June 2012 Austin Woman by Austin Woman Magazine

C h r i s t op h er W. Brennig, M.D. CerTIfIeD: The American Board of General Surgery SuB-SPeCIAlTy CerTIfIeD: The American Board of Vascular Surgery

Va r i c o s e V e i n s Spider Veins

Austin Vein Institute

L a se r t h e r a p y

state-of-the-art varicose vein treatment

Sclerotherapy

512.346.2727

7000 N. Mopac Ste. 320 Austin, TX 78731

Dr. Brennig is Board Certified in Vascular Surgery and in General Surgery. He is recognized for his expertise in the minimally invasive treatment of varicose veins, spider veins, recurrent varicose veins, and complex venous disorders including DVT. Please call the Austin Vein Institute to schedule a comprehensive consultation.

V e i n A u s t i n . c o m

hot

Be as as our summers Embrace and love your body, it is the most amazing thing you will ever own. APSI Skin Care Clinic is pleased to announce Jo Ong has joined our team. Jo has held her aesthetic license since 2001 and has received additional training with certification in advanced medical aesthetics along with numerous laser and cosmetic procedures. Call and book your appointment with Jo and receive a 20% discount on all services during the month of June. CALL US TODAY TO VISIT WITH ONE OF OUR BOARD CERTIFIED DOCTORS

D r. R o b e r t C l e m e n t D r. L a u r e n C r a w f o r d D r. W i l l i a m G o r m a n

D r. S c o t t H a y d o n D r. R i c k Pa r k e r D r. F r e d W i l d e r

B OA R D C E RT I F I E D B Y T H E A M E R I CA N B OA R D O F P L A S T I C S U R G E RY

512.327.3773 | AUSTINPSI.COM

We found it at Seton Medical Center Austin. Our kids keep us on our toes. They’re full of surprises, so when it came to delivering the newest member of our family we needed a place that’s ready for anything. The maternity teams at Seton Medical Center Austin have been committed to delivering healthy, happy babies for more than 35 years, so we imagine they’ve seen it all. Seton Austin handles the unexpected as well as we do. That’s the kind of care we were looking for. To learn more about the maternity services available at Seton Austin, please visit SetonBabyTalk.com/smcaustin

Planning to Buy, Sell or Lease a Home?

It pays to work with a REALTOR

A REALTOR® knows the facts about whether it’s a good time to buy, sell or lease. Members of the Austin Board of REALTORS® can assess the value of homes, negotiate pricing and help navigate financing options. REALTORS® are your advantage in real estate transactions.

To find the right home or REALTOR® visit AustinHomeSearch.com

B R O U G H T T O Y O U B Y T H E A U S T I N B O A R D O F R E A LT O R S ®

Prices and availability are subject to change without notice. All furnishings, accessories and nonstandard items are excluded unless otherwise noted. is preliminary in nature; changes may be m Marketing by Post Preferred Information provided through the marketingand materials, marketing center, sales agents, or models s and availability are subject to Homes change–without notice. All furnishings, accessories nonstandard items are excluded unless otherwise noted. unit bePreferred built. FourHomes Seasons Residences Austin is not owned, developed or materials, sold by Four Seasons center, Hotels Limited or its afﬁliates (Four Seasons). The developer, Post Preferred H eting by will Post – Information provided through the marketing marketing sales agents, or models is preliminary in nature; changes may be ma RESORTS," any combination thereofAustin and the Treeowned, Design developed are registered trademarks Four Seasons Limited Canada (Four and U.S.A. and ofThe Four Seasons Hotels (Barbados) will be built. Four Seasons Residences is not or sold by FourofSeasons HotelsHotels Limited or itsin afﬁliates Seasons). developer, Post Preferred HoL Four Seasons Hotel Austin areand charged on an a la carte basis. Refertrademarks to the Condominium Information Statement for further information. ORTS," any combination thereof the Tree Design are registered of Four Seasons Hotels Limited (CIS) in Canada and U.S.A. and of Four Seasons Hotels (Barbados) Lt Seasons Hotel Austin are charged on an a la carte basis. Refer to the Condominium Information Statement (CIS) for further information.

Welcomehome hometotoFour Four Seasons Residences Austin. Welcome Seasons Residences Austin. Privateresidences residencesremaining remaining from $500s to $3m plus. Private from thethe $500s to $3m plus.

made to our project, including but not limited to the designs, floor plans, residence sizes, services, amenities, and pricing. No guarantee is made that the project or the condominium Homes Ardent Residential, Seasons and tradenames undersizes, a license from amenities, Four Seasons Limited. The marks SEASONS HOTELS AND ade to &our project, includinguses butthe notFour limited to thetrademarks designs, floor plans, residence services, andHotels pricing. No guarantee is "FOUR made that the project or the condomin Ltd. Neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy in any jurisdiction where registration have not been fulfilled. where prohibited by law. *Services HOTELS providedAND by omes & Ardent Residential, uses the Four Seasons trademarks and tradenames under requirements a license from Four Seasons Hotels Void Limited. The marks "FOUR SEASONS

td. Neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy in any jurisdiction where registration requirements have not been fulﬁlled. Void where prohibited by law. *Services provided

Deirdre❦Rhoad, M.D. Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery Member American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Rhoad to Beauty Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ❦ Skin Botox

Dysport ® Restylane ® Perlane ® Juvederm ® Radiesse ® Fat Grafting - Renuvia™ Scar Revision PhotoFacial ® Vein Treatment Hair Removal Microdermabrasion Jessner, Glycolic, & VIPeels Facial - Customized for your needs

kin Care P r o d u c t s ❦ SObagi ®

SkinCeuticals ® Latisse ® Revitalash

❦ Breast Breast Implants*

Breast Lift Breast Reduction*

❦ Body Tummy Tuck*

Gentle Water-Assisted Liposuction Mommy Makeovers*

❦ Face Facelift

Necklift Eyelift Browlift* Otoplasty (ear pinning) Rhinoplasty* Cheek and Chin Implants Lip Lift and Enhancement Earlobe Repair and Reduction Liposuction Fat Grafting Facial Fillers

Not an actual patient

Most procedures can be performed with local anesthesia. These require general anesthesia*

(512) 476-9149

d a o h R . r D Ask Q: What is the difference between Botox or Dysport and facial fillers? A: Botox and Dysport relax creases, for example, lines on the forehead, around the eyes or mouth can be treated. Fillers, such as Perlane, Restylane, and Juvederm restore volume. Areas most often treated are around the mouth, the cheeks and chin.

w w w . R h o a d t o B e a u t y .c o m

The Rhoad Crew

Tell the world

YOUR STORY

Sterling silver charms from $25

BARTON CREEK SQUARE • Level 2 512.330.0070 PANDORATOWSON.COM

The all-new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

bmwofaustin.com 512-343-3500

6 + 4. PERFECT 10.

What happens when you put four doors on the iconic BMW 6 Series? The all-new 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. A stunning, luxurious BMW with uncommon performance. We haven’t improved an icon; we’ve created an entirely new one. We only make one thing. The Ultimate Driving Machine.®

THE ALL-NEW GRAN COUPE. THE FIRST-EVER 4-DOOR 6 SERIES.

bmwofaustin.com BMW of Austin

1Whichever

7011 McNeil Drive

Austin, TX 78729

512-343-3500

Contents

Photo by Cody Hamilton.

J UNE

On the Cover

66 Ruth pennebaker Aging with wit, wisdom, humor, love and a bit of luck. By Spike Gillespie / Photographs by Cody Hamilton.

Features

tenth your 76 72 finding anniversary inner calling For three women, doing what you love has no expiration date. By Molly McManus.

Exclusive updates from former cover woman Ruthie Foster. By Deborah Hamilton-Lynne. austinwomanmagazine.com 13

Contents June

Spa Day Poolside pampering for daytime guests.

on the scene

travel

24 5 things you must do this month

56 close-in getaway Family destinations on

26 spotlight event Austin Pond Tour. 28 philanthropy Women of the Year Awards. 30 Around town Party photos from

a tank of gas.

60 all-ages getaway The Hyatt Hill Country provides the perfect escape for the extended family.

88 all the right questions Caring for your aging parents.

90 Transitional living Housing choices for an active lifestyle.

92 entrepreneurial life Life’s Next Step helps seniors downsize.

94 personal best A reality check for every

Austin’s top events.

62 romantic escape Close destinations with an

36 Horoscopes Happy birthday, Gemini.

exotic appeal.

generation.

opposite sex

96 last word Growing old gracefully.

must list 38 editor picks

78 simply irresistible Anthony Ogidi.

40 current chic Summer looks for every age.

80 Relationships Establishing limits without

44 accessories Stylish summer shades.

losing yourself in the process.

82 memo from JB The allure of Fifty Shades of Grey.

on the cover

52 fitness Tips for aging fit.

savvy women

Photo by Cody Hamilton.

54 wellness Treating older patients with

86 you should know Sustainable travel and

to your health special care.

14 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

“voluntourism.”

Makeup by Lauren Lumsden, Rae Cosmetics, raecosmetics.com. Shot on location at the Four Seasons Residences.

austinwomanmagazine.com 15

TIRED OF YOUR GLASSES?

Westlake Eye Specialists can help. · · · · · ·

PRELEX--Presbyopic Lens Exchange Glaucoma Surgery/Management Cataract Surgery Allergy/Dry Eye Treatment Diabetic Eye Examinations Comprehensive Eye Examinations

Zarmeena Vendal, M.D.

Ximena de Sabra, M.D.

FOUR REVOLUTIONARY NEW WAYS TO POTENTIALLY LEAVE YOUR GLASSES BEHIND. RESTOR | TECNIS MULTIFOCAL | TORIC ACRYSOF | CRYSTALENS HD

WestlakeEyeSpecialists The Art of Eye Surgery

5656 BEE CAVE ROAD, SUITE F-200 | AUSTIN, TX 78746

512.472.4011 | westlakeeyes.com 16 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

AWMedia

aw AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE

Volume 10, issue 10 Co-Founder and Publisher

Melinda Maine Garvey vice president and Co-Publisher

Christopher Garvey Co-Founder

Samantha Stevens Executive Editor

Deborah Hamilton-Lynne

Legally Intoxicating

Art Director

Victoria Millner ad designer

Jennifer Day art assistant

Mandy Bernal marketing and operations director

Dustin Woodhead marketing and operations associate

Sadie Barton lead Account Executive

Katie Lesnick Account Executives

Arielle Levy, Kimberly Sanderson, Charmie Stryker, 512.328.2421 associate editor

Molly McManus contributing editor

LOCATION BY: 2nd Bar CLOTHING BY: Girl Next Door

Julie Tereshchuk copy editor

Chantal Rice Contributors

Rudy Arocha, Nicole Carbon, Jill Case, Erika Cerda, Mary Anne Connolly, Jane Field, Michelle Fitzgerald, Spike Gillespie, JB Hager, Cody Hamilton, Christine Imperatore, Chrissie Jarrell, Molly Keith, Caleb Kerr, Eric Leech, Deborah Mastelotto, Molly McManus, Rachel Merriman, Sarah Quatrano, Shelley Seale, Terri Schexnayder, Irene Strait, Erica Todd, Darline Turner-Lee, Natalie Yerkovich

2900 W. ANDERSON LN.

512.452.6491

BENOLDS.COM

Interns

Hillary Broussard, Ayanna Estelle, Jane Field, Christine Imperatore, Mari Jamaleldine, Molly Keith, Brian Meller, Rachel Merriman, Erica Todd, Ashley Valenzuela Favorite spot out of copies?

512.328.2421 â&#x20AC;˘ 1213 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756 austinwomanmagazine.com

Austin Woman Magazine 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, contact ideas@austinwomanmagazine.com. No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission. For copies of articles, call 512.328.2421. austinwomanmagazine.com 17

From the Editor

Excellence in men’s health imaging. Austin Radiological Association is committed to bringing you the whole spectrum of men’s medical imaging. And we have the advanced technology and expertise to ensure you get the best possible care. ARA offers complete services to help you and your doctor, including: prostate and testicular imaging, cardiac imaging, bone density exams, screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm and EVLT for varicose veins. With 15 locations, it’s easy to find ARA medical imaging services near you.

you will grow old. Resist it as we may, from the day we are born, we are headed in that direction and no amount of cosmetics or Botox or other procedures can stop the natural progression of the circle of life. While I agree with Bette Davis, who famously quipped, “Old age is no place for sissies,” I also agree with Eleanor Roosevelt, who said, “Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.” I have a philosophy of life that caters to my inordinate sense of curiosity, so I honor the wisdom that comes from experience and from listening to people of all generations, but especially to older people and to the very young. I am a member of the sandwich generation. My parents are both still living and are beginning to experience life’s inevitable slow down. My children are grown and beginning their independent lives as young adults, and I am stuck in the middle, trying to be empathetic and compassionate, help when I can and pass along my life lessons on both sides. I still have a lot to learn. When we were planning this issue, an old Frank Sinatra song that was recently recorded by Queen Latifah kept running through my head: “Before my number’s up, I’m gonna fill my cup. I’m gonna live, live, live until I die.” There is much to consider for those of us who want to live until we die. While we cannot choose the time nor manner of our departure, we can choose how we live. Two women who certainly embrace life fully came together for our cover feature. Spike Gillespie sat down with Ruth Pennebaker to get the scoop on aging and the facts of life from Austin’s favorite Geezer Sister. Associate Editor Molly McManus met three women who chose to heed their callings, remaining passionate about giving back and lifelong learning. Austin Woman’s 2011 entrepreneurial grant winner, Linda Carter, told us how she turned a life lesson involving her aging mother’s needs in to a thriving business. We looked at new housing options for the 55-plus community, as well as explored questions for caregivers, thoughts on how we age, staying fit and the medical professionals that keep us healthy. One of the great benefits of growing older is taking time for reflection, making wonderful memories and spending time with loved ones. With that in mind, in this issue, we feature close-in vacation spots and romantic vineyard escapes guaranteed to make the memory books. We also looked at in-town spa retreats where you can get the benefits of three of Austin’s finest hotels without checking in, and soak up some relaxation and reflection. As I reflect on life so far, I thank my lucky stars that 20 years ago this summer, I landed in Austin ready to start a new chapter of life. Nine years ago, Liz Carpenter introduced me to Austin Woman, and the journey began that has allowed me to do what I love in the city of my heart. As the song says, “Ain’t going to miss a thing. I’m going to have my fling. Before my number’s up, I’m going to fill my cup. I’m going to live until I die.” Here’s to earning each and every wrinkle and laugh line, and to becoming the wise women we always wanted to be when we grew up, no matter what age you may be.

deborah hamilton-lynne Executive Editor

Schedule nowj uat or 512.453.6100 18 Austin Woman n e ausrad.com 2012

Photo by Korey Howell.

If you are fortunate,

©Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2012

EKTORP sofa

599

LITY - LIMITE D UA

R ANTY AR W

EVERYDA YQ

YEAR

Made by the Armstrongs Designed by IKEA®

The EKTORP sofa is built to handle anything, or anyone, life throws at it. We test it by pressing 220-pound weights against the armrests—not once, not twice, but 5,000 times. We also gave it a free 10-year limited warranty. So it’s not just beautiful, it’s a knockout. EKTORP sofa $599 Cotton, linen, viscose/rayon and polyester removable cover. Imported. Requires assembly. W58⅞×D34⅝×H34⅝". Svanby gray. EKTORP has a 10-year limited warranty. See IKEA store or IKEA-USA.com for details. Valid in US IKEA stores. See IKEA store for country of origin information.

First Texas Honda is moving!

Bur

net

To MoPac at Steck!

Contributors Spike Gillespie is the author of six books and numerous blogs, including spikeg.com, where she provides commentary about life in Austin. She is also a radio commentator and video blogger for Austin’s NPR affiliate, KUT. Her essays and articles have appeared in the New York Times, Real Simple, National Geographic Traveler, Smithsonian and The Washington Post. Known as the Human Facebook, she is less than one degree separated from everyone in Austin, where she lives with her four rowdy rescue dogs, a very noisy cat, a small flock of chickens and her partner. Sarah Quatrano holds a degree in communication design from Washington University in St. Louis, specializing in illustration. She loves freelance illustrating for a variety of magazines throughout the country; it gives her new challenges and opportunities every day. You can find her illustration accompanying the Last Word (p. 96). This month she tackled the subject of growing old gracefully.

Imperatore photo by Kelly Cameron.

Rudy Arocha is a native Texan who moved to Austin eight years ago to pursue his education in fine arts as a sculptor. He later rediscovered his passion for photography when his grandfather gave him a camera as a gift. Rudy specializes in portrait photography with his main focus being musicians and artists. In his free time, Rudy enjoys music, the outdoors and spending time with his longtime girlfriend, Maggie.

Christine Imperatore is a freelance journalist specializing in culture and lifestyle assignments. She completed her undergraduate studies in San Diego but is currently working on her master’s degree at the University of Texas School of Journalism. Originally from Long Island, NY, Christine developed an interest in fashion at a young age. She has translated that love in to writing for Austin Woman’s style pages. She lends her words to the beautiful photos of accessories and style trends featured each month.

It’s the little things in life that are worth TRYING for. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE: • In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) • Ovulation Induction • Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) • da Vinci robot-assisted Tubal Reversals & Myomectomies • Medical & Surgical Treatment of Infertility • Vasectomy Reversals • Male Infertility/Sperm Retrieval • Low Testosterone • Erectile Dysfunction • Peyronie’s Disease

Appointments available at two Austin locations: Westlake Location | 300 Beardsley Ln, Bldg B, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78746 South Location | 4303 James Casey, Suites A & B, Austin, TX 78745

www.austinfertility.com | 512.444.1414

On the Web austinwomanmagazine.com

Inspiration from best of the blogs When Christy Goodman, an Austin director with Stella & Dot, won the right to create and name a piece of jewelry, she decided to pay tribute to her grandmother and her great aunts—a generation of women who left Cuba in 1959, never to return—using their maiden name for the Palomino necklace. Goodman attributes her entrepreneurial spirit and drive to these independent women. “The Palomino necklace represents the strength, courage and tenacity of the women in our family,” Goodman says. Read the full story on austinwomanmagazine.com. Are you a blogger? To be considered for Best of the Blogs, please submit a sample of your best work to submissions@awmediainc.com.

The POWERHOUR workout!

Regardless of your fitness level, you can actively participate in the POWER HOUR workout and burn up to 1000 calories. GET GUARANTEED RESULTS with the POWER HOUR workout!

YOUR FIRST SHOT IS FREE.

CMY

more for seniors and their families b Osher Lifelong Learning Institute for Seniors at UT. b Resource list for families coping with caring for aging parents. summer entertainment b Editor’s picks for the five must-see films from the 37th-annual Paramount Summer Classics Series. b Five great summer beach reads. b Fabulous Fifty and Reflecting It. Review of the latest book from life coach and master motivator Tamara Elizabeth. Plus b Concert and theater reviews. b Complete horoscopes and June calendar. b Tenth-anniversary update featuring Austin Woman’s sixth year. To find these articles, visit the table of contents page at austinwomanmagazine.com.

TITLE Boxing Club 1401 S. Interstate 35 Round Rock, TX 78664 512.351.6524 www.titleboxingclub.com Find us on FaceBook: TITLE Boxing Club Round Rock. First 100 members get FREE TITLE Boxing Club "Starter Kit" and 50% discount on enrollment. "Starter Kit" includes: Gloves, t-shirt, wraps and bag!

This TITLE Boxing Club® is an independently owned and operated franchise of R&R Get Fit LLC. austinwomanmagazine.com 23

on the scene /

5 Things you must do this month

16th-Annual Cool House Tour

For the 16th year in a row, Central Texans have the opportunity to explore a group of residences that are cool in more ways than one. Ten neoteric homes throughout Austin and the surrounding area all exemplify the benefits of going green in diverse ways. For $20, you can check out how each project subscribes to the motto “reduce/reuse/recycle.” Different methods include geothermal heating and cooling, making the most of sunshine and rainwater, and innovative applications of natural materials like straw. To learn more, visit the Cool House Tour section at txses.org.

Blanton B Scene: Sultry Summer Night

10th-Annual Keep Austin Weird Festival and 5K

June 8, Blanton Museum of Art, 6 to 10 p.m.

June 23, The Long Center, festival at 2 p.m., 5K at 7 p.m.

Blanton’s Sultry Summer Night event is sure to be an extravaganza, Latin style. Pick up some new salsa moves and groove to Austin Latin jazz band The Brew. There will also be delicious Latin-themed delights, courtesy of Whole Foods Catering, and delectable cocktails to help keep you cool. You can even create a lasting memory of your night by trying out the photo booth. This month’s B Scene event celebrates Blanton’s upcoming exhibition, The Human Touch. The evening event is $12 for the public and free for members. For more information, visit the B Scene section at blantonmuseum.org.

