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 “The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief.”

William Shakespeare (Othello)
In the foolishness of my youth, I spent a number of years employed in the grocery business. It was a good job for young man and allowed me the ability to purchase a brand-new Chevy truck. My time was spent evenly between the check stand, the produce department, and the grocery isles in between. Duties included filling the milk box, pop isle, stocking shelves anywhere and everywhere as needed, and catching shoplifters, purse snatchers, and other miscreants. It was a wild time!
In recent years, it has become apparent that retail thieves these days have an easier time executing their wicked deeds. In some states, laws against shoplifting and theft have been relaxed to the point that bad folks have no fear of the law and seem to steal as they please. It is common in some stores to see many goods locked up, accessible only by summoning a high school kid with a key ring. This is because of the fear of legal issues. Now, if you chase a shoplifter, you can get sued, or fired, or both. It didn’t use to be that way.
In my day (I’m pretty old), as part of our grocery work, we would hunt shoplifters. Always ready to sprint into action when needed, we were on constant patrol. Shoplifting, and the robbery of our customers, was considered a personal offense. And chasing and fighting bad guys was fun, if a bit dangerous.
Note – I am not advising anyone practice these methods today.
Back in the 70s, the stores that I worked in had two-way mirrors around the perimeter of the store. Behind these mirrors was a catwalk, accessible through a back hallway in the breakroom. From the catwalk we could spy on customers and employees in the store below. It was a common practice to stay alert and when observing the furtive movements of potential thieves, we would hit the catwalk and observe. Often shoplifters could be simply confronted by the store manager just outside the door, but this was not always the case. Most fun were the runners. I can’t count the number of times we chased thieves in full retreat across the parking lot headed for freedom. These chases were thrilling. Usually, when caught, the bad guys gave up. Rarely were punches thrown.

Continue reading “Surviving the 70s – To Catch a Thief”

Weight loss consultations, Wellness injections, infusions, facials and more

Cura Aesthetics is excited to announce they have expanded and opened up their own shop in Devine! They are now located at 508 West Hondo Avenue in Suite B, right next to Dairy Queen in Devine.
They offer several services including facials, chemical peels, wellness injections, and weight loss injections. They also offer IV infusions, lash lifts, and a variety of services designed to make you look and feel good.
Founder Brittney Burns, FNP worked in the medical field for years before ultimately deciding to return to school and get her Nurse Practitioner’s degree. She is following her dream of opening up- a chain of med spas, and we are lucky to have one right here in Devine.
“Even in today’s fast-paced, results-driven world, the truth is that you can’t look your best if you don’t feel it first — and that a little caring can go a long way,” Burns said.”Wellness is inextricably linked to our ability to find beauty in the moments that matter.”
She transitioned into the world of wellness and aesthetics care with a goal of shaping “the course of a client’s care — instead of just reacting to it.” That combined with her passion for aesthetics led her to where she is today: Cura Aesthetics.
“It’s not about how many appointments we can inject into a day, but rather how much of a difference we can make in the lives of every client who walks through our doors,” Burns said.
Her sister Heather Thompson is also very passionate about the services they offer, and they are both excited to share a little bit more about their products and services.
They offer several wellness injections, including: the Meyers Cocktail, Tri-Immune Boost, and LipDelux, and Vitamin D3. As opposed to pills, injections offer more immediate effects, she noted.
“Our Vitamin injections are phenomenal,” Thompson said. “One of the most popular is the Tri-immune Boost, which is the ultimate immune system enhancer. It also has inflammatory properties,” Thompson said.
If you are concerned about weight, “The LipoDelux is very popular to maintain weight and gives you energy,” she adds.
“Vitamin D is the underdog. Most of us don’t get enough sun to have enough Vitamin D. It affects sleep. It affects depression, and it even affects regulatory hormones. So many of us have a Vitamin D difficiency.”
They also offer Tirzepatide and Semaglutide shots which they call “the fit shots.”
“The goal is to lose 1-2 pounds of fat per week,” Thompson said.
When it comes to facials, everything is custom.
“The first thing we do is analyze your skin,” Thompson explains.
They offer firming peptide facials, lip and eye treatments, chemical peels and more.
“Our oxygen facial is extremely popular. It is great for people who have sensitive skin. It’s also great for teens and acne prone skin,” she adds.
Future plans include adding services such as hormone replacement therapy, join restoration, and lab services.
Meet the Team…
Brittney Burns, DNP, FNP-C:
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the intersection of wellness and artistry. Even as a kid growing up in San Antonio, I recognized the impact a person’s health could have on the quality of their life and the lives of the people around them. Although I had yet to define the connection, the concept of wellness always seemed to be inextricably linked with the ability to find beauty in the moments that matter. The way I saw it, helping others, was (and still is) an artform. It was a purpose that only flourished with age, and I took meaningful steps to pursue it. First attending Nursing School and landing a job in Critical Care where I gained an abundance of wisdom in many different roles from pediatrics to cardiac intensive care to trauma and beyond for the first 10 years of my health care career. Despite igniting my passion for problem-solving, this made me wish I was more proactively involved in a patient’s treatment from day one, I returned to school to get my Doctorate of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner degree and transitioned into Wellness and Aesthetics care. From my perspective, a person’s well-being is greater than the sum of its parts, and it is only through an integrated approach that we can each feel — and look — like the best possible version of the whole package we are.”
Heather Thompson, LE-C:
“I have worked alongside my sister (Brittney) for several years, including 2 years in Devine, TX. This close collaboration has allowed me to expand my expertise in the medical aesthetics realm, igniting my passion for helping people. With over 15 years of experience in the public sector, I have learned the power of how a warm and kind nature ensures every client feels comfortable, cared for, and welcomed from the moment they walk through the door. It brings me great pleasure to work with Cura Aesthetics offering high end services to our neighbors here in South Texas.”
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