Austin Woman Magazine
“A sense of freedom is something that, happily, comes with age and life experience.” – Diane Keaton
JUNE 2014
5/22/14 1:31 PM
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Austin Thyroid & Endocrinology Center Control your hormones. Control your life.
ENDOCRINOLOGY
is the science of hormones, substances released by glands that regulate every cell in your body, for both men and women. Endocrine diseases, thyroid, osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome and obesity, hirsutism, menopause, pituitary and adrenal pathology, low testosterone in males, andropause and impotence, polycystic ovaries, recurrent kidney stones, irregular or lack of menstrual periods, high and low calcium, diabetes etc. We provide a comprehensive assessment of your hormone balance, and in-house hormone testing, thyroid ultrasound, and bone density.
THYROID Disease affects thirty
million Americans, half of which do not know they have the disease. Examples: hypo and hyperthyroidism, Graves and Hashimoto disease, goiter, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Each person has a different genetic set point for TSH. Thyroid problems require lifelong attention. We are the premiere thyroid clinic in Austin, and offer the latest treatment for thyroid disease, aggressive management of thyroid cancer with radioactive iodine, and second opinion consults for thyroid surgery.
2 DO YOU KNOW YOUR TSH?
NEW! NEW! NEW!
2 HAVE YOU SEEN AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST?
is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis affects one in two women and one in four men over fifty and is generally missed. Bone fracture is the “heart attack� of the bone. New treatments reduce the risk of fracture and build new bone. A bone density test is the only way to test for osteoporosis. We have the latest bone density testing equipment in Texas, and provide instant bone metabolism, medical consultation, and treatment option. 2 DO YOU KNOW YOUR BONE DENSITY?
Dr. Simone Scumpia FACE FRCP Board Certified in Endocrinology and Metabolism Fellow American College of Endocrinology, Fellow Royal College of Physicians Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine In-house thyroid ultrasound, bone densitometry, total body fat analysis, hormone testing, and radioactive iodine treatment.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
Bioidentical Hormone Replacment Therapy Myths and True Facts Medicine deals with disease and with prevention of disease. Optimal health and biological age are before prevention and before disease. Biological age: brain age, heart age, bone age, hormonal age, etc. It includes a scientific measurement of the tissue ages in your body with biomarkers, hormone testing, genetic tests and advanced cholesterol testing for risk of heart attacks, diabetes and strokes.
2 HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BIOLOGICAL (PHYSIOLOGICAL) AGE TESTED FOR YOUR OPTIMAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT?
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CONFIDENCE IS BEAUTIFUL. Look your best. Feel your best. Live your best.
Meet our board certified plastic surgeons: Susan M. Pike, MD (left) and Staci J. Hix-Hernandez, MD
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TARGETED ENDOVENOUS THERAPY FOR TREATMENT OF VARICOSE VEINS The Vein Clinic at Star State Heart and Vascular offers treatments for venous reflux disease, the underlying cause for most varicose veins. Dr. Samuel DeMaio, M.D., FACC and Dr. Pritam Polkampally, M.D. are both interventional cardiologists specializing in coronary, peripheral arterial and venous disease. The Venefit™ procedure uses radiofrequency energy to precisely and effectively treat patients suffering from Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Call 512.263.0123 to make an appointment for a consultation to understand this condition and your treatment options.
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512-334-0332
BMW i
CHARGE! A WORD THAT CONTINUES TO SPARK REVOLUTIONS.
This isn’t just the first-ever BMW i3. This is the start of an all-electric revolution. One where cars go 0–60 mph in approximately 7 seconds, boast 170 hp and 184 lb-ft torque from a standstill, and travel up to 100 miles on a single charge.* From this point forward, the world will follow in your tread marks.
FOR INFORMATION AND UPDATES, GO TO BMWOFAUSTIN.COM.
BMW of Austin
7011 McNeil Drive
Austin, TX 78729
512-343-3500
*Figures based on BMW AG test results. ©2014 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.
bmwofaustin.com
Contents june
60
66
Feature
Feature
Rosie Flores
the jitterbug vipers
It’s Not Your Grandmother’s Work
On the Cover Still rockin’ with no sign of slowing down. By John T. Davis
The jazz quartet that’s keeping Austin weird. By Molly McManus
72
How to love your job, your life and yourself.
Photo by Annie Ray.
By Julie Tereshchuk
Contents June
36 on the cover
to your health
20 5 things
Five Ways to Celebrate the Beginning of Summer
52 Nutrition
Hot Flashes and Healthy Habits
22 spotlight event B Scene: Blue Hawaii 24 horoscopes Happy Birthday, Gemini!
54 WELLNESS
Life in Balance
56 Optimal health
must list 26 Must Read Five Summer Page-Turners 28 Travel Fearless Family Travel
Staying Healthy
Through the Years
opposite sex 76 Relationships
Dealing with
Monsters-in-Law
style
78 memo from JB Facebook Family Values
34 BEAUTY Anti-Aging Staff Picks 36 style Summer Fashion
savvy women
home
Business Awards
44 interior design
Urban Living
gourmet 48 entertaining
80 You should know 82 expert opinion
Woman’s Way
The Evolution of
Independence
84 Community resource Wine and Cheese Pairing
10 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
88 Last Word
Karyn Scott
The Beauty of Age
Photo by Annie Ray, annieray.net. Makeup by Lauren Lumsden, Rae Cosmetics, 512.320.8732, raecosmetics.com. Hair by Jami Eastin, Avant Salon, 512.502.8268, avantsalon.com. Shot on location at The Continental Club Gallery, 1315 S. Congress Ave., 512.441.2444, continentalclub. com and C-Boy’s Heart & Soul, 2008 S. Congress Ave., 512. 215.0023, facebook.com/cboysheartnsoul. Vintage western shirt by Archive Vintage, 1708 S. Congress Ave., 512.912.7970, archivevintage.com; dress, boots and necklace, Rosie’s own.
Photo by Annie Ray.
on the scene
COMFORTABLE DENTISTRY
Confident Smiles
Actual Patient
AUSTIN DENTAL SPA MARK SWEENEY, D.D.S.
AustinDentalSpa.com 3305 Northland, Suite 515 Austin, Texas 78731
512.380.1300
r e m m u S
Take Your Fun Farther with
500 POP
Visit us at our NEW LOCATION!
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BuyingCarsHerWay.com Buying Cars
13049 RESEARCH BLVD. (ANDERSON MILL & SPICEWOOD SPRINGS) AUSTIN, TEXAS 78750 512-228-3428 | FIAT OF AUSTIN.COM ®2014 Chrysler Group LLC. FIAT is a registered trademark of Fiat Group Marketing & Corporate Communications SpA., used under license by Chrysler Group LLC. 2014 FIAT 500 POP: EPA estimated 32 CTY and 40 HWY. See FIAT of Austin for details. Photos for illustration purposes only. Not responsible for typographical errors.
Have Visions of an Amazing Austin Summer? Volume 12, issue 10 Co-Founder and Publisher
Call Mann Eye Institute to Help Make Them a Reality
Melinda Maine Garvey vice president and Co-Publisher
Christopher Garvey associate publisher
Cynthia Guajardo Co-Founder
Samantha Stevens Editor-in-chief
Deborah Hamilton-Lynne associate editor
Molly McManus copy editor
Chantal Rice CREATIVE Director
Niki Jones art director
Jennifer Day ART ASSISTANT
Nora Iglesias brand manager
Kailin Miner operations manager
Katie Paschall Account Executives
Kelly Keelan, Alex Sizemore 512.328.2421 contributors
Rudy Arocha, Tom Athey, Edison Carter, Jill Case, Daniel Cavazos, John T. Davis, April Downs, Jami Easton, Bob Epperly, Annika Franco, Kaneisha Grayson, JB Hager, Ashley Hargrove, Erin Henry, Korey Howell, Laura Jack, Sam Jackson, Deano Jones, Kelly Lindner, Lauren Lumsden, Deborah Mastelotto, Matt McGinnis, Rachel Merriman, Dale Nicole, Nick Paul, Monique Penner, Sarah Quatrano, Annie Ray, Martha L. Rivera, Ricky Rodriguez, Megan Russell, Jeanne Segal, Courtney Slade, Tony Speilberg, Julie Tereshchuk, Cheri Thompson, Erin Williamson Interns
Sam Jackson, Ricky Rodriguez
Summer is here, and you have 4,587 (give or take) options for summertime adventures in Austin. Is poor vision cramping your summer plans? Call Mann Eye Institute – 800-MY-VISION. AFFORDABILITY At Mann Eye Institute, we offer competitive pricing and flexible payment plans to make Blade-Free Lasik a real option for our patients. Feel like you have to choose either Blade-Free Lasik or that epic vacation with your friends? Think again. At Mann Eye Institute, we want to help you enjoy both!
OPTIONS Blade-Free Lasik isn’t all we do. We offer Active Life Lens Procedures, Family Eye Exams, Dry Eye Treatment, Glaucoma Management, Laser Cataract Surgery, Diabetic Eye Disease Treatment, Keratoconus Treatment, Contact Lens Fittings and Emergency Eye Care. If you have a problem with your eyes or your vision, call us. We want to help!
OUTCOMES Our surgeons are focused on outcomes. That’s why we offer so many different procedures and technologies – because every patient is unique. It’s also why we have thousands of patients all over the Austin area who will enjoy their summer adventures with great vision. You probably even know some of these folks!
Don’t miss the boat on summer fun. Call Mann Eye Institute for your free Lasik consultation now:
1-800-MY VISION (698-4746) | manneye.com
Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc. and is available at more than 1,150 locations throughout Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved. For submission requirements, visit awmediainc.com/contribute. No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission. Visit us online at austinwomanmagazine.com. Email us at info@awmediainc.com. 512.328.2421 • 3921 Steck Ave., Suite A111, Austin, TX 78759
2600 VIA FORTUNA SUITE #400 & 4314 W. BRAKER LANE SUITE #215 | AUSTIN
From the Editor
I have been reading and thoroughly enjoying Diane Keaton’s new book, Let’s Just Say it Wasn’t Pretty. The blurb on the book jacket says it is a “candid, hilarious and deeply affecting look at beauty, aging and the importance of staying true to yourself—no matter what anyone else thinks.” When I read that, I realized that pretty much sums up what we set out to do with this issue of the magazine. We wanted to take a look at beauty, aging and the importance of staying true to yourself, and we scored by featuring candid, hilarious and deeply affecting women. In an uber demanding and difficult business, Rosie Flores finds herself still rockin’, following her passion for music and performing for more than four decades. Not only does she look amazing for any age, she sounds great too. She turns loose with John T. Davis and in a most candid interview, reveals what keeps her stepping onstage with a guitar night after night. Speaking of hilarious, we also took a turn with the Jitterbug Vipers, a quirky group of individuals that somehow come together as a whole while staying true to themselves, personally and professionally. For them, age is definitely just a number, and they show no signs of slowing down. Winners of numerous Austin Music Awards, individually and as a group, the Jitterbug Vipers
NEED ADVICE? We need questions for our relationship columnist—family, kids, spouse, love interest. Email submissions@ awmediainc.com with “Advice” in the subject line.
showed us what it takes to work hard and maintain a successful collaboration while nurturing an independent and creative spirit. Julie Tereshchuk interviews three women in their 60s who are living their dreams of doing what they love and loving what they do. They share their insights on a life of purpose and passion. Accomplished and respected in their respective positions, none of them are looking to retirement, content knowing that there are things left to do—things they are meant to do— with no sign of letting up anytime soon. We explore healthy aging, weight gain after menopause, intergenerational travel, ways to deal with grief and our staff shares their recommendations for their favorite anti-aging products. We also share expert opinions on ways to reduce stress while keeping mentally and physically fit. With a nod toward being young at heart, we asked Annie Ray to capture the youthful and hopeful spirit of musician Courtney Shields and professional athlete Alex Albright, who, by the time you read this, will have tied the knot. Find them in our Style pages. Speaking of style, we also take a look at what it takes to make a small space live large by incorporating all the right furnishings and accessories, and strategic furniture placement to create a sleek, modern look for a downtown apartment. Sommelier Matt McGinnis enlists Cathy Strange of Whole Foods to put together summer wine and cheese pairings while JB Hager takes a “realistic” look at seemingly perfect social-media postings. Looking back through this issue, I feel hopeful and energized, inspired by all the women profiled and quoted. Things are changing rapidly, especially for women. Reaching a certain age and becoming a grandmother does not mean the same thing it did even 10 years ago.
As the baby boomers enter the last one-third of their lives, they are living lives of passion and purpose, and I can think of no greater way to cross the generations and to become stellar role models for the young women who will follow in our footsteps. Diane Keaton, for me, represents women who make bold choices, women who take risks and accept the consequences of living with those choices, and women who, above all, remain true to themselves by heeding their inner calling. The women in this issue represent those things, as well as being willing to push the envelope, think and act outside the box to get what their hearts tell them they must have and must do. Cheers to all of the Austin women who know what they want and fearlessly go for it. May you live to be 100!
deborah hamilton-lynne Editor-in-Chief
celebrate with aw June Launch Party Tuesday, June 3, 6 – 8 p.m., The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. Join us on June 3 to experience a few of your childhood favorites in adult fashion. We are launching in to summer and celebrating our April, May and June issues of Austin Woman and summer issue of ATX Man magazines. Drinks will be provided by Cameron Hughes Wine, Deep Eddy Vodka and Papa’s Pilar Rum. Food will be provided by Benji’s Cantina. Entertainment will be provided by Jitterbug Vipers. Dessert will be provided by Frost321. Activities include caricatures by Art by Joy, social-media scavenger hunt, silent auction and raffle. aw.ticketbud.com/aw-media-june-launch-party
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BARGAIN HUNTER Are you a great shopper? We’re looking for Austin’s best locations for fabulous finds for less than $100. Email submissions@awmediainc. com with the scoop.
Photo by Korey Howell.
“I’ve always loved independent women, outspoken women, eccentric women, funny women, flawed women. When someone says about a woman, ‘I’m sorry, that’s just wrong,’ I tend to think she must be doing something right.” – Diane Keaton
Contributors ANNIE R AY
JOHN T. Davis
L AUR EN LUMSDEN
Julie Tereshchuk
COVER photographer, “ROSIE FLORES”
COVER WRITER, “ROSIE FLORES”
makeup artist, “ROSIE FLORES”
WRITER, “It’s not your grandmother’s work”
Page 60
Since 2005, Annie Ray has focused on bringing out the “real stuff” in everything she shoots. You could be a cupcake from the up-and-coming local bakery or a celebrity moonwalking up Madison Avenue. Her relationship with every subject will make 1,000 words say so much more. The June issue of Austin Woman and the summer issue of ATX Man are some of her favorites. Not only did she shoot the cover for AW, but she also shot the dual fashion story for both issues. “It was really fun to shoot Rosie Flores at the new C-Boys club.” You can find Annie’s work on Page 60 and Page 36. What is your favorite Austin music venue?
“My favorite music venue is Skylark Lounge off of Airport. It is a local bar that has great sound and the people who work there are amazing.”
Page 60
Page 60
John T. Davis has written
about musicians for the past three decades and has enjoyed Rosie Flores’ music for many years. But more than anything else, he has Rosie to thank for introducing him to his wife, Kathy Cordova, who is Rosie’s cousin (forever after to be known as “my cute cousin, the lawyer, who you’ve really gotta meet”). Rosie embraces many musical styles, but her first love may be rockabilly, the original fusion of blues and country that helped form the template for rock ’n’ roll. Every few years, a new generation discovers this primal, vital music. Celebrating female rockabilly pioneers like Wanda Jackson and Janis Martin has been Rosie’s way of giving back to the music she loves.
Lauren Lumsden is the
director of operations and lead makeup artist for Rae Cosmetics, where she has worked for the past six years. Experienced in television, film, print and runway, Lauren has gained a reputation as a premier makeup artist. She is a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Hispanic studies and a minor in business administration, and has been an Austinite since 2001. Who is your music style icon?
“My music style icon is Carrie Underwood. She has a classy and classic style.”
What keeps performers like Rosie Flores going for more than four decades?
“I think the road, grueling as it is, and the music keep her young at heart and in spirit. She’s spent a lifetime doing what she loves.”
Page 72
Be careful what you say to Julie Tereshchuk, an Austin-based
freelance writer, blogger and editor. “Any questions?” may easily be her favorite phrase in the English language. Julie has taken her natural spunky curiosity and combined it with her attention to detail, honed listening skills and creative flair to create a reputation for on-point business and lifestyle writing, plus top-quality editorial services. She is known for her magazine feature writing and has covered everything from celebrities to computer chips. Julie loves the variety of her work and continues to be fascinated, intrigued and informed by the answers to those questions of hers. What is the secret to finding a fulfilling job that lasts a lifetime?
“The secret sauce to finding a job that lights up your day and lasts a lifetime is made from courage and clarity. The courage to make a bold decision, and the clarity to know what you want from life.”
have the last word? We love hearing your stories. Send in your submissions for our September Last Word column for a chance to be published. To be considered, email 500 words or less to submissions@awmediainc.com by Aug. 1. September’s topic: “Living Your Dream.”
16 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
Connect with us! find us online at austinwomanmagazine.com
Win this!
Conspirare comPassion Tickets ROOMMATES4BOOMERS
Featured event YWCA’s Women of the Year AwardS June 20, 6:30 p.m., W Austin Hotel, ywca.org The YWCA Greater Austin’s 2014 Women of the Year Awards soiree celebrates the amazing achievements of five of Austin’s most innovative and empowering women, featuring a dinner reception, award ceremony and silent auction.
