Articles - Modern Grace Magazine

By Brandi LeBlancNo Comments

Health

Spring Forth This Season

The “New Year” has come and gone. Temperatures are rising. Bright colors have popped out everywhere to replace the subtle fall/winter colors that last season left behind. That can only mean one thing … SPRING is here, and summer is just around the corner. So what will you accomplish this season? The winter (and year) we just came out of surely was very new to us. As a fitness professional who has seen many new year resolutioners come and go through the years, I can say that usually a few months after January, many tend to fall away from their resolutions to get fit for the new year. I can also tell you that I believe this year has taken a bigger toll on many than they choose to admit. I actually saw a decline in the number of New Year’s resolutioners this year in the fitness industry fo...

By Kristi Williams FontenotNo Comments

Inspire

Southern Hospitality

/*! elementor - v3.16.0 - 20-09-2023 */ .elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=".svg"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block} In the south one thing I think we all pride ourselves in is hospitality. I have been from one side of the United States to the other throughout my adulthood. I have even been as far east as Africa and as far south as Mexico! I have seen many different cultures and different ways people show hospitality, but I can honestly say southern hospitality is as welcoming as it can possibly get! It is a way of life and ultimately culture to us! It is in the way we raise our children to say ma’am and sir! It is in the way we never meet a stranger...

By MGMNo Comments

Inspire

Declutter Your Inspiration Zone

It is easy to focus on what we don’t have versus what we do. We often find that we have to readjust our thoughts so that the negative falls to the bottom and the positive thoughts float to the top. Sometimes, in the midst of difficulty, it feels impossible to find anything positive around us. We spend so much time thinking about our mandatory responsibilities that we often don’t focus on creative stress relievers. Keeping a calendar and making a priority list, starting with the commitments we have to fulfill, such as work obligations, and ending with the things that aren’t essential, can help clear our minds of clutter and free up our creativity. Start with one week at a time, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. After you organize your required tasks on paper, you will begin to see where...

By Michelle JesterNo Comments

Letter from the Editor

Don’t Lose Sight

You’ll notice that this edition of Modern Grace is titled the Spring Summer special issue, which wasn’t initially the intention. After the spring photoshoot, several of us toiled over whether to put out a spring edition at all, since we were still unsure about when the governor was going to lift the mask mandate. Everywhere we looked, sources gave different answers, from the end of April to the beginning of June. So, we all decided to wait until the middle of April to decide. Then on April 11, my husband went into emergency surgery, turning my world upside down. Sitting in that empty waiting room at one o’clock in the morning, scared, and alone, praying, I realized, again, just how fleeting life can be. It is a lesson we all learn over and over in life. We set so many standards, and...

By Michelle JesterNo Comments

Letter from the Editor

Starting from the Inside

In this issue, we are focusing on aspects of life that are timeless: classic black clothing, laughter, music, and reaching a healthier lifestyle. However, most importantly, we are focusing on the timeless principle of loving one another. Not everything in the world is black and white. Not every decision we make is as easy as a yes or a no. Sometimes, there is an area between the two definitive answers in which we find our own truth, our resolution. Sometimes, the varying shades of grey in decision making isn’t defined to each person in the same way. Every single person in this country stands for something they are passionate about. Along with suicide prevention, which is important to us, veteran care as well as general care for families in poverty-stricken countries are at the top o...

By Taylor VoisinNo Comments

Culture

Picture Louisiana – Taylor Voisin

We love to highlight some of the amazing photographers who find beauty in the breathtaking natural scenery of Louisiana as well as everyday life. From bustling cities, the lush swamplands, to the vibrant bayous, the state is teeming with beauty. The magnificent landscape of Louisiana is truly something to behold. Whether you’re looking going on a peaceful fishing trip or an adventurous outing, Louisiana has views for you to enjoy. From the natural beauty of the wetlands, the breathtaking beaches, bayous where rivers are lined with moss-covered cypress trees, Louisiana offers the perfect backdrop to many memorable experiences. Capturing the incredible scenery in Louisiana is easier and easier to share, with nearly everyone equipped with a camera. We hope you enjoy! As seen in Modern Grace M...

