February 2018

AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2018

“Surround yourself only with people who are going to take you higher.” —Oprah Winfrey

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Our model of care is to be there for nearly every health and developmental need a child might have – from pediatrics, to urgent care, to treatment for rare and complex conditions. We can’t wait to be on the ground in Austin, bringing you the personalized, family-centered, high-quality care and services that put us on the map. One of the most trusted names in Texas. Coming soon to your hometown. texaschildrensaustin.org ©2018 Texas Children’s Hospital. All rights reserved. AUS001_120117

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

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46

ON THE COVER

NO STRANGERS AT THE TABLE

BY DEBORAH HAMILTON-LYNNE

52

FEATURE

SHE TAKES THE CAKE

Photo by Annie Ray.

BY SHELLEY SEALE

CONTENTS

Photo courtesy of C2 Photography..

FEBRUARY

32 SAVVY WOMEN

STYLE + HOME

20 COUNT US IN Women in Numbers 22 B OTTOM LINE Michelle Patterson

42 SPLURGE OR STEAL Love Story 44 MAKE ROOM Wall of Fame

of ShakeWell Creative

24 G IVE BACK

Stephanie Williams of Bennu Coffee

26 F ROM THE DESK OF

Annie Burridge

of Austin Opera

28 P ROFILE 30 P ROFILE

Joni Carswell of LivingTree Jennie Allen of If: Gathering

MUST LIST

GOURMET 61 TO MARKET Valentine’s Day in 64 F OOD NEWS La Pâtisserie

WELLNESS 66 WAITING ROOM Hereditary Health 68 E AT THIS, NOT THAT Gluten-free, Vegan, Paleo Tortilla Chips

32 D ISCOVER Aspen, Colo.

70 H ER ROUTINE Bowler Norma Manns 34 R OUNDUP How to Make New Connections 36 LITTLE LUXURIES Daisy Natives POINT OF VIEW

ATX WOMEN TO WATCH 38 EMILY HATFIELD 39 ALICE MCMILLAN 40 AMY PEREZ 41 CHELLE NEFF 10 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

72 I AM AUSTIN WOMAN

Sophie Kwok

ON THE COVER Photo by Annie Ray, annieraycreative.com Hair and makeup by Laura Martinez, bylauramartinez.com Shot on location at Archer Hotel Austin, 3121 Palm Way, 512.836.5700, archerhotel.com/austin

Asymmetrical pullover tunic sweatshirt with sweater knit trim, $19.50; DenimFlex dark-wash jeggings with brown stitching, $39, available at Maurice’s, 10515 N. MoPac Expressway, 512.795.8723, maurices.com.

Jacket, jewelry and boots, model’s own.

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VOLUME 16, ISSUE 6 CO-FOUNDER AND PUBLISHER Melinda Maine Garvey VICE PRESIDENT AND CO-PUBLISHER Christopher Garvey ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Cynthia Guajardo Shafer

EDITORIAL EDITOR April Cumming DIGITAL EDITOR Lauren Jones COPY EDITOR Chantal Rice CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sommer Brugal, Lydia Gregovic, Lauren Jones, Sophie Kwok, Lauryn Lax, Deborah Hamilton-Lynne, Madison Matous, Natalie Paramore, Phaedra Rogers, Mikaila Rushing, Gretchen M. Sanders, Shelley Seale, Deborah Stachelski

ART CREATIVE DIRECTOR Niki Jones CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Rudy Arocha, Caitlin Candelari, Chelsea Francis, Grayson Goff, Ashley Hargrove, Jenny Hayes, Laura Martinez, Zach Maraziti, Lyda McIver, Lisa Muñoz, Natalie Paramore, John Pesina, Tania Quintanilla, Annie Ray, Courtney Runn, Gretchen M. Sanders, Mark Seliger, Paul Sirochman, Deborah Stachelski, Kate Zimmerman Turpin, Jessica Wetterer

OPERATIONS AND MARKETING MARKETING AND EVENTS MANAGER

Madilyn Biscoe OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR/CREATIVE ASSISTANT

Courtney Runn

SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Christine Moore

INTERNS

Lydia Gregovic, Riley Krauss, Madison Matous, Mikaila Rushing

EMERITAE CO-FOUNDER Samantha Stevens EDITORS

Emily C. Laskowski, 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 atxwoman.com.

Email us at info@awmediainc.com.

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

FROM THE EDITOR Q COMMUNITY

uick show of hands: How many of y’all were in shock by how quickly the gift-bag aisle at Target shifted from a red-and-green color scheme for Christmas to a river of red and pink for Valentine’s Day? The swap seemed to happen rather impressively overnight. This world moves at such a quick clip that sometimes it’s a struggle just to remember what month we’re living in.

PARTNERS

Publication of Austin Woman would not be possible without the support of our monthly advertisers and sponsors, who believe in the impact we are making in the Austin community. The following businesses have stepped up their support of our efforts beyond traditional advertising and we are proud to recognize them as our partners. The team at Austin Woman is grateful for these businesses that have shown their commitment to the advancement of women in Austin and hopes you, as readers, recognize their efforts and support these businesses and all our regular advertisers.

That said, with the February issue of Austin Woman in mind, our team has been buzzing about the importance of discussing topics such as self-love and selfworth. Although we all love flowers and chocolates as much as the next woman, our natural tendency at AW is to turn to what matters most: you, our readers. We want to serve as a resource and a foundation for you to lean on as you grow and cultivate a relationship with your best self. As Sarah Jessica Parker’s oh so quotable Sex and the City character, Carrie Bradshaw, said, “Don’t forget to fall in love with yourself first.”

Taking that thought to heart, I decided to create a checklist of self-care goals for myself to follow in February and the year ahead. (Yes, it’s February, and January can sue me.) My overarching hope is that a few of these pursuits will resonate with you, or, at the very least, inspire you to compose a list of your own.

• Finish reading a book. And what I mean by that is I want to finish a whole book, one without pictures and with a solid page-flipping sound effect.

• Join a moms group. But first, I need to research if that’s, in fact, what they’re called. Maybe they’re known as mom meetups or mom playdates. Clearly, I’m new to this terminology, but then again, I’ll be new to a lot of things when I welcome my baby boy into the world this month.

• Be the first to reach out to others. Instead of waiting for friends and family to reach out to me, as I notoriously do, I’ll try checking in with them first. It feels gratifying to take a moment to shoot off a “How are you?” text at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday, and I’m sure the feeling is mutual.

MELINDA GARVEY Publisher

DIAMOND LEVEL PARTNERS

• Make time for date nights. It’s easy to get into the habit of spending night after night bingeing on reruns of The Office, but it’s impressive what just a little effort can do for a relationship.

Something as simple as a couple rounds of miniature golf on a Wednesday followed by dinner at a favorite pizza joint helps rekindle conversation and remind us of the qualities that attracted us to one another in the first place.

