trauma and reconstruction, as well as 

another leader in ankle replacement 

surgery. Since my fellowship training, 

I have spent a significant amount of 

time and money attending a variety 

courses and conferences to continue to 

What types of conditions or ailments 

could prospective patients see 

improvement in after a visit with you? 

Bunions, tendonitis, heel pain, flat feet, 

arch pain, arthritis, hammertoes, diabetic 

foot problems, fractures and broken 

bones, sports injuries, bone spurs, and 

tendon ruptures are a few of the foot and 

ankle problems that I commonly treat. 

Where are you from, and how did 

you end up in Conway? I grew up in 

Heber Springs and achieved my bachelor’s 

degree at UCA. My wife, Amanda, 

grew up in Vilonia, and her parents 

live in Enola, while my parents are in 

Conway. After my fellowship training, 

we wanted to move back to Conway. 

The community also needed a foot and 

ankle orthopedic surgeon. 

What makes Conway a great place 

to live, work, and raise children? It’s 

an excellent place to raise a family and 

we love UCA. We are near a big city but 

not in a big city. The numerous activities 

for families, along with excellent schools 

and churches create an ideal family 

atmosphere in Conway. 

Can you tell us about your family? 

Amanda is a nurse who is now a 

stay-at-home mom with our two kids: 

Kylie, a three-year-old girl, and Jay, a 

one-year-old boy. We have another boy 

on the way. 

Do you have any personal interests/ 

hobbies outside of medicine? I enjoy 

hunting, fishing, sports, and exercise, 

but mostly spending time with Amanda 

and the kids. We are also members of 

New Life Church in Conway. 


at home | christmas 

Christmas Decorating 

is a Family Affair 


SUBMITTED PHOTO 

The Goss Family 

BY COLLEEN HOLT 

PHOTOS BY C. NEUMANN - NEUMAN IMAGING 

When it comes to decorating, Michael and Deanne Goss 

make the perfect team: she finds the perfect item to display 

and he finds the perfect place for it to shine. 

“ 

It‘s a lot of fun for both of us. 

We have actually asked guests 

to guess how many nutcrackers, 

wreaths, or trees during parties. 

So far, we have 21 nutcrackers, 

15 wreaths, over 50 poinsettias, 

and 42 Christmas trees. 

” 

—Deanne Goss 

The Gosses have once again created a Christmas wonderland in their 

Conway home, featuring whimsical nutcrackers, lots of wreaths, and 

a forest of trees. “Christmas is our favorite holiday because it represents 

the birth of Jesus, but Michael and I also just love to decorate. 

I love finding cool things, and Michael has a gift of knowing just 

where to put them,” said Deanne. “Also, the decorations around 

Christmas are far and away our favorite. Plus, it stays up for nearly 

six weeks, so it really works for us.” 

Michael said that before he and Deanne were married, he enjoyed 

adding Christmas décor to his home on Par Fore. After they married 

and later moved into their current home in Pippinpost, they realized 

that it was the perfect location for decorations. “Virtually everywhere 

we look, we can see a spot that a tree would work, or a wreath, or 

some garland. Even though it’s a large home, it’s actually not that 

difficult to decorate. It takes about a day and a half ... and now that we 

have kids ... it takes even longer,” Michael says, jokingly. 

The plan for their Christmas décor is to consider each room or space 

separately. “Each room has one or more of our major elements: 


scene | heard 

nutcrackers, wreaths, or trees,” said 

Michael. “We do our best to find other 

elements and decorations to compliment 

the major colors of the space. For 

instance, in our kitchen/den area, it’s 

painted blue with white trim, so we have 

a white tree, blue and silver nutcrackers, 

and all the decorations are in the blue 

family. We use simple items like large 

boxes wrapped in beautiful paper to fill 

larger spaces, like above our cabinets. 

The main goal is to create the right ‘feel’ 

in each area. We want it to show our 

style, look good, and be easy.” 

Deanne said the “genesis” of their 

decorating began with four life-sized 

nutcrackers that Michael brought home 

from his office. “For some reason I have 

always loved nutcrackers, and since then 

I am always on the lookout for them. It’s 

not easy to find the right color and the 

right size, but over the years, we have 

slowly added three here, or four there.” 


The home also has plenty of areas that 

look great decorated with a wreath. “I 

decorate them and Michael finds a place 

for them. It’s a lot of fun for both of us. We 

have actually asked guests to guess how 

many nutcrackers, wreaths, or trees during 

parties. So far, we have 21 nutcrackers, 

15 wreaths, over 50 poinsettias, and 42 

Christmas trees,” Deanne added. 

In the main areas of the home, the focal 

point is always a tree. “It’s the largest 

item and makes the greatest statement. 

After that, we look to connect the rest 

of the room to that main feature,” said 

Deanne. “I love to shop for all kinds of 

things. I always have my eyes open for 

unique things — usually nutcrackers. I 

have made or remade all of the wreaths 

and garland. We find things at Walmart, 

Sam’s, Hobby Lobby ... but my favorite 

thing to do is buy next year’s stuff when 

it gets marked down after Christmas ... I 

am addicted to 90 percent OFF!” 


When asked why he decorates, Michael 

said it is really for the joy of their 

family. “We put up things that we like, 

that make us feel good or happy. We 

thoroughly enjoy the entire process. It 

doesn’t feel like work to us,” he said. “I 

actually love walking through the house 

every morning and seeing all the decorations, 

or when the lights come on in the 

evening. The ulterior motive is that we 

also want our family and friends to have 

a memorable time as well.” 

