Austin Woman Magazine
“Revel in life’s awesome and mysterious ride.” —Alexis Jones
JANUARY 2014
12/18/13 12:24 PM
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V e i n A u s t i n . c o m
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The Breast and Body Center of Austin is committed to creating healthier and happier lives in the Austin area. Our team has come together for one common purpose–exceptional patient care. Founded by Dr. Ned Snyder IV, a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, our expanding practice is rising to meet the demands of the growing community. Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Robert Whitfield joined our practice in 2012, and together both doctors work side-by-side performing all types of breast reconstruction including the DIEP Flap. This procedure uses abdominal tissue to create new natural breasts following a mastectomy. We welcome our new surgeons Dr. John Eggleston III, Dr. Christine Fisher and Dr. Galen Wachtman to our office. These surgeons bring new techniques and specialties that not only will benefit our patients, but the Central Texas region as well. The Breast and Body Center’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons collectively bring in over 25 years of experience in cancer reconstruction, complex hand and cosmetic surgeries. To learn more about our surgeons and hear directly from our satisfied patients go to BreastandBodyCenterofAustin.com.
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Contents JA N UA RY
68
On the Cover
Alexis Jones: Living the Authentic Life 21st-century wisdom and the new work ethic. By Jennifer Hill Robenalt
76
Feature
Women’s Empowerment Through Sports
Photo by Eric Doggett.
The saga continues. By Kim Anthony
EyeDoll Panthera dress, $178; red and gold beaded statement necklace, $68, available at Anthropologie, 601 N. LamarBlvd., 512.236.9301, anthropologie.com.Â
Contents JA N UA RY
52 on the scene
gourmet
26 5 things
52 Allergy-Free Cooking
28 around town
Photos From Austin Events
30 philanthropy Dell Children’s Gala 32 spotlight event 34 horoscopes
George Strait
Happy Birthday, Capricorn!
must list 36 Nelson Mandela
58 READERS’ REQUEST 60 healthy eating
38 Must read Three New Diets to Try This Year
style
91 Personal Empowerment Tanya Bilisoly
96 last word The Things I Want to Do
Fifteen Minutes with Laura Cisneros
66 health
MomCom
Trish Morrison of
Smart Changes
Nutrition Labels and Portion
Control
opposite sex
44 COLOR TRENDS Moody Blues
84 Relationships
16 Austin Woman january 2 0 1 4
No Promises
62 fitness
82 memo from JB
49 Ask Ashley Update Your Look for 2014
Beets Café
89 Resolutions
94 Work-life balance
40 HOME Spruce it Up 46 WHAT’S IN STORE Reworks
Star-Lit Punch
86 Girls WITH GUNS Austin Sure Shots
to your health 64 wellness
In Memoriam
Recipes
The End of a Good Run He Cheated. Now What?
on the cover Photo by Eric Doggett. Hair by Ellen Fate and Temara Coggin, J.COCO Salon & Day Spa, 5400 Brodie Lane, Ste. 295, 512.891.0420, jcocosalons.com. Makeup by Lauren Lumsden, Rae Cosmetics, 512.320.8732, raecosmetics.com. Styling by Ashley Hargrove, dtkaustinstyling.com. Rebecca Taylor cream and black tweed dress, $450; Alexis Bittar Miss Havisham orbiting purple clip-on earrings, $350, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.
Photo by Shelley Alexander.
To Help You Get Your Fitness On
savvy women
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“I founded a non-profit breast cancer 501c3 charity and from the very beginning Sheila Bostick has been our banking partner. My experience with Benchmark Bank could not be better. The staff is ultra friendly, knows my name and who we are and is attentive to every need. I would encourage anyone, large business or small to join me at Benchmark Bank.” —Bill Bastas, founder and Executive Director of The Smile Never Fades, Inc. Benchmark Bank is raising the standard for a remarkable customer experience. At Benchmark, we believe knowing our customers goes beyond their visit to the bank. We personalize each customer’s experience by coming to your location and encouraging you to attend our charitable and networking events. We know that exposure in the community helps your business grow, so we host and attend events in Austin to support your efforts. A Texas family owned bank since 1964, Benchmark Bank’s outstanding personalized customer service will be around for decades to come. We invite you to come meet the Benchmark team and quickly see how our standards align with yours.
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From the Editor I have always found it helpful to look to role models I respected and aspired to emulate for inspiration, and none was more influential or inspiring to me than Nelson Mandela. I have included a memorial tribute using his powerful and moving words as a way to acknowledge a soul who was the embodiment of truth, purpose, authenticity, dignity, grace, forgiveness and self-empowerment. Mandela always knew that he was born a child of God and refused to let anyone under any circumstances take away his dignity. He knew that he was meant to shine. A quote from Marianne Williamson’s A Return to Love: Ref lections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles is sometimes attributed to Mandela, as he often included it in his talks. It speaks to the fear we all face when we let our light shine: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give
JANUARY Launch Party Jan. 8, 6 to 8 p.m., Studio Bella, 6507 Jester Blvd., #108 RSVP at aw.ticketbud.com/january-launch-party.
Celebrate the new year with AW Media’s team and the launch of our January empowerment issue at Studio Bella, benefiting GirlStart. Join us for an evening of complimentary food, drinks, massage treatments by Studio Bella’s associates and a book chat from our January cover women, Alexis Jones, who will be on-site with her 2014 released book, I Am That Girl, also available for purchase. RSVP, bring a friend (or two!) and enjoy a night of relaxation!
20 Austin Woman january 2 0 1 4
Second Acts Have you recently embarked on a second career or found your calling after age 40? We would like to hear from you. Please send your story to submissions@awmediainc.com with “Second Acts” in the subject line.
other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” As 2014 dawns, it is my hope that we can take those words to heart. I hope that you will join us on Jan. 8 at the AW launch party for a special evening featuring a book chat and conversation with our cover woman, Alexis Jones. I know you will be inspired by her insight and her mission. Liberate yourself and others, set goals, be optimistic, proceed fearlessly and above all, let your light shine for the world to see. I can’t wait to see what the new year brings! Wishing you all the best in 2014!
deborah hamilton-lynne Editor-in-Chief
Are You An Entrepreneur? Do you have a small business or a startup that our AW readers should know about? We are on the hunt for local businesses and entrepreneurs for our March issue. Please send your info to submissions@awmediainc.com with “Local Entrepreneur” in the subject line.
Photo by Korey Howell.
Let it shine!
When I was a little girl, I loved to sing, especially in church and I especially loved the song This Little Light of Mine. I just knew that for the rest of my life, I would not hide it under a bushel. No, I would let it shine. Unfortunately for me, as for so many young women, life took some different turns and made me fearful of letting my light shine, for, in my experience, sometimes the light also attracted darkness. Yet, I always turned my face toward the light and was hopeful as I watched the changes coming about throughout my coming-of-age years, especially for women and people of color. In January, our theme is self-empowerment. The subtitle of I Am That Girl, a new book penned by our cover woman, Alexis Jones, is “speak your truth, discover your purpose and be that girl.” She founded a nonprofit whose sole mission is to remind girls of their innate and immeasurable self-worth. The challenge is how to do just that. We all want to know the way to authenticity. With that goal in mind, this issue is filled with tips, role models and inspiration to help you be the best you can be. From the mission and message from Alexis Jones, to the challenges faced by female athletes, to taking control of your overall life, your diet, your fitness routine and health, it is all about empowerment. Working on this issue, we learned one thing for certain: Empowerment starts and ends with only one person—you.
Contributors Er ic Dogge t t
DEBOR AH MAS TEL OTTO
K IM AN THON Y
JENNIFER HILL ROBENALT
COVER photographer “Alexis Jones - LIVING THE AUTHENTIC LIFE”
WRITER “HOROSCOPES”
writer “Women’s empowerment through sports”
COVER WRITER, “Alexis Jones - LIVING THE AUTHENTIC LIFE”
Page 68
Unlike other photographers, Eric Doggett didn’t start shooting when he was 3 years old. In fact, he was 33 when he first picked up a camera. After a few years of shooting weddings, Doggett moved in to editorial and advertising photography, where he now looks for ways to create fun, highimpact images. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Lisa, and their two sons, Brandon and Trevor. You can see his work at doggettstudios.com. WHERE is your favorite place to shoot in austin?
“I don’t have one particular place per se. I’d say I most enjoy images that have fun subjects with beautiful Austin downtown as the background.”
Page 34
Page 76
Deborah Mastelotto is an obsessive remodeler (of people and places), a pathological entrepreneur, a minor student of quantum physics and an unapologetic observer of human nature. Her obsession with astrology began when she fell in love with Mars in fourth grade science class, and she’s been writing a monthly astrology column for more than 10 years. She currently owns a perfect little salon in a 100-yearold farmhouse in Dripping Springs, Texas. What’s in store for 2014?
“We take on the mantle of seeker this year, with a focus on thoughts and words, talking and listening, and communications in general. We usually think of communication as sharing information by spoken words, writing or body language, but we communicate through actions and thoughts as well and the everpresent Internet.”
Kim Anthony is a native Southern Californian who came to Austin three years ago. As a fitness enthusiast and freelance writer, Anthony recently poured her passion for fitness and wellness in to fitnessgalore.net, a website that features fitness and nutrition tips, workouts, recipes and the latest fitness fashion. She’s a proud mommy of two who enjoys spending quality time with her family, exercising and reading in her spare time. What did you learn while writing this article?
“Empowerment has a variety of meanings, depending on who you ask. I was able to explore the many layers of empowerment, specifically as it pertains to women. Past and present, sports has been a valued vehicle, affording women the opportunity to develop and demonstrate their inner fortitude.”
Page 68
Jennifer Hill Robenalt is a
freelance writer and PR veteran. A native Austinite, she left in the sleepy late ‘80s and earned her writing degree from Emerson College in Boston. She later enjoyed a creative stint in New York City and eventually read movie scripts for executive types in Los Angeles. When she returned to Austin, she dove headfirst in to organizations like the Texas Book Festival and Texas Performing Arts. What advice do you have for young women about living an authentic life?
“I have a simple formula: Find out what you love to do, get really good at it and then use your gift to help people. I’ve always been sort of a rebel. It’s a quality that can really serve you when you’re trying to ‘throw out the script,’ as Alexis Jones mentioned in our interview. You have to have the courage and a positive support system to challenge the status quo and write your own story.”
have the last word? We love hearing your stories. Send in your submissions for our March Last Word column for a chance to be published. To be considered, email 500 words or less to submissions@awmediainc.com by Feb. 1. March topic: “Living the Entrepreneurial Life.”
22 Austin Woman january 2 0 1 4
Introducing Austin Woman’s 2014 Columnists
Who they are and what to expect from AW’s new columns.
IT’S YOur NIghT OuT at the Austin Symphony
“ Fifteen Minutes with Laura Cisneros” Page 62
Laura Cisneros is a force of nature who inspires action and drives results from her clients and her companies. An international fitness personality, she is currently CEO of Fresh, based in Austin. What to expect: Each column will demand you be more of what you can be. With realistic tips and the empathy only a mother of three can have, she will cajole, prod and remind you of your potential awesomeness. From nutritional tips, to seasonal training programs, Cisneros will keep you informed, well trained and amused. Who knew fitness could be so fun?
“ Ask Kaneisha” Page 84
Kaneisha Grayson is the author of Be Your Own Boyfriend: Decide to Be Happy, Unleash Your Sexy, and Change Your Life. She runs MBA and MPP admissions-consulting firm The Art of Applying. Find out more at her blog, kaneisha.com. What to expect: Each month, Grayson will provide a candid from-the-heart answer to a burning question from one of AW’s readers. Covering everything from getting back in to the dating game, adjusting to relationships as they develop over time and deciding whether and when to call it quits, Grayson hopes to help the women of Austin date and relate courageously and confidently while facing reality head-on.
“ Dressed to Kill” Page 49
DTK Austin founder Ashley Hargrove is a leading wardrobe stylist in Texas, taking her experience to Los Angeles, Chicago and Canada for major productions. Hargrove specializes in styling artists of all kinds, including models, musicians and radio and TV personalities. What to expect: In her debut column, the fashion guru touches on what pieces are beneficial for updating your wardrobe for 2014 and what you should focus on purchasing. Hargrove gives helpful hints on what to keep and what to toss, and also offers tips on what trends to look out for in 2014. Throughout the upcoming year, Hargrove will answer all your style questions, providing everything you need to know to keep your wardrobe fresh and fashionable. Address your fashion dilemmas by sending questions to submissions@awmediainc. com with “Dressed To Kill” in the subject line.
It’s date night every month with the Austin Symphony! The ASO has concerts every month for any occasion. Enjoy a beverage, a beautiful view of downtown, and then listen to some live classical music performed by your Austin Symphony!
2013–2014 Season PETEr BAY, MuSIc DIrEcTOr
Ask about group rates!
tickets/info (512) 476-6064 or austinsymphony.org
Connect with us! find us online at austinwomanmagazine.com Guns for Good
Win this!
From the Austin Classical Guitar Society: A pair of tickets to see Rovshan Mamedkuliev
Social entrepreneur Peter Thum and CFDA Award-winning designer Pamela Love create beautiful jewelry from repurposed illegal guns, with the proceeds dedicated to causes helping to reduce gun violence. Each of the pieces in the collaboration bears the serial number of the illegal gun used to create it. Read about the company and its mission. libertyunited.com
Featured event 10-day Fitness Challenge Join AW as we commit to 10 days of working out and eating right utilizing Tetra Fitness, Skinny Limits, My Fit Foods, Snap Kitchen, Pure Bikram Yoga, ZEN Japanese Food Fast and Dr. Ruthie Harper. Our staff will share individual goals, hopes and expectations. Follow us for live day-by-day updates beginning Jan. 8th !
Jan. 18, 2014, GT Austin, 2700 Northland Drive Mamedkuliev is the second of three straight Russian winners of the world’s most prestigious guitar competition. If you remember last January’s packed and stunning show with Vladimir Gorbach, you’ll have an idea of what to expect from Mamedkuliev! To enter, go to facebook.com/austinwoman.
Can’t get enough of this issue? Check out austinwomanmagazine.com
Fridayfaves We love exploring our city and every Friday on our Facebook page, we share five of our favorite things. This month we chose family friendly places where your children can get active. That chill in the air means your kids have less of a chance to get their wiggles out in the backyard. Keep them entertained and wigglefree with these indoor, kid-friendly places!
1 The Little Yoga House Your kids will stay centered this winter with Austin’s first kids-only yoga studio. 1211 Parkway thelittleyogahouse.com
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@austinwoman
24 Austin Woman january 2 0 1 4
2 iFly With this Monday and Wednesday night kids club, your children will learn what it feels like to fly through the air. 13265 N. Hwy. 183, Suite A. austin.iflyworld.com
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Trapeze Austin Your child can become a circus daredevil in this safe, fun environment! 9501 Manchaca Road
Jumpoline Bounce off all that builtup chilly weather energy! 13801 Mopac Expressway 6405 S. I-35
My Gym Help your little ones gain strength and balance at this children’s fitness center! 5301 W. Hwy. 290
trapezeaustin.com .
jumpolinepark.com
like us
mygym.com
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From The Nutrition Twins’ Veggie Cure, 10-day Jumpstart Plan for weight loss, belly de-bloating and toxin flushing.
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From Dr. Reza Ghorbani, tips to ease the pain and keep your workout program on track.
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From Deliciously Holistic, five recipes that prove healthy is the new delicious.
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From The Joys of Financial Security, advice on managing your money wisely for a secure financial future.
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In case you missed it, Cover woman, Alexis Jones recaps the highlights of the first TedxAustinWomen event.