Can’t get enough of this issue? Check out austinwomanmagazine.com
➥ More events: Performa/Dance company debuts with Jennifer Hart’s Ignite: Three Works at Ballet Austin June 13 and 14. balletaustin.org Edible Austin presents their ’20s-themed Sipping Social on June 21 at Fair Market. edibleaustin.com Giving lingerie a whole new meaning, Art Bra Austin raises funds for cancer research and treatment on June 7 at the Austin Music Hall. artbraaustin.org
➥ More Father’s Day gifts and events, including a special James Bond screening Father’s Day weekend.
➥ More book reviews, including Stories of Hope and Humor by Donia Caspersen Crouch and The Breakup Doctor by Phoebe Fox.
➥ More anti-aging: A step-by-step guide for a DIY 15-minute resurfacing facial. Follow us
@austinwoman
18 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
like us
facebook.com/austinwoman
As part of Conspirare’s two-week comPassion Festival (more details on Page 20), AW is giving away two tickets to the June 14 dialogue and performance. Robert Kyr discusses J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and its relationship to the theme of compassion, followed by the masterpiece itself, performed by Conspirare. Tweet @austinwoman with your best choir photo from childhood no later than June 11 for a chance to win. Who says it needs to be #TBT for a little blast from the past?
June Challenge Bucket-List Confessions YOLO! With the summer months upon us, it is the perfect time to start knocking things off the ol’ bucket list. Send one thing you’ve committed to doing this summer to submissions@awmediainc.com with “Bucket List” in the subject line. Follow us at facebook.com/ austinwoman as we share your life wish lists along with our own picks.
find us
austinwomanmagazine.com
Conspirare photo courtesy of Conspirare. Ballet Austin photo by Tony Spielberg.
Just launched, Roommates4Boomers is a roommatematching service created specifically for women older than 50. Using a detailed algorithm, roommates4boomers.com matches women by location, interests, tastes, lifestyles, education and personal preference, among others.
5 things
1 4
2 5
3 5
Five Ways to Celebrate the Beginning of Summer Compiled by Ricky Rodriguez
1
2
Conspirare presents comPassion
The Boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake Grand Opening
June 5-15, various locations throughout Austin
June 7, Lakeshore Metro Park, 1928 S. Lakeshore Blvd.
Join Conspirare, recently awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant, for a two-week festival celebrating the human experience through the power of music. Patrons of the arts can expect musical performances that commemorate stories of suffering, empathy and redemption through compositions created by renowned composers such as John Muehleisen, Craig Hella Johnson and J.S. Bach. The event will allow audiences to engage with the performers prior to their actual performances and will give guests access to open rehearsals and conversation sessions with composers. These open dialogues will be featured throughout the festival in hopes of better connecting music lovers to the inspiration behind the masterful compositions. Performances for the festival will be located at different venues throughout the city. conspirare.org
On June 7, the Trail Foundation and the City of Austin will celebrate the grand opening of the boardwalk on the Ann and Roy Butler Hikeand-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake. The boardwalk will connect the end of the trail by the Austin American-Statesman building to Lakeshore Park, providing safe pedestrian and bicycle access for citizens. It will enclose a 1.1mile gap on the Southeastern side of Lady Bird Lake. The extension will make it more convenient and safe for pedestrians to access some of the city’s most beautiful parkland. Free and open to the public, a ribbon-cutting ceremony inaugurating the construction of the boardwalk will be followed be a celebratory march across the boardwalk and entertainment for the entire family. thetrailfoundation.org/ boardwalk
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3 The X Games Austin June 5-8, Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd.
This June, Austin will host the ESPN X Games, becoming one of six host cities on the Global Games Circuit. With plenty of fierce competition, stunts and intense high energy, the premier event has the city pumped with excitement. The fourday event will be hosted at the Circuit of the Americas, where 200 athletes will compete for the No. 1 spot in skateboarding, BMX, Moto X and four wheels. Spectators can expect to enter 1,500 acres of interactive activities divided in to seven villages that will have you kart racing, zip lining and even running inside a life-sized hamster wheel! This year’s X Games will feature top performers such as Kanye West, The Flaming Lips and Mac Miller. xgamesaustin.com
4 Fifth Annual Tyler’s Dam That Cancer June 9, Hula Hut, 825 Lake Austin Blvd.
Certain to be one of the best events this summer with plenty of activities for the family to enjoy, Tyler’s Dam That Cancer will host a festive party at Hula Hut, welcoming paddle boarders across the finish line who have made the 21-mile course from Mansfield Dam to Miller Dam on stand-up paddle boards. Special guests for the event include celebrity athletes such as Chris Chelios, Trey Hardee and other extreme competitors in town for the X Games. With a $400,000 fundraising goal in mind, All proceeds benefit the Flatwater Foundation, an organization that raises awareness about the importance of mental-health support for those who have recently received a cancer diagnosis. flatwaterfoundation.org/damthatcancer
5 Turkish Delight at Hiatus Spa Entire month of June, Hiatus Spa + Retreat, 1611 W. Fifth St., Suite 155
Want to be treated like Turkish royalty? Hiatus Spa has converted its hydrotherapy suite in to a Turkish hammam, offering a traditional bath ritual. While bowls of warm water rush over you, your choice of fragrant suds drizzle over you, followed by an exfoliating scrub with a customary woven kese. Steam fills the air while water peacefully runs around you, and a full-body clay mask cleanses and rejuvenates, transporting you to another world. Warm oil completes the treatment in a head-to-toe massage. Once you emerge from the suite, a Turkish Haze cocktail completes the blissful experience. Father’s Day offerings also include the Manly Spa Day (80-minute deep-tissue massage and well-groomed facial) and the De-Stress Dad (50-minute stress fix and manicure without polish). hiatusspa.com
1. Photo courtesy of Conspirare. 2. Photo by Tom Athey, The Trail Foundation. 3. Photo by Mike Blabac/Red Bull Content Pool. 4. Photo by Courtney Slade. 5. Photo courtesy of Hiatus Spa + Retreat.
on the scene /
sp o t ligh t ev ent
B Scene: Blue Hawaii June 20, 6 to 10 p.m. If you’re a highbrow art lover and the beach is too far away, the Blanton Museum of Art has something for you in its tropical-themed Blue Hawaii event, the latest in its B Scene series of special programs. Come to the early showing of the new exhibit, In the Company of Cats and Dogs, stay for music by Dalevis (who happens to be Dale Watson’s Elvis-inspired alter ego), food, cash bar and the chance to create your own art. Admission is $12 for the general public, free for Blanton members. More information at blantonmuseum.org. B See the complete June calendar of events at austinwomanmagazine.com.
22 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
Photo courtesy of Dale Watson.
on the scene /
on the scene /
horoscopes
Happy Birthday, Gemini! May 22–June 20 Your month: You’re a firm believer in the separation of church and state, so to speak. Family time should be family time and separate from work time. This month doesn’t give you that option. Work blends with family or work feels like family, and communicating with family about work takes the edge off your creative workaholic fervor. In fact, communication is key to a divinely inspired June. Though you won’t be as much fun as usual, don’t let it get to you when your friends get feisty about it. You’ll do your finest creative thinking at home in private.
➺
Phew! Finally, we’re finished with Dante’s Seventh Circle of Hell— er—the last few months. Any relationships still standing and not smoldering by the side of the road in a pile of smoking ash will probably live forever. After what we just experienced in misunderstandings, quarrels, missed opportunities and chances, and publicly exposed flaws, we all deserve a plaque with our name engraved. April sucked. May wasn’t any better until the 19th, but June will feel like a breath of spring rain after a long drought. You’re welcome. Cancer (June 21–July 22): Cancer’s street cred seems to highlight home and family, but in June, home and family is the thorn in your side, the pebble in your shoe, the pea under your… well, you get the picture. It’s difficult to tell whether you should kick them all out of the house and spend some quality time with just you and you, or stay at the office and deal with home next month. My suggestion is neither or both, but with an addendum: Stay home if you can tackle your honey-do list until it’s done. Work on your home and you’ll be using this manic energy wisely. Leo (July 23–Aug. 23): Just one more month, Leo. That’s all you have to put up with, and the whole world swings your way again. One more month until the brilliant genius that is (usually) you stops hiding out and kicks your productivity in to high gear for the next year. Just one more month and the people in your world will finally start to understand you again. And one more month until you begin to see your own personal vision again and get energized to make it grow. Can you last that long? Of course. Take a long, long road trip. When you get back, it’ll be July. Virgo (Aug. 24–Sept. 22): You prefer your money situation peaceful, stable, balanced. You hate stress with partners about
24 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
money, or stress with mortgages, or banks, or lenders or insurance companies. Sometimes, though, it can’t be helped. Sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make cake, and if you want to make cakes—er—money in June, you will have to embrace a lot of broken eggs. But remember: If it isn’t meant to be, no amount of pushing on your part will make it work. And if it is meant to be, no amount of resistance on your part will keep it from happening. Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Independence versus partnerships, stability versus radical change, expansion versus withdrawal and consolidation: That’s June for you, and it’s confusing. You’ve had an exciting and profitable year of career growth, and you’re grateful, but now you find yourself craving a little more friendliness and camaraderie and a little less conflict. But fear not: June segues in to July, when you will finally experience the kind of plethora of clubs, organizations and friendships that your little social soul so desperately craves. Work hard in June, plan for July and welcome the change with open arms. Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): Dark thoughts, depression and secret enemies: Is that what we Scorpios have to look forward to in June? No, we are actually powerful manifesters this month, and
we can turn a strong thought or idea in to a literal thing, but that’s both the joy and the sadness of this month. Any strong thought or idea can manifest, positive or not, so we must be diligent. We must be very aware of our thoughts and willing to force a change from our dark thoughts to positive ones. We need to use our powers for good, not evil. Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): Your psychic powers are otherworldly, stronger right now than ever before, especially with your friends, partners and loved ones. In fact, even your co-workers benefit from your woo-woo stuff and ask you for advice because it’s always good advice based on good old common sense and a gut feeling that is dead on. It’s just a little harder to do the same thing for yourself, right? So decisions that are personal seem to take longer to make. But you are also lucky and are getting ready to get luckier in July. Your mantra for making decisions? “Trust what won’t go away.” Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 20): Dour, taciturn, serious, possessed of a powerful work ethic. And you hold a grudge. But you’re also right frequently. That’s why communication is the single most important lesson for you this month. And not just listening. It means talking, and with not at the people in your life who love you. And it means forgiveness. Please let go completely of what they did before or what you did before. Be willing to change your concept of home and family. The cosmos is committed to forcing you to work through this stuff, and June gives you the opportunity to wipe the slate clean for you and for them. Aquarius (Jan. 21–Feb. 19): Secret plans are afoot, hidden machinations toward a successful career dénouement. July changes a full-plate daily focus to a fullheart commitment to growth and excitement in your partnerships. And you’re gearing up for a last blast in December, when things change from working on your social standing to broadening your fan base in 2015. But we digress. This month is mystical and creative and energized. You’re ready on take on the world, or travel it,
with your new novel. Or art show. Or your own Ted Talk episode. Focus on higher education, exotic influences and your most deeply held beliefs. Pisces (Feb. 20–March 20): Have you ever heard the phrase, “The stars aligned so that we could…” fill in the blank. This month, the stars are aligned for you to plan a very long, very faraway vacation with a friend. Or they are aligned so you can buy a new house. Or have a child. Or grandchild. The stars are aligned so you can fine-tune your communication skills, media, socialnetworking and computer skills so they can take you to the next level of income. And the stars are aligned so you can play with film and music and make your heart sing. Aries (March 21–April 20): We probably shouldn’t tell you this now, but you’re going to have an amazing year in 2015. That being said, the first hint that things are going to become a lot more fun will be in July. So what does that have to do with June, you ask? To prepare you for your inevitable future success, June is bringing money and lots of stuff, if that’s your thing. Or you can collect a passel of interesting and unusual friends and bring them all home. June is a little tricky for love, though, with unexpected conflicts and tension. Be a leaf in a fast-moving river. Drift. Taurus (April 21–May 21): Be very careful at work, take no undue risks or chances and don’t drive crazy, especially to and from work. If you have friends who take chances with drinking and driving, you must not ride with them during the entire month of June. Your co-workers are your biggest fans, and everyone wants you to party with them this month because you are just so darn adorable right now. But resist, resist, at least until July. Surprisingly, though, it’s your siblings or neighbors who really want your attention, so amp up your karma and do some good deeds. Fortune cookie: Look to the 18th for a really amazing day. By Deborah Mastelotto deborah@pinkaustin.com
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MUST R E A D
Five Summer Page-Turners Must-read tomes destined to hit the bestseller lists. By Erin Henry
Chasing the Sun
Hill Country Greed Far Gone Laura Griffin wastes no time setting the action in Far Gone, her new romantic suspense novel. Andrea Finch is a respected police detective in Austin, but after a controversial decision made in the line of duty, she is placed on leave. Adding to her troubles is her younger brother, Gavin, a bright but misguided college dropout who is living in West Texas with a known criminal. With work no longer consuming her life, Andrea takes off in search of Gavin, hoping to lure him away from Shay Hardin, the unpredictable former soldier who is suspected of involvement in a recent terrorist attack in Philadelphia. Also investigating Shay and his gang is Jon North, the FBI agent who is becoming increasingly convinced that Gavin isn’t as innocent as he appears. As Andrea and Jon continue to cross paths in their search for Gavin and the truth, Andrea can’t ignore the realization that she’s beginning to fall for the man who is determined to bring her brother to justice. Formerly a journalist, Laura Griffin is the bestselling, award-winning author of the popular Tracers series. A native Texan, she is already working on her next novel at her home in Austin.
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1999 is shaping up to be the best year of Joe Robbins’ life: As Connection Software’s new CFO, he’s well on his way to providing the lifestyle he’s always wanted for his wife and two daughters. Set in Austin, Hill Country Greed is studded with local landmarks: Joe eats at El Arroyo and shoots pool at Buffalo Billiards. (He even calls it Town Lake, like a true Austinite.) A former boxer, he’s used to thinking fast and relying on his self-preservation, but just as he’s settling in at the new job, a suicide disrupts the company, and things quickly deteriorate from there. Adding to the strain that long hours and late nights are putting on his marriage is a director’s murder that implicates him and threatens to bring him crashing back down to reality. With everything on the line, Joe’s old instincts for survival resurface as he discovers that no one can be trusted, and success is never guaranteed. After a career in finance and multiple stints as CFO, Austinite Patrick Kelly began to pursue writing in 2009 after the company he worked for was bought out. Hill Country Greed is his first novel, but readers will see Joe Robbins again, as a second book is in the works.
Set in 1992 in Peru’s tumultuous capital city, Chasing the Sun captures the political and social mayhem wielded by The Shining Path, Peru’s guerrilla communist group. Inspired by a kidnapping in her own family, Lima-born author Natalia Sylvester has written a gripping tale of one family’s nightmarish encounter with the dangerous criminals methodically wreaking havoc on the capital’s privileged families. Andres is a self-made man whose successful business and beautiful home can’t hide the fact that his wife, Marabela, is desperately unhappy. When Marabela is kidnapped by ransom-seeking terrorists, Andres is suddenly forced to part with his carefully amassed wealth in order to save her life. Further complicating his now-uncertain future is the discovery that an old friend, herself the victim of a violent kidnapping, needs him more than ever, and the longer Marabela is missing, the more Andres can’t convince himself that their family will ever be repaired, even if she is somehow found safe. Told largely from Andres’ point of view, Chasing the Sun is a powerful reminder that sometimes the worst experiences yield the best new beginnings. Chasing the Sun is Natalia Sylvester’s first novel. The Austin-based freelance writer updates her blog regularly at nataliasylvester.com/blog and will be featured as a panelist at the Writers’ League of Texas Agents & Editors Conference June 27 through 29.
Twisted Sisters Jen Lancaster is a New York Times best-selling author with a penchant for comedy, and her hilarious new book further cements her status as a seriously funny writer. Twisted Sisters features a sibling duo that couldn’t be more different: Reagan Bishop is the frosty, health-conscious professional who earns a living counseling people with hang-ups and phobias on a TV show. Her younger sister, Geri, is a freewheeling hairstylist who seems content to live in her parents’ basement forever. Reagan is oblivious to the fact that, despite her accolades and perfect exterior, she’s every bit as complicated as the messy clients she coaches on her show, and it’s driving away everyone in her life. Enter Deva, Reagan’s new-age co-worker, who offers a way for Reagan to boost her ailing show and gain a new perspective (literally) by swapping bodies with clients. After deciding to take it a step further and trade bodies with Geri, Reagan sees firsthand just how much she’s both alienated her loved ones and misjudged her sister. Brimming with the kind of no-holds-barred dialogue and dramatic love triangles that dominate reality TV, Twisted Sisters is a book you’ll devour like a marathon of The Real Housewives.
Safe with Me Evidence of Amy Hatvany’s degree in sociology tinges her novels, and her latest, Safe with Me, explores a wide spectrum of themes, from grief and domestic violence, to healing and female friendship. Tragedy occurs on the very first page as we’re introduced to Hannah, a single mom to daughter Emily. After a terrible accident takes Emily’s life, Hannah makes the heart-wrenching decision to donate her daughter’s organs to anonymous recipients, thus irrevocably linking her life to Olivia, a woman whose own daughter, Maddie, is suffering from a life-threatening liver disease. When a chance meeting introduces Hannah to Olivia and Maddie, she’s left suspecting that Maddie was the recipient of Emily’s liver. As grieving Hannah forms a fast friendship with polished but guarded Olivia, they each harbor secrets: Hannah still hasn’t divulged her role in Maddie’s liver donation, and Olivia is denying that her abusive marriage is threatening to ruin the tenuous new life she and Maddie have built following the transplant. As tensions mount, each woman is forced to confront her demons and choose whether to remain defeated by their circumstances or find the courage to come out on the other side, safe at last.