Deanne added that they have hosted 

lots of parties and events over the years, 

and the décor is a big part of the party 

atmosphere. “This home is perfect for 

entertaining. From large gatherings of 50 

or more, to a small dinner with another 

couple, this place always feels right. But, 

we never want the decorations to get in 

the way of people or life. So, if something 

breaks, or gets messed up, just 

clean it up. Our motivation is always to 

make guests feel welcome, comfortable, 

and at peace in our home.” 

Deanne and Michael have been married 

17 years and have four children – two 

girls and two boys. “When the kids were 

little, we would put them to bed and 

then decorate. Now that they are bigger, 

it’s actually a blast to decorate together. 

The kids get really geeked up every 

year to decorate their room. The boys 

have a Star Wars theme, with a black 

tree and a Boba Fett tree topper. The 

girls have a pink tree with kitties, and 

butterfly decorations. We always begin 

the decorating process after dinner on 

Thanksgiving, and the kids can hardly 

wait,” Michael said. 

For Deanne, Christmas was a special time 

as a kid growing up in Alaska. Michael, 

who grew up near Wooster, also has fond 

memories of the holiday. “I remember 

how my mom made a really big deal 

out of Christmas, and we always had so 

much fun. We want to make sure we are 

able to pass that heritage on to our kids.” 


Same Faces New Name 

P R O U D T O B E F A U L K N E R C O U N T Y O W N E D & O P E R A T E D 

Cindy Hudson Webb 

GIA Graduated Gemologist 

Owner 

+ VINTAGE CHANEL 

804 Front Street Conway, AR 72032 

Historic Downtown Conway 

(501) 358- 6522 

www.francismfinejewelry.com

spotlight 

local 

business 

T he reason for 

the season! 

1032 Front Street 

Conway 

501.932.6027 

www.irbydance.com 

1165a Main St. in Vilonia 

(501) 514-4916 

“I am in the 

transformation 

business” 

C: 501.697.5520 

Online Booking: 

www.amygilstrap.com 

Inside Kris Anthony Salon 

Wilkinson’s Mall 

Shoes • Apparel • Accessories • Jewelry 

1212 Harrison Street in Conway 

501.329.shoe • wilkinsonsmall.com 

Want to advertise? 

Contact us today! 

FaulknerLifestyle@gmail.com 

Shari Hoover 501.269-0196 

Jackie Mahar 501.472.9447 


spotlight 

How long have you been in business in Faulkner 

County? I just started back behind the chair in April 

after being in salon sales for 5 years. 

What do you love most about your business 

and why? Being able to be creative and help others 

feel comfortable with who they are an also embrace 

change to give them confidence 

How has your business changed/evolved over 

time? Our techniques have definitely changed and 

how we would apply color or lightener to achieve 

certain looks the client is wanting 

What are some of the latest trends in your 

industry? Balayage and hand tied extensions have 

definitely become a highly requested service this year 

What sets you apart from other businesses 

in your industry? I had the chance to work with 

many brands the last 5 years and that has given 

me the chance to see their facilities and learn their 

background. I also had the chance of having first 

hand education given from the companies and 

brands which I was able to learn the new trends and 

upcoming techniques 

How are you involved in your community/ 

county? If I’m not able to be out with the community, 

I like to donate hair services or products to any 

event or charity when needed 

PHOTO BY BRANDY STRAIN-DAYER 

The Hair Co 

Elizabeth Simon, Stylist 

625 Salem Road, Conway 

Monday-Friday by appointment 

What do you love most about being a business 

owner inFaulkner County? I love being a hairstylist 

in Conway because it’s a growing city with where so 

many are eager to stay with the new and on going 

trends. The people here love supporting local shops 

and stores and it’s such a great place to be a part of. 

Who is/was your inspiration for owning a business 

and why? My inspiration for becoming a 

hairstylist started in high school when I started doing 

pageants. Learning how to present myself gave me 

the confidence I needed and I wanted to share that 

with other girls and women 

What plans do you have for the future? My plans 

for the future are to strive to be the best stylist I can 

for anyone who sits in my chair and continue to 

further my education within hair and fashion and 

bring that back to my clients 


feature 

Ready Player One: 

Flashback Arcade 


The Johnson Family 

BY JENNIFER STANLEY 


Keller and Christi Johnson and 

son Kerrick of Conway have 

added a fun new business 

venture to their repertoire: Flashback 

Pinball Arcade, LLC. Located at 810 

North Creek Drive Suite B, the arcade 

provides the perfect opportunity for 

those who miss old school pinball or 

games like Pac Man and Galaga. 

The Johnsons, both Conway natives, 

are also parents to Kristen and Kinleigh. 

They have four grandchildren including 

Jaxson, Gavin, McKenzie, and Chandler. 

They are active members of the 

community. 

What made you decide to open 

Flashback Pinball Arcade, LLC? This 

genre is completely new to us. We have 

owned and operated our commercial 

and residential construction company for 

16 years, as well as managed commercial 

and residential rental property 

throughout the Conway area since 1996. 

So why not open an arcade, right? 


What do you love about the idea of 

an arcade? We enjoy watching kids 

today doing things we did growing up… 

It is neat to watch their responses and to 

see them keep trying to get better scores. 