By MGMNo Comments

Fashion

Timeless Fashion

No two generations share the same fashion sense. For that matter, we overhaul our fashion trends every season! But one thing has remained consistent…nothing beats an all-black outfit. Black clothing is timeless. Even if a certain cut or length goes out of style, your black clothing will never go to waste. That’s likely why it’s so easy to buy clothes that are black, because we know we will get our money’s worth from it. This issue is all about the classics and timelessness. What is more “classic” than black? You can construct any kind of outfit, for any event, starting with a black base. A simple black outfit can be dressed up with a bold statement piece, such as a coat with classic patterns like stripes and houndstooth, to the busiest flannels and florals. Black shirts can be dressed...

By Yvette WhittingtonNo Comments

Inspire

Relating to Each Other

We’ve all had something really bad happen to us. We’ve all been in situations where the world is spinning out of control. In the moments following, we often feel alone, worried, or afraid of what the future holds. Many of us are looking around at the constant changes taking place and we feel displaced. While some of the changes are definitely long overdue, other changes may be tragic, uncertain and frightening. We wonder how so much hate amongst God’s children is festering into this boiling pot of emotions. Each of us is faced with our own set of circumstances and beliefs, in a world full of other people’s circumstances and beliefs. Especially in this grand era of social media, we often forget that the person on the other end of the keypad is human. I do believe social media is a wonder...

By MGMNo Comments

Home & Garden

Garden Journal & Planner Tips

With so much extra time on our hands we thought how fun it would be to work on a garden journal or planner. Sounds boring but think again! This provides a fun way of jotting down all of those projects for your gardens that you keep dreaming about. There are so many cute free printouts online that will help you fill up your planner and give you extra ideas to spice up your projects. Two of our favorites are Green in Real Life and Gingham Gardens.* They each provide, step by step, how to create your own garden journal & planner. ** Green in Real Life doesn’t require an email to download and the pages are all provided in different colors! Some of the reasons to keep a garden journal and planner is to not only organize, but also keep track from year to year what works best and what do...

By MGMNo Comments

Health

Holiday Health

Focusing more on only one aspect of our health, whether it be physical or mental, throughout the holidays can be detrimental. Quarantine fatigue, on top of the already ominous seasonal depression, can cause any one of us to lose our joy and feel overwhelmed by stress. Considering there is no escape, because the whole world is going through the epidemic, can also cause us to have a doomsday mentality. In addition, this season, with Christmas, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day, comes with the stress of gift-giving and spending money, which many don’t have. However, we can realign our thoughts to try to focus on making the most of it. Realizing that others are going through the same issues can help us look upon this time as a stand of solidarity. The following articles are centered on ou...

By Kristi Williams FontenotNo Comments

Inspire

Be Still

I hear the words “Be still, and know that I am God” ringing in my heart and my mind. God is saying slow your mind, clear your thoughts. Rest in Me and I will rest in you. All God wants of us it to be still and to talk to Him. To be in His presence. When we shift our focus from things of this world to the things of Him, He will give us the peace that our soul longs for. The peace that can only be found in Him. But why does God’s word tell us to be still? I believe it’s because in times like these, that is the only way we can truly hear Him. In times like these, as we draw closer to Him, He will draw closer to us and fill us with His peace. I don’t know about you, but between the news and social media, it tends to absorb my time, and if I’m not careful, it can consume my every tho...

By Michelle JesterNo Comments

Letter from the Editor

The Gift of Time

Confinement, home delivery, six feet, social distancing, masks, washing hands, and ultimately pulling my hair out…that’s how this year started. Social distancing was, by far, the hardest part for me. I am a hugger. I love people and I love to show it. I don’t often hug random strangers, but it definitely has happened from time to time. I try to watch for social cues, because so many people do not like to be touched, but needless to say, that skill has gone undeveloped this year because there was little socialization to take cues from. After record high reports of depression started to sweep the world within the first few months, I thought often that maybe it had to do with the fact that people were no longer holding hands or hugging one another. Maybe it was directly relate...