• Grow a plant. I’ll be bold and put hydrangeas, lavender and jasmine at the top of my next Home Depot shopping list. Oh, and I’ll need some pretty ceramic planters as well.

• Do more yoga. Anything that makes me feel like a happier human in just an hour’s time is worth slotting into my busy schedule.

• Procure mad calligraphy skills. Also, compose fewer texts and write more hand-written letters—the kind that require a postage stamp.

• Travel somewhere new. Banff, Canada; Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and Zion National Park are all near the top of my must-visit list. There are so many women-founded adventure groups that can take me there too, from Women Who Explore to The Rooted Method.

LAW OFFICE OF JANET MCCULLAR

• Soak up the sun. Cue Sheryl Crow on repeat.

But back to my point: Take stock of this one life you have and how fortunate you are to wake up every morning and breathe in a new day.

Sincerely,

APRIL CUMMING Editor 14 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

Join the conversation @AustinWoman #TheConnectionIssue

Photo by Lisa Muñoz.

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Something for everyone

CONTRIBUTORS This month, we asked our contributors: How would you describe your dream birthday cake?

ANNIE RAY

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER, “NO STRANGERS AT THE TABLE,” PAGE 46 Since 2005, Annie Ray has focused on bringing out the “real stuff” in everything she shoots.

Her relationship with every subject will make 1,000 words say so much more.

“My dream cake would be an icecream cake from Lick Honest Ice Creams with bright-blue frosting.”

DEBORAH HAMILTON-LYNNE

COVER WRITER, “NO STRANGERS AT THE TABLE,” PAGE 46 Deborah Hamilton-Lynne has been in love with words her entire life.

She has been a published writer and columnist for more than four decades. The editor-in-chief of Austin Man and Austin Woman from 2011 through 2015, Deborah founded Grassroots Movements Marketing in 2016. In 2017, she visited 60 ports in 35 countries on five continents while lecturing on Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and she never knows where her next adventure will lead. Never forsaking her love of words, she continues writing, editing and speaking, as well as providing media-consulting services.

“I salivate every time I remember the tastes and smells of fresh rosemary, goat cheese, lemon curd and creamcheese frosting in my dream birthday cake, lemonrosemary cake, baked for me by my award-winning pastry chef friend, Corey Harris.”

LAURA MARTINEZ

COVER HAIR AND MAKEUP, “NO STRANGERS AT THE TABLE,” PAGE 46 Laura Martinez was born in beautiful Austin, and has traveled from New York to LA for makeup work, but still calls Austin home. She is a freelance makeup artist who specializes in makeup for print, commercial and lifestyle photo shoots.

She’s recently worked with L’Oreal, Marie Claire and Entertainment Weekly, to name a few. Follow her for beauty tips on Instagram @bylauramartinez.

Upcoming events: February 9, 8:00 p.m.

Jurassic Park— Film with Orchestra Peter Bay, conductor Long Center’s Dell Hall

“My dream birthday cake would be chocolate cupcakes with fondant lipsticks, makeup brushes and makeup palettes on them. Tiny cakes for everyone!”

February 23/24, 8:00 p.m.

“Triumph Over Fate” Rick Rowley, piano Peter Bay, conductor Long Center’s Dell Hall Music of Schumann and MacDowell COnCeRT SPOnSORS

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SHELLEY SEALE

WRITER, “SHE TAKES THE CAKE,” PAGE 52

Shelley Seale is an Austin-based freelance journalist and author who has contributed regularly to Austin Woman for more than 10 years. She loves yoga, indie movies, wine and books, though not necessarily in that order. Shelley has performed a catch on the flying trapeze, boarded down a live volcano and was once robbed by a monkey in Nepal, but she doesn’t know how to whistle.

“My dream birthday cake would be either a beautiful wine chateau fountain (spouting actual wine, of course) or a detailed rendition of an original version of one of my favorite books of all time, such as The Great Gatsby or To Kill a Mockingbird. The real dream would be to incorporate all three!”

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CONNECT WITH US! CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS ISSUE? Check us out at atxwoman.com.

➥ More self-love. Whether you bring a plus one or go solo, an escape to

East Austin’s hip and homey Heywood Hotel, where cruiser bikes are free to ride and you can mosey into local shops to your heart’s content, is worth checking out (or maybe we should say checking in).

➥ More cowgirl power. Discussing the how-tos of living fearlessly, our digital editor sits down with advertising CEO and real-life cowgirl Gay Gaddis ahead of the release of her new book, Cowgirl Power: How to Kick Ass in Business and Life.

➥ More #careergoals. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Austin Under 40 Awards. To celebrate, we caught up with three of the past female winners to hear more about where their careers have taken them and what they love most about their 9-to-5 jobs.

➥ More sweets, less sugar. As the self-proclaimed “first healthy pastry

chef,” Vanessa Musi (@chefvanessamusi on Instagram) is a pro at developing diet-friendly desserts, including keto, paleo matcha doughnuts, Bulletproof Coffee scones and gluten-free cinnamon rolls.

WIN THIS!

DON’T MISS

Elevé Cosmetics (@elevecosmetics), founded by makeup artist Gertie Wilson, will host the highly anticipated opening of its flagship store this month in Southwest Austin. Stop in to say hello to Wilson or Co-owner Ginger Averitt.

A high-performance, clean, all-natural luxury beauty line based in Austin, Elevé Cosmetics aims to repair and protect your skin with its line of nontoxic makeup. Packed full of antioxidants, peptides and active anti-aging ingredients, products are designed to enhance your natural beauty.

To celebrate this new venture, Wilson and Averitt pulled together some of their all-time favorite products to give away to one lucky reader. The adorable Elevé All Day canvas makeup pouch contains Nail Pop in lily (denim blue), Flashdance (a rose-gold liquid highlighter), Lip Pop in Park City and Chicago, Lip Luv lip treatment and a travel-size Jet Setter makeup-setting mist— a $150 beauty haul!

To enter, keep an eye on our Instagram account, @AustinWoman, for the giveaway announcement in February. 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

18 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

LIKE US

Rise School Heart & Soul Luncheon Feb. 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

JW Marriott Austin, 110 E. Second St. riseschoolaustin.org/heartandsoul Nobelity Project Feed the Peace Awards Feb. 11, 6 to 10 p.m.

Four Seasons Hotel Austin, 98 San Jacinto Blvd. nobelity.org/feed-the-peace-awards Go Red for Women Summit Feb. 23, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

JW Marriott Austin, 110 E. Second St. ahaaustin.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/20172018Austin GoRedLuncheon Wonders & Worries Unmasked Gala Feb. 23, 7 to 11 p.m.

JW Marriott Austin, 110 E. Second St. wondersandworries.org/events/unmasked Austin Woman Spring Launch Party Feb. 28, 6 to 8 p.m.

Copenhagen Imports, 2236 W. Braker Lane atxwoman.com Want to know about more events? Head to atxwoman.com to check out the rest of our February calendar.

facebook.com/austinwoman

FOLLOW US

@ austinwoman

Gay Gaddis photo by Mark Seliger. Austin Under 40 Awards photo by Jerry Hayes.