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Plus: Reviews of Wither or Fly from Ballet Afrique; Pilobolus Dance Theater; American Idiot from Broadway in Austin; the latest on the Golden Globes and Oscar buzz; film reviews from the Sundance Film Festival 2014 and more.
facebook.com/austinwoman
find us
austinwomanmagazine.com
A new year. A new you. At The Lash Lounge®, our upscale, trendy eyelash salon and boutique give you the low-maintenance beauty you’ve always wanted. Our highly trained staff uses top quality products and we have a fabulous boutique and amazing, filler-free, mineral cosmetic line. We specialize in semi-permanent eyelash extensions, permanent makeup, eyelash and eyebrow tinting, and threading services. Start the new year by shortening your morning routine and helping you get on with your day – and
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on the scene /
5 things
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Five Things to Help You Get Your Fitness On This Month Compiled by Megan Russell
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Get Fit! 2014
3M Half Marathon
Foam Glow 5K
With the new year comes the pressure to get in shape. It can seem overwhelming and spending 20 minutes on a treadmill can be mind numbing. That’s why Ballet Austin opens its doors to everyone to get fit (for free) and have fun while doing it! Celebrate lifelong health and well-being with a sample of fitness, dance and conditioning. To improve your fitness enhances your overall health and that’s what Get Fit! 2014 is all about. The Butler Community School is dedicated to helping people of all skill levels, economic and cultural backgrounds to adopt a healthy lifestyle through dance and physical activity. Classes offered include Pilates, Ballet, Zumba, Body Massage and Kids Dance Around the World. There’s also a Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Exhibit throughout the day. Visit balletaustin.org to RSVP.
Marathons are the go-to weekend activity for many Austinites, and the go-to to go to is the 3M Half Marathon. This year is the 20th anniversary of one of Austin’s most popular races. For this charitable run, the 3M Foundation is partnering with Run Austin and Communities in Schools of Central Texas, which will receive a guaranteed $40,000 from the foundation. Communities in Schools supplies campus-based programs, special projects and resources needed to empower students to stay in school and set goals that encourage them to achieve. Registration for the 3M Half Marathon is $100. For more information on the race, how to register and inspiration for your training, visit runningshorts.3m.com.
Competing in one of Austin’s many races can be intimidating. How do you get started or know which race to choose? Why not have a blast and choose the “craziest 5K on earth?” The Foam Glow 5K is a race for runners of all levels, and being that it takes place at the very beginning of the year, it’s a great choice to introduce the first-time runner to their first race. It’s a wonderful experience for anyone who might be a bit scared off by the seriousness of other races to see what you can do and be a little silly at the same time. Runners are exposed to glowing foam and black lights throughout the course. The more white you wear, the better time you’ll have. Runners start as a blank canvas and end the race in a tie-dye of different colors under the black light. Registration for the race is $30. For more information, visit foamglow.com.
Jan. 12, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., Butler Dance Center at Ballet Austin, 501 W. Third St.
Jan. 19, 5:45 a.m. to noon, Stonelake Boulevard.
26 Austin Woman january 2 0 1 4
Jan. 4, 6:30 p.m., Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane
4 Contentment in Everyday Life The holiday rush can leave you feeling a little out of your senses and not like yourself. The new year is the time to reconnect with yourself and what you want. Contentment in Everyday Life is a month-long course that offers just that. It focuses on the mindfulness of meditation and explores the foundations of Hinayana Buddhist teachings. Contentment is about taking action and learning how to express gentleness, appreciation and fearlessness every day. This class is ideal for anyone who is new to Shambhala Buddhism or who would like to explore new ideas. The Contentment in Everyday Life class is $90 and runs every Thursday through Feb. 13. To register, visit austin. shambhala.org. Jan. 19, 7 to 9 p.m., Austin Shambhala Meditation Center, 1702 S. Fifth St.
5 Tending Our Heartfire with Wanderlust Yoga and Shiva Rhea Start the new year off right with yoga that ignites your prana and tends to your heart fire. Through January, Wanderlust is offering workshops to center and energize you. One of these is Tending Our Heartfire— the Science and Yoga of our Energetic Heart for Optimal Flow with Shiva Rhea. The class begins with a discussion on Rhea’s latest book, Tending the Heart Fire, followed by a group mediation, then two hours of an invigorating Vira Prana Flow class. Vira means “potency” or “rising energy,” so this vinyasa class will integrate Prana Danda Yoga, “danda” meaning energetic spine, with backbends and twists to create a primal connection that will last beyond the practice. To RSVP, visit austin. wanderlustyoga.com. Jan. 11, 9 a.m. to noon, Wanderlust Yoga, 206 E. Fourth St.
Get Fit! 2014 photo courtesy of Ballet Austin. 3M Half Marathon photo courtesy of Sport Photo. Austin Shambhala photo by Jake Lorfing. Rhea photo courtesy of Wanderlust Yoga. Foam Glow photo by Justin Muir.
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WICKED IS FLYING BACK TO AUSTIN.
FEBRUARY 19 – MARCH 9 BASS CONCERT HALL GOOD SEATS STILL AVAILABLE Bass Concert Hall Ticket Office & All Texas Box Office Outlets Visit BroadwayInAustin.com or call 512-477-6060 Groups 20+ 877-275-3804
on the scene /
A rou n d t ow n
AW Media Inc. December Launch Party
Dec. launch party planners, The Simplifiers
Sarah Evans of Well Aware
Katie Paschall
Susan G. Komen Austin Race for the Cure
Kheira Ardjani, Trish Trujillo, Jerusha Vaz
Chad Roesle; Amber Gonzales; Congressman Lloyd Doggett; Christy Casey-Moore, Susan G. Komen Austin executive director
Jennifer Stevens, Susan G. Komen Austin board president elect; Lori Maris, Susan G. Komen regional vice president; Judy Salerno, Susan G. Komen president and CEO
Erika Stojeba, and Katie Taylor and friend by Jeff Loftin Photography
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Anne Hudson by She-n-he Photography
DJ Johnny Bravvo by Jeff Loftin Photography
Launch party photos by Day 7 Photography.
Citizen Generation’s CharityBash Live Auction
on the scene /
phil a nth ropy
Dell Children’s Gala Tell your story in support of Dell Children’s Hospital. By Leo B. Carter “Everybody has a story. What’s yours?” Laura Craddick poses this question as a central theme for the 2014 Dell Children’s Gala. The storybook event has a fairytale aesthetic, but the stories she’s referring to are not the sugar-coated stories of children’s fables; they are the very real, often heart-wrenching and hope-inspiring stories of patients of the Dell Children’s Hospital. Family members at this year’s gala will share some of those stories. The event also celebrates Austin’s generous community of donors with a full night of fine dining, casino games, live music and an after party until the small hours. Dell Children’s is a state-of-the-art hospital and one of only 16 Level 1 trauma centers in Texas. It services the needs of patients from 46 counties throughout the state who receive cutting-edge treatments unavailable elsewhere. It has even received multiple LEED platinum certifications for sustainable practices and high environmental standards. “The hospital sees almost 150,000 children a year,” says Craddick, chair of this year’s gala.
30 Austin Woman january 2 0 1 4
And it’s not just Texans that are treated there. Dell Children’s, in partnership with an organization called Heart Gift, brings “children from all over the world, raising money for life-saving surgeries, all done at Dell Children’s,” Craddick continues. The goal is to bring worldclass medical care to as many children as possible, regardless of the families’ ability to pay. “I’ve been personally touched by the hospital. I had a play group of seven women and out of that group, we have three children’s lives that have been saved by the hospital,” Craddick says about how she first became involved with the philDell Children’s Gala anthropic arm of the chairs Laura and hospital. “One of the Tommy Craddick children was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric cancer called berkus lymphoma.” Prior to the establishment of Dell Children’s only five years ago, the specialized treatment that this boy needed could not be found in Central Texas. “Many people would have to leave and go to Houston for six months,” Craddick explains, noting this would uproot their lives and require them to move to other cities for expensive special treatment. “The great thing is that they were able to treat him with the best care possible right here at Dell Children’s. Now he’s in remission. He’s back in school.” It’s not just about medicine either. When providing pediatric care, nothing can be spared when it comes to TLC, as Craddick describes it. A young patient whose childhood has been put on hold for complex and often painful medical procedures must find ways to be distracted and entertained to hopefully feel like a kid again. Pet therapy, child life specialists and the healing
garden at Dell Children’s allow patients to do just this. These are just a few of the ways in which this place is more than just a hospital; it’s the “Dell Hotel,” as Craddick affectionately calls it. The hospital has assembled a formidable medical team with specialists for everything from extreme trauma and injuries to advanced cancer treatments. This year’s gala is aimed at raising the funds needed to purchase cutting-edge medical equipment for the hospital. “There was no third bed tower [two years ago],” Craddick says. “My friend needed full-time occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy, and she had to go to Dallas for an entire month and leave her family at home.” That is no longer necessary, largely thanks to funds raised from successful galas of past years, which brought in upwards of $1 million each year. For those interested in chipping in who can’t attend the gala, there’s a raffle and an entire line of jewelry by Kendra Scott, the proceeds from which benefit the hospital. For more information on the event and the hospital, go to childrensaustin.org/cmcf.
Sponsored Event
Austin Classical Guitar Society Presents Rovshan Mamedkuliev Jan. 18, 8 p.m., GT Austin, 2700 Northland Drive Rovshan Mamedkuliev is a spectacle to behold. The internationally renowned classical guitar player is coming to Austin for an evening to remember. In 2012, Mamedkuliev won one of the most prestigious classical guitar competitions in the world, Guitar Foundation of America’s International Concert Artist Competition (GFA), but has also won numerous awards nationally and internationally since 1999. He is considered one of the world’s most exciting young instrumentalists, with an excellent ear, tenacious memory and a great sense of rhythm and form. The concert at GT Austin, hosted by Austin Classical Guitar Society (ACGS), will move and inspire listeners while showcasing ACGS’s commitment in bringing classical guitar to the Austin community. In addition to shows and events, ACGS is transforming school-based music education in Austin by implementing guitar lessons in more than 30 middle and high schools, the Travis County Juvenile Justice System and the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. In an interview with Classical Guitar Training, Mamedkuliev encouraged listeners to fall in love with his classical instrument. Whether you’re familiar with classical guitar or are intrigued to know more, ACGS provides the perfect opportunity to experience one of the greatest classical guitarists of our time. Prepare to immerse yourself in to a creative atmosphere, inspired by Mamedkuliev’s imagination and emotions. Tickets for the event range from $15 to $60 and can be purchased at austinclassicalguitar.org. Dinner is offered down the street at Chez Zee for an additional $50.
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George Strait Jan. 10, Frank Erwin Center Country icon George Strait rides in to Austin on what might be a very nostalgic last full-length tour, aptly named The Cowboy Rides Away tour. After 59 No. 1 songs, and a top 10 hit every year of his 30-year career, Strait has become synonymous with country music. He’s sold more than 65 million albums worldwide and although he has no future plans to tour at this magnitude, he’s still as prolific as ever. Before he rides away, women will swoon as the legendary cowboy takes the stage at the Frank Erwin Center Jan. 10. He’ll be joined by rising star Jason Aldean, whose latest album, My Kinda Party, has already claimed five No. 1 hit spots. For tickets and more information, visit uterwincenter.com. B See the complete January calendar of events at austinwomanmagazine.com.
32 Austin Woman january 2 0 1 4
Compiled by Leo B. Carter. Photo by Vanessa Gavalya.
on the scene /
on the scene /
horoscopes
Happy birthday, Capricorn! Dec. 22–Jan. 20 Your month: Happy birthday! Independence versus relationships, self-interest versus the common good: These are the themes for you this month and this year (until July). You’re a little restless, impulsive, determined to be an individual, determined to do things your own way, even if a partnership might help you manifest and grow your plans sooner or easier. To help you strike a balance, we suggest reading the book Boundaries and Relationships: Knowing, Protecting and Enjoying the Self by Charles Whitfield. It might provide you with a real plan to effectively balance self-interests with partnerships and keep everyone happy this year.
➺
Happy new year and welcome to our fifth annual sun sign book list. Below, you’ll find the perfect book to guide each astrological sign during the next six months. Find your book then glance through the book recommendations for the other signs. See one that resonates or interests you as well? Take it as a sign and get that book too. This year, we attract the most good fortune when we are sympathetic, charitable and use our powers to save and accumulate, and comfort others. The more help we get to do that, the easier our job is. The true challenge is finding a balance. Aquarius (Jan 21–Feb. 19): Your ability to handle the details of work and health grows this year and you take on jobs too big for most mortals, so to support you and your good work as you climb up the career bean stalk, we recommend Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants. Fortify your resolve to leap high office buildings in a single bound with case histories of others who did the same thing—successfully. Find your joy in providing a service. Go ahead and get a new job too, if you want one. This is the year to start right. Pisces (Feb. 20–March 20): Kick back! Relax! The first half of 2014 is the time to really enjoy your life, appreciate the good things, take a vacation, try out a new hobby or art project, be brilliantly artistic, hang with kids and explore new ways of having fun. But just to be sure you’re having fun the right way, we have a book selection to guide you: Enjoy the Ride: How to Experience the True Joy of Life by Steve Gilliland. Gilliland researches success and finds it’s rather more dependent on passion and enjoyment than our culture would have us think. Read this book and prepare for a fun year.
34 Austin Woman january 2 0 1 4
Aries (March 21–April 20): This year zeros in on your domestic happiness. You’re deep in the throes of establishing the very foundations of your life, your home, your family. Your sense of security and safety grows, so to aid you in solidifying domestic bliss, please grab a copy of the book Mind, Body, Home: Transform Your Life One Room at a Time by Tisha Morris. Morris correlates every room in your house with its physical, mental or emotional counterpart in you. Her theory is that by being in tune with its energy, you can create positive changes in your life. Now’s the time to try it out. Taurus (April 21–May 21): The next six months are all about your mind: expressing yourself, collecting ideas, speaking, writing, teaching, learning. You’re able to really understand complicated subjects and explain them to others. But as smart as you are right now, we still want you to be able to maximize your potential, so we recommend the book The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking by Edward B. Burger. This book is full of practical and inspiring tricks for successful thinking and strategies for using your mind differently. And by revealing hidden opportunities, you find all kinds of ways to become more successful.
Gemini (May 22–June 20): Money makes the world go ’round. And that’s especially true for you Geminis during the next six months. 2014 is a profitable and productive year for you, and any past money problems just may clear up if you use this time wisely. So, to get on with your year and get the most out of it, you should get Dave Ramsey’s book The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness. Financial fitness is more than just developing a budget, and formulating a master life plan will make you feel rich and powerful. Cancer (June 21–July 22): This is your year! The stars and planets align to deliver opportunities right to your doorstep in ways that will boggle your mind and make you feel like the luckiest person in Austin. It’s said that good luck happens when preparation meets opportunity. It’s important that you become fully prepared so you can just reach out and grab those opportunities. It could be as simple as taking charge and taking responsibility for the wonderfulness in your life, and often a good book on the subject helps us focus. Your guide could be Standing Accountable: Increase Your Success by Holding Yourself Responsible by Scott Schwab. Leo (July 23–Aug. 23): This is a time when you can rid yourself of self-destructive thoughts, deepseated fears, ingrained tendencies and guilty feelings. You’re able to connect with your subconscious mind, and The Universe asks you now to surrender some of your attachments, let go and embrace the unknown. Releasing control is necessary to building your faith. It’s the work you’re doing now, and we can recommend a great book to aid you in your quest for inner knowledge: 8 Minute Meditation: Quiet Your Mind. Change Your Life by meditation expert and best-selling author Victor Davich. Step in to the solitude of your own mind. Virgo (Aug. 24–Sept. 22): The lucky key word for you this year is “networking.” Reach beyond your usual personal circle. Keep your eyes open for increased opportunities, networking activities, friends and acquaintances, clubs and organizations. When doors open, joy and prosperity enters. But before you charge in to 2014, we’d like to recommend that you study the book The Slight Edge:
Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness by John David Mann. This isn’t a book about networking specifically, but a simple tool to help you make the most from each and every myriad interaction this year will bring you. Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Your trajectory is on everyone’s mind right now. Your career path is awe-inspiring, your work ethic, exemplary, and your success rate, well, we all want to be you in 2014. This is no time to be shy. Maximize rewards by being direct, integritydriven and honest, and willingly put yourself in the limelight. So, to reinforce your already powerful job presence, we would like to recommend the book Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day by Todd Henry. This is a simple, masterful manual, not just for having a fulfilling career, but for leading a fulfilling life. Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): The saying, “Give, spend and God will send,” could be your mantra in 2014. Your powers of manifestation and regeneration are so strong right now that all you have to do is take just one step in the direction of your dreams and a flood of support pours in. This year, you get the equivalent of a university education in spiritual awareness and alchemy. Like the card The Magician in a tarot deck, you can turn lead in to gold. That’s why the first book you read this year should be Do You Quantum Think?: New Thinking That Will Rock Your World by Dianne Collins. Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): Intimacy, passion and relationships (especially if you share resources) take over your year like kudzu in Louisiana. Everything you do must contain elements of these things or they won’t claim your attention. Even inheritances, insurance settlements and tax refunds seem a little passionate and mysterious. Who knew there was an actual guidebook for passionate feelings, but here it is: Igniting Your True Purpose and Passion: A Businesslike Guide to Fulfill Your Professional Goals and Personal Dreams. Marketing executive and best-selling author Robert Michael Fried gives you a roadmap for work and your personal life. This year can take you to the next level. Metaphorically. By Deborah Mastelotto deborah@pinkaustin.com
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must list /
I n M e m o r i am
Nelson Mandela, in His Own Words Inspiration, forgiveness, dignity and empowerment. By Deborah Hamilton-Lynne
Nelson Mandela was the very embodiment of a soul of self-empowerment and dignity. His path was not without challenges and, at times, was fraught with violence. He did not claim to be a saint, yet rose above bitterness and anger toward an unjust imprisonment and unfair policies to unite a country. An inspiration and a role model for people worldwide, Mandela’s legacy is one of understanding the power of forgiveness and love. As I heard of his death and was reflecting on his life, I listened to Paul Simon’s beautiful CD Graceland, recorded in South Africa, and out of the blue, received this statement by email from his PR rep: “Mandela was one of the great leaders and teachers of the 20th century. He conceived a model for mortal enemies to overcome their hatred and find a way through compassion to rebuild a nation based on truth, justice and the power of forgiveness. His passing should reignite a worldwide effort for peace.” – Paul Simon on Nelson Mandela’s passing, Dec. 5, 2013. For your consideration, I share some of his words that have inspired me through the years.
