Meet Our Editor
Shauna Sanford
Editor of the Lovin’ Louisiana Blog

Shauna Sanford
Editor of the Lovin’ Louisiana Blog
Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Special Projects for the Governor’s Office of Louisiana.
Editor of the Lovin’ Louisiana Blog
Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Special Projects for the Governor’s Office of Louisiana.
Texas Human Trafficking Summit Video
Texas Human Trafficking Summit
Maryland Human Trafficking Summit
January Global Human Trafficking Summit
2020 Global Human Trafficking Summit
2019 Global Human Trafficking Summit
Volunteer Louisiana
“Some Unintended Consequences Are Wonderful”
By Marie Constantin
Hire a Mardi Gras Artist
HOPE MINISTRIES
Baton Rouge
Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana
Missy Bienvenu Andrade
FOURTH DISTRICT MISSIONARY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION Hurricane Laura Relief Efforts
FIRST TO FIGHT FOUNDATION
Combat Veterans, Eric Cook and Jeff Mattia
Tankproof
Thomas Brothers Give Back
Families Helping Families
of Greater New Orleans
MARY JACOB
Owner, Hugs from Heaven
JENNIFER ANGELLE
Artist, Walls Project
HELENA WILLIAMS
Call for Nominations
COVENANT HOUSE
Our Lady of the Lake
Children’s Hospital
The PLEASE Foundation
Executive Director,
Girls on the Run Louisiana
CARLEY FULLER
Director, New Orleans Arts Education Alliance
J. CELESTE KEE
Director,
Shreveport Regional Arts Council
PAM ATCHISON
Founder, Heart N Hands, Inc.
ESSENCE HARRIS BANKS
Founder, NextSTEP of Louisiana
CAROLYNE HOYT
Founder,
Braveheart Children in Need,
DEE ROBINSON
Founder, Geaux 4 Kids
K.C. KILPATRICK
Fried Green Tomatoes
(Printable Download)
Watermelon Feta Salad
(Printable Download)
Lemon Balm Iced Tea
(Printable Download)
Mint Julep
(Printable Download)
Strawberry Shortcake
(Printable Download)
Oat Chip Cookies
(Printable Download)
Sweetheart Waffles
(Printable Download)
Roasted Broccoli
(Printable Download)
Praline Pecans
(Printable Download)
Baked Brie Bites
from the Kitchen of the Governor’s Mansion
(Printable Download)
Pumpkin Pie
from the Kitchen of the Governor’s Mansion
(New! Printable Download)
Apple Cake
No-Bake Oatmeal Bars
Cranberry Lime Spritzer
Louisiana Culinary Institute
Lasyone’s Meat Pie
Restaurant
Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs
First Lady’s
Crawfish Stuffed Potatoes
Poppy Seed Sandwiches
Louisiana Style
Braised Beef Short Ribs
Christmas Cookies
Turkey and Sausage Gumbo
Keto Jalapeño Poppers
Leroy’s Story &
Classic Southern Lemonade
Jazzfest Rosemint Tea
The Crawfish Boil
New Orleans Style
King Cake
King Cake Batida
from Cocktail & Sons
Charred Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
from Chef Todd Pulsinelli
Turkey and Sausage Gumbo
from First Lady Donna Edwards
Recovery Red Beans and Rice
from Chef Amy Sins
Snickerdoodle Cookie
from JCB Creations
Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery
Porchetta, Creamy Grits,
Bitter Greens and Sofrito Vinaigrette
from Chef Jeff Mattia
King Cake Beignets
from Chef Kenneth C. Temple
Cushaw Cake
from Chef Amy Sins
Gris Gris Shrimp and Grits
from Chef Eric Cook
Arnaud’s Oyster Soup
Sweet Heart Waffles
from First Lady Donna Edwards
Louisiana Shrimp & Grits
from Chef Bonnie Breaux
Foie Gras Dirty Rice
from Chef Tory McPhail
First Lady’s
Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe
Elizabeth Jayne
Studio
Coco Visions
Founder and CEO,
JORDYN COSEY
Leo Candle Company
Pink House Consulting, LLC
OWNER, LAUREN MORRIS
NOLA DMC
Cocktail & Sons
Owner, Flora + Wild
ISABEL YARBAROUGH
Lafayette Woman Selected to James Beard Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
MICHELLE EZELL
Owner, Lighting Stylist: CAPITAL CITY LIGHTING
BRIDGET TATE
Founder and CEO, RENEE MARIE
CANDICE MARIE DIXON
Owner, Wanderlust by Abby
ABBY BULLOCK
Owner,
About Face of New Orleans
LINDSEY C. BENOIT
Blogger, Owner & CEO
H Kyle Boutique,
TIA WHITTINGTON
Owner, Lori Monahan Borden Design
LORI MONAHAN BORDEN
President & CEO, ILSI Engineering
IAM TUCKER
Owner, Ole Orleans Winery
KIM LEWIS
Owner, Southern Lights Candles
ALICIA GUIDRY WINDSTEIN
Artist & Owner, Pappion Artistry
CHRISTINA PAPPION
Founder,
K-Belle Consultants, LLC
KRISTI HOKE MIRAMBELL
Owner, Calzone & Associates, Inc.
