December 2016

Austin Woman MAGAZINE | december 2016

“Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch.” —Judy Blume

W OUR DEALERSHIPS What it boils down to is the way we do business and how we service our customers.

Since we’re not like the typical traditional dealership, we can confidently say we do things better. Having opened in 1972, Roger Beasley Mazda has 4 locations operating in harmony with the same straight-forward transparent process, shared inventory for more selection and customer service always the priority. There’s a reason the Austin area is one of the largest Mazda markets in the country. So if you’re tired of “dealing” with those other dealerships, give Roger Beasley Mazda a try. You have nothing to lose but the ordinary.

CUSTOMER BENEFITS INCLUDE: 3-Day new and used vehicle return policy.

Price peace of mind

Kelley Blue Book® and TrueCar® pricing provided.

†

Free Loaner Car with scheduled service and warranty work.

High-tech showrooms with interactive iPad® tablets.

Convenient delivery.

We’ll bring your new Mazda to you.

Complete your purchase without having to visit the dealership.

Kelley Blue Book® instant cash offer for your car.

Schedule appointments & service at any location using one phone number.

Websites are locally maintained insuring accurate inventory and specials.

Proudly Supporting

Our Community

16

WHY

ROGER BEASLEY

MAZDA?

MAZDA BRAND Mazda not only stands for exciting performance and fun-to-drive spirit, but also achieves excellence in interior comfort, technology, design and innovation. These efforts combine to create one of the most acclaimed car brands, making Mazda a benchmark for quality, efficiency and real value.

MAZDA NAMED

2017 Best Car Brand www.usnews.com - Nov. 15, 2016. 2017 Best Vehicle Brand Awards. The awards recognize the brands whose vehicles perform the best on an overall basis within four major categories of the U.S. News vehicle rankings: Cars, SUVs, Trucks and Luxury.

Mazda Ranked Most Fuel-efficient Automaker by the EPA for the Fourth Year in a Row. MAZDA’S 2015 FLEET OFFERS THE HIGHEST ADJUSTED MPG. Based on the EPA’s Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 - 2015 report on MY 2015 vehicles.

rogerbeasleymazda.com CENTRAL • SOUTH • GEORGETOWN • KILLEEN

866-779-8409 Mon-Sat 8:30AM - 8:00PM

†Return vehicle and receive full purchase price credit valid towards any in stock vehicle of equal or greater value - One exchange per customer - Maximum mileage limit of 200 miles or 72 hours, whichever comes first.

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When Robbin was diagnosed with lung cancer, all she wanted was a treatment plan that gave her her life back. And that’s exactly what she found at Baylor Scott & White Health. Our cancer teams offer advanced cancer care with specialists and support facilities under one roof. Plus our locations throughout central Texas make it easier for you to receive the treatment you need, without having to travel far from home.

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Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers, Baylor Health Care System, Scott & White Healthcare or Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2016 Baylor Scott & White Health SWCCS_40_2016_BH

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57

On the cover

THE PURSUIT OF PURPOSE

Photo by Dustin Meyer.

By Sarah E. AshloCk

64

feature

A League OF THEIR OWN By rachel rascoe

Contents

Photo by Natalie Paramore.

DECEMBER

73 on the scene

GOURMET

23 KRISTY’S TOP 10

73 A W TEST KITCHEN Heck of a Hanukkah 76 FOOD NEWS Eberly 78 girl walks into a bar Seeing Red

December’s To-do List

savvy women 26 count us in Women in Numbers 28 PROFILE Katie Ray-Jones 30 let ’s TACO ’Bout It Margaret Jabour 32 GIVE BACK CareBox 34 catching up Rochelle Rae and Susan Dell

MUST LIST 37 Discover San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 40 guily pleasure Where the Treetops Glisten 42 roundup All I Want for Christmas

wellness 80 h ealth 84 fit ness

Hydration Station Take a Hike

POINT OF VIEW 86 m emo from JB Simple Gifts 88 i am austin woman Carla Luna Smith

on the cover

style + HOME

Photo by Dustin Meyer, dustinmeyer.com

46 trends Monochromatic Mood 52 BEAUTY Bronze Metal 54 make room Northern Lights

Hair and makeup by Laura Martinez, bylauramartinez.com

12 | Austin Woman | december 2016

Styled by Ashley Hargrove, dtkaustin.com

Two Fit knit cardigan, $56, available at graceandlace.com.

Henry & Belle skinny jeans, $195, available at Estilo, 2727 Exposition Blvd., 512.236.0488, estiloboutique.com.

Statement necklace, stylist’s own.

ESTABLISHED IN 1998

WWW.TOCMEDICALSPA.COM (512) 533-7317 • 3705 Medical Parkway, Suite 130, Austin, Texas 78705

ESCAPE

T H E ORDINARY

FLORAL CLASSES | SPECIAL DELIVERIES | WEDDINGS

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Now a full service planning firm!

Our expertise goes far beyond the world of flowers, and we now offer our clients the “full package” for their big day.

Photo by Loft Photography

Volume 15, issue 4 Co-Founder and Publisher Melinda Maine Garvey vice president and Co-Publisher Christopher Garvey associate publisher Cynthia Guajardo Shafer

EDITORIAL Editor Emily C. Laskowski associate Editor April Cumming copy editor Chantal Rice contributing writers

Sarah E. Ashlock, JB Hager, Lindsay Stafford Mader, Kristy Owen, Natalie Paramore, Rachel Rascoe, Kat Sampson, Gretchen M. Sanders, Carla Luna Smith, Darcy Sprague

ART CREATIVE Director Niki Jones ART DIRECTOR Lucy Froemmling ART assistant Megan Bedford CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Merrick Ales, Rudy Arocha, Anne Marie Bloodgood, Lisa Crowder, Kevin Garner, Chris LeBlanc, Jeff Loftin, Laura Martinez, Chris McCarthy, Dustin Meyer, Lucy Paije, Natalie Paramore, Lucas Purvis, Jennifer Ramos, Carl Rosegg, Lindsay Stafford Mader, Romy Suskin, Reagen Taylor, Jared Tennant, Keith Trigaci, Abel Villarreal, Jessica Wetterer

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Katie Paschall

operations and marketing Director of marketing and engagement

Lisa Munoz OFFICE MANAGER

Victoria Castle

Interns Sydney Denton, Jules Maxwell, Kat Sampson, Darcy Sprague

Emeritae Co-Founder Samantha Stevens Editors

Deborah Hamilton-Lynne, Mary Anne Connolly, Elizabeth Eckstein

Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc., and is available at more than 1,250 locations throughout Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved.

For submission requirements, visit awmediainc.com/contribute.

No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission.

Visit us online at austinwomanmagazine.com.

Email us at info@awmediainc.com.

512.328.2421 • 3921 Steck Ave., Suite A111, Austin, TX 78759

From the Editor

C

hestnuts roasting on an open fire

Jack Frost nipping at your nose Yuletide carols being sung by a choir And folks dressed up like Eskimos

That stanza was not written about Christmas in Austin. The fact that my family once loaded a Fraser fir into our suburban in shorts and tank tops proves how much those lyrics were not written about winter in the Lone Star State.

Did you know Central Texas isn’t even exposed to all Christmas trees, thanks to our sometimes 80-degree Decembers? “In fact,” explains the Papa Noel website, “most of them will shatter when exposed to the dry November heat.” Papa Noel offers only “true” firs, like the Fraser and noble, which are made of hardier stuff than, say, those wimpy Douglas firs.

However, the song goes on: Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe Help to make the season bright Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow Will find it hard to sleep tonight

I might not be a tot anymore, but I must agree that there’s nothing like the holiday spirit (or at least sipping spirits during the holidays) to keep me up late at night, all merry and bright-eyed, recounting the season’s greetings and tales of old from kith and kin.

We celebrate our holidays at different times and in different ways. However, we’re all in this city together, which means whether you’re celebrating (or have already celebrated) Diwali or Christmas or Hanukkah or the winter solstice or Kwanzaa or the Chinese New Year, you’re most likely celebrating it in shorts and tank tops, like me.

And so I’m offering this simple phrase To kids from 1 to 92 Although it’s been said many times, many ways Merry Christmas to you

EMILY C. LASKOWSKI Editor

From everyone at Austin Woman, we wish you glad tidings and good cheer and a happy, prosperous new year.

Megan Bedford

Christopher Garvey

Lisa Munoz

Victoria Castle

Melinda Garvey

Katie Paschall

April Cumming

Niki Jones

Chantal Rice

Lucy Froemmling

Emily C. Laskowski

Cynthia Shafer

16 | Austin Woman | december 2016

Photo courtesy of Emily C. Laskowski.

Sincerely,

I AM A TEXAS MBA “I pursued my Texas MBA six years after I founded Amy’s Ice Creams.

The intelligence and high level of achievement by my classmates and keen perspective of my professors unlocked potential in me I’d never known. I stepped my game up in all areas of my life and found a new level of confidence. The camaraderie and support of lifelong friendships made between classmates and professors has proven to be priceless.”

AMY SIMMONS Founder, Amy’s Ice Creams, Baked By Amy’s Co-founder, Phil’s Ice House, Austinville Entrepreneurial consultant, Amy’s EDU First professional boxer in the State of Texas Mother of three Marathon runner Former Mayor Pro Tem of West Lake Hills, Texas Texas MBA 1994

TexasMBA.info

EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

Photo by Korey Howell.

Evening & Executive Programs

contributors

austiN s y mp hoN y or ch e s t r a

This month, we asked our contributors: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

DUStiN MEYER

COVER Photographer, “the pursuit of purpose,” page 57 Dustin Meyer is an internationally recognized wedding, portrait and commercial photographer based in Austin, with more than 10 years of experience in the photography industry. His work has been displayed by Kodak in Times Square, featured in USA Today and on CBS. Published in numerous magazines, including Southern Weddings, Style Me Pretty, The Knot, Rangefinder Magazine and more, Dustin’s work has earned him acclaim from clients throughout the country.

“My idea of perfect happiness is appreciating what you have instead of wanting more. For me, happiness means being in the moment and enjoying what’s right in front of your eyes. Instead of worrying about the future or regretting the past, appreciate what’s happening right now.”

Sarah E. Ashlock

Cover Writer, “the pursuit of purpose,” Page 57

your perfect

Sarah E. Ashlock is a freelance writer and editor who is dedicated to telling women’s stories. She has a master’s degree in English and a scholarly publishing certificate from Arizona State University. Sarah likes to explore Austin one happy hour at a time and share her discoveries on social media. Follow her on Twitter @Sarah_Ashlock.

Date Night

“Perfect happiness equals kitty snuggles, dresses with pockets, 72-degree weather and the opportunity to write about cool, creative ladies.”

starts here

KEITH TRIGACI

photographer, “a league of their own,” Page 64

Keith Trigaci is an Austin-based photographer who was lucky enough to recently move back to Texas from Los Angeles. When he isn’t doing commercial photography, he enjoys documenting life’s moments, including weddings and day-in-the-life family sessions.

upcomiNg eveNts: December 6, 8:00 p.m.

Handel’s Messiah austin Symphony & Chorus austin Hyde park Baptist Church December 29 & 30, 8:00 p.m. broadway by request™ Selections chosen by you! palmer events Center

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tickets/info Se a Son Sp o n S o r S

“My idea of perfect happiness is exploring the East Austin Studio Tour and meeting other local creatives.”

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Broadway By requeSt™

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(512) 476-6064 or austinsymphony.org

M e d i a S po nS o r S

All artists, programs, and dates subject to change.

Rachel Rascoe

writer, “a league of their own,” Page 64 Now in her junior year, Rachel Rascoe studies journalism and biology at the University of Texas. A former intern at Austin Woman, Rachel has also written and designed for the Daily Texan.

She is now the music editor at Orange Magazine and helps run social media at Margin Walker Presents. She grew up in San Antonio but drove to Austin every weekend for concerts.

“Perfect happiness can be found in doing fulfilling, challenging work and spending time with people you love.

It’s definitely a mindset that you have to make an effort to appreciate because no situation will ever be perfect in itself.”

NEW YEAR,

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Connect with us!

Can’t get enough of this issue?

Check us out at austinwomanmagazine.com.

➥ More plies. Go behind the curtain with dancers from Ballet Austin as they lace up for this year’s production of The Nutcracker, now celebrating its 54th year.

➥ More night lights. Take a walk around Zilker Park with the Trail of Lights’ new

executive director, Leah Davies, as she finesses a few last-minute details on the eve of the Trail of Lights’ 52nd anniversary in Austin.

➥ More milk and cookies. Pull up a seat and lean in as we have a one-on-one

conversation with Mrs. Claus about what she loves most about participating in the Operation Blue Santa program.

➥ More succulents. They’re practical, pretty and require minimal upkeep, so what’s recipe reveals. The female pastry chefs behind two of Austin’s hot-spot ➥ More restaurants, Sophia’s and Juliet, share the recipes for their go-to, crowd-pleasing dessert concoctions.

Don’t miss

Win This!

Christmas Coffee Connection Dec. 2, 10 to 11 a.m.

Whole Foods Market at The Domain, 11920 Domain Drive texaswomeninbusiness.org/events

Fine Goods Pop Up Giveaway

Because the only thing better than giving a gift this holiday season is giving a gift that directly supports Austin artisans, we partnered with #TheFineGoodsPopUp to award one fortuitous reader with this gorgeous spread of locally made items. The robust roundup includes an embroidered Champagne bottle keychain from The Early Hours, a hand-beaded bracelet from Betty Alida, a geode necklace from The Distillery, an Italian scarf from Pieceology Vintage and a pair of gold stork scissors, a pin pack and a classic notebook from The Paper + Craft Pantry.

To see all these items in person, don’t miss The Fine Goods Pop Up Dec. 7 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Paper + Craft Pantry. thepapercraftpantry.com/events

To enter, keep an eye on our Instagram account @AustinWoman for the giveaway announcement in December. Word to the wise: We like to be spontaneous. A winner will be chosen and notified at the end of the month.

Follow us

@austinwoman

20 | Austin Woman | december 2016

like us

Dancing With the Stars Austin Dec. 4, 6 to 11 p.m.

Hilton Austin Hotel, 500 E. Fourth St. centerforchildprotection.org/events/2016-dancing-with-the-stars-austin Polished Austin Luncheon Dec. 7, noon to 1 p.m.