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must list /
T R AV E l
The Gang’s All Here! Something for everyone on the high seas. When I think of intergenerational travel, I cannot help but harken back to the classic film National Lampoon’s Vacation, and the Griswolds’ cross-country odyssey to Wally World. Admittedly, it was a farce but had enough traces of the truth to put fear in my heart whenever I considered getting the extended family together for a vacation. The thought of being cooped up in a three-bedroom condo somewhere at the beach or in the mountains and playing endless games of hearts and Yahtzee is probably not anyone’s idea of fun. So where do you go with your grandmother, who has mobility issues, your diabetic mother, who has to eat regularly scheduled meals, your gluten-free daughter-in-law, your vegetarian son and your meat-and-potatoes husband—all of whom have a different idea of a good time? What if you have to plan for special needs such as hearing and visual disabilities or even autism?
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Have no fear. There is a perfect way for the whole family to vacation together and for each person, from toddlers to the elder statesmen of the group, to have exactly what they want to eat and drink, plenty to do and plenty of fond memories to take home. For the most relaxed family vacation— or dare I say it: even a large family reunion—hit the high seas. If you haven’t been on a cruise ship in awhile, you are in for a surprise and a treat. Not only are the ships huge, but the emphasis on service and variety of activities offered are major factors in your comfort as well. Make no mistake;
Photos courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
By Deborah Hamilton-Lynne
Change your view
Discover a new perspective on family fun with a trip to Waco and the Heart of Texas, only an hour and a half up the road from Austin. You and the kids can spend the day exploring the 416-acre Cameron Park set on the banks of the Brazos and Bosque Rivers. (And yep, it really is as preey as this picture!) Besides miles of hike and bike trails, the park is also home to the natural-habitat Cameron Park Zoo. For even more excitement, try wakeboarding at the award-winning
BSR Cable Park. Don’t know how? No problem—they’ve got pros ready to show you the ropes! Cool off with a hand-pulled oat from the Dr Pepper Museum. You’re way past due for a real taste of Texas. Call or visit online and let us help you plan the perfect family vacation.
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FLOCK TOGETHER
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these are luxurious floating resorts that just happen to visit some great ports of call. Best of all, it is one of the most affordable and stress-free options available for a family vacation. Just a short drive from Austin is the port of Galveston, which is also home base for Royal Caribbean’s newly revitalized Navigator of the Seas. The ship underwent an enhancement in February, getting spiffed up, including added panoramic ocean view suites like a huge 406-squarefoot panoramic ocean-view stateroom, perfect for families. It includes a king-sized bed, a living room with pullout sofa, a separate curtained area for the kids with bunk beds and one and a half baths. Admittedly, this is top of the line, but among the more than 1,600 staterooms, there are options to suit every traveler and group, including those inside cabins with my favorite innovation: the virtual balcony staterooms. Sounds corny, but you have to experience it to believe it. Through the magic of new technology, the ocean, as you are sailing through it, is projected onto a screen in your room in real time, and I swear, you absolutely get the feel of having an ocean-view balcony in your stateroom. Most people spend so little time in their rooms due
to the many amenities, activities and excursions that it might be worth checking out this innovative and affordable option. But beware. The virtual balcony can become addictive. And then there is the food, glorious food. And again, there are literally dozens of options with offerings to fit every schedule and every palate. If a member of your group has special dietary needs, no need to worry. RCCL offers low-sodium, low-fat and gluten-free items, and arrangements can be made for food allergies and lactose intolerance. If formal dining is your thing or you want to gather the clan for an elegant evening spent dining together, check out the grand three-story main dining room, Sapphire. If you don’t want to have to schedule a time for dining, the Windjammer Café, adjacent to the pool deck, provides casual dining, allowing the group to eat at their leisure. Complimentary room service is offered from 5 a.m. to midnight as well. Need treats just for the kids? There’s a Johnny Rockets and a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop on board, and kids ages 3 to 11 have the option of signing up for kids dinner with the youth staff in the Windjammer Café. Or if the family chooses to dine together, the My Family Time dining option allows for the children to be served within 40 minutes of the first seating and then be escorted to the Adventure Ocean for evening activities while parents finish their meal at their leisure. Perhaps the best surprise is the addition of upscale specialty restaurants featuring authentic international cuisines. For these restaurants, there is a nominal charge but it is absolutely worth it. Recently added was Sabor, featuring authentic and original Mexican cuisine and a selection of tequilas, mezcal and Mexican beers, as well as sangria and margaritas. Highly recommended: the sampler tequila flights. My personal favorite specialty restaurant was Chops Grille, A New American Steakhouse. Being a Texan and a steakhouse connoisseur, I was admittedly skeptical, but the dry-aged porterhouse steak could wow the most demanding gourmet. And the superior wine list, sides and desserts are to die for. Trust me, order the huckleberry cheesecake. You won’t regret it. So what is a family to do all day on the high seas? Honestly, there are so many options that I do not
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know where to begin. With everything from the new FlowRider surf simulator to a rock-climbing wall and an ice rink to a full-service spa and fitness center to pools, a sports deck, daily programming and a huge array of in-port excursions, there is literally something that appeals to every interest and ability. The good news is there are many familyfriendly activities and excursions with special tours recommended for those traveling with young children as well as those that will appeal to adventurous teens and adults. My suggestion is to try out something you have never done before or explore a place you may never get the opportunity to visit again. The barrier reef off the coast of Belize is one of the best in the world, and for history buffs, there are Mayan wonders in both Belize and Mexico. Zip lining is safe and thrilling, and river tubing through the cenotes is one for the bucket list. If the excursions are too much for younger or older members of your group, there is plenty to do onboard the ship. Book a day at the spa for Nana. The Royal babies and tots nursery is available for those ages 6 to 36 months, and there are supervised Adventure Ocean activities for 3- to 11-year-olds. One of the most appealing facets of cruising is the amount of freedom and the number of choices it affords each member of the group. The amount of time you spend together and separately, as well as dining, activities and excursion options, is at the discretion of your group. The best news is that RCCL offers an award-winning youth program for children ages 3 to 17 years old. Activities (supervised and planned by professionals) and groups
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are divided by age categories (3 to 5 years old, 6 to 8 years old and 9 to 11 years old in the Adventure Ocean program, and 12 to 14 years old and 15 to 17 years old in the Teen Program) and each program has its own space. Teens also have their own living room hangout, a teen-only nightclub and their own disc jockey. Strictly no adults allowed. Parents and grandparents can share in the fun by participating in bingo, a music bash and science-related activities. So forget strapping your recently deceased, crazy aunt Edna on the roof and heading cross country in search of Wally World on your next Griswold family vacation. When you hit the high seas, there is no cooking, no entertaining, no arguing about what to do or where to stay, just lots of smiles and happy memories. Don’t forget to book your formal family portrait while you are on board and check the holiday card photo off your list. Bon voyage!
style /
B E AU T Y
Anti-Aging How the staff of AW stays young, not just at heart. Molly
Editor’s Picks
Associate Editor BITE Agave Lip Mask, $26, available at sephora.com.
Deb
“Chapstick reinvented! I use this hydration mask daily, which makes my lips very soft and is said to smooth wrinkles and fine lines.”
When Lake Austin Resort Lakehouse Spa Director Robin Jones raved about the results she saw from HydroPeptide products and invited me to experience their Anti-aging Resurfacing Facial, I knew it was something I had to try. Touted as a treatment that would “re-energize skin cells, increase hydration, reduce wrinkles and firm and lift the skin,” the results-driven facial delivered and best of all the products that can be purchased (at a reasonable price point), and I could continue to use them at home. The secret is peptides, which rejuvenate and protect the skin. I am a convert and share the how-to guide for a DIY 15-minute HydroPeptide Resurfacing Facial in an online exclusive at austinwomanmagazine.com.
Niki Creative Director Alba Botanica Good and Healthy Spots Be Gone Corrector daily moisturizer, $9.99, available at drugstores. “This cream gel stays on all day and feels super soft. I use it on my hands to fade freckles and spots.”
Melinda Publisher Epionce restorative hand cream, $19, available at dermstore.com. “I like it because it definitely feels like there is a protective coating on your hands without feeling greasy. I only have to reapply once or twice, rather than hourly like other hand creams. It has a nice, light scent.”
Jennifer Art Director Philosophy Miracle Worker Retinoid eye repair cream, $66, available at sephora.com. “This rich eye cream is worth every penny! It makes me look as if I’ve had a full night’s sleep by reducing undereye bags and lightening my dark circles.”
Editor-in-chief
The ritual: Morning and night: HydroStem+6 Antioxidant Serum, $160 Daily: HydroPeptide Solar Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30, $44 Weekly: HydroPeptide Anti-Wrinkle Polish and Plump Peel, $78 for the set Products are available at the Lakehouse Spa at Lake Austin Spa Resort, Spa Django at Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and online at hydropeptide.com.
Associate Publisher Mary Kay TimeWise age-fighting moisturizer, $24, available at marykay.com. “I’ve been wearing Mary Kay moisturizer for 31 years. It’s incredibly moisturizing, it makes my skin look smoother and firmer and could be the reason why I look younger than my age. It also has a sunscreen (SPF 15), which protects my face from the damaging sun.”
34 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
Photos by Korey Howell.
Cynthia
FUN & GAMES July 10 7-9 pm Adults can play, too. Join us at Thinkery21 on July 8 for a night of video gaming, party amusements, dance games and more. Don’t miss this new series for adults 21 and up hosted after hours at the Thinkery, the new Austin Children’s Museum. thinkeryaustin.org/thinkery21
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style /
S ummer fas h io n
Love and Happiness
Singer Courtney Shields and pro football player Alex Albright make sweet music together. Photos by Annie Ray. Styling by Ashley Hargrove, dtkaustinstyling.com. Hair by April Downs, avantsalon.com. Makeup by Lauren Lumsden, raecosmetics.com. Shot on location at Travaasa Austin. On Courtney: ASTR multi floral top, $48; Tarnish cowboy hat, $48, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com; jeans and boots, model’s own. On Alex: Benson floral print shirt, $120; Joe’s classic-fit jeans, $198; Lucchese black cherry lonestar calf cowboy boots, $300, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com.
36 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
Splash into Style!
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[Previous page] One-piece multi-colored swimsuit, $29.99, available at Target, 5300 S. Mopac Expressway, 511.892.5535, target.com; BaubleBar cluster drop earrings, $42, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com. On Courtney: Polka-dot aqua ice bikini, $14.99 top, $14.99 bottom; aqua sandals, $19.99, available at Target, 5300 S. Mopac Expressway, 511.892.5535, target.com; bright orange short-sleeve wrap, $14.95, available at H&M, 1410 Century Oaks Terrace, 512.873.0375, hm.com; Spy Clarice aqua sunglasses, stylist’s own. On Alex: Ray Ban blue mirror sunglasses, $160, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com; Peter Millar coral swim trunks, $85; Olukai Hokua men’s thong sandal, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.
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Travaasa Just a short drive west from downtown Austin, Travaasa is located in the Hill Country, adjacent to the Balcones Canyonlands preserve. The tranquil resort boasts 70 guest rooms spread out among seven lodges, and includes an award-winning spa. Travaasa also specializes in healthy farm-to-table cuisine. With an array of spa treatments and activities for both men and women, ranging from yoga to hiking to horseback riding, Travaasa is ideal for a close-in R&R getaway or day trip. travaasa.com/austin
Courtney Shields
On Courtney: Joie deep lapis tank, $158; Joie merci printed flax shorts, $178; Kendra Scott blue skylar earrings, $65, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com. On Alex: Benson camo short-sleeve shirt, $120; Bonobos medieval blue striped shorts, $85, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com; shoes, model’s own.
Courtney Shields (Ateyeh) is a singer-songwriter with a passion for beauty and fitness. A graduate of Westlake High School, she attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she received many accolades, including being named a winner of the Berklee Songwriting Contest. In 2011, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in songwriting. In 2012, Shields performed the duet Tonight, You Belong to Me with Pearl Jam frontman, Eddie Vedder. Shortly after, in 2013, she partnered with fellow Berklee graduate Jourdan Rystrom to co-write What’s Left to Say, which aired on CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. The song charted in the top five in Amazon’s singer-songwriter category. In April of this year, Shields started working with manager T.J. Sagen and JBM. The company also represents the Grammy-nominated rock band Disturbed, along with Device, Fight or Flight, The Lifeline, W.E.R.M. and Art of Dying. Additionally, Shields has an endorsement deal with McPherson Guitars. In addition to her music career, Shields also writes a blog, BYOBeauty, which focuses on style and fitness. See her posts at byobeauty.com. Follow her musical career at courtneyshields.com.
austinwomanmagazine.com 41
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S ummer fas h io n Courtney Shields and Alex Albright were wed May 24 at The Vista on Seward Hill. They currently reside in Dallas. A note on fate from Alex: “Courtney and I were always in the same place but had never met. Being from Cincinnati, I had many friends who attended Dayton University, which I visited several times. Coincidentally, Courtney attended Dayton during those years. Then when I was playing in Boston, I used to walk by her apartment (after she transferred to Berklee College of Music) all the time. She even went to a few BC games when we played Notre Dame. Later, when I was injured in 2008, we actually sat a section over from one another and still had never met. Then I came to Texas and through all of our mutual friends, we finally met and it was an instant connection, like fate had always been trying to push us together and finally, our paths crossed. On May 24, we made the connection that fate intended for us all along.”
On Courtney: Alice & Trixie blue and pink maxi dress, $395, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com. On Alex: Peter Millar white linen sport coat, $345; Peter Millar navy print dress shirt, $125; AG Protege gray blue jeans, $178, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com; watch and shoes, model’s own.
austinwomanmagazine.com austinwomanmagazine.com 43 43
HOME /
I n ter io r D es ig n
Urban Living How to maximize small spaces by creating depth, illusion and interest in tight living quarters. By Monique Penner of Posh Interiors, Photos by Erin Williamson
Austin is booming with new lofts and apartments that have amazing views but tricky small spaces. When it comes to a smaller space, you don’t have to sacrifice comfort or design, you just need to keep in mind these five important design tips. The following design was implemented on a 544-square-foot high-rise loft. Whether you live in the quintessential studio apartment or want to get more out of a small room or tiny nook in your house, use these small-space design ideas to help you create style and comfort for your home.
Texture and Color: Tone-on-tone color is the never-fail way to create an optical illusion. Go for lighter shades to increase space. The “little-blackdress rule” applies here: Dark colors are slimming, white is widening. Using pops of color or texture in your pillows, curtains, wallpaper, rugs, lamps and fabrics keeps the space fresh.
Furniture That Serves a Multipurpose: When working with tight quarters, design— such as this high gloss bistro table and two metal barstools that also double as a workspace—is key to functionality and divides the large, open space. Using glass, Plexiglas or Lucite furniture helps to keep the space feeling large and airy.
44 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
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Scale and Proportion: Without it, the room can seem off balance and will appear smaller. Here, I used two large pieces to ground the space, and then two small X benches that can serve many functions and are ideal in saving space but still keep the room functional. Layer pillows for extra interest, but make sure the scale of the accessories doesn’t overwhelm the furniture.
Unobstructed View: No matter how small or large your windows are, natural light and views really open up a room. Neutral tones enhance airiness, allowing pops of color to add personality to the dĂŠcor. Instead of walling off the kitchen and dining room, keep everything open like the design in this studio floor plan.
Creative Storage: Storage is always an issue in small spaces, so get creative with the furniture and accessories you use. Here, the living-room chest that is used for the TV and extra lighting also serves as a nine-drawer dresser to store a lot of clothing. Monique Penner is the owner of Posh Interiors, specializing in interior design and home dĂŠcor. For more information, visit poshinteriors.com or call 512.992.4220.
austinwomanmagazine.com 47
gourmet /
ENt erta ining
Three Wine and Cheese Pairings Add elegance to your summer afternoon soirée. By Matt McGinnis Cheese Championships and the British Cheese Awards and is the new world president and an ambassador for the Guilde des Fromagers de Saint-Uguzon. The lady knows her cheese. Strange leads a team of 147 certified cheese professionals at Whole Foods Markets. The company has a passion for excellence in cheese with a goal to have one certified cheese pro in every store. Currently, there are 206 employees seeking to become certified by studying things like cheese making and proper cheese pairings with wine and beer. These folks take exams every Thursday, testing their knowledge of the composition of milk, how to properly transport cheese, food safety and the microbiological nuances of cheese. Why? So you don’t have to. With more than 700 types of cheese in the Whole Foods downtown store, it’s incredibly helpful to let the cheesemongers guide the experience. That’s exactly what we did with picking our perfect pairings for summer. Austin Woman suggested
Photo by Matt McGinnis.
Add a little elegance to a summer afternoon with simple pairings of complex cheeses and delicious wine. The incredible selection of high-quality wine and cheese that is available today makes it more compelling than ever. Here are some straightforward tips for excellent food and wine pairings. The first thing to do is find a reputable cheese shop with a knowledgeable staff. Try Antonelli’s Cheese Shop on Duval Street, Henri’s Cheese & Wine on South Lamar Boulevard, Central Market or Whole Foods Market. Not only do these places know their stuff, they specialize in helping customers find exactly what they want. One of Austin’s shining stars in the cheese world is Cathy Strange, the global cheese buyer for Whole Foods Market. Strange has an incredible resume that is studded with accreditations such as membership in the Cheese Importers Association and the International Association of Culinary Professionals. She serves as a judge for the American Cheese Society competition, the World
48 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
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European white, rosé and red wines, and Strange expertly selected excellent European cheeses that will bring out the best in the wines.