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AVVY WOMEN

COUNT US IN

WOMEN IN NUMBERS

Facts and figures on females from throughout the world.

BY LYDIA GREGOVIC, ILLUSTRATIONS BY JESSICA WETTERER

6 Million Couples Clear your schedules and invest in that pair of heels you’ve been eyeing. Odds are you’ll be receiving more than a few save-the-date invites in the near future. According to a report from American Express, about 6 million couples get engaged each Valentine’s Day, making it the second most popular engagement date of the year, after Christmas. And when it comes to Love Day, as the holiday is sometimes called, don’t be surprised if your beau’s feelings run a little deeper than yours at first. A survey by the Daily Mail found men take an average of 88 days to tell a partner, “I love you,” compared with women’s average of 134 days.

28,000 Guests

2.5 Times More Likely Are you afraid to make the first move on your favorite dating app?

Don’t be! Although traditional romantic scripts imply the man should be the first to show interest, a survey conducted by online dating platform OkCupid found women are two and a half times more likely to get a response when they send the first message. And the perks don’t end there. According to the same survey, sparks ignited by women have a better chance of resulting in a longer connection. According to the survey results, about 30 percent of women-initiated messages on OkCupid turn into conversations.

Oprah Winfrey has been involved in almost every aspect of the entertainment industry, from producing to acting, but she is perhaps best remembered as the host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, which had a 25-season run, from 1986 to 2011. One of the most successful talk shows in history, the program saw Winfrey host 28,000 guests throughout the course of her career, including five presidents, seven princes and one reigning queen.

In addition to launching the careers of household television names such as Dr. Phil McGraw, the show eventually allowed Winfrey to create her own network, OWN.

91 Percent of Florists Business is blooming for ladies in the floral industry.

A report from The Florist Guide found the field is heavily female-dominated, with women making up about 91 percent of all florists in the U.K. For many florists in the U.S., February is the busiest month of the year, with consumers buying more than $2 billion worth of flowers every Valentine’s Day. But despite this annual spike in business, the floral industry is struggling to convince millennials of the benefits of stopping to smell the roses. In fact, only about 23 percent of U.K. florists are younger than 25.

20 Percent of Americans Block parties may be a thing of the past, according to recent data from the General Social Survey. Four decades ago, about one-third of Americans reportedly socialized with their neighbors at least twice a week. Today, only 20 percent of home dwellers regularly spend time with those who live near them. In a 2010 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, researchers found one-third of Americans knew none of their neighbors by name. Surprisingly, the root cause of this distance may be what many consider the ultimate connector: technology.

Whereas older generations relied on those living near them for social support, the rise of social media and cellphones allows us to keep longdistance loved ones close, eliminating the need for new friends.

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AVVY WOMEN

BOTTOM LINE

THE ART OF GIVING BACK

Michelle Patterson, co-founder and CEO of ShakeWell Creative, shares how a workplace can successfully contribute to the local community.

BY SOMMER BRUGAL

UNDERSTAND YOUR COMPANY VALUES.

Patterson says her first aha moment came in her early 20s. While volunteering in her spare time, she noticed the crossover between the organizations in need of sponsorship and the companies that provided services. “[When] you align the mission of an organization or company with the core values of a nonprofit business, a really wonderful synergy [is created],” Patterson explains.

The combination, she says, allows partners to work well together.

She recommends assessing the core values of the company and passions of the leadership and employees before anything else when thinking of launching a philanthropic partnership. She also suggests understanding what principles underscore the company’s culture. Patterson says recognizing those elements can help guide your search for a nonprofit organization with a mission that aligns with yours.

“It’s kind of like a dating match,” Patterson says. “If you can find a match [of core values], you’ll swipe.”

Once you’ve recognized a potential partnership, Patterson says it’s

22 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

important to research the organization to ensure it’s working to create a positive impact in the community. Considering whether there is an actual need for such a partnership is also something she recommends.

MAKE IT A TEAM DECISION.

ShakeWell Creative currently works with The Pangea Network, an international nonprofit dedicated to empowering motivated individuals in Kenya and the U.S., and The Shade Project, a nonprofit founded through Tru-Skin Dermatology that’s dedicated to the prevention of skin cancer. Not only do both partnerships demonstrate the synergy that can come with volunteer work, Patterson says the missions of both nonprofits mirror those of ShakeWell Creative employees.

“Whether it’s philanthropic work or a for-profit opportunity, we gauge our employees to see how they feel about it,” Patterson says. “You get your best work when people are passionate about what they’re doing.”

Another way to find a nonprofit partner, Patterson suggests, is by looking at the philanthropic partners of the for-profit clients you already work with. The Shade Project, for example, was brought to ShakeWell Creative through TruSkin Dermatology, the company’s client.

“When you have a regular client and they have a nonprofit arm they’re passionate about, you start understanding what’s important to them, what their core values are,” she explains.

Patterson says she knew the project was important to the founders of Tru-Skin, so moving forward was a natural fit.

JUST DO IT.

Working on a successful project is a rewarding feeling for every member at ShakeWell, Patterson says. When employees are living and breathing the company’s goal to support the organization through volunteerism, they are able to keep the culture of giving alive. That’s why she’s steadfast about encouraging other companies to do the same.

“These [core-value] alignments are important for the fortitude of the community overall,” Patterson says. “We all have so many resources to share, and I think it would be neat for every company to help.”

Patterson says when two organizations working toward a similar mission unite, it’s clear how the company and the community can be made stronger.

Photo by Tania Quintanilla.

For Michelle Patterson, giving back to her community was a central part of her upbringing, whether it was through her church or partnering with local organizations throughout the year. It was part of her family’s culture, she says.

Patterson is the co-founder and CEO of ShakeWell Creative, a fullservice advertising and marketing agency based in Austin that’s been named one of the Best Places to Work by the Austin Business Journal.

Offering services like social-media management, branding and identity, web development and digital advertising, the agency, Patterson says, has a positive culture and environment that are heavily influenced by the community partnerships it has established and the volunteer work employees contribute.

“Being raised in a blessed household, our family’s mantra was to give back,” Patterson says. “I think I always believed in that mindset, [and] I always felt hugely impassioned and rewarded by it.”

She’s worked to incorporate that outlook at ShakeWell Creative.

The community-oriented focus, matched with Patterson’s own drive to see change happen, prompted Austin Woman to ask for her expert advice. Here’s what she had to say about the importance of community giving and how to successfully integrate philanthropic outreach into a company’s mission.

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2018 Share the joy of giving with your family and friends by asking them to donate with you on Amplify Austin Day, March 1 at 6pm - March 2 at 6pm.

This is the one day every year we come together to support the local nonprofits that make all the things we love about Central Texas possible. From the outdoor jewels of our city to the arts, to our children and our pets, to caring for our neighbors.