24 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

Round up your friends and family to celebrate Austin’s weird identity. The festival and 5K caters to everyone. At this iconic event, you can choose to chill out at the festival or partake in the race too. Come dressed in your favorite costume or bring your dog on a leash. Throughout the day, you’ll also have the chance to absorb the cool tunes of an array of different musicians. Cyclists can ride to the festival and make use of the bike valet. By taking part, participants support the Austin Parks Foundation. Attend the festival for $15 (free to kids 12 and younger), or both events for $40 ($12 for kids). To learn more, visit keepaustinweird5k.com.

Compiled by Erica Todd. Top photo by Kimberly Davis Photography. Left photo by Kreutz Photography.

June 3, throughout Pflugerville and Austin, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Barton Springs Full Moon Swim June 4, Barton Springs Pool, 9 p.m. Cool off as the summer heat begins to take hold with a refreshing dip at Barton Springs Pool’s monthly event. What makes this traditional swim especially ideal for summer is that it takes place away from the blaring, hot sun. Every full moon, the pool opens free of charge after 9 p.m. to paddlers of all ages. You can soak up the atmosphere in the welcoming 68-degree water or on the shore. This month, the lunar event is scheduled for June 4, so have your swimsuit ready and get set for a fun-filled evening. For more information, call 512.476.9004.

Eighth-Annual Maudie’s Moonlight Margarita Run June 14, Johnson Creek Trailhead, 8 p.m. Maudie’s Moonlight Margarita Run is another lunar-inspired occasion, perfect for avoiding the heat of the infamous Texan summer sun. The evening 5K is set around our beloved Lady Bird Lake, which also benefits from the event. Participants raise money for the Trail Foundation’s cause, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail surrounding the lake. As organizers explain, “There are plenty of chances to run on the trail, but only one chance to run for it.” Anyone age 21 or older can also join the subsequent gala, which includes Tex-Mex cuisine and delicious margaritas to help cool down. For more information, visit the events section of townlaketrail.org.

spotlight event

Austin pond tour For 18 years, the Austin Pond Tour has been showing off the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most spectacular private gardens. Along with more than 50 other sites, the tour will feature a North Austin garden built to replicate the Texas Hill Country, complete with a model railroad. New additions this year include three gardens open for night viewing. For more information, visit austinpondsociety.org. June 9 and 10 at various locations.

26 â&#x20AC;&#x201A; Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

B For more events, see the complete June calendar at austinwomanmagazine.com.

Photo courtesy of Austin Pond Tour.

on the scene /

philanthropy

Women of the Year Awards Soirée Austin’s YWCA hosts an event to honor five wonderful women. By Molly Keith Look around you. She could be anyone in your community. She’s your mom, your high-school English teacher, a sister, co-worker, mentor or determined businesswoman. She inspires and empowers young and older women alike, and personifies compassion. She’s Austin’s YWCA Woman of the Year, and according to Diana Gorham, executive director of Austin’s YWCA, recognizing her and awarding this honor is no easy task. “These nominations are compelling, and the stories of women in the community are phenomenal,” she says. Gorham is referring to the flood of nominations that YWCA receives every year from the community, urging the nonprofit to consider hard-working women in categories like business, the arts, technology and education. This year alone, YWCA received approximately 40 nominations. Only five of those women were selected to receive the award. Austin’s YWCA, which was incorporated in 1907, has been conducting the award ceremony since 1982. “At times, we’ve done categorical awards and then we’ve only selected one woman in the entire community,” Gorham says. “This year, we’ve finally come back to looking at those nominations that really reflect our mission. Honoring young women is

crucial to YWCA.” That’s why there is a specific category honoring women between the ages of 15 and 20 years, she explains. “The things young women are doing today, even at that age, are awesome,” she says. “We truly, very deliberately take quite a bit of respect to young women. We know the torches will always keep being handed on.” The way the ceremony is held has also evolved. When it was first started, it was a luncheon. Then YWCA experimented with a gala. “Austin is a unique community,” Gorham says. “Does it need another gala? Does it need another luncheon? Today we’re calling it a soirée.” She adds, although it’s not as formal as a gala dinner, cocktail attire is expected, with a hint of a persimmon color. “It’s the YWCA color,” Gorham says, chuckling.

The soirée, taking place June 15, will be composed of a standard auction and buffet where people can “stand in line and meet each other.” Individual tickets for open seating are $65, and prices vary with sponsored tables. All funds go to support Austin’s branch of the YWCA, which focuses on counseling young women in the area, using the relational-cultural model made famous by the feminist and social-justice movement of the 1970s. “We agreed recently that we’re OK if YWCA is not known for throwing the best party in town. We won’t be the biggest even in Austin. But it does have quite a bit of dignity attached to it,” Gorham says. The YWCA Women of the Year Awards Soirée, June 15 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. For more information, visit ywcaaustin.org, or call 512.326.1222.

Austin Woman Sponsored Events Vino y Virtuosos June 7, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Austin Museum of Art Music and wine enthusiasts alike are sure to enjoy the entertainment, refreshments and prizes at this year’s event. Viva Trio will perform to help raise money for Hospice Austin while guests have a chance to win a winecellar starter kit. Sponsorships are available at hospiceaustin.org or by contacting Beth Karotkin at bkarotkin@hospiceaustin.org or 512.342.4791.

28 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

Texas Women in Business: Central Luncheon with Krisstina Wise June 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Shoal Crossing Event Center Texas Women in Business is an organization that strives to promote an environment favorable to the development of all women in business. Krisstina Wise will speak June 15, on “The 5 Star Customer Experience: The next generation of customer service from an innovative entrepreneur.” Come to network, have lunch and enjoy the program. For more information, visit texaswomeninbusiness.org.

MomCom Austin June 23, 9:30 a.m., The Oasis It’s summer camp for moms! A biannual event, MomCom brings together moms of diverse ages, backgrounds and life experiences to support each other and welcome each other in to the mom community. Speakers include women who have built businesses, written books, published successful blogs or contributed to the community. They are “ordinary moms” doing extraordinary work. To register and for more information, visit momcomaustin.com.

Your journey is changing

Upcoming Classes - Central AustinMatter of Balance AGE Building

Tues/Thurs June 5-28

Let us be your guide…

Caregiver U

CaregiverU presents an education program that equips family caregivers with eﬀective tools that make caregiving less stressful, and teaches families how to successfully manage the demands of caregiving.

- South Austin Powerful Tools

-East Austin -

Matter of Balance H.A.N.D. Oﬁfce

WellMed Senior Ctr

Tues/Thurs June 21-July 17

Fridays June 22-July 27

More class locations and dates available online, including North Austin, Bastrop, Hays, Williamson, and more. CaregiverUCenTX.org

For more info, contact Faith Unger: (512) 451-4611 x244 or funger@ageofaustin.org Visit us online at www.CaregiverUCenTX.org Austin Groups for the Elderly

Made possible with generous support of

Gorgeous Millie is a “pre” pre-school for infants and toddlers age 0-3 and their moms or caregivers. Enrolling for summer and fall. admissions@gorgeousmillie.com

Hutto

I-35

183

1431

183A

Cedar Park

Round Rock

TOLL

130 TOLL

TOLL

620

TOLL

183

Pflugerville

/ MO-Pac

Lo op 3

360

Lo o

www.gorgeousmillie.com ••• 512-294-2352 •••

183

130

I-35

290

Ben White Blvd

W. S lau gh

71 te r L

Kyle

183

Hill Country Ride for AIDS. Photo by Scott Van Osdol.

ON THE SCENE / AROUND TOWN

Hill Country Ride for AIDS. Photo by Seabrook Jones.

Mark & Pat Clayton and Stella Rader & Malcolm Belisle at the AHA Heart Ball. Wonders and Worries Wonder Ball.

30 â&#x20AC;&#x201A; Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

Keri Bellacosa, Jenifer Sarver, Julie Tereshchuk and Erica Hess at Banner Brunch.

Franklin Barbecue at the Austin Food & Wine Festival.

Sabrina Powers-Istre, Courtney Sanchez and Kito Taylor at May Tiara Tuesday. Photo by Dewy Brooks.

ON THE SCENE / AROUND TOWN

Meredith Davis, Katie Lesnick, Maura Cahill, Kristin Kessler and Erin Torres at May Tiara Tuesday. Photo by Dewy Brooks.

Gene & Shar Austin and Deb Davis Groves at the Komen Pink Party.

Allison Schickel and Martha Coons at the Komen Pink Party.

Dalton Hale and Andrea Haughton at the LLS Man & Woman of the Year.

32 â&#x20AC;&#x201A; Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

David and Erin Courreges at the LLS Man & Woman of the Year.

09.07.12

TEN TH AN NIV ERS AR Y of

AUS TIN W

OM A N

Austin Woman Magazine proudly presents our tenth and finest year. Join us in celebration at the 2012 Luncheon Gala at the Westin at the Domain. The festivities include exclusive shopping and discounts throughout the Domain, small business grant, inspiration from Austin Woman cover panel, networking and a grand prize drawing. For event details, visit awmediaevents.com.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW Early bird: $70; After August 1: $80; Table of ten (includes signage and premier seating): $800 PRESENTED BY

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

Nominate Your Company and Be Recognized for the

SMALL BUSINESS AWARD 2012 WHAT YOU WIN Cash prize Advertising campaign in Austin Woman magazine for your business Feature article in Austin Woman magazine

ELIGIBILITY An Austin or surrounding area based business At least 50% woman-owned business In business for less than five years

What Past Winners Are Saying... “Austin Woman discovered BlueAvocado, helping our small business to launch our big vision of “cool products for a hot planet” among the brightest women in town. This grant gave us access to premiere AW readers, new retail partners like sponsor HEB and banking partners like Wells Fargo. From the moment we launched at the luncheon we had a network of women cheering us on. Four years later, we have helped keep 70 million disposables out of the landfill, upcycled 875 thousand plastic bottles into products and invested in 150 micro-entreprenurs. Thanks Austin Woman for helping us make an impact.“ - Amy George of BlueAvocado “Having my business featured in AW resulted in many new contacts and opened discussions to grow my business. I believe it single-handedly gave me a jump start with recognition as my most effective and helpful tool I had.” -Cherie Mathews, Founder and CEO of healincomfort.com

Apply today

awmediaevents.com/anniversary

on the scene /

horoscopes

Happy Birthday, Gemini May 22 - June 20 YOU: Many Gemini Texans are famous, but it’s difficult to place a clear face with some famous names, isn’t it? We know who they are and what they do, but what do they look like? That’s the thing about you Geminis: You can change the way you look, or at least how you appear. Your mastery of mimicry and disguise is undisputed; you blend so well with your environment, assuming roles, mentally inhabiting worlds that you allow your personal appearance to fade in to each role you play. Like Angelina Jolie, sometimes you want to be maternal and adopt babies, sometimes you want to be wild and wear a vial of your lover’s blood around your neck, and sometimes you want to plan a big, traditional wedding. And you don’t just look different while you do things; you are different with each role. Gemini is the sign of the twins, and anyone who knows you well knows there is more than one of you. There are more than two of you. You’re smart and verbal, silly and secret, good with children and small animals, and

you are younger than your years. You know more trivia than Wikipedia and you can always be counted on for a good conversation or a good time. THIS MONTH: June is a good birthday month: lots of attention, words and love. You look especially fetching to all you meet for the first time, and that could turn your head—in the wrong direction. This month, true love exists in constancy, the tried and true. Avoid arguments at work and with the opposite sex (especially on the 4th), extreme changes and opportunities that seem too good to be true. This could be a very good money month if you keep doing what you do, but not a good month for gambling, alcohol, drugs or any shady pursuits—your career, social standing and status could be damaged. Remember, if things seem too good to be true, they probably are. —Deborah Mastelotto, deborah@pinkaustin.com For all horoscopes, visit austinwomanmagazine.com.

SYMBOL: The Twins ZODIAC WHEEL ORDER: Third HOUSE RULES: Higher education, childhood, communication, siblings, neighbor matters, short trips ELEMENT: Air QUALITY: Mutable (easily distracted) PLANETARY RULER: Mercury BIRTHSTONEs: Pearl, emerald, alexandrite, agate and ruby KEY CHARACTERISTICS: Versatile, talkative, youthful STRENGTHS: Adaptable, witty, intellectual, lively CHALLENGES: Nervous, superficial, inconsistent, cunning, inquisitive, fickle COLORS: Pale yellow, light blue and light green

Gemini Austinites

June 3

June 5

June 8

June 12

Katie Lesnick Sales Team Leader, AW Media

olga campos benz Public Relations and Media Maven

catherine Robb Lawyer

MariBen ramsey COO, Austin Community Foundation

Jo Anne Christian Philanthropist, Retired Lawyer

Your Kitchen… Your Style

Your furnishings. Our ideas. Your beautiful home.

www.metamorefix.com | 512.288.1689

Services I offer are:

Beautiful perfection with a natural look before

after

Eyeliner Eyebrows Lips/Lip Liner Concealer Areola Re-Pigmentation Blush Eye Shadow Diamond Microdermabrasion Organic Spray Tan Eyelash & Eyebrow Tinting Waxing & Tweezing Eyelash Enhancements And More! • We support • We honor • We fight • We encourage

512.502.0002

Call for details and to schedule your FREE consultation today!

Photography by MonikaKelley.com 512-560-2020

6320 City Park Road | Austin, TX 78730 See “Studio Bella” on YouTube.com

w w w. s t u d i o - b e l l a . c o m “Watch your home or business from anywhere in the world”™

Enjoy a Fabulous Girlfriend Weekend Getaway at the 5th Annual

Save the Date

November 3rd-4th, 2012 at Camp TexLake (off Lake Travis) For sponsorship opportunities, planning committee or more information about S’more Soiree please contact Cathleen Gready at (512) 490-2329 or CathleenG@gsctx.org

FREE ON-SITE QUOTES 2113 Wells Branch Parkway, Suite 6700 512-331-2788 | 1-800-370-2762 | www.dyezz.com Austin • San Antonio • El Paso • Houston • Dallas Setting the Standard in Security.

must list /

editor picks

Must Hear Bonnie Raitt, Slipstream Bonnie Raitt adds to her already impressive discography with her 19th album, Slipstream, released in April. The release of Slipstream coincides with the debut of her new label, Redwing Records. You’ll hear her signature slide guitar come through on the album’s first single, Right Down the Line, and marvel at her cover of Bob Dylan’s Million Miles, featuring steel guitarist Greg Leisz. For tour dates, visit bonnieraitt. com/tour-dates.

Must have

Must READ

Picnic Plus Bailey Picnic Set

Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale

Must celebrate Juneteenth On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in Galveston, TX, to force the emancipation of slaves in the city who were not yet free, despite the fact that Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation nearly two years previous. Juneteenth celebrations commemorate that legendary day, and also serve to celebrate African-American heritage and community. The Juneteenth historical parade kicks off at 10 a.m. at Comal Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. For a full list of Juneteenth celebrations in Austin, visit juneteenthcentraltexas.com.

38 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

Fifth-generation Texan Lynda Rutledge’s debut novel follows the wealthy Faith Bass Darling, a reclusive old woman who hasn’t set foot outside her house for 20 years. At the onset of the millennium, she’s prompted by an otherworldly force to sell all her material possessions at the largest garage sale the small town of Bass, TX, has ever seen. During the next 24 hours, neighbors scramble for her valuable antiques. As the chaos unfolds, deeper themes dealing with love, tragedy and loss become unearthed. Visit lyndarutledge.com to read an excerpt of the book.

Must do Annual Father’s Day Concert in Zilker Park June 17 at 7:30 p.m., Zilker Hillside Theater Spread out your picnic blanket on the hillside and listen to the sweet sounds of the Austin Symphonic Band, a group of volunteer musicians who hold degrees in music or are music educators. The group has served the Austin community since 1981. Even if the only instrument Dad plays is the air guitar, he’ll still love this performance. Admission is free. Visit austinsymphonicband.org for more information.

Top photo by Marina Chavez.

This chic and functional picnic set for two holds drink glasses, f latware, plates, a cutting board, a cheese knife and a corkscrew. The insulated cooler section will keep your bubbly cold while you scout for the perfect spot in the park. $54.99 at dickssportinggoods.com.

B U T L E R

C O M M U N I T Y

S C H O O L

Get Fit for Summer! Enjoy $99 Unlimited Dance and Fitness Classes for 1 month n

Zumba®

Arms & Abs

Ballet

Body Sculpting

Ballet Fit

Jazz Funk

Brazilian Samba

Hip Hop

West African Dance

Videodance™

Turbo Kick®

And More!

Offer expires August 1, 2012

All ages and skill levels welcome. Call 512.476.9051 ~ www.balletaustin.org/community ~ 501 West 3rd Street

must list /

current chic

Style for the Ages Photos by Caleb Kerr Create the perfect mix of muted neutrals and bold color for a slightly more sophisticated style. These sandals supply a pop of color and the colorful tote complements the basic navy hue of the dress.

Let your age be your guide when shopping for some warm weather looks. Show some skin and those young, gorgeous gams in a wildly printed tank and khaki shorts. Bring the look to new heights with a pair of wedges and tie it all together with a fun, cobra clutch.

20s Tibi python tank, $242; Beirn cobra clutch, $335; and Vince shorts, $165. All items available at Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Too, 3801 N. Capital of Texas Highway, suite G, 512.347.9488. Prada heels, $790, available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9722 Great Hills Trail, 512.231.3700.

40 â&#x20AC;&#x201A; Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

30s Parker dress, $195, available at Raven + Fawn, 1605 W. 35th St., suite B, 512.371.8998. Wellfleet striped tote, $85, available at Adelante Boutique, 1206 W. 38th St., 512.452.5322. BC Lifeboat wedges, $85, available at Stella Says Go, 500 N. Lamar Blvd., 512.524.5020.

$39

INTRODUCTORY RATE

FOR 1 HOUR MASSAGE

Father’s Day Packages Available FIND US AT OUR 3 LOCATIONS SOUTH LAMAR (512) 358-9300

38TH STREET (512) 276-2481

BEE CAVES ROAD (512) 306-0900

STYLES OFFERED

Ashiatsu Bar Therapy, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Acupressure, Shiatsu Massage, Reflexology Massage, and Many More!

www.massageharmony.com

BEAUTY & PERFORMANCE

NOW YOU CAN HAVE BOTH

•

1206 W. 38th Street

•

512.320.8732

austinwomanmagazine.com 41

Photo: Lucas Purvis

A perspiration resistant cosmetics line specifically created for Austin’s unique climate and lifestyle.

must list /

current chic

Style for the Ages The plain white tank and neutral shoes give this look a sense of maturity, and the bright floral pattern in the skirt and yellow chain necklace add a warm, summery feel.

40s Kenzie Panne link acrylic chain, $21, available at Adelante Boutique, 1206 W. 38th St., 512.452.5322. Karina Grimaldi chain tank, $110, available at Raven + Fawn, 1605 W. 35th St., suite B, 512.371.8998. Elizabeth and James scuba skirt, $325, available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9722 Great Hills Trail, 512.231.3700. Jeffrey Campbell Darian wedges, $144, available at Stella Says Go, 500 N. Lamar Blvd., 512.524.5020.

42 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

Make a statement by choosing a single bright shade, such as this green dress, and complement the look with neutral accents. These cork platforms and bold ring keep the look age-appropriate.

50+ Greylin Palmer dress, $106, available at Adelante Boutique, 1206 W. 38th St., 512.452.5322. EChalcedony Bora ring, $275, available at Raven + Fawn, 1605 W. 35th St., suite B, 512.371.8998. Bacio 61 Grotto wedges, $156, available at Stella Says Go, 500 N. Lamar Blvd., 512.524.5020.

Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dentistry Our Austin dental practice is devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile using conservative, state-of-the-art dental procedures that will result in beautiful, long lasting smiles!

Lourdes Massa, DDS DMD Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

CEREC速 Sedation Dentistry Dental Implants INVISALIGN

LUMINEERS速 Porcelain Crowns Porcelain Veneers Teeth Whitening

Make an appointment today by calling our Austin dental office @ 512-458-3111. 6500 North Mo Pac Expy. Building II., Suite 2204 Austin, TX 78731 www.austinsmiles.com

WE SPECIALIZE IN WIGS FOR CHEMO & RADIATION PATIENTS.

PARKER SERENITY

Any Wig or Hair Piece Over $200 PLUS a wig care package, including WITH COUPON specialty wig cleanser & deep conditioner, a Exp. 6.30.12 Limit 1 per customer $23 value for free!

OFF

WIG SPA

LARGE ASSORTMENT OF: Hats, Turbans, Scarves, Human Hair Wigs & Hairpieces. Plus The Finest Quality Synthetic Wigs & Toppers.

Mo pa c

512.323.9220

Anders

on Ln.

Burn et

CUS TOM F ITTIN G PROF E S S ION AL S TY L IN G PE RS ON AL APPOIN TM E N TS PRIVATE ROOM S

NORTHWOOD PLAZA

2900 W. Anderson Ln., Ste H O P E N : M-F: 10am-5:30pm | Sa: 10am-4pm

www.PARKERSEREN IT Y WIGSPA .com austinwomanmagazine.com 43

must list /

accessories

Made in the Shade Protect those peepers while soaking up the sun in this year’s hottest eyewear. Photo by Caleb Kerr

[From top] Fendi classic cateye nude frames, $260, available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9722 Great Hills Trail, 512.231.3700. Tory Burch flat cat orange frames, $150, available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9722 Great Hills Trail, 512.231.3700. A.J. Morgan blue aviators, $15, available at Adelante Boutique, 1206 W. 38th St. 512.452.5322. A.J. Morgan pink and white plastic frames, $15, available at Adelante Boutique, 1206 W. 38th St., 512.452.5322. Tom Ford plastic crossover butterfly frames, $425, available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9722 Great Hills Trail, 512.231.3700.