How did you get the idea off the 

ground? Keller has collected pinball and 

arcade games since the early 90’s. Retro 

arcade games and pinball are making 

a huge comeback across the country, 

and with many cities hosting pinball 

tournaments. In the early 2000’s, there 

were roughly 50 known competitions for 

pinball. Today, there are over 4,500 events 

throughout the year. We visited a pinball 

museum in Las Vegas earlier this year, and 

the idea really took off from there. 

What sets Flashback apart? We are 

the only arcade in Faulkner County and 

have the largest collection of working 

pinball machines in Arkansas. In fact, 

we have about 50 pinball machines 

in a variety of types, including 

pre-electronic, all from our personal 

collection. We even have some big ones 

from the 80s, like the Hulk, KISS, Evel 

Knievel, and Flash Gordon. There is 

also a Dolly Parton. We have Pac-Man, 

Ms. Pac-Man, and Super Pac-Man. We 

also have a pool table and air hockey. 

How are you involved in the 

community? Faulkner County is the best 

community to live in. We love working 

with and supporting several nonprofits, 

as well as our school and church. We 

hope to utilize this new venture to 

support groups in our community even 

more by hosting fundraisers and offering 

something different for company team 

building. This is a family friendly business 

that has something for all ages to enjoy. 

Flashback Pinball Arcade, LLC ‘s 

current hours are Friday from 

5pm to 9pm, and Saturday 

from 11am to 9pm. They offer 

bookings for private events 

such as birthday parties and 

also for corporate events. For 

more information, find them on 

Facebook or call (501) 514-1218. 

robin stauffer | owner & art director 

501.730.6725 | conway, ar

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at home | christmas entertaining 

A Doodle 

Christmas 

Tradition 

“ 

There is a lot of love in the room when 

the Doodles gather. It comes in the form of 

laughter, encouragement and great expectations 

but never stained by competition, criticism 

or judgement. It‘s the Doodle way. 

” 

—Pattie Howse-Duncan 


L-R: Gail Strack, Pattie Howse-Duncan, Seely Lucas, Vicki Brewer, Susie Walker, 

Sarah Frost, Julie Adkisson, Pam Curry (seated) 

BY LEAH ASHBY 


A 

diverse and lively group of 

women, self-proclaimed the 

Doodles, gathered at the home 

of Gail Strack for their annual Christmas 

party. Just who are the Doodles? Pattie 

Howse-Duncan of Conway desired a 

way to spend more time with women 

she admired. From there, a group of 

talented, spiritual, creative women 

agreed to meet monthly with the sole 

purpose of learning from each other. 

This band of sisters named themselves 

the Doodles and have been inspiring 

each other for almost a decade. 

“Enjoying the intimacy of meeting in each 

other’s homes, the host is charged with 

teaching something new so they can all 

become better women. Over the years, 

the group has truly doodled at many 

things, including countless craft projects, 

cooking demonstrations, decorating ideas 

and so much more,” explained Pattie. 

The highlight of the year is the muchanticipated 

Christmas dinner and gift 

exchange at the home of Gail Strack. Gail 

decorates her home with numerous trees 

covered in soft lights and glass ornaments, 

an abundance of fresh greenery, flowers 


and candlelight. Gail’s nativity collection 

is also displayed throughout her home in 

new and creative ways, creating a tradition 

for the Doodles to search each room 

looking for the different Nativities. 

The dining table featured an antique 

statue of Mary and Jesus adorned with 

fresh magnolia leaves, seeded eucalyptus, 

copper and glass balls, velvet ribbon and 

brass candlesticks with copper colored 

candles throughout the length of the 

table. The statue was a gift from Todd 

Smith and Charlie Groppetti, owners of 

Park Hill Home. A chocolate martini has 

become a Doodle tradition, along with a 

beautiful charcuterie tray nestled under 

a tabletop tree displaying ornaments 

handmade by the Doodles over the years. 

The charcuterie tray included salamis, 

cheeses, fruits, nuts, and brie cheese 

topped with cranberry coconut filling. 

The meal included lasagna, Ina Garten’s 

baked acorn squash, Italian sweet bread 

with salted garlic butter bread, and dinner 

salad with marinated skewers. The place 

settings included copper chargers with 

large metal stars covering the dinner plate. 

Each Doodle received a star with her last 

initial embossed in copper. 

While the meal varies from year to year, 

the grand finale is always a beautiful, 

multi-layered Christmas cake. After dinner, 

the Doodles gather around the fireplace for 

the gift exchange that always turns into a 

celebration of love. The creative packaging 

of the gifts is as much fun as the giving. 

Patti reflects on the adoration the women 

have for each other. “The Doodles have 

experienced life together. We attend five 

different church denominations, and 

we are not of the same political party, 

but we do share a sense of sisterhood 


demonstrated by the way we stand beside 

and support each other. Throughout the 

core of all the celebrations and hardships 

are the Doodle prayers, lifting each other 

and praying earnestly. There is a lot of 

love in the room when the Doodles 

gather. It comes in the form of laughter, 

encouragement and great expectations but 

never stained by competition, criticism or 

judgement. It’s the Doodle way.” 

Lasagna 

This hearty lasagna is sure to become a 

holiday tradition and is the perfect makeahead 

dinner to serve family and friends. 