In Memoriam
Nelson Mandela July 18, 1918 – Dec. 5, 2013
“As I walked out the door toward my freedom, I knew that if I did not leave all the anger, hatred and bitterness behind that I would still be in prison.”
“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
“It always seems
impossible until it is done.”
36 Austin Woman J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” “Action without vision
is only passing the time. Vision without
action is merely daydreaming, but vision
with action can change the world.” “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
“I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.” “ I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
“Appearances matter— and remember to ”
smile.
“A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.”
“One of the things I learned when I was in negotiation was that until I changed myself, I could not change others.”
“For me to be
free
is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Want to learn more? Recommended reading.
The Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela
Mandela’s Way: Lessons on Life, Love, and Courage by Richard Stengel
austinwomanmagazine.com 37
must list /
M UST RE A D
Three New Diets to Try This Year Slim your waistline with tasty recipes and healthy choices for 2014. By Hope Petersen New Year’s Eve has passed and you’re finding that you can’t zip up your newly gifted jeans. It’s time to go on a post-holiday diet, but which one? Pick up one of the following diet books and dedicate yourself to health and happiness in 2014.
Mediterranean Diet Mediterranean Diet for Dummies by local author Wendy Jo Peterson is a step-by-step, how-to guide from the famous For Dummies book series featuring topics on everything you could possibly ever imagine learning how to do. The Mediterranean Diet is a modern diet inspired by the traditional dietary patterns of Greece and Southern Italy. The principle aspects of this diet include a high consumption of olive oil, legumes, unrefined cereals, fruits, vegetables and fish, as well as moderate consumption of dairy products (mostly cheese and yogurt) and wine products. Red meat intake is restricted. Escape in to the Mediterranean world and lose some pounds while you’re at it. Mediterranean Vegetable Omelet Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 25 minutes. Yield: 4 servings. Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cups thinly sliced fresh fennel bulb 1 Roma tomato, diced 1/4 cup pitted green brine-cured olives, chopped 1/4 cup artichoke hearts, marinated in water, rinsed, drained and chopped 6 eggs 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, basil or parsley Directions: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and saute for five minutes, until soft. Add in the tomato, olives and artichoke hearts and saute for three minutes, until softened. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl and season with the salt and pepper. Pour the whisked eggs into the skillet over the vegetables and stir with a heatproof spoon for two minutes. Sprinkle the omelet with the cheese and bake for five minutes or until the eggs are cooked through and set. Top with the dill, basil or parsley. Remove the omelet from the skillet onto a cutting board. Carefully cut the omelet into four wedges, like a pizza, and serve. Mediterranean Diet for Dummies by Meri Rafetto and Wendy Jo Peterson, dummies.com.
38 Austin Woman J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4
Quick Metabolism The Fast Metabolism Diet Cookbook by Haylie Pomroy allows you to keep eating as much as you want without counting calories or fats. Instead, you will rotate what you eat throughout the week to induce physiological changes within your body to super-charge your metabolism. The diet contains three phases. In Phase One (Monday and Tuesday), you eat a majority of carbs and fruits. In Phase Two (Wednesday and Thursday), you eat lots of proteins and veggies. In Phase Three (Friday through Sunday), you eat all of the above, plus healthy fats and oils. This is repeated for four weeks. The diet claims that “each phase focuses on different whole, healthy foods to calm your adrenal glands, reduce stress on your liver and feed your thyroid so it can produce the hormones T3 and T4, the superstars of a fast metabolism.” Furthermore, you will be able to reduce stress and, as a result, put the damper on the belly-fat hormone, cortisol. By switching up what you eat, you keep your metabolism guessing, which, in turn, gets it working faster. The diet has been famously used by celebrities, athletes and for people with chronic illnesses that need to lose weight quickly. The Fast Metabolism Diet Cookbook by Haylie Pomroy, fastmetabolismdiet.com/diet.
Paleo Diet The Paleo diet is based on the diets our hunter-gatherer ancestors would have eaten during the Paleolithic era, the period from about 2.6 million years ago to the beginning of the agricultural revolution, about 10,000 years ago. Food on the Paleo diet includes fresh meats (preferably grass-fed beef, pork, lamb, poultry and game meat), fish and seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts and oils such as olive, coconut, avocado, macadamia, walnut and flaxseed. Dairy products, cereal grains, legumes, refined sugars and processed foods are excluded from the diet, as they were not part of our ancestral diet. The Paleo Diet by Loren Cordain contains everything you need to know and more about this ancient yet modern diet plan, first seen in “modern” times during the 1970s. An inside look at an example of a day on the Paleo diet: Breakfast: Omega-3 or free-range eggs scrambled in olive oil with chopped parsley. Grapefruit, or any fresh fruit in season, herbal tea. Snack: Sliced lean beef, fresh apricots or seasonal fruit. Lunch: Caesar salad with chicken (olive oil and lemon dressing), herbal tea. Snack: Apple slices, raw walnuts. Dinner: Tomato and avocado slices; grilled, skinless turkey breast; steamed broccoli, carrots and artichoke; bowl of fresh blueberries, raisins and almonds; one glass white wine or mineral water. The Paleo Diet by Loren Cordain, thepaleodiet.com.
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style /
HO M E
Spruce It Up
mix-and-match upholstery guide, which breaks down how to measure and construct the different parts of any piece of furniture imaginable. Brown leaves no details unfinished, concluding the book with tutorials on accent pieces such as ottomans and throw pillows. In addition to the variety of projects, the book includes all the ins and outs of upholstery: helpful sewing tips, stripping furniture, assembling your toolkit and even guidelines on By Rachel Merriman planning your new space. Below, Brown tells Austin Woman more The new year is a time when many of us about some of the topics included in become inspired to give our living spaces the book. a fresh look, which usually involves Austin Woman: The first chapter rearranging or even replacing some of the book is about getting inspired furniture. But before you sacrifice your and designing your space. What are well-loved, tattered armchair to the your suggestions for putting together Craigslist free section, consider giving it a room? a makeover. There are many advantages Amanda Brown: Take it piece by to reupholstering the furniture you piece. If you’re starting with a blank already have instead of buying new, slate, you need one piece of furniture according to Amanda Brown, owner of you feel really passionately about. It local upholstery shop Spruce and author doesn’t even have to be a big piece; of Spruce: A Step-by-Step Guide to it could be a little side chair or one Upholstery and Design. inspirational photo. When I started putting together “You can customize furniture in many ways that the room in the book, that dragon fabric was the one you aren’t able to from a big-box or chain store. fabric I just had to use for the room. Even though it There are no limitations as far as fabric goes; you wasn’t the central piece in the room, it was somecan pick any fabric, or even use something like an thing I could latch on to for inspiration. So make a heirloom textile or a rug. The options are endless,” few decisions that go from your gut, and from there Brown says. “Also, older frames are generally better you can bring in some neutrals and pieces that make quality for the price. If you compare the price of the room functional and practical. You have to start upholstery to a comparable new purchase, you’ll be with something you feel passionately about, othergetting a better-quality piece of furniture.” wise you’re making choices around a lackluster sofa. Spruce: A Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstery and AW: How should you go about selecting a piece to Design contains six major projects with detailed reupholster? instructions on how to upholster some of the most AB: Almost anything can be redone! The best pieces common pieces of furniture, such as a wingback to redo are ones that are heavy and have a tight chair or three-seater sofa. Getting a quick start with frame. Things can be repaired, but structural and what you’ve got is easy too. Just refer to the handy wood issues will add to your expense and you may have to bring in a professional to tighten a frame or replace Amanda Brown’s Recommended Resources missing pieces. Those are 3 “ Etsy and eBay are great places for awesome vintage fabrics, frustrating things that could like curtains that have enough yardage to do small armchairs.” discourage you in the process, 3 “ Capital City Upholstery Supply in Austin is fantastic. They so it’s better to avoid that if have everything you need if you’re going to do it yourself, you can. If you’re a beginner, and they have good prices.” start on the smaller side, with 3 “ Corner Collectors Market, Uptown Modern, Room Service a chair versus a huge sofa. It’s and the Austin Antique Mall are my favorite places to find nice to start with something vintage furniture.” that doesn’t take so much
Breathe new life in to your furniture with the help of Amanda Brown’s Spruce: A Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstery and Design.
40 Austin Woman J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4
time and effort right from the beginning, especially if you’re just getting started on a new trade. AW: What are some of the ways you can make a piece stand out? AB: Fabric is a pretty important one, but the shape of a piece is equally important. Styling can play a huge part in what the finished piece looks like. Depending on what you start with, the way you change the shape of the arms or the cushion arrangement can make a big difference. Definitely color. Exposed wood can make a big statement. You could even do a boring, neutral fabric and pick something eye-catching for your finish color. AW: What tools do you need for a simple upholstery project? AB: Upholstery tools are pretty standard for all projects, regardless of difficulty. There is a tool guide in the back of the book. If you’re planning on doing any number of upholstery projects, I would suggest getting a pneumatic tool kit. Your pneumatic tools are your air compressor, hose and staple gun. The pneumatic tools are so much easier to use; a hand stapler is just not strong enough to get staples in to the wood. I would also suggest a decent sewing machine. For more information, visit spruceaustin.com. Spruce is located at 6611 N. Lamar Blvd. [Continued on page 43]
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[Continued from page 40]
Quick Sprucer-Upper: Sewing a Knife-Edge Pillow Basic Supplies: r Masking tape r Thread r T-pins r White or yellow chalk
Tools & Equipment: r Hand-stapling plier and staples (optional) r Scissors r Sewing machine r Single-welt cord foot or zipper foot attachment r Square r Welt cord stick (optional) r Yardstick
Materials: r 5/32-inch fiber flex welt cord r Fabric r Pillow inserts r Zipper chain r Zipper pulls
2
1. A dd 1 inch of seam allowances to the height and width of every pillow to determine the pillows’ cut size. The blue pillows will be 15 inches tall and 21 inches wide when cut. The velvet fabric is 55 inches wide, so we can place two pillow faces side by side. We need four faces (two for the front and two for the back), or 30 inches of fabric, which rounds up to 1 yard. 2. Use the cut dimensions to draw and cut out the solid blue pillows. Use a square and yardstick to keep the edges square to the grain of the fabric. Be sure the nap is smoothest from the top to the bottom of the pillow. 3. Fold one face in half height-wise and cut a tiny notch to mark the middle of the bottom edge. 4
4. M ake the zipper 1 inch shorter than the finished width of the pillow (19 inches). Center the zipper chain over the bottom edge and mark the ends on the backside of the fabric in chalk.
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5. Place both faces together with good sides facing and edges aligned. To keep the fabric from shifting as you sew, use T-pins or the hand-stapling plier to attach the fabric pieces together around all four sides. Attach the staples as close to the edges of the fabric as possible.
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6. B egin sewing 1/2 an inch inside the mark made for the end of the zipper. After 1/2 an inch, backstitch the seam to lock the threads in place. Continue stitching around the pillow, pivoting the fabric under the sewing foot at every corner, until you are 1/2 an inch past the mark at the other end of the zipper. Backstitch again to lock the threads and remove the fabric from the machine. 7. If you used the hand-stapling plier, remove the staples from step five by sliding the tip of the scissors under each one to lift it out. 8. A ttach the zipper pull to the zipper chain. Stitch a small piece of doubled-over fabric to each end to prevent the pull from sliding off.
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9. S eparate the bottom edges of the pillow and lay the zipper facedown with the right half on top of the bottom seam allowance. With the zipper centered on the bottom edge and the right edge lined up with the edge of fabric, place the zipper teeth under the single-welt cord foot and stitch along the right side from one end to the other. As you approach the zipper pull, stop, lift the foot and move the pull to the rear of the foot. 10. B eginning with the end you just finished, repeat step nine to attach the other side of the zipper to the other seam allowance.
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11. C ut off the seam allowance at the corners without cutting through the stitch, and remove any staples. 12. Turn the pillow right side out and use your fingers to push the corners out to the fullest extent. Then fill with the insert of your choice. I used 14-inch-by-20-inch cluster fiberfill inserts. Excerpted from Spruce: A Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstery and Design by Amanda Brown, photography by Ryann Ford, used with permission from Storey Publishing. 12
austinwomanmagazine.com 43
style /
color tr ends
Moody Blues Keep winter blues at bay with these bold accessories. Photo by Rudy Arocha
44   Austin Woman J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4
Clockwise from top left: Prada thick rounded sunglasses, $310; B Brian Atwood Lamotte buckled lace-up sandal, $495; Proenza Schouler PS1 medium satchel bag, $1,695; MARC by Marc Jacobs Sweet Jane iPhone 5 case, $38; Portolano silk-lined four-button gloves, $125; MARC by Marc Jacobs Classic Q slim zip-around wallet, $198, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.
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w h at ’ s i n s t o r e
New Orleans On My Mind Reworks steps toward making furniture personal and inherently beautiful. By Jacqui Devaney Photos by Rudy Arocha
As I walked through the light rain, I began to take in my surroundings: stacks of wood to my right, a few cars parked leisurely in a parking lot and a large, long metal building. Part of the metal building is home to Chotsie Gregson and Willem Sypesteyn, the founders of Reworks. Although the exterior of the building suggests an industrial and detached framework, the Reworks studio is a warm and inviting contrast. Juxtaposition is the centerfold of their creative process, whether by melding old architectural pieces with freshly cut oak or by meshing classic design with contemporary structure. Gregson and Sypesteyn hail from New Orleans, and brought with them a love of French architecture and Louisiana hospitality. The masterminds of Reworks are challenging the norm by creating the bulk of their work as one of a kind and by using their personal training (both are classically trained artists) and taste to create the pieces they believe people will connect with. “Seeing it come together, seeing people gravitate towards it and having people be excited about having the pieces in their home, it’s just so much fun. That’s what we’re here to do: to create and move forward,” Gregson says with a twinkle in her eye and a warm glance at Sypesteyn, who is smiling across the studio. Reworks, 2401 Thornton Road, 512.330.0825, reworks-works.com.
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46 Austin Woman J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4
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Classic Pieces
Dark Skinny Jeans Dark skinny jeans can do wonders to your wardrobe and your body! Not only are they slimming, but they look great with every color and every type of shoe.
Update your look for 2014 with everyday essentials. By Ashley Hargrove What are some basic wardrobe essentials for 2014? The goal when purchasing clothing is to find key pieces that are timeless and will last you through multiple seasons.
White T-Shirt or Blouse They go with everything. You can dress them up or down and you can wear them season after season.
Black Leggings/Leather Pants Must have! You can wear them with oversized sweaters when you want to be warm and comfy, or dress them up with heels, a cute top and a blazer. The leather leggings do cost a pretty penny, but they are definitely worth it! Leather never goes out of style.
Classic Black Pumps Splurge on a great pair of black pumps. They will also be your go-to year after year.