Uncle Julio’s, 301 Brazos St. polishedonline.org/austin Texas Women in Business December Happy Hour Dec. 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Austin Custom Winery, 5207 Brodie Lane texaswomeninbusiness.org/events Armadillo Christmas Bazaar Dec. 14 through 24, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road armadillobazaar.com Texas Women in Business Luncheon Dec. 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Austin Country Club, 4408 Long Champ Drive texaswomeninbusiness.org/events

facebook.com/austinwoman

FOLLOW us

@ austinwoman

Leah Davis photo courtesy of Leah Davies. Terrarium photo courtesy of Slavonk & Hortus Terraria. Tiramisu pops photo courtesy of Sophia’s.

not to love? We chatted with Keri Anderson, owner of Slavonk & Hortus Terraria, to learn the art of building terrariums and styling with succulents.

BUYING?

Selling?

INVESTING?

Laurie McGary is a native Austinite and is committed to helping people meet their real estate goals whether buying, selling or investing in the Austin area. Laurie brings to the table 16+ years experience as a REALTOR® and believes in first class service with professionalism, expertise, efficiency, trustworthiness and loyalty ensuring her client’s goals are met in every need.

Laurie McGary REALTOR®, GRI, ABR, CLHMS (512) 695-7461 LaurieMcGary@realtyaustin.com

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ON THE SCENE kristy’s top 10

December’s to-do list from

365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas.

By kristy owen

1

The Nutcracker at The Long Center

Dec. 3 through 23, times vary The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive thelongcenter.org/event/the-nutcracker

Photo by Anne Marie Bloodgood.

Attending a performance of The Nutcracker at The Long Center is a quintessential holiday tradition in Austin. Whether you’re checking out the ballet for the first time or honoring a time-honed tradition, make the journey downtown to experience this magical story. Ballet Austin has been warming hearts with holiday cheer to the sound of Tchaikovsky for more than 50 years.

Tickets start at $15.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 23

O

n the scene

3

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

KRISTY’S top 10

Dec. 14 through 24, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road armadillobazaar.com

Dig out your glass slippers and phone your fairy godmother because Cinderella, Broadway’s classic storybook fairytale, is coming to life in Austin. Be transported to a world of talking mice and eloquent balls as you watch the Tony Award-winning musical unfold before your eyes.

Tickets start at $20.

Kristy Owen is the event mastermind and blogger behind 365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas.

To stay up to date on the best Austin has to offer, visit her blog, 365thingsaustin.com.

Austin’s New Year

Dec. 31, 3 to 10:30 p.m.

Auditorium Shores, 900 W. Riverside Drive austintexas.gov/event/ austins-new-year-2 New Year’s Eve can be a difficult time to celebrate with young children in tow, but those looking for wholesome, nonalcoholic fun should look no further than Austin’s New Year at Auditorium Shores.

Send the year off in style with good, oldfashioned celebrating, including live music, art installations, creative activities for all ages and, of course, fireworks.

Admission is free.

5

4

Trail of Lights and the Zilker Holiday Tree

Dec. 10 through 23, 7 to 10 p.m.

Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road austintrailoflights.org

Trade the city’s skyscraper lights for something a little more festive at this year’s Trail of Lights. This year marks the 52nd anniversary of the trail, a 1.25-mile, 2-millionlight-display rite of passage that winds through Zilker Park and inducts thousands of Austinites into the holiday season.

Whether you bring your little ones (The trail is safe for strollers.) or you’re looking for a December date night, don’t forget to take a spin underneath the Zilker Tree.

Tickets start at $3.

Dancing With the Stars Austin 10th Anniversary Dec. 4, 6 to 11 p.m.

Hilton Austin Hotel, 500 E. Fourth St. centerforchildprotection.org/events/ 2016-dancing-with-the-stars-austin

Come out and see notable community members (like former AW cover women Susan Lubin and Gigi Bryant) like you’ve never seen them before. Every year, select Austinites pair up with professional ballroom dancers to twirl the night away. After months of training, only one team will walk away with the coveted mirror-ball trophy, with proceeds from the event benefiting the Center for Child Protection. Grab a table and a group of friends, and prepare for a night of chuckling—all in good fun.

Individual tickets start at $300 and table sponsorships are available.

24 | Austin Woman | december 2016

6

2. Photo by Carl Rosegg. 3. Photo by Jennifer Ramos. 4. Photo courtesy of Dear Wesleyann Photography. 5. Photo by Abel Villarreal. 6. Photo by Jeff Loftin.

2

Cinderella at Bass Concert Hall

Dec. 6 through 11 Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Drive texasperformingarts.org/season/cinderella-broadway-austin-2016

Christmas shopping can be stressful, especially if, like most of us, you wait a little too long to get shopping. For those in a present-purchasing pinch, head out to the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar for some last-minute local shopping and live music.

The bazaar started out as a warm, dry place for musicians to perform and developed into a two-days-long pop-up shop. Due to its growing success, the bazaar now stays open until Christmas Eve. Tickets start at $8 plus a processing fee.

Mozart’s Holiday Light Show

Nov. 20 through the first week of January Mozart’s, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. mozartscoffee.com/ holiday-light-show

7

Mozart’s is well known in Austin for its picturesque deck overlooking Lake Austin. But did you know it’s also one of the best places in town to see a spectacular holiday light show? Each year, Mozart’s puts on a nightly spectacle for hot cocoa and coffee drinkers. Grab a seat outside and watch with wonder as the lights twinkle in celebration of the holidays.

Admission is free.

8

Operation Blue Santa Delivery Day

Dec. 17, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Blue Santa Warehouse, 4101 S. Industrial Drive bluesanta.org

7. Photo courtesy of Mozart’s. 8. Photo courtesy of Blue Santa. 10. Photo courtesy of the Paramount.

The holiday season means many things to each individual, but one universal idea we can agree on is that it’s a time to spread and share happiness. This year, help make someone else’s wishes come true by delivering presents for Operation Blue Santa. Witness firsthand the joy an unexpected gift can give a child as you join forces with Blue Santa, Mrs. Claus and their trusty helpers to deliver presents for children in need throughout Austin. A few bright smiles later, return to the “North Pole” to enjoy some barbecue and live music with your fellow elves in training.

Volunteer shifts are available for groups and individuals.

Annual Holiday Lights & Ice

Dec. 16 through Jan. 1 Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, 8212 Barton Club Drive omnihotels.com/hotels/austin-barton-creek/ things-to-do/resort-activities/holiday-lights-ice The weather outside might not be frightful in Austin, but the Holiday Lights & Ice event is delightful. Head out to the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa for a skate around a beautifully decorated, albeit man-made, ice rink—a reprieve for those desperately hoping for more wintry weather. Sip on hot cocoa, toss on a pair of mittens and twirl the night away under the twinkling lights. A portion of the proceeds benefits Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas.

Tickets start at $20 and include skate rental.

9

Elf Pub Run and Screening

Dec. 6, 6 p.m.

Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. austintexas.org/event/elf-pub-run-%26-film/128339

10

Every so often, the Paramount Theatre pairs a movie screening with a pub run, and we think it’s just genius. If you are dreaming of gumdrops and lollipops, this event might be for you. If you’re dreaming of sharing a pint of holiday cheer with your closest friends and fellow elves, this event might also be for you. Strap on some pointy ears, grab your “buddies” and meet at the Paramount, where you’ll begin your run, or perhaps we should say your journey “through the seven layers of the Candy Cane Forest.” Once back at the theater, pub-run participants receive two tickets good for beer, soda or popcorn. And don’t forget to enter the Elf costume contest!

Tickets are $20 or $10 for the film only. austinwomanmagazine.com | 25

S

avvy Women

count us in

women in numbers

Facts and figures on females from throughout the world.

By darcy sprague, illustrations by jessica wetterer

20.3 Packages

A study commissioned by Scotch Brand Tape found that, each holiday season, women wrap an average of 20.3 gifts, while men only wrap an average of 9.9 packages. The study found women are more likely to buy multiple gifts for someone, while men are more likely to spend more money on gifts overall. Other findings revealed nearly three of four adults believe women are better at wrapping presents than men, and the same amount say women wrap the majority of gifts in their household. Onethird of men surveyed said they would rather buy their female partner an extra gift than wrap packages themselves.

89 Percent $2.1 Million

Often considered the most powerful woman in the world of philanthropy, Melinda Gates, and her husband, Bill, donated $2.1 million to the Women’s Philanthropy Institute last year alone. In the 2016 annual letter from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda Gates penned her own personal section for the first time, choosing to speak out on the issue of “time poverty.”

It’s the idea, she explains, that women are expected to do unpaid housework far more often than men. In poor countries, she says, women are too busy doing unpaid work to hold down a paying job, resulting in poverty and less power within their household and society.

1.9 Days

A recent study conducted by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute found women give back more than men, citing female baby boomers were 89 percent more likely to donate money to charity than men of the same age.

The findings also revealed female baby boomers with incomes in the top 25 percentile gave 156 percent more than men in the same category. Women, the study noted, are more likely to give than men, regardless of their socioeconomic group. The reason for this difference, the researchers hypothesized, is women are typically more altruistic and empathetic than their male counterparts. They are also more likely to attempt to promote social change or help the less fortunate with their donations, while men are more likely to donate only to organizations they have selfinterest in.

A new study found women are better at booking trips than men. Commissioned by Carlson Wagonlit Travel, the report shows women typically book 1.9 days further in advance than men, saving about 2 cents per ticket. While the savings may not sound like much for a holiday vacation, for a company of 20,000 workers, this could save about $1 million. In a similar study done in Britain, researchers found nearly one-fifth of women booked their flights more than six months in advance, while only 13 percent of men did the same.

26 | Austin Woman | december 2016

2nd Place

Second only to Elton John, J.K. Rowling is the most charitable person in England, giving away more than $12.6 million last year. She is the only female to make it into the top 10 of Great Britain’s Sunday Times Rich List. Rowling’s generosity made headlines in 2012, when she lost her billionaire status due to her charitable donations and Britain’s high taxes. Rowling, the critically acclaimed author of the multibillion-dollar Harry Potter franchise, was a single mom living off welfare until she became a literary sensation in 1999. She’s now the 197th wealthiest woman in the U.K.— wealthier than the queen.

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Always on Call

On the heels of the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s 20th anniversary, CEO Katie Ray-Jones discusses the importance of picking up the phone and starting a conversation.

In college, Katie Ray-Jones didn’t plan on working in the domestic-violence field. She was going to be a teacher. But fate, or whatever one chooses to call it, connected Ray-Jones with the issue. Now, the CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline has 19 years of industry experience under her belt and isn’t looking back.

“I don’t think I ever had that cognizant thought that I was going to work in domestic violence,” Ray-Jones says. “I kind of feel like the work found me, not that I necessarily went looking for the work.”

Growing up in a small town in California, Ray-Jones knew scary things went on in some people’s homes, but the topic was never discussed in her household. Ray-Jones’ first exposure to domestic violence was through newsbreaks on the O.J. Simpson case.

Her second exposure to the issue came in college.

At the time, Ray-Jones was studying for a degree in child development and was placed for an internship with a district attorney’s office, where she worked with domestic-violence cases. While working toward her master’s degree, she was again placed in an internship oriented on domestic violence, and continued to work in the field until she moved to Texas in 2007.

“By the time I moved out of California, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” Ray-Jones says. “I was looking for other jobs in social work, but nothing gave me the same gut reaction as domestic violence does.”

She eventually found her way to the hotline, where she started out as operations director before transitioning to president and then moving to her current position as CEO, a job she’s held for the past two years. The hotline, headquartered in an undisclosed location in Austin, commemorated its 20th anniversary this year. As a welcome testament to the milestone, the hotline acquired a new, larger building and, as a result, expanded the number of calls it is able to take.

According to a monitor in the call center, by midday, the service will take almost 700 calls. By midnight, the 24/7 hotline will have received about 1,200 to 1,500 calls and messages. Ray-Jones says the service answers about 75 percent of phone calls and 70 percent of messages that come in through text and email. When the hotline was located in the old building, only enough staff could be housed during peak times to take 50 percent of the calls.

“We talk about the courage it takes to make that first call,” Ray-Jones says of the meetings she has with her team. “If we don’t pick up that call, he or she may not pick up the phone again.”

28 | Austin Woman | december 2016

The resources to move to the new location came from an agreement with the NFL. After Ray Rice, the former running back with the Baltimore Ravens, made national news headlines in a domestic-abuse scandal, the NFL reached out to ask the hotline what could be done to help. They needed resources and new infrastructure, Ray-Jones told officials, and the NFL responded, entering into a fiveyear, $25 million contract with “We talk about the the hotline. courage it takes to “Most [companies] would say their biggest issue is resources,” make that first call. If Ray-Jones confides. “We are not we don’t pick up that unique in that way.”

The new building features 12 call, he or she may spaces where hotline advocates not pick up the can take calls, de-stress or take a break after a particularly phone again.” difficult call. If funding becomes available, Ray-Jones is looking to add 15 new advocates this year, and as many as 35 in the next few years. Ultimately, RayJones believes starting more conversations about the issue is key to lowering domesticviolence rates.

“Most of us walk about the community and encounter people who are survivors or who are currently in a violent situation,” Ray-Jones says, adding that there are still a lot of stereotypes about domestic violence. “It would be great if we walked around our world with a heightened sense of sensitivity. It could be the woman cutting my hair, the person I sit next to at church or the woman checking me out at the store.”

For Ray-Jones, there’s always more work to be done. There are always more conversations to start and more awareness to be generated.

“We have to keep expanding,” she says, her eyes taking a sweeping scan around the hotline’s offices. “We do not have a choice. We have to answer the calls.”

How to Help National Domestic Violence Hotline CEO Katie Ray-Jones offers these helpful tips for those with a friend or loved one who might be involved in an abusive relationship: 1. Be supportive. Acknowledge the seriousness of their situation and listen without judgment.

2. H elp develop a safety plan. Develop ways to keep them safe during the relationship, as they plan to leave or after they leave.

3. Encourage him or her to seek help. For their safety, seek the guidance of a trained professional. Offer to go along for moral support.

Call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233), or go to thehotline.org to speak to an advocate and get connected to local resources.

Photo courtesy of the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

By Darcy Sprague

Austin International School

Expanding minds.

Broadening perspectives.