It’s not much to ask. Invite a friend to get online and give with you on March 1.

It could mean so much good for our community.

MARCH 1 at 6PM - MARCH 2 at 6PM LEARN MORE at AmplifyATX.org ATXWOMAN.COM | 23

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GIVE BACK

NOW BREWING AT BENNU

Extending a supportive hand to locals in need is the special ingredient Stephanie Williams, co-founder of Bennu Coffee, brings to the table.

“I don’t drink coffee,” Stephanie Williams, co-founder of Bennu Coffee, coyly shares. “But that never stopped me from spending plenty of time in coffee shops over the years.”

You could say coffeehouses have had a positive impact on her life because it’s where she met her husband, Steve Williams. Stephanie Williams would frequent his allnight coffee shop after working long days as a social worker for LifeWorks, a nonprofit youthadvocacy organization. While most people were in need of a caffeine fix, Stephanie Williams would hit up the coffeeshop to unwind after a long shift.

After dating, the duo got engaged and opened their first Bennu location in 2009, figuring out the kinks of running a new company while planning their wedding. The two quickly settled into their respective roles, with Stephanie Williams serving as the human-resources and operational leader, and Steve Williams passionately curating the coffee menu.

“I think it’s worked out well that I love working behind the scenes,” Stephanie Williams says. “Steve has coffee coursing through his veins, so he uses his creativity toward that.”

In addition to Bennu, Steve Williams is also the co-founder of Austin-based Chameleon Cold-Brew, which is now distributed nationally.

Drinking coffee isn’t a common denominator in their relationship, but sharing a strong passion for community service certainly is. The Williamses are deeply appreciative of their success and choose to boomerang their overflowing gratitude right back into local causes and nonprofits, like United Way and Any Baby Can, to name a few.

“Growing up, my father was always giving back,” Stephanie Williams says. “We didn’t have a lot of extra money to donate, so he had to be creative. I remember him donating as much blood as he possibly could. He also helped teens who were struggling, so his hand was always extended to people in need, regardless of their age or circumstance. Observing him impacted who I grew up to become.”

By threading coffeehouse culture with community involvement, the Williamses are practicing what they preach.

24 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

“We created a program called BEVO, which stands for Bennu Employee Volunteer Opportunity. BEVO provides our employees a monthly opportunity to serve one of our local nonprofit partners,” Stephanie Williams explains. “It’s never forced upon them to do it, but it’s such a part of the Bennu culture that they tend to jump at the chance.”

Community outreach is just one shining facet of Bennu’s communityminded business strategy. Bennu sources everything it sells from local vendors and, in doing so, recirculates profits among local businesses.

Stephanie Williams also says by using eco-friendly packaging and even going as far as donating used coffee grounds for composting, the Williamses strive to keep waste to an absolute minimum.

“In Austin, you can be successful and have strong values,” Stephanie Williams says. “I don’t know if I can say that about other places, but it certainly works here.”

Her schedule, much like the seating at Bennu, has a way of always staying full, as she multitasks between operating two 24-hour coffee shops, volunteering and raising her two young children. Coordinating Stephanie Williams’ calendar is like a real-life game of Tetris: It requires strategy to plug in her commitments.

She and Steve Williams often tag team responsibilities when it comes to dashing between coffee shops and meeting family needs.

Business aside, Stephanie Williams says raising her children is her top priority.

“I have to be creative with my commitments,” she says, reflecting. “When my son was a baby, he preferred napping in the car. At the time, we lived right behind Bennu, so I once had a meeting in my car while he slept.”

Sometimes, the Williamses will do things in reverse by bringing their children to work rather than leaving work to be with them.

“We love involving our kids in the business side of our lives, like taking our 5-year-old to volunteer with us during our BEVOs,” Stephanie Williams says. “It’s priceless that they get to see what running a small business looks like from the inside. They see their parents working hard, but also, they get to see us giving back simultaneously. I’m curious how being exposed to these values will show up in their personalities as they get older.”

Bennu Coffee is located at 2001 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and 515 S. Congress Ave.

Photo by Caitlin Candelari.

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FROM THE DESK OF

ANNIE BURRIDGE

There are five things the general director of Austin Opera wants you to know before taking in a show.

BY MADISON MATOUS Much like drinking a bottle of fine wine, attending the opera is often stigmatized as an activity reserved for older people or the upper class, but as Annie Burridge, the general director of Austin Opera, is quick to note, the opera is everevolving and becoming more accessible to a new audience.

Opera comes in many different forms than simply the traditional, extravagant kind that often comes to mind. At Austin Opera, you’ll fit right in wearing a pair of jeans and cowboy boots.

In October 2016, Burridge, who came from a musical family and found her love for opera at a young age, took the reins of Austin Opera after having found success in revamping Opera Philadelphia’s program.

“I had learned about opera through all of the other arts I was engaged in,” Burridge says, reflecting on her upbringing. “I wanted to be an opera singer and thought that one day, I would like to run an opera company, having absolutely no idea what that would mean. I just knew I really loved the opera and I liked to be in charge, so that’s how I made that [career] decision.”

Burridge received her bachelor’s degree in opera and vocal performance with a minor in business, and two graduate degrees from the New England Conservatory. After performing as an opera singer for a few years, she realized her talents might be better utilized on the administrative side of the operation.

She went back to school to study nonprofit administration, and shortly after receiving her degree, began working in development, marketing and communications for Opera Philadelphia, combining her artistic background with her skill set in business.

Burridge says her vision for Austin Opera is to further expand the ways in which audiences experience the opera, and to make it more readily available for the uninitiated. Here, she breaks down the basics of these vocal performances.

Opera singers’ voices are never amplified.

“The second thing to know is that [the reason] why people become such big opera buffs is that opera singers are never amplified. They’re trained to project their voice over an 80-piece orchestra and to be heard by 2,500 people.

That’s why some people are in such awe of that voice and why it can be such a moving experience.”

No preparation is needed to enjoy the performance.

“The fourth thing I would say is that if you want to know more about an opera that you are going to see, we always have a preshow talk so you can go and learn more about it in advance. There’s a lot of behind-thescenes information on our website, but what I would emphasize is that you don’t need any preparation to enjoy it. You don’t have to do any homework. You will never leave confused.”

There is no dress code.

“The third thing that I would say, especially at Austin Opera, is to wear whatever you want to the opera. Our audiences come in everything from black tie to boots and jeans, and they sit right next to each other. … And, you know, I think part of that is also very Austin. We have some folks that come in black ties and gowns and like to go to a fancy meal beforehand…[or] eat tacos out on the plaza beforehand. …

And I’ve gone to the opera in all of those formats.”

Try different types of opera to learn what you like.

“The other thing I would say is opera has always varied, so you need to try more than one to figure out what kind of opera you like most, and maybe you like all types of opera. We’re working on an augmentedreality opera right now. So, you know, there’s high-tech experiences and very traditional, grand experiences that a lot of people think of when they think of opera in their head, but there’s a wide range out there. At Austin Opera, part of my mandate in coming here is to really expand the range of opera experiences that we have available.”