1. Domaine Pichot, Vouvray 2012 with Mons Camembert Domaine Pichot is a classic vouvray made with 100 percent chenin blanc. Unlike some vouvray wines from the Loire Valley of France that have a little residual sugar, this wine is dry with opulent floral aromas. Domaine Pichot has rich golden raisin, light pineapple and green apple flavors balanced with a hint of honey, chalky minerals, bright acid and a big, round finish that eases across the palate like a silk camisole. It sells for $17. Mons Camembert from the area of France north of Normandy is soft ripened in a traditional style. It has a distinctive smell of green cooked vegetables like Brussels sprouts or cabbage. “That is a clear marker for Normandy-made cheese,” Strange says, noting the best way to enjoy the cheese. “The rind is edible, made with a penicillin mold that has a mushroomy, earthy flavor. Try the paste first so you don’t overwhelm your palate. This Camembert has tangy acidity that cuts through the butterfat. Chew the cheese, letting it coat your tongue. You will get flavors coming up the back of your mouth and in to the nose.” This is a wine and cheese pairing made in heaven. The crisp acidity of the vouvray balances the creamy fattiness of the cheese. The wine mellows the vegetal qualities in the cheese, letting the salty grass and hay flavors open up while the earthy flavors of the Camembert brighten the fruit flavors in the wine. It’s a gorgeously choreographed dance on the tongue.
2. Miraval Rosé, Côtes de Provence 2013 and Capricho de Cabra Miraval rosé is made in Southern France by the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel fame in partnership with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who own the 1,200-acre estate. “Angelina picked out the distinctive bottle,” Strange says. This is a gorgeous Provençale rosé with beautiful pink cotton-candy color along with floral and pronounced fruit aromatics. The light-bodied wine tastes of fresh strawberries
and lemon zest with a hint of spice on the finish. It is priced at $25. Strange recommends goat cheese with this delicate rosé. “Rather than fresh chèvre, I picked an aged cheese,” she says. “It ripens from the outside in, leaving the middle of the paste, which is called chalk, firm and gets creamier next to the rind.” Capricho de Cabra from Murcia, Spain, is made with milk from Murciana goats and is one of the highest protein cheeses in the world. It has a marvelous creaminess with a nutty, buttery cream flavor tinged with a slight brininess and a citrus finish. It’s a mild cheese that’s not very “goaty” and is a real crowd pleaser. The goat cheese is like a velvet pillow with the wine. The berry flavors of the rosé become more pronounced in the luscious creaminess, which also mutes the acidic citrus edge of the wine. This makes for a soft, sensual pairing.
3. Rollone Monferrato Rosso 2011 and Fourme d’Ambert Rollone Monferrato Rosso comes from the cool climates of the Piedmont region in Northern Italy. This fruity blend of 75 percent barbera and 25 percent pinot noir has a bright cherry and cedar aroma. Serve it with a slight chill to bring out the funky earthiness and mushroom essence layered on top of juicy cherry, dried strawberry and plum flavors. The mild tannin and high acid make it a particularly food-friendly red. It sells for $23 at Whole Foods. Fourme d’Ambert is raw cow’s milk blue cheese from the Auvergne region of France. It is known to be one of the oldest cheeses in France, along with Roquefort. Blue cheeses take awhile to age and don’t start getting blue for four to six weeks. The proteins in blue are a little slower to break down, age slowly and get creamier the longer they age. Fourme d’Ambert is a natural rind cheese that is creamy and light. It is a mild blue, not too spicy, and buttery with white mushroom flavors. With the wine, this mild blue brings out warm, raisin flavors. The cherries taste riper and sweeter, which Strange describes as tasting “like a gourmet cherry lollipop.” The cheese enhances the aged earthiness of the wine yet lets the brightness of the acidity shine through.
Tips for Buying and Enjoying Cheese h Shop for cheese just how you shop for vegetables. Buy cheese close to the time you want to enjoy it. Don’t let it sit in your refrigerator too long. Knowledgeable cheesemongers at good shops can recommend the optimal ripeness of the cheese. Some cheeses are ready to eat today, some in a few days, but shouldn’t be kept more than that.
h Cheese made with cow’s milk is typically rich in gold color. In contrast, goat cheese is whiter in color, as the goats are better able to digest beta carotene.
h When entertaining, choose cheeses that are crowd-friendly like creamy gouda and sharp cheddar. Your cheesemonger can recommend varieties that are pungent, or not, to suit your taste.
h Pineapples, apples and pears are great with cheese because the acidity and texture lifts the creaminess of the cheese to clean the palate. Seasonally available tropical fruits and melons are also a great accompaniment to cheese, as they don’t overpower and don’t linger in the mouth.
h Take your cheese out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before guests arrive so it warms close to room temperature. Cheese is a fermented agricultural product, and the taste will evolve a little as it warms up.
h Serve nuts with the cheese. If you have blue or luscious cheeses, choose nuts with skins, like almonds. The bitterness of the skin will accentuate the cheese. If you are serving mild, creamy cheese, select Marcona almonds or other skinless nuts.
austinwomanmagazine.com 51
to your health /
N U TRITI O N
Hot Flashes and Healthy Habits Dietitian LeAnne Skinner offers tips on how to maintain a healthy weight during menopause. By Megan Russell As women, our bodies are always changing. We go through awkward hormone shifts during puberty, mood swings due to hormonal changes during and after pregnancy, and changes to everything we know about ourselves during menopause. Of course, this doesn’t include any number of other reasons hormones may change throughout our lives. And while both mood and body are affected in all of these stages, during menopause, instead of growing and developing, the body begins to slow down. When this happens, women start to notice weight gain even if their diet and exercise habits remain the same as before menopause. LeAnne Skinner, a registered and licensed dietitian nutritionist for Austin Nutrition Consultants, describes this process. “As women enter menopause, the estrogen levels in the body begin to decrease. Many women find their weight more difficult to manage because estrogen influences energy expenditure as well as how calories are stored,” she says. “As the estrogen declines, so does every process in the body that regulates weight changes.” As the inside of the body starts to change, it reflects on the outside, most noticeably in the midsection. Skinner notes, however, that this isn’t out of your control. “If you start in to menopause with an average, normal weight, then with a few changes in lifestyle and diet, you’re going to be OK,” she says. “If you came in to menopause overweight and you don’t make any changes, you will continue to gain weight even more rapidly because you’re storing fat differently now. Heredity does play a part, but if you preplan, you will be healthier.”
52 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
There are significant risks to gaining weight at any age, but as we get older, some of the risks become more prevalent. “When estrogen levels drop, [risk for] heart disease increases. An overall increase in heart attacks among women is seen about 10 years after menopause. That’s why women more often have a heart attack in their 50s and 60s,” Skinner says. “Your bone density diminishes, so you also have to worry about how strong your bones are. As your weight goes up, your blood pressure is more likely to go up, you’re at a greater risk for diabetes and you’ll be prone to elevated cholesterol and elevated lipids in your blood, which also contributes to heart disease.” Fortunately, Skinner offers ways to avoid these risks and weight gain with a few simple changes in diet and lifestyle. Change your diet to include six to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Fruits and veggies have phytonutrients and vitamins that are more readily absorbed than supplemental vitamins. You’ll also be more full faster, which will keep snacking and overeating at a minimum. Because estrogen levels drop during menopause, so do your brain’s serotonin levels, which have a great effect on your appetite. And while green juicing may be all the rage right now, Skinner points out, “You can’t just drink it; you’ve got to eat it.” Lifestyle changes and eating habits will have a huge impact on your overall health and longevity.
Increase your soy intake. Adding edamame, soymilk or other soy products to what you eat can reduce some of the symptoms of menopause by up to 50 percent. Soy and soy products can boost serotonin uptake in the body. As estrogen levels decline during menopause, serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter that influences either directly or indirectly most of the body, is altered. It has a great effect on your appetite and metabolic rate and how efficiently you use the calories you eat. Don’t skimp on the protein. Skinner has noticed that as women age, they eat less protein. She’s quick to discourage this, saying, “Protein continues to be the building block of your body.” Make sure to include a slightly larger amount of protein than carbohydrates on your plate. This will help control hunger and will aid with maintaining muscle mass and ultimately weight loss. Go for meals rich in meat or other kinds of protein with lots of fruits and veggies, and skip the pastas and processed foods. Eat five to six smaller meals a day. You can easily burn up small meals in 200- or 300-calorie increments, which is something you’re not as likely to be able to do if you eat a big meal of 800-plus calories. Those who can move around a lot during the day and exercise most likely won’t have an issue, but if you have a desk job, it matters.
Cut the calories. As you enter in to menopause, your body stops using calories in the same way it did before. You simply don’t need all those calories anymore. One way to achieve this is to eat healthy and avoid large portions. Skinner suggests using a salad plate rather than a dinner plate for meals. Don’t forget about calcium and vitamin D. Skinner points out that as women get older, they stop drinking milk. This is particularly harmful because during menopause, your bone density decreases. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D are going to help keep bones strong. Dairy products, green vegetables, salmon and a good amount of sunshine are all great options to getting what your bones need. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, also plays a key role in maintaining bone health. Hydrate. When you’re dehydrated, your body has a more difficult time processing nutrients, which are especially important during menopause. So stay hydrated and drink eight cups of water a day. Control hot flashes. Hot flashes can be a particularly irritating cause of discomfort during menopause. One option to minimize this discomfort is to avoid alcohol, spicy foods, large meals, high stress, high caffeine and processed foods during hot flashes. Use herbal estrogen products. If your body is not controlling your hunger properly and your calories are being stored as fat around your midsection, an herbal remedy may help. Herbs have been used for 5,000 years to fight symptoms of menopause. One such remedy Skinner recommends is Estroven Weight Management, a safe, natural multi-symptom menopause-relief supplement, which is made with a proprietary ingredient—Synetrim CQ—which balances serotonin levels to help safely manage weight. At the end of the day, Skinner views menopause as a part of life that should be celebrated rather than feared. “You have to look forward to it if you want to live and the only way to live is to go through it,” she says. “So embrace changes in your body and make the necessary adaptations to your diet and lifestyle. As your life moves forward, you can be healthier than you were before. You can’t avoid it and you might as well not dread it. It’s going to happen.”
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to your health /
WELLNESS
Life in Balance Three experts weigh in on keeping mentally and physically fit at any age. Keep Calm and Carry On. Four Tips for Reducing Stress. 1. Learn to recognize stress. It makes sense
to think that we know when we’re stressed. But the truth is that many people don’t have a clue how truly stressed they are. They recognize it when they have an over-the-top eruption, but they don’t necessarily recognize the chronic stress they live with day in and day out. Stress is so much a part of everyday life that it feels normal. But it’s not. Living with high levels of stress all the time is why we’re physically and emotionally sick. So it’s important to learn how to recognize stress.
2. Identify your stress response. Learning to
recognize stress starts with identifying the way you respond to stressful situations. There are three ways that people tend to respond to stress. People tend to recognize the stress “freak out,” but they may overlook the spaced-out and emotionally withdrawn response to stress: Foot on the gas—An angry, agitated or “fight” stress response. You’re heated, keyed up, overly emotional and unable to sit still.
Foot on the brake—A withdrawn, depressed or “flight” stress response. You shut down, pull away, space out and show very little energy or emotion. Foot on both—A tense or “freeze” stress response. You become frozen under pressure and can’t do anything. You look paralyzed, but under the surface, you’re extremely agitated.
3. Use the tools of quick stress relief.
When you recognize that you’re becoming overwhelmed by stress, you have two options for calming down quickly:
3 Talk to someone (a friend, partner, spouse, etc.) about how you’re feeling.
3 Use sensory-based techniques. These include images, sounds, aromas, tastes, movements and tactile sensations that can immediately help you feel more balanced.
4. Don’t underestimate the power of emotional connection. When people think
about stress relief, they often think about practicing yoga or meditating. But the best way to quickly relieve stress is by making a face-to-face emotional connection with another person. It’s much more powerful than anything else you can do. The most important thing is that we have people to look at and talk to, but in our culture, we’re getting less of that. That is one of the reasons we’re feeling more stress. –J eanne Segal, Ph.D., is the author of Feeling Loved: Finding Happiness in an Overstressed World, and co-founder of nonprofit helpgiude.org. 54 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
A Successful Career Cannot Fulfill Every Aspect of Life. Five Tips for Ensuring a Desirable Lifestyle. 1. It’s never enough. Ambition is ad-
mirable, but if it’s all that drives you, no matter how much you accomplish, it will never be enough. If professional ambition is more important to you than anything else in your life, that’s a red flag that your life is dangerously unbalanced. The consequences will be painful feelings of emptiness, lack of fulfillment and having missed out. Take steps now to restore balance, beginning with personal, non-work relationships.
2. No one ever says at the end of their life that they should have worked longer and spent less time with family.
Adjust the Way You Approach Daily Tasks For a Dramatic Difference in the Way You Look and Feel. Wellness of body and mind can be incorporated in to quick and simple daily routines as you juggle the challenging demands of balancing work, family, fun and fitness. Exercises, stretching, breathing deeply and healthy eating can be infused in to everything you do, so getting to the gym or having a specific daily workout is not as crucial to your health and well-being. Graze on healthy snacks throughout the day, eat balanced meals and avoid dramatic diets that ultimately hurt you.
Some dos and do nots to be more fit and increase energy while juggling hectic schedules:
DO: 3 Take stairs instead of elevators.
When it’s all said and done, life is short and many realize that time is life’s most precious resource. Intense focus on work tends to deprive professionals of opportunities with their loved ones, moments and memories that cannot be replaced. Set goals for how much time you’ll spend giving your family 100 percent of your attention each day and week, and stick to them!
3 Take slow, deep breaths. 3 Stand tall with stomach and gluteus muscles engaged. 3 Keep even weight on feet with hips and shoulders level,
3. Make communication a top priority!
3 Squat while washing and conditioning your hair and
The importance and value of real communication cannot be overemphasized. More important than speaking is listening. My relationships immediately improved when I began listening very carefully to what was being said.
4. Only you are responsible for your life. The Serenity Prayer goes a long way in
work-life balance. It reads, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” Recognizing you are responsible for your life and focusing on the aspects of it over which you have influence while recognizing those you need to let go can be pivotal.
5. Accept who you are. This can be chal-
tighten all muscles as much as you can and then release and repeat while standing still, waiting in lines, etc.
3 Walk home from the office, grocery or shopping and lift and lower bags to tone your arms and back. cleaning the shower with a squeegee.
3 Sit on a ball at your desk instead of a chair. 3 Stretch after you get out of bed every morning and before you go to bed at night.
3 Park farther from building entrances and walk briskly to your destination.
3 Carry a refillable glass bottle of water with fruit or
herbs inside (add a sprig of rosemary, mint leaves, cinnamon stick, lemon or orange slices).
3 Join a sports team for fun. Even if you’ve never played the sport before, most organized athletic leagues offer beginner options.
3 Carry at least one healthy snack in your bag (nuts, apple). 3 Choose exercises that are easy on your joints and strengthen without causing bulk. Yoga is a great option.
lenging. It demands courageous self-reflection and letting go of the need for external approval. When a friend asked me, “Do you think the world is ready to accept Bob Epperly just as he is?” I suddenly saw that I had always felt I had to accommodate, that I wasn’t OK as I am. I started to give myself permission to be me.
DO NOT:
–B ob Epperly is the author of Growing Up After Fifty: From Exxon Executive to Spiritual Seeker.
–D ale Nicole is a fitness and modeling expert and owner of TRUE Model Management.
3 Eat if you are not hungry. 3 Sit if you can stand. 3 Impulsively grab empty calorie and/or sugary snacks. 3 Deny yourself of your favorite fattening foods, but do limit portions and/or only eat them once a week.
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to your health /
O P TI M A L H E A LT H
Staying Healthy Through the Years What you need to know decade by decade. By Jill Case Everyone knows the basics of staying healthy: eat right, exercise and have regular medical checkups. These things apply to everyone at every age, but during a woman’s lifetime, her body changes and her medical needs do as well. A woman in her 30s will require different tests and need to make different lifestyle changes than a woman in her 50s or 60s. Here’s a decade-by-decade summary of some important health issues and tests you should discuss with your physician. In Your 20s and 30s Many young women get so busy during this time of life that they forget to take care of themselves. However, it is important to schedule an annual physical. In addition, because many women are concerned with conceiving children, they need to protect their reproductive health by: 3 Getting screened for STDs. STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause fertility problems, and HPV (human papillomavirus) can lead to cervical cancer. 3 Getting regular pap smears. Pap smears can detect HPV, the virus that can lead to cervical cancer. 3 Getting a gynecological exam. It is important for you to see a doctor to discuss your family history and any issues you have with your menstrual cycles so your doctor can detect issues that may interfere with your fertility in the future. For women between the ages of 20 and 29, melanoma is the second most common cancer. Therefore, it is important to adopt good habits now, including wearing sunscreen regularly.