Austin International School is a trilingual private school for

individualized path for each child to discover his or her full

families who share a global perspective and value interna-

potential. Their teachers are committed to empowering

tional education. The only school of its kind in the Austin area,

students to perform at the highest academic standards, while

their innovative approach, high academic standards and

developing each child’s critical thinking, personal balance

supportive multicultural community stimulates independent

and adventurousness.

Close-Knit Community

the foundation for success in the global community.

AIS is a microcosm of Austin with a diverse and close-knit

Trilingual Immersion Education

community of students, staff and parents who share a

AIS offers the only trilingual immersion program in the area,

common vision to contribute to both the local and global

providing a challenging curriculum that seamlessly integrates

community. A combination of the school’s trilingual educa-

instruction in French, English and Spanish across all subject

tion with the support of the multicultural community best prepares children to thrive in today’s diverse world by opening their minds to embrace different ways of thinking.

age. Providing daily exposure to multiple cultures fosters a stimulating environment that excites a child’s curiosity, and initiates a deeper understanding of cultural differences to help him or her feel more connected to the global community.

Dedication to Maximizing Student Growth AIS’s low student-to-teacher ratio and innovative teacher col labo ration enables thei r teacher s to develop an

An Accredited Elementary School AIS is accredited by the French Ministry of Education and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and is seeking accreditation through the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

F o r m o re i nfo r m at i o n ca l l (512) 3 31-78 0 6 o r v i s i t w w w.austininternationalschool.org.

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The world is our classroom!

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Open House Saturday, December 3rd 10a - 12p

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Let’s TACO ’Bout It

Making Spirits Bright

Margaret Jabour spills her holiday entertaining secrets to Austin Woman Publisher Melinda Garvey. photo by kevin garner Soon after the age of Prohibition met its demise in 1933, a small Austin family established a simple store on the no-longer-dry streets of downtown Austin. In it, a drug store, a soda fountain and a liquor store formed the establishment known as Jabour’s Package Store. In the 1980s, nearly 50 years and several generations later, the Jabours transformed their family business into Twin Liquors and started cementing their status as Austin’s favorite libation destination. Vice President Margaret Jabour, known for her love of family and festive gatherings, gave us some hints on how to savor—and not stress—the holiday hustle.

– Emily C. Laskowski Melinda Garvey: These days, it just feels like people don’t entertain or have guests in their homes anymore, and I don’t understand why that is. I grew up with people always entertaining.

Margaret Jabour: Historically, I’m a person that loves to entertain. When someone comes to my home, I want to prepare it. When you break bread

30 | Austin Woman | december 2016

together, you truly connect, and having someone in your home is showing that love. But sometimes I feel that this world has become so materialistic—I have to have this and that and all to detail—and you’re juggling different things and time, and you want to show your finest, but it’s intimidating.

MG: It’s that intimidation factor, like Pinterest! What I love to do, I learned from a friend, is the laundry-basket technique, and it’s just taking your laundry basket and dumping everything messy in it and stuffing it in a closet before everyone comes over.

“Every day is a celebration.

Every day is a gift.”

—Margaret Jabour

MJ: Let’s talk about that because this year, I’ve had construction going on, and I’ve decided that the perfection part is the love. Memories are too precious not to share, and the materialistic things are not what people will remember.

MG: Just the other night, I had an impromptu gathering, so I rounded up some wine and cheese and I had friends texting me afterward how much they enjoyed the time because it was spent together.

MJ: That’s why I love what we do at Twin Liquors. We take the headache out of planning.

We can put together a cheese tray that will knock your guests’ socks off. We know our wines and what pairs together or what cocktail to serve now. We make party planning easy. There’s too many stresses in life.

MG: People do have a lot going on—take us, for example—and it’s even difficult to simply find time to catch up with a former cover woman like you.

MJ: We get caught up in life and it drives me crazy. Women want to embrace other women. We really bond together, and when we put all that other materialistic stuff away, we’re dynamic.

Every day is a celebration. Every day is a gift. I’m big on that and that’s why I love the industry I’m in and connecting to people. I wanted to be in communities and know people when they walk through the door. You can have a beautiful home or a beautiful store, but if you don’t have that warmth with people, you don’t have anything.

From Margaret Jabour, Your Cocktail Counselor Party tips from an expert entertainer

The foolproof gift-exchange guide

Wine is always a popular hostess gift, however…

Employee to boss

“There are several other easy and fun options. Baileys is great during the holidays. Our pre-wrapped cocktail combos make great gift giving for parties. A favorite that is an alternative to wine is the Frosé blended rosé wine cocktail that includes Ciroc Amaretto Vodka and rosé wine, or Negroni, made with Botanist Gin.” Her go-to libation at dinner parties is…

“Champagne or sparkling wine is always my choice. It always goes well alone or with whatever you are serving.”

The beverage tool she could not live without is the…

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“Baileys or Inglenook Cask cabernet. It is the most elegant and powerful, [and is] made by Philippe Bascaules of Chateau Margaux in complete collaboration with Francis Ford Coppola. You will be remembered giving this special bottle.”

Boss to employee “Pinot noir or prosecco or [a] Twin Liquors gift card.”

Colleague to colleague “Patrón Perfect Rita Combo Pack or a bottle of Champagne.”

Office white-elephant party “Daou chardonnay. [It’s] lush and smooth with [a] crisp finish. Tropical fruit and spice make an elegant cocktail and delicious dinner pairing.”

Office secret Santa (who you don’t know very well) “Corte Giona prosecco. [It’s] bright, fun and fresh. It will make them wonder.”

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GIVE BACK

Delivering Hope

The CareBox Program team is putting the ‘treat’ back in treatment.

by Kat Sampson an online wish-list builder, requesting from an array of 40 items, all of which strategically address issues like malnutrition, infection or injuries—the main problems cancer patients suffer from after leaving the hospital.

Keefauver is quick to say the title “care box” is a little misleading. It’s more like a “care trunk,” she explains. The supplies, worth an average $450, often fill up an entire car trunk, the group’s go-to method for delivering the supplies directly to patients’ homes. The supplies, she says, are intended to take a financial and mental burden off patients and their families.

“All of these oncologists were telling them what they needed to do when they got home, but there was no mechanism for them to be able to access that,” Keefauver explains. “That was just one of the millions of things they were being told, and they went home and immediately forgot about it or felt overwhelmed by it or didn’t have the “That represents our finances. [We are] youngest patient, who giving them the tool, is 1 month old, to our the mechanism, to oldest patient, who is be able to carry out 93 years old,” Keeftheir treatment plan auver says, pointing outside the hospital.” to the string. “It also Since its inceprepresents over 30 diftion in October 2014, ferent types of cancer CareBox Program at every stage.”

CareBox Program team members Melissa Wilson, has made deliveries The two women iniJillian Domingue, Lisa Keefauver and Rhiannon Nunziato. to more than 200 tially started CareBox cancer patients, and after each had lost loved Domingue and Keefones to cancer. Domingue, who had lost three friends to cancer before auver are proud to say no two boxes delivered have been the same. the age of 21, was looking for someone who could help her build up The duo is lucky, Domingue admits, noting that they’ve never had to a nonprofit when she met Keefauver, who had just made the move to turn down a qualifying applicant. But as word spreads throughout canAustin after losing her husband to cancer. cer centers in Central Texas and more patients hear about the program, A little more than two years have passed since the duo first paired up they expect demand for their care trunks to grow. Their goal for 2017 is to found CareBox Program, which provides cancer patients with free to deliver 600 CareBoxes. health-care supplies—packaged up and delivered in a box—that help One of the many rewarding aspects of buying a care product and doprevent malnutrition, infections and injuries. In addition to Domingue nating to CareBox, regardless of whether you know the cancer patient, and Keefauver, the team relies heavily on the help of logistics manager is you are able to see the impact of your contribution almost immediRhiannon Nunziato and volunteer coordinator Melissa Wilson, as well ately. Within a couple of weeks, the CareBox Program team sends the as a strong network of Austin community members. contributor a photo of the patient holding his or her donations.

“Our organization exists to help cancer patients, but if you throw out “Cancer makes you helpless,” Keefauver expounds. “Everyone in this that [cancer] label, they’re just people in our community that are in a community has been impacted by cancer and I think, for the family and tough situation, and this is an opportunity for you to give them a leg up friends, there’s this [feeling of,] ‘I want to help, but I don’t know what to and hope,” Domingue says. do.’ I think, for the friend, family member and the donor, the appealing In order to qualify for the program, Keefauver explains, there is a part of the CareBox is that it’s a really tangible, direct and immediate simple, two-fold vetting process: The applicant must have cancer and way to make a difference in the quality of someone’s life.” must live in Central Texas. Patients who qualify for the program use

32 | Austin Woman | december 2016

Photo by by Romy Suskin.

In an unassuming business park off North Lamar Boulevard, Jillian Domingue and Lisa Keefauver are busy saving lives. In contrast to the concrete, corporate exterior of this tucked-away building, their interior offices are bright and spacious enough to turn visitors into believers of feng shui.

But take a closer inspection of the space and you’ll notice little things, like the pictures of people, a few donning hospital gowns, printed on paper and pinned to a string bordering the room. All you have to do is look around to realize this team, composed of four women, spends their days dealing with cancer.

Domingue, the executive director and founder, and Keefauver, the communications and program director of CareBox Program, say their patients’ faces serve as a constant reminder that cancer does not discriminate.

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catching up

A Toast of Two Cover Women Past

Susan Dell and Rochelle Rae dish on the changes in their lives since each graced the cover of Austin Woman.

By Sarah E. Ashlock au st inw om a n

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RR: Well, the biggest thing to change in the style-and-beauty scene is the onslaught of beauty bloggers. [Since] women were hungry for advice and lessons, they became glued to the computer, watching hours of how-to videos. Right now, I am loving the “nudes” and we can concentrate on the fun stuff, like softly shimmering shadows and bright lips.

nu

AW: How have style and beauty trends evolved in the last five years?

ja

RR: Just like Austin, we have grown and changed. … Two years ago, we moved the Rae Cosmetics studio to the Second Street District, right in the heart of downtown. There are more retailers carrying the Rae Cosmetics line in Austin [and] across the country. We are bigger, better, prettier, have more artists and offer more than just makeup applications and lessons, [like] blowouts, facials, lash extensions, waxing, tanning, Botox, fillers and more.

om

AW: What can you tell us about the evolution of Rae Cosmetics?

n 2 0 11

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Rochelle Rae: Austin rocks, and we are all lucky to live here. The traffic may be a bit worse, parking harder and lines longer, but we have the biggest festivals, greatest parties, best restaurants and original boutiques. It is absolutely worth the trouble.

ja

RR: We have four new retailers that will be carrying Rae Cosmetics by the first of next year. We are introducing the Bunny Kisses collection this month, a fun addition to our Lip Ro Raechel le Lust lipstick line with names like Bossy Bunny, Bad Ass Bunny and Show Me the Bunny. There will definitely be a few bunnies hopping around the launch party. We are also getting ready to launch our ambassador program and just wrapping up a campaign that will include so many amazing women, [including] Susan’s daughter. ne

Austin Woman: What is the biggest change to Austin you’ve seen since you were on the cover of Austin Woman in 2011?

AW: What is on the horizon for you and your business for 2017? az i

Austin Woman boasts a proud history of keeping up with our 14 years of fabulous cover women. When we heard beauty boss Rochelle Rae, the founder of Rae Cosmetics, and local philanthropist-in-chief Susan Dell, founder and board chair of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, would be together on the set of Rae Cosmetics’ latest photo shoot, we decided to tag along. While thinking about the years gone by, we asked Rae and Dell how their lives and careers have evolved alongside the city they know and love.

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AW: Susan, what is the biggest change to Austin you’ve seen since you were on the cover of Austin Woman in 2002?

Susan Dell: While it’s the fastest-growing city in America, one-third of all individuals in Travis County are struggling to make ends meet. Over the last 14 years, we’ve worked with amazing organizations here to support education, family stability for abused and neglected children, and primary care and prevention for uninsured and underinsured families. We’ve also worked closely with the health community to foster innovation and investment. That has provided us the opportunity to invest nearly $200 million in research facilities, public health programs, pediatric-hospital capacity [at Dell Children’s Medical Center] and the establishment of Dell Medical School and Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas.

AW: What can you tell us about the progress with Dell Medical School?

SD: The first class of 50 medical students started this year. What’s being created at Dell Med is not just about those students. It’s about Austin. It’s about health and rethinking the tools and incentives to improve health. And the bigger idea is that what happens here can affect the whole country. That is something to get excited about.

AW: As a parent, you’ve gone through almost 14 years of your kids growing up since gracing our cover. What was the hardest part of your kids growing up?

AW: What is on the horizon for you and your family in 2017?

SD: Austin is now a city where innovation has become second nature. I am especially excited that we are collectively working to become a model healthy city and community. I am really excited by the promise of a community no longer focused on treating illness, but promoting wellness. We will see a lot more progress in 2017.

34 | Austin Woman | december 2016

Photo by Lucas Purvis.

SD: Michael and I try hard to give our kids enough space, emotional support and love to help encourage them to use their tools to find solutions to problems, make their own plans and set their own paths forward.

Sometimes, it is actually best if the parents are seen and not heard.

Photo courtesy of Consejo Turístico de San Miguel de Allende.

MUST LIST

A Sunday in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, with Jeannie Ralston

How the author and budding entrepreneur—and the former owner of a lavender farm in Blanco, Texas—spends her ideal weekend abroad. by april cumming

Hidden in the mountains northwest of Mexico City rests a town composed of intricate, colorful architecture interspersed with quaint (and traffic-free) cobblestone streets. It’s a destination frequented by American expats and vacationers alike. In fact, it’s where Jeannie Ralston, an Austin-based writer and the author of The Unlikely Lavender Queen and The Mother of All Field Trips, called home in the years following the sale of her Blanco, Texas, lavender farm. Ralston has since returned to Austin, where she’s hard at work on her next project, nexttribe.com, a blog for women 40 and older who are, in her words, “stepping into the next stage of life and want to do it with curiosity, courage and humor.”

The best word to describe her weekends, Ralston says, is “uncomplicated.” Here, she shares what her ideal Sunday looks like in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. austinwomanmagazine.com | 37

M

ust List

discover

San Miguel de Allende is…

“A lovely, lively town high in the desert mountains filled with cobblestone streets, sherbet-colored buildings, history, culture, great restaurants and even better people.”