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Photo by Paul Sirochman.

Translations are always provided.

“The No. 1 thing to know is that the translation of the opera, the words the singers are singing, are always projected above the stage. So, even when the opera is in English, the English words will be projected above the stage, so you will always know what they are singing about.”

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PROFILE

SCHOOLING THE SYSTEM

Joni Carswell, president of LivingTree, is helping tackle communication issues in today’s schools through the power of technology.

With a background in industrial engineering and a knack for seeing the bigger picture, Joni Carswell is not a woman you’d want to challenge to a puzzle match. Currently, however, she has her sights set on solving an entirely different kind of puzzle: the disconnect between educators and parents that plagues school systems throughout the country.

As the president of LivingTree, an innovative and secure social network that strives to bridge the gap between parents and their children’s teachers, Carswell has utilized her creative abilities to foster a community approach to education, one centered on student learning. Although the company is less than 10 years old, it’s already revolutionizing the ways in which both educators and parents talk about school.

The idea for LivingTree was born from a frustration that all working parents can understand: the struggle to remain up to date on your children’s academic lives while still fulfilling career obligations. And while sites such as Instagram and Facebook allow users to keep in touch with the social lives of their loved ones, prior to LivingTree, no similar platform existed for education-related matters. Rather, methods of information distribution varied from classroom to classroom, resulting in an enormous amount of effort on the part of parents. So, when founders Cullen Childress and Sai Krishna approached Carswell with a plan to create a virtual space for parents and teachers to interact, she saw the opportunity she had been waiting for.

“The mission of simplifying communication and engagement so that families focus on experience rather than coordination really resonated with me, even more as the daughter of an educator,” Carswell says. “I saw LivingTree as an opportunity to make a tremendous impact, not only for educators and families, but also students who were developing under that umbrella of partnership.”

Unlike other methods of parent-teacher communication, LivingTree uses a unique tiered socialnetwork approach to make sharing information

easier for those on all sides of the system.

“Instead of setting up and maintaining many different groups, or having each teacher use something different, LivingTree allows for teachers and classrooms to have their own private space, each of which nests into the tier above it, hence the tiered social network,” Carswell explains. “This system is also a lot simpler for families because families are automatically connected to each teacher, and so, they don’t have the burden of going and determining which teacher they should connect to or how the service works. Instead, LivingTree does all that behind the scenes.”

For Carswell, connection is the name of the public-education game. To date, LivingTree is working with more than 25 schools in the local area, serving approximately 15,000 students and families in the Austin and Leander school districts combined.

Carswell stresses her pride for the platform’s ability to translate announcements into more than 100 languages, as well as its easy-to-use mobile access, both features that are designed to include families from all backgrounds and income levels in the academic conversation, and both of which resonate with Carswell’s central mission of positive community impact.

“I think the common link [between all the positions I’ve held] is positive impact,” Carswell says of her career trajectory. “As I broadened my skill set as an engineer and a leader, I’ve been drawn to products and companies that impact positivity, quality of life, education and environment. With each role, I’ve widened my circle of impact, and I’ve gotten closer to my core roots of education and environment.”

Carswell will have another opportunity to express her love for the environment in the near future, as she recently accepted the position of executive director for Laura Bush’s conservation foundation, Texan by Nature.

But whether she’s solving product issues as an engineer or driving new conservation strategies, Carswell’s mission remains the same: to make her community a place where she’s proud to live, one project at a time.

“I think the common link [between all the positions I’ve held] is positive impact.”

28 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

Photo courtesy of APC Collective.

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PROFILE

A PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE

Jennie Allen of If: Gathering discusses her inspirational career path and her journey to connect women throughout the world.

BY LAUREN JONES Author, entrepreneur and mother of four, Jennie Allen has always searched for the answers to life’s deepest questions.

Whether it’s questioning her own Godgiven purpose, yearning to empower those around her or offering a space for honest conversation, Allen was never one to settle for surface-level revelations. On the contrary, she says she thrives from gathering “deep kindred souls.”

Today, Allen is the proud founder of If: Gathering, an annual two-day conference offering an opportunity for women to connect, feel encouraged and be reminded of their own power.

From a young age, it was clear Allen was destined for a position of leadership.

“I was always a pretty deep soul,” Allen recalls. “I had the biggest questions of any 7-year-old about purpose and about God. Anyone who knew me as a kid isn’t surprised about what I do now. I wanted to understand what I couldn’t see.”

It was that innate curiosity and faith that led Allen to attend the Dallas Theological Seminary. Although she left with more questions than answers, she uncovered universal truths that continue to influence her career today.

“I believe that so many women are hungry to connect with each other, feel part of a team, understand why we are here, why this life matters and how to live it well,” Allen says.

With those ideals held close to her heart, Allen pursued a flourishing writing career, through which she was further able to connect women, but she still desired more. That’s when she first conceptualized the blueprint for the If: Gathering conference.

“At that point, I had released a book and saw this growing hunger in women to connect,” Allen says, reflecting. “I wanted to see women come together and not feel isolated and alone.”

The first If: Gathering, hosted in Austin in early 2014, sold out

in a matter of minutes. Four years later, more than 2,000 people continue to gather annually at Austin’s Moody Theater to discuss topics such as building bridges, uncovering one’s own ability to lead and how to take initiative in communities nationwide. For those not living in Austin, the two-day conference is also simulcast online. Allen also encourages those at home to host their own gatherings locally. “[If: Local] is my favorite part,” Allen says, referring to an offshoot of If: Gathering. “If I was not leading from Austin, I’d be in my pajamas with my friends at home.

To me, it is the best way to experience If: Gathering. For a day and a half, you come together and hear incredible speakers. All you have to do is invite friends, and we do the rest.”

In 2017, approximately 600,000 people from more than 125 countries gathered at home, in churches and at community centers to hear Allen’s message.

“With the world so divided on every issue, it’s refreshing to come together on simple truths and come together for what we believe in,” Allen says. “I really still can’t believe it. It’s beyond anything that [my team and I] ever dreamed.”

This year’s If: Gathering sessions focus on themes of perseverance, helping refugees, building bridges and hope for the future.

For Allen and her staff at If: Gathering, 2017 marked a momentous year. Allen completed a national tour for her new book, Nothing to Prove, and she and her team raised $1 million for the International Justice Mission, a nonprofit that works to combat sex trafficking, police abuse of power and child sexual assault.

“It’s beautiful to see the work that women can do together,” Allen says of the rewards reaped from If: Gathering.

30 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

Feb. 9 and 10, Jennie Allen and her team will gather in downtown Austin for the fifth annual If: Gathering conference, where they will gather for words of love, inspiration and unwavering hope. To join in, visit ifgathering.com/thegathering2018.

Photo courtesy of Sparrow Photo Co.