56 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
3 Schedule a whole-body screening. Early detection is the key to dealing with skin cancer, so schedule a whole-body check with your doctor or dermatologist once a year. In Your 40s Women in their 40s begin to have a higher incidence of heart disease and certain cancers. This is the decade in life when you should begin to become more vigilant about getting preventative screenings. Talk to your physician and: 3G et a baseline mammogram at age 40. After you have a baseline test, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends you have an annual mammogram. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 98 percent when tumors are detected at the earliest stage. 3S tart taking care of your heart. You need to meet with your physician and discuss your family history and risk factors. The American Heart Association recommends you ask your physician to check your weight and BMI, your waist circumference, your blood pressure, your cholesterol and do a fasting blood-glucose test. In Your 50s The 50s bring one of the biggest changes women experience: menopause. Women should discuss menopause with their physicians. In addition, women in their 50s need to be concerned about colon cancer.
It is imperative that you: 3 Schedule a colonoscopy. Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, if and only if you are screened. The colonoscopy allows doctors to find polyps and remove them, but early detection is the key. The 50s is a transitional decade for many women. They may be experiencing an empty nest, thinking about retirement or simply dealing with many life changes. Sometimes depression can become a problem, and clinical depression should not be ignored. alk to your physician about screening for 3T depression. If you are suffering from feelings of hopelessness or helplessness, persistent sad or anxious feelings, fatigue or excessive insomnia, it’s time to talk to your doctor about the possibility that you may be experiencing clinical depression. In Your 60s and Beyond As you age, you need to be more vigilant than ever about seeing your doctors and preventative testing and screenings. Older people become more vulnerable to certain conditions, so you may want to talk to your physician about getting the following vaccinations: 3A nnual flu vaccine 3A nnual vaccine for pneumonia 3S hingles vaccine
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Men’s radiology at ARA information for your best health Austin Radiological Association is committed to bringing you the full spectrum of men’s medical imaging. We offer prostate and testicular imaging, heart imaging, CT lung screening, bone density exams, screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm, treatment for varicose veins and varicoceles and much more. With 15 locations, it’s easy to find ARA medical imaging services near you. My family doctor found that the drug I was taking for acid reflux could deplete my calcium so he ordered the bone density scan at ARA. The people at the Georgetown clinic made me feel like they really care – practically like loving family.
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~ Bill Chapman ARA bone density patient
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www.BeeWellAustin.com 12005 Bee Cave Rd #2A Austin, TX 78738 512-225-0766
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Plan for your long-term care now so they won’t have to worry later. Most people don’t realize that 70 percent of adults 65 and older will need some kind of long-term care. The demands can drain your family emotionally, professionally, and financially. How will you handle it? Long-term care doesn’t have to disrupt–or bankrupt– your family. With the right planning, you can secure the assistance you need while protecting the assets you’ve built. Be prepared. Plan now. To learn more, visit OwnYourFutureTexas.org.
O P TI M A L H E A LT H
Hearing loss is also a common problem. In fact, as many as one-third of people will experience hearing loss between the ages of 65 and 74, and nearly half of all people older than 75 will have trouble hearing. 3S chedule a hearing test. When you experience hearing loss, your relationships and your quality of life suffer. You may become isolated and avoid being around people, which is bad for your health.
Hormone Health and Wellness Hormones and endocrine issues affect a woman’s health and well-being at every age. Austin Woman spoke with Dr. Simone Scumpia about some of these issues. The Reproductive Years Many doctors do not screen for thyroid issues until patients are in their 50s, but Dr. Scumpia and the American College of Endocrinology would like for women to be screened for thyroid issues during their reproductive years. If you are trying to conceive, Dr. Scumpia says:
3A sk your obstetrician to perform a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test. 3 I f you are having problems conceiving, you will need to have a full thyroid, adrenal and pituitary gland workup. If you are already pregnant and have a thyroid problem, Scumpia says, “The thyroid has to be very carefully checked because the baby does not have a thyroid gland until week 18 of gestation, and it relies completely on the mother. And we now know that both a low or a high
At Every Age The Center for Disease Control recommends that all women: 3 Follow a healthy diet. Focus on fresh food— fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat or fat-free dairy. 3 Get cardiovascular exercise. Aim for two and a half hours of moderate-intensity exercise (like brisk walking) per week. 3 Strength train. Try to work all your major muscle groups at least two days a week.
thyroid (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism) can actually increase the risk of miscarriage and can also interfere with the IQ of the baby.” Another issue that affects women in their 20s and 30s is PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). It affects about 15 percent of young women. Symptoms include acne, weight gain, extra hair on the face and body and irregular periods. “PCOS can interfere with fertility, but more importantly, it creates a state of insulin-resistance where you are prone to diabetes in the future,” Scumpia says. This makes early diagnosis and treatment very important. So if you are having these symptoms, consult your doctor and ask about having a hormonal workup to help determine if you may have PCOS. The Menopausal Years Hormone therapy is always a big issue for women dealing with menopause. “The big question is if a particular woman will be a candidate for hormone therapy during menopause,” Scumpia says. Hormone therapy has become less common because of the increased risk of breast cancer and the higher risk of
3Q uit smoking. Smoking has negative effects on every organ in your body. It also affects the people around you. Quitting has immediate and long-term benefits, so talk to your physician about programs to help you quit. The most important thing to remember is you are in charge of your health. Work with your physician to stay healthy and enjoy your life decade after decade.
cardiovascular disease. “Hormone therapy is only recommended if a woman has severe hot flashes, severe vaginal dryness and other severe symptoms,” Scumpia says. She recommends that patients have a bone-density test, a cardiovascular risk assessment during early menopause. “In early menopause, we all agree that if you don’t have any cardiovascular disease yet, you might be all right to take a little bit of estrogen to help you with hot flashes, quality of life, night sweats and preservation of the bones for osteoporosis and so on,” she says. Again, menopause and hormone therapy are subjects you need to discuss with your physician. Many physicians now recommend that women wait until they are 65 to have a bone-density screening, but Scumpia disagrees. She believes women should have a baseline bone-density screening at age 50 because of the severity of the problems that can be caused by osteoporosis when it is undetected. “Unfortunately,” Scumpia says, “women who have hip fractures do very poorly. Sixty-seven percent will end
up in a nursing home, so bone-density testing is very important.” Discuss your risk factors for osteoporosis with your physician to determine at what age you should be tested. Dr. Simone Scumpia, MD, FACE, FRCP, is the founder of Austin Thyroid and Endocrinology. Recently, she founded the Institute on Hormones and Optimal Health, where they identify risk factors that may interfere with your optimal health, as well as measure your biological age as it compares to your chronological age. For more information, visit austinthyroid.com or call 512.267.2727.
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ROSIE Flores Still Rockin’ With no sign of slowing down, Rosie Flores is a girl with a guitar doing what she loves and wowing the crowds wherever she goes. By John T. Davis | Photos by Annie Ray and Edison Carter
Even for a springtime day, it was, by God, idyllic. The sky was a flawless azure blue and sun and shadow dappled the ground of the park adjacent to the Elisabet Ney Museum. The occasion was Ney Day, an outdoor party designed to fete the famed Austin sculptor and her namesake museum in Hyde Park. There were food trucks and kids with Hula-Hoops and an aerial acrobat, craft booths and picnickers. Kids of all ages, as they say. It was wholesome as all get out.
Makeup by Lauren Lumsden, Rae Cosmetics, 512.320.8732, raecosmetics.com. Hair by Jami Eastin, Avant Salon, 512.502.8268, avantsalon.com. Shot on location at The Continental Club Gallery, 1315 S. Congress Ave., 512.441.2444, continentalclub.com and C-Boy’s Heart & Soul, 2008 S. Congress Ave., 512. 215.0023, facebook.com/cboysheartnsoul.
the speaker stacks flanking the stage and Oh yeah, and there was a makeshift dance the hoochie-coo. stage under a big pecan tree, where It’s all the same to Flores. She starts off Rosie Flores and her three-piece band her brief set with a torrid surf/sci-fi/tremwere rocking out with Flores’ signature olo-drenched instrumental original called mixture of twangy rock, country, honkySurf Demon #5. The percussive, assertive tonk, rockabilly and Tex-Mex soul. It’s the title track to her latest album, Working same alchemy of beat, rhythm and groove Girl’s Guitar, follows, and is in turn folshe’s been perfecting for, well, let’s just lowed by what may be her new signature say a long time. In this instance, it was her song, a pounding, sinewy rocker called own You Tear Me Up. Flores bent over her Little But I’m Loud. customized blue electric guitar, concenHer turquoise-painted fingernails race trating on a solo, then twirled around like up and down the guitar neck and pluck a gunslinger and tore in to another chorus. out a furious barrage of notes. The guitarThe adults clapped. The kids were agog. ists in the audience nod in Even the aerialist, up unison: The girl can shred. on her trapeze, seemed “I’ve been doing what In the backroom adjacent to impressed. I love. I’ve been able the stage, one guitarist of note Cut to 24 hours later. to sustain a living and is paying avid attention. Billy Flores is back onstage work as an artist." Gibbons of ZZ Top has dropped and, yes indeed, rocking by to check out Flores’ set. out. She was playing the They go way back. Continental Club as part “When Memphis Minnie used to play, of a day-long tribute to the grande dame people would say, ‘She plays just as good of Austin music journalists, the Austin as a man,’ ” Gibbons says. Nodding toward Chronicle’s Margaret Moser. the stage, he adds, “Rosie can play as “Wholesome” is not a word that typigood as anyone she wants. She deserves cally bumps up against the Continental. the spotlight. Austin doesn’t realize.” This oldest of old-school Austin clubs That’s not strictly true. After Flores made sells whiskey, and lots of it. The walls are painted red and it’s the kind of joint where, her latest move to the city in 2006 (in the past, she’s bounced between Austin, Los when the spirit moves them, the tattooed Angeles and Nashville), the mayor promptbarmaids and waitresses will hop up on
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ly declared Rosie Flores Day. She was inducted in to the Austin Music Hall of Fame the following year, and she’s appeared on Austin City Limits and the cover of the Chronicle. She’s played probably every venue in town, from The Long Center and the Moody Theater to Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon (home of chicken shit bingo) and hipster dive bar The White Horse. If you run in to Flores around town, unless it’s in the aisle of a health food store, she’s almost certain to be on a stage playing and singing like the dickens. It’s all she’s ever done, after all. Because here’s the thing: There’s no plan B. Ever since forming her first rock band, an all-girl ensemble called Penelope’s Children, in high school in San Diego, Flores’ permanent professional habitat has been the stage, the recording studio and the road. Period. She starred on her own with her country-rock band, Rosie and the Screamers, in the late ’70s, and glammed it up as a member of the in-your-face cowpunk crew the Screamin’ Sirens in the early ’80s before segueing in to the trailblazing forefront of that decade’s alt-country/new traditionalists movement right alongside Dwight Yoakam and company. She released her debut album, Rosie Flores, on Warner Bros./Reprise in 1987. Immersed in the revived fervor for 1950sera rockabilly that was sweeping Britain and America, she released 1995’s Rockabilly Filly and in the process reintroduced audiences to two genuine rockabilly legends who sang with her on the album: Wanda Let’s Have A Party Jackson and Janis “the female Elvis” Martin. (In 2012, Martin’s last recordings, The Blanco Sessions, would be released. Flores worked tirelessly to raise money and interest for the project and she co-produced the album). Flores’ body of work in the 21st century, including Speed of Sound, Single Rose (a solo acoustic release), Girl of the Century and her latest, Working Girl’s Guitar, has only become more assured and diverse, and yet coherently and uniquely Flores-esque. She’ll turn 64 on her next birthday. And she’ll celebrate it en route to a gig in New York. “Rosie has an amazing work ethic,” says Alejandro Escovedo, who has known Flores since the Screamin’ Sirens days. Flores performed in Escovedo’s play, In the Hand of the Father, and even took over his role when he took ill. “She’s one of
those artists who [is] somewhat underappreciated.” “It’s interesting I’ve hung in there so long,” she said one May morning. “Somebody who started out as a 16-year-old with a passion for music who just wanted to put their voice out there and contribute. Now I’m 63 [but] I still feel like that 16-year-old girl.” She’s not unique. Austin is replete with gifted female instrumentalists who have made a life in music. Flores has even teamed up with some of the best— pianist Marcia Ball, bass player Sarah Brown, drummer Lisa Pankratz and steel player Cindy Cashdollar—to perform from time to time as a pickup group called Henhouse. But she’s unusual in that, in addition to singing and writing and fronting a band, she also plays lead guitar, traditionally the spotlight instrument in any rock band. (Rolling Stone’s 2003 list “A woman like Rosie of the 100 Greatest has to work harder." Guitarists includes just two women). Rock ’n’ roll is still enough of a boys club that there is a stubborn but shrinking school of thought that chicks should leave aside any instrument more complicated than a tambourine. “There are situations where male musicians find it hard to take critique or direction from a woman. I’ve seen it,” Escovedo says. “As archaic as that sounds, it’s very true. A woman like Rosie has to work harder.” Dance outfit provided and designed by Flores, during the course Haja Scott, Toombas Jeans & Denim Wear,of releasing 11 or so solo albums since 1987, has had the last laugh. She’s 512.626.7764, toombas.net. been interviewed and profiled in industry trades like Guitar Player and Guitar World. Billboard called her “a goddess,” “an adept writer and soulful singer” and “a picker who can hold her own with the best anywhere.” Rolling Stone, reviewing Escovedo’s all-star The United Sounds of Austin show earlier this year, noted, “Flores…set an early high bar with her roaring vocal and sweltering guitar solo.” For all that, she’s never achieved the renown or commercial success of, say, a Bonnie Raitt, a Joan Jett or Heart’s Nancy Wilson—all bandleaders, all lead guitarists. She hauls her own gear, she sometimes bunks with fans and friends to save on hotel rooms on the road, and sometimes, when it’s just her, she worries that maybe she’s made a mistake. “But then I think, no, it has been working,” she says firmly. “I’ve been doing what I love. I’ve been able to sustain a living and work as an artist. I’ve never really hit the big time, but if I had never known all the people I stay with when I’m touring, I would have missed out on a lot of friends. I watched their kids grow up. “And sometimes, people will come up to me and say, ‘We met at one of your shows and now we have four children.’ It makes me appreciate what I’ve done. Maybe I haven’t had the kind of success that Bonnie or Lucinda [Williams] have had, but I feel like
“I really do drive that cool cat crazy When I do my little rock ’n’ roll thing.” – Rosie Flores, His Rockin’ Little Angel
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this was the plan God laid out for me. Or maybe I laid it out for myself.” Patricia Vonne, asked to describe Flores in one word, doesn’t miss a beat. “Resilient,” she says. “This is a hard business, and she’s gotten knocked down. But she keeps going forward. She has a passion for it, she enjoys it, and that’s what keeps her going. And she’s so good at what she does.” Vonne thinks for a moment and adds another adjective to describe her friend: “Irrepressible.” Vonne and Flores share a small house in an un-trendy corner of South Austin. Though Vonne is musically a couple of generations removed from Flores, the two women intersect on a number of levels: Both are San Antonio homegirls, Latinas, bandleaders and songwriters. (The two have penned songs together, and Vonne co-directed one of Flores’ videos, their co-write of This Cat’s In the Doghouse.) Though they grew up in different eras
play), earned a gold-standard reputation in San Antonio, their families lived not among songwriters and fellow musicians, that far apart. But had Vonne known of and won a Peabody Award for her narFlores when she was growing up, the ration of a 2011 rockabilly documentary impression would have been formidable. series, Whole Lotta Shakin’, the life of a “I went to an all-girls high school,” Vonne woman making a life in music has its costs, says. “And if I’d known she was out there, not all of them financial. we would have become Decisions made in haste friends a lot earlier. [Mu“I loved the early songs are sometimes repented sic] was always guys, guys, by Nat King Cole at leisure, sometimes guys. She would have made and Sinatra, Peggy Lee for decades. a huge impression on me.” Case in point: Flores Music was never the endand Johnny Mathis.” moved to Nashville in all and be-all for Vonne; she 1986 with a freshly inked has had other career paths. But with the exception of a few ephemeral, recording contract with Warner Bros. in her hand. Then she discovered she was temporary day jobs (working in a record pregnant. Her female manager at the time warehouse, busing tables in a vegetarian was not pleased. restaurant, working as a secretary) when “I had to make a decision about termitimes were especially lean, Flores has nating a pregnancy,” Flores says quibeen a lifer. Have guitar, will travel. etly. “In less than 24 hours, my manager Though she’s played onstage at the booked me in to a Planned Parenthood Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Grand [clinic]. She said, ‘We just signed a new Ole Opry, hung out backstage with Bruce major record label. You can’t mess this up.’ Springsteen (he came out to watch her
Rosie on Working Girl’s Guitar
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Rosie Flores is a serious gear nerd. Given the chance, she’ll talk your ear off about the intricacies of amplifier wiring, effects pedals (one of her favorites is called the Sex Drive), gauges of guitar strings and other esoterica. She owns, at any one time, about 10 guitars, but her current go-to axe is the custommade Deluxe Steel Topcaster featured on the cover of her latest album, Working Girl’s Guitar. The guitar was crafted by James Trussart, who has built guitars for rock royalty, including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards. “It’s built on a Fender Telecaster body,” Flores says. “The first guitar James built for me was all metal, and it was too heavy, so he built me another one with a metal top and a wooden back. It’s got the Telecaster body, and the insides are wired like a Tele. It has a Gretsch front pickup, and the back pickup is by Arcane. We painted it turquoise and put the red star on it. “I used to have a different pick guard with roses on it, but we switched it out for a metal one.” (As she told another writer, “It looks like a tank. This guitar looks like it’s ready for battle.”) “I’ve got rhinestones set in the top of the neck,” she says. “It’s a unique thing. I have them on all my guitars. I’ve got them set at A, A-sharp, B and two at C. Nobody can see them but me, and when the stage lights hit, they really sparkle. “In some ways, all my guitars, even the ones I’ve sold or pawned, are all working girl’s guitars.”