Rise and shine “I used to be a late riser but my husband is an early bird and invariably wakes me up. Plus, there are many sounds in San Miguel that act as alarm clocks: roosters, church bells, vendors on the street. It’s part of the charm of the city.”

First things first “Grab a cup of tea and go to a rooftop to look at the sunrise. I love seeing the early light hit the beautifully colored colonial buildings and make them even more vibrant.”

Break the fast “I like to eat breakfast on the town’s central plaza, El Jardin. El Rincon del Don Tomas has outside tables. Once the sun gets high, it warms up enough to dine alfresco. Order and watch all the comings and goings in the city, especially people attending mass at the city’s most famous church, the Parroquia, which is grapefruit-colored and spiked like a crown.”

Serenity and a serenade “Often, you can find a band playing in the gazebo in the middle of the Jardin and Mexican families gathered to listen. They’re all usually dressed in their fine Sunday clothes. I also like to go to Parque Juarez and look at the paintings many local artists have put out for sale.”

For keeps’ sake “Mixta is my favorite store in town. You can find such an eclectic array of clothes, jewelry, furniture, fabrics and beautiful, funky, handmade keepsakes. Fabrica La Aurora is a fabulous area housed in an old textile mill where you can tour artists’ studios and shop for antiques, furniture, pottery, linens—it’s all very high-end.

The Mercado de Artesanias is a long alley-like walkway with vendor booths and is where local craftsmen sell jewelry, handmade books, shawls, hats, toys and a variety of crafts. It’s a great place to buy gifts to bring back for friends.”

38 | Austin Woman | december 2016

Photos courtesy of Consejo Turístico de San Miguel de Allende.

Un descanso (rest) “I take it easy on Sundays. On most weekdays, I either bike or swim. But Sundays are a perfect time for a relaxed walk in El Charco del Ingenio, a botanical garden just above San Miguel where you can see all sorts of desert plants, as well as a gorgeous canyon that runs through the middle.”

Not to miss “I always take visitors to my favorite building, Bellas Artes on Hernández Macías. It used to be a convent and the inside courtyard is a beautiful garden. You can see slight divots in the stone steps, worn down by nuns’ footsteps over the centuries.”

Child’s play “Kids love the water park outside of town called Xote, which has great rides. If you have smaller kids, you’ll want to take them to the playground in Parque Juarez.”

Pick-me-up “There’s a Starbucks right off the Jardin, but please don’t go there. I like Café Parroquia on Calle Jesus. It has a quiet, nice courtyard. Or, if you want something to go, stop by the walk-by window at La Ventana on Calle Sollano.”

Soak it all in “There are many hot springs within easy driving or taxi-riding distance of San Miguel. My favorite, and probably the most famous, is La Gruta. You’ll find several pools of warm water surrounded by lush grounds. One pool leads to a tunnel, which, in turn, leads to a domedroofed pool that has the hottest water of all. It’s a year-round treat and the restaurant serves great guacamole and chips, quesadillas and margaritas. And, oh yeah, you can also get a massage! So, it’s easy to spend your whole day here lolling and eating and drinking.”

Add to the bucket list “I still want to take an art class at either Bellas Artes or Instituto Allende. They each offer so many classes—painting, sculpting, woodworking—and I’ve never had time to indulge. These two institutions are what originally drew Americans to San Miguel after World War II: cheap art classes and good living. So, in a way, the whole town as we know it is built around the arts.”

For date night “I’d start at El Manantial, an old cantina that’s been reimagined, with a tamarind or ginger margarita.

Then I’d have dinner at La Parada, which serves Peruvian food and the best ceviche around. I’d finish with a visit to the Jardin and pay one of the fabulous mariachi bands there to play a nice love song.”

Nightcap “Indulge in drinks at La Azotea, a rooftop bar with stunning views both toward the west, where the sun sinks over the Guanajuato mountains, and through inside windows, toward the Parroquia in all its glowing nighttime glory.”

Lights out “Before bed, I do the New York Times crossword. I can usually do Sunday through Thursday.

Fridays and Saturdays are most often too hard, but I like to give it a good effort.”

Cause for celebration “Christmas in San Miguel is exceptional because it’s not commercialized as it is in the States. People are really serious about the religious part of the holiday, which means a lot to me. One of the most wonderful traditions is the posado, when people walk through the streets with lighted candles singing songs and then going to someone’s house for food afterward. Another great part of the holidays is New Year’s Eve in the Jardin. The fireworks in Mexico are stupendous, but not in the same way as they are in the States. The city sets up several tall, rickety structures called castillos in the Jardin. They’re like Rube Goldberg contraptions.

Someone lights one fuse and something spins and spews sparks, and then the fire from that lights another fireand-smoke apparatus. More gadgets go off higher and higher on the towers until, for a finale, a disc spins around from the very top and then flies off and onto someone’s roof. It’s very fun.”

austinwomanmagazine.com | 39

M

ust List

GUILTY PLEASURE

Where the Treetops Glisten

From now on, your troubles will be out of sight.

Over the river and atop the Hill Country soars the splurge-worthy gift you’ve been dreaming of the whole year through. Though it can’t be wrapped and placed beneath the tree, experiencing Austin’s magical constellation of Christmas lights from high above the city will outshine anything Santa hauls down the chimney. Helo Austin offers 30-minute helicopter tours of the Hill Country, downtown Austin, the Greenbelt, the University of Texas campus and, during the month of December, Central Texas’ festive array of Christmas lights stretching from Old Settlers Park to downtown Austin to the Trail of Lights and the Zilker Holiday Tree. – Emily C. Laskowski

Photo by Jared Tennant.

Helo Austin Christmas Lights Tour $290 per person, two-person minimum heloaustin.com, 512.350.5102

40 | Austin 40 Woman | Austin| Woman december | december 2016 2016

Beauty Markz presents: New Years eve in dubai celebrate New years eve in style!

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4001 W. Palmer Lane austin, TX 78727

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Featuring: Camels, Dubai Hookah Tents, Belly Dancers, and More!

Annual Bullock Museum Store

Holiday Sale

December 5–11, 2016 Shop Texas ornaments, dÊcor, and gifts.

1800 N. Congress | theSTORYofTEXAS.com

M

ust List

roundup

All I Want for Christmas…

…is to go home with something from the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar.

by Emily C. Laskowski

“I’ve spent every Christmas eve of my life at the Armadillo,” says Anne Johnson, associate producer and general manager of the cultural sacrament that is Austin’s long-running Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. “I get all of my Christmas presents, for others and myself, at the Armadillo. To me, getting to know the person who handmade the gifts I’m giving makes them much more special when they’re opened, and I feel better about where my money is going.”

More than 160 artists will set up their carefully curated shops in Palmer Events Center for the 11-day art bazaar that boasts everything from heirloom treasures to handmade trinkets. Now in its 41st year, the

bazaar proudly showcases at least three live-music performances each day to accompany patrons as they shop for the weird and the wonderful items on their shopping lists.

“It is one of the few old Austin traditions that has survived the city’s rapid growth and remained strong,” Johnson says. “As Austin has grown, so has our vibrant fine-arts and live-music community, and we are proud to be a part of that. Plus, everyone loves a good party.”

Not one to shy away from a party or a present, Austin Woman asked Johnson to choose five festive gifts from the bazaar, one for every weekday. As Johnson explains, there’s something for everyone at the Armadillo.

#MondayMotivation

#WeirdWednesday

“These pen and ink drawings are meticulously created. Anyone would appreciate a gift of art from the heart in the form of an original drawing, T-shirt or journal to inspire creativity.”

“[This is] for the person who has everything or the perfect white elephant/secret Santa gift: fierce, fun and cute, all at the same time.”

> Add to cart: Original journal by Desarae Lee, starting at $15

#TuesdayTreat “[These] beautifully handcrafted vases made by a local Austin artist…can be hung on a wall or used as tabletop décor. [They’re] ironically perfect for… modern, minimalist or someone who appreciates rustic charm.”

#ThirstyThursday “These handblown glasses are functional for every day or artsy party ware. Buy one to start someone’s collection to add to every year, or buy a full set for an impressive gift.” > Add to cart: Drinking glasses from Park Avenue Glass by Chris McCarthy, $30 each

> Add to cart: Wood and resin vase

by BDJ Craft Works, starting at $55 Armadillo Christmas Bazaar Dec. 14 to 24, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road Single-day passes are $8 and available at the door or in advance at armadillo.ticketbud.com/2016.

Children 12 and younger get in free.

42 | Austin Woman | december 2016

6.

#FashionFriday “Making a bold statement with simple fashion, these earrings are the perfect gift for any woman in your life. But once she has one pair, she might need them all.” > Add to cart: Metal two-tone earrings by Lisa Crowder Jewelry, starting at $132

Photos courtesy of Desarae Lee, BDJ Craft Works, The Plaid Pigeon, Chris McCarthy and Lisa Crowder.

> Add to cart: Toy planter by The Plaid Pigeon, starting at $20

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Come Experience

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Peoples Rx

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OLIVE+M GIFT SET: CLEANSING OIL, FACE OIL, AND BODY OIL, $190

Olive + M

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S

tyle

trends

monochromatic mood

This season, pick a color and commit to it, head to toe.

PHOTOs BY RUDY AROCHA styled by Lucy Paije hair and makeup by laura martinez modeled by R'Bonney gabriel shot on location at eberly

Sofia Cashmere long fur-trimmed wool tuxedo coat, $1,295; Haute Hippie lace-trim collarless pintucked silk blouse, $395; Theory Erstina pioneer cropped pants, $295; Jimmy Choo Claudette shimmery leather sandal, $850; Prada Cahier notebook shoulder bag, $2,660, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.

18-karat white-gold Tahitian pearl strand with round diamonds, $4,500; 14-karat yellow- and white-gold lever black earrings with two-drop Tahitian pearl cultured and round diamonds, $675; 8-karat white-gold ring with round golden South Sea pearl cultured and round diamonds, $1,950, available at Franzetti, 3707 Kerbey Lane, 512.450.1121, franzetti.com.

46 |  Austin Woman |  december 2016

austinwomanmagazine.com |  47

48 | Austin Woman | december 2016

trends

Previous page: Luxe Apothetique front-tie dress, $115; Urban Expressions bag, $35, available at Luxe Apothetique, 11501 Century Oaks Terrace, 512.346.8202, shopluxe.com. 7 For All Mankind brocade velvet blazer, $425, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com. 14-karat two-tone yellow- and white-gold disco ball necklace with round diamonds, $3,740; 14-karat white-gold diamond chandelier earrings with round diamonds, $1,795, available at Franzetti, 3707 Kerbey Lane, 512.450.1121, franzetti.com.

This page: La Petite Robe di Chiara Boni Addison cold-shoulder bodycon cocktail dress, $695; Jimmy Choo Kaytrin suede platform sandal, $895; Prada calf hair and calfskin chain shoulder bag, $2,520, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com. 14-karat whitegold box chain, $375; 18-karat white-gold teardrop lavalier pendant with round diamonds, $2,495; 18-karat white-gold earrings with round diamonds, $2,950; 18-karat white-gold flower fashion ring with round diamonds, $1,850, available at Franzetti, 3707 Kerbey Lane, 512.450.1121, franzetti.com.

austinwomanmagazine.com |  49

Milly off-the-shoulder sequined cocktail dress, $675; Edie Parker Lara acrylic ice clutch bag, $995, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com. 18-karat whitegold wheat chain, $375; 18-karat white-gold swirl diamond pendant with round diamonds, $6,500; 18-karat white-gold earrings with round diamonds and princess diamonds, $1,690; 14-karat white-gold pave ring with round black and white diamonds, $2,150, available at Franzetti, 3707 Kerbey Lane, 512.450.1121, franzetti.com.

50 |  Austin Woman |  december 2016

trends Astr the Label Gia jumpsuit, $115, available at Luxe Apothetique, 11501 Century Oaks Terrace, 512.346.8202, shopluxe.com. Aquazzura Beverly Hills Plateau shoes, $865; Marc Jacobs Snapshot small velvet camera bag, $495, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com. 18-karat yellow-, whiteand rose-gold pendant with round diamonds, $3,250; 18-karat yellow-, white- and rose-gold earrings with round diamonds, $4,800; 18-karat yellow-, white- and rose-gold fashion ring with round diamonds, $2,250, available at Franzetti, 3707 Kerbey Lane, 512.450.1121, franzetti.com.

austinwomanmagazine.com |  51

S

tyle

beauty

Bronze Metal

Add some copper to this winter’s smoky eye.

PHOTO BY RUDY AROCHA, makeup and hair by laura martinez, modeled by R'Bonney Gabriel

Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion, $31, available at urbandecay.com.

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty eye shadow in ruddy earth, $42 (part of duo), available at nordstrom.com.

Face Atelier Ultra Foundation, $52, available at faceatelier.com.

Natasha Denona mono eye shadow in oxide, $27, available at natashadenona.com.

MAC Cosmetics Eye Brows in brunette, $17, available at maccosmetics.com.

Pat McGrath Skin Fetish 003 in nude, $72 for the set, available at patmcgrath.com.

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty eye shadow in cool tan, $42 (part of duo), available at nordstrom.com.

Nars Kohliner in Sichuan, $25, available at narscosmetics.com.

Nars Velvet Lip Glide in stripped, $26, available at narscosmetics.com.

Nars Dual-intensity Blush in fervor, $45, available at narscosmetics.com.

52 | Austin Woman | december 2016

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H

ome

make room

Northern Lights

Allison Jaffe illuminates the holidays with a merry and modern Nordic design philosophy.

By emily c. laskowski

“Are you familiar with hygge?” asks Allison Jaffe, the awardwinning Austin-based interior designer.

We had heard the term before, mentioned by former Austin Woman cover woman Meredith Walker at our 14th anniversary celebration in September, but wanted to consult the experts. According to visitdenmark.com, hygge

(pronounced “hooga”), “translates roughly to ‘cosiness.’ ” Curious about how this Danish philosophy has influenced modern design sensibilities, Austin Woman asked Jaffe to replace customary Christmas trimmings with signature hygge style. As the holiday hullabaloo kicks off, try Jaffe’s tips for easy embellishment to warm up your own inviting spaces.

r Contempo Designs Diana sofa

r Black Sheet custom rug

r 2Modern James DeWulf periodic coffee table

r Side table from Home Goods

r Thayer Coggin Milo chairs

r Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams log table

r Sonno Mongolian fur stool

r Robert Allen Brushstroke pillow

r Table lamp from World Market

r Stockton Hicks Laffey pillow

r Floor lamp and chair pillow from Target

r “Summer Light” art over the sofa by Caroline Wright

r The Future Perfect Ovis hanging chair

54 | Austin Woman | december 2016

Photos by Reagen Taylor.