44 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

“LIKE”US AND WE’LL SHARE THE LOVE WITH YOU, TOO!

Head on over to our facebook page and like us. You’ll find everything from behind-the-scenes looks, event invites, party pics and more.

512.453.4140 cobaltbluesalon.com • Headaches Rajat Gupta, MD Board Certified in Neurology & Pain Medicine Former Instructor of Pain Management at Johns Hopkins University

• Spine Pain • Fibromyalgia • Other Chronic Pain Disorders

4220 W. William Cannon, Suite 140 Austin, Texas 78749

Hair & Make-up done by Ashley Carey

FACEBOOK.COM/AUSTINWOMAN

Henda’s Law...

Did You Know...

Dense breast tissue makes it more difficult to identify abnormalities on a mammogram? thanks to henda’s law, starting january 1, 2012, the mammogram facility is required by law to tell you if you have dense breast tissue.

You maY benefit from a breast ultrasound. The Breast Center of austin Owen winsett, Md

512.451.5788 www.owenwinsettmd.com 2905 san Gabriel, suite 310 austin, Texas 78705

On completion of a mammogram, a mammography facility certified by the United States Food and Drug Administration or by a certification agency approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration shall provide to the patient the following notice: if your mammogram demonstrates that you have dense breast tissue, which could hide abnormalities, and you have other risk factors for breast cancer that have been identified, you might benefit from supplemental screening tests that may be suggested by your ordering physician...

gourmet /

foodie alert

W Hotel

Dine & Dip Poolside pampering at hotel pools for daytime spa guests. By Nicole Carbon When a spa-day splurge is in order, check in to any one of Austin’s luxury hotel spas and spend the day with some poolside pampering. Area hotels offer access to their

46 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

relaxing pools and state-of-the-art amenities, otherwise exclusive to overnight guests, when booking a spa treatment. Make a day of it, take a dip and dine poolside after being pampered in the spa. Luckily for us Austinites, we have topnotch accommodations from which to choose, and you don’t have to travel far to enjoy these luxurious and accessible amenities.

Four Seasons Hotel Austin Located on the shores of Lady Bird Lake, this urban oasis extends its pool usage, usually exclusive to hotel guests, when you book a spa treatment Monday through Friday. The Daycation package, starting at $160, includes a 50-minute treatment, use of the spa and fitness facilities, as well as the eucalyptus steam room, a day pass for the pool and

lunch at Trio, which can also be enjoyed poolside. This is the perfect excuse to take a weekday retreat. Summertime specialty treatments include the Citrus Sea Salt Glow, the Garden Fresh Rosemary Polish and the Hill Country Wine Grape Seed Scrub. Recently, Chef Grant McDonald took the reins as chef de cuisine at Trio, and is dishing up farm-to-table ingredients that will keep you in swimsuit shape. We love the tried-and-true Austin Hippie, a tossed salad of spinach, bibb, chickpeas, currants, candied pecans, cheese, croutons, shallots and avocado dressed in a smoked-onion vinaigrette. Four Seasons Hotel Austin, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., 512.685.8160, fourseasons.com/austin/.

W Hotel Check in to the spa reception and plan to stay the day at this hip hotspot in the heart of downtown’s

A Lifestyle of Casual Elegance! Austin’s Finest Assisted Living and Memory Care Community

You’ll Feel Right at Home. Type A License #129777 Type B License #129779 Alzheimer’s Certificate #102179

512.249.0500

11819 Pavilion Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 www.pavilionatgreathills.com

• Monthly Rental With No Buy-In • Progressive Care Levels as Needed • Entertainment, Activities & Outings • Emergency Call Systems • Kitchenettes With Full Sized Stainless Steel Refrigerators

• Preferred Location in NW Austin • Competitive Prices • Nurses on call and Certified Medication Aides Available 24/7 • Restaurant Style Dining • State of The Art Fitness Center

gourmet /

foodie alert

[From left] Travaasa; Trio patio at Four Seasons.

[Continued from previous page.] Second Street District. Prior to your treatment at the AWAY Spa, get a workout in at SWEAT, the expansive 3,600-square-foot fitness facility with panoramic downtown views. The WET Deck, the inviting pool area, is also accessible to spa guests. While the facial and body treatments are irresistible, the manicure-pedicure is one of the best I’ve ever had. Your hands and toes will emerge perfectly hydrated and polished. Dine on healthy fare from the Wet Bar menu and indulge in an all-natural cocktail made with local and organic spirits. The hotel is serving up some of the city’s finest cuisine, thanks to forager Valerie Bruossard at the helm, gathering the best ingredients around to help construct swimsuit-friendly plates. We love Chef Nadine Thomas’ grilled shrimp with watermelon and cilantro. W Hotel Austin, 200 Lavaca St., 512.542.3626, whotelaustin.com.

Baker’s cuisine on the outdoor patio at Jean’s Kitchen. Chef Baker serves organic and mainly locally sourced fare from a menu providing nutritional information, so you know you’re making the right choices. We love his Spiced Up Ceviche, and you can make a meal out of his scrumptious appetizers such as the zucchini and eggplant prosciutto roll and herb-induced white bean and thyme crostinis. The peaceful and relaxed atmosphere at Travaasa encourages you to let go, so much so that you will find fellow guests dining in their robes, and you are encouraged to as well. Walk along the landscaped pathways lined with fragrant herbs and flowers to the spa. After your treatment, you’ll want to stay awhile and soak up the rays on the wooden sun deck of the stunning infinity pool. You’ll be relaxed, refreshed and recharged as you head back to the reality of the real world. 13500 FM Road 2769, 512.258.7243, travaasa.com/austin.

Travaasa The moment you step foot onto the grounds of Travaasa, you will be transported to a place far away from the stresses of the city, all just a short 30-minute drive west. Plan a day away from the hustle and bustle with the Total Travaasa Day Package ($229, includes use of all spa and lounge facilities; one activity including yoga, an equine experience or culinary classes; lunch and a $125 spa credit). I like to arrive in the morning and enjoy yoga and an invigorating hike on the trails to work up an appetite and enjoy Chef Benjamin

48 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

W Hotel Austin

Grilled Shrimp with Watermelon and Cilantro Serves four Ingredients 16 shrimp, 16/20 size, peeled and deveined 1/2 cup olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon chipotle chili 1 pound watermelon 1/4 pound fresh pineapple, grilled 2 bunches fresh cilantro 1/2 jalapeño 2 limes fresh cracked pepper kosher salt Directions For shrimp: Toss shrimp in half the oil, minced garlic and chili. Let marinate 20 minutes. Skewer four shrimp on each bamboo skewer. The skewer makes grilling the shrimp easier. Season with salt and pepper. Place on hot char broiler and grill each side approximately four minutes or until fully cooked. For salsa: Dice fresh watermelon in half-inch pieces. If watermelon is not sweet, drizzle with 1 teaspoon honey and allow to marinate. Peel and grill fresh pineapple, approximately two minutes on each side to add smoky charbroiled flavor, then dice same size as watermelon. Grill fresh jalapeño on all sides, peel and chop fine. Chop cilantro leaves fine. In a small bowl, gently toss watermelon, pineapple and jalapeño together. Add juice of one lime. Salt and pepper to taste. To plate: Place a scoop of the fruit salsa in the center of each plate. Place four shrimp on top of the fruit salsa. Garnish each plate with a lime wedge and chopped fresh cilantro.

ALWAYS ACCEPTING ALWAYS ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR DONATIONS FOR

@austinwoman C C

L L

E E

A A

N N

I I

N N

G G

25 24 Years Serving Austin 24 Years Serving Austin Bureau Member of the Better Business MemberOwned of the Better Locally & FullyBusiness Insured Bureau Locally Owned & Fully Insured

of TIRED of CLEANING TIRED your CLEANING yourHOUSE? HOUSE?

We don’t “wipe around.” We clean don’t everything! “wipe around.” We We clean everything!

Same Cleaning Crew Every Time Same CleaningAll Crew Every Time Vacuum/Mop Floors Vacuum/Mop All Floors Sanitize Bathrooms & Kitchens SanitizeBaseboards Bathrooms & & Cabinet KitchensFronts Doors, Doors, Baseboards & Cabinet Fronts Dust & Cobweb Removal Dust & Cobweb Removal Counters, Vanities & Furniture Counters,&Vanities Furniture Laundry Ironing & Services Laundry & Ironing Services

512.331.9694 512.331.9694 12308 Hwy. 620 N. • Austin, TX 78750 12308 Hwy. 620 N. • Austin, TX 78750

Enjoyed your article about “hoarding” in @austinwoman! Funny! - @Erin_Ochoa Loved your article in @austinwoman on Fair Trade Coffee. More than being green, fair trade helps end human trafficking! - @radiantcosmetic

Join the conversation. twitter.com/austinwoman

PRESENTS A NIGHT OF TEXAS HOLD ‘EM POKER June 14

The Parish

6:30pm - 10:30pm

Feeling lucky? Take a chance and try your hand with the AYC! Come PLAY or come WATCH, either way you’re in for a night of networking with Austin’s top young professionals and business leaders, open bar, heavy appetizers, live music, and TONS of raffle prizes*! 6:30pm- Tournament Registration 7:00-10:30pm- Hold ‘em Tournament *Poker tournament final table prizes include 2 Jet Blue airline tickets, hotel stay, and rounds of golf at Austin’s top golf courses! More details coming soon. SPONSORED BY

LEARN MORE AT

www.austinyc.org/poker

gourmet /

foodie alert

Q Four Seasons Hotel Austin Trio’s

Hippie Salad Serves six to eight Ingredients 6 ounces mesclun greens 1 head Boston bibb lettuce, shredded 2 ounces spinach leaves, cleaned well 1/2 an English cucumber, sliced fine 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled 1 whole red onion, shaved 1/2 cup red currants or raisins 2 whole carrots, peeled and julienned 1/2 cup smoked-onion vinaigrette (see below) 1 cup guacamole, formed into quenelles 1 cup house-made hummus (pureed chickpeas, tahini, sesame seed paste, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and salt) 1/4 cup fresh sprouts for garnish Smoked-Onion Vinaigrette 1 whole red onion, peeled, sliced and smoked 1 clove garlic 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/3 cup red wine vinegar 1 cup olive oil Directions Place all ingredients in the blender and mix together well. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Keep refrigerated.

Travaasa Austin

Spiced Up Ceviche Ingredients 3/4 pound fish 1 poblano pepper 2 tomatoes 1 shallot, diced 3 to 4 limes olive oil cilantro 2 cucumbers salt and pepper Directions Roast the tomatoes on the grill until cooked through (they will turn black). Roast the poblano and place in a bag to steam, releasing the skin. After the pepper has steamed, peel the skin off and dice the pepper. Place the shallots, diced fish, chopped tomatoes, poblano pepper and lime

50 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

juice in a bowl and mix together with a splash of olive oil and salt and pepper. Place in the refrigerator for one to three hours. Once the fish is ready, peel and slice the cucumber in one-inch slices. Carefully scoop out the middle and fill with the ceviche. Enjoy!

Zucchini and Eggplant Prosciutto Roll Serves four Ingredients 3 zucchinis 2 eggplants 1/4 cup of kalamata olives 2 cloves garlic 1 bunch basil 6 slices prosciutto grape seed oil salt and pepper

Directions Preheat the oven to 350. Cut the eggplant in half and score each half. Salt the flesh side and place on a sheet tray with the flesh side up. Roast in the oven until they are cooked through the center (20 to 25 minutes). Set aside to cool. Cut the zucchini in half and scoop out the inside. When the eggplant is cool, scoop out the middle and put in a food processor. Add the garlic, basil and olives, and puree. Fill one half of the zucchini with the eggplant mixture (make sure to over fill). Place the other half of the zucchini on top and wrap in prosciutto. Place on a grill or sear the roll in a non-stick pan (three to five minutes on each side). When the roll is at room temperature, slice to preferred size (one to two inches) and enjoy!

White Bean and Thyme Crostinis Serves four Ingredients 2 cups white beans (preferably cannellini) 1/2 sweet onion 3 to 4 cloves garlic 1 bunch thyme olive oil French or sourdough bread salt and pepper Directions Sauté the onion in olive oil over low heat. Once the onion is caramelized, add the beans and garlic. Simmer for 15 minutes and transfer into a food processor. Add the thyme and olive oil, and puree until smooth. Taste for seasoning and spread the bean puree on top of a toasted crostini. Top with your favorite sea salt or oil (truffle oil is always a favorite).

Learn real estate the right way ... right now! Get live instruction from real professionals in a classroom setting. Classes are forming now, so visit TexasRealtorsUniversity.com or call 800-873-9153 to enroll in your area and get the first night of class free!

to your health /

fitness

Ten Tips to Aging Fit It is never too late to begin a fitness program. By Chrissie Jarrell and Natalie Yerkovich The human body and mind go through changes as we age. Establishing and maintaining a fit lifestyle, no matter your current age, will help you age gracefully and feel great in to your golden years. There are infinite ways to be fit, and it can mean something different to everyone. So where do you start? Often, the best source of inspiration is family and friends who make fitness a lifestyle. Juli Fiocca, founder of Wise Companion Care, gleaned the following tips from her father, Len, who will be celebrating his 70th birthday in Kona, HI, this year. To her, he exemplifies fitness as a state of mind, and inspires her to do the same.

10 Tips to Aging Fit Set Goals: Start with a vision. Len plans to be on the beach, looking fine during his trip. Make up your mind and your body chemistry will shift to make it a reality. Keep it Fun: Find an activity that is fun for you. Is it walking with friends, playing golf, attending classes at the gym, dancing? Experiment with different activities and find the one that you truly enjoy. If it stops being fun, mix it up and find another activity.

Julie with her family and father, Len.

52 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

Add Friends: You are more likely to do something that you enjoy with friends. You are also more likely to continue doing something when you have a sense of commitment and accountability to your workout partners. When Len began

cycling, he rode with a group, which helped him keep coming back as he learned. Be Open to Change: You may have physical setbacks along the way that require you to change up your fitness routine. For example, as a marathon runner, knee surgery ended Len’s days of running. So he took up cycling. He didn’t belabor the mourning process. He found something else that worked for him at that time in his life. Integrate: Find ways to integrate fitness in to the other activities you enjoy. If you like to travel, take an active vacation. In your daily activities, you can do things as simple as picking parking spots a little farther from the store entrance. Find Peace: The place Len finds peace is outside. He sets himself up for success by knowing himself and spending time outdoors. “I find spirituality in nature,” Len says. Perhaps, for you, it is movies, books, yoga or church. Know your way and you’ll be OK. Start Now: Sure, our good habits may take a vacation, and we may be sidetracked by complications or injuries, but to improve your lifestyle, you must start now. “Waiting until I’m better” or “until Monday” are excuses and not the way to foster dedication and a healthy lifestyle. Do Cardio Plus Strength Training: The most common question is, “What should I do?” You should do an activity or activities that a.) you enjoy, and b.) promote cardiovascular health and strength. This can manifest itself with Pilates, dance, yoga, weights, walking, group classes, swimming, personal training—there is no short-

age of opportunities. Just be sure to do both. Cardiovascular exercise works the heart; strength training works the muscles. The ultimate goal is being able to maintain the ability to manage activities of daily living, which take strength, balance and cardiovascular fitness. Ignore Marketing and Fads: Throughout our lives, we have witnessed countless food fads come and go: cheese food, quick foods, processed junk. Len sticks to a diet of what he calls “real food”—avocados, beans, protein, veggies and fruits. Whole, real foods are the best fuel for your body. Live with Gratitude and Abundance: There is time to do what is important to you. You have all the wisdom within you. We can all inspire those around us to be fit and happy, no matter our age! Be the change you want to see in the world (and in your loved ones’ health). For a list of activities you may enjoy, view the extended version of the article at austinwomanmagazine.com.

Chrissie Jarrell and Natalie Yerkovich, the gals who created myfitlist.com, do the grunt work for you. Well, the organizational grunt work, anyway. They work hard to connect people with the fitness groups, information and resources they need so they can grunt, sweat and tone to achieve their personal goals.

to your health /

wellness

Geriatricians Treating older patients with special care. By Jill Case Doris is 83 years old, in relatively good health and she sees an internist. Mary is 74 years old, dealing with multiple health issues, including social and care issues, and she sees a geriatrician. Clearly, age is not the primary reason people choose to see a geriatrician instead of a family physician or internist. Instead, the patient’s condition usually dictates a move to a geriatrician’s care. According to the American Geriatrics Society, “a geriatrician is a medical doctor who is specially trained to prevent and manage the unique and oftentimes multiple health concerns of older adults.” These physicians, usually board-certified internists or family physicians, also have a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine (CAQGM), which provides them with the additional training they need to deal with the special issues of aging patients, including managing multiple health problems, as well as care issues and social issues. When to Seek Out a Geriatrician The American Geriatrics Society identifies several situations that might prompt someone or his or her caregiver to seek out geriatric care. These include the following: b The patient is becoming frailer, causing safety issues or physical impairments. b The patient has multiple medical conditions that are complicated to manage. b The patient is finding it difficult to care for him or herself and maintain independence. b The patient is having mental or social problems that interfere with daily life. b The patient is having problems with his or her memory. b The patient is required to take multiple medications. b The patient’s caregiver feels overwhelmed, depressed and in need of help in caring for the patient. Patients and their caregivers will find that geriatricians are in tune with the different ways older people may cope with various conditions. In addition, geriatricians are trained to look for common geriatric problems found in the elderly population. These include problems like falls, incontinence and problems caused by dementia and memory loss.

54 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

Treating the Whole Patient Geriatricians are also familiar with the complex emotional, social and mental issues that can accompany aging. They evaluate the patient’s state of mind, looking for signs of depression or cognitive impairment.

patients differently. For instance, elderly patients who contract a urinary tract infection can become confused, displaying what might appear to be symptoms of dementia. A geriatrician would be well aware that the confusion could indicate a UTI, thus avoiding what sometimes happens—a diagnosis of dementia without checking for or diagnosing the UTI.

They also are on the lookout for problems that the general population may not face, but that can cause many issues in the daily life of an elderly person. For example, elderly people often have issues Professionals Trained to Help Caregivers with their feet, which can According to the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managbe dangerous and cause ers, a professional geriatric care manager is a health and human-services falls. According to seniorspecialist who helps families caring for older relatives. Care managers are journal.com, one study trained in fields like nursing, psychology, social work or gerontology, with an found that 87 percent of emphasis on issues faced by elderly people and their caregivers. older people have had at least one problem with Geriatric care managers work with the elderly person, their spouse and their their feet. Examining the family or caregivers to help them achieve the best quality of life. They help feet for ingrown toenails, them find high-quality health care and other services that are available to them. calluses and sores is imWhen family members are busy and juggling multiple responsibilities, these portant, and looking at the managers can help coordinate access to the many services, doctors and other feet can also help diagnose care providers that may be involved in eldercare. They can also serve as a problems such as arthritis, communication hub between multiple family members who are caring for a diabetes or circulatory parent on-site or for family members who do not live in the area. This type of disorders. support can prove quite valuable in relieving stress for caregivers.

Geriatric Care Managers

Geriatricians are also very aware of how common conditions can affect their

To find a geriatric care manager who belongs to the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers in your area, visit caremanager.org.

Preventing future problems is also part of the geriatrician’s plan. He or she works with the patient and his or her caregiver to implement measures to keep the patient safe and comfortable. They discuss dietary changes patients need to make in order to manage things like diabetes or high blood pressure, ways to prevent falls and medications to help with pain issues, as well as side effects of prescription medications.

Hi-tecH dentistry in a Home-like setting Come in for our FREE teeth whitening special!

Geriatric syndromes are another area that geriatricians specialize in treating. The American Geriatric Society’s partner site, healthinaging.org, notes that a geriatric syndrome is “a group of related medical problems.” One common problem is a difficulty in swallowing. This can be the result of anything from medication side effects to dementia. That difficulty can lead to more problems like malnutrition or choking, which could, in the extreme, lead to pneumonia. This kind of interwoven cause and effect also exists with sleep problems, problems with bladder control, vision or hearing, dementia and dizziness. The patient’s lifestyle is also something geriatricians address, trying to assess the patient’s needs and refer them to the appropriate people and resources in the community. It Takes a Team Geriatricians often work with or refer their patients to other specialists who can provide additional support. The team that they work with may include social workers, physical or occupational therapists, geriatric psychologists or psychiatrists and nutritionists. Many services may be available with support from Medicare and local or state governments. (To find out more about services available in your area, consult your geriatrician or go to eldercare.gov.) The Benefits of Geriatricians for Caregivers Caregiving can be stressful and overwhelming. Geriatricians can help the caregiver, as well as the patient, by discussing sources of stress, whether it's issues they are dealing with in the home, issues they are trying to help the patient deal with (i.e., independent living, dementia, depression) or issues they may be having due to the rigors of caregiving. The geriatrician can serve as a wonderful resource for caregivers, providing them with solutions and links to resources in their community, in addition to links to support systems and groups. Geriatricians have the knowledge and experience that many people need to navigate the complicated issues of aging, and they serve both patients and caregivers very well. For more information or to find a local geriatrician, visit the American Geriatric Society’s partner site at healthinaging.org.