JULIE CALZONE
Founder & Creator,
WhiteBlancCanvas
RAENNA BLACHARD DOESCHER
Owner and President,
Quality First Marine
CHRISTINA COUVILLION
Owner, Spa Mizan
GINGER LOUVIERE
Youngest African American woman to own a McDonald’s franchise
JADE COLIN
PARENTHOOD EMPOWERMENT:
JY’ASIA SAMS
LDWF NAMES FIRST WOMAN TO
LEAD ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
Sunflowers for Ukraine
FUNDRAISER
HCO Behavioral Health Services
ASHLEY WALLIS LANDRY
Red Cross
September is National
Preparedness Month
Court Improvement Program (CIP)
2022 FEMA Region 6
Community Preparedness Award
CarniVOL 2022
Nominate A Champion of Service
Community Fridges
United Way
Hands On Entergy
Volunteer Center
Hurrican Ida Resources
Keep Louisiana Beautiful
Volunteer Louisiana
“Some Unintended Consequences Are Wonderful”
By Marie Constantin
Hire a Mardi Gras Artist
HOPE MINISTRIES
Baton Rouge
Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana
Missy Bienvenu Andrade
FOURTH DISTRICT MISSIONARY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION Hurricane Laura Relief Efforts
FIRST TO FIGHT FOUNDATION
Combat Veterans, Eric Cook and Jeff Mattia
Tankproof
Thomas Brothers Give Back
Families Helping Families
of Greater New Orleans
MARY JACOB
Owner, Hugs from Heaven
JENNIFER ANGELLE
Artist, Walls Project
HELENA WILLIAMS
Call for Nominations
COVENANT HOUSE
Our Lady of the Lake
Children’s Hospital
The PLEASE Foundation
Executive Director,
Girls on the Run Louisiana
CARLEY FULLER
Director, New Orleans Arts Education Alliance
J. CELESTE KEE
Director,
Shreveport Regional Arts Council
PAM ATCHISON
Founder, Heart N Hands, Inc.