Leather Jacket Always season-less and timeless. Plus, leather jackets can be worn with anything and everything. This is definitely something to save and pay a little more for. Leather jackets will last you forever.
Ballet Flats You can have the best of both worlds: comfier and more practical than heels that you can wear all day every day. Little Black Dress Absolutely timeless and will NEVER go out of style!! My favorites: Peplum. A Great Handbag I always purchase one nice leather bag per year that won’t go out of style when transitioning in to a new season.
austinwomanmagazine.com 49
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Images courtesy of/available at nordstrom.com. Hargrove photo by Barrett Campbell.
I have a limited budget. Where are some reasonably priced places to shop? They key is to buy basics. Having a new wardrobe and feeling confident in what actually fits correctly is a huge ego boost. The majority of the people out there are wearing clothing that is either too old, worn or too small or big, which is not flattering. The crazy thing is, most people know this! But they think they have absolutely no extra income to put toward a few new looks. You can go a long way with basics and they aren’t super expensive. I take some of my clients to Target, H&M and Forever 21 to get most of their basics: black blazer, dark jeans, T-shirts and tanks, even shoes. H&M sells basic shirts for $5.95. They last forever and look great with everything. What to keep and what to toss? If you haven’t worn it in at least six months, toss it. Another great rule of thumb: pay attention to store return policies. If you see something in a store you just have to have and end up not wearing it by the time the return policy is up, return it so you get the full value back and it’s not just stuck in your closet. Want to get a good feel of what you actually wear in your closet? Since it is the beginning of the year, turn all of your hangers around so they are facing the opposite direction. Once you wear something and hang it back up, turn the hanger the correct way. See what you have actually worn within a few months, and whatever is left, donate or take to Plato’s Closet, for men and women. I’m more of a risk taker. What are some hot trends for 2014? Pastels. Soft pastel shades have taken over. Pick your favorite shade and rock it throughout spring. Cropped jackets. A girl can never have too many jackets. Your fall leather motorcycle jacket will still be in style during the spring weather, but think about adding something a little more boxy in a wide variety of prints and colors. Pair this with a fitted dress or tailored skinnies.
Menswear-inspired looks/boyish tailoring. Many fashion retailers are starting to tailor more women’s clothing based on male looks: contrast colored button-downs, boyfriend pants and jeans, boxier coats, etc. Just think of it as a new way to spice up your work attire. You can even throw a tie or bow tie on with some of your blouses and dress shirts. Wide-leg pants. Alice and Olivia makes the best wide-leg pants. Not only are they comfortable, but they look great with everything and they come in a variety of colors. Crop tops. Crop tops took over the runway at NY Fashion Week. Time to hit the gym to tone up those abs. Tea-length skirts. Between a mid-length and a maxi. Pair these skirts with a cropped top to offset the length. It can make you look taller than you actually are. Oversized sweaters. Chunky sweaters are being worn with anything. Throw them over a dress, or even pair with skinny jeans or blousy shorts and you are good to go. Collarless coats. The coats look great in dressier combinations: dressier pants, pencil skirts, leather pants or even an awesome LBD for date night. And last but not least, bright lipstick! DTK Austin founder Ashley Hargrove is a leading wardrobe stylist in Texas, taking her experience throughout the U.S. for major productions. Hargrove specializes in styling for artists, musicians, commercials, print advertising campaigns, TV shows and magazines.
austinwomanmagazine.com 51 austinwomanmaGAZ
gourmet /
a l l e r g y- f r e e c o o k i n g
Feeling Good, Feeling Great Three cookbooks filled with gluten-free, allergy-free recipes to heal your body and keep you healthy all year long. By Megan Russell
Simply Allergy-Free by Elizabeth Gordon When you have food allergies and a limited diet, it’s easy to get stuck with the same-old recipes purely because you know you can eat them. In Simply Allergy-Free, Elizabeth Gordon provides a wide range of recipes to help mix things up in the kitchen. These meals are quick, easy, affordable and allergy-free. That means no gluten, dairy, soy, nuts or eggs. Gordon’s recipes are delicious while still being considerate of your body’s sensitivities. Take Gordon’s word on her ratatouille, a savory example of a classic French dish with an allergyfree twist: “When it’s hot outside, and I mean really hot, then two things are nearly certain: It’s probably August, and tomatoes and zucchini are abundant. But to me, ratatouille is a cold-weather food. That’s why I use canned tomatoes in mine. I firmly believe that there is nothing better than a piping-hot bowl of ratatouille over white rice with a side of roast chicken to make me feel cozy on a cold winter’s night.”
Ratatouille Serves 4 Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup diced yellow onion (about 3 ounces) 1 tablespoon red wine 1 cup diced zucchini (about 6 ounces) 1 cup diced eggplant (about 3 ounces) 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes and juice 7 sprigs fresh thyme 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon fines herbs or herbes de Provence 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon granulated sugar 1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley Directions: Heat the oil in a mediumsized pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook until they are soft, about five to seven minutes. Add the red wine and let it cook off for about 30 seconds. Reduce the heat to medium, add the zucchini and eggplant and saute, stirring often, until they begin to soften, about 10 to 12 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juice, thyme, bay leaf, fines herbs or herbes de Provence, salt and sugar. Simmer the ratatouille covered on low heat for 20 minutes, remove the lid and
52 Austin Woman J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4
continue to simmer for an additional 10 to 12 minutes. The vegetables should be soft and the sauce should have begun to thicken. Remove the thyme and the bay leaf, fold in the chopped parsley and serve immediately. Store leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days. The completely cooled ratatouille may also be frozen in airtight containers for up to three months.
Sweet Cravings by Kyra Bussanich Sweet Cravings is a book that satisfies just that, the sweetest desires for your gluten-free diet. In this book, Kyra Bussanich, the first gluten-free baker to win the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, has compiled a list of 50 desserts you would never know were gluten-free. Bussanich realized she had to go gluten-free following a health scare. When she did, the idea of giving up her morning muffins and birthday cake were just too much for her, so she began attending pastry school in an effort to alter regular recipes to just-as-yummy gluten-free versions. Soon after, she opened Kyra’s Bake Shop in Oswego, Ore. In Sweet Cravings, Bussanich gushes about her gluten-free Apple Crisp, instructing you to bake it to perfection. “When we were first on our own, my friend Kim and I often went back and forth to each other’s apartment for dinner. She would always make the most delicious apple crisp for dessert. This is a gluten-free variation on her recipe. Feel free to assemble the apple filling up to two days in advance and keep it chilled until you’re ready to bake it. Don’t make the topping ahead of time though, unless you plan to freeze the whole thing unbaked; the millet flour and butter combination start tasting faintly Parmesany if combined but left unfrozen for more than two hours.”
Apple Crisp Serves 8 Ingredients: 6 large apples (Pippin or Granny Smith) 1/3 cup maple syrup 2 tablespoons tapioca starch 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger Generous pinch salt 3 tablespoons cold butter Topping: 1/2 cup sweet white rice flour 1/2 cup millet flour 1/2 cup tapioca starch 1 cup packed golden brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 3/4 cup butter, room temperature 3/4 cup gluten-free oats 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional) Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Peel, core and slice the apples into 1/4-inch slices. Put the apple slices into a large bowl and sprinkle the sugar over the top. Add the tapioca starch, cinnamon, five-spice, ginger and salt, and toss together to evenly coat the apple slices. Pour into a 9-by-13-inch baking pan, dot the top with pieces of the butter and set aside. To make the topping, combine the flours, tapioca starch, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, five-spice powder and ginger in a mixing bowl. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix in the butter until it is uniformly incorporated in to the flour mixture. Stir in the oats and pecans.
54 Austin Woman J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4
Crumble the oat topping evenly over the apples. Bake until the toping is golden brown and set, and the apples are warm and bubbly, 55 to 60 minutes. You can prepare everything ahead of time. Refrigerate the apple filling and keep the topping frozen until ready to assemble and bake. Don’t refrigerate the unbaked topping overnight, as the millet flour will interact with the butter and taste and smell cheesy when it’s baked.
Reprinted with permission from Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle by Kyra Bussanich (Ten Speed Press, 2013), photo by Leela Cyd.
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Deliciously Holistic by Shelley Alexander
56 Austin Woman J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4
Carrot Walnut Cream Fettuccine Serves 4 Ingredients: 5 to 6 large organic carrots, washed and peeled 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon unrefined sea salt Carrot Walnut Cream Sauce Ingredients: 1/2 cup fresh organic carrot juice 1/2 cup sprouted or raw walnut butter 1 medium orange, peeled and white pith removed 1 pinch fresh nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon unrefined sea salt 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley
Alexander, in Deliciously Holistic, describes her healthy approach to concocting a creamy pasta dish, perfect for an appetite craving warmth and comfort on a chilly winter’s evening. “Carrots make wonderful raw noodles that are sweet and delicate. I have paired them with a carrot-walnut cream sauce that adds enzyme-rich carrot juice and healthy fat from walnut butter. Enjoy this raw vegan entree with a wonderful soup and salad for a filling, energyfilled vegan meal.”
Directions: Slice carrots in long ribbons with a vegetable peeler and stop before you reach the core. Save cores for stock or smoothies. Mix together orange juice, olive oil and sea salt. Place carrot ribbons in a bowl and toss with this mixture. Cover and set aside to soften for at least one hour. Make the carrot-walnut sauce after the carrot ribbons have had a chance to soften. Place all the sauce ingredients in a blender, with the exception of the parsley leaves and puree until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning. Drain liquid off the carrot noodles and toss with enough carrot-walnut cream sauce to coat noodles. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Photo by Shelley Alexander.
For Shelley Alexander, being a holistic chef is all about creating nutrient-rich foods that heal your body and mind for optimum health. “I wanted to help people who were so confused with all the information on the Internet,” she says. The word “holistic” brings to mind images of a green (as in grass) or brown (as in granola, nuts or tree bark) nature. So is this a book for the granola-crunching, tree-hugging hippie? Sure! But Deliciously Holistic also emphasizes that a healthy diet is a well-rounded one, so don’t worry, Texans, these recipes don’t skimp on the meat. While she labels every raw, vegan recipe, there are plenty of meaty ones as well. “I don’t subscribe to one particular dietary philosophy. Plant foods are very cleansing, animal foods are very nourishing,” Alexander says, noting the most important thing is to find your own balance. You might be surprised to find that eating holistically is easier than you think. The most easily accessible holistic food? Properly raised, grass-fed, organic meat (and veggies, of course). All you need to have a more holistic diet is to upgrade your choices. Always go for grass-fed and organic. Make sure to avoid foods like processed vegetable oils. “If you’re making the wrong choices in fats, that’s what causes inflammation, and inflammation is what leads to disease,” Alexander cautions. Among the recipes, ranging from condiments and milks, to buttermilk waffles and lemonherb wild black cod, are fermented foods, or as this holistic chef says, “foods that heal the digestive system because 70 percent of your immune system is in your gut. As you heal your digestive system, all other healing follows.” Ultimately, the best thing you can do for your body is to “learn to listen to the innate intelligence your body has.” If you’re feeling bad or bloated after you eat, it means you have been eating a food that is health-depleting, not health-promoting. Finally, Alexander stresses an important tip to remember when you’re trying any new diet: don’t do everything all at once. Changing anything in your life, even if it’s just your diet, all at one time can be overwhelming and stressful, and that completely defeats the purpose of trying to lead a holistic life. The point is to enjoy the process. So start slow and go at your own pace. You’ll begin to realize the more good you give to your body, the more good your body will return to you.
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Elementary/Middle Schools: Cathedral School of St. Mary Holy Family Catholic School St. Austin Catholic School St. Gabriel’s Catholic School St. Helen Catholic School (Georgetown) St. Ignatius, Martyr Catholic School St. Louis Catholic School St. Theresa’s Catholic School Santa Cruz Catholic School (Buda) High Schools: St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School St. Michael’s Catholic Academy San Juan Diego Catholic High School Learn more about Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Austin www.CSDATX.org
R e a der s’ R equ est
Star-Lit Holiday Punch You asked and we answered! This festive punch was the hit of the Austin Woman December launch party and now you can make it yourself. By Melody Plate 58   Austin Woman J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4
Recipe for 1 quart Ingredients: 10 ounces Starlite Vodka 11 ounces Simply Cranberry Juice 4 ounces Simply Grapefruit Juice 3 ounces Blood Orange Soda 2 ounces Dolin Sweet Vermouth 2 ounces Turbinado Simple Syrup 10 dashes of lemon bitters Garnish ingredients: 1 grapefruit cut in to wedges 1 cup of fresh cranberries 10 cinnamon sticks
Directions: Mix all ingredients in a punch bowl and grate/shave two cinnamon sticks on top. To finish off your beautiful punch, garnish with grapefruit wheels, fresh cranberries and remaining whole cinnamon sticks. Serve over ice. Share with friends and loved ones!
Photo by Niki Jones.
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Raw Food, Easy and Delicious A delicious take on healthy foods. Beets Café offers a wide variety of raw foods, smoothies and juices to help jump-start your health in 2014. For Texans, raw food may be a hard idea to grasp. Questions like, “Is it just salad all the time?” or “What about protein?” come to mind when milling over this seemingly fad-driven diet. But for Chef Sylvia Heisey, owner and chef of Beets Café, these questions are easily answered and this diet is hardly a fad. Instead, it’s a lifestyle choice that can lead to happier, healthier, painfree living. Raw food is simply food in its natural state. Nothing is heated above 118 degrees, in order for the food to maintain its nutrients and enzymes that the body needs to absorb and use for energy and digestion. After 118 degrees, your food’s nutrients begin to diminish.
60 Austin Woman J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4
For those looking to diet or cleanse the body, Beets Café hits all the go-to dietary buzzwords. It is raw, vegan, organic, gluten-free, non-GMO gourmet food. But don’t let the stereotypes that are associated with those words turn you away. “I wanted to have Beets Café be something people would not be intimidated to go into,” Heisey says. For all its lofty food ideals, Beets may be one of the most down-to-earth and calming restaurants in Austin. The atmosphere is bright and fresh, evoking a feeling of cleanliness on the outside that welcomes the cleansing benefits of the food offered. Of course, atmosphere is only a small part of the dining experience. Does the food taste good? Other favorites include an Asian noodle salad and People are under the deadly misconception that chalupas and tacos. Beets doesn’t skimp on the healthy food can’t be tasty at the same time. We are taught from an early age to believe this because dessert either; the café has a whole case filled with your favorite desserts made raw. The chocolate of consuming food doused with sugar or salt—an cheesecake is a local favorite. overwhelming amount of which can alter your What spurred Heisey to bring delicious, healthy palate and affect the way you taste food—leading food to Austin? Oddly enough, it started with sufto adults turning their noses at healthy foods and making up excuses as to why they don’t eat enough fering, or rather, the elimination of suffering. Coming from a traditional Mexican-American family, of them. she watched her family’s diet cause them to suffer “I just want something fast,” “Vegetables are with diabetes, weight, heart disease and arthritis. too expensive and they go bad too quickly,” or “It All of these ailments could be taken care makes my stomach hurt.” of and improved upon with diet. These and many more “ I do eat some cooked “I’ve been a fanatic about food and are all excuses people food. I’m not black or health way before I started thinking use based on the fear of white about this. I think about raw, mostly as I observed my family having to give up their people need to find and all their aches and suffering,” Heisey favorite flavors and comtheir own balance.” explains. “The one thing I remember fort foods. But in reality, my mother saying is, ‘I’m going to die healthy food can taste anyway.’ But, if just dying is what would happen, even better than unhealthy food. I’d welcome that. That’s not the problem. The On the Beets Café menu, you’ll find a wide problem is that you don’t die, you suffer. You have variety of foods seasoned impeccably to help you some issue and then you suffer until you die.” taste all the dimensions of your meal. The most So when she decided to open the restaurant, popular item on the menu is the ELT, Heisey’s take on the BLT, substituting real bacon with marinated Heisey wanted to create a place where people could experience food and see what it feels like to eggplant bacon. The eggplant is crisp and thin and eat something and not feel bad after. takes on the flavor of the spices, which overpow“A lot of times, people will eat something and ers any eggplant flavor you may not appreciate.
Head shot and cheesecake image by Annika Franco; all other photos courtesy of Beet’s Café.