Rosie on Some of the Songs That Mean the Most “The next day, I was kind of in shock about what happened and I was trying to deal with it. Ten years later, it hit me really, really hard. It changed my mind about right-to-life situations. It taught me that nobody should ever get an abortion without some serious psychological counseling and therapeutic work. At least talk about it so you know what you’re doing 100 percent. “I regret it now. I regret it so badly. There was one day when I was driving by the exit to the clinic and I looked over to the right and saw the empty passenger seat, and it just got me.” Flores has never married, although she certainly doesn’t rule it out. When she’s not practicing guitar, writing songs or prepping for the next tour, she decompresses by painting, an avocation she’s pursued ever since she was a teenager ginning out portraits of Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones. She’d love to have a gallery show in the next year or so. “When I moved to Austin, I started making Saturdays my painting day,” she says. “It puts me in a really happy mood, up there with my jazz singing. It’s so different and creative and fresh, almost like a falling-in-love kind of feeling.” Whoa, back up. Did she say jazz singing? Why, yes, she did. In her seventh decade, Flores is exploring the Great American Songbook and performing with a group she calls the Blue Moon Jazz Quartet. “I always said, ‘When I grow up, I want to be a jazz singer,’ ” she says. “I loved the early songs by Nat King Cole and Sinatra, Peggy Lee and Johnny Mathis. That’s what I used to start singing. Dad would sit the tape recorder on the kitchen table when I was 6 or 7, and we’d sing songs out of the Hit Parade.” These days, Flores is exploring jazz at the Elephant Room and the Driskill Hotel. It’s not totally unfamiliar territory; she’s already cut Billie Holiday’s Don’t Know If I’m Comin’ Or Goin’ on her 2001 Speed of Sound album. “I can mix jazz with rockabilly,” she explains, “because everything swings.” “Rockabilly in its true form is like jazz playing,” Escovedo notes. “You basically have to be a swing guitarist to play good rockabilly.” In the meantime, the road is still the road. The week after we spoke, Flores was off to play the Friday night honky-tonk blues at the Luckenbach Dancehall. The next night, she was doing a solo acoustic set at Strange Brew back in Austin and a midnight band show the same day at The “I think I would have been a great mom." White Horse. The next day, she flew out to San Diego and LA for gigs. Then on to Houston, back to the Elephant Room for a jazz show and, later on in the summer, off to Spain for a rockabilly festival in Barcelona. And back home, then off once again. Repeat as necessary for 47 years. She thinks, maybe, if she hadn’t done this, she might have made a great teacher. She’s probably right. “I think I would have been a great mom,” she says. And she’s probably right about that too. She’s always tried to mentor young girls who want to tackle the intricacies of music. For now, Austin is home, although, like a lot of people, especially artists, she worries that the rising cost of living in the city will make her a gypsy once again. If that happens, maybe she’ll try the desert. The irrepressibility that Vonne noted is always bubbling up. “Something could take off. You never know!” she exclaims. “Maybe I’ll find the perfect gentleman and get married. I’m open to whatever the cosmos wants to hand me. I may turn in to the little bohemian artist living in the desert with two really long white braids, like Georgia O’Keeffe, painting and writing. Maybe someday I’ll be the jazz singer with the white hair with a red rose in it.”
Rosie Flores’ output throughout the years has been remarkably consistent. You can pick almost any album from any period of her career and be sure of a finely crafted product. Her Warner Bros. debut, 1987’s Rosie Flores (reissued with extra tracks as A Honky-Tonk Reprise by Rounder in 1996) is a fine introduction. 1995’s Rockabilly Filly is her shout-out to the fusion of blues and country that gave birth to rock ’n’ roll, and 1999’s Dancehall Dreams was recorded live for a hometown San Antonio crowd with a killer band. Here, Flores talks about a few of the songs that have especially resonated from those discs. Working Girl’s Guitar (from Working Girl’s Guitar, 2012): “I had to sell another guitar to a friend who’s also a songwriter because I was really hurting for rent. He saw it and said, ‘Look at all the scars and marks. This is a working girl’s guitar.’ The next day, he called me and said, ‘Rosie, your guitar still misses you, and it wrote you a song.’ He played Working Girl’s Guitar for me, and I loved it.” Bandera Highway (from Bandera Highway, 2004): “This is
the most requested song I have in my show. It makes people cry. I started it when I came home to visit family in San Antonio when I was 16. I wanted to visit my old neighborhood and my father gave me directions and said, ‘Take the Bandera Highway,’ Highway 16. I think it takes people back to their own childhood memories.” Honky-Tonk Moon (from Once More With Feeling, 1993):
“I wrote this with Pat Gallagher. I had the title and told him, ‘I want it to be about Texas and drinking Lone Star Beer.’ I wanted a honky-tonk song! Country music was taking a turn towards Garth Brooks stadium rock, and I wanted to identify more with Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. It’s my way of saying, ‘Let’s pull it back this way.’ ” Christmas on West Mistletoe (from Christmasville, 2005): “I really did grow up on a street called West Mistletoe in San Antonio. It’s about my being a child, and the cousins coming over and eating barbecue and my brother playing a guitar. It’s what it was like being a kid at Christmastime.” We’ll Survive and Who’s Gonna Fix It Now (from
Dancehall Dreams, 1999): “These are both about losing my father and carrying on. Things happen to you in life, but you can draw a lot of strength from the people around you. Fix It came from cleaning out the garage, and we found all these jars of screws and stuff with notes that said, ‘To fix the bathroom sink,’ ‘To fix the shower door.’ And we didn’t know how to make any of it work. It helped me move through the loss of my father.”
Keep Up With Rosie June 13 The White Horse, 10 p.m. June 19 Blue Moon Jazz Quartet at the Driskill Hotel, 8 to 10 p.m. June 26 The Elephant Room, 6 to 8 p.m. June 27 Hyatt Lost Pines, 5 to 7 p.m. June 28 Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. rosieflores.com austinwomanmagazine.com 65
Shot on location at LAMBERTS DOWNTOWN BARBECUE 401 W. Second St. 512.494.1500 lambertsaustin.com
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Jitterbug Vipers olly By M us an Mc M y
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The jazz quartet that swept the Austin Music Awards and how they’re keeping Austin weird, one viper tune at a time.
The first time I saw the Jitterbug Vipers play was on a sweltering summer evening at Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill. The lead singer had a newborn baby bound to her, protected from sound with headphones. The guitarist had on a white fedora and plastic shades (and even more stylish red Vans to boot) and the longest white beard I had seen. The bass player had her back to the audience, with shockingly electric colors streaked through her short hair. Once I got over the spectacle in front of me, I really started to listen. And what I heard was pure jazz magic, the kind of music that unexpectedly draws people in. Not only was the sound one of a well-oiled machine, the band looked like they couldn’t possibly be having any more fun—despite the 90 degree weather. I had to know, who were these guys?
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During a break, I told
the bass player I liked her rainbow hair. She enthusiastically thanked me and told me I should dye my own locks. When I asked what color, she looked me up and down and without hesitation blurted out, “Fuchsia!” Needless to say, I’ve been a fan of the Jitterbug Vipers ever since. Getting their inspiration from a subgenre of 1930s jazz called “viper music,” the Jitterbug Vipers bring audiences to their feet with the group’s irresistible energy. Playing classic records like When I Get Low I Get High and The Man From Harlem, the group also performs original pieces, such as favorites Viper Moon and That Was Just the Sauce Talking. To clarify, jitterbug is another name for swing dancing and the danceable music of the ’30s and ’40s, while viper is a type of swing music from the same era made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Viper music gets its name from the “ssssst” sound made by a viper snake, and is also onomatopoeic for the sound made by an inhaling pot-smoker. Put the two together and you get the rock ’n’ roll meets jazz tunes—otherwise described as “swingadelic”— of the Jitterbug Vipers. A staple of the Austin music scene, the Jitterbug Vipers consist of guitar guru Slim Richey, sensational songbird Sarah Sharp, boisterous upright bassist Francie Meaux Jeaux and distinctively directive drummer Masumi Jones. Husband-andwife duo Richey and Meaux Jeaux started the band seven years ago with a rotating lineup of instrumentalists and vocalists who have included Kat Edmonson, Emily Gimble and Asleep at the Wheel’s Katie Holmes. However, after finding powerhouses Jones and Sharp, the foursome has been gigging together consistently for more than four years, performing more than 1,000 times. With an album of new original music out (Phoebe’s Dream, 2013), a feature on NPR’s Song Travels with Michael Feinstein, 90 stations playing their music throughout the U.S., and CultureMap Austin naming the band one of Austin’s 10 hot music acts to break big this year, the Jitterbug Vipers—to no surprise—made the list for the 2014 Austin Music Awards. What was surprising, however, was that they placed in the top six in
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12 different categories, taking home a total of four wins, including Best Jazz Band, Best Bass Player, Best Drummer and Best Electric Guitarist. After they were presented with Best Jazz Band from media personality Andy Langer, he turned to the audience and said, “Next time someone tells you that Austin has changed, just take one look at that freak show.” The Jitterbug Vipers encompass what AW’s Generations issue is all about. The four members span five decades in age, the youngest in her 30s, the oldest in his 70s, and don’t plan on settling down anytime soon. Not only are the Vipers contagious as a band, but as individuals as well, keeping Austin weird, one viper tune at a time. Music, shows and more at jitterbugvipers.com.
Sarah Sharp, Vocalist
During the AW photo shoot, it was hard to take the band seriously as they held up their Viper gang signs, poked fun at one another and caused anyone in earshot to join in their laughter. Sultry singer-songwriter Sharp points to love, humor and communication as the key to the band’s success. “Each gig, there might be one different thing that happens with the way we play a song, or one hilarious joke that becomes part of the culture of the band,” Sharp says. “We love each other. People always comment on how it looks like we’re having a great time and we really do enjoy each other.” After studying at Berklee College of Music, Sharp returned to her home state to pursue a solo career and start a family. She was in the
Masumi Jones, Drummer
best vocal shape of her life but it was becoming more and more difficult to manage her solo project with the addition of her second child. The volume of shows began to diminish and she knew something needed to change. “I felt like I was losing my music identity. It was one of those rare journal-in-thecoffee-shop moments: ‘Wouldn’t it be great if I could do gigs with Slim and Francie?’ ” she says. She contacted Richey and served as a sub for more than a year while Holmes served as primary lead singer. When Holmes left, Richey and Meaux Jeaux were quick to ask her to join the group full time. “She has the exact and right attitude,” says Richey, who pointed to Sharp’s confidence as a vocalist serving as a foundational element to who the Vipers have become. “Sarah and Masumi are the first other half of the band that’s really been in to the band as a whole and wanting to promote the band,” Meaux Jeaux says. “That’s fun and a new phase for us, getting the award, touring and having
Born and raised in Japan, Jones has played the drums for 27 years, her first experience performing being in a punk cover band. “I was 14, very liberal. ‘No more nuclear plants!’ ” she shouts, re-enacting her rebellion. “But they didn’t listen to me. That’s why they f***** up.” She tries to hold a straight face but breaks in to laughter. Joining the Jitterbug Vipers more than four years ago, Jones met Richey at a house concert and started jamming with him shortly thereafter. Now, as an integral member of the band, she keeps the group together, serving as its pulse, its lifeline, yet throwing in flair of her own. She has a calming presence onstage and makes her art look effortless as her long black hair swings to her beat. “[Jones] is such an amazing drummer. She’s always there riding along and steering the ship and keeping it all together,” Sharp says. Her career began with her playing big-band music in Japan. Now, she primarily plays jazz. Her other projects include Masumi and the Gentleman (masumijones.com) and Lunch With Masumi (lunchwithmasumi.com), in which she plays live jazz concerts online every Monday at noon. Throughout the month, you can catch her playing with different music projects, including the Vipers, as well as her other group, 35 Millimeters, whose sound she describes as a “lounging 1960 spy movie kind of thing.” “I adore her,” Sharp says. “She’s such a good mom and hard
them so enthused.” “[Sharp] is very functional, great talent, great skill and [a] very warm person too,” Jones says. “I admire how she’s a hard-working mom, woman, musician.” For Phoebe’s Dream, Sharp co-wrote eight of the tracks, songwriting being among the artist’s strengths and passions. Her other music project, Kaliyo, is comprised of Sharp and Andrea Perry, who have played entrancing indie-pop music together since 2010. Their songs have been used in ad campaigns for Chanel, Dell, Macy’s and TV shows such as Revenge and Criminal Minds. For more information, visit kaliyo.com.
worker, and has very little time to herself. But she stays totally upbeat and gets it all done.” It’s no wonder, considering her level of talent and how busy she is with her career, that she won Drummer of the Year. She is one of two women to ever win the award (the first being Terri Lord of the Jitters, who won in 1982 and 1983), and was the only woman nominated in the Drummer category. Beyond that, she’s the first Asian woman to ever win. “It’s a big deal for me. If other Asian girls stand up and play drums, I’m so grateful,” she says. When asked about the glue that holds the Vipers together and if they really are having that much fun onstage, she considers her answer for a moment before responding. “Maybe we are crazy—happy crazy,” she says. “Each of us has problems, but we just love to play together. Don’t try at home! We are professionals.”
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Slim Richey, guitarist
Francie Meaux Jeaux, Bassist
“Ass to the people!” became the quirky motto of the Jitterbug Vipers, thanks to wild child Meaux Jeaux’s unusual style of playing her upright bass. “I face backwards. It’s to keep my concentration. I have to really concentrate or I just go off in space,” Meaux Jeaux explains, laughing. But what does “ass to the people” really mean? “One time during a break, Masumi says to Sarah, ‘Meaux Jeaux, she’s always so ass to the people. Why is she so ass to the people all the time?’ ‘Yes, that’s it! We’re going to use that!’ It’s fun and it really does help me concentrate,” she affirms. Just another one of the band’s many inside jokes. “I got my style from watching other bass players,” Meaux Jeaux says. “There was one that was in the Jazz Pharaohs. He was the first bass player I saw that was actually having fun. You know, smiling and moving around. Why should you just stand there and look all serious-like? It’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on!” The most surprising aspect of Meaux Jeaux’s music history is that she didn’t learn her instrument until her 30s. “I started playing bass the day after Slim and I married. I took some hallucinogenic substance and he put a big old ugly electric bass in my hands. ‘Yeah! This is what I want to do!’ The deep notes really did speak to me—it’s like a heartbeat,” she says. “Once I got that upright bass, I just fell in love.” Speaking of love, Meaux Jeaux and Richey have married each other 15 times to continue celebrating their union, in ceremonies from Mexico to Italy, from trumpeter Martin Banks officiating on top of Enchanted Rock, to a clothing-optional ceremony in the Medina River during Kerrville Folk Festival. “This couple is so sweet,” Jones says. “They’re like lovebirds.” Sharp adds, “I learn a lot from how they live a life true to music, true to each other.” The support the pair has for one another is a main reason people are so drawn to the Jitterbug Vipers—not only audiences, but musicians who want to be part of their zany tribe. “[Meaux Jeaux] has steered us with the whole Keep Austin Weird thing,” Sharp says. “She’s the punk of the band. Winning Best Bass Player—it has so much do with her personality.” 70 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
Born in 1938 in Atlanta, Texas, Richey is a Lone Star State legend. Jon Dee Graham described Richey as “the plenipotentiary of jazz guitar. Watching his hands to try and understand what he’s doing is like watching a waterfall to try and understand water.” Designated as the group’s “spiritual leader,” Richey has found mentors in Benny Garcia, Tom Wolfe, Herb Ellis, Warren Kessler, Wes Montgomery and Charlie Christian. He has made the Jitterbug Vipers who they are today, giving them identity through their own unique version of viper music. “The body of music we are drawing from is basically from the ’30s. It comes from the Viper culture. We’re talking about Bing Crosby to Benny Goodman. All those guys wrote a lot of songs about what they were doing. … What they were doing was smoking weed,” he says matter-of-factly. The Best Electric Guitarist started in the Austin music scene by playing the Elephant Room with the Jazz Pharaohs. Since then, the man can be found gigging multiple times throughout the week, never one to slow down. “[Richey] can’t say no to a gig. It’s the reason we do play all the time. It’s who we are,” Sharp says. “He lives for it. It keeps him vivacious and in good health.” In 2012, after loading out from the Vipers’ second gig of the evening, Richey was hit by a Cadillac Escalade, leaving the guitarist unconscious in the road. He had a bad concussion, dental damages and needed stitches, but surprisingly, walked away from the incident without a broken bone. Richey was cracking jokes just hours after the accident, unfazed. Even more remarkable, he only missed two gigs following the incident. Weeks later, there was a benefit show for Richey. The event poster depicted Richey with his signature fedora and sunglasses with the Superman “S” emblazoned on his chest. The tagline read, “Slim Richey takes a lickin’, keeps on pickin’!” Carolyn Wonderland, Maryanne Price and Ruby Jane came together to play, along with many other musicians, young and old. “He’s influenced a lot of musicians who just want to be part of whatever he’s doing. And they’ve known him since they were hanging out at Kerrville as a child,” says Sharp, mentioning that Richey has played the fest 41 times out of its 42 years of existence. “It’s like an incubation,” Meaux Jeaux explains. “When Kat Edmonson started playing with us, she didn’t know what to do with a mic, she didn’t know what to do between her singing, like when he soloed. She learned all that stuff. That’s kind of what happens. These wonderful singers come and get their chops up and then they move on. It’s great.” “I love Slim,” Jones says. “He’s such a playboy. He’s 76 and still plays so sexy. He always plays perfect.” It’s true. His music is flawless and his style on and off the guitar is lethal, entrancing anyone who gets the pleasure to see a master at his work.