INGREDIENTS 

1 pound Italian sausage 

1 clove garlic, minced 

1 Tablespoon whole basil 

1 ½ teaspoons salt 

1 1-pound can tomatoes 

2 6-ounce cans tomato paste 

10 ounces lasagna noodles 

2 eggs 

3 cups fresh Ricotta or 

cream-style cottage cheese 

½ cup grated Parmesan 

or Romano cheese 

2 Tablespoons parsley flakes 

1 teaspoon salt 

½ teaspoon pepper 

1 pound mozzarella cheese, 

sliced very thin 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 

Brown meat; spoon off excess fat. Add 

next 5 ingredients and 1 cup water. 

Simmer, covered, 15 minutes; stir often. 

Cook noodles in boiling, salted water until 

tender; drain; rinse. Beat eggs and add 

remaining ingredients except mozzarella. 

Layer half the noodles in a 13x9x2-inch 

baking dish. Spread with half the Ricotta 

filling, add half the mozzarella cheese 

and half the meat sauce. Repeat. 

Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 

30 minutes or assemble early and 

refrigerate, baking 45 minutes. Let stand 

10 minutes before serving. Serves 8-10. 


Maple-Roasted 

Acorn Squash 

Ina Garten’s acorn squash has simple 

ingredients and is melt-in-your-mouth 

delicious. 

INGREDIENTS 

3 acorn squash, unpeeled, halved 

through the stem, and seeded 

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, diced 

3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup, 

plus extra for serving 

Good olive oil 

Kosher salt 

Freshly ground black pepper 

Flaked sea salt, for serving 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Place the squash, cut sides up, on 

a sheet pan. Place ½ Tablespoon 

butter and ½ Tablespoon maple 

syrup in the cavity of each squash. 

Brush the cut sides with olive oil and 

sprinkle the squash with 3 teaspoons 

kosher salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. 

Roast for 40-60 minutes, depending 

on the size of the squash, until tender 

when pierced with a small knife. 

Place the squash on a serving 

platter. If the halves are too large for 

one serving, cut each piece in half 

through the stem. Drizzle lightly with 

extra maple syrup, sprinkle with sea 

salt and serve hot. 

Baby Spring 

Green Salad 

This is a beautiful salad served during 

the holidays but has classic ingredients 

that can be enjoyed anytime of 

the year. 

INGREDIENTS 

Mixed spring greens 

Olive Garden creamy Italian dressing 

Bocconcini (mozzarella balls) 

Pepperoni slices 

Grape tomatoes 

Black olives 

Green olives 

Purple onion, for garnish 

Freshly shaved parmesan, for garnish 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Skewer the bocconcini, pepperoni, 

grape tomatoes, black olives, green 

olives and marinate in the Italian 

dressing. 

Top the spring greens with the skewers 

and garnish with purple onion 

and freshly shaved parmesan. 


Non-Alcoholic 

Sangria 

This colorful sangria is bursting with 

color, flavor and so refreshing. 

INGREDIENTS 

Equal parts white grape juice 

and ginger ale 

Orange slices 

Lime slices 

Fresh cranberries 

Fresh pomegranate seeds 

INSTRUCTIONS 

In a pretty pitcher combine equal 

parts white grape juice and ginger ale. 

Add orange slices, lime slices, fresh 

cranberries and pomegranate seeds. 

Make an hour ahead so flavors can 

meld together. Pour over ice. Serve 

immediately. 


A chocolate martini has become a Doodle tradition, along 

with a beautiful charcuterie tray nestled under a tabletop tree 

displaying ornaments handmade by the Doodles over the 

years. The charcuterie tray included salamis, cheeses, fruits, 

nuts, and brie cheese topped with cranberry coconut filling. 

The meal varies from year to 

year, but the finale is always 

a beautiful, multi-layered 

Christmas cake. 

Conway residents Leah Ashby and Linda Mars 

are longtime friends who love entertaining family 

and friends. Leah is a business analyst at Acxiom 

Corporation, and Linda is a registered nurse at Circle 

of Friends Clinic at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. 

Get ready to deck your halls & impress everyone on your gift list! 

20% off 

any regular priced 

item 

in the gift shop 

Expires 1/1/20 

2521 College Ave. • Conway www.conwaymedcarepharmacy.com 



truth on the go 

“The time came for the baby to be born, 

and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. 

She wrapped him in cloths and placed 

him in a manger, because there was no 

room for them in the inn.” 

Luke 2:6-7, New International Version 


The First Christmas 

“ 

Christmas represents everything that really matters in life. 

When we strip away all of the things going on in our world and 

we get down to what really counts for life and eternity, we find 

the Christmas manger resting quietly in the middle of it all. 

” 

—Andrea Lennon 

BY ANDREA LENNON 

Have you noticed the Christmas 

season is one of the busiest and 

most stressful times of the year? 

The hustle and bustle can leave us 

with an attitude of, “Let’s just make it 

through” or “I must conquer it all!” 

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas 

this year, let’s make the choice to 

thrive instead of survive. Daily we can 

remember that Christmas represents 

everything that really matters in life. 

When we strip away all of the things 

going on in our world and we get 

down to what really counts for life and 

eternity, we find the Christmas manger 

resting quietly in the middle of it all. 

God’s Word tells us the story of the first 

Christmas. Tucked away in this familiar 

passage, we find God’s plan for peace. 

And do you know what I love about 

God’s plan for peace? It can be experienced 

as we live right here on earth. 

Mary was approached by an angel and 

told that she would give birth to the 

long awaited Messiah. Mary embraced 

this call even though it was way 

outside of her comfort zone. In fact, 

the call could have been dangerous to 

her reputation as well as her life. 

counted in a census. I love the fact that 

God was putting Mary and Joseph in 

the right place at the right time to fulfill 

His perfect plan. 