In This Room

ALLISON JAFFE'S HOLIDAY HYGGE HOW-TO

“” Allison Jaffe

In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people.

The warm glow of candlelight is hygge.

Friends and family, that’s hygge too.

There’s nothing more hygge than sitting ’round a table discussing the big and small things in life. Perhaps hygge explains why the Danes are the happiest people in the world?

—visitdenmark.com

Less is More “Decorating with smaller and fewer items maintains the holiday spirit without feeling overwhelming and fussy.”

Simple Styling “Carefully select the accessories you bring into your home.

Purchase items that bring meaning into your space. I like decorating with antique and vintage finds that remind me of my travels.”

Light Up “Did you know Danes burn more candles than any other people in Europe? I love purchasing new holiday scents to fill the air when I am decorating my space for the long winter haul.”

Holiday Hangout “Embrace the cold and fire up that fondue pot. Getting together with your friends and loved ones is one of the most important ways to share in the hygge way of life.”

Keep It Natural “Decorating with organic elements is a great way to bring the outside in. … Pine cones or pumpkins are great and suitable options for the holiday season.”

Dress for Less “Decorating for the holidays doesn’t have to be expensive.

Shopping at local stores for fun finds is a fun and inexpensive way to layer your space for the holidays.”

Get the Look Silver standing deer, $48, Pier 1 Imports, pier1.com Birch bark candles, $4 to $13, World Market, worldmarket.com

Star resin object, $34, West Elm, westelm.com

austinwomanmagazine.com | 55

$

100 saved my life.

How many lives will you save today?

With your contributions last year Komen Austin was able to help 31 women detect breast cancer.

“I didn’t have the money to get a mammogram. Komen paid for it, and my doctor found Stage 1 breast cancer.

If Komen hadn’t been there for me, I might not be here for my kids. Your donations saved my life.”

komenaustin.org

Save a life today.

Donate to

Donate to

Save a life today.

komenaustin.org

If Komen hadn’t been there for me, I might not be here for my kids. Your donations saved my life.”

With your contributions last year Komen Austin was able to help 31 women detect breast cancer.

“I didn’t have the money to get a mammogram. Komen paid for it, and my doctor found Stage 1 breast cancer.

How many lives will you save today?

by Sarah E. Ashlock photos by Dustin Meyer styled by ashley hargrove hair and makeup by Laura Martinez

Honeycomb knit sweater, $56; patterned boot cuffs, $22, available at graceandlace.com. Christo cuff, $78, available at brighton.com.

Henry & Belle skinny jeans, $195, available at Estilo, 2727 Exposition Blvd., 512.236.0488, estiloboutique. com. Frye Melissa leather boots, $368, available at Nordstrom, 3111 Palm Way, 512.605.4900, nordstrom.com.

Purpose The Pursuit of

57

W

hen Melissa Hinnant became pregnant with hen her first child, she didn’t know she’d lose the baby. She also didn’t know that six years later, she’d be the founder of a multimillion-dollar company. Life can be bittersweet like that.

As you walk through the headquarters of her company, Grace and Lace, in Cedar Park, Texas, you’re welcomed by fresh lilies and roses, and chatter among employees.

One woman mentions her child’s recent accomplishment and the group responds with a supportive, “Yea!” Hinnant sits down at the rustic table in her conference room, several little containers filled with succulents and others filled with colored pencils sitting on top. One of the walls displays three canvases of photos of orphans and orphanages, and on the other side are three published articles in black frames about Grace and Lace’s success.

It’s homey, inviting, a lot like Hinnant, who opens up about what it was like to strike a deal with Barbara Corcoran on Shark Tank a few years ago, coping with tragedy, where the company is headed and how she manages her time as a momtrepreneur.

A recognizable chalkboard—seen on television a month prior—hangs on the wall. Hinnant explains when Shark Tank called with a request to film an update on her company’s success, Hinnant and her team only had a few days to prepare. They had just moved into their new digs, and a Grace and Lace employee created an inspirational manifesto to be displayed behind Hinnant while on camera. In chalky script, the word “success” is surrounded by a circle made of arrows and the words “think,” “idea,” “try,” “do,” “do again,” “and again,” “keep doing.” These simple words mirror Hinnant’s career and personal life.

58 | Austin Woman | december 2016

Lace knit scarf, $33; lace tank extender, $38, available at graceandlace.com. Gray heathered sweater, $39, available at Nordstrom, 3111 Palm Way, 512.605.4900, nordstrom.com.

Lyriq navy suede booties, $99.95, available at solesociety.com.

Gray earrings, $7.99, available at Target stores, target.com. J Brand midrise skinny jeans, $198, available at Estilo, 2727 Exposition Blvd., 512.236.0488, estiloboutique.com.

Think Idea

For Hinnant, family comes first.

“I’ve always wanted to be a mom,” she says. “So when we did [get pregnant], I was over-the-moon excited. Finally, it happened.”

About halfway through Hinnant’s pregnancy, her joy faded as the doctors determined she had an insufficient cervix, which was causing her to dilate too early. Following an emergency surgery to save the baby, whom she and her husband named Halle Jane, Hinnant spent the rest of her pregnancy on bed rest. Her options were to watch TV for the next 100-plus days or do something with her hands. As a self-proclaimed do-it-yourselfer, Hinnant chose the latter.

Since she had learned how to knit and crochet when she was younger, it was natural for her to take it back up.

“Really, when we talk about Grace and Lace starting, those are the foundational stages, those times when I was on bed rest in the hospital. For me, laying in that hospital bed, I felt like I was creating something. While I had the pain of my body not developing this baby right, I felt like I could do something with my hands,” she says. “I was trying to find a purpose in the middle of my pain. It brightened the conditions. I really felt purpose, intentionality to see a creation come about out of two spools of yarn. It gave me something to look forward to, a goal.”

Hinnant was giving. She would make blankets for the other mothers in the hospital’s critical unit, even though she never met them. She started making a quilt for her daughter.

“Never once did we doubt that she [was] going to make it.

We just thought I was going to have a really hard pregnancy laying on my back,” she says.

Then the doctors gave her the grave news. “[Being] told that I’m going to give birth to my daughter and she’s not going to survive was just truly earth-shattering.

Something you’ve waited so long for your whole life to [then] be told that,” Hinnant says.

That profound loss caused Hinnant to feel a deep sense of guilt.

“I went through a real blaming-myself stage. It was my body’s fault. She was perfect; nothing was wrong with her.

Her heartbeat was great. It was my body that couldn’t keep her in,” Hinnant says.

After the loss of her daughter, Hinnant continued to make her quilt.

“That was where grief was probably the strongest because when I was making that quilt on bed rest, I just saw myself wrapping her in it,” she says. “To now make that at home and know that I wouldn’t have her, there were a lot of tears shed on that blanket.”

Six years and three healthy children later, Hinnant, like many moms who’ve lost children, still experiences the pangs of grief.

“I went through a lot of grief stages,” she says. “I still, here and there, suffer through some of that, wondering what it would’ve been like if we did know about my condition in advance.”

While creating pieces with yarn helped Hinnant deal with devastation, it would soon become a skill that would launch her career. One day, she had an idea for a cute little pair of lacy socks. Simple enough, right? Well, nine hours later, she promised she’d never make them again. But she did.

Try

Do

After investing so much time in her new creation, Hinnant posted a photo on Facebook. She did this with a lot of her do-it-yourself projects, using social feedback to guide her efforts. Everyone loved them. Not only that; they wanted to know where they could buy them.

“That’s really how the business exploded,” Hinnant says. “That’s how I grew it from nothing, just starting out.”

Her husband, Rick, was an entrepreneur and suggested she list the socks in her small Etsy shop, where she dabbled in selling baby clothes and blankets.

After 400 purchase requests in a mere three days, Hinnant was overjoyed. But then she got practical. It took her hours to make one pair, so how was she going to make 400 pairs? After sewing the first 30 pairs, exhaustion set in. She decided to use the pattern and teach others how to do it.

“Right away, we had the challenge of scaling the business to meet the demand,” she says.

Hinnant calls Grace and Lace her accidental business. Within the first three months, the business made $80,000 in sales. That’s a whole lot of socks. As if that weren’t encouraging enough, one of the biggest women’s designers in the Southwest wanted to hire Hinnant as a designer. She realized she must be doing something right.

Unbeknownst to Hinnant, her husband had been applying to entrepreneur-focused reality show Shark Tank. His friend suggested Grace and Lace to one of the show’s “What’s so awesome is this producers and 10 minutes later, Hinnant was asked to business started with a pair pitch on national television. But here’s the thing: of boot socks. I have no They just wanted Hinnant formal design training. I’ve to pitch, sans hubby. She never sold retail. I’ve never refused. After all, every time her husband had sugbeen a merchandiser.” gested they give Shark Tank a go, she’d declined.

“Because I’m so stressed for them, the last person I want to be is the person onstage,” Hinnant explains.

The show accepted her terms and the duo hit the Shark Tank floor in Los Angeles, but not before a week of training and practice runs.

Even with that kind of preparation, Hinnant kept forgetting the lines of the pitch.

“I was so nervous, shaking in my boots the whole time,” Hinnant says.

They could hear every word of [other entrepreneurs’ pitches] going on before it was their time to present.

“They are getting butchered, and I am sweating down my back, stressed out,” Hinnant says.

The time had come. As Hinnant approached the “sharks” in her brown suede boots with her frilly socks peeking out, you would never guess she was panicky. She nailed it.

After an hour and a half of back-and-forth discussion with the sharks, the Hinnants accepted a deal with Corcoran for $175,000, half of which was credit, for a 10 percent stake. The deal wouldn’t come to fruition until they passed a grueling 16-week period of due diligence.

“They turn your finances, your business’ finances, your personal history upside down. A team of lawyers, team of banks, everything, makes sure that what you said on TV is true,” Hinnant says. “What you don’t see is that two-thirds of the businesses that do a deal on TV don’t actually do a deal in real life.”

austinwomanmagazine.com | 59

Five days after their Shark Tank episode aired in 2013, Grace and Lace saw $1 million in sales.

After conducting her own little bit of due diligence on the sharks, Hinnant knew she wanted Corcoran on her side all along.

“What’s great about her is she brings such a wealth of experience, but she’s not pushy,” Hinnant says. “She lets us run our own business, and she’s there for us if we need her.”

When Hinnant has an idea or needs advice, she simply texts Corcoran and receives a prompt reply.

“She’s always been someone who’s a friend,” Hinnant says.

While the Hinnants were traveling to India, they had a long layover in New York and asked if Corcoran wanted to grab lunch. She was out of town, but opened up her home to them anyway.

“She’s like, ‘There’s food and ice cream in the fridge. Help yourself,’ ” Hinnant remembers.

So the couple took a cab and hung out in Corcoran’s house, like it was no big deal.

Do Again

and Again

Part of what makes Grace and Lace an accidental company is that Hinnant never expected to be in Texas very long. Since she was 12 years old, she has trekked across the world on mission trips, visiting everywhere from Asia to South America. When Hinnant graduated from high school in Minnesota, she accepted a one-year internship to continue missions, with the idea that she’d go to college after finishing. She never did.

When Hinnant traveled to Nepal for a three-month stint during her internship, what she saw stuck with her.

“I haven’t been in a third-world country [with] that level of extreme poverty,” she says. “Girls who were 8 or 10 years old looked 4 or 5 because of malnourishment. I remember working in the orphanages and walking in and seeing babies on beds with bottles strapped to their faces because there weren’t enough workers to feed them. ... I just knew in that moment that I had experienced something life-changing.”

At only 18, that’s a lot to take in. Every day, she would journal. It was that doingsomething-with-your-hands thing that would eventually find her success. But at this time in her life, it was hard.

“I left really burdened,” she says. “I wrote in my journal that last day there that I needed to do something.”

Because of Grace and Lace’s prosperity, she was able to.

“Looking back, never in a million years would I have thought that I’d have money to build an orphanage,” Hinnant recalls.

When Grace and Lace started, Hinnant’s friend had started an extension of the nonprofit Rescue International called Angel House, providing children in India the gift of a home by constructing orphanages for as many as 50 children.

“That was the light bulb: ‘Oh my gosh, why aren’t we connecting this together?’ ” Hinnant says. “We started with the goal to build one, and Rick worked the financial side to make sure the profit margins could fund the building and sustaining of them. When Shark Tank hit, that surge in sales, we were able to build five. We opened them the following summer, [in June 2014].”

One of Grace and Lace’s newest projects is in Nepal, where the company funds the operation of rescuing girls and women from the sex-trade industry. They are brought to a “freedom home,” where they are provided with counseling and are taught a skill, like making jewelry or sewing, which can never be taken away from them. Hinnant says giving girls the ability to create is “the very thing that took me out of my painful experience.”

Her goal is to build 100 orphanages, and to just keep giving.

“It seems like a really, really huge goal, and then I think about how, in three years, we have been able to do seven [orphanages], including the school. To me, that’s the most fulfilling part,” she says. “I keep it in perspective that this is why I do it, because I know it’s making a difference for people. … It’s what keeps me going through trying times, the nitty-gritty of the day to day. It gives me a reason to do what I do.”

60 | Austin Woman | december 2016

Straight From the

Shark Melissa Hinnant fills us in on what she’s learned during her three years partnered with real-estate mogul and business expert Barbara Corcoran of Shark Tank.

1 “She’s taught me that mistakes are no big deal. Learn from them and move on quickly. Successful leaders have the ability to bounce back when adversity comes.”

2 “She’s taught me that I’m my own best salesman. Never stop pushing your creations.”

3 “I’ve learned to negotiate with power. He who cares less in negotiations wins!”

4 “She’s encouraged me to hire people smarter than myself. True success is who I have on my team.”

5 “When struggling with the decision to hire a design team to support me, she encouraged me to push the qualifications aside and hone in on looking for people that are most like me, think like me to help stay true to my interests and tastes.”

Next page: Lace-up plaid top, $44, available at graceandlace.com.

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Keep doin g

“What’s so awesome is this business started with a pair of boot socks. I have no formal design training.