By Megan Russell
then they have indigestion, nasal or allergy problems or headaches. So they grab the antacids or the allergy medicines or antihistamines and all of that causes other issues. If we just go back down to what’s real and what we’re putting into our bodies, being conscious of that, that experience can help people begin to see that they can handle some of their issues with just food or cleaning up their diet. That’s what I wanted to make Beets all about,” Heisey says. Raw food can be intimidating not just to eat, but to prepare, with high-priced and occasionally time-consuming cookware like food dehydrators. Anyone looking to change their diet can easily be discouraged and turn away. Beets helps by taking you through all the steps on your healthy, painfree journey. Along with eating at the restaurant, you can attend monthly classes that will teach you how to make your favorites, or schedule one-onone private classes with Heisey. While Heisey is a raw-food chef, that doesn’t mean she’s exclusively raw, and recognizes that sometimes it’s not only difficult, but the body may need more.
“I do eat some cooked food. I’m not black or white about this. I think people need to find their own balance. I’m of the opinion that everybody has to find their own way, because some people need to have meat. I rarely eat meat…but the thing I do believe is that the food has to be clean. So if it’s going to be beef, it has to be organic, grass-fed beef.” In the end, for Chef Sylvia Heisey, the most important thing to do if you are committed to raw food, or health in general, is to change your lifestyle, but start slow. “Just begin to incorporate more vegetables and fruits in to your diet and then expand from there,” she advises. “It’s good to take it slow because your health is like a journey, you have to keep investigating and keep searching for what works and what doesn’t work for you and your body. I’m still discovering a lot of things about raw food and different combinations of foods. It’s a creative process and it’s a learning process.” To try Austin’s only gourmet raw-food restaurant, visit Beets Café at 1611 W. Fifth St. To sign up for the Jan. 11 Raw Food Basics class, visit beetscafe.com.
Beets Café’s Zucchini Hummus
Ingredients: 2 medium zucchini, peeled and chopped (makes 2 cups) 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 cup tahini 1/4 cup sesame seeds Dash cayenne Directions: In a high-speed blender or food processor, process all ingredients except sesame seeds, until smooth. Add sesame seeds and blend on high until creamy. Garnish with fresh-cut vegetables. Enjoy!
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to your health /
FITNESS
Fifteen Minutes with Laura Cisneros Beat post-holiday bloat with HIIT (high-intensity interval training). By Laura Cisneros Photos by Rudy Arocha
Though science may say the average American gains roughly a pound or two during the holiday season, most people feel otherwise. The heaviness of holiday foods lingers long after the good cheer has worn off and you’re left feeling like a 10-pound sausage in a 5-pound casing! Water weight is the biggest culprit, with all the carbs we choke down in between our rounds of nog and wassail. No matter that I’m a trained professional. No matter that I’m an ectomorph. I still put on the glossy coat of holiday blubber just like everyone else. So, after the holidays, I feel just as dull, listless and bloated as everyone else. So this January, here’s my remedy for the holiday bloat and blubber: High-intensity interval training to appease your cringing redemption and focused trunk work, to remind you that you really have a waist!
The Program: HIIT (bike or treadmill) and Contoured Core Work
Set One: Bike Sprints
Set Two: Core
Whether you use a bike or a treadmill, follow this formula:
Two rounds of the following sets:
r 10-minute warmup followed by
Set 1: r Swiss Ball Crunch With a 6-Pound Med Ball Toss For the deep pull on the low belly, I love this move! Sitting on your Swiss ball, slowly walk your legs out such that your tailbone and hips are reclining back on the ball while your legs are active at about 90 degrees. Curl your shoulders and spine into a deep C curve and working with a partner, catch and throw a med ball with maximum force at each repetition.
r Sprints: one minute, eight out of 10 on perceived exertion r Recovery: 20 seconds at five out of 10 on perceived exertion r Repeat eight times. After eight sets, start your core work.
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Repeat 20 times.
Set 2: r Swiss Ball Single-Leg Hip Bridge It’s often overlooked that the hips are the base to the body’s core, and planks and bridges are great reminders. From a prone position with your legs at 90 degrees and your heels on a Swiss ball, press hard into the surface. With arms straight at your sides by your hips, press down into your triceps and raise your hips so that they are in line with your shoulders. Keeping your hips level, abdominals engaged, slowly lower your pelvis to the ground, then repeat. Do not let the ball change position! Repeat 16 times. Set 3: r Scissor Kicks To keep you feeling long from fingertip to toe nails, I love scissor kicks! Length along the fascia lines gives you the sensation of height and physical cohesion. Caution: If you have any conditions of the lower back, this is not an exercise for you.
Set Three: HIIT Finisher Finish your workout with the following: 20-second bike or treadmill maxintensity sprints. Go all out! It’s only 20 seconds. Give everything you’ve got. Then rest for 10 seconds. Breathe deep. Then do it again! Repeat four times.
Prone, place your hands under your low back, raising yourself onto your elbows, keeping a straight strong line between your hips and shoulders. Strongly straighten your legs and point your toes. Inhale, exhale, lift the legs from the ground about 4 inches then scissor them in and out, alternating crossing your left and right ankles. Repeat 20 times. Repeat the whole set two times.
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to your health /
Smart Change A research-based approach to real, lasting change. By Jill Case Happy 2014! Time to make those new year’s resolutions, right? If only we could actually follow through on those resolutions this year. According to statisticbrain.com*, only 8 percent of the people who make new year’s resolutions are successful at achieving them. Why is it so hard to permanently change our habits? Art Markman, author of Smart Change: Five Tools to Create New and Sustainable Habits in Yourself and Others, says the answer to that question lies within our brains because “the human motivational system is exceedingly good at what it does. “We lay down a set of routines, a set of habits that govern the way we eat, the way we communicate with other people, the way we go to work and the way we do all sorts of things in our lives,” Markman explains. “We set up these routines, and once they get set up, the [human motivational] system works exceptionally well at making sure we keep doing them. It’s so good, in fact, that we don’t even notice that we’re doing such a good job of doing what we did last time. It’s actually that tremendous efficiency of the system that we’re fighting against when we make the decision that we want to actually change our behavior. That’s why we need the big guns to do that.”
wellness Markman’s “big guns” are the tools he outlines in his book, all based on research in to how the brain works and how it affects our behavior. “We put people in situations in which they have to use their brains all the time, and we don’t really teach people that much about the way the brain works,” he says. “It turns out that knowing how the brain works helps you to use it more effectively.” Why Our Brains Make Change So Difficult Before you can work with the Smart Change tools, it’s important to understand what is going on in the brain that makes change so difficult. Everyone has a motivational system that directs our behavior, according to Markman. “The system itself has three main components. We set a goal to perform a particular behavior, so the goal itself is part of this system. Then, we have what I call the go system, which is the system that drives you toward a particular action that you want to perform,” he says. For example, if you have some ice cream in the freezer, you would engage your go system to walk to the freezer, dish it out and eat it. “At the same time, there is a second set of mechanisms that I call the stop system, which is designed to stop you from doing things that the go system has engaged
and that you’ve now decided that you don’t want to do. Sometimes we call that stop system ‘willpower’ in our day-to-day conversations. It’s a fairly new set of brain mechanisms that tries to stop us from doing the things that we want to do, and it’s not that efficient. It doesn’t work that well, and all sorts of things like stress, having a hard day, being tired—all kinds of other things—impair that system. “It’s important to know the way things are set up in order for the tools to begin to make sense because what you are trying to do is to intervene with the system and find places where you can be most effective at both keeping the go system from getting turned on to goals that you don’t want to perform and to help you develop a new set of habits, a new set of routines that will help you to have the behaviors that you want to have after the change is complete.”
The Smart Change Journal In order to truly make a change, Markman has created a template for a Smart Change journal. Using the template, you answer a series of questions related to the chapters in the book. These questions help you monitor your progress, as well as help you to record observations during the process. You can use the template online (visit smartchangebook.com and go to the Smart Change tab on the website to find the template) or the one in the book, along with a blank journal or notebook. “One of the pervasive things in the book is the Smart Change journal. Everyone has to do some work here,” Markman says. “You can’t read a book and then be a different person. You can read an instruction manual, but then you have to do things. The purpose of this journal is to get people thinking about their goals and then, after that, to really be redesigning their go system.” The journal can also serve as a way to help you get beyond failures and keep moving toward success. In his book,
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Markman offers this advice: “Treat yourself with compassion. The old adage says that change involves two steps forward and one step back. On the days when you feel as if you have taken a step back, remember these little failures are not telling you that change is impossible. They may be signals that your plan needs to be revised.” Using your journal to record your successes as well as your failures can help you look at the changes you are making in new ways, helping you to overcome temptations and obstacles along the way. Smart Change: Five Tools to Create New and Sustainable Habits in Yourself and Others by Art Markman. Published by Perigree Trade. Scheduled for release Jan. 7, 2014. Art Markman is also the author of Smart Thinking and Habits of Leadership. He is the Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of psychology and marketing at the University of Texas.
www.BeeWellAustin.com 12005 Bee Cave Rd #2A Austin, TX 78738 512-225-0766 Optimizing Your Goals In order to change your habits, you have to develop a new set of goals that lead to the change you seek. This is an important step in the process if you are to succeed. Markman says we often set ourselves up to fail because we “set ourselves a goal that can’t possibly become a habit.” For example, let’s say you want to lose weight. Most people do this by setting a negative goal, by saying, “I’m going to eat less.” According to Markman, there’s a problem with this strategy. “The go system wants to do things, and what are you going to do? You are going to eat. Eating less means I’m going to stop myself from eating and that stop system isn’t that efficient,” he says. “You are going to have a hard time stopping yourself. The go system in the end is separately trying to learn new routines, new habits, and you can’t learn a routine to not do something. “The go system can’t learn anything when you don’t do something, so one of the key things that you have to do is to reframe all of your goals in a positive way that says, ‘Look, here’s some new thing I’m going to do,’ and by doing something, you both give the go system the opportunity to engage, and you also create situations in which you can actually learn to do something because you can actually learn a habit to perform a behavior, where you can’t learn a habit to avoid things. From the beginning, you have to set up your goals in the right way.” The recipe for smart change in a nutshell? Markman says: • Identify the goals that you are systematically failing to achieve. • Figure out what behaviors are causing the problem to determine what needs to be changed. • Develop a structure to support the creation of new habits to replace the ones that were causing the problem. Tips on How to Create the Change You Desire: 1) Plan for the change you wish to pursue. a) Figure out what can go wrong. b) Determine what obstacles you may encounter. c) Plan strategies that will help you deal with obstacles and temptations. 2) Manage your environment. a) Identify your biggest temptations and remove them if possible. b) Add things to your environment that remind you to adopt the behaviors that will move you toward your goal. For example, if you are trying to exercise every morning, you might lay your workout clothes out each night so you are ready to go in the morning. c) Make it as easy as possible to perform desirable behaviors while making it as difficult as possible to perform the behaviors you are trying to avoid. You might put healthy, ready-to-eat foods front and center in your fridge while clearing your home of as many unhealthy foods as possible. 3) Engage with others. a) Surround yourself with people who have the same goals as you. Finding a community of like-minded individuals (such as AA or Weight Watchers) can be very helpful. b) Determine if family members are the best people to turn to for support with your goals. Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, family members may not agree with what you are trying to do. If they are not, seek support from other people. Smart change takes time and work on your part but, if you are willing to do the work, you could finally achieve lasting change. Markman summarizes it this way: “[This system] is based on the research that’s out there so that you can be confident that the work that you’re being asked to do is the stuff that will actually help you to change your behavior.” Try a new approach to change this year, and next year you may not find yourself repeating last year’s resolution.
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TO YOUR HEALTH /
Demystifying the Nutrition Label and Portion Control Austin Woman went to clinical nutritionist Jennifer Christman to get the scoop on what these vague health terms mean for us. By Jacqui Devaney It’s safe to say we’ve all had one of those moments when we pick up a bag of obviously unhealthy chips or cookies and turn the foil over in our hands to dissect the nutrition label: 130 grams of fat, only 5 grams of sugar, 5 percent daily value. What does that even mean? Since we are now living in an era of fast food and widespread obesity, knowing how to eat is probably even more important than what you are eating. The saying “Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing” comes to mind. The average dinner-plate size has increased by 36 percent since the 1960s, and, from a look at our population, many of our waistbands have too. So, how much is too much? Although we may think we know how to take care of ourselves, Jennifer Christman dishes out some advice about approaching nutrition and keeping a healthy diet. Austin Woman: What suggestions do you have for people when approaching nutrition in general? Jennifer Christman: Healthy eating practices and behaviors fuel our bodies and its various needs throughout the life cycle. Good nutrition is simply a stepping stone to accomplishing what is most important to us in life. Whether it’s being around and in good health for our families, helping others or simply having energy for our day-to-day activities, we need
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n u t r ition to be in good health to do those things that are most important to us. Investing in a healthy lifestyle, one that includes good nutrition, is one of the best ways to take care of yourself and those around you. AW: How should people be portioning their meals? JC: Try the Plate Method. Fill half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables, 1/4 with lean protein and 1/4 with a starchy food (i.e., whole grains such as whole wheat pasta or brown rice, or a starchy vegetable such as a baked potato, peas or corn). Be sure to include a serving of fruit (1/2 cup or a small piece of whole fruit) and low-fat dairy (2/3 cup non-fat or low-fat yogurt or 1 cup non-fat or low-fat milk), which fall outside of the plate. AW: What are some red flags that people should avoid on nutrition labels? JC: If you note a 20 percent DV or higher, this means the amount of the nutrient per serving is considered high. This may be a red flag for nutrients such as saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and cholesterol. For other nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, having 20 percent or more is great! So it just depends on the nutrient in question. Avoid sugar. The grams of sugar found on a nutrition label include the naturally occurring sugars found in foods, along with the added sugars often added to processed foods—and it’s those added sugars you really want to be on the lookout for. To tell if sugar has been added, look at the ingredient list. Sources of added sugar have many names such as maltose, sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, molasses, corn sugar, corn sweetener, raw sugar, syrup, honey or fruit-juice concentrates. Know that ingredients are listed in order of most prevalent to least prevalent. Therefore, if sugar is first on the list or multiple sugars are listed throughout the ingredient list, this may indicate that there is a significant amount of sugar that has been added. Check the serving size! The nutrition label is based on one serving, so consider how many servings are in the package and how many servings you are actually going to have. AW: What would you suggest are the top five guidelines people should live by in regards to eating healthy? JC: 1. Plan ahead. Whether it’s meal planning for the week, purchasing healthy foods to pack in lunches or to have around as snacks or preparing for an upcoming event, be sure to have thought through how you want to promote healthy eating practices in any given situation. 2. Eat well-balanced meals filled with a variety of different foods. Following the Plate Method is a great way to do this, as it incorporates all of the food groups
while promoting proper portion size. 3. Keep your pantry stocked with staple items from all of the food groups and always have healthy snacks on hand. 4. Cook more and eat together. Cooking is a great way to ensure that you are getting the nutrients you want and need. It’s also a great way to bring family and friends together. 5. Be mindful. Tune in to your body and ask yourself, “What is it that my body needs right now in this moment?” If you sense physical hunger, be willing and prepared to fuel your body with a healthy snack or meal. If it’s not physical hunger, identify what it is your body truly needs. If it’s stress, emotions or boredom speaking, it may just be that your body needs some rest, a little physical activity or perhaps a friend to talk to. During a meal, eat slowly and check in with how you are feeling. When you begin to feel satisfied—not overly stuffed—it’s a good time to stop. AW: What are some negative impacts if ignoring portion size and nutrition advice in general? JC: Portion sizes on nutrition food labels can be tricky. Ignoring the portion size can lead to increased calorie, fat, sodium and carbohydrate intake. This can then snowball to gradual weight gain over time. So pay attention to the serving sizes listed at the top of the food label to ensure you are sticking to your calorie budget for the day. Continued overindulgence can not only lead to weight gain, but you may not feel or look your best. Portion control remains a critical aspect of weight loss and controlling weight for the long term. AW: What positive effects can following healthy nutrition habits have? Short term? Long term? JC: Following general healthy nutrition habits, such
Specializing in Quality of Life & Healthcare for Women as following a low-fat, calorie-controlled diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, can help maintain weight over the long term. This can help to decrease your risk of developing certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. Eating healthy, in the short term, helps you feel good and look good. Make small [behavioral], short-term goals and check them off. For example, today I am going to eat three servings of fruit and drink eight glasses of plain water. Once you reach this goal, check it off. This can give us a sense of accomplishment and set us up for success the next day. The short-term goals help to contribute to overall long-term success. AW: Do you have any additional good-to-know information about portion control and nutrition for readers to keep in mind this holiday season? JC: When concentrating on portioning out foods, there are a few suggestions that may help people with success. Measuring and weighing foods can ensure that the portion is correct. You can also rely on pre-portioned meal replacements, such as the Medifast meals, to safeguard against over-portioning and overeating. During the holiday season, try to make foods lower in calories, then your portion size can actually be a little larger. An example of this would be to substitute mashed cauliflower for mashed potatoes—a delicious tradeoff with less calories and carbohydrates. AW: What are some additional tips you have regarding how to read a nutrition label? JC: When scrutinizing a nutrition label, note the amount of total and types of carbohydrates listed. Fiber and sugars are types of carbohydrates. There isn’t a percentage of [daily value] for sugar, but you can compare the sugar content in grams among products. Limit foods with added sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose, corn or maple syrup), which add calories but not other nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Make sure that added sugars are not one of the first few items in the ingredient list. The percentage of daily value is a key to balanced diet and is based on a 2,000-calorie diet. The percentage of daily value is a general guide to help you link nutrients in a serving of food to their contribution to your daily diet. It can help you determine if a food is high or low in a nutrient; 5 percent or less is low, 20 percent or more is high. You can use percentage of daily value to make dietary trade-offs with other foods throughout the day. As the clinical nutrition manager at Medifast Inc., Jennifer Christman helps to guide clients and customers on their weight-loss journey, bringing 10-plus years of experience as a registered dietitian.