“Our mission is to provide you, our patients, with comprehensive, state-of-the-art dental care in a home-like setting where you will be treated like part of our family.” •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Introducing

Dr. Angela Davidson

Dr. Davidson considers it a true honor to be of service to her patients. A mother to three children, Dr. Davidson values the importance of family. “I like to think of my patients as my extended family and I want to provide them with the same quality care I would provide for my own.” Dr. Davidson is known to have a soft spoken tone and gentle manner that relaxes those in her care. She values the importance of quality dentistry and is committed to helping Austin achieve beautiful, healthy smiles.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

www.MyersDental.com | 512.506.9430 8430 Spicewood Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78759

TRAVEL /

close-in getaway

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort

Texas Escapes

resort amenities, it’s also a nature and wildlife haven covering 940 acres owned by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).

Family resorts for a close-in vacation.

The private nature park offers 14 miles of groomed hiking trails, although during bird-nesting season from March to August, up to 70 percent of those trails are closed to people. Roughly 800 of its acres are home to three endangered species: the American bald eagle, the golden-cheeked warbler and the blackcapped vireo.

By Shelley Seale As June arrives, so does the end of the school year and that annual conundrum: Where should we go for our summer family vacation? Look no further. This year, Austin Woman has you covered with three nearby resorts that are sure to offer fun and adventure for your family to welcome in the summer.

Hill Country Canyon of the Eagles This is a truly special and unique place. While Canyon of the Eagles is indeed a Hill Country destination that offers 62 comfortable lodge rooms with all the typical

56 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

At Canyon of the Eagles, you not only have the choice of reserving one of the resort rooms, but there are also 23 campsite spaces with potable water, fire pits, picnic tables and access to bathrooms and showers, as well as 23 RV spaces with full hookups. Families can rough it or stay in comfort, and adapt to every budget and sense of adventure.

“We value the birds over the people,” explains Bill Gibson, a naturalist guide at Canyon of the Eagles.

As far as amenities, Canyon of the Eagles boasts the fabulous Overlook Restaurant, with food from Executive Chef Sean Huitt that is fresh and inventive. Don’t miss the Eagle’s Nest breakfast dish, one of the best I’ve had anywhere, with an incredible sauce that Huitt will not divulge the secret to.

Gibson, along with other naturalists and biologists, are on hand to guide guests in exploring the incredible nature of the park. Most weekends, there are regular presentations that delight children and adults alike, such as the Shake, Rattle and Coil reptile show; Scales, Tails and Shells aquatic demonstration; and the seasonal Owl Prowl.

Outside of the nature, which is plentiful and fascinating, there are also lots of other activities at Canyon of the Eagles. You can get out on the water in a kayak with the on-site Buchanan Adventure Tours, or go fishing for bass and striper with sports-fishing guides Ray or Clancy. At night, there is often live music or movies under the stars.

Dancin’ in the Street..... “Come and Take It”

Gonzales, Texas Main Street Concert Series Every Friday in June! Confederate Square Downtown Gonzales 6:00 pm Free Admission! Live Music! Lots of Vendors!

Great weekend getaway! Seven Museums • Historic Homes Nine Hole Riverside Golf Course Eighteen Hole Disc Golf Course

Don’t miss the Star Spangled Spectacular July 4th celebration and fireworks! Stay in a historic Bed & Breakfast or one of our excellent hotels.

AND TAKE

Download Tour Gonzales

5 CT 83 OBE R 2, 1

For more information visit us at tourgonzales.com or gonzalestexas.com

TRAVEL /

close-in getaway

WHERE TO GO Canyon of the Eagles 16942 RR 2341 Burnet, TX 78611 800.977.0081 canyonoftheeagles.com

Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott

Hill Country Canyon of the Eagles

[Continued from previous page.] And speaking of stars, Canyon of the Eagles boasts one very impressive observatory. Out here in the Hill Country, away from the lights of the city, the Austin Astronomical Society operates the Eagle Eye Observatory, where two massive research-grade telescopes are housed beneath a roof that slides open to the night skies. Regular star parties are held, and tables dot the land around the observatory for visitors to set their own telescopes or computers for stargazing, with AC outlets.

days, but just wait until your kids get a load of the water activities available at Lost Pines. The resort’s Crooked River Pool Area features a two-story waterslide, waterfalls, volleyball, beach and lazy river for tubing. Guests can also dip into the Colorado River or take a kayak on the water. Afterward, stop in at McDade’s Emporium for old-fashioned ice cream sundaes. Evenings at Lost Pines come with entertainment as well: the lost art camp-style joys of stargazing and roasting s’mores over the campfire.

“When afforded a clear night with good transparency, the universe comes to life,” says Dawn Davies, AAS president.

For outdoor active adventures, take the kids on an excursion through McKinney Roughs Nature Park or horseback riding at the Renegade Trailhead. Trails on foot or horseback are led by experienced guides and are appropriate for nearly all age levels. There’s even a horse camp to teach horsemanship skills, archery, trap shooting and ziplining, and there’s a climbing wall and a GPS scavenger hunt.

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort A river runs through it at the Lost Pines Resort, literally. This magical place is at once as peaceful and inviting as it is bustling with all sorts of family-friendly activities. Situated along the banks of the Colorado River just east of Austin, the 405 acres of rugged wilderness are interspersed with both outdoor activities and indoor pampering, with a very full monthly calendar of events. Lost Pines is an easy drive from Austin, yet feels worlds away, so families can experience a true escape. In other words, you’ll get there without too many instances of “Are we there yet?” but also have a little time to sing a few songs, play I Spy and make the shift from regular routine to the vacation mindset.

And if you want to be pampered even though you’ve got some young ones in tow, don’t worry; Hyatt Lost Pines is truly progressive in this area. Along with their fabulous adult treatments at Spa Django, a special Wild Hare Youth Spa is offered. Younger guests are pampered with ice cream pedicures, teen facials and glam hair extensions. The entire spa enlivens everyone’s senses with its implementation of music, art, nature, movement and fun. Lost Pines’ unique blend of luxury with all the beauty of nature lets every guest create his or her own perfect vacation.

This is a big resort, with 405 guest rooms. But the size also means there is almost no end to available activities. The golf club, equestrian center, tennis courts and gym alone could keep a family busy for

“The Fourth of July holiday weekend is a big draw for travelers, with a schedule chockful of fun,” says Amanda Fier, PR director for the resort. “Activities include family olympics, three-legged races, wind-chime

58 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott 200 Hi Circle North Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 830.598.8600 marriott.com/hotels/travel/ aushb-horseshoe-bayresort-marriott

art, longhorn watercolor art, kickball, nightly s’mores and much more for a memorable vacation. The resort’s recreation lineup caters to kids and adults, with plenty of active and creative activities to inspire.”

Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott This is the place if you want to play golf, boat on the lake or pamper yourself in a full-service spa. The Horseshoe Bay Marriott Resort was rated by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as one of the top golf resorts in the world. And with four resort pools, a marina, a full-service spa and fitness facility, and seven dining options, this is truly a have-it-all destination. The three championship golf courses were designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and offer a lakeside setting, breathtaking scenery and unparalleled customer service. The “million dollar hole” takes golfers through a waterfall. And the putting green and topnotch lessons make this a great place for parents to get their children interested in the sport of golfing. Speaking of kids, they receive top billing at Horseshoe Bay Marriott. The Kids’ Club comes complete with professional counselors who can offer everything from golf and tennis camps to ping-pong, arcade games and any number of other fun childhood diversions. Movie nights, arts and crafts, games and nature walks are just some of the special activities offered at Kids’ Club. Not only do kids have a blast, but the program also allows their parents to relax and have a good time on their own. With so many options to choose from, any of these resorts are sure to make for one truly fine Texas family getaway this summer.

Canyon of the Eagles photo by Kevin Vandivier, kevinv.com; Horseshoe Bay photo courtesy of Horseshoe Bay Resort.

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa 575 Hyatt Lost Pines Road Lost Pines, TX 78612 512.308.1234 lostpines.hyatt.com

TRAVEL /

all-ages getaway

Hyatt Hill Country Close-in San Antonio resort provides the perfect spot for multi-generational getaways. By Deborah Hamilton-Lynne If you are looking for the perfect setting for a multigenerational getaway, or if you are a grandparent who wants to spend some quality time with the grandchildren in a place where activities to interest all ages abound, then look no further than the Hyatt Hill Country resort on the outskirts of San Antonio. This place has it all and caters to family groups, especially in the summer months. The resort has a AAA four-diamond rating and, honestly, is a fantastic family playground. The key to family enjoyment is the wide variety of entertainment, dining options and activities the resort provides. It features a four-acre waterpark with the 950-foot Ramblin’ River and three pools, a stellar 27-hole championship golf course, an award-winning spa, a fitness center and bikes for exploring the beautiful property. Family-friendly also means a playground with a sandy beach and volleyball

60 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

pit, plus lots of shaded benches for moms and dads or grandparents to hang out while the kids play. There are several choices for dining, including a poolside bar and grill, a casual café, a more formal dining room and a golf clubhouse option. Active parents and kids alike will love the general store, with a wide variety of prepared entrees and snacks, as well as ice cream and candy. Recent family-activity offerings included family kickball, movies on the lawn, fireside s’mores, water-balloon tosses, ping-pong scramble, face painting and bingo. Need a little adult time to yourself? No problem. The kids can cruise the Ramblin’ River or play ping-pong poolside while you enjoy a beverage and a book at the adult pool, close yet so far away. You can be sipping wine at an adults-only wine tasting or indulging in a guacamole-and-salsa tasting while the little buckaroos (ages 3 to 12) are scouring the property for Indian arrowheads with the trained professional staff of Rowdy’s Camp Hyatt. Teens are entertained from 8 p.m. to midnight at a Splash Bash, which includes food, pool games and music provided by a DJ. Prefer a sports activity for the entire group? You can choose from swimming, biking, tennis or basketball. Love golf and want to pass that enjoyment along to the grandchildren? The Hyatt offers the Hill Country Family Express Golf Course. Family Express tees are located on the club’s three courses: Lakes, Creeks and Oaks, albeit at a shortened distance. One of the nine-hole courses will be designated for the Express Course each day, so to not im-

pede play for more experienced golfers. This allows families to enjoy their time together instead of trying to play as fast as they can. For a family of four, the cost is $99, including tee time and rentals. What a bargain! No matter what your interest or level of activity, the resort provides something for all ages. The Hyatt provides several packages to choose from, including the Family Stay More and Play More package: the longer the family stays, the more resort credits they earn. Resort credits can be used toward food at any resort restaurants, for spa treatments, a round of golf, Camp Hyatt or even an in-room movie. AARP and AAA members get a 10-percent discount as well. Rather than cooking, cleaning and trying to entertain the grandchildren, do everyone a favor: Pack up and make the short drive to the Hyatt Hill Country. Create memories while everyone enjoys a multigenerational getaway. For more information, visit hillcountry.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels-hillcountry.

Making a Splash In addition to the on-site activities, the Hyatt Hill Country’s location makes enjoying several offsite activities fun for family groups. These include exploring downtown San Antonio with a visit to the historic Alamo and the Riverwalk, visiting the San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium, and enjoying two nearby theme parks: Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld. SeaWorld is located just across the street from the resort, and kids love the special behind-the-scenes and safari tours. If you want to be a very cool grandparent, be the first to take the family to the newest addition to the SeaWorld complex: Aquatica. Just opened May 18, Aquatica is a South-Seas-meets-South-Texas, whimsical, one-of-a-kind waterpark that blends up-close animal experiences, waters from serene to extreme, high-speed thrills and 42,000 square feet of white, sandy beaches. It features a one-of-a-kind family raft ride that goes underwater through a reef filled with stingrays and tropical fish, and another ride that sends family rafts up a zero-gravity wall where riders experience weightlessness. Plenty of shade, personal cabanas and beachside service are also provided, with the emphasis on personal comfort for all members of the family. It doesn’t get much hipper than that. For more information, visit seaworldparks.com.

Decorating Den Interiors Anniversary Sale! We work with YOU to create the look you have in mind. From custom window treatments to an entire room makeover, give us a call. You’ll love us!

(512) 327-4000

www.decdens.com/centraltexas Area Franchises Available

Window Treatments | Furniture | Rugs & Flooring Bedding | Lighting & Accessories | Remodels

TRAVEL /

romantic escape

Romantic Hill Country Getaways A selection of romantic destinations close to home with an exotic appeal. By Erica Todd Looking for a romantic getaway this summer? Fortunately for us Central Texans, there are some wonderful hidden gems in our own backyard. The Hill Country, renowned for its production of delicious wines, is also an idyllic choice for an amorous excursion. The region topped the New York Times list of summer travel destinations in 2008 as a breathtaking local alternative to Europe, and National Geographic praised the Hill Country’s stunning diverse scenery. Given its striking qualities, the Hill Country provides a perfect backdrop for couples looking for a memorable romantic escapade. Assembled here are three unique bed-and-breakfasts nestled in the exotic region. Each one successfully matches the decadence of a winery with the option of lodging in a romantic atmosphere. Select a low-key excursion with a taste of the delicious harvest and a delightful ambiance, or schedule your trip to coincide with a special vineyard-hosted event.

Messina Hof

9996 U.S. Highway 290 East, Fredericksburg, TX A stay at Messina Hof in the Hill Country is an opportunity to indulge in a family of wine that is currently the most-awarded throughout Texas. The family connection to Hof, Germany, produces a distinctive atmosphere. The ancestral influences are clear throughout the 10-acre estate in the choice of names for each area, from the Wine Garten to the Manor Haus Bed and Breakfast. Among the Manor Haus lodgings are four individually styled rooms. The German theme flows

62 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

through to the Hof Haus room, adorned with antiques and memorabilia (some a century old) from Germany. Guests can also choose from the Sicily, Paris and Texas themes. All rooms have modern amenities and the bedrooms provide a great view of the woods from the adjoining patio. Special packages that enhance the relaxing ambiance include in-room massages and a bottle of Messina Hof wine. What’s more, if you stay at Messina Hof during the weekend, you and your loved one can attend one of the regular Sunday events through another special package. At the wine appreciation class on the second Sunday of the month, guests can explore the finer points of wine tasting. The topics of this class change every month, making each one a distinct experience. Or, if you prefer to pair your fine beverages with delicious food, there are several other classes that cater to different tastes. Try combining the flavor of wine with chocolate or pie, or plan your stay during the session dedicated to sherry, ports and cheese. Since opening in 2011, the Fredericksburg site has

Messina Hof

proved a successful complement to the original Bryan-College Station location, which opened in 1977. With a 2012 Top Texas Wine Award from the Rodeo Uncorked International Wine Competition, Messina Hof is highly recommended for anyone seeking quality wine and a relaxing experience. Prices: Sunday through Thursday: $189 plus tax Friday and Saturday: $199 to $249 plus tax (Two-night stay minimum on weekends.) For more information, call 830.990.4653 or visit messinahof.com.

Family Creations is Looking for Surrogate Mothers...

PROFESSIONAL BROW STYLING A DIFFERENCE YOU CAN SEE unretouched photos, no makeup

By becoming a surrogate, you are able to give a person or a couple two of the greatest gifts imaginable – the gift of life, and the gift of family. We have the highest compensation in the field at $25,000 for the first time surrogates and higher for experienced surrogates! Additionally, all of your expenses are paid.

Before

A p p l i c At i o n R e q u i R e m e n t s : •

You must be between the ages of 21 and 38 and have enjoyed an easy uncomplicated pregnancy.

•

Non-smoker/No drug use

•

Reliable transportation

•

Not be receiving state financial assistance (welfare)

•

Have not been arrested or been in substance abuse programs

•

Willing to undergo criminal background check (both surrogate and spouse)

•

Willing to undergo a home visit by Family Creations

www.familycreations.net

512.514.6829

K E I T H K R I S TO F E R FAMILY CREATIONS, LLC

S A LO N

7000 North MoPac Expressway, 2nd Floor, Ste 2105, Austin, TX 78731 Los

AngeLes

•

sAn

After with brow shaping, brow & lash tint

FrAncisco

FamilyCreationsAd_FNL-2.indd 1

•

A N D

S P A

WWW.KEITHKRISTOFER.COM 512.233.1910

Austin

4/16/12 9:45:21 PM

We are hosting a full schedule of free marketing classes in Austin this summer, Come learn strategies to grow your business. Seating is limited. Learn more and sign up to attend at constantcontact.com/texas Topics Include: - The Power of Email Marketing - Social Media Marketing Made Simple - Supercharge Your Facebook Page - The Power of Event Marketing

Julie Niehoff, Sr. Development Director @JulieNiehoff

FREE MARKETING WORKSHOPS

TRAVEL /

romantic escape Prices: Sunday through Thursday: $145 plus tax Friday and Saturday, spring break, holidays and events: $165 plus tax (Minimum stay of two nights. Extra cost for a second bedroom.) For more information, call 830.644.2710 or visit grapecreek.com.

Lime Kiln

210 Merrywood Lane, San Marcos, TX If you prefer a closer romantic escapade, then Lime Kiln in San Marcos is a great choice. Although not too far from Austin, you’ll still have an enchanting experience. This small winery with an intimate feel caters to relationships new and old. For an additional $50, a couple celebrating their honeymoon or anniversary can opt for one of the special packages. Both include late checkouts, a complimentary bottle of wine and food delivered to the room. Grape Creek

floors and all-new appliances and furniture. The lodgings come with additional bonuses too. Bring your favorite movie to watch on the DVD player with your bottle of complimentary Grape Creek wine, or enjoy the stunning views of the vineyard from the elevated vantage point. After spending the night, guests enjoy a continental breakfast free of charge.

Grape Creek

10587 U.S. Highway 290 East, Fredericksburg, TX At almost 30 years old, Grape Creek has established itself as a winery and vineyard with an Italian feel. Referred to as “Tuscany in Texas,” this beautiful romantic destination has also been recognized throughout the country for its delectable wines. In the past two years alone, Grape Creek has amassed more than 100 medals from California to New York, including those from the San Francisco Chronicle Competition and the New York Finger Lakes Wine Competition. Located on the second story is the luxurious 1,200-square-foot villa. Among the recent renovations are new granite countertops, hand-scraped wood

64 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

Beyond the lodging, Grape Creek offers an unforgettable experience to visitors with its distinctive attractions. In addition to tasting the delicious wine and viewing the new production facility, tours include a trolley ride across the property. The vineyard also boasts the oldest underground commercial wine cellar in the Hill Country. And for couples with a limited amount of time, the tour here is ideal. It lasts a convenient 30 minutes, followed by the tasting. As well as the selection of high-quality wines, the stunning architecture reinforces Grape Creek’s exotic appeal. From the moment visitors pass the iconic bell tower as they enter the vineyard, the exotic Italian atmosphere is apparent. Approaching the villa on the hill with its orange terracotta roof truly evokes the description of Grape Creek as “Tuscany in Texas.”

At Lime Kiln, guests have the option of three rooms with distinct styles. Select from the serene Lighthouse, the elegant Bombay and the rustic Cowboy suites. All rooms have a fantastic bathroom and a kitchenette stocked with complimentary refreshments. What’s more, each suite is set apart from the others, ensuring privacy. Another attraction to Lime Kiln is the mouthwatering dining experience. The standard breakfast is a choice of German pancakes or frittatas, but there is also an array of different options to suit guests’ individual needs. Alternatives are a lighter meal (yogurt, homemade granola and fruit) or food specially designed to cater to different dietary restrictions, like gluten-free. For a small charge, meals can even be made with fresh, local produce. While staying at Lime Kiln, there is an abundance of enjoyable things to do. Spend the day exploring the charming vineyard with its individually pruned and harvested black Spanish and zinfandel grapes. Relax beside the pool or take a refreshing dip. And in the evening, unwind with a DVD from the library. These are some of the many features that help to make Lime Kiln a delightful place to share a special moment with the one you love. Prices: $135 to $145 plus tax (Two-night stay minimum on weekends.) For more information, call 512.392.3145 or visit limekilnvineyard.com.

ANNOUNCING THE 2012

GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH - FALL 2012

SUSAN GREEN, M.D. GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH - FALL 2012

RECTORY

Hill Country Medical (512) 588-0707 www.hillcountrymedical.com

to the east coast, and did her first residency at Georgetown University. She went to law school, clerked, joined a law firm and became a partner, all the while Doctor Huang was still doing her residencies. General surgery at Georgetown was a five-year program. She was board certified in general surgery. After that, she headed to Duke University for her Plastic Surgery Fellowship, where she had the opportunity to work with a diverse and talented group of plastic surgeons, including Doctor Nicholas Georgiade, who literally wrote “The Book” on plastic surgery. She also completed a Microsurgery and Hand Fellowship in Louisville. Finally, much to her father’s relief, she started a practice here in Denver, where her husband’s law firm had a small office.

