BayouLife Magazine

Bayou Fashion | CHIC ON COURSE
Whether you’re courtside or headed to brunch, these country club chic styles from local boutiques are sure to be a grand slam.

HEMLINE MONROE
Bright kelly green and classic tailoring make this dress a standout choice for effortless country club style. Featuring a crisp collar, button-front details, and a flattering belted waist, it’s a polished look that’s perfect for everything from brunch on the terrace to an afternoon at the club. Accessorize with slide-on shoes that features a high architectural heel and timeless peep-toe strap.

STYLED BY MARÉ BRENNAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK
HAIR & MAKEUP BY MEKA BENNETT
MODELS: EMMERSON BRITT
SPECIAL THANKS TO BAYOU DESIARD COUNTRY CLUB

CATCH OF THE DAY!
Seafood Shack’s Jumbo Shrimp Po’boy: Plump jumbo shrimp take center stage in this Louisiana classic, piled into a soft po’boy bun and gravy for a satisfying taste of Gulf-inspired comfort.

Apero’s Herb-Crusted Seared Tuna: Beautifully seared tuna is encased in an aromatic herb crust, offering a delicate contrast of tender seafood and savory, fragrant flavor.

Styled by Maré Brennan
Photograph by Kelly Moore Clark

Bayou Fashion | CHIC ON COURSE
Whether you’re courtside or headed to brunch, these country club chic styles from local boutiques are sure to be a grand slam.

HERRINGSTONES
Playful yet polished, this look is a fresh take on effortless country club style. A classic sleeveless tank pairs perfectly with cropped polka dot pants, while a delicate chain belt and pearl hoop earrings add a touch of sophistication. Finished with retro-inspired sneakers, this outfit is equal parts chic and comfortable for everything from lunch with friends to an afternoon on the go.

STYLED BY MARÉ BRENNAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK
HAIR & MAKEUP BY MEKA BENNETT
MODELS: EMMERSON BRITT
SPECIAL THANKS TO BAYOU DESIARD COUNTRY CLUB

🚨BayouLife Magazine is looking for freelance features writers. If you are interested, please send writing samples to [email protected]. 📝

The St. Jude Dream Home
Built through extraordinary community support, the 2026 Monroe St. Jude Dream Home stands as a testament to generosity, remembrance, and the power of giving back.
In a thick torrent of May showers, a crowd gathered for a ribbon-cutting inside a newly constructed home, celebrating a project to create a lasting impact. While some mingled, others sauntered down hallways and into rooms decorated with picture-perfect finesse. There was much to revel at-elegant light fixtures, decorative tiles, top-of-the-line appliances. Somebody’s soon-to-be dream home. This house, located in a serene subdivision in Sterlington, Louisiana, is one of many tightly looped knots in an extensive net cast supporting the lifesaving work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

Find the article on our website:
https://bayoulifemag.com/the-st-jude-dream-home-4/

ARTICLE BY VANELIS RIVERA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

Summer Sports Highlights.
Thank you for submitting pictures of your summer sports adventures!

Alana Cooper | Bayou Icon
Alana Cooper has always loved a good adventure. From family weekends trekking through the gumbo mud in Madison Parish to reach a beloved hunting camp to flying with the AeroShell performance team doing barrel rolls and other aerial acrobatics, Alana has lived an adventurous life. She has also developed a very successful 30-year career in tourism. Her leadership in this field has been duly recognized. Recently she has won two prestigious awards – the AO Evans Award from the West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce and the Destination Outstanding Leadership Award from Destinations International (the highest honor available in the tourism industry). Alana never misses an opportunity to tell people about our area. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and is paying off with increased tourism here. Because of her love for her home region and her leadership in marketing our region well beyond traditional boundaries, Alana Donald Cooper is our July Bayou Icon.

Alana Kay Donald Cooper grew up in West Monroe, Louisiana, in a family always on the go – whether at work or at play. Her parents were both successful medical doctors. Her father, Dr. Albert Donald, was a family practice physician in private practice behind Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe. His practice was large, because he did everything from children, obstetrics, and surgery. When he passed away, Alana remembers that those attending his funeral were asked to stand if he had delivered them, had delivered their child, or if they had been a patient. “Most everyone stood,” Alana remembers. “It was good for my kids to see how many people he had treated.”

Read more on our website:

ARTICLE BY GEORGIANN POTTS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

PATRIOTIC POPSICLES
For a fun and easy-to-make treat for hot summer days at the lake, try this red, white and blue crowdpleasing popsicle! You’ll need a good silicone popsicle tray and some popsicle sticks to get started. Patriotic and refreshing!

WHAT YOU NEED:
3 cups of vanilla flavored Greek yogurt
Honey
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1 cup blueberries
1 cup bananas, sliced

Place 1 cup of Greek yogurt and ¾ cup of sliced strawberries and 3 Tbsp of honey in a tall container. Reserve about 12 slices of strawberries (You will add these to the popsicle mold). Using an immersion blender, blend until creamy. Pour to about 1/3 of the popsicle mold. Add 2 slices of strawberry and using a popsicle stick, push the strawberry down into the mixture within the mold. Place into freezer for 30 minutes.

Place 1 cup of Greek yogurt and 1 cup of sliced bananas and 3 Tbsp of honey in a tall container. Using an immersion blender, blend until creamy. Pour in enough to reach almost 2/3 of the popsicle mold. Place in freezer for 30 minutes.

Place 1 cup of Greek yogurt and ¾ cup of blueberries and 3 Tbsp of honey in a tall container. Reserve about 12 blueberries. (You will add these to the popsicle mold). Using an immersion blender, blend until creamy. Pour to fill the popsicle mold. Add 2 blueberries per popsicle and using a popsicle stick, push the blueberry down into the mold. Add top to the popsicle mold and insert popsicle sticks. Place in freezer for at least 1 hour.

Photograph by Kelly Moore Clark
Styled by Maré Brennan