By Alexis JesterNo Comments

Health

Quarantine Connection

Louisiana is an unusually touchy state. We are known for being friendly and for never knowing a stranger. We shake hands as a sign of respect and also as a way of expressing endearment. We hug hello AND goodbye-we even hug as an introduction. How many times have you heard, “Nice to meet you! I’m a hugger.” Of course, there are always people who appreciate personal space and no physical contact, but as a state we are VERY touchy. We put a hand on a shoulder or arm to show engagement in conversation. We kiss each other on the cheeks. At the very least, we smile at each other. All of those ways to express our love and acceptance of each other have been stripped away. That human connection is a huge part of our day-to-day here. Without it, a lot of people have been left feeling disconne...

By Yvette WhittingtonNo Comments

Inspire

The Final Edit

Oh, how sweet those three little words are: “The Final Edit.” After years of writing, I was finally ready to share with the world. The easy part was writing it. The real work began once it hit the first edit. I was new to this and I know the editor was slowly pulling her hair out, wondering what in the world had she gotten herself into. I took the criticism in stride and didn’t take it personally; she was helping me and I kept that in perspective. When I read the first editor’s note of encouragement, it was a gentle reminder that I could do this. Because, honestly, I had all the fears I think any new author does. Will they even like my story? Will this be a blessing to someone else? Do I have what it takes to do this? I spent all this time working on what I viewed as my personal master...

By Brandi LeBlancNo Comments

Health

Find Your Strength

Strength. What does it mean to be strong? What does strength mean to you? Where does strength come from? This is what I want you to think about today. What comes to your mind when you think of the word strength? When we Google the word strength, it is defined as: the quality or state of being physically strong. the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure. Google also provides similar words. Some of those include power, muscle, muscularity, sturdiness, robustness, toughness, vigor, force, might. Many of us think of physical strength when we see or hear this word. We think of a strong man or woman who can lift heavy weights, right? In fact, that’s the first definition. How do you get “strength” like this? One might say you could lift weights...

By MGMNo Comments

Inspire

Give Yourself a Break

Often we are running around trying to be superhuman, because we feel we need to. Tasks that are never-ending from running errands, cleaning and cooking to basic personal hygiene can take a toll on our bottom line: TIME. That’s not to mention work and taking care of the other humans and animals in our lives. With the responsibility of juggling everything, it’s easy to fall into guilt when things slip through the cracks. However, life will go on. Mistakes happen. My kids are grown now, but when they were younger, we were lucky sometimes if we made it home in time to eat the hamburgers we rushed through the drive-thru to get, before we had to head back out the door for one practice or another. Here’s the good news: we all survived the mistakes. And I learned better time management in the...

By Sara SimoneauxNo Comments

Inspire

One Day at a Time

My first child was born two days before Christmas in 2003. He weighed almost nine pounds, was beautiful, absolutely perfect, and healthy. Our hearts burst with joy. The first time I heard the term “Oppositional Defiant Disorder” was sometime in 2009. Our son, after having trouble following rules and directions in both preschool and kindergarten, was shuffled into the office of a highly respected child psychologist for an evaluation to determine what we could do to foster success in our baby’s school experience. Questionnaires and interviews completed by us and teachers, as well as hours of conversations with our baby all resulted in the same diagnosis: Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). I remember sitting in the psychologist’s office the first time I heard that phrase and my respondin...

By Alexis JesterNo Comments

Culture

Values and Views

People from Louisiana tend to pride themselves on the same core values: family, food, faith, and friendship. That’s what makes our state so special. Despite graphs, polls, and other “data” that rank our state the lowest in overall well-being (Yahoo-Finance) and highest in stress, somehow our ENTIRE state is as one community. Photo: Laci Brice If you move out-of-state, this is always home. Nothing ever fills that boot-shaped hole that Louisiana leaves. If you travel around, somehow you always find yourself naturally attracted to people that you find later are other Louisianians. Something magic about our state is that no matter how polarized we may feel at times, as a state, we are a family. We are a community. Photo: Laci Brice Nothing means more to us than our core values... ...