The couple made the long journey from 

Nazareth to Bethlehem and scripture 

records what happened next. “The 

time came for the baby to be born, and 

she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. 

She wrapped him in cloths and placed 

him in a manger, because there was no 

room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7, 

New International Version) 

A baby boy, a Son, a Savior—He 

was finally here. Everything on God’s 

Kingdom calendar had been preparing 

the way for this moment in time. 

Why did Jesus come to this earth? 

The angels, who were present at His 

birth, proclaimed the answer to this 

important question. “Glory to God in 

the highest, and on earth peace to men 

on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) 

Jesus came to bring peace! 

If you are wondering how you can 

experience peace on earth, a personal 

relationship with Jesus is the only way. 

Jesus came to this earth and lived a 

perfect life. He died on the cross to 

provide peace. As Jesus hung on the 

cross, He paid for our sins and provided 

the only way for us to have a relationship 

with God. If you long to have real 

peace in your life, confess your sins and 

ask Jesus to forgive you. Invite Jesus to 

come into your life and save you. You 

can be sure of the fact that He will. 

Not long after Jesus’ birth, a small group 

of shepherds set out to find Jesus so they 

could worship Him. Scripture shares the 

account of the shepherds. “When they 

had seen him, they spread the word 

concerning what had been told them 

about this child and all who heard it 

were amazed...” (Luke 2:17) 

During the first Christmas, lives were 

forever changed. Thousands of years 

later, the same opportunity exists. This 

Christmas season you can worship 

Jesus and experience the peace that He 

provides. Jesus came and brought peace 

to this world. Peace that is real and lasting. 

Peace that changes the direction of our 

lives. Jesus, He Himself, is our peace. 

To learn more about Christmas Peace, 

visit my website at www.andrealennonministry.org. 

I have a Christmas 

gift waiting for you! Please download 

my Christmas ebook and enjoy it 

throughout the holiday season. Merry 

Christmas from my family to yours! 

God worked in the heart of Joseph, 

Mary’s fiancé, and he also embraced 

the call to be the earthly father of Jesus. 

The day came for Mary and Joseph 

to travel to Bethlehem in order to be 

Andrea Lennon: An “on the go” kind of girl who loves Jesus, Andrea’s life 

calling is to teach women to know the truth, live the truth, and share the 

truth. Her passion is honest conversation about the topics that drive our 

lives and how we can weather the storms through the love and power of 

our Lord and His Word. Connect with Andrea at AndreaLennonMinistry.org. 


scene | heard 

Warm winter wishes from 

our family to yours! 


pet care 

Holiday Hazards for Pets 

Mind these potential pet hazards to keep furry family 

members happy and healthy during the holiday season. 

If you fear your pet has ingested a toxin, remove the pet 

from the area and check to make sure it is breathing 

and acting normally. Do not give any home antidotes or 

induce vomiting without consulting a veterinarian or call 

the ASPCA‘s Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or, if 

veterinary attention is needed, go to your veterinarian. 

Chocolate. Depending on the dose ingested, 

chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, 

hyperactivity, increased thirst and urination, and 

an increased heart rate. 

Sugar-free foods. Candies or gum—even 

some peanut butters and cupcakes—containing 

the sweetener xylitol can cause a drop in blood 

sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination 

and seizures. 

Leftovers. Bones can splinter and cause 

blockages. Greasy, spicy and fatty foods can 

cause upset stomach. Onions, garlic, chives and 

leeks are all poisonous to dogs and cats. Raisins, 

grapes and currants are also toxic to dogs. 

Liquor and Alcohol. Alcohol can cause a pet 

to go into a coma, possibly resulting in death 

from respiratory failure or from alcohol toxicity. 

Aluminum foil. Aluminum foil and cellophane 

wrappers can cause vomiting and intestinal 

blockage. Pets may get into trash to retrieve 

aluminum foil after it has been used for food. 

Plants. Lilies, Mistletoe and Poinsettias are 

dangerous for animals. Lilies can cause kidney 

failure in cats. Mistletoe and Holly berries can 

cause gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, nausea, 

diarrhea), cardiovascular problems and 

lethargy. Poinsettias are considered very low 

in toxicity, but can cause vomiting or nausea. 

Christmas tree water and additives. 

Christmas tree water or additives for the trees 

may contain fertilizers or chemicals that can 

upset a pet’s stomach. Stagnant water can also 

be a breeding ground for bacteria. 

Decorations. Ribbon or tinsel can become 

lodged in intestines and cause an obstruction. 

Essential oils, often found in potpourri, can 

be toxic to animals. Broken glass ornaments 

can perforate intestines or cut paws, and some 

vintage ones contain mercury. 

Over-the-counter medication. Aspirin, 

acetaminophen, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, 

Kaopectate and Pepto Bismol are all common 

remedies for human revelers, but these 

medications are toxic to pets. 

Cleaning supplies. A variety of cleaners 

can be dangerous to pets. Drain cleaners, 

concentrated diswashing chemicals (including 

dishwasher tabs), lime removal products, 

oven cleaners and concentrated toilet cleaners 

pose the biggest threat. 