I’ve never sold retail. I’ve never been a merchandiser,” Hinnant says.

She would sketch an idea and then figure out on her own how to make it happen. The initial boot-sock design grew into scarves and sweaters and more.

“I’ve always had a desire, and passion with my design is driven by wanting every woman to feel great in what they’re wearing,” she says. “I know every woman loves to be complimented, so I want to design things that when they’re walking in the airport or on the street, someone stops them and says, ‘Oh my gosh, what is that? Where’d you get that?’ ” Now that business keeps climbing toward success and then some, Hinnant has a rockin’ design team, making the possibilities endless.

“A lot of my designs come from a need out of my own closet. Now we have a professional design team,” she says. “It’s amazing that now I can create whatever my heart desires. We’ve moved into being full women’s apparel, so sweaters and extenders and tops and leggings— you name it.”

Hinnant considers herself a true momtrepreneur.

“I’m a mom first and then an entrepreneur,” she says.

Hinnant worked from the hospital during her fivemonth periods of bed rest during her pregnancies with now 5-year-old Sienna and 4-year-old Jett.

After rolling out of bed in the mornings in a messy top knot, she wrangles Sienna and little brother Jett, gathering lunches and backpacks to get them out the door for school. Then the sitter comes to her house to take care of 9-month-old Lyvia, while Hinnant opts for the coziest chair, the baby rocker, and gets to work answering emails and texts from the design team and finalizing decisions from the factory. She’ll move throughout the house, often to her formal dining room turned office, measuring and sizing products, even trying things on.

“Half the time, if I haven’t come into the office yet, I’ll look up and be like, oh my gosh, I’m still in my leggings and robe. You know what? I don’t care!” Hinnant says.

She spends a couple hours in the office to attend design meetings before heading back in time to catch her kids walking through the door.

Family, business and philanthropy: That’s what it’s all about.

“For me,” Hinnant says, “this is my why.”

“I’ve always had a desire, and passion with my design is driven by wanting every woman to feel great in what they’re wearing.

I know every woman loves to be complimented, so I want to design things that when they’re walking in the airport or on the street, someone stops them and says, ‘Oh my gosh, what is that? Where’d you get that?’ ”

austinwomanmagazine.com | 61

Melissa Hinnant’s Two Tips for Momtrepreneurs 1. Know your why “Why are you doing the business? Why are you being an entrepreneur? Why is it that you’re doing what you do? … Being a mom and a wife and having kids, we’re constantly pulled in all sorts of directions.

I feel like unless you know your why, know why you’re doing what you’re doing, you won’t be able to drive very far for very long unless you’re driven by that why.

[My why] is to rescue orphans overseas.

It’s also to be able to stay at home and work. It doesn’t have to be that big. It can be just to pay for their son or daughter’s school, have extra income or be able to afford Christmas presents, or whatever. But what is your why? To know that will bring you identity and purpose to be able to drive your business.”

2. Lean with it “We have spinning plates all the time. I would encourage [momtrepreneurs] not to stress themselves about feeling like they have this perfect balance. It’s OK if you’re not balanced. It’s OK if sometimes you have to lean into different areas. Some seasons, I have to lean more into business.

Sometimes, I have to lean more into my daughter. It’s like riding a bike. You don’t learn to soar on a bike without learning how to lean: Oh, a corner’s coming, I have to lean. You can strive for a perfect balance, but I am here to say accept the fact that not everything’s going to be perfect. … I strived so long for perfect balance. That striving stressed me out. …

I learned to accept the fact that—you know what?—I’m a business owner with a multimillion-dollar business. I’m a wife. I have three kids, including a baby. It’s not all going to be perfect; it’s going to look a little crazy. That’s OK.”

62 | Austin Woman | december 2016

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S R AC TORY BY H EL R AS COE PHO TOS K EI TH TRI BY GAC I

ve creatiers n Four , fectio con d us why in es to m rem n it co , you he w what w chocolate o kn er ng v e goi n re you’ get. to 64 | Austin Woman | november 2016

When sampling the sweets of local female chocolatiers Maggie Callahan, Tessa Halstead, Serena Lissy and Nicole Patel, one might indulge in confections ranging from salty and spicy to sweet and crunchy to nostalgic and nutty. By melding quality craftsmanship with unique artistry, these four businesswomen are putting the Austin chocolate scene, as well as their own handmade desserts, on the map. Austin Woman tasted everything, just to be sure.

Clockwise from top left: Maggie Louise Confections, Tessa Chocolatier, Serena Lissy Chocolates, Delysia Chocolatier

65

Maggie Callahan Maggie Louise Confections

Maggie Callahan, a lawyer turned Le Cordon Bleu graduate, has broken out of the brown, square mold with a rainbow of themed chocolate creations. What started with a lipstick mold for white chocolate has expanded to sushi bento boxes, jewel-toned shapes of Texas and a host of holiday assortments, just to name a few. The chic, Chanel-inspired style Callahan showcases throughout her East Austin studio has also caught the eye of clients like Neiman Marcus, Gwen Stefani and Jimmy Choo. If one of her gorgeous themed boxes doesn’t suit you, visitors can also customize their chocolate boxes using Callahan’s color palette and trademark chocolate letters.

Austin Woman: How did you make the decision to move from law to chocolates?

Maggie Callahan: I’m the daughter of a fine artist and lawyer. Everyone’s a hybrid of their parents, but I truly am 50/50 right and left brain.

Growing up, I actually thought I was going to be an artist. My superlative in high school was Most Likely to Have an Exhibit at The Met. AW: Where do you find your inspiration?

MC: I’ve always thought that unique products will come from unique sources of inspiration. I love antique glassware, antique books and the way they would style food 50 years ago. I find inspiration in art, daily life, travel. It’s really just a matter of being open-minded.

AW: Do you have any early memories of chocolate?

MC: We lived three blocks from an old-fashioned pharmacy. I would ride my bike there, and other kids would pay me to buy them candy.

66 | Austin Woman | december 2016

I would charge extra and take a slice off the top, so it was a great money-making scheme for me, and it also funded my interest in eating Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. My exposure was really just with common American candy. A lot of these nostalgic flavors that we have here at the store were the ones around me growing up, so that’s what I’ve always liked.

AW: What made you fall in love with chocolate during pastry school?

MC: We had just a little bit of time on chocolate, but it was enough for me to realize that it’s this artistic medium that you can shape and mold and color, and it can be so fun while being delicious. I kind of wondered why everyone was taking it so seriously. I started doing research and found a lipstick mold. I was like, “Why would anyone possibly make a square when they could make a lipstick?” We aim to create an experience for all senses, and that includes your eyes.

Second-generation chocolatier Tessa Halstead creates elegant, Parisian-style truffles and bonbons with cacao beans sourced from throughout the world. Her offerings are a hybrid of old family recipes, like her mocha pyramid and Italian cherry, and new classics, like her award-winning salted butter caramels. The Texas native’s commitment to detail is evident in her kitchen’s enrobing machine, a chocolate conveyor belt a la that famous I Love Lucy episode, which allows her to make select chocolates in a more time-consuming European method without molds. Even more special, the machine is the same one her father used at their previous Dallas-based family business, Morgen Chocolate.

AW: Do you have any early memories of chocolate?

Tessa Halstead: My parents always tell this funny story from Christmastime when I was 3 or 4 years old. My parents had received a Christmas basket with a chocolate Santa Claus lollipop. They always say I unwrapped the chocolate and started eating it, and then I looked at them with this face and started spitting it out and said, “What is this?” They were like, “That’s when we knew you were a chocolate snob.”

AW: How do you think your personality shines through in your chocolate creations?

TH: I think that my personality really comes through in the ingredients that we source. We’re one of the only chocolatiers in the world who work with craft chocolates in their confections. It’s more expensive to do that, but it’s also a commitment to excellence, and I believe that’s where the future of chocolate is going. People want to be connected to the source.

AW: Do you feel like it was your destiny to be a chocolatier?

AW: Where do you find inspiration for a new chocolate recipe?

TH: When I was in college and my dad decided to retire, he did offer me the business. Sometimes, people say, “Oh, don’t you wish you had just done it from the beginning when your dad offered?” I really feel like if I had done that then, it would have always been his business that I was following. It worked out that he was able to let it go, and I was able to restart my own thing. Life is funny that way.

TH: I’m inspired when I find something really special, like a singleorigin chocolate. … My latest thing that I’m all jazzed up about is our Tahitian vanilla. Whenever I find an ingredient that is truly special, I will create a piece just for that ingredient. I wanted to use these bloodorange thins just because I found them and I was like, “This ingredient is perfect.” It’s beautiful and we needed to find a way to use it.

TESSA HALSTEAD CHOCOLATERIE TESSA

austinwomanmagazine.com | 67

Nicole Patel can’t eat chocolate because of an allergy, but she loves to watch customers enjoy her handmade truffles.

During her career as an industrial engineer at Motorola, Patel began making chocolate truffles at home as a form of stress relief. Demand for her homemade sweets at parties and events grew, so Patel started Delysia on the side, never imagining it would one day become her full-time business. Partnering with Becker Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country put Delysia on the map as the first chocolatier in Texas to make chocolates using local wines. Patel’s flavor explorations have continued through partnerships with local businesses, including Tito’s Handmade Vodka and The Salt Lick, leading to unusual truffle infusions, such as collard greens with bacon, bloody mary and baked beans.

AW: How did you make the decision to focus on making chocolate full time?

Nicole Patel: I was a contractor for the state and my contract ended, so the decision was kind of made for me. It was that push that I needed to be OK with letting go and doing this full time. … Engineering is very much in my blood. It’s all about process efficiency and continuous improvement. It’s a lot of quality control and things like that. Though I’ve moved away from having a fulltime engineering job, I still use all of those skills, probably more than I ever did before.

AW: How did you teach yourself to make truffles?

NP: A lot of it was just experimentation. I found one recipe online, and that recipe actually didn’t work. This is where the engineering kicked in. I used a lot my design experience in varying one variable at a time and seeing what works.

AW: Where do you find inspiration for your chocolates?

NP: My husband and I, every year, would travel to Europe. We never thought we were starting a chocolate business, but a lot of what we saw over there is the inspiration for some of our flavors. … We believe that there is always a reason to enjoy chocolate. It doesn’t need to be a holiday or a wedding. It can be a good day at work or a bad day at work—you just need chocolate. With that, we have chocolates that fit every season and every palate.

AW: What do you think makes your chocolate unique?

NP: We keep continuously pushing that envelope of what we can blend with chocolate. We started with the traditional flavors, but it’s a lot of fun, especially for our loyal customers, to come in and see what new thing that we’ve done. It creates that creative process.

NICOLE PATEL DELYSIA chocolatier

68 | Austin Woman | december 2016

serena lissy serena lissy chocolaTES

After leaving a career in hotel finance to enter the food industry, Serena Lissy dabbled in food photography before heading to pastry school at Austin’s Le Cordon Bleu. There, she fell head over heels for the challenging medium of chocolate. Best known for her eye-catching bonbons and hand-painted delicacies beloved by brides throughout the country, Lissy polished her confection perfection through extensive training, including at local eateries Sway and Uchi, as well as America’s Test Kitchen.

AW: After working in the food industry, what made you want to focus on chocolate?

Serena Lissy: It’s creating. You’re starting with a bag of chocolate, and what are you going to make with it? It’s the creative process. … Chocolate is probably one of the hardest mediums to work with, especially here in Texas. It doesn’t work well in the weather that we have and the humidity changes daily. I like the challenge of it.

AW: Do you have a favorite step in the chocolate-making process?

SL: Every time I turn a mold over, it’s like Christmas. In my mind, I think I know what it should look like, but I never really know until I pop it out after everything is airbrushed or painted or dipped. I just love the surprise there.

AW: What were some of your biggest inspirations in learning to make chocolate?

SL: When I went to work for America’s Test Kitchen in Boston, I would go to New York City almost every weekend and we would do chocolate tastings all weekend long. I had this humongous list of all the chocolate makers throughout the world, and we would just go from chocolate maker to chocolate maker gathering our goods for the day. At the end of the night, we would sit down and do the tasting. I learned tons from that, just the different ideas and creative processes and styles that chocolatiers have.

AW: How do your chocolates reflect your personality?

SL: It feels like I’m always on an airplane going somewhere. When I was in finance, I was in the hotel world. I spent 20 years traveling all over the world, so I have a deep, deep passion for travel and experimenting with flavors and spices. … I also have a degree in graphic design, so my style is very modern, minimal and clean.

The colors are all matched for specific reasons. I think that comes through in the chocolates.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 69

The Pop Artist

The Modern Classic

Maggie Callahan, Maggie Louise Confections

Tessa Halstead, Chocolaterie Tessa

Established: 2013

Established: 2012

Past profession: Harvard-trained lawyer

Past professions: real estate and restaurant management

Favorite chocolate pairing: red wine Trademark sweets: striking 3-D shapes in bright colors that are almost too cute to eat

Favorite chocolate pairing: coffee or spirits Trademark sweets: old family recipes and elegant truffles using handpicked ingredients

THE LINEUP

The Mixologist

The Choco Picasso

Nicole Patel, Delysia Chocolatier

Serena Lissy, Serena Lissy Chocolates

Established: 2008

Established: 2014

Past profession: industrial engineer

Past professions: finance and food photography

Favorite chocolate pairing: savory flavors like curry and mole

Favorite chocolate pairing: unique spice using nine spice blends

Trademark sweets: bold chocolates with traditional and experimental flavors from throughout the world

Trademark sweets: hand-painted bonbon masterpieces in vivid color palettes

70 |  Austin Woman |  december 2016

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GOURMET

Heck of a Hanukkah

Celebrate the festival of lights for all eight nights with a Texas twist. story and photos by Natalie Paramore While the oil burns for eight days, it’s no mystery that fried food, meaty meals and sweet delicacies take the stage for Hanukkah, which begins this year at sunset Dec. 24. To unearth the best recipes in classic Jewish cuisine, Austin Woman went straight to Amy Kritzer, the River City’s resident Jewish-food expert and the blogger behind What Jew Wanna Eat. Kritzer’s recommendation: With a little bourbon, a lot of deep frying and lick or two of dulce de leche, try these three traditional turned Texan dishes before singing “Maoz Tzur” each night. austinwomanmagazine.com | 73

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aw test kitchen

Dulce de Leche Doughnuts Ingredients 1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour (This recipe will work with all-purpose flour as well.)