By Sara SimoneauxNo Comments

Inspire

In a Small Town

I grew up in a town without a caution light. Where everyone still pulls to the side of the road for a funeral procession, no matter how long it takes or where they’re trying to go. Everyone knows everyone, their parents, and their grandparents. Even though there were no secrets or privacy, there was always a place to find peace. In an open field, on the lake, down a dirt road, on the ball field, or underneath a sky so dark that every star could be seen. As small as my town was, there was always space-wide open space. Room to breathe, think and feel. Growing up, I hated the smallness. I hated the way every major misstep was public knowledge. I hated that rumors spread like wildfire through such a small community. I hated that we had to drive out of town for groceries, or even to get gas...

By Michelle JesterNo Comments

Letter from the Editor

You Can Be YOU

In Louisiana, worldwide fashion trends don’t often fit our lifestyle or climate. For many places, hard winters typically predicate clothing norms such as long sleeves, coats, thicker fabrics, etc. However, in Louisiana, we are blessed with warmer climates, which means we often need to modify global winter trends. I typically wear black—black suits, pants, skirts because they fit any season, business or casual engagement. They can also be quickly enhanced to line-up with trends by simply adding colorful shirts, scarves, flats, heels, or jewelry. For this formalwear guide, I decided to use a photo of me wearing a royal blue shirt, so that I follow the current fashions without losing my signature look. Bottom line is you can BE YOU without sacrificing individual style. As seen in Mo...

Vintage Charm with a Contemporary Edge – Formalwear Guide

By Alexis JesterNo Comments

Fashion

Vintage Charm with a Contemporary Edge – Formalwear Guide

In Louisiana, we love to find any reason to celebrate, especially in the wintertime. From Deck the Halls to Mardi Gras balls we never lack for a place to dress up, meet with old friends, or make new ones. At the turn of a new decade, the fashion industry is bringing back vintage charm with a contemporary edge. GODDESS Gold and cream are recurring colors during Christmas and Mardi Gras every year, and an obvious combo made in Heaven, but this year they are trending big throughout the world of fashion. This angelic look can work for any winter holiday event. Heavy warm-toned blush applied high for fuller cheek bones Warm neutrals like gold and terracotta eyeshadow Gold, chunky jewelry and light cover-ups for a winter look in Louisiana winter heat WARRIORESS Do not shy away fro...

By Kristi Williams FontenotNo Comments

Inspire

From Chaos to Peace

Recently, I was trying to get my family ready to go on vacation. There always seems to be so much that needs to be done when we are trying to go out of town. Between trying to finalize details for eight people in Disney to getting a business, a home, and two animals ready to leave for seven days, I found myself more than a little stressed out. It felt so chaotic trying to accomplish everything that I thought needed to be done. Then suddenly in the busyness of my day I could hear the Lord saying...Just stop and talk to Me...Just stop and let Me help you. Why is it that sometimes we allow ourselves to be surrounded with things that bring chaos into our lives? Did you know that the devil loves trying to distract us from the plans God has prepared for us? The devil knows that if he can dis...

By Alana VoorhiesNo Comments

Fashion

Not Your Average Wardrobe

This fall you’ll be seeing statement items and throwbacks from previous decades. These trends can be used as inspiration to have some fun with your wardrobe or help push you out of your comfort zone! Incorporating just a few of these styles could help you to ramp up your staple items! Bright colors were everything this summer and that will continue through fall. Not only that, but metallics and sequins will be popping up all over stores, and I honestly couldn’t be more excited! It takes very little effort to dress up a casual outfit when you have cool statement jackets. Blazers are another fun way to make your basic, casual look a little more unique. You can throw a blazer over your favorite graphic t-shirt and jeans or you could take the more standard, professional route. You c...

By Kristi Williams FontenotNo Comments

Inspire

Uniquely and Wonderfully Made

When I think of fall, I think of pumpkins, scarecrows, bales of hay and spiced lattes! This time of the year, I always look forward to picking out pumpkins for my porch! We are in a new home, and I cannot wait to decorate this fall! If you are anything like me, I always find myself digging at the bottom of each box of pumpkins, looking for the perfect one! All the while knowing that finding the perfect pumpkin can be a challenge because they come in all kinds of different shapes, sizes, and colors! When you stop to think about it, there really isn’t any such thing as a “perfect pumpkin,” because no two pumpkins are alike! The difference in each pumpkin is what makes it unique and beautiful! Isn’t that how God made us and sees us? God made each of us unique and perfect at the same time! ...