What’s a Trans Fat? Ever since health activists began warning the public of trans fats clogging their arteries and causing heart attacks, the dangerous ingredient has slowly been disappearing from grocery store shelves. However, the fat is still found in many fried foods and pre-packaged snacks, like popcorn and snack cakes. Basically, trans fats are in all of the good-tasting stuff. But what exactly is it and what do they do? r Also known as partially hydrogenated oils (beware of tricky labels!) r Cause about 20,000 heart attacks a year and 7,000 deaths r Raise cholesterol r Foster faster weight gain The Federal Drug Administration has launched an initiative to completely ban trans fats from all foods in the U.S. Although completely phasing it out could take six months to a year, it would be considered a huge victory for many doctors, nutritionists and health advocates. One
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68   Austin Woman january 2 0 1 4
Alexis Jones:
Living the Authentic Life
21st-century wisdom and the new work ethic. BY Jennifer Hill Robenalt photos by eric doggett
Like most 30-year-olds, Alexis Jones is just trying to figure it all out. But unlike her Generation Y peers, she’s doing it on stages, in front of cameras and now, in the pages of her first book. In the course of following her own ever-evolving dreams, Jones has made a career of helping other people figure out theirs. Usually, in the world of motivational speaking and self-help, a guru emerges like a mythical hero walking the inspired path of what Joseph Campbell called “The Hero’s Journey.” You start with an ordinary person. They experience turmoil and hardship and are thrown in to the dark forest of fear. They find a guide or a mentor who helps them slay the proverbial dragon and eventually develop a personal philosophy and system of being borne out of the innate wisdom that adversity brings. Ultimately, the hero completes a complex circle of understanding and growth, which they can now share with others, followed, of course, by speaking engagements and a book tour.
1
T
hen there’s Jones. In 2008, she co-founded the girls’ empowerment nonprofit I Am That Girl with her best friend, Emily Greener, who now serves as the executive director. While Jones readily calls herself a media personality, social entrepreneur, activist, author and speaker, the labels don’t seem to quite capture her completely. This is what makes her unique. She’s on a journey, but the starting line begins with who she is more than what she does or has accomplished. It’s this personal prime directive of authenticity that has catapulted her beyond the typical hero storyline. In other words, she refuses to play by the rules. In Jones’ story, she comes from a loving family, which includes four brothers she calls her heroes. Being the lone girl made her spirited, scrappy and resourceful. Though her parents were divorced, they were the perfect complement to one another as parents and role models. “My mom is definitely the firecracker. She was the one who, in spite of not growing up with a lot of money, always found a way to make things possible. She was always, always a ‘yes’ woman, which is wonderful and perfectly complemented by my father, who’s a total realist and an engineer,” Jones explains. “I knew that if I had a great idea or a dream, if I could get past my dad with it, then it was viable. It was the perfect combination of ground and sky. My dad was my reality check. My mom was my endless fan, my best friend and the sole inspiration for I Am That Girl because my mom believed I was capable of doing it.” Jones grew up in Austin and attended Westlake High School. She wasn’t the richest girl in her group of friends. But that was OK with her. Her work ethic was fierce and she always had big plans for her future. Plus, it didn’t hurt that, while she was smart and hardworking, she also happened to be tall and beautiful. It all seemed like a winning combination. She got modeling jobs and had dreams of reporting from the sidelines of Monday Night Football. When those very opportunities began to grow, she realized that her true passions were a little
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more complex. “I always felt like I was a wolf in sheep’s skin, that I could dance in the world of media but that I always had underlying motives, and how could I leverage that to inspire change? Modeling and hosting were always a means to an end but it wasn’t what I was passionate about. I wanted to pursue something that lit me up from inside. And I knew that I was a purebred activist and had to pursue that,” Jones says. “I think I’ve always been passionate about inspiring people to pursue their dreams. It was always about how I could be a catalyst to spark or ignite that bonfire in someone else’s soul.”
Jones has spoken to more than 250,000 kids and adults throughout the country, and more than a million people online. Girls respect her straight-talk style, and to that impressionable audience, she
“I wanted to pursue something that lit me up from inside.” emphasizes that beauty itself is not the key to success. “I’ve been in situations where people chalk me up to another pretty face, especially in media. If anything, I probably
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had a chip on my shoulder about it. I was always overcompensating by promising that there was so much more to me. I always wanted credit for my work ethic, my determination, my creativity. The way that I got out of that was remembering what my dad always said, which was, ‘Let the scoreboard stand for itself.’ Look at the things that I’ve done and try to tell me that I’m just another pretty face,” she says. Jones earned both an undergraduate degree in international relations and a master’s in communication management from the University of Southern California, all by the time she was 22. It was during those formative years in Los Angeles when she had the opportunity to perform in The Vagina Monologues, a
progressive women’s play written by Eve Ensler. “That experience was life-changing,” she says. “Having a platform to talk about things that mattered was the activation of a new skill.” Her desire to empower girls and women began to take root. Following her stage debut, Jones hosted a TV show on the red carpet, and worked at Fox Sports and ESPN. But the idea for starting an organization to help girls “8 to 108” cultivate self-confidence and self-acceptance never left her mind. She approached her professor, Christopher Smith, a clinical associate professor in the School of Communication at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and brought up a casting call for Survivor, which she was convinced would be the perfect opportunity to promote what would become I Am That Girl. Smith thought it was a little far-fetched at first. But Jones’ confidence won him over and he encouraged her to go for it. She went straight to Mark Burnett’s office and, with her uniquely “Alexian” way of getting past security and receptionists, managed to get in. She was cast immediately. “I remember when one of the casting directors looked at me, she was shocked. She said my profile read like a Navy Seal. She didn’t expect me at all,” Jones remembers. Jones lasted 33 days on Survivor season 16. It didn’t matter that she didn’t win the million-dollar prize. The payoff came in the form of 67 media interviews, of which more than 20 were with international outlets. It was in that post-Survivor media blitz that Jones finally had the chance to get her I Am That Girl message to the world. And in the past five years, she has drawn the endorsements of celebri-
Survivor photos courtesy of CBS Entertainment.
“I’ve always been hungry.””
Alexis on Survivor
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“I pursue my passion at all costs. I do things that terrify me. My head dances among the stars, and my feet remain on mother earth.” -From That Girl Manifesto
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Alexis Jones on Writing a Self-Confidence How-To I Am That Girl (Jan. 2014, Evolve Publishing, $15.95) is Alexis Jones’ debut non-fiction book, with a forward written by actress Sophia Bush. Unlike many media personalities who pen their manuscripts with the help of ghostwriters, Jones wrote the book solo, drawing from her own professional and personal experiences. Recently, she said, “Above speaking, above hosting, above activism, my passion has always been writing. Above anything else, I am a writer.” I Am That Girl is a how-to manual for confidence in a society that systematically challenges the idea of self-acceptance at every stage of a woman’s life. At 30 years old, Jones manages to express the wisdom of an old soul but with a straightforward tone that reveals a personality that is whimsical, thoughtful and obsessed with positive change. The following are excerpts from I Am That Girl: And So It Begins “When I sat down to write this book, I asked more than 30 girls, some of my favorite humans, to candidly contribute stories from their personal life experiences, and I wove them in to these pages. I got advice on love, heartbreaks, failures and successes. I asked them to share stories about discovering their passion, on reinvention, balancing work and play, and bouncing back. Then, I locked myself in a room for months, opened up my heart and poured out my own thoughts and
advice. This book, much like us, is an imperfect collage of tips sprinkled with wisdom, inspiration and a little practical advice, reminding you that you are awesome exactly as you are, that your dreams are possible and when you shine the brightest, you make the world and those around you better. I hope that within these pages, kernels of truth speak to your soul and add shimmer to your life. This book is a reminder that you matter, that what you think is important, what you say is powerful and who you choose to be is sacred.” Perfectly Flawed “I have a list of my insecurities, my fears, my doubts, my weaknesses and my epic fails, but I also believe that rather than pretend they don’t exist, to overcompensate for them or hide them altogether, I make a choice to accept them. Why? Because I am wonderfully and perfectly flawed. Trying to live up to society’s bizarre and unnatural definition of beauty? Nope. I refuse to accept that. Do I think that we are perfectly made by God or whatever divine gnome made you and me? Absolutely. Do I believe that we are perfectly flawed, and those tiny chinks in our armor are what make us the most beauty-full? Abso-f***ing-lutely.” Define Your Own Success “Discovering how you can contribute to the world in a unique way makes you feel useful, inspired and alive. It doesn’t have to come in some pretty
package or make sense to anyone else, just you. How many stories have you heard about people who had it all, and before you know it, they are checking in to rehab for the third time? Having the trappings of success—fame, wealth, beauty— doesn’t necessarily bring us true happiness or a sense of self-worth. Our life’s mission is not to achieve the appearance of success or whatever version of success your parents, friends or teachers want for you. Nor should you sit around and wait for someone to drop something wonderful in to your lap. It is to discover that thing that makes you tick and then to spend a lifetime doing it.”
The Importance of Knowing What You Don’t Know “Why spend your time reinventing the wheel when there are so many incredible people out there who have already done it? It would be a travesty not to tap in to what took them a lifetime to learn. Whether you know exactly where you’re headed and have a million questions, or need a little help finding your passion, surround yourself with as many mentors as possible. The reality is that the greatest map we have to our life’s awesome quest is actually imprinted inside the walls of our heart, and the constellation of stars guiding us along our journey are the phenomenal people we are surrounded by. They are keys to getting things done quicker, more efficiently and with fewer battle scars.”
Celebrities Praise I Am That Girl “I Am That Girl feels more like having a conversation with your best friend than a cheesy self-help book. It’s hilarious, inspiring with a sprinkle of tough love.” –Hilary Duff “This book will inspire you to find your own truth and Alexis will hold your hand every step of the way on that awesome journey.” –Kristen Bell “Alexis Jones is walking the walk and she’s tapped in to a community of young women who do the same. This book is filled with revelations from powerful and inspiring women who dance to their own drumbeat.” –Kate Bosworth “Alexis is here to transform the reality of what it is to be female and I Am That Girl isn’t just a book, it’s a call to action. It’s a manifesto for the 21st-century girls movement and Alexis leads this mission with the truest grace 10 I am honored to follow her lead.” –Bryce Dallas Howard and humility. I am honored to call her my friend, and
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Milly white statement collar sweater, $395; Milly Edith studded leather pencil skirt, $525, available at Nordstrom, 2901 Capital of Texas Hwy. S., 512.691.3500, nordstrom. com; green and blue crystal earrings $7.99, available at Target, target.com.
ties including Kate Bosworth, Kristen Bell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Elizabeth Gore and many others. Her persistence is paying off. “I’ve always been hungry. My faith plays a huge role in that. I believe I’ve been given so much. I had access to education. I had a roof over my head. I had loving parents. “ But I also had this reckoning inside me that said, ‘What are you going to do with that? You don’t get to be born with all of this and just sit around,’ ” she explains. “I just give a damn about everything: about the people I encounter, the issues that I come across, the companies that I start. I really care. I have strong opinions about the situations in my life. If there was one bit of medicine I could spend a lifetime creating, it would be the cure for apathy. Sometimes I see glazedover eyes and I ask, ‘How do you
not believe that your life matters? How do you not believe that you can impact people in a profound way?’ ” Jones is proud of all she’s accomplished so far, but she is adamant in explaining that her efforts don’t necessarily
Throw out the script for your life and just ask yourself what you really want.”
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define her. “We’re a generation driven by external validation. And it’s a scary place. I think we’re one of the most productive generations that ever existed, but also suffering from not being as content and joyful as other generations because there’s an insatiable void that almost can never be filled,”
Sara Hirsh Bordo. Alexis Jones and Elizabeth Gore at TedxAustinWomen 2013.
Family photo, Jones’ own.
Jones says. “I feel like there’s this kind of urgency and anxiousness of my generation. Because we have less time being still and less time being confident in who we are as individuals, we’re so distracted. I challenge people to be still, even for five minutes, so they can listen to that voice within.” In every endeavor—writing, speaking or planning her next professional move— Jones is determined to help people of every age to ask the big questions that can lead to a more authentic life. Jones believes that authenticity breeds a sort of compassion and clarity, which can have a ripple effect in society and help change the world for the better. But there’s a lot of work to do. “I don’t know if many people have an authentic confidence. I think we have a Facebook confidence. We have an accolade-driven confidence. What I struggle with is having confidence that is
Alexis with her brothers
purely based on being enough—without the glitz and the glam, without the modeling, without the motivational speaking, without hosting a TED event. It’s something that most of my peers struggle with: just being OK with who they are, because we’re not,” she says. “There’s such a huge discrepancy in who you are and what you
“My
dad was my reality check. My mom was my endless fan.”
do. We’ve become such a product of tap dancing on stage for everyone to see that we forget that the little girl or the little boy in us is not on stage, but is just as wonderful.” Jones is honest, direct and even confrontational when it comes to getting
honest about building an authentic life. “There are so many people walking around who legitimately are not happy with their lives and life choices because they’ve been living out somebody else’s script,” she says. “The role I get to play for them is that I sit down with people and I look them in the eye and ask, ‘Are you happy?’ I tell them, ‘Throw out the script for your life and just ask yourself what you really want.’ ” Jones’ last big event role was as co-organizer and host of the sold-out TEDxAustinWomen conference on Dec. 5. The theme was “Brave Starts Here.” She worked closely with Executive Producer Sara Bordo, a native Texan who has held senior marketing positions at Paramount Pictures, MGM Studios, SocialVibe, and was the CEO and co-founder of NowLive (acquired by Live Media Group in 2013), where she executive produced live events including The Hunger Games premiere, Macy’s Fashion Night Out and the Academy Awards Red Carpet. Jones and Bordo will be bravely starting new projects together in 2014. Also on Jones’ impressive to-do list for the new year is co-writing a financial literacy book for girls with Tom Meredith, co-founder and general partner of Mertiage, and the chief executive officer of MFI. But first things first. She’ll introduce her new book, I Am That Girl, at a Jan. 8 book launch in Austin, followed by book signings in Los Angeles and New York. But through all commitments, her joy is connecting with people. “We don’t live in a world where we’re taught to be authentic and candid,” she says. “All I’m saying is ask the hard questions. Figure out what you want, speak your truth and see what comes out. I think it would surprise people, and would be a quick journey to what we’re all after: love and happiness.”