“I wanted to understand what I couldn’t see.”

Bar Saint George’s lunch special

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DISCOVER

WHEN IN WONDERLAND

Know the ins and outs of Aspen, Colo., and get familiar with all the mountain town has to offer besides time on the slopes.

BY DEBORAH STACHELSKI demographic, Aspen somehow manages to preserve a quaint, small-town feel. With only one fast-food joint in town—Domino’s Pizza— Aspen is, for the most part, hyperlocal and wants to stay that way.

One might wonder what there is to do in this snow-globe-like hub squeezed between mountains, and the answer is simple: everything.

Skiing is obviously the main highlight and visitor attraction, which The small town, an area of not quite 4 square miles, can be found right makes sense, considering there are more than 5,303 acres of skiable terat the base of Aspen Mountain, or Ajax, meaning one moment you could be hitting the slopes, catching major air on a powdery jump, and the next, rain to be found in the surrounding slopes. It’s important to note there are no beginner runs in Aspen proper, although newbie skiers can enjoy you could be clunking down sets of steep steps on the way to your next easier terrain at the nearby Buttermilk Ski Area, just a après-ski cocktail.

Aspen is a town 3-mile jaunt down the road.

The magic of this mountain town goes way beTo help push you out of your adventure comfort zone, yond Hallmark-worthy storefronts, though. When geared toward the companies like Blazing Adventures Aspen take over the snowflakes start falling and the streetlights well-being of its dwellers. organizing all logistics for an outing so you can relax come on, it can make the hardest winter heart under the guidance of trained professionals. From whitewater rafting and want to break into song. hiking the most treacherous mountains to bird-watching tours and nature Throughout the decades, the valley has transitioned from a mining walks, activities can be summoned for almost every fitness level. For the settlement to a ranching community before evolving into a hideaway adrenaline junkie, the 12-mile drive to Maroon Bells is in order. The two for the rich and famous. The nostalgia is in the details: century-old Elk Mountains peaks, each topping 14,000 feet, are the most photographed buildings gracing cobblestoned streets adorned with vintage mailboxes, mountains in North America. Come fall, the gold foliage of aspen trees and rugged aesthetic remains from the town’s more brawny days seeping the bursting color of wildflowers majestically reflect on the glassy waters through a refined veneer. of Maroon Lake, an incredible sight worthy of dropping the camera.

With enough luxury amenities to cater to a demanding and savvy

Photo courtesy of C2 Photography.

Boasting such a glamorous reputation, it might come as a shock that the town of Aspen, Colo., started from humble beginnings.

Originally settled in the mid-1800s during a silver-mining boom, Aspen was years away from becoming the glitzy destination it is known as today.

32 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

In the winter, activities such as snowshoeing, ice skating and fat biking (riding bikes with large snow tires) take over the town. During the day, make some tracks and explore the terrain at one of the more than 30 public parks or the thousands of acres of open space in and surrounding the city. In the evening, take in one of the frequent live-music shows, a yoga class at a local studio or some vintage shopping and fine dining.

Art lovers can revel in more than 10 art galleries blanketing the town, as well as the famous Aspen Art Museum, which features the latest exhibits in contemporary art.

The Wheeler Opera House, commissioned by one of the town’s first developers, in 1889, is still active today and showcases big names in theater, comedy and music.

With just a few luxury hotels to speak of, the majority of lodging options are condo rentals and timeshares. Hotel Jerome is the oldest and most historically relevant hotel in the area, inspired by luxury European hotels and donning a red-brick facade. A three-minute walk from downtown Aspen, it’s also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hotel Jerome’s history parallels that of the town, with stories dating back to the days when Prohibition was in effect and, to survive, the J-Bar inside became a soda fountain. Liquor service continued in the form of a popular drink called the Aspen Crud, a bourbon-spiked vanilla milkshake still served today.

The dress code in Aspen is a mix of ski garb and leather boots, and that’s to be expected anywhere you go at any time. The community is laid-back, and although you’ll see people of all ages, Aspen is a relatively young-adult town. With a few late-night bars and hangouts for old friends, it seems everyone knows each other. In most places, the season’s end comes with a twinge of sadness, but for this mountainside hideaway, change is always welcome. As the frosty white melts to reveal fresh green, crowds rush in for the spring and summer seasons, which bring whitewater rafting, hiking, golfing, tours, off-roading, mountaintop yoga and food festivals.

Unquestionably, Aspen is a town geared toward the well-being of its dwellers. Today, this means you can hike and ski in the morning, practice yoga and discuss artwork in the afternoon and end the day with a glass of wine by the fire and some late-night dancing.

The real secret to enjoying Aspen is understanding that it’s not just for the rich and famous. It’s for anyone adventurous enough to just jump in.

STAY • Hotel Jerome has a unique history, great amenities and attention to detail, along with an intricate and cozy décor. hoteljerome.aubergeresorts.com • St. Regis Hotel provides the ultimate luxury experience, stellar service and a beautiful view of Ajax mountain. stregisaspen.com

SEE • Go whitewater rafting with Blazing Adventures Aspen. blazingadventures.com • Hot-air balloon rides are available through Above It All Balloon Company. aboveitallballoon.com.

• Sightsee from above the slopes with Aspen Heli Charter. aspenhelicharter.com.

• Paraglide with Aspen Paragliding. aspenparagliding.com

EAT • The Aspen Crud, a vanilla milkshake generously spiked with bourbon, is available at J-Bar at Hotel Jerome.

• Check out the Silver Queen brew series at Aspen Brewing Company. aspenbrewingcompany.com • Nibble on famous crab cakes at Jimmy’s. jimmysaspen.com

DO • Grottos Trail and Rio Grande Trail are two favorite hikes in the area.

•T ake in an art exhibit at the Aspen Art Museum, or enjoy a live performance at the Wheeler Opera House. aspenartmuseum.org, wheeleroperahouse.com

Hotel Jerome library photo by Deborah Stachelski. Aspen hut photo by Zach Maraziti.

• The Aspen Food & Wine Classic takes place June 15 through 17 this year, and will bring many celebrity chefs to town. aspenchamber.org/event-calendar/food-wine-classic-aspen

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HOW TO MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS

Chelsea Francis, founder of the monthly #ATXconnectionmixer meetups, shares five helpful tips for those who want to grow their network.

BY MADISON MATOUS “Several people weekly reach out to me and ask if I know anyone who is Moving to a new city, especially one where you don’t know anyone, can be intimidating. Luckily, there are plenty of ways hiring or if I would want to talk about how they just moved to Austin,” Francis says. “I wanted a practical place to point people to and say, ‘This happens to meet new people, but sometimes the biggest obstacle is every two months. Come to this and you’ll meet people, potential employers simply getting up the courage to put yourself out there.

When Chelsea Francis moved to Austin in early 2015, she immediately got to work making connections by reaching out to people she followed on Instagram and asking if they’d like to get coffee. Slowly but surely, she planted her roots in this city and now helps others make their own connections through the #ATXconnectionmixer she hosts every two months.