By Michelle JesterNo Comments

Letter from the Editor

Let the Blocks Fall

We hear the words “building blocks” throughout our lives. One of the first things we learn as a toddler is how to stack blocks. We learn that it takes time and effort, and also a bit of frustration, to get it right. We learned to build on solid surfaces so that our structure had a chance of survival. Every now and then, we would have to knock down the whole pile and start from scratch, because it just didn’t have a sound foundation. Other times, we simply realized it wasn’t going to stand, so we’d give up and walk away. We learned that the first and most important rule was to build on a solid, steady base. In that playtime, we gleaned some of the most valuable lessons we’ll ever learn; lessons we’ll use again and again throughout our lives. Relationships, careers, homes, even our own c...

By Karen ScottNo Comments

Inspire

Make a Choice

Life has a way of molding you into the person you’re truly meant to be. Every problem that occurs in your life is simply a test. The tricky thing about life is you have until your time expires to get it right. A couple weeks of ago I was in a mentoring session. There was a group of youth who were either living in foster care or being raised by their grandparents. None of these kids had the ideal living situation. We’re talking about at-risk, impoverished youth. They were given a fill-in-the-blank poem titled I Am Poem. It was so encouraging to see these young people think highly of themselves. One young man wrote I am loving and special. I wonder if I’ll be a father one day. I hear children laughing. I see a house in a nice neighborhood. I want to help people in need. These children have ...

By Kristi Williams FontenotNo Comments

Inspire

Fireflies

One of my favorite memories as a child is being outside at night and seeing the fireflies light up! As an adult, I can still remember catching fireflies on those hot Louisiana summer nights. My best friend and I would try to catch as many as we could with hopes of filling our pickle jar. It was always neat to catch them and peek through our fingers to see them lighting up in our hands. Even now when I see them, it brings me back to a place of joy. Catching fireflies is one of the many things I loved about living in the country! While a firefly’s fire gives light to see, it also draws other fireflies closer to them. In the same way, God has given each of us a light. It isn’t something we possess on our own, but given to us by the Holy Spirit to be a “light of the world.” It is that light...

By Michelle JesterNo Comments

Letter from the Editor

Make the Most

Whenever summer comes to mind, I picture laughing with friends and family as we enjoy BBQs, weekend trips, and leisurely fun. I don’t think of the sticky heat, annoying bugs, or the mess left over after everyone goes home. Most people like me, try to remember the good, leaving the rest behind. Why would we want to remember heat, bugs, and garbage? Well, most of us don’t. However, I do want to remember why we tolerate those things… to spend time with loved ones, build relationships, and enjoy life. Unfortunately, life is not always made up of laughter and good stuff. It is a culmination of good and bad, with many seasons of change. In scrolling through social media, often you’ll see one friend who is happy because they got their dream job, while another is suffering because they just lo...

By Kristi Williams FontenotNo Comments

Inspire

Seasons Change

Don’t you just love spring! The days are longer, the sun is brighter, and the smell of fresh cut grass is in the air! As the old saying goes, spring is in the air! There always seems to be a sense of anticipation and excitement, with winter finally being behind. We look forward to spring ahead of us! New wild flowers in the ditches and new leaves on the trees! From baby birds learning to fly, to pastures filled with baby calves running behind their mommas! There is a newness around every corner! It’s the beautiful way nature reminds us that with every new season comes new changes and new life. Just like the seasons change, so do the seasons we walk through in our personal lives. We leave one season behind us as we make our way into a new season of life. One thing life has taught me is ...

By Michelle JesterNo Comments

Letter from the Editor

We Need Us All

Spring is a time of encouragement. It’s a time of renewing. Spring carries the principals that in encouraging growth and in everything working together, we can find beauty and fulfill our calling. Growth in the springtime and throughout the summer is a result of several important factors: protection, food, water, light, and development. Keep in mind while you are enjoying the beautiful wildflowers or watching the trees come back to life that all through the fall and winter the soil was preparing itself for this. Autumn is a favorite season of many, but after the gloriously colored leaves are replaced by heaps of crunchy brown under barren trees, it can feel desolate. Yet those leaves provide protection to plants and animals. Winter gets a bad rap, but it is winter that produces decompo...