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Women’s Empowerment Through
Sports
[The saga continues.[ by Kim Anthony
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n yesteryear, women’s opportunities in competitive sports were limited in America until federal legislation—commonly referred to as Title IX—became law. Since Title IX was passed more than 35 years ago, it has been the subject of more than 20 proposed amendments, reviews, Supreme Court cases and other political actions. Many find it puzzling that there have been so many attempts to make changes when the origin of the law—being gender equity—has not been fully accomplished in America. Surprisingly, thousands of schools throughout the country are not in compliance with the law. The law’s pretense reinforces recognition of a woman’s right to participate in sports on a status equal to that of men. Prior to 1870, women’s activities were recreational rather than sport-specific; they were informal and noncompetitive. It wasn’t until the late 1800s and early 1900s that women started forming clubs that were based on traditional athletics. The efforts to limit women’s sport activity seemingly increased as they became
Photo by Patrick Meredith.
more fervently involved in competitive sports.
T
oday, female participation in sports has risen dramatically, with women making up more than 43 percent of the college students participating in sports. Twenty-first-century women progressively demonstrate that barriers to gender inequality were meant to be broken. They are bolting their way in to sports, coming from every cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic background. Austin Woman recently sat down with three incredible women who all have ties to the University of Texas at Austin, representing three generations of women’s competitive sports. Their interviews granted a glimpse through their eyes in to the ever-evolving world of competitive sports. They shared the joys, pains and everything in between of their lives as athletes. Their journeys, although different in course, are clearly similar in essence, traced with the same line of perseverance and woven with the thread of empowerment by way of sports.
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Sanya Richards-Ross Track and Field Sanya Richards-Ross’ journey began more than two decades ago when she began to run competitively at the tender age of 7. A Jamaica native, Richards-Ross reported falling in love with the sport from the onset. Interestingly enough, her mother had been an undefeated high-school track star and her father, a successful soccer player on the Jamaican national team. Some might say she was genetically destined for athletic success. Richards-Ross moved to the United States in her early teens to pursue her athletic dreams. She excelled at track in high school and proceeded to compete at the University of Texas at Austin, where she won several NCAA championships in 2003. Her lineage of shining accomplishments is illuminated by her kind and gentle spirit. When asked about her biggest hurdle or obstacle, she readily recounts one of the toughest challenges of her athletic career. “In 2008, I was favored to win the 400-meter race. I’d won every single race that season and I was undefeated the year before. I won the bronze that year, but I still felt as if I failed,” Richards-Ross says. She shares the extreme emotional difficulties of the so-called loss, noting that her faith and the support of her family and friends were the anchors that pulled her through. Unknowingly, what she’d deemed as her epic failure fueled and nourished her desire to win in 2012. With hard work and perseverance, she won the gold medal in the women’s 400-meter at the 2012 With hard work and perseverance, summer Olympics. She she won the gold medal. eventually married her college sweetheart, Aaron Ross, who is now a professional football player. He currently plays with the New York Giants. Richards-Ross is recognized as a mentor and example by many young women venturing in to competitive sports. When asked about women who inspired and motivated her, she promptly states, “Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Merlene Ottey. I love both of their stories.” Joyner-Kersee is ranked among the all-time greatest athletes in the women’s heptathlon and women’s long jump. Joyner-Kersee was voted by Sports Illustrated for Women as the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century, and is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. “For someone so fierce, she is also so humble. She is a great philanthropist and I love her spirit. It’s a blessing to know her,” Richards-Ross says.
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Photos by Cody Hudson and Bradley Markham.
[
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Ottey, a Jamaican native, has the longest to defend my title.” career as a top-level international sprinter. In Poignantly sharing the emotions and feelings 2012, she anchored the Slovanian 4x100 relay she experienced being involved in the Olympics, at the 2012 European Athletic Championship. she says, “I love the feeling of being surrounded She was 52 when she ran this particular race. by people who are full of hope and excitement. I Richards-Ross reported being grateful to have want to experience that one more time.” met Ottey a few times. Joyner-Kersee and Ottey In the future, possibly following the Olympics, continue to be two of Richards-Ross is inter“As women, we have the her most significant ested in starting a family tremendous responsibility of athletic influences. and continuing her career paving the way for other women.” During her career, endeavors. She’s also Richards-Ross has entertaining ideas of working in broadcasting dealt with a handful of injuries, including and starting a clothing line. At present, Richardsa recent surgery. Ross resides in Austin, and owns local salon The “My recovery has been painstaking and ardu- Hair Clinic in downtown Austin. ous,” explains Richards-Ross, noting her rehaRichards-Ross also maintains her foundabilitation and training consists of cross training, tion, Fun 4 Kids in Jamaica, an organization that weight lifting and Pilates. focuses on literacy and sports for children. She When asked about her aspirations for the Rio recently appeared on her own reality TV show, Olympics, she confidently responds, “My goal is Glam and Gold.
Photo by Wendy Robertson.
[
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Truly a pacesetter, Richards-Ross is an icon of inspiration and empowerment. In leading others with advice on how to make it to the top of male-dominated sports, she says, “The sky is the limit. Take inspiration from those around you. As women, we have the tremendous responsibility of paving the way for other women, like the women so graciously did before us.” When asked about what it takes to become a successful athlete and empower yourself to be the best, she discusses being fearless in the face of competition. “Fear can be crippling. Don’t allow it to be an impediment to your success and potential win,” she says, adding her thoughts about how far women have progressed and where females are today in terms of empowerment through sports. “When I think of empowerment, women instantly come to mind. They are the signature of power and strength.”
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KarenBASKETBALL Aston respect,” Aston explains. Coach Karen Aston’s journey toward a career in sports began Having been a coach for several years, the experience of being inin Benton, Ark. For as long as she can recall, she’s had an affinity for troduced to a team wasn’t a new or unfamiliar situation for her. Aston competitive activities. found herself drawing from her past experiences, experiences that have “I’ve always enjoyed competition and being active,” Aston says. “I granted her with a great deal of understanding, patience and wisdom. was introduced to basketball at a young age and I developed a passion Former UT women’s basketball coach “Jody Conrad has always been for the sport by participating in it and watching my older sister, who one of my greatest mentors and inspiration. I’ve learned a great deal also played.” from her and appreciate the wonderful things she did for UT,” Aston Aston is the head coach of the University of Texas at Austin women’s says. “I hope to carry out what she so diligently started.” basketball team. She is also one of the few female coaches on the Aston also expressed a great deal of admiration for her former bascampus of UT. Aston shares the obstacles she has experienced along ketball coach, with whom she still remains in contact. the way and how she overcame “My former coach taught me most of what I know them, in addition to what in“I encourage my players to push and utilize today. He taught me valuable lessons about spires her, her coaching style, her through their comfort zone.” the game. I think that most of my coaching style was philosophies and her aspirations. influenced by him and my appreciation for the effectiveness of his Aston has been the coach at UT for little more than a year now. She style,” she says. believes starting as a new coach at UT was one of the most challenging According to Aston, she has a proactive approach to coaching, experiences of her career. spotlighting the shift she’s been fortunate to witness in women’s “I walked in to being the coach to a team that had a great deal of adcompetitive sports. miration and loyalty to the coach that preceded me, understandably so. “I clearly remember a time when women were not as respected and I quickly realized that it would take some time to earn their trust and recognized in sports as they are today,” Aston says. “Women have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.” Aston shares her belief in the concept that being an effective coach requires factoring in the personal, academic and physical components that may potentially impact her players. “I encourage my players to push through their comfort zone. In order to be successful, you might have to be uncomfortable,” Aston insists. The transition to success and empowerment may not be the most pleasant one. Finding a way to push through internal barriers and stretch limits are often the distinguishing factors between success and failure. She aspires to motivate the new generation of women in sports in effort to continue the legacy and crush the barriers of gender inequalities in sports.
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Photo by Matt Hempel.
[
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Nneka Enemkpali BASKETBALL Nneka Enemkpali is a proud Austin native. Her name means “mother supreme; the one that I hold is greater,” in Nigerian. In keeping with the meaning of her name, she is a pivotal part of the new era of women in competitive sports. Although Enemkpali may be considered a neophyte to the world of women’s collegiate competitive sports, she is by no means an amateur. She has successfully demonstrated her extensive abilities and her passion for basketball. Enemkpali excelled in basketball from the moment she started playing in seventh grade. She gradually developed a passion for the game. “The more I learned the game, “I enjoy the competitiveness the more I liked it,” she admits. While attending Pflugerville High of basketball.” School, Enemkpali was an all-star athlete as one of the top volleyball players and a leading track star. However, it became evident she was well on her way to success in basketball. “I enjoy the competitiveness of basketball,” Enemkpali says. She shares moving memories of being mentored by a senior player on her high-school team, finding herself sharing that same spirit of mentoring with some of her younger teammates in her current position as junior forward on the women’s basketball team at UT. Enemkpali averages about 13.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Similar to Richards-Ross and Aston, Enemkpali also identifies and recognizes differentiation between males and females in sports, and has witnessed the inequalities that women in sports experienced so many decades before her. As a movement, heritage and legacy, many now view women’s empowerment by way of sports. Today, the sports industry, which was once marked by its gender imbalance, renders a roster of strong, talented and dynamic women who have broken world records and become the first to carry out college levels. Title IX is the vehicle that will hopefully continue to many monumental events bridge the gap between women and men in sports. In the meantime, we in the history of competitive can direct our focus toward supporting the continued empowerment of sports. The enactment of women who are committed to excellence through sports, women with Title IX continues to bring vision and dedication. congruity of opportunity Thanks to Sanya Richards-Ross, Karen Aston and Nneka Enemkpali to women’s athletics in the and many more, the legacy of women’s empowerment that began U.S., at the high school and generations ago now lives on, and the prolific saga continues.
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opposite sex /
memo from jb
The End of a Good Run The truth about awkward clichés and fresh starts. By JB Hager, Photo by Rudy Arocha I won’t bore you with the details of my “other” job, but when I was told this was the fresh start/self-empowerment issue, I thought, “You have got to be kidding me.” In early November, I was told my contract would not be renewed at the end of the year. I have been doing the same job on the radio, entertaining Austinites for the last 18 years. It’s something very dear to me. No one loves this city more than I do. Word wasn’t out on the street for several days, so it took some time for the reality of it to sink in. I was comfortable wallowing in the severity of the situation for a bit. It took awhile to accept the idea that there might be change, a frightening prospect. I was also coming to terms with the idea that it was a good run, but it’s over. Scary. Once the announcement was made about my early departure, the reality of it all came to the forefront. I literally couldn’t keep up with the phone calls, emails, texts and social-media pings. What I wasn’t prepared for at all was to hear the awkward clichés again and again and again. Friends, family and listeners I’ve never even met were peppering me with things like: When one door closes another opens. Things happen for a reason. God has a plan for you. Change is good. It’s a blessing in disguise. Good things happen to good people. I’m not going to lie; I wanted to strangle each and every one of you who said things like this to me. I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t believe it and I didn’t think it was going to happen. It feels like everyone is saying it because they just don’t know what else to say, as if you had a pet parakeet die and they are like “Um, sorry for your loss.” I didn’t believe in these mythical doors and I certainly didn’t think God makes plans for misplaced DJs. Possibly if the DJ was Ryan Seacrest, then maybe. About 24 hours passed from the moment everyone found out what was going on. Guess what happened? Many doors started opening. It felt like this did happen for a reason. It was a blessing in disguise and people came from out of the woodwork describing me as, you guessed it, one of the good guys. As for God and his plan, the jury is still out, although I did get a nice note from Ryan Seacrest on personalized stationary and he signed it, “with love, JC.” So, you never know.
The next time one of my friends or perhaps an entertainer I care about loses their gig, I’ll be the first one reaching out to them with all the clichés, and perhaps tell them my story. At any point in your life, did you break up with someone? Maybe it was a boyfriend or girlfriend, or maybe you were married for 18 years. Suddenly everyone comes to you and says, “I never liked them anyway.” That just happened to me. As for my new home, I’m not sure I can divulge it when this is printed for a Jan. 1 release. I can tell you this: Lots and lots of doors opened. You guys were right. I can’t wait to invite you all in. Bring on the awkward clichés.
“Lots and lots of doors opened.”
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5th Corazón Annual Corazón 5th Annual Awards Awards
Join us in celebrating Con Mi MADRE’s accomplishmentsaccomplishments and honoring those who have supported Join us in celebrating Con Mi MADRE’s and honorover the years. ing those who have supported us over the us years. February 7, 2014 February 7, 2014 6:30pm Cocktail Hour | 7:30pm Program 6:30pm Cocktail Hour | 7:00pm Program BullockMuseum Texas State History Museum Bullock Texas State History For ticket purchase or sponsorship opportunities, please visit conmimadre.org
All funds raised by the Corazón Awards help programming expenses and participating families. Forsupport ticket purchase or sponsorship opportunities, please visit conmimadre.org All funds raised by the Corazón Awards help support programming expenses and participating families.
Presented by
Presented by Con Mi MADRE Mothers And Daughters Raising Expectations
opposite sex /
r e l at i o ns h i p s
He Cheated. Now what? Putting the pieces back together after trust has been broken. By Kaneisha Grayson
Dear Kaneisha, I am devastated. Last week, I received a text message from a woman claiming that she has been sexting with my boyfriend of nine months for the past two weeks. When I confronted my boyfriend about it, he immediately admitted to it and began to apologize profusely, saying it was just some random girl he met in his night classes for accounting. After a lot of crying on my part and begging on his part, I stormed out of his place and I haven’t spoken to him in the last three days. I deeply love this man and thought he could even be The One. Is there any hope that we can work this out or should I just cut my losses and find a guy who isn’t looking for attention elsewhere? Give me some guidance please. —Crying my eyes out on the Eastside Dear Heartbroken Eastside Lovely, Whew, my heart goes out to you! While I don’t have a crystal ball to see what the future holds for your relationship, I can provide some insight in to why men cheat and ways you can think about whether and how you want to move forward in the relationship.
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Why He Cheated. Men cheat in relationships when some basic need the man has is not being met, whether it’s the feeling of being needed, the feeling of making you happy or the feeling of not getting “enough” sex. The honest but very difficult thing to do in a situation like this is for the man to communicate that he needs more attention, appreciation, sex or whatever it is and to leave the relationship if it turns out that his needs just aren’t going to get met. Instead, many aching men decide to fill that space with a side chick. What you will likely find very frustrating is that if you directly ask him why he cheated, he may simply hang his head and say he doesn’t know. Rather than dwelling on the exact reasons why your man felt the need to text some other woman, focus on how you plan to move forward, whether it’s with him or not. Should You Give It One More Go or Just Give Up? You mentioned that the two of you have been together for nine months and you thought he could be The One. However, the fact of the matter is that the two of you aren’t married, engaged or even (perhaps fortunately for you) cohabitating. He may have done you a favor in showing you who he really is before you are bound to him for life. It’s important that you take the time to think deeply about whether you want to hitch your wagon to someone who has already shown you that he’s willing to hurt and deceive you. On the other hand, if you truly think this man is your life partner, it’s worth putting in the time and effort to try and heal the relationship and restore the trust and intimacy between you two. Is he willing to go to couples therapy or even go through a course of therapy by himself? Do his pleas ring true to you as the contrite words of someone who really deserves a second chance or is he merely making a half-hearted attempt
at reconciling so that you don’t hate him when this is all over? You also have to consider what you are willing to do. Can you bring yourself to forgive him for what he did, or do you anticipate slinging this back in to his face every time you two have an argument? The point of staying together is not to trudge through life resentfully ever after, so think carefully about whether you really will be able to get past this indiscretion.
Give Yourself Time and Space. Right now, you are likely going through a flurry of emotions, wildly swinging from frantic denial to wildeyed revenge fantasies, and every state in-between. The best thing you can do for yourself and the relationship right now is to give yourself some time and space to think clearly and feel the pain of the betrayal you have experienced. Unlike the characters in romantic comedies, don’t try and drown your sorrows in cocktails at a not-so-happy hour or have awkward revenge sex with the weird guy who’s been eyeing you at the gym. Let yourself really feel the pain so that you can really heal from the pain and think clearly about what is best for you moving forward. I suggest you take at least a week or two to nurture yourself, reflect and go through your emotional roller coaster before speaking with him again. Even if the two of you decide to stay together, you may decide you want to ease back in to the relationship rather than jump all in again. Whatever you decide to do, remember that you have a choice of whether to stay with this guy and that there is indeed love after heartbreak. To submit your own question to Grayson, email submissions@awmediainc.com with “Ask Kaneisha” in the subject line. To find out more about Grayson, Be Your Own Boyfriend or her blogs about life, love and happiness, check out her website at kaneisha.com.
Photo by Nick Paul.
