If you’ve ever strolled through Sugar Mill Pond during the holiday season, you’ve likely admired the twinkling string lights draped across Palfrey Parkway or gathered around the towering Christmas tree in the park. What you may not know is that this beloved neighborhood tradition, Hallmark Christmas, was born from a simple sketch on a napkin by Dwayne Lalande.

It was 2020, a year when the world felt distant and disconnected. “We wanted a way to bring the community back together,” Angela recalls. “Dwayne drew an image of string lights hanging over the park, and that’s how it all began.” Today, Hallmark Christmas has become one of Sugar Mill Pond’s most cherished annual events, illuminating not just the neighborhood, but the generous hearts behind it.

Angela and Dwayne’s journey to Sugar Mill Pond began at the very start of their marriage. “We were newlyweds looking for a home to raise our family,” Angela shares. “I was pregnant with our oldest, Priya, when Dwayne had a meeting with a client in Sugar Mill Pond. On his way, he passed a ‘For Sale By Owner’ sign in front of a house across from Palfrey Park—with the playground and swingsets right there. He called me immediately, we visited it, put in an offer, and the rest is history.”

She admits she had no idea what kind of community they were stepping into at the time. “There’s this intangible quality that Sugar Mill Pond has,” she says. “It’s love, family, and connection woven into the fabric of our lives. When we first moved in, a resident told me that if they ever moved out of their house, they’d just move into another one here. That idea felt so foreign to me back then—but now I completely understand. Sugar Mill Pond is a place you come to and never want to leave. Because it’s home.”

For the Lalande family, community, faith, and togetherness are deeply rooted in every part of their lives. Angela and Dwayne have lived in Sugar Mill Pond for ten years, raising their three daughters, Priya (9), Ayla (7), and Cira (5), along with their one-year-old miniature Australian Labradoodle, Ozzy.

Ozzy, as Angela tells it, has a story almost as charming as the family’s. “Dwayne and I were standing outside our house discussing plans for Hallmark Christmas when a neighbor passed by on his golf cart with a gorgeous dog,” she laughs. “I think I said, ‘I want that dog, or one like him!’” The couple tracked down the breeder, Bayou Doodles of Covington, and instantly fell in love with a puppy named Vanilla Bean, now their Ozzy. “When I saw his birth date, October 8th, the same day my Granny went to Heaven, I knew he was meant to be ours.”

Today, the two balance marriage, parenthood, and entrepreneurship with gratitude, humor, and intentionality. Angela owns Lalande Title, a local real estate closing company, while Dwayne operates Social Outdoor Living, installing luxury motorized pergolas and patio screens across Louisiana. “Through the challenges of raising children and running businesses, we continue to choose each other daily,” Angela says. “It’s not always easy, but that’s what love is. A choice. And I choose us.”

When the family isn’t working, they’re usually outdoors. “We love weekend trips in the woods to camp, or really, glamp,” Angela shares with a grin. “We bring string lights, play music, and cook over an open fire using my Granddaddy’s 20-inch skillet. Getting off the grid brings us life.”

Travel is another passion. Last year, they took their daughters on their first plane ride, flying into San Diego before crossing the border to Mexico. “We stayed with friends off the grid and had the time of our lives,” Angela says.

Their days at home are equally rich with meaning. Each week, they gather for Family Night, sharing dinner with Angela’s parents and her twin sister’s family. “We rotate houses,” Angela explains. “My mom recently made Chicken Pot Pie for our birthday, it’s my favorite dish on the planet.”

Faith, food, and family set the rhythm of life for the Lalandes. Whether listening to Parisian Café music on Saturday mornings, cheering on the LSU Tigers and Saints, or watching The Chosen together, the family’s love for togetherness shines through.

“The community here in Sugar Mill Pond is unlike any other,” Angela says. “We’re family. Moving here ten years ago was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”