By Yvette WhittingtonNo Comments

Inspire

Through a Mother’s Eyes

Look at her… this beautiful baby girl I call my daughter. Lord, how did I get so blessed to be the one You have given this great honor? I will do my best to protect her, to help her grow and learn to be independent and secure. I will take this honor and hold it in the highest degree as You have entrusted me with her. Look at her…in her matching dress and pretty bow, holding my hand as I walk her to her first day of school. Lord, please watch over my baby girl. She is in your care and I trust You to keep her safe. She was so excited to tell me all she has learned… so independent and sure of herself. When did that happen? Look at her…this free-thinking, strongly independent young lady learning her worth, speaking her mind and testing my patience. Oh, I had no idea what I was in store ...

By Alexis JesterNo Comments

Beauty

Lips Don’t Lie

As an advocate for intersectionality and a makeup fanatic, I wanted to do something that was useful and relative to as many people as possible! Lips and brows are more important now than ever, but everyone has their own specific way of doing brows… So this article is all about LIPS! Personally, my favorite “life hack” to long lasting, matte lips is NYX Cosmetics Suede Matte Lip Liners! These $4 miracles are bold, smooth, and come in a huge variety of color. NYX is a cruelty-free and inexpensive brand that I stand by whole-heartedly, so I solely used them for this haul, and use them almost exclusively on a daily basis. When it comes to lip liners, you usually can’t swatch them in stores like you can lipstick, and it’s always so disappointing when you get home with a light color that mak...

By JC Coker IIINo Comments

Culture

Picture Louisiana – JC Coker III

We love to highlight some of the amazing photographers who find beauty in the breathtaking natural scenery of Louisiana as well as everyday life. From bustling cities, the lush swamplands, to the vibrant bayous, the state is teeming with beauty. The magnificent landscape of Louisiana is truly something to behold. Whether you’re looking going on a peaceful fishing trip or an adventurous outing, Louisiana has views for you to enjoy. From the natural beauty of the wetlands, the breathtaking beaches, bayous where rivers are lined with moss-covered cypress trees, Louisiana offers the perfect backdrop to many memorable experiences. Capturing the incredible scenery in Louisiana is easier and easier to share, with nearly everyone equipped with a camera. We hope you enjoy!

By Sara SimoneauxNo Comments

Inspire

The Bookcase

I’m an avoider. It’s in my DNA. I stuff things down and move on, because there’s never time to dwell on or drown in sadness. This is both my greatest strength and weakness—because life is TOUGH. I lost my grandparents, who adopted and raised me, at the age of 18 and 20. I grieved in the moment and then placed it on a shelf—my mental bookcase—and moved on. I became detached in college and lost my way for a while. I recovered, and then in the span of a few years, my family experienced a number of tragedies. I lost immediate family members to cancer, drowning, a car accident, a murder-suicide, and my mom to a massive heart attack at forty-seven. I kept allowing myself to grieve only in the moment and quickly pack these losses away. My bookcase became full—there was no room left to stuff t...

By Tabitha BerardNo Comments

Health

Tighten that Tummy

During and after the holidays, we all pack on a few pounds. Here are two quick and easy exercises you can do! Also, a quick tip on tightening that tummy during an average day: Set the alarm on your phone for every hour during the day. When the alarm goes off, suck in your tummy as tight as you can for 30 seconds! You’ll see a difference within a couple of weeks and it’s an exercise anyone can do anywhere! As seen in Modern Grace Magazine

By Michelle JesterNo Comments

Letter from the Editor

Doing it Our Way

When I posted my end of the year blog, I realized much of what I said really reflected the magazine overall, so I decided to include parts of it in my editor’s letter. Not long after my first book release in June 2017, I started planning a special surprise for my husband. I knew we’d have a lot going on in 2018, however, I also knew we couldn’t wait any longer. This was the year. So I started planning. When I first married my husband in 1991, we had a beautiful, traditional church wedding. Etiquette would only allow me to wear an off-white dress, because I wasn’t a virgin and on top of that I was pregnant...in The South. It didn’t really didn’t bother me until I told Larry. He thought that if etiquette makes people feel bad about themselves, or dirty, then it should be tossed out the w...