ESSENCE HARRIS BANKS
Founder, NextSTEP of Louisiana
CAROLYNE HOYT
Founder,
Braveheart Children in Need,
DEE ROBINSON
Founder, Geaux 4 Kids
K.C. KILPATRICK
Louisiana National Guard
Education Program
LDVA’s Inaugural Veterans Career and Education Fair
Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal
Mayor’s Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs to Host Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration
L.A. Department of Veterans Affairs partners with Combined Arms to offer Comprehensive Online Access to Veterans Services
Open House at
Louisiana Veterans Home
Lighting of the Veterans
Memorial Park Grove
Veterans Day Activities 2022
Gold Star Mothers and Families
Recognition Ceremony
5th Annual
Suicide Prevention Summit
Wreaths Across America
21st Judicial District Court
Veterans Treatment Court
JUNE 2022
Recruitment for
Campus Navigators
VA Mobile App
For Health
And Benefits
Second Annual
Louisiana Women Veterans Health Care Symposium
MARCH 2022
Black History Month
General Charles McGee
FEBRUARY 2022
In Memoriam
Lawrence Brooks
JANUARY 2022
Wreaths Across America
Day
DECEMER 2021
“Never Forget”
Garden
NOVEMBER 2021
Desert Storm
30th Anniversary Commemoration
OCTOBER 2021
4th Annual Suicide
Prevention Summit
Sandra Franks, Veteran
Louisiana Women Veterans Health Care Symposium
COVID-19 Vaccination Information
For Veterans
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Crisis Line
Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs
EUGENE LUSSAN
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
JILL EAVES
Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs
GOLD STAR FAMILIES
America’s Oldest WWII
VeteranLAWRENCE BROOKS
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Photographer
GENE RUSSELL
Southwest Louisiana
Veterans Home
KALY GIST
United States Air Force,
ABBIGALE ROSE FERRIER
Brigadier General
SHERIAN GRACE CADORIA
Louisiana Military Family Assistance (MFA) Fund
Master Sergeant,
TANYA BARNETT WHITNEY
Air Force Veteran,
DESLEY WASHINGTON
LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD,
Deployment of the 832nd
Engineer Utilities Detachment
Veteran, US Navy,
MS. LILLIAN HOOVER
Veteran of WWII,
served in the US Army for 28 years,
MARY FISH
Louisiana Women Veterans
Veteran, United States Air Force Communications Director, LDVA,
ALEJANDRA “ALEX” JUAN
Veteran, United States Air Force,
SANDY FRANKS
Petty Officer 2nd Class,
ASHLEE LEPPERT
Master Sergeant
SIENNA SCHER
Lake Charles Charter Academy, Lake Charles Charter Academy Foundation
Third Grade Teacher
Math and Science
2024 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year Semifinalist
KAYLA HEBERT
Terrebonne Parish School District
Ellender Memorial High
Supervisor of Special Education Services
Principal Ellender Memorial High
2024 Louisiana Principal of the Year Semifinalist
BLAISE PELLEGRIN
Ascension Parish School System
Lakeside Primary
First Grade Teacher
Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies
2022-23 Milken Educator Award recipient
ELISE FREDERIC
West Baton Rouge Parish
Cohn Elementary School
2022-23 Milken Educator Award recipient
5th Grade Science Teacher
DEREKA DUNCAN
Lafayette Parish School System
Green T. Lindon Elementary School
3rd, 5th Grade
ELA, Social Studies, and Science Teacher
2022-23 Milken Educator Award recipient
CORRIE CAMPBELL
St. Charles Parish Public Schools
Destrehan High School
2023 Louisiana New Teacher of the Year
JORDYN VICKNAIR
DeSoto Parish
North DeSoto High School
2023 High School Principal of the Year
TAMRA PHILLIPS
Orleans Parish – NOEEN
Wilcox’s Academy of Early Learning, Wilcox Academy Too, Wilcox Academy Central City and Wilcox Academy at SUNO
2023 Louisiana Early Childhood Leader of the Year
ROCHELLE WILCOX
Principal, Lowery Middle School
2023 Middle School Principal of the Year
MICHAEL HILTON
2023 Louisiana State High School Teacher of the Year
English IV, AP English Literature and Composition, and Duel Enrollment Composition II
Chalmette High School/ St. Bernard Parish
JUSTIN TEMPLET
2023 Louisiana Elementary School State Principal of the Year
Haynesville Elementary School, Principal/Claiborne Parish
HEATHER BROOKS
2023 Louisiana State Principal of the Year
Harry Hurst Middle School,
Principal/St. Charles Parish Public Schools
DR. DAVID SCHEXNAYDRE, JR.
