Barbra Dela Cruz needed a new dentist, so she turned to Google looking for great reviews and a practice close to home. “Dr. Thomas Lomonte was just 10 minutes from my house,” says Barbra. “And he seemed like a guy everyone loved. I wanted the same dentist for both myself and my daughter...so I was looking for a reputation of comfort and friendliness!”

Freestanding ERs and Urgent Care facilities are popping up all over our community...but it’s important to remember that they’re not all created equal. If you choose an urgent care center because you’re worried about the wait at your local emergency room, you may not get the help you actually need! Many urgent care centers have limited hours and have a physician on-call, rather than on-site. All day, every day St. Michael’s Emergency Rooms offers everything you’d find in a “traditional” ER--physicians trained in emergency medicine, X-ray, Ultrasound and CT, an on-site diagnostic lab, nine exam rooms (including pediatric themed rooms, a sports room, and a Harley-Davidson room!), a treatment suite for observation, and a comfortable waiting room...without a wait!

The most recent American Housing Survey released reports of incidents of rodents in 25 major cities across the United States. John Onofrey, owner of Top 2 Bottom Inspections and BUGCO Pest Control was not at all surprised that the Houston area reported some of the highest percentages of rodents in the country.

Houston native Dr. Lance Jue, DDS of A Beautiful Smile at Lake Pointe understands the dilemma. “Confidence is the magic ingredient to everything in life,” he explains. “If you feel good about the way you look, it translates to everything you do, who you meet and the impressions you make. You need a great smile, and one of the easiest ways to keep your smile shining bright is to take care of your teeth.

Seven days a week, politicians, professional athletes, businessmen and women, and members of the working class descend upon a tiny spot on the corner of a strip mall on Highway 6 in Sugar Land. The ceiling is covered in colorful festive pinatas and the tables are reminiscent of a diner. The place isn’t swanky, and the line of people out the door on weekends aren’t there to be seen. They’re there to enjoy some of the best Tex-Mex around at one of the Houston Chronicle’s “Top 100” Restaurants in Houston.

Lisa Huddle has enjoyed living in First Colony for over 30 years. “My air conditioner was old, old, old!” says Lisa. “My heater was condemned, and I needed new duct work too. Basically...I needed a complete new system, and I wanted to get it replaced before my AC went out and I was stuck without it in the hottest summer months.”

When Laurie Minard decided to remodel her kitchen, she was overwhelmed with the process, so she hired a contractor. However, Laurie would soon learn that not all contractors are created equal. “The contractor I hired was vague, and did not offer me options. Plus, I had to run around town and choose materials without guidance. The process was crazy because there were so many choices, and I was unsure where to start, much less what materials would work well with my ideas and most importantly, my budget.” The remodel process was not easy for Laurie, and she told me that she felt misinformed and worse, alone.

It’s September and the hustle and bustle for the holidays is fast approaching. Enjoy your 2015 holidays with new decor. “Bland is not an option,” says Caron Lopez, owner of Grand Windows & Interiors. Caron’s goal for your home is “Gorgeous, yet uniquely and comfortably yours!”

Does your kitchen or bath look like the “Before” picture in the latest HGTV episode? When you want a bathroom or kitchen that looks completely new, but you don’t want to deal with a complicated renovation, you don’t have to be a do-it-yourselfer. Paul and Jonee Barnett, owners of Miracle Method Surface Refinishing, have the “After” you’ve been looking for.

“It’s happened…faster than you ever thought possible. The baby teeth are gone. Crayons and scissors are replaced with lockers and cellphones. Your BABY has become a teenager!