1. S trike up a conversation in a public place.

Admittedly, this might be more difficult for some than for others, but Francis recommends starting small.

Chatting with your barista or complimenting a woman on what she’s wearing are two great ways to start a conversation. “Generally, people are really complimented by that and are willing to, at the very least, have a conversation with you,” Francis says.

2. Don’t work from home. For the growing constituents who make up Austin’s freelance and remote workforce, Francis suggests moving your workplace from the couch or kitchen counter to a local coffee shop. “Especially if you work for yourself…a good way to [meet new people] is to go work at a community table at a coffee shop,” Francis says. The payoff: You may just meet and connect with other remote workers.

or potential connections, and you will meet people who are doing the same thing you are and you’ll get to start your own kind of community.’ ” Attending meetups or mixers is one way to meet new people, especially if you’ve just moved to town. Here, Francis shares five rules of thumb to follow to help grow your network. To learn more about Francis’ #ATXconnectionmixer, visit chelsealainefrancis.com/mixer.

3. M ove online conversations offline. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to people on Instagram and say hello. I made several of my friends that I’m still good friends with today that way,” Francis says. Of course, you should take the necessary precautions when doing so. Francis recommends meeting people you feel you know well and have interacted with for at least the past six months, whether through liking or commenting on their posts.

4. Get involved with local organizations or charities.

“Volunteering is a great way to meet new people,” Francis says. You’ll already have a common interest (for instance, cats and dogs if you’re volunteering at an animal shelter) with the people you meet, which is helpful in starting a conversation.

5. Follow up. “I tell everyone [attending an #ATXconnectionmixer] to bring business cards and to exchange them only with people that you have had a good conversation with. Otherwise, you’ll just waste a bunch of business cards,” Francis says. Exchanging business cards and actually taking the next step to get in touch after the initial meeting is a great way to build up those connections into meaningful professional and social relationships.

OTHER AUSTIN MEETUPS AND MIXERS Austin Women in Technology awtaustin.org Young Women’s Alliance youngwomensalliance.org Polished polishedonline.org Austin Jewish Business Network meetup.com/austin-jewish-business-network

EdTech Austin edtechaustin.com Austin Young Chamber of Commerce austinyc.org Texas Women in Business texaswomeninbusiness.org Women Who Code womenwhocode.com/austin

34 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

Photo

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Photo

by Chelsea Francis.

Network After Work networkafterwork.com/events/austin

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LITTLE LUXURIES

SOLIDARITY, SISTER

Take a stand in this crowd-pleasing T-shirt.

BY APRIL CUMMING “We don’t compete. We empower,” Sarah Eckett, founder of Daisy Natives, writes on her website. “We embrace our weird and wear what we want.”

In January 2015, Eckett founded Daisy Natives, a lifestyle brand selling screen-printed T-shirts, hats, pins, mugs and stickers. Fast-forward to January 2017, and her Girls Support Girls T-shirt—pictured here in pink and red—gained overnight popularity when it became one of the messages worn by women participating in women’s marches throughout the country.

With the female voice and support for women’s empowerment and equality issues at the forefront of our national attention, love for the unisex cotton tee shows no sign of slowing down.

“Women are strong, but when we stop putting each other down and start lifting each other up and working together to make the world a better, safer and more equal place, we’re even stronger,” Eckett says. “The Girls Support Girls tee is a sign of solidarity, and Daisy Natives hopes to be a small symbol of hope in the women-empowerment movement.”

As though you needed more convincing to sport one of Eckett’s shirts, it’s worth noting $1 from every purchase of the Girls Support Girls tee is donated to Girls for a Change, a national organization that inspires girls to have the voice, ability and problem-solving capacity to speak up, be decision makers, create visionary change and realize their full potential.

Photo by Paul Sirochman.

Girls Support Girls T-shirt, $30 daisynatives.com

36 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

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WOMAN to WATCH

E M I LY H AT F I E L D OWNER OF VAIN SALON

E

mily Hatfield started her beauty career in 2006 in Houston, where she gained experience as a stylist. Two years later, she moved to Austin and fell in love with everything the city embodies. In 2015, the not-yet-30-year-old Hatfield became the owner of Vain Salon and quickly took up shop in a renovated 1930s bungalow in the heart of East Austin. With her team of talented stylists, Hatfield is taking Vain to the next level through offering her clients excellent services in a relaxing setting. Hatfield and her team believe hair should be effortlessly beautiful and thus, they use their vast knowledge in the field, from styling to hair-care products, to educate clients about how to achieve their best looks. Hatfield loves living in Austin because she is constantly surrounded by amazing, strong and creative women who inspire her on a daily basis. vainaustin.com

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WOMAN to WATCH

ALICE MCMILLAN

DIRECTOR OF STR ATEGIC INITIATIVES FOR THE GRE ATER AUSTIN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A

lice McMillan is a public-service leader and community philanthropist. She serves as the director of strategic initiatives at the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where she leads advocacy, education, research and the award-winning Hispanic Austin Leadership program, or HAL. The HAL executive-leadership program has generated a seven-figure economic impact in Austin and was recently named one of the top seven Hispanic Chamber leadership programs in the United States. The HAL program collaborates with more than 100 nonprofit, government, corporate and community entities and their leaders to advance the Central Texas community. HAL, founded in 1999, now has more than 340 prominent alumni. McMillan is also involved with the Austin Area Urban League and the Young Hispanic Professional Association of Austin and serves as a board member for the Education Equals Economics Alliance. Additionally, McMillan is a small-business and nonprofit consultant. linkedin.com/in/alice-mcmillan-ab188554

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WOMAN to WATCH

AMY PEREZ

OWNER AND CEO OF PRIMAL PIT PASTE

A

my Perez is a thriving entrepreneur, mother of four, athlete, trainer and holistic health enthusiast. As a self-taught expert, Perez completed extensive research during the past 20 years on the natural detoxification of the body and has become an ingredient specialist. Her company’s flagship product, Primal Pit Paste, was the result of Perez’s plight to find an effective, nontoxic deodorant for herself and her children. Months of research and kitchen-based DIY experiments resulted in the creation of an all-natural, non-GMO and nontoxic deodorant that actually works for both her family and for her CrossFit community.

Perez’s passion to inspire, educate and support others on their own health journeys has turned her DIY home project, which she started for only $100, into a thriving multimillion dollar business. primalpitpaste.com

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WOMAN to WATCH

CHELLE NEFF

FOUNDER OF URBAN BE T T Y

C

helle Neff has been a leader in the U.S. salon industry since founding Urban Betty in 2005, and has more than 20 years of experience creating innovative practices in the salon and beauty worlds. Neff has successfully grown Urban Betty’s revenue year after year and today, has a space that houses more than 40 employees. Her first salon was so successful that expansion plans for a second Urban Betty, which will open this summer, are now underway. No stranger to innovation, Neff designed and developed her own app, FyleStyle, which allows stylists to track client information and color formulas, and in 2017, she launched her own series of educational classes called Betty Bootcamp. In addition to her work with Urban Betty, Neff is fascinated with Austin architecture. She and her husband, David J. Neff, created Austin’s Weird Homes Tour, and their first book, Weird Homes: The People and Places That Keep Austin Strangely Wonderful, will be released this month. urbanbetty.com

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S

TYLE

SPLURGE OR STEAL

LOVE STORY

Roses are red, violets are blue and heads will turn to look at you.