DR. THOMAS CABANTAC 

2725 COLLEGE AVE • CONWAY • 501-329-2940 • TUCKERCREEKVET.COM 

WISHING YOU A PAWSITIVELY MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

faulknerlifestyle.com 57 


usiness feature 


eauty 

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skin. Your skin will be noticeably smoother and 

fresher looking. A chemical peel reduces signs 

of sun damage, dull and uneven skin tone, scars, 

pigmentation, acne and enlarged pores, improves 

skin texture and condition by removing dead 

and damaged skin cells. It will be brighter and 

clearer as a chemical peel stimulates the growth of 

healthy skin cells and collagen production. There 

are a range of skin peels available designed to treat 

specific skin conditions and types, all skin peels at 

Studio SKIN are non-toxic and safe, and all of our 

skin peel treatments are tailored to suit individual 

clients’ skin type and condition. 

Benefits of Microdermabrasion 

A microdermabrasion facial has many benefits: 

No Preparation Needed – Because it can be used 

directly on skin without any preparation, it is a 

very convenient treatment which you can enjoy 

whenever it suits your schedule. 

Instant Results – It is fast acting and you will not 

have to wait days before you see the difference. 

Comfortable and Painless – Some skin treatments 

may lead to mild discomfort, but a microdermabrasion 

facial is completely painless. 

Suitable for All Skin Types – It can be used on any 

skin type so you know that it is suitable for you. 

Improves Absorption of Skincare Products – If 

you use high-tech products to make your skin 

look and feel better, a microdermabrasion facial 

allows these to be absorbed into the skin better 

so that you get more out of them. 

Although even a single treatment of microdermabrasion 

will leave you noticing the difference 

immediately, for best results consider multiple 

treatments. 

The benefits of ongoing treatment include: 

Clean Pores – You will not have to worry any more 

about clogged pores because ongoing microdermabrasion 

treatment will clean out pores to 

leave your skin smoother and healthier. 

New Skin Cells – When a microdermabrasion facial 

becomes a regular treatment, your skin cells will 

be replaced with new, healthy ones which will 

make your skin look and feel better, 

Smoother Skin – Much smoother skin free 

from blemishes and fine lines when you take 

advantage of multiple treatments. 

Reduced Scarring – Regular microdermabrasion 

facial treatment can significantly help to reduce 

appearance of acne scarring. 

Benefits of Microneedling 

Microneedling is a type of treatment that uses 

small needles to cause tiny punctures in the skin. 

These small contact points encourage the body to 

create a wound healing response and renew the 

skin cells. As your skin repairs, the production of 

collagen and elastin is triggered to give an almost 

immediate plumping effect. It can also help tackle 

other skin damage such as scarring, fine lines and 

wrinkles, sun damage and aging. 

Benefits of Microcurrent 

Microcurrent is a low level of electrical current 

that mirrors the body’s own natural current. Its 

proven and accepted properties and potential range 

of applications from wound healing, muscle rehabilitation, 

macular degeneration, to lymphodema 

continue to assist medical practitioners with 

amazing results. The Bio-Ultimate Platinum 

device is used to aid in the battle of anti-aging 

by diminishing the appearance of fine lines and 

wrinkles, improving the texture and appearance of 

skin, re-educating and toning facial muscles, and 

reducing the overall visual appearance of aging. 

This popular non-invasive service gives you the 

freedom to attain anti-aging goals without the 

recovery, downtime, and expense of surgeries. 

This low level of electrical current (500 microamperes) 

works in harmony with the body’s natural 

healing processes. At a cellular level, microcurrent 

stimulates activity in the cell to create massive 

amounts (a 500% increase) of adenosine tri-phosphate 

(ATP), known as the “energy of life”. ATP 

drives a number of biological processes including 

muscle contraction/re-education and protein 

(collagen and elastin) synthesis. Facial toning is 

achieved through muscle re-education, working 

a muscle from its origin and insertion inward to 

shorten slackened muscles (such as in the cheeks or 

forehead), and working from the belly outward to 

lengthen contracted muscles (such as the muscles 

that pull the corners of the mouth downward). 

Microcurrent also offers specific iontophoresis 

which allows superior penetration of serums into 

the skin. Benefits: Improve muscle tone in face and 

neck, Lift jowls and eyebrows, Skin exfoliation, 

Sun damaged treatment, Increase product penetration, 

and Reduce wrinkles and eliminate fine lines. 

All the treatments listed above are 

performed at Studio Skin, to determine 

the best anti aging regimen for you 

contact us to schedule a consultation. 

Angela Jackson, Licensed 

Aesthetician, offers 

microcurrent facials and 

other anti aging facial 

treatments at Studio SKIN 

in downtown Conway. 

Micro Needling 


the arts 

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre 

The Bard Ball is February 1, 2020, and it starts at 7 pm, 

onstage and backstage of Reynolds Performance Hall. 

Bard Ball 

2020 will be 

an exciting 

night, as AST alum 

and Broadway 

performer De’Lon 

Grant returns to 

Conway as the 

featured performer 

for the annual 

fundraiser to benefit 

AST’s 2020 season. 

De’Lon starred in AST’s 2012 season 

as Jim in Big River, thrilling audiences 

with his powerful vocals in the classic 

production based on Mark Twain’s The 

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In addition 

to performing at Bard Ball, Grant will 

conduct a workshop with UCA students as 

an artist-in-residence, sponsored by UCA’s 

College of Fine Arts and Communications. 

Grant is an actor and singer currently 

performing on Broadway in the Tony Award 

nominated hit musical Come From Away. 