The 2012 Guide to Good Health will include a directory of doctors, clinics and hospitals, plus profiles of Austin’s finest health care providers. BRADLEY JOHNSON, M.D.

SAN GREEN, M.D.

Capitol City Surgery

Country Medical

588-0707 w.hillcountrymedical.com Bee Caves Rd. in, Texas 78432

(512) 895-2364 www.capitolcitysurgery.com 2430 Research Bld. Austin, Texas 78759

Susan Green, originally from Ohio, is a summa cum laude graduate of Yale College. National Merit Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, yadda yadda yadda. She went to Stanford Medical School, where the plastic surgery department was larger than the general surgery program. The wide variety of challenging problems, and the smiles on the faces of patients who were happy to achieve the unachievable, convinced her that the future was in plastics. After medical school Doctor Green returned

BRADLEY JOHNSON, M.D. Capitol City Surgery (512) 895-2364 www.capitolcitysurgery.com

ted in beautiful Southwest Austin, Hill ntry Medical is Austin's leading plastic ery center, serving 15,000 patients each Specialties include liposuction, tummy s, face lifts and hair transplants.

Capitol City Surgery has been in Austin since 1993. Lead Surgeon Bradley Johnson is the world's top expert on Vasectomies performing more than 200 per year.

F MILLER, M.D.

TRACY HAMILTON, M.D.

stin Allergy Treatment Center

Austin Reproduction

699-6835 w.aatc.com West Anderson Ln. in, Texas 78754

(512) 765-0912 www.austinreproduction.com 738 N. Captiol of Texas Hwy. Austin, Texas 78759

At age 46, Dr. Johnson is the most recognized vasectomy reversal surgeon and male fertility specialist in the world, appearing on ABC’s Extreme Makeover and in every major news media outlet (see CMRM in The News) and listed as one of “America’s Top Physicians” 2005. He was the recipient of the 2008 American Fertility Association’s Illuminations Award, given to the outstanding fertility doctor in the nation. Dr. Johnson is a fellowship-trained andrologist, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons,

Diplomate of the American Board of Urology and Director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine in Century City, Los Angeles. He is the current President of the Los Angeles Urologic Society and has served as former Chief of Urology at Century City Hospital, and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology at The University of Southern California School of Medicine. As a male infertility specialist, Dr. Johnson has a keen understanding and perspective of the unique issues that confront men who are faced with this unfamiliar and unsettling situation. Dr. Johnson’s practice is limited exclusively to microsurgical vasectomy reversal, no-scalpel vasectomy and the treatment of male infertility.

DEADLINE: JUNE 29 LAUNCHES: AUGUST 2012

For information on advertising, profiles and directory listings, contact your Austin Woman account executive today!

in Allergy Treatment Center has been ng Texans cope with the areas notoriallergies since 1983. Miller is known for ral treatments options and solutions.

sales@awmediainc.com 512-328-2421

Austin Reproduction Center helps men and women with reproductive issues and challenges. Since 2002, Dr. Hamilton has helped Austinites at her Northwest clinic.

AWMEDIAINC.COM

UT wasn’t an option until I started here.

Hewan T. UT Transfer Student, Spanish Major

austincc.edu

on the verge of a nervous breakthrough â&#x2014;&#x2014; Ruth PennebakerÂ on Aging with wit, wisdom, humor, love and a bit of luck. By Spike gillespie Photographs by Cody Hamilton Makeup by Lauren Lumsden, Rae Cosmetics, raecosmetics.com. Shot on location at the Four Seasons Residences.

page 66

austinwomanmagazine.com 67

Ruth Pennebaker is sitting on the patio of Zocalo Café in Clarksville, taking in the campechana seafood cocktail served in a martini glass, and offering up an overview of her life to date. The writer’s outlook matches the weather—sunny, warm and breezy. That’s breezy in the best sense of the word, as Pennebaker moves from topic to topic, her razor wit and hilarious commentary punctuated with heartfelt observations that are sincere

without ever veering in to sappy. Upon being informed she looks like 10 million bucks (Pennebaker’s a rare Austinite who dresses fashionably, even for a midday, midweek rendezvous) and then jokingly asked if she buys in to the

68 Austin Woman J u n e 2 0 1 2

saying “60 is the new 40,” she swiftly and dryly opines, “I loathe that expression. It’s baby boomer bulls**t. If I’m the new 42, someone has not notified my 62-year-old body parts, which sometimes feel 92.” Uncooperative body parts aside, Pennebaker says she holds no nostalgia for her youth. “I do have nostalgia for energy and resilience,” she says. “But I’m much happier now than when I was young. I’m not as driven as I used to be. I’m not as neurotic.” Aging well is something she’s been contemplating quite a bit lately, as she and Austin artist and cartoonist Marian Henley have focused on the topic—specifically women aging well—for a book they are currently collaborating on. This will be Pennebaker’s eighth book, and comes on the heels of her 2011 novel, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough. The new book will be a welcome addition to a diverse collection of writing that also includes countless magazine articles, the many columns she wrote for the Dallas Morning News, her ongoing New York Times Out of Towner column, her commentary for Austin NPR affiliate KUT, her columns for The Texas Observer and her award-winning, hilarious and poignant blog, The Geezer Sisters, which she started writing in 2006. “I started it because everyone told me I needed to start a blog,” she says. And while she did take that advice, she ignored detailed instructions that came along with it. “They said that I needed a niche and I needed to take photographs. I don’t have a niche. I don’t

do photos. I’m comfortable with that, that I’m breaking every rule out there. I never made any money from blogging, but I love doing it. I’ve always been attracted to low-paying work.” Her resistance to niche pursuits keeps Pennebaker freed up to write about whatever her heart desires, to the relief, joy and benefit of her dedicated readers. In 2010, the blog included thoughts on 10 months she and her husband, James (better known as Jamie), spent in New York City. Jamie, professor and chair of the Psychology Department at the University of Texas at Austin (and an international rock god in the world of research psychology), was on sabbatical, working on a book about pronouns (really). The temporary move was an experiment in tight-quarter living that paid off for them, as they temporarily bid farewell to their spacious West Austin home and downsized to 800 square feet in the big city. “It was the time of our lives,” Pennebaker recalls. “We did everything. I came back with 50 playbills. We had a lot of time together. The eavesdropping is world-class.” During this time, Pennebaker says she figured out, or at least remembered, that at heart, she is a city person, despite having grown up in West Texas. “I really do love cities,” she says. “When I was 22, I spent a semester in London. London by way of Oklahoma and West Texas. To this day, when the weather is bad and I inhale a bunch of car fumes, I’m happy because it reminds me of London.” Those memories, combined with the more recent New York stint, informed the couple’s decision upon their return to Austin to pack up, sell their big house and early in 2011, move downtown in to the Four Seasons ResiRuth on neuroticism dences on Lady I was just born this way, one of those canaries Bird Lake. they use in mine shafts “I loved our that drop dead when house in West dangerous gases are Austin,” she leaking out. Great system says. “I had been for the miners, but it kind loudly quoted of sucks to be the bird. saying I’d have to leave feet first. But coming back form New York, I had a gut feeling our time in that house was over. It was time to move. We’re not yard people. There is no handy person in our house. We love old charming places,

Ruth on Fashion I’ll give you a tip. My personal acid test is: If I wear this, will I have to hold in my stomach?

which was great for 30 years, but which was wearing thin. In New York, we saw a different way to live.” Pennebaker says getting her husband on board wasn’t too difficult. “By and large, Jamie deals with change much better than I do,” she says. “He was certainly willing to be talked in to it.” As they had transitioned to life in New York, so the couple took on the downtown Austin move, together and with open minds. “I think we were a little apologetic at first,” Pennebaker recalls. “You wouldn’t call us the Four Seasons type. But we’ve come to really like it. It’s a new community. To see a neighborhood being formed is fascinating and wonderful. There are so

many interesting people living there, and we’ve been surprised because most of them are liberals. We do a lot more walking, too; a car is more of a last resort. I love being able to walk.” Two big moves in two years might have proven more challenging for other couples, but the Pennebakers already had honed negotiating skills through four decades of marriage. They also had learned quite a bit from a far bigger challenge in 1995, when Pennebaker was diagnosed with breast

cancer. The two spoke eloquently on that time in their lives last year when, together, they gave a keynote speech at a fundraising event for the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Texas (BCRC). Standing side by side at podiums, they recounted the chaos of that time. Pennebaker recalled how the weather had just taken a turn for the better the day she got the call—“a gorgeous fall day when summer has finally broken and you start to feel hopeful about life.”

Books by Ruth Pennebaker

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough (2011) Pennebaker’s first foray in to fiction for adults features three generations of women living under one roof: a shoplifting grandmother, a recent divorcee who’s given up on sex and a teenager whose marijuana brownies get served a little more widely than she intended. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly said, “There’s a rare honesty in Pennebaker’s work that allows for both empathy and schadenfreude as the women examine themselves and each other, and their inner lives have a winning warts-andall air of authenticity.”

Both Sides Now (2000) A loving family struggles to recreate itself so it can survive in “this subtle, absorbing examination of a girl’s difficult passage in to maturity through the voice of one of the truest narrators in the genre” (Kirkus Review). Mostly told in the voice of 15-yearold Liza, this novel also includes passages written by the mother, which The Horn Book Magazine, in a starred review, called “a remarkable portrait of a woman who, exhausted by the effort of maintaining her cheery facade, can no longer be who her family expects her to be.”

Conditions of Love (1999)

Don’t Think Twice (1996)

A Texas Family Time Capsule (2002)

Sarah Morgan, 14, wrestles with the mysteries of sex, friendship and her growing—and disturbing—knowledge of a beloved father, who died recently. “Characterization is effortless and effective, funny and perceptive, setting Sarah’s milieu in a Texan patchwork of bighaired ex-cheerleaders, sex-affirmative Christian psychiatrists and youthful casualties of bitter divorce,” reported The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, which honored this book as a Blue Ribbon title.

Smart-talking, funny and brokenhearted Anne Harper, age 17, grows up and grows wiser as she brings her baby to term in an unwed-mothers home in Texas in 1967. This “masterful first novel” (Kirkus), which the Voice of Youth Advocates called “an absolute winner,” was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Book Sense 76 choice and a finalist in the Texas Institute of Letters’ young adult category.

Ruth Pennebaker’s collection of her best newspaper columns is what most mentalhealth experts would call a cry for help from a woman who finds herself trapped in a world teeming with Martha Stewart and Monica Lewinsky, middle-aged centerfolds in Playboy and remotecontrol fireplaces, holiday newsletters that induce nationwide nausea, abuse of apostrophes and timemanagement tips for toddlers.

austinwomanmagazine.com 69

Ruth on aging As usual, I pondered this whole aging dilemma in a very confused way, wondering why I’m far happier than I was when I was younger, but I’m still not that enthusiastic about crow’s feet and imminent death and ageist condescension from smartalecky teenage store clerks who are going to be really sorry when all their tattoos are wrinkled—ha, ha, ha.

70 Austin Woman J u n e 2 0 1 2

She was a Dallas Morning News columnist at the time, her first novel had just been accepted, and her kids and marriage were going great. He had just been named chair of the Psychology Department at Southern Methodist University and was studying the effects of a technique he termed “expressive writing” on people who had undergone trauma. The irony was not lost on the couple. Jamie told the BCRC audience, “I was…my own subject. We had to make a mind-numbing group of decisions. We were completely lost.” A bilateral mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy followed the diagnosis. Despite the upheaval, a curious focus prevailed. “One thing really surprising to me: It was not all miserable,” Pennebaker explains. “I’d always been this fearful, skittish person. I exchanged all these small fears with one enormous terror of dying and leaving my family. It was terrible, but it freed me in a certain way. I had one great fear that was worthy of having, like a strong wind came in and swept away what wasn’t important, [offering] a sense a clarity I hadn’t had before in my life.” In the post-treatment aftermath, different obstacles arose. Pennebaker recalls wanting to ask her doctor, “What do I do now? Remind me. I need you to tell me because I don’t know.” “Nobody understood how lost and Ruth on holiday broken I felt,” she told newsletters the BCRC audience. Stop bragging about your kids. Many im“They just wanted me portant psychological to go on and forget studies have shown and be whoever I’d that children whose been when all this parents yak about them started.” in their annual newsletJamie’s academic ters suffer from tragistudies of people gocally low self-esteem, ing through radiation a startlingly high rate echoed the difficult of acne, bad posture, twitching and hats feelings he and Penworn backward and, nebaker experienced worst of all, they have themselves. During no chance whatsoever treatment, sometimes of getting in to an Ivy patients focus on a League school. magical time in the future when life is great. But the reality can be different. “During treatment, it’s like you’re doing something and making progress. Moving on is not simple,” he said. Pennebaker finished the keynote duet by hitting on an earlier point she’d made concerning her weariness of terms like “cancer gifts” and the battle-heavy language often assigned to those with cancer. She then listed friends who did not survive, “women who

did everything they could do to live, but their cancers were merciless. I have no idea why I survived and they didn’t. There’s no fairness in this. I try to remember that my age and survival aren’t normal at all. I have friends that will never know the contents and sorrows of aging. Strangely, I feel happier than I’ve ever been before. My growing old is a privilege. I want to do it well for all of us.” The audience cheered wildly as the Pennebakers wrapped up their talk with a kiss. That was no photoop moment to wow the crowd. It was the real deal. Asked by email to offer up a few thoughts on his wife, Jamie replies, “On our first date, Ruth stunned me with her wit, raw intelligence and encyclopedic knowledge of people and the world. That she was sexy and a great kisser didn’t hurt either. I feel so blessed to have stumbled in to Ruth’s path. She has done more to make me a good scientist and psychologist than anyone. And she is still sexy and a great kisser.” It’s hard these days to find any couple that has stuck together for 40 years, let alone 40 happy years, which begs the question: Can two people really get along that well for that long? She points out that the night before that loving keynote, they had a nice knockdown, drag-out argument. “My public speaker husband was trying to offer me a little too much advice,” is how she puts it. He is also happy to dispel any false notion that their love has always been nothing but Skittles and peanuts. “As in any marriage, we have had monumental fights and disagreements. But at the end of the day, there is no one I would rather sit and talk with,” he says, adding that he’s particularly smitten with her social skills. “Her mind is a sponge that absorbs all things social. Ask her about my second cousin once removed’s husband, and Ruth is off to the races. I’ve never known what a second cousin is, much less one that has been removed. Another cardinal trait is her fascination about other people, their backgrounds, their emotions, their stories. I think this is what makes her such a remarkable writer. Ruth can stand back and see the different facets of people in an extraordinary way.” Donna Meadows, who’s known the couple for 15 years, heartily concurs with Jamie’s assessment of Pennebaker’s people skills. “She stays connected with literally countless people on the planet and that gives her diverse intellectual stimulation, closeness when she wants and needs it, and countless other benefits only she knows,” says Meadows, speculating that her friend’s interest in others is key to why she’s aged so well. She has other theories too. “I like how she evolves intellectually and creatively. She seems to have a new goal on the horizon most of the time.” Another friend and fellow writer, Carol Dawson,

regularly enjoys the Ruth on perspective My husband worries pleasure of long walks about immortality. I with Pennebaker. worry about next week. “I would rather age alongside Ruth, walking the hike-and-bike trail and listening to her dry, mordant wit as we discuss the poignancy of mortality, the hurdles of our profession, the vagaries and joys of achieving seniority more or less intact, than make that trek alongside anyone else I know,” she says. It’s a bit early to be contemplating Pennebaker’s legacy, but she’s certainly built up a lovely collection so far: deeply dedicated friends, avid readers, her diverse and prolific written work, and her admirable and longstanding marriage. Perhaps the greatest legacy we can hope for, though, is how our children perceive us, and what they take from our lessons. Toward that end, Pennebaker’s daughter, Teal, reveals an inspirational love and admiration for her mother. “I look at her—with her perfect skin, flawless body, authentic beauty—and don’t believe for a moment that she’s over 50,” Teal says. “But then I ask her for life advice, and suddenly her wisdom and timeless humor give her age away. Only someone in her 60s can tell me, her only daughter, about the importance of reading The Group just as readily as why I should never date a man who spends more time on his appearance than me.” And her son, Nick, reports, “If I were a bartender, I would still card my mom. She’s a fantastic woman with countless accomplishments. I’m such a lucky guy to have a mother as smart, witty and beautiful as her.” Clearly, the wit and wisdom have been passed along. For more on Ruth Pennebaker, visit ruthpennebaker. com. The author’s main website serves as a table of contents and includes information on her books, recent blog posts and links to places you can find her writings, including her New York Times Out of Towner column. The Fabulous Geezer Sisters (geezersisters. com) will give you a regular dose of Pennebaker’s hilarious wit and poignant insights. Plus, if you’re lucky, at least one photo per year (which Pennebaker insists is usually taken and uploaded by her husband, Jamie.)

Scan this QR code with your smartphone to watch the BCRC keynote from Ruth and James Pennebaker.

austinwomanmagazine.com 71

Inner FINDING YOUR

CALLING

For three women, doing what you love has no expiration date.

By Molly McManus

or many women, the drill was that you had a career, then retired. Or maybe you got married, then had children. Or possibly both. What is new is that women are staying active well in to what used to be considered their “golden years.” So Austin Woman asked the question: What happens after the career or when the kids leave home? There has to be more, right? For three inspiring women who are now in their 60s, following your true calling has no defintive ending. Their stories speak for themselves.

72 Austin Woman J u n e 2 0 1 2

Pebbles Wadsworth Let’s get one thing straight: Pebbles Wadsworth did not retire. I repeat, she did not retire, and she probably never will. “I refocused,” says the former director of the Performing Arts Center at the University of Texas. “I don’t use the word retired. It doesn’t exist in my vocabulary.” Wadsworth started her career at the University of California, Los Angeles, when she became director of the school’s Performing Arts Center at just 28 years old. At UCLA, she became the first female president of the International Society for the Performing Arts. After working there for more than 15 years, she took the same job at UT, and made an important commitment to herself and UT. She promised that at the age of 60, she would leave her position. “I believe at academic institutions, you need to make room for younger people in faculty,” says the passionate Wadsworth. True to her word, the 59-year-old Wadsworth gave UT her year’s notice. Many didn’t believe she would retire, but one year later, she was gone. Then again, she didn’t retire. She refocused. “[UT] gave me a fabulous ‘refocusing party’ at the Four Seasons. People from all over the world came,” reminisces Wadsworth with a twinkle in her eye. And the woman has a lot to celebrate. With wonderful mentors (like Alvin Ailey) supporting and guiding her, Wadsworth brought an impressive lineup of world-class artists and programs to both UCLA and UT. She broke down racial and cultural barriers, forging and strengthening partnerships that helped transcend boundaries within our nation and beyond, not to mention the fact she extended UT’s artistic reach to various parts of the world. -Pebbles One day while she Wadsworth was still at UT, a student came to her office and asked if she remembered him. When Wadsworth brought 40 Ghanaian artists to UT, she had partnered them with student ambassadors who showed the visitors around campus and the city. The young man was one of those students, telling her he was grateful for the eye-opening experience and would never watch the international news the same way again.

Photo by Margaret Thomas-Barry.

“ I don’'t use the word retired. It doesn’'t exist in my vocabulary.”