Many women, when seeking relationship advice, turn to their friends. Unfortunately, friends oftentimes tell you what you want to hear, instead of what you need to hear. The result can be damaging, as it deceives and sugar coats, leaving a disillusioned sense of what’s really going on in the relationship. Kaneisha Grayson, local relationship expert and author of Be Your Own Boyfriend: Decide to Be Happy, Unleash Your Sexy, and Change Your Life, gives it to you straight. She understands the trials and tribulations of dating, unleashing insight to paint a complete picture that represents both sides to a relationship issue. Austin Woman is excited to announce Grayson as our new relationship columnist, presenting genuine, honest advice for real women who desire tangible, realistic direction.
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savvy womEn /
Per sona l Inter est
Sure Shots Defensive Pistol Course
The sisterhood of Austin Sure Shots. By Courtney Bell A professional singer, an 8-year-old girl and a motorcycle shop owner walk into a shooting range. What do they all have in common? They’re all Sure Shots. The room is filled with loud pops, shelves of guns and tactical accessories, and the walls are adorned with stuffed animal heads and drenched with fur pelts. This is hardly what you’d imagine as the setting for a women’s social club in Austin, but Red’s Indoor Shooting Range is indeed home to the Austin Sure Shots Women’s Pistol League.
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“This was just something new and exciting that it’s nice to do something for myself,” Hernandez got my adrenaline going,” Jenna Johnson says about says. “Shooting is both physically and mentally why she joined Sure Shots. challenging. I really get in tune with myself An Austin native, Johnson, like most women out there.” in the club, had little prior experience with sport Hernandez isn’t the only mother in Sure Shots. shooting. Since joining, Johnson has become a Most women have full-time jobs and families, and certified pistol instructor and conducts mandatory the league is a sure way to a social life outside the safety briefs for new members each week. She family. The firing range isn’t the only meeting spot says she’s gained confidence in herself through for the ladies; they recently attended Wurstfest sport shooting, as well together, and have gone as a sisterhood. tubing and skydiving as Shooting is both physically a group. “I love going to compeand mentally challenging. titions and seeing the Cass Mascorro surprise on men’s faces grew up around guns I really get in tune with and found Sure Shots when I can hold my own myself out there. through a Google on the range, and even search. beat them,” Johnson says. “It’s less about being a shooting superstar and Sarah Hernandez, originally from Madison, Wis., more about getting women together and asking says the best thing about spending time at the range the questions they’re afraid to ask in front of men,” is that she gets to focus on her body. Mascorro says. “Even if they are talking to someone “After a long day of chasing around my toddler,
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Like all sports, rules exist to keep everyone safe. There are four rules of safety that all participants must remember at all times:
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close to them, like a husband or brother, women are less likely to feel comfortable asking the important questions for the fear of getting ridiculed. Here, that isn’t a worry.” She adds that she enjoys the personal challenge of sport shooting and feeling like she’s constantly pushing herself every time she comes to the range. Sure Shots certainly is not all bullets and target practice. Each gathering ends with a one-hour classroom chat. Sure Shots brings in outside specialists to cover topics the group wants to hear about. Most recently, the ladies invited a doctor of orthopedics to come in and show the ladies how to stretch and strengthen the parts of their bodies they use in shooting. Other topics of discussion include rifles 101, shooting in low light and defensive mindset. “We still talk about You can find girly stuff in a sisterhood here. this masculine sport. We like to show off new zebra-print gear bags. We all have our pink T-shirts and pink shooting gloves,” Mascorro explains. The gun lingo takes awhile to catch on to, but the experienced women do their best to welcome
Sure Shots weekly practice
2. Never point the gun at anything you aren’t willing to destroy. 3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re on target and ready to shoot. 4. Know your target, what’s in front of your target and what’s behind your target.
newcomers with instruction, open arms and an open heart. Every time the Austin Sure Shots gets a new member, the newbie must listen to the safety speech and then has the opportunity to receive free expert advice on what to shoot based on caliber and recoil. The more experienced women will even go out on the range with them and teach the basics of shooting, and tricks to make it easier for them to be successful. “This isn’t just about shooting guns. If you really immerse yourself in the group, you can find a sisterhood here,” Johnson says. After speaking to all the women at the range, their answers on the best benefits of this social club started to match up. They all talked about the bonds they have formed with each other, the “me” time they get at the end of their busy days and the fun they have doing something unexpected for their gender. Johnson encourages females to join. “There are no membership fees,” she says. “You just have to be a woman and show up ready to learn.”
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1. Treat every gun as if it’s loaded.
For more information, visit facebook.com/austinsureshots or sureshotsmagazine.com.
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r e solu tions
No Promises The case against new year’s resolutions. By Jaime Netzer the gym or the kale, give yourself a break and know that you will get to those things on another day. Your activities will slowly turn in to “wants” instead of “shoulds.” 3 Celebrate Your Successes: Make a list of what went well in the previous year. Celebrate everything you’ve accomplished. Better yet, think about a change or goal that you achieved in the past. Examine what motivated you to make that change, and how you accomplished your objectives. This will help you to understand what makes you tick and whether setting a once-a-year-resolution is a realistic change-maker for you. 3 Check Out a Book From the Library About Someone Who Inspires You: “I recently read the book Unbroken about the WWII pilot Louis Zamperini, who survived unspeakable hardships and went on to lead a fulfilling and vibrant life,” Brunner says. “Whenever I start fretting about my kids being unhealthy or about the long to-do list I have in my calendar, I think about everything that Mr. Zamperini survived, and suddenly my minor concerns are slapped in to perspective.” Kirsten Brunner is an LPC at Fresh Perspectives Counseling, 3001 S. Lamar Blvd., suite 220.
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When it comes to new year’s resolutions, there’s good news and bad news. The bad: Research suggests that just 8 percent of people actually keep their new year’s resolutions. The good? Austin Woman interviewed Austin-based counselor Kirsten Brunner about why resolutions don’t work, and what you can do instead to kick off 2014. According to Brunner, resolutions fail because people set goals that are either not sustainable or flat-out unattainable, they skip the preparation needed to make drastic transformations or they’re just not ready for a change—“even if they think they are,” she adds. So instead of resolutions, Brunner brainstormed this list of new year’s resolution alternatives, exclusively for AW readers. What will top your list in moving forward this year? 3 Practice Visualization: Athletes have been using this technique for years in achieving their peak performance. Instead of setting a specific objective, use your imagination to envision the lifestyle or goals you would like to achieve. Set a daily or weekly reminder on your phone or in your calendar that describes some of the outcomes you want to manifest in your life. Describe the goals as if they are already happening. For instance, “I am a healthy weight and have loads of energy. I have balance in my life and make time for exercise, friends and family. I feel fulfilled in my career.” When you read these statements again and again, you will find that your life will naturally gravitate in a positive direction. 3 Adopt an Attitude of More Grace and Less Criticism: We live in a society that is saturated in media messages communicating that we don’t look good enough, smell sweet enough or dress stylishly enough. The result is a perpetual feeling of dissatisfaction. Stop “should-ing” on yourself and commit to being kinder and less critical. You’ll find that you have an instant lightness in your step and that you will feel more positive about the people around you as well. If you don’t get to the laundry,
Go Public and Get Support From AW Readers:
Please share your new year’s resolutions with us and we will put them together in a web article to help you connect with other readers with similar goals. Hopefully, having your resolutions in print will inspire other readers and strengthen your resolve. Send them to submissions@awmediainc.com with “New Year’s Resolutions 2014” in the subject line.
Still Dead Set on a New Year’s Goal? Brunner’s Tips for Successful Resolutions: Be honest with yourself about what this change will mean for your life. Will you lose a crutch that you have been using for a long time and how will you adjust for that? (For example, if alcohol gives you a temporary escape from stress, what other stress-management habits will you establish?) Choose a goal or objective that is sustainable. Are the changes you want to make ones that you can live with on a daily basis for a year, or even a lifetime? For instance, instead of saying, I am going to go completely gluten-free, consider pledging to go GF on weekdays or for 90 percent of your meals. Establish some accountability and support. Share your intentions with a friend, join a support or recovery group or hire a trainer. Make your intentions public. If you want to succeed, share your goals with friends and family and helpful professionals. Let them know how they can support you. Create a plan or strategy. Post the schedule in your calendar with reminders so that you already have a plan in place.
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WORK- LIFE B A L A NCE
Trish Morrison The founder of MomCom Austin on how moms can achieve success—even if they put family first. By Rachel Merriman Trish Morrison is refreshingly honest about her unexpected journey in to motherhood. “I was never the typical, ‘I want kids, I want to be a mommy’ person, so it’s interesting I have this whole mom thing going on because I was the last person I could see in that role,” Morrison explains. “My husband and I were in a circle of friends where we could go on trips or out to dinner very easily. We were ‘DINKs,’ double income, no kids.” Everything changed when Morrison, then 39, gave birth to her daughter Delilah.
“I had such an easy pregnancy, and I thought that if the pregnancy is this easy, having a kid would be easy. I had this master plan of going back to work in a month. It was all going to be a piece of cake. Then she was born, and it was not a piece of cake,” Morrison says. When she returned to her full-time job a few months later, Morrison struggled to find the work-life balance she once had, now that she was a new mother. “I was driving to and from work, so I was gone for 10 hours a day. I realized that I didn’t necessarily want to be a stay-at-home mom, but I didn’t want to be away from her that long. It was breaking my heart,” Morrison remembers. To be able to spend more time with her daughter, Morrison left her job and began working part time as an event planner. But as a full-time mom with career ambitions, she felt like she didn’t belong. “My stereotype of moms was either the stay-athome mom or the full-time working mom, and I didn’t fit in to either one,” Morrison says. She started blogging about her experiences and soon connected with other moms like her, those who fell somewhere on the spectrum between full-time working mom and stay-at-home mom. Hearing their stories helped Morrison realize she wasn’t alone, and that she wanted to find a way to help other women realize the same thing. “I thought, ‘We need to have a conference for moms like me who have no idea what they’re doing, get them together and make them realize that other women are doing this,’ ” Morrison says. More than 40 authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, businesswomen and advocates have told their
stories at MomCom since the first event in 2012. Throughout the years, Morrison says she’s realized a common theme in each of their stories. “These women are creating their own success the way that works the best for their families. They are putting their families first, and then the work is built around the family. It’s not the other way around. We as a collective, as moms, have power to do business in a different way. It’s really about changing the paradigm of work, home and family,” Morrison says. With that in mind, Morrison set out to make MomCom not only a source of inspiration, but a resource. No matter what stage of motherhood you’re in (even if you don’t have children!) MomCom’s informal conference style provides plenty of opportunities to form long-lasting personal and professional connections with like-minded women. “So many people have formed partnerships at MomCom that they wouldn’t have necessarily formed,” Morrison says. “MomCom is really about creating community among us. We have the power to change a lot, and we will do it if we continue to create community among each other.” Networking opportunities and inspiration aside, MomCom is also simply a refuge. “Everything changes when you become a mom. You get in to this world and you don’t take a breath for so long,” Morrison says. “Really, what I want for MomCom is for people to give themselves permission to go away for a day and a half. When you come back, you’re going to be a better woman, partner and mother.” MomCom 2014 will take place Jan. 24 and 25 at the Westin Austin at The Domain. Visit momcomlife. com for more information or to purchase tickets.
Selected Events and Workshops Winter Wonderland Wine Walk & Taste of The Domain Jan. 24, 6:30 to 9 p.m., The Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace After enjoying talks from the opening speakers, get to know your fellow conference-goers as you walk from store to store enjoying wine, spirits and appetizers from 10 different restaurants.
Six Money Mantras to Live By Jan. 25, 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Saving for retirement? Need to get out of debt? How about organizing your finances? Alexa von Tobel, founder of the financial-
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planning company LearnVest, will guide you through every aspect of managing your finances. At the end of the workshop, you’ll feel financially fearless.
Seven Solutions to be a Guilt-Free Working Mom Jan. 25, 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Business owner and mother of four Marci Fair believes that instead of trying to balance all their responsibilities, moms just need to tilt a little. She’ll talk about letting go of the guilt that comes when the balancing act fails, and embracing the humor and joy of all the adventures of imperfect motherhood.
Is Keeping Up Keeping You Down? Jan. 25, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. With work, family and social commitments constantly piling up, it’s a wonder if moms have any free time at all. Lorie Marrero, creator of The Clutter Diet online organization program, will guide you on ridding yourself of the clutter of life. There’s plenty on how to remove physical clutter from your home, but Marrero will also provide tips on managing your time and energy to create a better work-life balance.
Glennon Doyle Melton
Selected MomCom 2014 Speakers
Glennon Doyle Melton is an author, blogger and founder of Monkee See - Monkee Do. Monkee See - Monkee Do is a service-oriented nonprofit organization that provides resources to families and communities in need. Most recently, the team of Monkees partnered with Microsoft to raise more than $18,000 for Battle Monument, an underfunded school in Maryland for students with mental and physical disabilities. Melton is also the author of the best-selling memoir Carry On, Warrior, a collection of essays on faith, addiction, recovery, motherhood and more from her blog Momastery. For more information, visit monkeeseemonkeedo.org and momastery.com.
Meredith Walker Meredith Walker is the co-founder and producer of Smart Girls at the Party, a web series that aims to help women “cultivate their authentic selves” and “inspire, encourage and celebrate the lives of young women.” She got her start working with young people as the producer for Nickelodeon’s Nick News, which won several Emmys and the Peabody Award during her tenure. Walker spreads the Smart Girls message of “changing the world by being yourself” everywhere she goes, including the Ann Richards School for Young Women, where she serves as a mentor. For more information, visit amysmartgirls.com.
Karen Walrond Lawyer-turned-photographer Karen Walrond is the author of Chookooloonks, an award-winning photo blog that bears the tagline “wildly convinced you’re uncommonly beautiful.” Her writing and photography has been featured on CNN, and in USA Today and Good Housekeeping. Her book, The Beauty of Different, contains portraits of men and women “who have discovered what makes them beautifully different.” Walrond also serves on the advisory board of ONE Moms, an advocacy group that works against poverty and preventable disease in Africa and other developing countries. For more information, visit chookooloonks.com.
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t h e l a st wor d
My Most Empowering Moment A ‘Moving’ Experience I was 14 years old when my father decided to move our family from Houston to Boise, Idaho. Already in the throes of angst-ridden teenage awfulness, for which I am still apologizing to my parents (again, I’m so sorry, Mom and Dad), I was angry and upset that we were suddenly uprooted and moved across the country to a place I’d never been and where I knew no one. Frustrated at my powerlessness to change the impending move, I tried to enjoy the last few weeks I had with my friends in Houston. As far as I was concerned, my dad had ruined my life. Throughout the first year of our family living in Idaho, I was “the new girl.” The consummate dramatic teenager, I’d tearfully insist to my parents that I was moving back to Houston to live with my grandmother. (Looking back, I’m sure my parents had considered this as a viable possibility, given that I’d made it nigh on impossible to have a pleasant home life.) There were definitely some rough patches at school when I had a difficult time adjusting and fitting in, but, during the course of the year, things got better. I made friends and found my place in the unforgiving social order of high school, and I thought less and less about returning to my old life in Texas. Though I didn’t know it, and I certainly didn’t appreciate it at the time, the move was actually the most empowering event of my life. After high-school graduation, I headed off to Oregon for college, where, again, I didn’t know a soul and made yet another fresh start. Since college, I’ve moved out of state three more times, the last of which was from Seattle to Austin last year (Texas reclaims another one!). I made each move all on my own, and I can say now that these moves have made me a much stronger person who is adapt-
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able to change and open to life’s endless possibilities. Had my family not made that first move, I might be a completely different person than I am today. My dad taught me to not be afraid, and to take chances to change my life for the better when the right opportunity comes along. Moving across the country at 14 taught me to be a good judge of character and how to make thoughtful, purposeful choices in life. I’ve created a network of good friends who live scattered across the country, and I love periodically touching base and catching up with friends from three or four moves ago. Earlier this year, I made a solo trip to Central America, and it was a truly amazing experience and a real affirmation of my independence. Make the move. Take the job. See the world. There is no feeling of empowerment like that of knowing that you can stand on your own. Thanks, Dad, for the life lesson.
—Liz Feezor March’s Last Word topic will be “Living the Entrepreneurial Life.” To be considered, email a 500-word submission by Feb. 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com.
Illustration by Sarah Quatrano.
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