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It’s Not Your Grandmother’s
Work.
By Julie Tereshchuk
Photos by Elizabeth Shear
Lessons from the coalface on how to love your job, your life and yourself.
It’s not sexy. It’s not the stuff Hollywood moviemakers or TV’s soft-focus retirement planning ads aim to fill our heads with. Yet, it is something that three of Austin’s most engaging and vibrant women just can’t get enough of. That’s right—work. These 60-something Austinites have found what so many people are search-
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ing for: what they want to do with their lives. They’ve been doing it for a long time and yet, it never gets stale. Quite the contrary; they continue to be energized, to have big dreams and to want to fight new battles. They’ve also learned many lessons, and are ready to impart that wisdom to the rest of us. Our trio is part of a head-turning
national trend. The average U.S. retirement age is 61, and rising, according to Gallup’s 2013 Economy and Personal Finance survey. Sure, there are many economic factors involved, but this trend also reflects changing attitudes about the value of work. Considering how much time we spend at work, this is one of the most important trends of the last 25 years.
Pat Clubb
As vice president of university operations at the University of Texas at Austin, Pat Clubb oversees a team of 1,800 people. A West Texas native who received her undergraduate degree from Texas Tech before heading to UT Austin for an MBA and Ph.D., Clubb took over her current role in 2000. Today, while working on the $334 million Dell Medical School project, the energetic Clubb is also excited about a new engineering building, along with Rowling Hall, the new 458,000-square-foot graduate business building.
r “There are never enough resources to go around. But in periods when resources are particularly restrained, you have to know how to bring your organization through it successfully so that people feel their job matters and that they’re moving forward.” r “ The MBA I have really helps me because my portfolio is basically about a whole bunch of businesses that deliver service.” r “ Every job is going to have things about it you don’t like. But you have to be committed and feel strongly about the core of what you do. Be excited about what the opportunities and challenges are.” r “ I am energized by finding the solutions to problems. I like to take a situation, pull it apart, figure out what works, what doesn’t work, how it can be improved, what needs to be done and then put it all together and come out the other side with something better.” r “Tenacity is an important word. With what I do, you really can’t give up. If you do, you begin to lose momentum and energy.” r “ My goal has always been, every person you hire, make sure that they’re better than you are. I’ve been very successful at finding committed, hardworking, smart, skilful people. To me, that’s just the logical way to put together a strong team.” r “ Really what I want to see is that the people who are going to live in a new building think that it’s a success. So we just built a student activity center. It is teeming with people practically 24 hours a day. I can see that the building is a success.” r “ I don’t give setbacks a lot of thought. I just move on. I don’t dwell on something that did not turn out just exactly the way I wanted it to.” r “ It is very important to have a working knowledge of the areas you are connected to. In leadership, you have to show people that you know what you’re talking about.” r “ One of the marks of inexperience is to always want to do what you’ve been asked to do. Sometimes you can’t. And you know you can’t. So you’re better off to say that up front. Try not to over promise.” r “ It’s important to work hard. And to do what you said you were going to do.” r “ I handle stress pretty well. I don’t say that as either a positive or a negative. I know a lot of people who don’t handle stress well but are highly successful at what they do.” r “ Now we’re down to wringing that last bit of value out of the dollars that we have. It’s easy to say we’ve done the best we can do. But I don’t believe that. I think we can do better. In terms of leadership, it’s hard to get people to get behind that. They are worn out.” r “ At the center of all this is my total commitment to higher education and to the university. It is exhilarating to be associated with an institution like this. UT is a treasure.”
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r “I went from running a law office to running a medical practice. It was a change of direction, and it was a steep learning curve. The advantage is you don’t know what you don’t know. So you learn as you go.” r “This isn’t a free clinic. We do socially relevant, valuable work, but our patients have to pay a portion of the bill.” r “Working with the people here is inspirational. My partner in crime for all these years has been our chief medical officer, Dr. Louis Appel. He could have gone anywhere in the world to practice medicine. He taught me that health care is about relationships and systems of care.” r “ When I first got here, I did one-on-one 20-minute introductions with everybody. It was the best time I could have spent. These days, we’re bigger, so Dr. Appel and I invite all new employees to lunch. It’s about saying what interests you is important to us too. I believe in relational leadership. It’s not about me dictating. It’s about everybody participating throughout the organization.” r “Access to care is really important and necessary. But it is not sufficient. It is dignity and respect that really makes the difference.” r “I always knew I wanted to make a difference, I didn’t always know how I would make the difference.” r “A mission is about empowering people to lead more successful, productive lives. Here, it’s by helping them to be healthier.” r “It is a compelling time to be in health care. It is very exciting. So I don’t have to worry about being engaged. It’s really more about prioritizing what you can accomplish when there are so many opportunities, so many demands and so many expectations.” r “I have a small carbon footprint. I live five minutes from the clinic, 10 minutes from the river. My daughter and family live nearby.” r “Not every day’s a good day. But I would stop coming if I wasn’t enjoying it. Life’s too short.” r “ When I came here, I committed myself—and I have broken this numerous times—to focusing on the important, not the urgent.” r “You have to be comfortable with the fact that no solution is permanent.” r “If you make a mistake, you accept it, you own it, you admit and you try to fix it. And you move on.” r “If you’re not healthy yourself, that is debilitating and demoralizing, so about the same time I came to work here, I took up rowing. I was 54. I row at 5:45 a.m.” r “I learned from rowing that coaching is a reciprocal arrangement. You have to be willing to accept it.” r “Learn to appreciate small successes. I have an adult child with developmental disabilities. She’s happy. She has a very full life. But her accomplishments are not the same accomplishments of my daughter who is a lawyer and national merit scholar.” r “It’s so easy to look at people whose accomplishments seem so much greater than our own when, in reality, all we can do is strive to be the best version of ourselves we can.” 74 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
Regina Rogoff
Since 2003, Regina Rogoff has been CEO of People’s Community Clinic, an independent nonprofit clinic. A lifelong champion for social justice, Rogoff has degrees from the University of Michigan/Ann Arbor and the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. Prior to joining PCC, Rogoff was executive director of the Legal Aid of Central Texas for 20 years, and a Legal Aid staff attorney for 10 years. With the clinic growing apace, Rogoff is stewarding a $16 million renovation on a larger building, targeted for move-in late 2015. The avid rower is proud that Austin Rowing Club has a boat named for her.
Patty Speier
A former English teacher, Patty Speier was appointed executive director of Seton Cove in 2000, taking over from the visionary founder, Sister Mary Rose McPhee, who died just days before the interview for this article. Since gaining her doctor of ministry degree, Speier also serves as one of the Cove’s spiritual directors. A curriculum expert, Speier is spearheading the launch of a training program with Concordia Business School. She is also preparing for the January launch of the Mystic Heart Wisdom School, a new program that will help mark the interfaith spirituality center’s 20th anniversary.
r “After I graduated from undergraduate school, I went to teach English in North Houston, on the fringes of a farming community. It was 1970, the beginning of courtordered integration. Some white parents would sit in their cars with shotguns watching as the black students were bused in. It was an interesting time.” r “ I love American and English literature, and that’s what set me on the road to seminary. So many novels and short stories are really about the search for the authentic self.” r “ I can’t tell you how many people said to me when I came here, ‘You’ve got awfully big shoes to fill!’ I’d say, ‘I’m not making any attempt to fill those shoes. I’m just going to be who I am.’ ” r “ A spiritual director is a person who sits with another person and helps them go more deeply in to their relationship with this mystery that we call God.” r “ Most of us suffer from a case of mistaken identity. We don’t know who we really are. We think we are our egos and our personalities. They are not bad. They help us navigate the world. It is bad when you become egocentric and think that’s all you are. It is so easy to do that in our competitive culture because everything trains us that way.” r “ There’s a Buddhist teaching story that shows we have untold wealth and energy within us. A prince finds a drunken beggar in a ditch. He slips a priceless jewel into the beggar’s pocket. Ten years later, he sees the same beggar in the ditch. He says, ‘What are you doing here? I gave you a jewel. You could have done anything!’ The beggar replies, ‘What jewel?’ So the prince reaches in the beggar’s pocket and shows it to him.” r “ You don’t change fundamentally. You just wake up more and more to who you are. Some people use the metaphor of an onion peeling off different layers of skin until you find that immortal diamond, the source of all your creativity.” r “ The thing that saves me when setbacks happen is contemplative prayer. It’s sitting meditation. It is still not easy for me, trying to find the time. But if I don’t do it on a regular basis, I don’t have the equanimity to deal with all that comes up.” r “ The guiding force of Seton Cove is hospitality. First and foremost, people need to know they are loved. That is what changes people. Transformation does not come about through fear or telling somebody they are bad. It comes about from trying to help them know that they are loved. And that’s the joy of this place.” r “ What makes a good leader is how well you know yourself. … True self evokes true self.” r “ I love this job, but one of the few times I think about retiring is when I have to deal with social media. I’m sure I’d love Facebook, but right now I don’t see how I can fit in one more thing.”
austinwomanmagazine.com 75
opposite sex /
r e l at i o ns h i p s
Dealing with Monsters-in-Law By Kaneisha Grayson
Answer: It’s unfortunate that your post-wedding bliss is being shadowed by the cloud of contention between you and your mother-in-law. It’s probably even more frustrating that your husband has taken such a seemingly aloof attitude about the situation. Here are some handy scripts you can use to keep the peace with your mother-in-law—or any difficult family member-in-law for that matter— without being a doormat. If she’s giving unsolicited advice: The next time Mommy Dearest rings you up to tell you the “right” way to cook King Ranch casserole or starts doling out financial advice at dinner, let her know kindly but firmly that you and your man have it covered. You can say something like, “That’s something to consider. We’re confident that we can work this out together,” and then change the subject to make it clear that this part of the conversation is done. It’s likely that your mother-inlaw is trying to be helpful and stay “relevant” in her son’s life. By listening to her advice—but not taking it as a mandate—you create the opportunity for her to be social and heard without being the third member of your marriage. If she’s making insulting or hurtful comments: There are only so many backhanded compliments 76 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
one can take without losing it. When she starts to mouth off, you’ll probably want to snatch her wig off. But instead of starting a Bravoworthy brawl, try saying something like this: “I hope you don’t mean to be hurtful, but I feel disrespected and insulted by what you just said.” Sometimes when someone is being a bully, all it takes is being called out to get them to stop their bad behavior. Your mother-inlaw may deny any wrongdoing, but the important part is that you’ve spoken your truth and made it clear you don’t appreciate her “observations.” If she’s asking intrusive questions: If your mother-in-law starts to interrogate you about why you haven’t started popping out grandbabies, you can simply change the subject or give her a vague answer like, “Babies will be here sooner than you know it. Enjoy your calm and quiet Sundays while you can!” If her questions become particularly invasive, you can use my favorite one-liner for these types of situations: “Now, why would you ask something like that?” This line can be delivered in myriad ways—with a light chiding friendliness or a withering disdain. Choose your tone carefully so as not to cause even more conflict and get cast as wifezilla trying to shut your mother-in-law out of your husband’s life. The early years of a marriage involve a lot of figuring each other out on everyone’s part as the members of two families merge. The better you’re able to protect yourself in the light of your mother-in-law’s verbal pinpricks, the more equipped you’ll be to see the positive aspects of the woman
who raised the man you love. It’s not your job to be your mother-in-law’s therapist or punching bag, though, so make sure you establish clear boundaries by speaking up for yourself and letting her know when she’s crossed the line. And in the end, you are not the one who is related to her (except by marriage), so encourage your husband to work on his relationship with his mother, to let her know that your marriage isn’t a threat to their relationship. He is dealing with balancing the two most important women in his life, and a smooth transition from “her son” to “your husband” is also dependent on him.
Kaneisha Grayson is the author of the recently published book Be Your Own Boyfriend: Decide to Be Happy, Unleash Your Sexy, and Change Your Life. She runs MBA & MPP admissions consulting firm The Art of Applying and blogs about life, love and happiness at her blog, kaneisha.com. She lives, plays and eats tacos in her hometown of Austin.
Grayson photo by Nick Paul.
Question: I’m a newlywed just a month back from my honeymoon. To my surprise, my new hubby’s mother has undergone some sort of horrible transformation. While she was never very warm, she was polite and friendly for the most part during the two years we dated and during our one-year engagement. Now that we’re married and we’ve relocated here to Austin, where she and my father-in-law live, she has turned in to a nosy, bossy, meddling nightmare. She’s driving me crazy, and my husband shrugs it off as “just the way she is.” I want to have a loving, healthy relationship with my mother-in-law, but I often find myself at a complete loss for words when she starts to overstep my boundaries.
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opposite sex /
memo from jb
Facebook Family Values Where have all the real life moments gone? By JB Hager, Photo by Rudy Arocha I am going to use my small voice here to make a plea to all of you. Listen closely. Can we all PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE agree to be more honest on social media? The current state of social media is sending us all in to a deep, dark depression. No? Just me? Well maybe your life truly is wonderful, but it’s messing with the rest of us. Summer is upon us and I dread seeing all of those amazing vacation photos from all of the cooler climes—Colorado, the Hamptons, Nantucket, the San Juan Islands, Alaska— while I am here in ATX sweating alongside Fergus, our pet pig.
78 Austin Woman J U N E 2 0 1 4
perfectly groomed or maybe leaving a sweet note for Every time I logon to Facebook, Instagram or Mom that she just had to post. Your new photo galTwitter, it sure seems like everyone’s life is wonlery is labeled “Ahhhh, Italy!” while mine is labeled derful. Everyone is somewhere exotic that I could “Port Aransas, again.” It seems like every day, I see never afford to visit, they are drinking a bottle of some goofball friend of mine about to board a pricollectible high-end wine or their kids are heading vate jet. Is this some sort of practical off to Harvard. As I remove myself joke? Is there a jet in the mall parking from the computer, dig back into My kid just lot just for photos and everyone is my bowl of dry Cheerios, I can’t flipped me off. punking me? If I see one more post help but wonder where I went of you reminding us that it’s the anniwrong in life. I don’t really feel that versary of the day you married your best friend, way, nor do I have any complaints, but that’s the I am going to throw up on my computer. sort of feeling everyone’s social posts can give me. I’m not saying that you can’t share these wonDo you get this same feeling? Everyone’s kids are derful moments with friends, family and strangers alike, but let’s agree to post some real life moments as well. Pictures aside, here are a few suggested posts to get you started. “Well, those jeans don’t fit anymore.” “Yep, that’s six years straight our dog has been pooping on our rug.” “My kid just flipped me off.” “I always selfie with the camera up high because you’ll see how fat my face really is from head on.” “Car just got repo’d.” “PBJ’s for dinner!” “Constipated, so catching up with you here.” When asked by someone, “How is the family?” my little joke response is, “My family is awesome on Facebook!” The truth is not everyone’s life can be so dang perfect day in and out. It’s just not possible. I would imagine that even Queen Elizabeth, if being honest, might post, “More cracks in Buckingham Palace. Off to Home Depot for more spackle.”
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savvy womEn /
You Shou l d K now
Woman’s Way Business Awards AW hosts a ceremony honoring women-owned businesses. By Kelly E. Lindner, Photos by Cheri Thompson Best Service Provider
Best New Company
Winner: Korey Howell Photography Korey Howell Photography focuses on one thing: creating flattering headshots and business portraits. With more than 20 years in the industry, Howell and her team know how to take the pain out of getting pictures taken and make it fun. “I’m so thankful to AW for creating a space that acknowledges women,” Howell says. “And I’m especially thankful to be acknowledged for something I enjoy doing. I see it as sitting down with friends and creating souvenirs of time." Finalist: Bourland Law Firm P.C. is an allfemale firm that provides legal representation in civil lawsuits and appeals to business clients ranging from sole proprietors to national corporations. Finalist: Ame’s Cleaning LLC is a custom cleaning service. Owner Ame Frezza’s motto is: “Leave no surface untouched.”
Winner: Posh Interiors
Presented by:
On April 29, Austin Woman hosted the Woman’s Way Business Awards at FIAT of Austin in celebration of the release of the ninth annual business directory for women, the 2014 AW Media Pink Pages. Refreshments were provided by Austin Cocktails, Cameron Hughes Wine, Delysia Chocolatier, Finn & Porter, Papa’s Pilar Rum and Urban, as 250-plus attendees honored seven inspiring women. And the winners were:
Monique Penner, owner of Posh Interiors, specializes in interior design and home décor. She has worked hard since moving to Austin two years ago to become involved in the community, and has worked with many new clients to provide style and comfort for their homes. “I love making people happy when they walk in after a long, hard day at work to see their new space,” Penner says. Finalist: Retreat Nail Bar, a woman-owned, woman-run and woman-centric nail and waxing salon that strives to pamper clients so they leave happier than when they walked in.
