EDITOR’S NOTE
I am humbled by the women whom I met while working on CityLife. They are inspirational and beautiful beyond the physical sense. In this position, I have found the unsung heroes. They aren’t on the covers of any other magazine, but it has been my pleasure putting them on the cover of this one.

CityLife MAGAZINE
71101. Phone (318) 222-0409. Fax (318) 222-1725. CityLife, at the discretion of the publisher, reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising. No portion of the publication may be reproduced by any means without written permission. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products and/or services.

cycling through THE SPRING
Ask anyone you know in town if they ride a bicycle. If the answer is, “yes,” follow it up with, “Why?” The investigative journalist in you will quickly learn the answer is always the same: It makes you feel good. Discovery News links cycling to improved mental health, among six other benefits, including it being good for your waistline.

the proof is in the PUDDING
Banana desserts, however; are another story, because I have a crazy dessert addiction. I was reading a story online about a woman who made a banana pudding that made a grown man cry. Of course, I couldn’t resist such a challenge. Making people cry over food would be a Pinterest win to end them all.

get GROWING
Working with plants and the soil teaches children about nature, the life cycle of plants and the importance of nurturing plants. This spring, find ways for your children to try their hand at gardening. No matter what their ages, gardening can be educational and fun.

getting to the GREEK
I could say I selected our lunch spot this month, because many people start thinking about eating healthier fresh foods in the spring, whether we actually do it or not. Or, I could say I selected this month’s location because it is a favorite lunchtime retreat for my BFF and me, which is also true.

organizing your CLOSE T
I don’t know about anyone else, but whenever a new season begins, I find myself with the sudden urgency to clean up some cluttered spaces around my home. One of those spaces that I find often collects the most clutter is our closets.

now Trending
We, of course, are not immune to some of the trappings of popularity such as nail-head furnishings or the use of gray. If done in moderation and with a curated eye, these items or colors can be integrated into a room without seeming contrived, overused or dated.

a weekend in The Big Easy
We’ve all done it. We’ve all hated it. We love visiting New Orleans, but that drive home is the worst. That five-hour drive each way can now be replaced by a 58-minute non-stop flight on GLO from Shreveport Regional Airport to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

Leading the Arts
Sarah Touchstone wanted to set a good example for her family by becoming more involved and growing the Shreveport-Bossier City community. That desire led her to apply for the executive director position at the Renzi Education and Art Center last fall.

Celebrating Women
Events included a kickoff breakfast at the Bossier Parish Sheriff ’s Station featuring Lt. Sarah Rhodes, a first responder and mother of three, an Alive at Five networking event at Flying Heart Brewing, a complimentary spa day at Virginia College...

essentials for SPRING
.

SPRING Harvest
I love to have a big garden to work throughout the year, and if you are the same and did some early planting, you may very well be starting your first harvest.

April [ AGENDA ]
APRIL 1-MAY 31: “BEE” BY BAYGENT BAKER, The Bossier Arts Council will feature the artworks of Baygent Baker in the Emerging Artist Gallery. She is self-taught, specializing in colored pencil and acrylic paint and greatly influenced by nature. An opening reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.

‘Into the Woods’
The second Agora Borealis Fashion Show went deep “into the woods” to showcase a mix of the designers in Shreveport-Bossier City. The fashion show was March 5 at The Agora Borealis. Some of the designers featured were Cookie Dubois, Melanie Scarlett, Amy Treme, Jane Ryder, Wendy Tisdale, Vessel Vintage, Bonnie and VonRay.

Go Red for Women
The annual Go Red for Women Luncheon was hosted by the Northwest Louisiana American Heart Association Feb. 18 at the Shreveport Convention Center. The luncheon provided activities that were educational and encouraging to men and women who could possibly become champions of heart and stroke health and prevention.

Turn of Events
Her novel “Summer Sisters” is my favorite book, so I was very interested in reading this book when I came across it at a bookstore.