“I care about what happens now,” he had said. Despite all of her accomplishments and success, Wadsworth was consumed with questions when she stepped away from her career at UT: Who am I? What am I going to do? Will people want to see me? Wadsworth had been defined by her director title and worried if she was the still the same old Pebbles and what was in store for her personally and professionally. She promised herself and her husband that she would take an entire year off before pursuing the next chapter. The couple traveled the world, experiencing adventures galore, from an international tall-mast sailing cruise and an encounter with Somalian pirates, to Africa, to Bali and back to Texas. She spent a lot of time getting to know herself, and recommends this to everyone. If it means unplugging from your electronics for an hour, or not speaking for a couple hours just to sit with yourself, she believes really knowing yourself will produce surprising results. After reconnecting with her core being, it turned out she hadn’t gone anywhere and her passion for the arts was stronger and more present than ever. Wadsworth returned to her ranch in Smithville, TX, and began her plans to open a space that would bring arts and culture to the region, something she felt rural areas were missing. The day after returning from her yearlong vacation, Wadsworth drove by an old Victorian home in downtown Smithville. A sign on the front read, “$5,000 — Must Move.” She just had to have it. Unfortunately, a close friend informed her there were plans for the home to be sold the next day with a deposit of $250. This was entirely unacceptable. Wadsworth marched down to the bank, explaining her intentions to the president. “I know someone’s coming to buy it tomorrow and

I’d like to buy it today. Here’s $250.” As she retells the story, she exclaims with enthusiasm, “And he said, ‘Sold!’” The building, dating back to the early 1800s, was transferred to her ranch property, beginning the seven-month-long renovation. Thoughtful donations from close friends added to the overall feel of the intimate space: wooden seats from historic arts and science college Cooper Union and a beautiful Yamaha piano. There is so much beauty and history to the building, each piece of furniture, musical instrument and artwork, it makes the hair on your arms stand on end upon entering. In 2009, Wadsworth opened The Arts Cottage, which is not only a 501(c)3 nonprofit, but also a concept for using the arts as a tool to educate and create community in rural areas. In its third season, The Arts Cottage has sold out every performance and event, giving back $39,000 to the community of Smithville. A typical evening at the Cottage might feature either a local or nationally known musician and artwork by a Smithville citizen. Dinner is served by Chef Mike Morphew, and wine flows as guests watch the sunset on the large wrap-around porch. The proceeds from the night are donated to various charities, organizations, people and causes, all from the local community. Beyond this, The Arts Cottage is also used for dance and cooking lessons, yoga and so much more. Only an hour outside Austin, The Arts Cottage draws audiences from throughout Travis, Hays and Bastrop counties, the United States and the world. Wadsworth has a network of amazing people and will continue expanding it and her passion for the arts until the day she…let’s just say, refocuses.

austinwomanmagazine.com 73

judith jones At age 61, Judith Jones was ordained as an Episcopalian priest. Born and raised in Austin, Jones had always been deeply religious. Despite her devotion, each device Jones deployed for God never seemed like it was enough. Throughout her life, she perpetually tried to fill that void. The Episcopal Church, also known as the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, is an Anglican Christian church that is something in between Protestant and Catholic. It was organized shortly after the American Revolution, when it separated from the Church of England. The Episcopalian religion calls for belief in the middle way, for compromise between extremes. Jones wasn’t always Episcopalian, and she cer-

74 Austin Woman J u n e 2 0 1 2

tainly never considered priesthood. Raised Southern Baptist, she attended Austin High School, going on to study at the University of Texas, thinking she would teach elementary school. Not taking it seriously, Jones dropped out of school and married her high-school sweetheart. Jones’ husband was in medical school during the early stages of their marriage, and wanted to be a medical missionary. Jones hoped assisting her husband on missionary trips would be the answer to how she could serve God. “It did not work out that way,” Jones explains. “[My husband] kind of lost his faith along the way during medical school and went a totally different direction.” A year after he received his medical degree, the couple divorced. Recentering, Jones continued to be active in her church, volunteering her time, singing in the choir and helping out with Sunday school. She went to work in the family business, the Whitley Printing Company, now known as the Whitley Group, one of the oldest businesses in Austin that is still in operation today. Jones was the first female printing sales person in Austin. In 1985, Jones married her current husband and life partner. He was Episcopalian and she converted so they could marry at his church, St. David’s in downtown Austin. “I’ve always really liked the service and the liturgy, the way [they] do things,” Jones says. Jones and her husband were very involved at St. David’s, and shortly after they married, Jones returned to her volunteering, this time at St. David’s, singing in the choir, working in the bookshop. You name it, she did it. “Every time I would do something, I would get this feeling. ‘OK, God, is this enough?’” she would ask. “There was always this inner turmoil of do more, do more. Every time, it just wasn’t it.” One night, Jones was sitting at home in her library, studying the Bible. While answering questions in the workbook Experiencing God, Jones felt what she describes as a thud inside her. “It became very obvious that God was calling me towards the priesthood.

‘No, you can’t mean that,’” she had whispered back to him. “But it was obviously so. I didn’t decide to become a priest. I finally realized that I had not been saying yes to God, which I thought I had. This was something that God wanted me to do and I just couldn’t say no anymore. It scared me to death.” This also required a return to college. Terrified, she faced the challenge head on, enrolling in St. Edward’s new college for adult learners. Jones had almost completed her bachelor’s degree when her parents became terminally ill. With her father battling cancer and her mother having Alzheimer’s, Jones dropped out of school to take care of them. “I didn’t understand that it was all part of my training,” Jones -Judith Jones says. “The empathy and the understanding of people going through [illnesses] taught me so much more than book learning ever could about how to be with people who are dealing with trauma.” When Jones returned to school, she enrolled in the Iona School for Ministry at St. Edward’s, which is a program that fills a need for small mission churches that don’t have the wherewithal to pay a priest. A few years later, Jones became the priest for St. Paul’s in Pflugerville. Learning acceptance and not judging others, Jones feels as though she has been given a gift by God to love people. This stems from her belief that God truly is love, pure, overwhelmingly beautiful and complete love. From her awakening, she saw clearly and speaks with conviction that Jesus is alive as much as we are, if not more so because of his overwhelming existence through his love and care that is present with every breath we take. With this newfound knowledge and life purpose, Jones immersed herself in the priesthood with opens arms and an open heart. “I’m just having a whole lot of fun,” Jones declares excitedly. “I can’t believe they let me do this!” Jones’ duties include weekly sermons, which often turn in to discussion and dialogue with the congregation; overseeing Sunday school; house and hospital visits; and being very engaged in the community. St. Paul’s is truly like a family, having monthly potlucks, serving the homeless population of Austin and fundraising for various nonprofits and charities. Jones’ advice to those questioning what they’re doing is to “absolutely go for it,” embracing your life purpose. “If you do it, you’ll never be sorry, and if you don’t, you’ll always wonder,” she says. “It’s never too late. Never too late.” What wonderful advice from a woman who found her true calling at age 61.

“ I'm just

having a whole lot of fun. I can'’t’ believe they let me do this.”

Photos by Rudy Arocha.

Marsha Cook “If you don’t lower your aspirations, you’re going to end up selling flowers on the street corner,” the man said. It was 1976, and Marsha Cook was interviewing for a bookkeeping position after moving to Austin from Houston. “I walked out of that office and thought, ‘I’ll show him,’” Cook recalls. In her early 20s, Cook was unfazed by the man in the suit and tie behind his fancy desk. In fact, she hardly ever thinks about that day anymore. However, at the time, it was exactly what she needed to keep her motivated and driven, convinced of her own potential. Shortly after that incident, Cook started a job with Texas Monthly in the publication’s accounting department. The magazine was in a growth mode, and so was Cook. It was the perfect place for the aspiring young woman. During her 28 years with Texas Monthly, Cook worked her way up the corporate ladder from bookkeeper to general manager to executive vice president and chief operating officer to the president of Texas Monthly’s custom publishing, doing anything and everything in between. “At Texas Monthly, we prided ourselves on being a journal of record and being absolutely correct in the writing, the sentence structure, the punctuation. There would be huge arguments about that in the editorial room. If it went to print and there was an error, we would just die,” Cook says of the high stress and pressure of working at the magazine. The job was all-consuming and demanded all of her time. She’d even receive urgent work calls in the middle of the night. With a successful full-time career behind her, Cook decided to retire from Texas Monthly in 2004 to spend more time with her then 11-year-old son. “I left thinking that was it, and I had worked my life’s work,” she says. As it turned out, Cook was wrong. It seems that Cook’s not the mother who’s going to bake brownies or play the typical stay-at-homemom role. She remembers getting too involved with her son’s school, volunteering on every board, for every field trip, to the point that her son was resenting her for it. Deciding to get back in the workforce, Cook wanted to do it differently, find a position that was close to her heart, her core values, fulfilling her life’s passion. “I have always had a need deep down to help people,” Cook explains, that desire directing her toward the nonprofit world.

St. David’s Foundation reached out to Cook for help with the development of its dental program. As soon as Cook saw what the program was about and what it could do, she immediately jumped on board, helping to grow the organization as executive director. The St. David’s Foundation Dental Program benefits elementary school students who do not have access to dental care. Cook, loving youth and loving being able to assist them, expanded the program, adding new systems and staff when necessary, ultimately taking it to the next level. When she felt that she had accomplished what she needed to with the position, she took time off again to be with her son, who was then in high school. “I was positive he needed me then,” Cook laughs sarcastically. When her son graduated, she decided to get back to work looking for a nonprofit that needed her and was in line with her passions. In 2011, Cook’s mother passed away. Cook was stricken with grief, and Hospice Austin offered her one-on-one counseling after her mother’s death. She was able to work through her grief with the counseling, astounded by the difference it made in her recovery. So when she found My Healing Place in 2012, she knew it was the place for her to begin her next chapter. My Healing Place offers grief and trauma coun-

seling for anyone dealing with death, divorce or any other loss or trauma. The organization offers services on a sliding scale for people who can’t pay the full price and will not turn anyone away. The program is in its fifth year, with Cook serving as executive director for the past five months. The group works with a wide range of people: adults and children, in individual and group settings. “[My Healing Place] helps people get to the other side of grief. It’s a positive way of looking at grief therapy. Not everyone looks at it that way,” Cook says. Cook, now 60, regrets nothing about her life. She loved working at Texas Monthly because of the “intelligent and fun people” she worked with and the product they put out each month. The skills she gained working for the magazine—negotiation, human resources, proposal development, personnel management, accounting, systems and technology, strategic planning—all apply in the nonprofit sector and have made her an invaluable resource for My Healing Place. “As your life changes over time, so do your reasons for working, and at any point you can change your mind and do something different,” Cook encourages. Her inspiring message is something anyone can learn from: It’s never too late (or too early) to trust your gut and follow your heart. Listen to yourself and follow your passion.

austinwomanmagazine.com 75

10 year anniversary

Austin Woman magazine 2007 - 2008 Phenomenal women participating in Austin’s growth and innovative endeavors. By Deborah Hamilton-Lynne The sixth year of Austin Woman brought several phenomenal women into the spotlight. Austin was experiencing record growth. The local arts organizations were getting a permanent home at The Long Center, and Austin women were being recognized for their innovative ideas and endeavors. The magazine set out to celebrate these phenomenal women and their achievements as a beacon to other women, as if to say, “Jump on the band wagon. You can do it.” As a writer for Austin Woman, I wrote five of the 12 profiles in that sixth year. While many of these profiles stand out in my memory due to the poise, accomplishments and dedication to Austin of the subjects, none fills my mind more than Karen Kuykendall. Kuykendall was a force of nature. She was a superb actress who had served as both a muse and a mentor for me. I had written a short one-act play for her, Nana’s Closet, which she vowed to perform as a fundraiser for Zach Scott Theatre to contribute capital needed to renovate the theater stage, which was being named in her honor. Unfortunately, a critical illness would prevent that from happening. Knowing that she was very ill, I convinced Editor Mary Anne Connolly and Publisher

Melinda Garvey to let me tell her story and put her on the cover of Austin Woman. Time was indeed short, and we received the news that Karen had passed away the day before the issue hit the streets. “The day the November 2007 issue of Austin Woman arrived from the printer, we learned that beloved and legendary actress and community leader Karen Kuykendall had died,” Garvey recalls. “We worried about the effect the cover story would have on her family and were relieved and humbled when they called us to say what a wonderful tribute—and perfect timing—it was to celebrate the life of such an amazing woman. Once again, we were reminded of the true purpose and mission of Austin Woman.” Many of the cover women of 2007 to 2008 have an amazing legacy: the Karen Kuykendall Stage at Zach Scott Theatre; Cookie Ruiz and the growth and innovative development at Ballet Austin; Teresa and Joe Long, and their unprecedented leadership and gift to Austin of The Long Center for the Performing Arts; Donna Howard’s legislative championship of the rights of women and children; Elizabeth Avellan breaking the glass ceiling in film production; Olga Campos’ journalistic integrity; Caroline Boudreaux’s innovative international social philanthropy; Rosie Babin’s groundbreaking organization, Help Our Wounded; Sylvia Orozco and the Mexi-Carte Museum; Gail Goestenkors and the University of Texas Lady Longhorns; and Dorsey Barger and the local-food movement of the Eastside Café. 2007 to 2008 was a year for growth and innovation in

Austin, with the opening of the much-anticipated Long Center for Performing Arts, and Austin Woman magazine was excited to follow suit. After years of hearing from men that they wanted a magazine of their own, Garvey finally put pen to paper and wrote a business plan for Austin Man magazine. It would not come to fruition until June 2011, due to the swings in the economy, but the dream was born that year. The February 2008 Austin Woman cover woman, Ruthie Foster, was billed as a singer-songwriter with a poet’s soul and a heart of gold. She had five CDs to her credit, including The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, which was released in 2007 to rave reviews. Her song Phenomenal Woman paid tribute to poet Maya Angelou, and Foster was recognized as one of the most powerful and soulful voices in modern blues. Of the poem and song she said, “Phenomenal Woman is so powerful. To think that all women can see themselves as beautiful and strong, as smart and sexy, it says it all. It is what I want to be about. I want to keep it real.” Keeping it real is exactly what Ruthie Foster has been up to since that 2008 cover. She has since released The Truth According to Ruthie Foster, Live at Antone’s and her latest CD, Let It Burn. She has toured the world, been nominated for a Grammy, won the Koko Taylor Award twice, has been named Blues Artist of the Year (female), Best Traditional and Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year by the Blues Music Awards. I caught up with her on the morning after she had received the Best Traditional

cover women through the years 2007

2008 FREE

FREE

September 2007

Vol. VI, No. 1

Ballet Austin’s Cookie Ruiz

October 2007

Vol. VI, No. 2

November 2007

Arts Giving

Elizabeth Avellán

Holiday Gifts + Books SEXY SOMMELIERS COSMETIC SURGERY – PT. 2

austinwoman classics Classically Austin

FITNESS, MUSIC + TRAVEL WARDROBE REHAB

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH COSMETIC SURGERY SERIES – PT. 1

Finding Clarity, Getting Organized Beaders, StyleShakers, Aussie Winemakers TRAVEL: San Francisco + South Walton Beach

th 5

Hormones + Health (Pt. 5)

shop gift

WILD GAME DINNERS ART + MUSIC NEWS

December 2007

Vol. VI, No. 4

Olga Campos

THE GIFT ISSUE

MOVIE MAVEN

Celebrating their 50th Season

Vol. VI, No. 3

Karen Kuykendall Austin’s Star Performer Flies High

special tear-out section

Austin Media Star

ull-

State Representative

DONNA HOWARD

HOLIDAY

Gifts, Books, Gadgets + Treats

February 2008

Vol. VI, No. 6

Ruthie Foster

Phenomenal Austin Woman

The Beauty Issue What Keeps Austin

(Women) Beautiful...

Our Bodies, Our Souls, Our City

Power Politicas

Austin’s Changing Face Jewish Film, Vintage Fashion + Yoga

Black History Month Silent Racism, Senior Humor, Organic Chocolates + Beauty Products Weight Loss Series Pt. 1 Hotel ZaZa

Ranching With a Purpose Cosmetic Surgery Pt. 4

Cosmetic Surgery Pt. 3 The Jazzercise Revolution

ME ction HO out se

cia

Vol. VI, No. 5

2008

VIVA VOLUNTEERS!

ary ers niv

FREE

January 2008

ELECTION YEAR

HOLIDAY ISSUE

INSIDE

An Issue

FREE

SID

September

October

november

december

january

february

Cookie Ruiz

Elizabeth Avellán

Karen Kuykendall

Olga Campos

Donna Howard

Ruthie Foster

76 Austin Woman J u n e 2 0 1 2

Ruthie Foster

Female Blues Artist Award and the DVD of the Year Award at the 2012 Blues Music Awards in May. She was buoyant when we spoke and rightfully so. Making a living as a musician is no easy task, with an endless cycle of writing, recording and producing new work, touring and sacrificing time with family to be on the road connecting with fans. Recognition by her peers and the Blues Music Awards helps justify the long hours, dedication and hard work Foster devotes to her career. The most important change in Fosterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life since the 2008 cover is the addition of her life partner, Katie, and baby Maya. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to have children and I had accepted that I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a mother,â&#x20AC;? Foster says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy being a mother and I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sure that with my career I wanted a child, but I met someone and fell in love and she wanted to have kids. It was a beautiful thing to watch Katieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pregnancy and we are so glad that we have Maya. She is the joy of my life. Now when I come off the road, I am at home, at home being a mom.â&#x20AC;? Home for Foster, Katie and Maya is South Austin. Foster loves being close to Central Market, South Congress Avenue and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;funky sideâ&#x20AC;? of Austin. The pair is committed to a lifelong partnership and, although they have not married in a state that allows them to marry, Foster has taken the steps to be recognized as Mayaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal guardian in order to be able to make parental decisions where her daughter is concerned in areas such as health and education. Life, personally and professionally, for Foster is good.

She continues to write, record and tour. Her new CD, Let it Burn, showcases Fosterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vocal skills sans her signature guitar. Concentrating solely on vocals allowed her to be relaxed and open, improvise and go with what seemed natural to her, including lapsing in to scat on one track. Recorded in New Orleans, she performed with the likes of The Blind Boys of Alabama, Dave Easley and Ike Stubblefield. Featuring cover tunes from Johnny Cash and Los Lobos, Foster created new arrangements and made the familiar songs her own. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This CD was pure serendipity. I carried the idea for it around in my head for years and it finally just happened exactly the way I hoped it would,â&#x20AC;? Foster says. So what is The Truth According to Ruthie Foster?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you feel that something is not right or off, even though you may not know exactly what that is, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to honor your truth and trust yourself,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stand up and let people know where you do and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to go. Being true is about getting in touch with what feels right for you. It is about knowing who you are and sticking with that. Then you are ready to take the first step. One of my favorite quotes is from St. Francis of Assisi, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Start by doing whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s necessary; then do whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; That relates to every aspect of life: health, finances, relationships and career.â&#x20AC;? On June 3, Foster will perform at the Kerrville Folk Festival before embarking on a European tour. Follow her at ruthiefoster.com.

B Save the Date Tenth anniversary event, Sept. 7. Presented by H-E-B and sponsored by Land Rover and Jaguar.

Vol. VI, No. 7

Teresa

Bringing the Arts to All of Austin

Vol. VI, No. 9

The

Eastside CafĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Dorsey Barger

Coach Gail Goestenkors

Generation Next

ofLonghornWomenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sBasketball

Women Who Will Live and Create at the Long Center

Weight Loss Series Pt. 2

Culinary Chicks

Weight Loss Series - Pt. 4

Affordable Wines Debra Winger

Martial Arts Doulas, Junkbusters + Bourbon

Weight Loss Series Pt. 3

$IPPTF B CPBSE DFSUJGJFE TVSHFPO BOE WFJO T Q F D J B M J T U U P U S F B U O P U P O M Z U I F B Q Q F B S B O D F P G Z P V S WBSJDPTF PS TQJEFS WFJOT CVU BMTP UIF DBVTF x 'SFF *OJUJBM 4DSFFOJOH x *OTVSBODF "DDFQUFE x $BSF $SFEJU "WBJMBCMF

The Perfect Pantry

& N F S Z 8 % J M M J O H . %

The

Gals

The Miracle Foundation

International Issue

Photography T Q F D J B M J T U U P U S F B U O P U P O M Z U I F B Q Q F B S B O D F P G Z P V S Travel W B S J D P T F P S T Q J E F S W F J O T C V U B M T P U I F D B V T F

$IPPTF B CPBSE DFSUJGJFE TVSHFPO BOE WFJO

Summer Reads Weekend Freebies

& N F S Z 8 % J M M J O H . %

shop n io fashSec tion Special

Babies, Breastfeeding + Beijing

x 'SFF *OJUJBM 4DSFFOJOH

Green Remodeling â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pt. 2 7&*/ Weight Loss Series â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pt. 6 X X X WF J O T P M V U J P O T DP N

Sand Volleyball

Waterwise Landscapes

New Siz

A DIVISION OFLook, New line! $BSEJPUIPSBDJD BOE 7BTDVMBS 4VSHFPOT Now On

July 2008

A DIVISION OF $BSEJPUIPSBDJD BOE Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Polo 7BTDVMBS 4VSHFPOT

Rosie Babin A Story of One Familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dedication, Devotion + Hope

10 Cool Ways to Beat the Heat

Bob Mackie x *OTVSBODF "DDFQUFE Cokie Roberts x $BSF $SFEJU "WBJMBCMF

Weight Loss Series, Pt. 5 Green Remodeling

7&*/ X X X WF J O T P M V U J P O T DP N

The

7BS J D P T F 7FJOT BOUDREAUX /PX

August 2008

Puerto Vallarta

Vol. VI, No. 12

Family Issue

& MJ NJOBUF Z P VS

Women + Their Work Sex + This City

August 2008

Vol. VI, No. 11

4 QJEFS BOE Caroline

Women of UT / PX

Power Latinas

Dazzling Divas

July 2008

&MJNJOBUF ZPVS 4QJEFS BOE The XX 7BFactor S J D P T F 7F J O T

Sylvia Orozco

FREE

XP O U XBJU

Vol. VI, No. 10

Mexic-Arteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Food

Issue

6XPPHU

FREE

XP O U X B J U

June 2008

www.austinwomanmagazine.com

of the Long Center for the Performing Arts

6XPPHU

FREE

May 2008

Vol. VI, No. 8

www.austinwomanmagazine.com

Long

FREE

April 2008

GLOBAL

FREE

March 2008

Childhood Obesity

march

april

may

june

july

august

Teresa Long

Dorsey Barger

Sylvia Orozco

Gail Goestenkors

Caroline Boudreaux

Rosie Babin

austinwomanmagazine.com 77

Anthony Ogidi I have two words for you: Anthony Ogidi (pronounced: “Oh Giddy!”). Meet the blithe, beautiful and buff bloke of Treaty Oak Distilling Co. Ogidi, 24, is a distiller, helping to produce Treaty Oak’s Waterloo Gin, Treaty Oak Rum and Graham’s Texas Tea Vodka. Raised in South Austin, Ogidi remains very connected to his family. The oldest of seven, he’s practically a third parent to his brothers. That’s right, seven boys. Oh, their poor mother! Ogidi loves to camp and fish, and is planning a trip for his 12-year-old brother, Liam, who’s never been fishing before. Swooning yet? Always dressed to the nines, Ogidi got his style from working years in the world of retail. At Dillard’s, his favorite

78 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

simply irresistible

coworker introduced Ogidi to his son, Daniel Barnes, owner of Treaty Oak. With a strong work ethic and interest in learning from a small business, Ogidi was a perfect fit. In addition to his entrepreneurial spirit, Ogidi loves fast cars. To keep up with this pleasure seeker, I’d suggest you fasten your adventure seatbelt. He has dreams of traveling abroad, and plans to skydive at the end of the month. “I want to get my [skydiving] license. There’s this thing called squirrel suits. Have you seen that? Oh…my… god,” he says, immersed in his fantasy. As he returns from dreamland, I ask why he wants to skydive. “Do you know how many dreams I have about flying?” He smiles, his goofy sense of humor shining through. Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker and Ogidi is…simply irresistible. OK, so it doesn’t rhyme, but you catch my drift. For a date with Ogidi, call 512. … You didn’t really think I was going to give you his number, did you? -Molly McManus

Photo by Rudy Arocha.

opposite sex /

Selected as Austin Man Magazine’s Guilty Pleasure ~ December 2011

Every Sunday is Father & Sonday at Finley’s, where Dads and their Sons enjoy 20% off services. Finley’s services, directions and a list of specials are online @ finleysformen.com

Lakeway ~ (512) 394-8684 Westlake ~ (512) 520-8326 schedule your dad’s experience online @ finleysformen.com

opposite sex /

relationships

Making It Work Establishing your limits without losing yourself in the process. By Eric J. Leech How much effort should it take to make a relationship work? Is there any limit to what you would do to make a partner happy? We all have our limits, but what yours should be may not always be completely clear. In this column, we look at how much effort should be put in to your relationships without losing yourself in the process.