2023 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year
St. Charles Parish – Hahnville High School
Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry
BRITTANY BONNAFFONS
Teacher, 11th and 12th Grade
Caddo Parish
C.E. Byrd High School
AP European History, AP Research & AP Psychology
JOHN LARY
2022 Louisiana Public Interest Fellow
St. Charles Parish
Lulling Elementary School, Assistant Principal
BRIAN GOUGH
2022 Louisiana Exemplary Educator
St. Tammany Parish
Carolyn Park Middle and
Mayfield Elementary Instructional Coach
DANIELLE TROULLIER
2021-22 Milken Educator Award recipient
East Feliciana Public Schools
Slaughter Elementary School
English Language Arts
3rd Grade Teacher
LAURA LAICHE
Teacher, 9th and 10th Grade
Orleans Parish
Benjamin Franklin High School
Geometry and Algebra I
2021-22 Milken Educator Award recipient
JAY WEISMAN
Richland Parish
Holly Ridge Elementary School
ERNEST HILL
2021 State Teacher of the Year Finalist
5th Grade Teacher at Stem Magnet Academy of Pointe Coupee
Pointe Coupee Parish Schools
BRIDGET BERRY
Lake Elementary
in Ascension Parish
2022 Louisiana Middle School Principal of the Year
DR. JEREMY MUSE
Beauregard Parish
South Beauregard Elementary
2022 Louisiana Elementary School State Teacher of the Year
KAITLYN RICHARD
Calcasieu Parish
Washington Marion Magnet High School
2022 Louisiana High School State Principal of the Year
PRINCIPAL RONNIE W. HARVEY, JR.
West Leesville Elementary,
Principal Vernon Parish
2022 Louisiana State Elementary
Principal of the Year
KAREN ROBERTSON
2022 Louisiana state Principal of the Year
Queensborough Leadership Academy,
Caddo Parrish Schools
MARCO D. FRENCH
2022 LA Teacher of the Year Semifinalist
9-12 ELA/Social Studies Curriculum Specialist
Evangeline Parish School District
KAYLA JOSEPH
Green T. Lindon Elementary School,
Lafayette Parish, Principal
2022 Principal of the Year Semifinalist
GINGER RICHARD
Jefferson Parish
John Q. Adams Middle School
2021 State Principal of the Year Finalist
JASON BEBER
Rosepine Elementary, Vernon Parish
5th grade/Science & Social Studies Teacher
2021 State Teacher of the Year Semifinalist
JESSICA DEON
Principal at Good Hope Middle School, Ouachita Parish
2018 Louisiana State Principal of the Year Finalist
TWAINNA CALHOUN
Alice Boucher Elementary, Lafayette Parish
Assistant Principal and Certified Special Education Teacher
2018 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year Finalist
SARAH GROS
Glasgow Middle School, East Baton Rouge Parish
Teacher of Roman Technology, Classical Mythology, and Latin
2021 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year
NATHALIE ROY
Vernon Parish
Parkway Elementary School, Principal
2021 Louisiana State Principal of the Year
ALNATA DIONE BRADFORD
Orleans Parish
Benjamin Franklin High School
English Language Arts Teacher
2021 Louisiana High School State Teacher of the Year
KATE YOUNGBLOOD
Lafourche Parish
West Thibodaux Middle School
6th-grade Ancient History Teacher
TRINETTE L. WALLACE
Vermilion Parish High School Teacher of the Year, 2019-2020
Louisiana State Teacher of the Year Finalist, 2021
CARRIE VARINO
Physics and Chemistry Teacher Iowa High School;
2021 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist
JENNIFER UNDERWOOD
2019 Louisiana State
Teacher of the Year
SPENCER KIPER
Louisiana Educators Rising,
KIMBERLY ECKERT
Louisiana’s 2019 Elementary State Teacher of the Year,
TASHA JOLIVETTE-JONES
Louisiana Principal of the Year,
JENNY CAREY
2016 Louisiana Teacher of the Year,
KELLY STOMPS
Louisiana Teacher of the Year,
CHRIS DIER
Forest Heights Academy of Excellence
St. Tammany Parish Public School System
Director, St. Michael School Bell Choir
MRS. JILL HITCHINS
Superintendent
MELISSA MARTIN STILLEY
School Counselor
TARA WASHINGTON
L.J. Alleman Middle School
2 tablespoon butter
¼ pound duck gizzards, small diced
1 tablespoon Creole Meat Seasoning
2 teaspoons chopped thyme
2 teaspoons chopped sage
2 teaspoons chopped marjoram
2 medium onions, diced medium
2 medium peppers, diced medium
2 ribs celery, diced medium
15 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups long grain rice
½ pound foie gras, medium diced
1 bunches green onions, sliced thin
½ cup parsley, chopped
4 cups chicken stock
Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat a large heavy gauge pot. Add butter and heat until melted.