Most Socially Conscious/Best Nonprofit Winner: Susan G. Komen Austin Since 1999, the Austin affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has raised money to provide breast-cancer screening, education and medical services, investing more than $13.9 million in the fight against breast cancer. Each year, 75 percent of the money raised is put to work right here in the counties of Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson to improve the lives of those affected by this deadly disease. “There is a great need in this community to help women that may not be able to get the resources they need,” says Christy Casey-Moore, executive director of Komen Austin. “I am fortunate to work with a team of women that empower each other, which helps us accomplish our mission, but it also lets us know that every time we come in to the office, we’re making a local impact.” Finalist: Girl Scouts of Central Texas. Its daily goal is to provide its nearly 20,000-girl membership with programming that builds their confidence, enriches their character and invokes their courage. These girls are our future, and this organization is compelled to lead for them and always with the collective future in mind.
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Best in Health & Wellness
Best Product
Winner: Infinity Wellness Center
Winner: Second Nature Hair
Infinity Wellness Center provides all-natural health and wellness services while working toward maximal health physically, emotionally and structurally. Dr. Tenesha Wards assists with restoring health, hormones and vitality without the use of drugs or surgery.
Second Nature Hair offers women and children custom vacuum, cranial prostheses, or “long-term” wigs. A vacuum hairpiece allows clients the freedom to engage in both everyday activities and physical activities, such as swimming, playing sports, gymnastics and the like without fear of the hairpiece coming off unannounced. It is a hairpiece and experience that is unmatched worldwide.
“I love what I do because I have the chance to help women empower their own health issues by being a part of their journey instead of covering up or numbing the ailment,” Wards says. “Together, we can uncover the root cause of whatever it is that’s inhibiting them from reaching their Godgiven potential and living their truest life.” Finalist: Bee Well Pediatrics. The physicians at this pediatric practice know that healthy habits start in childhood. They focus on prevention and maintaining wellness through diet, exercise and informed use of complementary and alternative medicine. Finalist: Dr. Lisa M. Jukes provides gynecology for women’s health and care in Austin and Marble Falls. Jukes, her nurse practitioners and the entire staff provide state-of-the-art medical treatment in a compassionate, confidential and comfortable atmosphere.
“I’ve had a hair-loss condition since I was 9 years old, so I know I’m meant to help others just like me feel more comfortable,” says Kim Karacz, owner of Second Nature Hair. “I absolutely love what I do.” Finalist: Art by the Glass Studio. Born on a girls’ night out, Art by the Glass Studio features canvas painting, wine-bottle painting, canvas word art and more while sharing a bottle of wine. Finalist: The PAK Store (PAK LLC) specializes in personal accessory kits and other products created for women by women that aim to be clever, practical, stylish and functional.
Spirit Award Winner: Bourland Law Firm P.C. This all-female firm represents business clients in civil lawsuits and appeals in Austin and throughout Texas. Cindy Bourland, president of Bourland Law Firm, has more than 20 years of experience in business, litigation, trials, appeals, arbitration and mediation. “I love seeing women excel in business and I know that happens with focus,” Bourland says. “That’s why I try and help businesses resolve disputes without litigation so that they can focus on business.”
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ex pert opinion
The Evolution of Independence Understanding grief and the journey of letting go. By Laura Jack, Photo by Rudy Arocha As a first-time parent-to-be, is It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and my it strange that I am scared? No. It mom was out for her normal afternoon walk. is totally normal because my life is As she crossed the street, the light turned going to change dramatically. Congreen and she waved at the cars to thank flicting feelings plus major change them for letting her pass. The young man equals grief. driving closest to her did not see her. As he While this is just the beginning stepped on the gas and ran over my precious, of my parent-child relationship, one healthy, beautiful, 57-year-old mother, the thing is for certain: It will continue world as I knew it changed forever. to evolve just as my relationship Looking back six years later, I now underwith my own parents has and does. stand that we are taught the art of acquiring As I navigate pregnancy, I begin to all of our lives, but we are given very few tools daydream about the child. Without to guide us through the inevitable experiences even knowing it, these dreams and of grief and loss. expectations are often the next of After the tragic death of my mother and the enmany grieving experiences we have suing grief, I decided I was going to do everything as parents, as this child will likely possible to get the light and joy back in my life. not be exactly what I expect him or My life would never be the same but I was deterher to be. mined to find meaning, joy and purpose again. As a child grows, she begins to That determination has led me on a journey of seek independence. This once helpless, dependent healing and self-rediscovery. little person is now beginning to separate. This I have trained as a massage therapist, a holistic is another evolution in the relationship between health coach, a transformational life coach and a parent and child, another opportunity to let go. certified grief-recovery specialist. Where I was As children continue to develop, there are many once just surviving my life, I am now thriving and, changes in the familiar, such as the child moving in many ways, more so than ever before. I’ve had out of the house. This loss event has been labeled the unique opportunity to support many others as empty-nest syndrome and is typically thought through their loss experiences and guide them of as more challenging for the parents. For many, from surviving to thriving. it is the first time Grief is not only about the child leaves the "it is wonderful to know that death and the loss of a loved home. I know that you are not alone, that life is a one, but the constant process my departure from constant process of letting go." of letting go throughout life. home was incred After training at the worldibly hard for my renowned Grief Recovery Institute, I define grief parents, especially my mom. She shared that my as “the conflicting feelings caused by the end of or brother and I had been her focus for more than change in a familiar pattern of behavior.” 20 years, and with us gone, she was uncertain of This March, I found out I was pregnant. While her purpose. part of me is thrilled and can’t wait to bring this Similar to marriage and pregnancy, the experibaby in to the world, another part of me is terrience of the child going away from home to start a fied about how my life is going to change. I also job or school is considered exciting. However, we grieve not having my mother here to support me fail to contemplate that it is a grieving moment during this exciting and scary time. Similar to for the child as well. It can mean leaving the commarriage, when having a baby, we often speak of forts of home, safety, meals, routine and life-long the joys, the excitement and the celebration, but friendships. While much anticipated, it is a major change in the familiar, and therefore, it’s natural we rarely speak of the challenges, the fears and to feel a mixture of emotions. the grief.
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The evolution and separation continues with other major life events like marriage, children, demanding careers and physical separation. As the child grows up and creates his or her own life, the parents are forced to find new meaning in theirs. It is an opportunity for the parents to reconsider their own hopes and dreams. If it hasn’t happened already, this is also a time in which the parent often allows the child to be fully on her own. One of the greatest challenges for families is in the parents’ later years. Whether it’s health problems (physical or mental) or old age, the child often finds herself in the parent role, and typically neither party finds it easy or enjoyable. The child makes decisions for the parents about driving, living alone and other independence matters. Does the parent come and live with the child, or does the parent move in to a retirement community, assisted living center or other supportive environment? These decisions are difficult on multiple levels, but the common theme in the evolution of the relationship between parents and children is independence: losing it, gaining it, fighting it, wanting it, not wanting it, etc. While the natural stages of growth and independence create a sense of loss, there is also traditional grief that comes from death, divorce, illness and moving, among others.
IT’S YOur NIghT OuT With this new perspective about the common loss experiences that generate feelings of grief, what do we do about it? Grief is a reaction to loss of any kind, and as I have outlined, loss can be a wide array of life events. The beauty of grief is that it isn’t all gloomy. There are always opportunities to thrive, even amidst the greatest challenges of life. The No. 1 best way to support yourself on this journey of life is to acknowledge that your feelings are normal. When we allow ourselves to feel, we process much more effectively than when we ignore. Knowing that grief is universal helps us be less judgmental of ourselves and others. We are able to be empathetic when we face the typical challenges that contribute to feelings of grief. The second best way to support yourself is to recognize the growth opportunities involved in grief. Grief is the doorway to transformation. Each challenge we face is a chance to reflect and change our course. One of my favorite philosophies is post-traumatic growth, the idea of transformation through suffering. Five of its major benefits are: 1.) A new appreciation for life. 2.) A changed sense of priorities. 3.) More intimate relationships. 4.) A greater sense of personal strength. 5.) Recognition of new possibilities. For example, when looking at my mom’s tragic death and my intense grief, I recognize that I wouldn’t be who I am today without that experience. While I wish it could be different, I also realize that my life is richer and more meaningful than ever before. The third best way to support yourself is to tell the truth. When we are honest, we are better able to connect with others. While I am certainly thriving in my life, I wouldn’t be telling you the truth if I said that my mom’s physical absence didn’t affect me because it does every day. However, three truths have supported me and many others: 1.) Acknowledging that your feelings are natural. 2.) Being aware of the tremendous growth opportunities that come from life’s greatest challenges. 3.) Telling the truth about yourself, which brings you closer to the people in your life rather than creating more distance. With these guidelines, I am able to love and be more compassionate toward others and myself. The next time you are experiencing a hard moment, take a step back and acknowledge your feelings. While your experience of life is unique, it is wonderful to know that you are not alone, that life is a constant process of letting go. If you are interested in learning more about this topic and want to take action in your grieving process, visit laurajack.com for a weekly blog and monthly newsletter with tips and tools to support you on your journey of life.
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C OMMUNIT Y RESOUR C E
Karyn Scott The founder of Kids in a New Groove fosters trust and friendship through music mentorship. By Rachel Merriman
“Music is a universally human experience,” Scott says. “No matter what country you live in or what language you speak, we all connect through music.” Five years ago, Scott founded Kids in a New Groove, a nonprofit organization that provides music mentorship for children and young adults in foster care. Researchers estimate that between 30 and 80 percent of children in foster care have behavioral or emotional problems, which can result in difficulty finding them permanent homes with foster families. Learning to play music, Scott says, is highly effective in reducing some of these problems. “Music is one of the most powerful tools for reaching kids that have a history of abuse and neglect. It can actually rewire brain patterns,” Scott says. “It works because it’s a nonverbal outlet and a form of creative expression.” Before the energetic Scott founded Kids in a New Groove, she worked as the assistant attorney for the Travis County district attorney. After being transferred to juvenile court, she observed many troubled young adults coming through the system, and noticed that many of them were in foster care.
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“I remember one little girl, I think she was 12 or 13, who told a judge that she had rented an apartment. That really struck me. I wondered, ‘How does a 12-year-old end up in a situation where they have to rent an apartment?’ Those stories really stuck with me. I felt Karyn Scott with the Court Yard Hounds. like these were great kids who just didn’t have any community was just not for me,” Scott affirms. “I wanted to resources,” Scott says. do something that was valuable to the commuResearch indicates that being placed in fosnity, where I could really make a difference.” ter care has long-term effects on children and Kids in a New Groove’s membership swelled teenagers who continue to experience hardships from just five kids in its inaugural year to the 80 after they turn 18 and age out of the foster-care now taking lessons with their music mentors system. According to Foster Care Alumni of each week in Austin, Houston and Dallas. Music America, about 20,000 young adults age out of mentors are experienced teachers who provide the system each year. About 25 percent of them music instruction, friendship and a listening ear end up homeless, and only 2 percent go on to for kids who have lacked stable and healthy adult earn a bachelor’s degree. relationships most of their lives. “They face situations that any normal person “For kids who understandably may not trust would have difficulty facing,” Scott points out. every new person that comes in to their life, mu“They’re ripped from their homes due to abuse sic mentorship is a great way to build trust and or neglect [and] experience this traumatic refriendship. moval from their family. If they have The students behavior problems, they’re moved "I wanted to do something become from home to home. It’s a vicious that was valuable to the friends with cycle of kids not being able to get community, where I could their teachtheir footing and have consistency really make a difference." ers. They in their lives. … We’re trying to build trust them a foundation for these kids and give and look them opportunities that other kids forward to seeing them. We have kids who suphave.” posedly have behavioral problems, who have After a short stint working in the music innever had issues in their lessons with our teachdustry and managing local band Alpha Rev, ers because they trust them and want to do well,” Scott turned her focus back to the foster chilScott says. dren whose stories she remembered years after The Lessons Are the Lifeline program continuleaving her career as an attorney. ally fosters this trust by setting reachable goals for “I enjoyed working with bands, but the comkids, such as earning their very own instrument petitive, cutthroat nature of the music business
Photos by Annika Franco Photography and Daniel Cavazos.
If you play an instrument, you’re likely familiar with the feeling of satisfaction that comes from playing a piece and hitting all the right notes, or the feelings of joy and connection that come from playing music with others. Though Karyn Scott isn’t a musician herself, she understands the powerful nature of music.
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Patricia Greene will talk about opportunity and entrepreneurship at the next Texas Women in Business luncheon. The national academic director for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative at Babson College, she is also on the national advisory board for the SBA’s Small Business Development Centers.
Topics of discussion: § What a life of opportunity looks like. § How to look for and evaluate opportunities. § What type of resources you need to create value in your life. § How to know what kind of value you want to create in your life.
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C OMMUNIT Y RESOUR C E through a rewards system. Ownership of their own instrument allows kids to think of themselves as a singular person with a special skill, rather than just one of many children in the system. “When some of our kids who live in group homes leave the home, sometimes their only possession besides their clothing is their guitar or their keyboard. There’s a reidentification process where a kid goes from identifying as a child in foster care to identifying as a musician,” Scott says. Scott helps along the re-identification process by funding studio time for anyone who wants to record their album, and sending kids to concerts so they can see professional musicians perform live. Scott beams with pride when she hands me a rap CD made by an 11-year-old boy in the program. “He could probably get a record deal!” she says excitedly. Since kids in foster care throughout the United States need help, Scott’s next step is to explore ways she can grow Kids in a New Groove to a national scale. One idea is to provide crowd-funded virtual music lessons via a website that acts as a hub, connecting music mentors with foster kids throughout the United States. “There are roughly 500,000 youth in foster care in the U.S., and we would love to take this program to all those kids. That’s our eventual goal,” Scott says. Learn more about Kids in a New Groove at kidsinanewgroove.org.
Get Involved With Kids in a New Groove 3V olunteer as a music mentor. If you have experience teaching music to children, Kids in a New Groove could use your help. 3S ign up to be a practice buddy. If you’re a musician but don’t have teaching experience, you can still help kids by leading them in a fun jam session. olunteer at Kids in a New Groove’s annual Music 3V for the Soul event, which is the organization’s primary fundraising event. 3 Attend Music for the Soul 2015. You’ll enjoy dinner, an auction and amazing live music. Past acts include Blues Traveler, Michael Franti and The Court Yard Hounds. 3 D onate. All donations go directly toward providing students with music lessons and instruments. kidsinanewgroove.org/donate Get Involved With Other Local Organizations: 3 C ASA of Travis County provides court-appointed special advocates for foster children. Advocates spend about 15 to 20 hours per month advocating for children for at least one year. casatravis.org/volunteer ustin Children’s Shelter provides an emergency 3A shelter for children from birth to age 18, and several community-based programs that benefit children and families. austinchildrenshelter.org 3L ifeworks provides several community services, including counseling and psychiatric services to youth, as well as a transitional living program. lifeworksaustin.org 3 H elping Hand Home for Children provides safe housing for children who have suffered abuse and neglect, and helps to place them in foster homes. Volunteers can help with homework, read bedtime stories and assist with special trips or activities. helpinghandhome.org
Foster Care Facts by the Numbers 35 00,000: Estimated number of children in the U.S. foster-care system. 3 26,000: Children and youth in foster care in Texas. 32 0,000: Young adults who age out of the fostercare system each year. 35 4: Percentage of foster youth who complete high school. 3 2 8: Average number of months a child is in the foster-care system. 32 5: Percentage of foster youth who are homeless after aging out of the system. 3 1 0: The average age of a child in foster care.
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The Beauty of Age Individual, unique and exclusive to each of us. Fifteen, 18, 21, 30, 40: These are the milestone birthdays I’ve had, the ones that are supposed to mean a little more, be worth an extra-special celebration. And yet, when my parents offered me a choice between $300 and the time-honored, traditional quinceañera to celebrate my 15th birthday, I took the cash before they finished saying the word “quinceañera.” And so began my lifelong disconnect between how old I am and my age. Don’t get me wrong, I love having birthdays and getting older. I appreciate and celebrate each one when they arrive because it sure beats the alternative: not making it to my next birthday. But all my 46th birthday will say about me is that I’ve gotten one year older. It won’t tell you anything about my age. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that the adage “age is just a number,” while technically true, is also false. I’ve decided that age has nothing to do with numbers. So I’ve come up with my own adage: Age is numberless. Not as catchy as the original and you probably won’t see it on a greeting card, but it makes perfect sense to me. I’ve lived long enough to know that age can’t be quantified because age is not universal. The number that tells the world how old I am, that is universal. I share that number with millions of women throughout the world. But my age, that is mine and mine alone. That’s the beauty of age. It’s individual, unique and exclusive to each of us. It’s fluid and transitory, internal and intrinsic. It’s elemental to who we are. Age is forged and colored by our backgrounds, beliefs, cultural influences, hardships, exultations and life circumstances. It’s these experiences that de-
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fine who we are, that give our age meaning. Age has an essence. That’s why age is immeasurable; it’s impossible to measure the essence of an individual’s life. That’s why I’ve come to see that how old I am has nothing to do with my age. If you ask me how old I was when some event happened, it takes me 30 seconds and a few fingers to figure it out. I can’t intuitively tell you that in 1995, I turned 28, no…27. But ask me how I felt when my nephews were born or my grandmother passed away, when I landed in Africa or the first time my nieces called me “Tia,” and I can immediately relive those instances. It’s these and countless other moments that make me love my age. I’ve decided that as I get older, I don’t want to age gracefully. I want to age happily, continuing to accumulate experiences, moments good and bad, adventures and wisdom that will make my age boundless. And for the record, it’s definitely true that with age comes wisdom. For example, now that I know how much money my parents saved when I opted for the cash instead of the quinceañera, I wish I’d held out for at least $500.
—Martha L. Rivera September’s Last Word topic will be “Living Your Dream.” To be considered, email a 500-word submission by Aug. 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com. Illustration by Sarah Quatrano.