Good Investments in Effort Tell Your Partner What You Need Romance novels may be to blame for your lack of effort simply because many women have been convinced that men should be able to read their minds. Isn’t a soul mate supposed to know what you need? Yes, but only after you have communicated it to them clearly. It takes effort to express your needs. However, this is the only way you’re ever going to get what you want. It is Not Your Partner Who Must Bend; It is You Another problem caused by expectation is waiting on your partner to make things better for you. According to surveys, most cheating spouses believe things could improve if only their partner would get off their duff and make an effort. The problem is, where is their effort? This is the partner who is cheating, however, they don’t want to take an active role in the solution. Take responsibility for your own happiness and you’ll be more likely to find it. Romance Isn’t Lost or Found; It is Earned! There are thousands of articles in magazines aimed at regaining lost romance. I’ve got great news for you: It didn’t go anywhere. You and your partner have just not been putting in as much effort as you once did. What makes matters worse, as relationships wear on, oxy-

80 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

tocin levels in the brain taper off and you are left with less desire to make an effort. There are no shortcuts to maintaining romance other than thinking up creative ideas and following through with them.

When Effort is Wasted Jealousy is a No-Win For those who are dealing with a jealous partner, this is one area in which your effort is just being thrown away. Jealousy is rarely caused by the person who is supposedly creating the problem. It is a personal problem caused by a lack of confidence and security. You can’t give your partner self-confidence no matter how hard you try. It is something your partner must discover for themselves. The Effort to be Right Winning arguments is another area in which couples expend an extraordinary amount of energy. Even if you are successful, it will leave a sticky residue on the relationship, which will guarantee hard feelings the next time conflict arises. A better way to invest your effort is to incorporate compromise in to your solutions, taking turns getting what you want or pulling in a third party (counselor) whenever you really find yourselves against a wall.

A Strong Work Ethic Hard work is a factor behind much of your individual success. However, in relationships, if you set the precedent to work overtime in order to be successful, you’ll eventually run out of steam. If you’ve ever experienced a partner who was never happy no matter how hard you tried, you can appreciate the limits of your labor. If you no longer enjoy spending time with a partner, you are giving too much. Good relationships require effort. Even so, that effort should flow smoothly without causing undue stress in the process. Cutting Your Losses Knowing when to cut your losses is a popular phrase for business investments and lemon cars, but not so much for relationship management. Most of us are cautious with our time. Spending 20 years with a partner only to “throw it all away” may be hard to accept. This is your greatest dilemma when dealing with a relationship on the rocks. According to research, the best way to know if you are investing your years to a worthy cause is to focus on what you’ll gain by staying rather than what you’ll lose by leaving.

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T BE THE LAST TO HEAR

Specializing in Quality of Life & Healthcare for women * Have you Completed your family? We offer in-office permanenet sterilization with no incision, and no downtime.

Long-Term Care Insurance Support far beyond money

* Do you experience heavy bleeding every month? We perform in-office Endometrial Ablation procedures to end those painful periods. * Have you been diagnosed with fibroids, endometriosis or ovarian cysts? We specialize in minimally invasive DaVinci Robotic Surgery. * Not happy with your weight? Start our Ideal Protein Diet for the perfect new you in 2012! *Do you struggle with urinary incontinence or persistent pelvic pain? We offer specialized testing to identify your issue and therapeutic techniques to solve them in the comfort of our office.

Too often family members pay the emotional, physical and financial costs of caring for a loved one over an extended period of time.

Our long-term care

insurance can help support caregivers by

eliminating

the

guesswork

and

providing care choices and planning services during a potentially stressful time in your and your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. Talk to a New York Life Insurance Company Agent. Find out if long-term Lisa M. Jukes, M.D.

care insurance is right for you.

They

offer knowledge and experience to help protect retirement income, standard of living and quality of life for you and those you love.

Mary Brown, C.F.N.P.

June Kassell, W.H.N.P.

Mary Cummings CLTC, LTCP Agent

SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR BONUS EDITORIAL, EVENT INVITES + MORE! AUSTINWOMANMAGAZINE.COM

We are located in the Westlake Medical Center 5656 Bee Cave Road, Suite D-203 Austin, TX 78746 (512) 301-6767

512-243-6617 mgcummings@ft.newyorklife.com 6200 Bridgepoint Parkway Suite 400 Austin, TX 78730

351662CV-C The purpose of this material is solicitation of insurance. An insurance producer may contact you. 2007 New York Life Insurance Company, 51 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010.

opposite sex /

memo from jb

The Allure of Fifty Shades of Grey How I found myself in line at the returns counter at Home Depot. By JB Hager / Photo by Rudy Arocha I jokingly called the customer-service desk at the nearest Home Depot to find out if hardware sales are up for 2012. In particular, I inquired about nylon rope, pulleys, chains and clamps. The woman on the other end of the phone asked what this was regarding. Laughing, I snarkily replied, “I’m doing a do-it-yourself guide to building a red room of pain.” She laughed hysterically and responded, “So, you’ve read Fifty Shades of Grey.” Yes I have, and you ladies have been very, very naughty during the last six months, at least inside your heads. How many of you are acting on this is yet to be seen, but yes, sales are up a bit at the Depot. I’ve always had a curiosity about what women are reading. It started when I was young and noticed my sister and her friends were reading Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. I learned that girls are a messy bunch and need a laundry list of products to wear white jeans. As a young adult, I read The Bridges of Madison County just because I saw every woman reading it. What I learned from that book is that you never offer to take the kids to the state fair, at least not alone, leaving the wife at home to fend for herself, so to speak. It goes on: Men Are From Mars, Women are From Venus author John Gray did his very best to explain why men and women don’t understand each other. He was on Oprah every other day and explained things like this: Guy says, “I’m running to the convenience store. Would you like some plain or peanut M&Ms?” What she hears is, “I don’t hear you when your lips move and I’d like to go watch the ballgame with the guys tonight.” Then there was Eat, Pray, Love. This verified that a woman must visit at least three foreign countries to better understand her personal relationship with men, spaghetti and yoga. Oh, and when you think she’s in the restroom taking care of business, she’s actually on the tile floor in the fetal position, crying. That brings us to the book on everyone’s lips, televi-

82 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

I realized I have been much too soft, caring and sensitive. Women don’t want to be coddled. She wants to be told what to do, tied up and possibly thrown into a basement pit. I mean, that has to be right. After all, why do so many women love this book? sion talk shows and computer screens, the book to read this summer: Fifty Shades of Grey. This is a story of a woman in her early 20s who apparently never had a single thought about sex in any manner whatsoever her entire life. Most girls first learned about that special feeling as a child riding a coin-op pony outside a K-mart, but not this romantic heroine, not Anastasia. She is lured in to her desires by a billionaire in his 20s who’s not Mark Zuckerberg, a guy named Christian Grey. How we’ve never heard of him, I don’t know. Christian enjoys dominating, degrading and defiling women. He likes to say things like, “I am going to spank you and then ______ you.” If I said that to my wife, she would most likely respond, “Oh really? Then I’m going to leave you and flip you off in the rearview mirror.” After reading Fifty Shades of Grey, I thought I had it figured out. I realized I have been much too soft,

caring and sensitive. Women don’t want to be coddled. She wants to be told what to do, tied up and possibly thrown into a basement pit. I mean, that has to be right. After all, why do so many women love this book? I made my first move. I sent her to a dominationtoy website that shall remain nameless. I attached a note, “Pick out whatever you like,” and signed it with a smiley face. Her response was, “Why don’t you try this site (toysrus.com)? It’s more your speed. You’re no Christian Grey. He was born after the Cold War was over and you, sir, were born before cars had seatbelts. Also, our credit card was just rejected at H-E-B. Let’s catch up over a turkey potpie tonight. Love, Erin.” Point well taken, my dear. I’m heading to Home Depot to return a few things. JB Hager can be heard as part of the JB and Sandy Morning Show on Mix 94.7 Austin weekdays 6 to 10 a.m.

First

Anniversary Comment to win big with our Grill Skills Giveaway!

We’re giving away a grill from BBQ Outfitters. Go ahead, make your neighbors jealous. And hungry. The grill is a stainless steel, gas-propelled work of art valued at over $1,800. * Win this backyard beauty in 3 simple steps:

June 2012 atxman.com

June 20, 6-8 PM BMW of Austin To RSVP, visit conta.cc/atxlaunch.

RSVP for the ATX Man 1st Anniversary Party.

Visit us on Facebook (facebook.com/atxman) and check out our weekly “Got Grill Skills?” post.

Leave comment on one of our weekly “Got Grill Skills?” posts. The Master Griller will be announced at the ATX Man 1st Anniversary Party on June 20th – must be present to win!

SPONSORS Music by May AW Cover Woman Courtney Sanchez ®

Music by May AW Cover Woman Courtney Sanchez

*Actual prize model & accessories may vary, but will be valued at $1,800.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY IT FORWARD?

the giving man pledge POWERED BY ATXMAN.COM Let everyone know how you plan to make the city a better place. It’s easy, it’s fast, and, of course, it’s free! The Giving Man Pledge is all about showing your gratitude by paying it forward. What do you stand for? What could you do? Visit an elderly home. Volunteer with a local charity. Pay for a stranger’s coffee. Can’t think of anything? Then find out what your neighbors have pledged online at atxman.com/givingmanpledge. Sign up, get your wristband and leave a mark on your hometown!

“MY GIVING MAN PLEDGE IS TO

perform at least one random act of kindness each month. I believe that a little unexpected generosity can go a long way.” -Rachel Isenhower

“MY GIVING MAN PLEDGE IS TO

to launch the Alan J. Zeplain Fund in memory of my father and for my 25th birthday. This year’s goal of the fund is to raise $25,000 to benefit HeartGift.” -Adam J. Zeplain

“MY GIVING MAN PLEDGE IS TO be an advocate for children who

have been abused or neglected by volunteering with CASA of Travis County.” -Kari Rouse

To see your pledge here go online and share with us by submitting at: atxman.com/givingmanpledge.

BENEFICIARIES

congratulations ywca greater austinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2012 women of the year leader of promise rebecca snearly lifetime achievement sandra a. martin racial justice florinda bryant

womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic empowerment krista del gallo young woman of achievement victoria volker

ywca women of the year awards soiree friday, june 15, 2012 6:30 till 9:30 p.m. for ticket information, please visit www.ywcaaustin.org

greater austin

savvy woman /

you should know

Adventure Travel Jean Warneke and JB Journeys advocate sustainable travel and ‘voluntourism.’ By Rachel Merriman The saying “it’s not the destination, but the journey” offers sage advice, but when it comes to the multi-billion-dollar tourism industry, a traveler’s destination is what matters most. The physical means by which we travel to faraway countries—often a plane ride that gives off harmful carbon emissions—can be detrimental to the environment, and mass tourism negatively impacts the local economies of our destinations in a variety of ways. Jean Warneke founded JB Journeys in 2006 as a counterpoint to the effects of mass tourism, offering what she calls “responsible adventure travel” to solo travelers and small groups. Responsible adventure traveling means adopting sustainable practices to reduce the impact of tourism on countries, which helps local environments, cultures and economies to thrive. Resorts and hotels comprise a large portion of revenue in the travel industry, but often, they aren’t owned or staffed by local people. As a result, money spent by tourists on lodging doesn’t get cycled back in to the local economy. Simply by staying at a locally owned hotel staffed by just 25 people, Warneke points out, you’ll help to sustain multiple families, and by extension, their traditional culture and way of life. “We want to be able to see that what we’re doing and what we’re paying for has an impact on their lives,” Warneke says. Warneke carefully examines hotels to determine their level of commitment to sustainability. In addition to confirming that hotels are staffed by locals who receive a living wage, she asks each hotel a series of questions: Where does the food come from? How much waste is being generated? How much energy is being used? A few hotels JB Journeys supports are completely off the grid, using solar power as their primary energy source. A chef at a hotel JB Journeys supports in Panama uses an astoundingly high percentage of local food, estimating that only 5 percent is imported from out of the country. Though these elements might seem small in the grand scheme of things, the sense

86 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

of empowerment they give people is huge, especially in countries devastated by pollution and stricken with poverty as a result of mass tourism. “A lot of people look at their vacation and think, ‘What is this vacation going to do for me?’ We can’t just go and take. We have to give too,” Warneke says. Giving is something Warneke incorporates in to many of JB Journeys’ travel packages. She calls these trips “voluntourism,” a combination of volunteer work and a leisurely vacation. In August, Warneke and JB Journeys will embark on a philanthropic African safari trip benefiting Well Aware, an Austin nonprofit organization that works to provide sustainable water systems to villages in Kenya. The vacation will give Well Aware donors the amazing experience of visiting Africa, but also the ability to connect with the people they’re helping face to face. “More and more, people want to combine their hobbies and do something bigger than themselves on their vacation,” Warneke says. Respecting and learning about indigenous culture is an additional aspect of responsible travel, and many of the travel packages JB Journeys offers have a strong focus on preserving history and culture. This July, Warneke will hike the El Camino Real trail across Panama with a small group, retracing the steps of the Spanish conquistadors who used the route to transport gold they plundered from the native people. She’ll also accompany a group to the Mayan ruins of Copán in Honduras on Dec. 21. The group will meet leading Mayan scholars and archaeologists for a discussion on the end of the Mayan

calendar, and become privy to sacred Mayan rituals. Besides highly important rituals, if there’s anything that brings people of all cultures together, it’s food. Having just ended a successful culinary tour in Panama, Warneke is currently working on putting together a Gastronomy Guatemala tour. Travelers will pick coffee beans and participate in the roasting process, make traditional Mayan chocolate and visit a native person’s home to make a traditional meal with locally grown ingredients. “We want people to meet their peers in other countries and get their hands dirty, go pick vegetables,” Warneke says. Warneke and Barbara Baggett, both lifelong birders and nature lovers, also encourage their clients to support various conservation efforts on their trips. They support the American Birding Association and their offshoot program, Birders’ Exchange, which provides binoculars and educational materials to birdwatchers and conservationists throughout Latin America. If bird-watching enthusiasts have a pair of binoculars or other materials to donate, JB Journeys can design a trip that connects them with birders and conservationists in other countries, allowing them to deliver the items personally. Warneke herself has visited 57 countries, so it’s safe to say wherever you want to go in the world, she’ll know exactly how to make your vacation memorable and meaningful. To find out more about the trips JB Journeys is taking this year, or to plan a trip of your own, visit jbjourneys.com.

» FIND YOUR FIT « STEP SO TN EE P ONE

GO HERE. HERE. GO

STEP STTW EO P TWO

USE THIS. THIS. USE

I LOVE IT HERE. buT THE kIds dOn’T nEEd TO knOw THaT. When you need a place to live, choose a place where you can really live. A place that cultivates friendship and inspires an adventurous spirit, where caring isn’t only what’s done for you, but something we all do for each other.

Call to schedule a visit. STEP SR TE EE P TH THREE

GET FIT. FIT. GET

Fitness Just Just Got Got Easier Easier »» www.MyFitList.com www.MyFitList.com Fitness Ordinary Woman Doing Extraordinary Things

F o r i n f o r m a t i o n o n m e mb er sh i p, r e s er va t i ons , o r di s p la y t ab l e r at e s , p l e a s e e m a i l : c o n t a c t@ texaswomeninbusiness. or g

Networking/Lunch/Program

2 Pro g rams, 2 Date s , 2 Loc a ti ons NORTH–Friday, June 8, Round Rock

Sylvia Stern Topic: Maximize Your Potential

An Image and communications strategist moves you from “what is” to “what can be” CENTRAL–Friday, June 15, Austin

Krisstina Wise Topic: The 5 Star Customer Experience The next generation of customer service from an innovative entrepreneur NORTH June 8 –11:30 a.m. –1 p.m. Bella Notte, 201 E. Main Street, Round Rock TX 78664 CENTRAL June 15 – 11 a.m. –1 p.m. Shoal Crossing Event Center (Near 183/Steck Exit) 8611 N. Mopac Expwy., Austin TX 78759

512.916.4095

7017 Manchaca Road | Austin, TX 78745 elmcroft.com Facility # 100114

savvy woman /

all the right questions

Role Reversal Caring for your aging parents. By Darline Turner-Lee We all know that it’s inevitable, yet many of us avoid confronting this question like we’re avoiding the plague. How will we care for our parents when they are no longer able to care for themselves? The thought of our parents not being the strong, capable nurturers we’ve known throughout our lives is a scary proposition. Few among us want to contemplate a day when we may have to feed, bathe or even change diapers for our parents. And yet, the

If you’ve never been a primary caregiver before, get assistance. “The options available for caregiving are tremendous,” Young says. “If you can afford it, hire a managed-care coordinator. If you can’t even get that far, contact the National Area Agency on Aging. This federally funded program has tons of information and resources available, and many of them are free. You simply have to apply. They have caseworkers available to evaluate your needs. And while you’re still in the process of figuring that out, you can get paid respite care for up to six weeks. I can’t speak highly enough of this program. This is the best place to start.” Will you be providing care locally or long distance? Your care plan will vary depending upon whether you’ll be readily available to coordinate your parents’ care or will need to rely on services and agencies in your parents’ locale. “If you are going to be managing your parents’ care remotely, I highly suggest going with a licensed, bonded and insured home-care agency,” Culbertson says. “While there are many excellent individuals who provide private care, screening and doing background checks, interviewing and then organizing care can be overwhelming. An agency can help coordinate care. And while you’ll still have to do some interviewing and make decisions, much of the background work is done for you.”

more we avoid even a discussion with our parents about what they would like to happen in the event they are unable to care for themselves, the more likely this situation will befall us as a crisis and we will be woefully unprepared to cope. So to help begin the discussion for some while providing a life preserver to others, Austin Woman consulted two experts in the field of elder care. Samantha Young is an experienced healthcare manager and the former owner and CEO of Practical Care Continuum, a home-health agency. She is now regional manager of the private duty division at Nurses Unlimited. Cheryl Culbertson is the owner and founder of Elder Options of Texas, an online resource for all things senior care. But Young and Culbertson also bring personal experiences to senior care, as both have had to care for their aging parents. Here, they share their top four tips for coordinating care for aging parents.