By MGMNo Comments

Health

Meeting in the Middle

We can learn a lot about ourselves and improve our relationships with others when we understand the base personality traits better known as “The Big Five.” While it seems oversimplified, it can help us understand the actions of others. Sometimes, we tend to feel that actions are only in reaction, when in many cases it is simply opposing forms of communication and personality. The five (which you can research on your own) are: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. However, we are going to focus on the Extraversion Trait. Of the five personality traits, this one has a love-hate relationship that lies at opposite ends of the spectrum. Extroverts are people who have high levels of the Extraversion trait. They are energetic; tend to be easily excitable, ...

By MGMNo Comments

Fashion

Fashion Forward – Upcycling for the Holidays

In Louisiana, summers are active and fun; however, it’s the holiday season that takes socializing to new levels. In this section, we wanted to help you take that old dress tucked away in the closet and repurpose it for the holiday festivities ahead! By using a dress you already own and making a few changes, like shortening the length and adding or taking away embellishments you turn a onetime use into a new holiday favorite. We tried to keep this simple so those who don’t use sewing machines can still create something fresh and new. Cutting off a formal gown can sound scary, however as long as you follow a few guidelines you’ll find converting that beautiful gown from a onetime use garment to a fun dress for the holidays can be easy. Mermaid or fishtail gowns are usually simple convert...

By Tyrone CallahanNo Comments

Culture

Picture Louisiana – Tyrone Callahan

We love to highlight some of the amazing photographers who find beauty in the breathtaking natural scenery of Louisiana as well as everyday life. From bustling cities, the lush swamplands, to the vibrant bayous, the state is teeming with beauty. The magnificent landscape of Louisiana is truly something to behold. Whether you’re looking going on a peaceful fishing trip or an adventurous outing, Louisiana has views for you to enjoy. From the natural beauty of the wetlands, the breathtaking beaches, bayous where rivers are lined with moss-covered cypress trees, Louisiana offers the perfect backdrop to many memorable experiences. Capturing the incredible scenery in Louisiana is easier and easier to share, with nearly everyone equipped with a camera. We hope you enjoy!

By TJ BrunerNo Comments

Health

Leading the Mind

We often hear that “where the mind leads, the body follows.” While this is certainly true, the mind is also very obedient to the suggestions of the body as well. Think of it as a closed feedback loop. You feel happy, so you smile more because you feel happy, and then because you’re smiling, you feel happier. So you smile more! Rinse and Repeat. If I may, I’d like to ask you to do something for me. Smile! Give me your biggest and brightest smile as if you’re greeting an old friend. Do you feel any different from a few moments ago? Do you feel happier? Now, mentally scan your body right now. What is your current facial expression? Do you feel tension in your shoulders or neck? How is your posture? All of these can contribute to your current mood. If you’ve adopted the facial exp...

By MGMNo Comments

Home & Garden

Thrifty Christmas Ideas

Using Rust-oleum Painters Touch 2x Heirloom white (or any color) spray paint and Rust-oleum Transformations Decorative Glaze we created these beautiful frames from an old set of we bought at a thrift store for four dollars. (Using these techniques you can apply it to limitless amount of home DIY projects). Clean surface of frame. Follow directions on can of spray paint. After paint dries, apply glaze liberally, making sure to fill in all creases and cracks. Wait a few minutes and take a cloth, wipe glaze off as much or as little as you want until you reach your desired effect. It’s simple and can be used over most any color! As seen in Modern Grace Magazine

By MGMNo Comments

Fashion

Fashion Footprint – Recycling on Trend

Nowadays, it’s no secret that buying clothes from thrift shops can be cheap AND trendy (thank you, Macklemore), but did you know that by thrifting clothes you are also doing a small part in helping the environment? The average American throws away about seventy pounds of post-consumer textile waste just by themselves. 85% of those clothes (about 21 BILLION pounds) are not recycled, donated, or reused; just taking up more and more space in our landfills, more than 5.2%. weardonaterecycle.org I know statistics like this can be boring and sometimes disheartening… So, we did a little experiment to see just how practical it could be to thrift and upcycle clothes and still be up-to-date with modern fashion trends. We looked into spring and summer trends according to Vogue, Cosmopolitan, a...