Add gizzards, Creole seasoning, thyme, sage, and marjoram. Sauté for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Add onions, peppers, celery, and garlic and sauté for 8 minutes or until brown and tender.
Wash rice three times with cold water, rinsing each time with hands to remove excess starch, drain. Make sure water runs clear.
Add rice to mixture and stir in gently.
Add 4 cups of chicken stock and bring to a boil, stir only to make sure the rice is not sticking to bottom. Do not over-stir.
Cover and simmer for 13 to 15 minutes or until rice absorbs most of liquid.
Add diced foie gras using a fork and fold in season with salt and peppers. Cover and set aside for 10 to 12 minutes.
With a fork, gently stir in parsley and green onions. Transfer to a serving bowl.
Note: Transferring to serving bowl will stop the carry over cooking process.
Makes 12 6-oz. side dishes
Ginger Louviere is the owner of Spa Mizan in Lafayette, LA and has practiced clinical aesthetics and massage therapy for almost 30 years. She was one of the first medical aestheticians in the country, specializing in the care of healthy skin as well as pre and post operative skin care.
Besides her private practice as an aesthetician, as a skin care educator, Ginger’s expertise has taken her all over the country teaching professional aesthetics for AVEDA as well as medical doctors and their staff. She also teaches in-house advanced aesthetics on a regular basis to her own aesthetics team.
Ginger began her career in 1989 as a one person, one client business. In 1998 she expanded her business into a 3500 sq.ft. facility and opened what is now Spa Mizan. In addition to her skin and body care services, she added full service hair and nail departments and employed 10 people. In 2009, Ginger moved her business to its present location and expanded once again, establishing Spa Mizan as the premier salon and spa on the Louisiana Gulf Coast. With over 8500 sq.ft of salon and spa space, Ginger now employs more than 30 people.
In addition to her practice as a medical aesthetician, Ginger’s mission is to change the face of the salon and spa industry by focusing on and educating her staff on the both the technical side as well as the business side of the industry. She explained, “I wanted to create opportunities for my staff that would give them rewarding and fulfilling career paths that would enable them to become financially successful”. Ginger is a graduate of AVEDA Business College as well as Strategies Leadership Training which is dedicated to empowering salons and spas to achieve the highest levels of success and profitability. She is also a graduate of Inspiring Champions, a training program that provides proven practical solutions to the business needs and challenges of the salon and spa industry. As owner of Spa Mizan, Ginger has developed profitable service and retail sales programs, maintained a profitable and successful business during challenging economic times, created sustainable systems to increase staff productivity, created profitable career paths for service providers who demonstrate a passion for their chosen profession and created systems that create staff retention and customer loyalty. Under her leadership, Spa Mizan was named Louisiana’s Small and Emerging Business of the Year by the Louisiana Economic Development Association. This was the first time this award was ever awarded to anyone in the salon and spa industry. Spa Mizan was also twice named as one of the Top 200 Salons and Spas in North America and has won numerous “Best Of” awards. Ginger was also awarded Lafayette’s Women Who Mean Business Award.
Since opening Spa Mizan in Lafayette 20 years ago, Ginger has successfully created her vision. “My goal was to create an escape where our guests could get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to a relaxing, rejuvenating retreat and according to our reviews, we have done just that”.
When asked what has made her successful, without hesitation Louviere responded, “my team is the reason for continued success. With a team of over 30 employees, each understands and respects the value of the customer and the importance of customer service. They also understand and value the need for continuing education, which is provided on an ongoing basis at Spa Mizan.”
Ginger indicated that as the Louisiana economic climate continues to improve, 2019 looks very bright for Spa Mizan and she expects to hire additional service providers in all departments to meet the demands of her guests.
Spa Mizan is located at 2319 Kaliste Salom Road in Lafayette, LA or you can visit them online at www.spamizan.com