2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 egg, at room temperature 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar 1/2 cup dulce de leche 3/4 cups whole milk 1 tablespoon light corn syrup 3 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup powdered sugar Directions 1. Preheat

the oven to 350 degrees. Grease two six-cavity doughnut pans. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with butter, then add 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup dulce de leche, 1/2 cup whole milk and 2 teaspoons vanilla, and whisk until smooth. Then whisk the wet and dry ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps.

3. Spoon the batter into the pan, filling cavities about three-fourths full. Bake for 16 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let them cool slightly.

4. M eanwhile, make the glaze by melting the brown sugar with 6 tablespoons butter and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt over medium heat.

5. A dd 1/4 cup dulce de leche, 1/4 cup milk, corn syrup and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir and bring to a boil for three minutes. Add powdered sugar and stir until well combined.

6. Dip each doughnut into the glaze, covering the top. Let them cool on a wire rack over parchment paper to catch any drips.

Let the glaze set before serving.

Recipe source: Food & Wine Magazine

Deep-fried Matzo Balls Ingredients 4 eggs 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus more for frying 4 tablespoons chopped fresh chives 1 packet of matzo ball mix 10 cups water 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 cups panko breadcrumbs 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon hot sauce 1 teaspoon lime or lemon juice Directions 1. Whisk together two eggs with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Add the matzo ball mix and 2 tablespoons of chives, and stir until combined. Let the mixture chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

74 | Austin Woman | december 2016

2. Meanwhile, bring 10 cups of salted water to a boil.

3. Wet your hands and roll the mix into 12 to 14 evenly sized balls.

4. Boil the matzo balls for 15 minutes, until they have expanded, stirring and turning them occasionally.

5. Set the balls aside and let them cool slightly, until they’re cool enough to handle.

6. Whisk together the mayonnaise, hot sauce and citrus.

7. Make three bowls: one with flour seasoned with salt and pepper, one with two whisked eggs and one with panko.

8. Dust the balls in flour, then dip them in the eggs and finish by rolling them in panko.

9. Heat 3 inches of vegetable oil to 350 degrees.

Gently place the balls in batches into the pot and fry three to five minutes each, until golden brown, turning occasionally.

10. Set them on a rack to cool.

11. Serve them hot with a side of dip and garnished with additional chives.

Recipe source: Amy Kritzer of What Jew Wanna Eat

Bourbon-braised Brisket With Cranberry Sauce Ingredients

Directions

4- to 5-pound brisket, trimmed

1. M ake the rub by mixing the kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, fennel, cinnamon and espresso. Rub it all over the brisket and let it sit wrapped for two to 24 hours.

1 tablespoon grapeseed or other high-heat oil 2 celery stalks 2 large carrots 3/4 cup white onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, minced 6 ounces tomato paste 2 cups coffee 1 cup chicken broth 1 1/4 cup bourbon, plus 2 tablespoons 1/2 cup light brown sugar 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 cup fresh cranberries 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon pepper

2. Once you are ready to cook, let the brisket come to room temperature by sitting out for 30 to 60 minutes.

3. H eat the oil in a heavy-bottom pot or Dutch oven. Put the brisket fatty side down and cook without moving it for five to seven minutes, until the fat is rendered. Turn the brisket and cook for an additional three minutes.

4. R emove the brisket and set aside. Add the celery, carrots, garlic and onion to the pot and saute for about five minutes, until the mixture is golden brown, making sure to scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pot.

5. A dd the tomato paste and stir an additional two minutes. Add the brisket back in and add the bourbon, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. Bring to a boil, cover and let it simmer over medium-low heat for three and a half to four and a half hours.

6. Pour the liquid over the brisket occasionally during this process.

7. When it’s ready, transfer the brisket to a large plate or cutting board, fatty side up and let it rest 30 minutes.

2 teaspoons ground fennel

8. M eanwhile, remove any solids from the brisket sauce and discard. Add the cranberries and bourbon to the pot and cook for 20 minutes, until the cranberries have popped and the sauce has thickened slightly.

1 teaspoon cinnamon

9. Slice the brisket against the grain and top it with the bourbon cranberry sauce.

1 teaspoon ground espresso

10. S erve it hot.

2 teaspoons paprika

Recipe source: Amy Kritzer of What Jew Wanna Eat

austinwomanmagazine.com |  75

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food news

Entertain the Past at Eberly

South Lamar Boulevard’s latest dining establishment serves up contemporary American cuisine with a side of history.

by Kat Sampson

Eberly extends a fresh take on American classics, touting a mission “to battle to preserve Austin’s soul.” Indeed, it’s a battle to preserve Austin’s soul that gave the restaurant its name. In 1846, local resident Angelina Eberly defended our then under siege capital by firing off a canon in the direction of President Sam Houston and his Texas Rangers. Her brave act of heroism would keep Austin on the map as the capital of Texas.

A glance through the dinner menu at Eberly boasts a satiating array of starters, such as duck-fat potatoes topped with duck gravy and cheese curds, and wood-roasted oysters Angelina stuffed with pork belly, spinach, cream and Parmesan. Standout main dishes include braised short ribs with ricotta gnudi and celeriac fondue, as well as lighter offerings like tuna tartare on a bed of kale, quinoa and butternut squash hummus.

The dining room, run by Executive Chef Jim Tripi and Executive Pastry Chef Natalie Gazaui, is open Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m.

Pro tip: To continue evening fun, retreat to Eberly’s Cedar Tavern, which stays open until midnight, and Saturday until 1 a.m.

your wishlist

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OURMET

girl walks into a bar

Seeing Red

From lush, red-velvet settees to crimson leather loungers, these three tucked-away locales add an air of decadence to the art of imbibing. by april cumming

The Roosevelt Room 307 W. Fifth St., therooseveltroomatx.com > First impression: You’ve been told not to judge a book by its cover and now it’s time to practice that advice. The radiant, red glow found inside this bar is a welcome contrast to its dark, industrial-warehouse-grime exterior. Bonus: Where else can you get a history lesson as you make a cocktail selection? The extensive menu is segmented by eras. Look to the pre-1880s early years for a sazerac and the 2000s modern classics for an old Cuban. > The crowd: Groups of friends gathering in their unified quest to find a lively downtown drinking spot sans any cringe-worthy elbow butting with college 20-somethings.

The Red Room 306 E. Third St., redroomaustin.com > First impression: So this is what it feels like to belong to a sommeliers club. A single glowing red light hangs above the entrance, acting as a sort of modern-day mistletoe, the only sign to cars passing through the night that this is somewhere worthy of a stop. > The crowd: Mainly those 35 and older, which one can most often split two ways.

There’s the couple looking to reconnect over a glass of vino after a long day at the office and then there are those, albeit a bit late to the dating game, who are looking to impress, either with the depth of their wine knowledge or the amount of said knowledge they can afford. > Wow factor: The professionally curated wine menu is accompanied by a bevy of meal pairings from the bar’s next-door neighbor, Vince Young Steakhouse, which means you can savor bites of Wagyu rib eye as you sip on a glass of 2007 Old World-style syrah.

78 | Austin Woman | DECEMBER 2016

> Wow factor: Order the Cigar Box and watch as expert mixologist and bartender Justin Lavenue casually fires up a blowtorch to light the end of a cinnamon stick (a trick used to release oils and slowly infuse the mezcal and tobacco-bitters concoction).

Milonga Room 1201 E. Sixth St., buenosairescafe.com/milonga-room > First impression: What is this lovely underground world beneath Buenos Aires Café and when can we expect to receive confirmation on our resident status? To get into this clandestine Argentine bar—an intimate, dimly lit space that plays host to pop-up tango performances—you need a reservation and a passcode (or una contraseña, for those practicing their Spanish) to unlock the door. > The crowd: Couples who’ve kept this exclusive cocktail lounge a secret and want to keep it that way. > Wow factor: This is quite possibly one of, if not the only, places in town where you can pair a homemade empanada with a taste of Italian liqueurs like amaro and fernet.

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HEALTH

Hydration Station

IV therapy services tout numerous health benefits.

by Lindsay Stafford Mader

IVs in the ATX Alive Hydration Costs start at $199.

Mobile services are available. alivehydration.com Austin Emergency Center Costs start at $99.

Locations include those in the Far West, Anderson Mill and South Lamar Boulevard neighborhoods. austinhangover.com Austin Live Well Costs start at $99.

1524 S. Interstate 35 austinlivewell.com Drip Drop IV Vitamin Bar Costs start at $169.99.

6611 River Place Blvd. dripdropiv.com Escobedo Esthetics Costs start at $149.

300 Bowie St. escobedoesthetics.com/ iv-therapy-dehydration

Such intravenous-therapy businesses are becoming increasingly popular; in about a year’s time, Austin went from having one or two to nearly a dozen. The variety of establishments now includes mobile nurses making house calls, a traveling minibus and posh wellness centers. Unlike IVs administered in medical settings, which typically consist of a saline solution intended to treat acute illnesses like food poisoning, these drips have added vitamins and minerals that are purported to improve several aspects of the client’s general health. The infusions, which range in cost from $99 to $200 for a single session, are usually not covered by health insurance.

Depending on the establishment, the process begins with choosing from a host of IV solutions touted to improve libido, shorten athletic recovery time, strengthen the immune system, support weight loss, increase energy, beautify skin or annihilate hangovers. A technician then takes the client’s blood pressure and does a brief medical-history overview. According to spokesman Jarrett Schneider Such intravenous-therapy of the Texas Medical Board, very few rules address businesses are becoming IV-therapy businesses. The main requirement, he increasingly popular; in says, is that a licensed physician order the therapy upon the client’s first visit and delegate the IV’s about a year’s time, Austin administration to “individuals who are sufficiently went from having one trained,” which could include a licensed nurse or or two to nearly a dozen. another person “adequately trained to do so.”

The needle is typically inserted into a vein in the arm or hand, most commonly in the cubital fossa at the bend of the elbow. It is possible that the nurse or technician could have trouble with venipuncture or could burst the vein. (Our reporter had such an experience, in which the registered nurse unsuccessfully tried four different veins.) If successful, the catheter, IV tube and bag are connected to each other, and the solution begins dispensing into the body’s bloodstream, which can take 30 minutes to an hour. Clients may feel pain upon insertion of the needle and a cooling or warming sensation during the infusion.

Dr. Candida Suffridge, a family-medicine physician and medical director at Baylor Scott & White’s Georgetown Central Clinic, says IVs are frequently and Hippo Hydrate safely used in hospitals and emergency rooms to effectively treat patients with Costs start at $189. dehydration, particularly in cases in which circulation and kidney function 1611 W. Fifth St. are affected. Though evidence regarding IVs infused with vitamins is lacking, hippohydrate.com some anecdotal reports suggest they can have benefits, while scientific studies Hydrelief are limited or attribute positive outcomes to the placebo effect.

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“Any time you invade the skin, there is a risk of infection and inflammatory hydrelief.com reactions,” Suffridge says. “If an individual is ill, an assessment should IVitamin first be made as to the status and seriousness of their illness before Costs start at $159. treatments can be correctly decided upon. This happens routinely in 515 S. Congress Ave. the hospital and urgent medical clinics, but I wonder if the assessment ivitamintherapy.com would be complete in other nonmedical environments.”

Regarding IV therapy for overconsumption of alcohol, which many Restore Cryotherapy of the IV businesses advertise, Suffridge says the drips could certainly Costs start at $99.

4301 W. William Cannon Drive hydrate an individual with a hangover. restorecryotherapy.com/ “But,” she adds, “it may preclude medical treatment for other drip-therapy important conditions, such as addiction, abuse or acute and chronic physical illnesses that are not evaluated in that environment.”

Rolling RevIVal So, what’s her advice for preventing and treating hangovers, Costs start at $119. especially during the party-filled holiday season? Avoid them Mobile services are available. rollingrevivalbus.com altogether.

“Drink in moderation. Be safe and accountable,” she says.

All prices listed are for “Take a daily multivitamin and drink at least 10 glasses of nonmember IV drips. water per day. Always put your health and safety first.”

80 | Austin Woman | DECEMBER 2016

Photo by Lindsay Stafford Mader.

Throughout the city, Austinites are lounging on comfy couches and reclining chairs with their arms outstretched and needles stuck in their veins. Each piece of sharp metal is part of a catheter device that connects to a long, thin plastic tube strung up the wall into a bag of glowing liquid. While the client sips on Topo Chico or scrolls on a smartphone, the concoction slowly drips into the bloodstream.

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HORMONES AND ENDOCRINOLOGY

Endocrinology is the science of hormones, which affect every cell and every function in your body. The glands secreting these hormones form your endocrine system, a tightly interconnected system with thousands of feedback loops. It is far more complex than any supercomputer today. Hormones control everything in your body from birth to death. Without hormones, your body cannot function. Examples of hormones: estrogen, testosterone, insulin and hormones like thyroid, cortisol, adrenal and pituitary.

WHAT ARE ENDOCRINE DISEASES?

They are diseases caused by a malfunction of one or more endocrine glands in your body. Examples: thyroid, osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome and obesity, hirsutism, menopause, low testosterone in males, andropause and impotence, polycystic ovaries, irregular or lack of menstrual periods, high and low calcium, and diabetes.

WHAT FACTORS AFFECT YOUR ENDOCRINE SYSTEM?

hypothyroidism. Thyroid ailments include Graves’ and Hashimoto disease, goiter, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Thyroid problems require lifelong attention. Each person has a different genetic set point for TSH, the thyroid stimulation hormone.

WHAT IS OSTEOPOROSIS?

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis affects one in two women and one in four men over the age of 50 and is generally missed. Bone fracture is considered to be the heart attack of the bone and can have major consequences on your quality of life, from reduced mobility to potential loss of mobility altogether. A bone density test is the only way to test for osteoporosis. We perform such testing and provide consultation on bone metabolism and osteoporosis treatment.

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“Seek your optimal health, your ideal yet achievable health, and increase the quality of your life.”

Aging, other diseases, stress, environmental and genetic factors do influence your endocrine system. Aging changes how hormones are produced and absorbed by your body. Genetic factors and other diseases can do the same. Stress triggers a cascade of hormones that affect your heart, kidneys and other organs. Recent research identified endocrine disrupting chemicals in our environment.

WHY SEE AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST?