He spent three years touring domestically 

and internationally as Berry Belson in the 

Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys 

and was recently named Best Leading Actor 

at the 2017 IRNE Awards for his portrayal 

of Haywood Patterson in Kander and Ebb’s 

The Scottsboro Boys; a role for which he also 

received an Elliot Norton Award Nomination. 

Some of Grant’s other credits include: 

Frederick Douglass in Douglass (The Wit 

Theatre, Chicago, IL), Tod Clifton in Invisible 

Man (The Studio Theatre, Washington, 

DC and The Huntington Theatre, Boston, 

MA), Jim in Big River (Lyric Stage Company, 

Boston; Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, 

Conway, AR; The Barnstormers, Tamworth, 

NH), Achilles in Troilus and Cressida 

(Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Boston, MA), 

Posthumous/Cloten in Cymbeline (Actors’ 

Shakespeare Project, Boston, MA), Gaspard 

in A Tale of Two Cities (The Wheelock 

Family Theatre, Boston, MA), Kaine in 

Dessa Rose (The New Repertory Theatre, 

Watertown, MA) and Sawyer in Harriet Jacobs 

(Underground Railway Theatre, Boston, 

MA). Grant holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts 

in Acting from the University of Michigan 

and a Masters in Music with concentration 

in Musical Theatre Performance from The 

Boston Conservatory of Music. 

Please join us for this special evening with 

De’Lon Grant. The emcee for the evening 

will be AST alum Jess Pritchard, with Judge 

Troy and Karla Braswell as co-chairs of the 

event. Tickets and tables may be purchased 

online at www.arkshakes.com or at the door. 

For more information, please contact Mary 

Ruth Marotte at 501-269-9428. 


Holiday 

Tour of Homes 

2019 

Begin the holiday season by joining the women of 

JA Conway at the second annual Holiday Tour of Homes! 

Sunday, December 8 

1:00-5:00 pm 

Tickets: $25.00 

Tickets include refreshments and a self-guided, 

walking tour of six Conway homes. 

To purchase tickets visit the 

“Junior Auxiliary of Conway, AR” Facebook 

page or contact us at jaconwayar@gmail.com 


scene | heard 

St. Joseph Schools‘ 

Roaring 20‘s Gala 

& Gaming Event 

On Nov 2, 300+ people brought 

the Roaring 20’s back to life at St. 

Joseph Schools’ Roaring 20’s Gala 

& Gaming Event. The evening included 

dinner, gaming, live and silent auctions 

and dancing. The event was a school 

fundraiser to raise money for a new 

school bus. Almost $40,000 was raised. 

A great time was had by all! 


Outreach & Community Engagement 

UCA.EDU/outreach/types/all-classes 

Happy Holidays From 

Our Family To Yours! 

UCA Outreach December Classes 

For information about all UCA Outreach events, 

visit UCA.EDU/Outreach or call 501-450-3118. 

Dec. 7 | 9:30–11:30 p.m. 

UCA Downtown 

Cubs in the Kitchen: Cooking for a 

Cause: This is a hands on class for kids ages 

7–12. The little chefs will create a delicious 

meal that will be donated to a local non-profit 

organization. A toy drive is part of the event. 

Dec. 11 | 11:30am–1pm 

Hole in the Wall Café 

WLN Networking Luncheon – Stress 

Management: It’s the “most wonderful 

time of the year.” It can also be a very 

stressful time of the year. Join the WLN and 

learn tips and tricks for managing stress and 

enjoying everything December has to offer. 

(501) 329-6663 

tiptonhurst.com 

Guaranteed Satisfaction Since 1886 

Conway 

810 4th Avenue 

Deal Family 

Dental 

Sleep is a hot topic in modern 

medicine and long ago made its 

way to the dental profession with 

good reason. Poor sleep is evident 

everywhere in society. Whether it’s 

tossing and turning at night, feeling 

tired all day long, early morning 

headaches and facial muscle 

soreness, kids wetting the bed or 

just plain ole dry mouth, it all stems 

from a compromised airway. Obtaining 

oxygen is priority number 

one for the human body and anything 

that gets in the way of this 

priority will be changed or altered. 

Many of these changes that occur 

can be noticed in the mouth and 

face. The shutting off of the airway 

during sleep is termed obstructive 

sleep apnea. 

While dentists 

have long since recognized 

signs and 

symptoms of sleep 

apnea, most of the 

time the only treatment 

or advice they 

provide is to visit an ears nose and 

throat doctor or sleep specialist to 

have a sleep study done. This is excellent 

and even lifesaving advice, as 

studies have shown sleep apnea can 

shorten one’s life by 10-15 years. 

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure 

(CPAP) therapy is the gold standard 

of sleep apnea treatment, however, 

studies show that only 50 percent of 

people can or will wear their CPAPs. 

In cases like this, there is another 

option. It is a specifically designed 

mouthpiece that can be worn at night 

and help increase the amount of air a 

person gets while sleeping. 

If you suffer from poor sleep, 

or if you have been diagnosed with 

sleep apnea and can’t wear a CPAP, 

we can help. Call 501-679-4700 for 

an appointment. 