By Sara SimoneauxNo Comments

Inspire

Turning Thirteen

My daughter just turned thirteen, and we celebrated by having a hotel sleepover with five of her besties. I picked the girls up from carpool on a Friday, went home so everyone could get changed and we loaded up and headed to Baton Rouge. Friday traffic makes for a long drive, but thirteen is funny and giggly, so I don’t think the girls even noticed how long it took us to get downtown for our scavenger hunt. “Mom, tell your two-butts story,” my daughter yells from the backseat. That’s right, I have a two-butts story. My mom loved to tell this story about me getting out of the bath when I was five or six, drying myself off in front of the mirror and exclaiming, “Look Mom, I’ve got two butts!” She told that story constantly, and I always hated it. But my daughter loves to hear me tell ...

By Karen ScottNo Comments

Inspire

Encourage One Another

I believe encouraging people is the most important thing we can do. When I was young, my parents divorced, and it impacted my life greatly. I went from a two parent home to a single parent home, then to a multi-family home. I’ll never forget the feeling of uncertainty I had. After my parents split, my mom did the best she could to raise my brother and me. It was hard, and she struggled. I remember at certain points, she worked three jobs. With her job experience and skill set, it was something nearly impossible to do alone, especially since she wanted the best environment for us. We lived in low income housing for a while and my mom made the tough decision to move in with family: my grandmother, my aunt, and my two uncles. However, by doing so, my mom had childcare and she could go to wor...

By Kristi Williams FontenotNo Comments

Inspire

Joy in the Journey

/*! elementor - v3.16.0 - 20-09-2023 */ .elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=".svg"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block} We are all on our journey in life… a very intricate journey with highs and lows. My journey looks different than yours, but one thing we all have in common is deciding how we will embrace the voyage. We all will have times of great joy; times when we feel like we are on the mountain top and nothing can possibly take away our happiness. But what about those times where we are in the valley low; times when we wonder how we will face another day? We all experience pain, trials or heartache, but how is it possible to find joy in the dif...

By TJ BrunerNo Comments

Health

Leading the Body

I think we can all agree that there are a lot of diets. Every couple of months, the next “best” nutritional strategy will emerge to take the place of the last. Interestingly, these diets can often vary greatly from one another in many ways. This can become a little confusing as to which nutritional strategy is correct. How can we know which is the best diet? The good news is that if your goals include fat loss, then there are a couple of similarities between all effective diets that I have seen over my time coaching ladies and gentleman who want to drop a few unwanted pounds. The most notable similarity is that all effective fat loss diets optimize something called your insulin sensitivity. To put it as simply as possib...

By Ty HowardNo Comments

Beauty

Morphe Brontour Palette

Finding bronzer dark enough for my skin tone is a struggle but Morphe has a great affordable option. at $14 this bronzer packs a pigmented punch. I had to use it sparingly because it can get pretty dark, but that’s a great thing because people with an even darker complexion can use this. It comes with a matte side and a shimmer side that gives the face dimension. It comes with a huge pan size and a nice mirror. This is going to be one of my everyday staples. As seen in Modern Grace Magazine

By Michelle JesterNo Comments

Letter from the Editor

One of the Most Important Things

In this, the first issue of Modern Grace Magazine, the contributors pulled together some of the best of Louisiana. One comment visitors always seem to have or repeat about our amazing state is that the people here are positive and welcoming. Another is that we know how to enjoy family, food and fun. Louisianians bring a unique and relaxed atmosphere with them to every gathering; whether a crawfish boil or a neighborhood barbeque. When we get together for the holidays it is an event where strangers are made to feel like family. I believe positivity is one of the most important things we can give each other, which is why it is my pleasure to be able to share this lifestyle with you. Also, a special thank you to my husband who tolerates me while I sneak around with my camera and document som...

By MGMNo Comments

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By MGMNo Comments

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