Hormone treatments must be followed by a hormone specialist (endocrinologist) the same way heart disease is followed by a heart specialist (cardiologist). An endocrinologist has years of special training in diagnosing and treating your hormone imbalances.

Endocrine diseases are often missed, since symptoms are often subtle and easy to brush aside. An endocrinologist starts out with a thorough physical evaluation looking for these telltale sings, then follows up with a battery of blood and other lab tests. Often, additional highly specialized tests are involved to identify the root cause of your hormonal imbalance.

WHAT IS THYROID DISEASE?

Since hormones rule your body, have your hormonal balance assessed by an endocrinologist to optimize your health.

Dr. Simone Scumpia of Austin Thyroid & Endocrinology outlines everything you need to know about hormones and their effect on the body.

Thyroid disease affects 30 million Americans, yet half of them do not know they have it. It is called the “silent disease.” One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder in their life; women are five to eight times more likely than men to develop hyperthyroidism or

3 Bioidentical hormones are not human identical and may cause complications.

3 Fountain of youth hormones (otherwise known as human growth hormones) can cause serious side effects when used for anti-aging.

3 hCG diets (HCG) by themselves do not cause weight loss, but can cause irregular periods for women and breast enlargement for men.

3 Hormone treatment of fatigue, depression or anti-aging should be avoided due to many side effects it can cause.

3 Adrenal fatigue is not a real disease, but adrenal failure is a life threatening disease.

WHAT IS OPTIMAL HEALTH AND BIOLOGICAL AGE?

Medicine addresses disease treatment and prevention. Optimal health and biological age deal with your health before disease prevention or treatment. We focus on optimal health, the ideal yet achievable health of your body as you reach middle age and beyond. Our specialized equipment allows us to measure and evaluate your biological age, a measure of how well or poorly your body is functioning relative to your actual calendar age.

Biological age is a composite of several “ages” such as brain age, bone age, heart age and vessel age. Optimal health focuses on your wellness before disease can be identified; it is a step before disease prevention and does improve the quality of your life.

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fitness

Take a Hike

Trails never fail to work the mind and body.

BY Gretchen M. Sanders

Let other hikers stay svelte by pounding out miles around Lady Bird Lake. Pam LeBlanc, fitness and adventure-travel writer for the Austin American-Statesman, prefers to maintain her trim physique on more exotic trails. The 52-year-old swimmer, cyclist and scuba diver just can’t get enough of the great outdoors.

That’s how LeBlanc ended up lugging her backpack across nearly 200 miles of California’s John Muir Trail in September.

The trail, located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and often described as America’s most beautiful, starts in Yosemite National Park and terminates at Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. This trek is serious business. Its breathtaking terrain requires constant climbing and descending, at times forcing hikers up 3,000 feet of switchbacks in an afternoon.

Hauling 28 pounds on her back, including meals, a sleeping bag, an air mattress and a bear vault to protect food and other scented items, LeBlanc covered approximately 12 miles a day for 15 days. She slept in a tent (carried by her husband) under wide, star-studded skies and bathed without soap in lakes as clear as windows.

“You get to know everything about the people you’re hiking with,” LeBlanc laughs, “especially the foods they crave and way too much about their bodily functions.”

Bruised and battered toes tested LeBlanc’s resolve, and a running calorie deficit left her weak. Yet she did not bend or break. A fortnight after setting out to conquer the land named after the co-founder of the Sierra Club, LeBlanc emerged from the John Muir Trail to greet friends, a margarita and a burger.

“It was the biggest adventure of my life,” she says, recalling the rugged mountains, glittering alpine lakes, sweeping pine forests and golden meadows. “It was also the toughest thing I’ve ever done—not any one step of it, but the trip taken as a whole.”

The John Muir Trail may have pushed LeBlanc to her limit, but she has other ideas for Austinites looking for their own outdoor fitness adventures closer to home.

Here’s how Pam LeBlanc stays in great hiking shape:

“I like dried mangos and something salty when I’m hiking or backpacking. I need variety, so I also pack almonds and cranberryorange belVita Breakfast Biscuits.

Oh, and I love thick sugar cookies and Doctor Kracker!”

“My backpack for overnight trips is an Osprey Aura, a women’s-specific

pack. For day trips, I carry something smaller, and I wear zip-off pants so I can change according to temperature. I also dress in layers and wear a long-sleeve shirt and a wide-brim hat for sun protection.”

“I hike to get to places you can’t reach by car and to see stuff most people never get to see. Nature just makes me happy. I love sleeping in a tent and seeing tumbling creeks, lush meadows and big skies. Plus, I like the burn in my legs and the way hiking calms my mind.”

“I like to listen to the sounds of nature. I want to hear birds, wind in the trees, water flowing in a creek, so I don’t listen to music when I hike.”

84 | Austin Woman | DECEMBER 2016

Photos by Chris LeBlanc.

“I like the River Place Nature Trail in Austin. The trail has nice elevation, and the ups and downs make it a great place to train. It’s also shady and close…to town. No matter where I hike, I try to go for a few hours each time, long enough and with enough elevation change to get my heart rate up.”

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Thank you to our 2016 conference sponsors and

our 20th birthday host committee members!

Diane T. Land, Honorary Chair, MariBen Ramsey, Chair Rossana A. Barrios, Janet Bates, Heather Bendes, Linda Benge, Drew & Melissa Bixby, Betsy Blair, Karen & Carter Blackburn, Sabrina Brown, Sandra Bucklin, Beth & Tripp Carey, Carolyn Rice Bartlett Charitable Foundation, Pam Catoe, Laura & Shawn Catoe, Eric Harslem & Lorraine Clasquin, Perla Cavazos, Laurie Coffin, Alicia Davis, Suzanne Deal Booth, Loretta & Jim Fellers, Julie Fisher, Lulu Flores, Jolynn Free, Susan Gallagher, Margaret Garcia, Tammy Goforth, Sandy Gottesman, Lisa & Dan Graham, Lisa Harris, Paula Herd, Tracy Holland & Jim Skelding, Christie Horne, Celia Israel, Erin & Jason Jones, Melissa Jones, Karen Kahan, Cynthia & Gregory Kozmetsky, Rita Kreisle, Kristen Lark, Monica & Casey Layfield, Ane Lowe, Kit & Alexis Mellem, Lynn, Sarah, & Abby Meredith and Kate Andrade, Megan Owen, Michele Moore, Bettye Nowlin, Maria Orozova, The Office of the Governor, Janis Pinnelli, Christine A. Plonsky, Robert & Christine Reinauer, Lora Reynolds & Quincy Lee, Debbie & Leonard Rodell, Donna Schultz Van Fleet, Kim Soechting, The Stahl Family Foundation, Kerry Tate, Maura Thomas, Cathy Thompson, Shari & Cliff Vars, Kathrine Weaver, Kay Wilemon, Marc & Suzanne Winkelman, Nancy Word & Emily Bush

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memo from JB

Simple Gifts

A tribute to my grandmother and the little things in life.

When my grandmother passed away in 2007, it was one of the toughest moments of my life because selfishly, I wanted her to be with us forever. She lived to be 94, so it wasn’t supposed to be sad. It was no doubt a celebration of a life that touched so many people. I think everyone in the community in her small Kansas town knew it would be hard on all of us. She was the closest to a living saint that any of us would ever have the pleasure of getting to know. During my last visit with her, she looked me square in the eyes, said she was “just tired” and asked me if I would be her pallbearer.

“Of course I will. I would be honored,” I said. We were both sobbing and hugging. She had lived in the same house since my dad was a toddler. We have always been a family built around humor, so to help us fight back the tears, I told her I had one question: “Is your house paid for?” With her quick wit, she laughed and replied, “Just a few more payments.

Just a few more.”

That was our last conversation.

Sitting in her living room following the funeral service, my uncle asked me if I wanted anything from Grandma’s estate. Anything.

Knowing I have a love for all things midcentury, he probably thought I would pick her console stereo or perhaps her car. Without hesitation, I said, “You’re not going to believe this but I would really love to have that foot ashtray on the end table.” I couldn’t even recall what it said on it, but it’s just the most ingrained image in my head when I would picture her living room. I remember thinking as a kid that it was funny that an ashtray was in the shape of a foot, and I loved it.

I can picture and feel so many things about that house in detail.

When we would pull up, she would likely be outside awaiting our arrival, or at least looking through the living room window to greet us.

I can clearly hear the sound of the screen door opening and slamming shut as dozens of grandkids and great-grandkids ran in and out. I can also hear the living room wall clock that had the loudest second hand that would tick away as I lay there on the living room floor on a makeshift bed, wanting to stay awake as long as I could. I can smell the wood of the built-in storage bench in the entryway leading to the smell

86 | Austin Woman | DECEMBER 2016

of some freshly fried chicken. She was a farm girl and the youngest of eight, so she knew how to maximize a chicken to accommodate whomever might show up. You could show me 100 color swatches of olive green and I could pick out the exact one that matched her refrigerator and stove. I could point out the specific locations in the dining room where the floor would creak the most if you were sneaking around after you were supposed to be in bed. I can picture exactly where she would leave the most recent Sears catalog, in which we would all circle what we wanted for Christmas and put our initials next to it. In the winter, I could identify the best spot to be over the floor vent, which pumped warm air from the basement furnace. In the summer, the best spot was on the glider sofa on the front porch, hopefully next to Grandma.

There were so many grandkids and great-grandchildren that real estate was limited and precious.

For obvious reasons, December is an incredibly nostalgic time.

Every year following Thanksgiving, we pull out the Target tubs of decorations.

In one of those tubs is the foot ashtray, which I now know says, “We got a kick out of colorful Colorado.” I don’t know for certain, but being born and raised on a Kansas farm, that very well may have been one of the farthest trips from home she had ever taken. I don’t know that for sure, but that, to me, is a reminder it’s not what you have or where you’ve been, but who you are.

What I do know is that Grandma’s relationship with all of us set the bar so high, it’s something we all strive for every day. She had a way of making me feel like I was the most special person on the planet. As a kid, I thought it was just me. Now, I understand she did that for everyone.

If you are ever at my house during the holidays, you are likely to see a silly little foot ashtray in the living room near the Christmas tree, a reminder of a simpler time and an amazing person. I know I’m not alone because my oldest sister chose to keep a ceramic monkey that holds sugar packets that my grandma kept next to the coffee pot. How could she have ever known that those tiny, insignificant objects could symbolize such emotional memories?

Lucky me.

Gertrude Frances Sauer Hager 1913–2007

Photo courtesy of JB Hager.

By JB Hager

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I Am Austin Woman

Mush!

A pioneer, yes, but ButchI did it. I rode a dog er was not the first female sled in Alaska. A longto win the punishing race. time bucket-list entry, That honor goes to Libby the ride was the ride of Riddles. Moving from Wismy life. No, it wasn’t on consin to Alaska at a young snow, but yes, it met age, Riddles fell in love with and even exceeded the sled-dog lifestyle and all my expectations. I competed in the 1980 and expected a thrill, but 1981 Iditarods. She didn’t do what I didn’t expect well in either, but her mere was to learn how much presence in the then malewomen have infludominated sport caught the enced the sport. attention of many.

We all have images of In 1985, she was back giant husky dogs pulling a and, even though her sled sled through the Alaskan broke and some of her tundra during an Iditarod dogs became sick, she race, but what we may not fought through blizzardhave are images of the sled like conditions and galedrivers, or “mushers,” beforce winds and was the first sled to cross the finish line after ing women. It may seem like a manly activity, but dog racing is the 18 demanding days. And demanding they were. The blizzards world’s only sport that is coed. Men and women compete directly were so bad, the competition was stopped twice to allow teams against each other, and females make up nearly one-third of recent to take shelter, and many hours were raced in temperatures race competitors. exceeding 50 below zero.

Mary Shields was the first woman to compete in the race, back Some say it all goes back to 1925, when several dog-sled teams in 1974, and paved the way for others. Perhaps the most famous helped get a much-needed diphtheria serum to the remote city female musher is Susan Butcher, who won the grueling 1,150-mile of Nome, Ala., saving hundreds of lives. The trek in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990, and raced in a total of 17 Iditarods from 1978 to 1994 It may seem like a manly activity, Iditarod also commemorates the epic stretch of land on which dog teams would carry mail and before passing away in 2006. Butcher revobut dog racing is the world’s supplies to Nome. Dubbed “The Last Great Race lutionized the sport and is honored for doing on Earth,” each annual event starts in Anchorso every year on Susan Butcher Day, which only sport that is coed. age. From there, qualifying teams suit up and set coincides with the start of each year’s race. out to conquer harsh terrain and arctic condiThat’s not bad for a veterinary tech who tions for two weeks, with the Nome finish line in their sights. grew up in Massachusetts. Before her Iditarod fame, Butcher made When it all comes down to it, though, dogs are the heart and headlines as a member of the first dog-sled team to ascend Denali, soul of mushing. Surprisingly, the hardest working dogs aren’t the North America’s highest peak, and is also credited with revolutionleads, but rather, the two at the end of the tug line. Most weigh izing the sport. between 40 and 50 pounds and run 100 miles a day during training.

“She invented a new style of harness and trained her dogs yearFemale and male dogs share the work and neither is ever spayed or round, which was unheard of at the time,” JDot, the musher on my neutered. They are showered with attention, beloved, eat well, are sled, told us. “Today, it’s the standard and is why people can visit considered part of the family and love what they do. Much to my kennels during the summer.” surprise, they aren’t big dogs. Size doesn’t matter, but strength and The mushing camp I attended breeds, trains and races dogs all will do. year, as do most kennels. In fact, JDot and his 16 Alaskan huskies Strength and will: two qualities female mushers also have. And, are currently training for the 2018 Iditarod. Most kennels offer sled although a woman hasn’t won the Iditarod in more than 25 years, rides, but also kennel tours, through which you learn about the sport maybe one will next March. This woman will be watching. and get to pet the puppies, which I loved as much as the ride itself.

Austin Woman features a reader-submitted essay every month in the I Am Austin Woman column.

To be considered for February’s I Am Austin Woman, email a 500-word submission on a topic of your choice by Jan. 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com with the subject line “I Am Austin Woman.”

88 | Austin Woman | DECEMBER 2016

Photo courtesy of Carla Luna Smith.

After dog sledding through Alaska, Austinite Carla Luna Smith discovered a spirited history of the women who revolutionized the snowy sport.

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