88 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

know what you need. Both Young and Culbertson are clear that caregivers need to be realistic about their parents’ needs and abilities, and then very specific about what they want in a caregiver. While a parent may want to stay at home, the level of care needed may prohibit that option. Likewise, parents who are relatively well may only need care a few times weekly to make sure they are able to tend to their activities of daily living. An evaluation from a caseworker can help sort out the needs and point you in the right direction. Follow your gut. “This person is one of the most important people in your life,” Young says. “You wouldn’t trust them to just anyone, nor should you. If you are speaking with a caregiver and something seems off, no matter how good their references or how good they seem on paper, don’t go with them.” Culbertson agrees, adding, “I’m in favor of granny cams and impromptu visits. You want to know how these people are treating your loved one when you aren’t around. If something feels off, it probably is. Trust your gut!”

Resources for Elder-Care Assistance Elder Options of Texas (elderoptionsoftexas.com) Elder Options of Texas is the only website of its kind for finding homecare services, senior living options and a variety of other senior-related products and services in the state of Texas. Nurses Unlimited (nursesunlimited.com) Nurses Unlimited offers high-quality, in-home care services throughout Texas. Austin Groups for the Elderly (AGE) (ageofaustin.org) Austin Groups for the Elderly is a nonprofit organization providing programs, support and training for caregivers and the elderly in Central Texas. National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a.org) An agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, the n4a is a federally funded program whose mission is to assist state and local agencies to better help aging citizens live independently for as long as possible. Hospice Foundation of America (hospicefoundation.org) End-oflife care and resources for professionals, patients and families. Medicare Limited homecare resources are available for Medicare recipients. Check with your local Medicare office for benefit details. H.A.N.D.: Helping the Aging, Needy and Disabled (handaustin.org) H.A.N.D. provides compassionate, quality non-medical assistance to adults in Austin and the surrounding area. As Austin’s largest nonprofit home-care agency, 100 percent of all resources go back in to assisting clients. Faith in Action Caregivers (faithinactioncaregivers.org) Faith in Action Caregivers offers volunteer services to help older adults in maintaining and improving their quality of life, and to maximize their ability to meet their own needs and to continue living independently.

Think long-term care insurance is too expensive? Try not having it.

You can lose your savings, retirement, business assets — even your home — trying to pay for care you’ll need after a debilitating injury or illness. Fact is, long-term care can cost up to $70,000 a year and it’s not covered by health insurance, disability, or Medicare. Long-term care insurance is one of several ways you can cover these costs. You’ve worked hard to achieve financial security. Plan now so the unexpected doesn’t take that away.

Visit OwnYourFutureTexas.org to learn how to protect your family from the expense of long-term care.

LTC-0167_ATXWomens_AD_R1.indd 1

5/16/12 5:44 PM

Get back to enjoying life!

Overwhelmed? GoddessFit offers PERSONAL TRAINING with FASTER RESULTS in a PRIVATE SETTING. For women by women with the emphasis on fun!

Life’s Next Step Can Help

Helping Seniors & Active Adults Downsize & Make Transitional Moves

BRING THIS AD FOR A COMPLIMENTARY 30 MINUTES PERSONAL FITNESS CONSULTATION

512.454.1199 | www.goddessfit.com

www.lifesnextstep.com • 512-263-9417

5 0 0 4 B u r n e t R o a d , A u s t i n , Te x a s 7 8 7 5 6

Recipient of Austin Woman Magazine’s Small Business Award 2011

savvy woman /

Transitions

Live Where You Play

Wildflower Terrace

Housing choices to fit your active lifestyle. The wave of aging baby boomers, born between 1945 and 1955, is turning the tide in the ways builders and developers approach incorporating the best quality, energy efficiency and affordability in housing for these individuals. The concept of active adult communities for individuals who didn’t head for the rocking chair just because they turned 60 years of age first became popular under the Del Webb Corporation’s Sun City communities in the 1960s. Fast forward to 2012, and the look of independent living has come a long way, baby. Unlike the secluded and restrictive options of the past, adults in their mid-50s to mid-60s (don’t call them seniors) seek communities “in locations where residents can still have access to the outside world… continue their former lifestyle and maintain autonomy,” reports Alyssa Gerace in Senior News online. Today’s 55-plus is actively engaged in her neighborhood and national issues, pursuing an education to finish a degree or realize a life-long passion and, in Texas, prefers to live close to her adult children and grandchildren. Many of the homeowners in the new Tuscan Village Lakeway villas and townhomes for active adults 55 years or older included family proximity in their decisions to live in the Italian-inspired neighborhood. “Most wanted to stay in Lakeway but were looking to downsize from their larger home,” senior realestate specialist Kay Hogge says. “No matter where they have moved from, the glue with our buyers is to be near their children and grandchildren.” Developed by Legend Communities, Tuscan Village is the step-free, resort-style design of its principal and Lakeway resident builder, Haythem Dawlett. Construction has begun on its 8,000-square-foot clubhouse, to include a social room, fitness center, a private indoor/outdoor heated lap pool and a bistro-style restaurant. Residents also enjoy all the membership privileges of its sister community in Lakeway, Rough Hollow Yacht Club and Marina. Scenic walking trails, easy

90 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

access to the area’s golf courses, shopping centers and the future 11,000-square foot, state-of-theart public library are attractive pluses for this discerning, age-qualified homebuyer. Dawlett expects buyer interest in Tuscan Village to significantly increase now that construction has started on the community’s clubhouse. “That’s what people in this demographic want: the activities and ability to socialize,” Dawlett says. Enjoying personal time and travel, with minimal home upkeep, is another big incentive for the 55-plus adult when choosing her next home. Tuscan Village residents enjoy the chance to live a lock-and-leave lifestyle that includes all front and back lawn maintenance. And at Wildflower Terrace Apartments in the centrally located Mueller area, appliance repair is just a phone call away. Residents at the popular area’s newest mixed-use, mixed-income community would rather spend their time bicycling along the lush greenbelt trails or attending a performance at the Austin Playhouse, located next to Mueller Lake. Chris and Jacques Leche sold their large South Austin home, filled with treasures from the 10 years they once lived in Europe. Wildflower Terrace’s ideal location, the ability to live with likeminded peers and the vibrancy of Mueller were among the reasons the Leches chose the apartment community. And no maintenance was at the top of their list.

“We’d much rather play and travel now than spend that money on large water bills and home repairs,” Chris shares. Of the 201 apartments, Wildflower Terrace offers 174 with rental affordability for people with incomes at or below 80 percent of Austin’s median family income (MFI). Free art and writing workshops are available for residents and many other activities planned in the fitness room, auditorium and library are designed to promote creativity and wellness. The one- and two-bedroom apartments come in a variety of floor plans, many with downtown, courtyard or greenbelt views, and are furnished with quality, energy-efficient appliances and amenities. Located at the former site of Austin’s airport, the city’s cultural, educational and entertainment possibilities are close by. “Being part of the urban community is a big draw for our residents,” says Diana McIver, president of DMA Development Company. “Wildflower Terrace embodies green building and green living, from our LEED certification to the natural vegetation of the Southwest and Southeast greenways right outside our doors.” Dawlett and McIver have their eyes on the housing future for this booming adult market, dedicated to ensuring the lifestyle needs and living options are met for years to come. For more information, visit tuscanvillage.com and dmawildflower.com.

Photo courtesy of Wildflower Terrace.

By Terri Schexnayder

Teel Wellness Center Dr. Gene Teel, B.A., D.C. Dr. Mary Ann Teel, M.T., N.D. Summer is a time to dip your toes in cool water. A time to pull on your shorts. A time to celebrate your family and friends. So on your way to or from the lake Stop in for a refresher, a burger, Or whatever tickles your fancy. It's Summer! Stay cool with us. Birthdays, Anniversaries, Graduations, whatever be the occasion, it happens at Chez Zee. Reserve now for Father's Day weekend 512.454.2666 or www.chez-zee.com

presents

FREE Health Seminar On:

Weight Loss & the Glandular Connection Thursday, June 14th at 7:00 PM The Spring, Center for Natural Medicine 1700 South Lamar, Suite 301, Austin

Seating is Limited

Reserve your seat Call 512-350-6935 Upcoming Lectures:

Best Desserts, Austin Chronicle

Thursday, June 21 How Stress Affects Your Health Thursday, June 28 Blood Sugar Disorders Thursday, July 12 Hormone Issues, Mood Swings, PMS & Menopause Other topics available by request. Visit us at www.teelwellnesscenter.com for additional seminar dates.

Bistro | Bar | Bakery | Banquets

5406 Balcones Dr. | Austin Texas 512.454.2666 | chez-zee.com

** Two locations, North and South, to serve you. **

savvy woman /

Life’s Next Step Linda Carter helps seniors downsize. By Jane Field, Photo by Caleb Kerr Linda Carter, the recipient of Austin Woman’s 2011 Small Business Grant, was living in Florida when her widowed mother, who lived in Dallas, began needing more help around the house. “She would call me and just say, ‘Can you help me come clean out this closet?’” Carter says. But, no, Carter couldn’t. Not from Florida. Looking back, she describes the Florida period of her life as a time of deep soul searching. Back in Texas, Carter had worked in real estate as a corporate property manager. “It was just such a money thing. You could never give enough, you could never do enough,” she says. “It was a grind.” She enjoyed the challenges—solving the problems and managing large budgets—but eventually she felt stifled by the corporate nature and the frequent inability to satisfy the client. “Where’s the reward at that point?” she asks. With college impending for her three sons, she wanted to do something to bring in some income while also doing something worthwhile. “The only thing that I kept saying was that I wanted to do something that had a greater good, that was beneficial,” she says. When Carter and her family moved back to Texas, they settled in Austin. At this point, her mother had remarried and she and her husband were looking to downsize. Carter found herself traveling regularly to Dallas, not just to clean out closets, but also to move her mother entirely out of the house she grew up in. “It was a huge undertaking,” Carter admits. “There was just 40 years worth of stuff.” It took awhile longer for everything to come together in Carter’s mind, but she began to see the need for a service that would help elderly people move out of their homes. This was especially necessary in situations in which the older people had no children or their own children lived far away and were unable to provide the level of attention that was needed. The longer Carter thought about it, the more it clicked, like a calling.

92 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

entrepreneurial life “I started feeling very much that I was being told that this was something I was going to do,” she says. “And I was like, ‘No! I don’t want to do that.’ Who wants to go in and help people move, especially at such a tough time period in a person’s life?” Eventually Carter embraced the challenge. She started seeking advice in Austin, asking retirement communities if there was a need for this sort of business. During that time, there was one other woman in Austin offering a similar service to elderly clients. Carter focused her thoughts on her own mother. “How would I proceed forward with my mom?” she asked herself. “How would I proceed forward with someone else’s mom?” In January 2008, Carter officially began Life’s Next Step, specializing in downsizing and transitional moves for older adults. She begins each project by examining the spaces; she looks at the floor plans of her clients’ future homes to determine what will fit. She finds out about favorite pieces of furniture and how clients utilize their current spaces. This first step—essentially evaluating the scope of the project—takes a significant amount of weight off the shoulders of her clients. “This seems to be their first glimpse of peace,” Carter says. Only after this evaluation does Carter, along with her team, jump in to action, literally climbing into closets and opening drawers with the clients right there beside them to determine what

has to be saved and what might be expendable. Carter stresses that what is saved and what isn’t is always up to the client. “It’s not my decision. It’s their decision, their things, their memories,” she says. “I want to make sure that there’s never this feeling or fear that I’m going to come in and tell them what they can or cannot take. That’s not what I do. I try to be a voice of reason.” Life’s Next Step helps with whatever it can. Every project the company takes on is different. Carter coordinates with movers, Realtors and service providers, and she keeps in touch with adult children, even occasionally shipping them furniture. If a house is going to be put on the market, she taps in to her experiences as a property manager in order to identify things that need to be

fixed, and helps find people who have the skills to fix them. And, of course, she helps clients move in to their new homes, unpacking everything and ensuring that it is set up in whatever way will make them feel at home, in what Carter calls “a house of favorites.” Throughout the years, Life’s Next Step has evolved. In addition to helping people move, the company works with children whose parents —Linda Carter have passed away, doing estate cleanouts when emotions may be too high for a child to sort through a lifetime of memorable objects. Carter has an eye for things that are important for families to keep: sentimental objects, heirlooms or important documents. Carter also recently formed a new project called Accessible Changes: Specializing in Home Modifications for Aging in Place and Accessibility for Seniors and Disabled. She helps seniors and people with disabilities who want to continue living at home organize their spaces so that they can live at home. Often, this involves tasks she is familiar with: working with floor plans and furniture to determine accessibility, and making sure that her clients have a safe, comfortable and, above all, physically and emotionally livable space. Carter’s kindness is evident as she discusses the relationships she has had with her former clients. Every project is unique, but almost every client is going through an intensely emotional process. Coming to terms with such moves late in life frequently means they are addressing their own mortality. “We really try to act like a cheerleader for them. We’re there to emotionally support them and encourage them,” Carter says. She hopes that when they move in to their new homes, she has helped to preserve their emotional well-being. For more information, visit lifesnextstep.com.

“I want to make sure that there’s never this feeling or fear that I’m going to come in and tell them what they can or cannot take. That’s not what I do. I try to be a voice of reason.”

savvy woman /

Changing How We Age

personal best

Marie and Mike Connolly celebrate their first Christmas in 1956 in Tokyo.

A reality check for every generation. By Mary Anne Connolly For the past 10 years off and on, I have been solely responsible for my parents’ general health, wellbeing and care, as the only child of older parents. I have learned that each family’s journey is different; each experience is unique. You can’t always predict or know exactly the right fit for each person or what may transpire. But if you ask questions, learn all you can from your medical staff, facilities, caregivers and work with your parents’ or loved ones’ ultimate needs and comfort in mind, hopefully, you will find the right combination of services and help that is both ideal for them and fits your budget. From this experience, I also began to consider the steps I needed to take to insure my care as I age. My recent purchase of a long-term care policy was a good first move, but there are limits on all plans and benefits. Many predict needing to work well in to their 60s, 70s or 80s in order to afford any retirement or future care at all, as Medicaid and Social Security alone will not be sufficient to cover the costs. Clearly, we need to start the conversation well before we need to make our own plans or care. These are by no means universal but here are some tips for dealing efficiently with the aging process for all generations: Move Quickly From Denial to Acceptance. We all get old, if we are lucky enough! It’s not surprising that our celebrity- and youthobsessed culture is in denial regarding aging, thanks to plastic surgery and Botox. Why not start celebrating wisdom, experience and lines for a change? There’s an intrinsic and perfect beauty to the complete cycle of life: We’re born helpless and alone, needing love, nurturing and attention. Then we fight for independence and control to become self-actualized, powerful individuals. Finally, in old age, we lose our independence, strength and power, again needing and requiring love, nurturing, care, respect and the help of our community, family and society. What a perfect circle.

94 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

Utilize All Resources and Make Plans in Writing Now. From having a will to creating living wills, powers of attorney and DNR forms, to organ donation and providing exact funeral or cremation plans, it is important that all of this be spelled out for those you leave behind long before you are in any debilitated condition. Work with an attorney to have all the required documents filed and in order. Back up everything virtually and physically with explicit instructions and passwords kept by a trusted attorney, trustee or friend. Forgive and Let Go of Anger. Thank, celebrate and create with family and friends now, before it’s too late. Say everything you need to say now; don’t wait until someone is on his or her deathbed or can’t hear you. Tell

them you love them every day, thank them for all the good things they have done for you and share all that you admire and respect in them. Forgive them verbally for wrongdoings or things you may have disagreed with. Keep a Sense of Humor Handy and See the Light. There are countless moments, memories and interactions I have had with my parents in these later years that are 10,000 times more meaningful than many we had when they were in their prime of life. We have shared so many moments of clarity, appreciation, acceptance and absolute brilliance. Just because they are not exactly as they were in their prime doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them as they are. A sense of humor and laughter coupled with

understanding may indeed be the best medicine for you and for them. Take Care of Yourself First. The days I have gone to visit solely out of guilt or obligation when I was overtired, grumpy or angry have always backfired. If you don’t take care of your own health, well-being and finances first and ask for the help of others, you cannot possibly care for someone else. Ask for Help. Volunteer to Help. The companion Austin Woman web article lists local services and websites that can help you make decisions about care plans, housing, medical care, legal and financial matters, moving and more. Volunteer to help in nursing homes, assisted-living homes, memory-care or independent-living communities, or offer to visit the homebound elderly. Find Supportive Employers, Co-Workers and Friends. Without the understanding and support of bosses who believed family comes first, colleagues who rallied to share responsibilities during times of crisis and friends who understood and empathized due to their own caregiving responsibilities, I would have checked in to a hospital or rehab center myself long ago. Supportive family and empathetic friends can make all of the difference. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and understanding. Thank, Appreciate and Advocate for Better Salaries, Compensation and Education for Your Caregiving Community and Staff. The staff that cares for my parents at Parmer Woods is loving, patient and loyal. Many staff members have been there for eight years or more. Their compensation barely reflects that value, which needs to change. Remember to ask about caregiver-to-patient ratios and average length of employment at all agencies and facilities. These are always great indicators of whether the staff is happy, and treated, compensated and managed well. Getting Old Isn’t Easy. It’s not pretty, perfect or pleasant. Even if you have the genes and attitude of Betty White, you may have difficult days ahead. How do we increase the quality of life in our aging population while decreasing the burden on the system of care and caregivers? Stay tuned for the launch of changehoweage.com later this summer or follow @changehoweage on Facebook and Twitter. Mary Anne Connolly, former editor of Austin Woman magazine, is a media consultant, public relations strategist and the founder of MA Communications.

the last word /

aw view

Illustration by Sarah Quatrano.

Growing Older Gracefully Just hoping for more years of ‘ungraceful living.’ Well, I am 82 years old and I am really surprised! It has crept up on me and I can’t get over being this old. Not so long ago, my husband and I celebrated our 50th anniversary and we were agile, active and jitterbugging the whole night. That was just 10 years ago and that is why I am surprised. Graceful? I fell and broke my big toe and sprained my foot two weeks ago, and had a stint in a wheelchair (terrible), a walker (not much better) and now I walk around limping and reeling from side to side. Graceful? Hardly. My doctor says it may take four to six weeks to heal. My husband, Dan, is 86, still handsome, plays golf, loves my cooking. But graceful? He has had open-heart surgery, colon cancer, has a pacemaker and is a wonderful, happy survivor. Graceful? No way. Our eldest child, Danna, and her partner, Kenny, have moved in upstairs to help us through this surprising and unexpected growing-old thing. It is not easy to lose your looks, your teeth, your eyesight and your balance, but it is better than the alternative. But graceful? Think again. Dan and I share four wonderful children who could all be members of AARP, and that is a shock. Dan has sleep apnea and wears a mask with oxygen at night, and looks like a strange alien next to me. I have COPD and emphysema, and must have oxygen 24/7; smoking is really bad for you. But our minds are still working well. We read a lot, I paint with oils, Dan does scrimshaw on old ivory piano keys and we stay busy.

96 Austin Woman j u n e 2 0 1 2

We enjoy our children, our grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, brother and sister, and we still want to wake up every morning and face a new day with optimism and joy, and succeed pretty often. No, growing old is not literally graceful, but it is a gift not offered to everyone. We accept this gift and are thankful we can share it together. Laughter is a tonic we enjoy each day, these gift days, and holding hands and sharing a perfect chocolate pie with whipped cream that I made this morning is wonderful. I have found that needle-pointing is a good substitute for physical activity, and busy hands are happy hands. We both do pulmonary rehab at Seton Hospital on Tuesdays and Thursdays to keep active and make our bones stronger. I still love to cook for family and friends, and enjoy their enjoyment of my effort. Graceful? No. Happy? Yes. Thankful? Yes. Hoping for more years of ungraceful living? No, I am hoping for many more years of ungraceful living.

–Irene Strait

August’s Last Word topic will be “Getting Organized.” To be considered, email a 500-word submission by July 1 to thelastword@awmediainc.com.

HAND-STITCHED ADRENALINE.

EXPERIENCE THE MASERATI GRANTURISMO CONVERTIBLE SPORT, FOR FOUR. Its unique Sport accents are unmistakable. Its added reserves of power are at your discreet command. Its understated elegance mirrors your own. And the impression it makes endures long after your journey has ended. The new Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport offers an unforgettable driving experience for four adults, with comfort and performance unmatched by any other luxury convertible GT. Visit Maserati of Austin to feel your own adrenaline rush behind the wheel of Maserati’s top-down sensation. With limited availability, the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport starts at $142,800.

Maserati of Austin Roger Beasley Automotive Group

12925 Pond Springs Rd. (Located next to Audi North Austin) 512-219-3100 • maseratiaustin.com

Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport base MSRP $142,800, not including gas guzzler tax, dealer prep and transportation. Dealer price may vary. Taxes, title and registration fees not included. ©2011 Maserati North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Maserati and the Trident logo are registered trademarks of Maserati SpA. Maserati urges you to obey all posted speed limits.

DO YOU WANT TO MOVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD ...OR BE STUCK WAITING FOR A CONNECTION?

SCAN HERE TO LEARN MORE

The use of corporate planes is a proven competitive diﬀerentiator.

It may be more aﬀordable than you think—can you aﬀord not to think about it? Charlie Bravo Charter. Start Here.

charliebravocharter.com

1.877.348.5348