Consultations are 

17 Wilson Farm Rd. 

Greenbrier 

501.679.4700 

dealfamilydental.com 

free and medical 

insurance usually 

helps with the 

cost depending 

on the policy. 


scene | heard 

Women‘s Leadership Network Luncheon 

”Start-Ups & Start-Overs“ at Hole in the Wall Cafe 


Velda Lueders 

Realtor 

609 Locust in Conway • 501-730-2857 faulknerlifestyle.com 65

66 faulkner lifestyle | december 2O19 

Lori Quinn, Realtor, GRI, ABR, GRLA 

Coldwell Banker RPM Group-Conway 

LoriQuinn@conwaycorp.net 

LQuinn@cbrpm.com 

Conway Office: 

609 Locust Street 

501.472.7385 

CBRPM.com

the arts 

Conway Symphony Christmas Concert Continues 

Tradition with Ballet and Symphonic Rock 

The Conway Symphony Orchestra 

presents their electrifying holiday 

Christmas concert for all ages, A 

Mad Russian’s Christmas, at Reynolds 

Performance Hall at the University of 

Central Arkansas December 7th at 7:30 

p.m. Tickets range from $25-$45 and 

are expected to sell out quickly. Tickets 

available at the box office, 501-450-3265, 

or at www.ConwaySymphony.org 

Conductor Israel Getzov will lead the 

first half of the concert in an exciting 

performance of Christmas favorites 

Sleigh Ride and excerpts from the 

Nutcracker ballet. The ballet will be 

performed alongside the Arkansas 

Festival Ballet under the direction of 

Rebecca Stalcup in a wondrous winter 

showcase of dance and music. 

The mood of the concert will change 

entirely after intermission as a 

10-person rock ensemble will take 

center stage and perform screaming 

Van Halen-esque guitar solos with 

selections from Paul O’Neill’s Trans- 

Siberian Orchestra accompanied by a 

face-melting light show. 

“This concert is going to be a 

contrast between the traditional and 

nontraditional, and we are thrilled to 

present the 10th anniversary between 

the Conway Symphony Orchestra 

and the Arkansas Festival Ballet. The 

second half of our concert is something 

Conway has never seen before; a 

classic rock concert featuring the music 

of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. We’ve 

had so much interest in this new 

format that we are almost guaranteed 

to sell out,” Getzov said. 

Preceding the concert from 6:00-7:00 

p.m. families are invited to join the 

CSO Guild for Nutcracker Sweets at 

Brewer-Hegeman located right next 

to Reynolds Hall. The event is $5 for 

children and free for adults and offers 

an opportunity to meet the ballerinas, 

enjoy treats, and participate in craft 

activities. 

Santa will be in the lobby of Reynolds 

during intermission allowing kids to 

come out and take a picture. A Mad 

Russian’s Christmas is sponsored by 

ConwayCorp and Palmer Music Co. 

The Conway Symphony Orchestra 

brings professional concerts, exciting 

guest artists and high-quality music 

to the Central Arkansas community. 

For more information on concerts and 

other programs, call (501) 269-1066 or 

visit ConwaySymphony.org. 

CONNECT 

For More Info: 501.269.1066 

For Tickets: 501.450.3265 

or Purchase Online at 

ConwaySymphony.org 


faulkner fam 


Our Faulkner Fam: 

the Matyja Family 

Courtney Matyja‘s favorite inspirational quote: 

“ 

Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest until your 

good is better and your better is best. 

” 


Courtney and Shay Matyja 

Kids: Luke, Brayden, Laney, 

Chloey and Noah 

Where are you from? Courtney is 

from Marshall, Shay is from Omaha NE 

Where do you work? Courtney 

works at Arkansas Hearing and 

Audiology. Shay retired from the 

U.S. Army and is currently working 

at Simmons Bank Arena 

What schools do your children 

attend? Vilonia School District and 

preschool at Conway Christian 

How did you two meet? Through 

mutual friends 

How long have you lived in Faulkner 

County? Courtney has lived here for 

30 years, and Shay for 28 years 

Describe parenting in one sentence. 

Although parenting is difficult at times 

it’s very rewarding. 

When you get a date night where do 

you go? Home Depot and Target 

When you shop local (for fun) what 

stores are always on your list? 

Courtney: The Kitchen Store and 

Hobby Lobby. Shay: Best Buy and 

Academy Sports 

What are your favorite things to 

do as a family? Go to the lake in the 

summer, board games and hang out 

What activities are your children 

involved in? Luke is a graduate from 

the Coding Academy, Brayden is on the 

Vilonia High School track team and has 

won 3 state championship rings. Laney 

enjoys playing softball and is in cheer at 

Cheer Force Arkansas. Noah plays baseball 

and is a member of the Sunshine 

Academy tumble and trampoline team. 

Chloey is a cheerleader at Cheer Force 

Arkansas and competes in pageants. 

What is a favorite inspirational quote 

that is important in your family? 

Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest 

until your good is better and your 

better is best. 

What do you love most about living 

in this community? Plenty of places to 

eat and shop and it’s a great place to 

raise a family. 



MY LAGOS MY WAY 

CAVIAR COLLECTIONS 


A Growing Health System for a Growing Community 

More Specialists Expanded Access 

Innovative Services New Medical Offices 

A growing community deserves a growing health system. At Conway Regional, 

we're expanding our primary care network to give you easier access to the health 

care you need. Call or make an appointment online with Dr. Adam Cox, Rhonda 

Dixon, APRN, or Meghan Mallett, APRN at our Prince Street Medical Clinic. 

We’re not just growing—we’re growing together. 

Conway Regional Medical Clinic - Prince St 

1 Medical Lane | 501-329-2948 | conwayregional.org

2019 December Faulkner Lifestyle

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