PHOTOS BY ANNIE RAY STYLED AND MODELED BY ASHLEY HARGROVE AND GRAYSON GOFF HAIR AND MAKEUP BY GERTIE WILSON

SPLURGE On Ashley: Self Portrait Azaelea 3-D lace fit-and-flare dress, $495 Stuart Weitzman Nudistsong ankle-strap sandals, $398 Chanel small gold boy bag, $4,300 Freida Rothman Audrey waterfall tassel pearl earrings, $350 All items except the bag are available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com.

Bag is available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.

$5,543 On Grayson:

David Donahue cashmere V-neck sweater, $375 Billy Reid Walland gingham-check sport shirt, $195 AG the Everett slim straight jeans, $178 Timberland Wodehouse Lost History boots, $299 All items are available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com.

$1,047

$6,590

42 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

HOTEL ELLA Located near the heart of downtown Austin and walking distance to the University of Texas campus, Hotel Ella is a stylish boutique hotel housed in the historic Goodall Wooten House, one of Austin’s original landmark estates.

Constructed in 1900, the Greek revival-style mansion underwent an extensive renovation in 2013, and now offers the perfect balance between modernity and a rich history rooted in the fabric of the neighborhood and the university. With 47 guest rooms, a cabanalined pool and a wrap-around veranda overlooking the front lawn, Hotel Ella features beautifully designed outdoor and indoor spaces perfectly suited for your vacation, wedding, corporate event and more.

1900 Rio Grande St., 512.495.1800, hotelella.com

STEAL On Ashley: Donna Morgan spaghetti-strap lace midi dress, $118, available at dillards.com.

Steve Madden Landen ankle-strap sandals, $89.95, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com.

Rebecca Minkoff Small Love crossbody handbag, $120, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com.

BaubleBar chain-link tassel drop earrings, $38, available at baublebar.com.

$366 On Grayson: Cotton and cashmere V-neck sweater, $29.70 Spade trim-fit gingham-check sport shirt, $69.50 Levi’s 514 straight-leg jeans, $59.50 Goodfellow Soho Cobbler Reed cognac chukka boots, $39.99 All items except the boots are available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com.

Boots are available at Target stores, target.com.

$199

$565

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H

OME

MAKE ROOM

WALL OF FAME

Refresh a room’s bland, blank space into a sight for sore eyes.

BY APRIL CUMMING

Dallas native and Austinbased interior designer Shannon Eddings was born into the business, as they say. Her mother, an interior designer, and grandmother both had impeccable taste, and she felt the pull to fine art and designing interiors.

Her work has been featured on HGTV’s House Hunters Renovation, as well as in HGTV Magazine and on blogs The Effortless Chic and Camille Styles. Eddings is currently working on the design of a historic mansion in Galveston, Texas, that is slated to open as a boutique bed-and-breakfast later this year. Here, she shares the inspiration behind the design of her home’s entryway gallery wall.

"The art is all one-of-a-kind, with the exception of the print at the top left of the wall, from Artfully Walls. I made the abstract piece at the bottom right. The nude and botanical prints are from Round Top Antiques. The oil painting is of the back of my son’s head when he was a baby, and was made by a friend. The cowboy painting is from an antique shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The contemporary gold frames are from Target. The black-and-cream stool between the chairs is from Wisteria. The chairs are one-of-a-kind, recovered in Brunschwig & Fils green fabric.

The pillows are made from Peter Dunham fabric.”

– Shannon Eddings

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Photo by Kate Zimmerman Turpin.

IN THIS ROOM

“”

This gallery wall is the first thing you see when you walk in our front door, so I was going for something that would draw you in visually but not be overwhelmingly busy. I believe that first impressions are important in your home, so I like to be sure the entryway—whether it’s a mudroom, grand hallway or small living room—does its job in welcoming guests.

My personal aesthetic is one that reflects my love of a contemporarymeets-Old-World feel, so I thought a gallery wall would be a great way to showcase this aesthetic and achieve this mixing of styles. Gallery walls are also an ideal solution for someone like me who gathers—rather, hoards—art by the masses from antique stores, flea markets and talented friends, in that they let me hang things together while looking cohesive and packing a punch stylistically.

– Shannon Eddings

GET THE LOOK CURATING IS KEY.

“Gather pieces of art that have a similar color scheme. Curating the art is a crucial first step. With clients, I play around digitally with various pieces to be sure they work well before purchasing.”

KEEP FRAMES COHESIVE.

“Purchase frames or paint old ones that complement each other. I like a mix of light, natural wood and gold or brass. You could do all black or all white. Just don’t mix eight different frames unless they really have a similar look and feel. [It’s] best to keep it somewhat cohesive unless you are a pro at mixing metals and finishes.”

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

“Use tape or cardboard cutouts of the different art pieces to play around with the layout on the wall.

This will help you find the just-right arrangement for the grouping.”

INDULGE YOUR PASSION FOR DIFFERENT ARTISTIC STYLES.

“Don’t be afraid to mix styles of art or textures, meaning you can hang an old impressionist landscape next to a modern photograph and an abstract ink drawing. Color balance is everything.

You do not want to have a wall that is overdone and so visually stimulating that you can’t focus on any one thing.”

DON’T STRESS.

Photo by Kate Zimmerman Turpin.

“When hanging a gallery wall, remember that sometimes happy accidents can be a good thing.

Don’t stress if spacing is off a little or something sticks out a little further on top than you would like. If it bothers you over time, then change it. The worst thing that will happen is you have to fill a hole and touch up paint. My favorite gallery walls are gathered, collected and perfectly imperfect.”

PAINT PICKS

Simply White and Thayer Green benjaminmoore.com

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46 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

NO STR AT AN TH G ERS ET AB LE

Kristin Schell, an author, speaker, wife, mother and, to some, an outgoing next-door neighbor, turned her longing for a deeper, more meaningful community into an international movement, one turquoise table at a time.

BY DEBORAH HAMILTON-LYNNE | PHOTOS BY ANNIE RAY HAIR AND MAKEUP BY LAURA MARTINEZ SHOT ON LOCATION AT ARCHER HOTEL AUSTIN

On the surface, Kristin Schell was a typical suburban wife and busy mother of four who was always juggling a full calendar of activities, from carpool schedules and volunteer stints at her children’s schools to book clubs and Bible studies. But beneath the surface of Schell’s happy demeanor was a longing for a simpler way of life, one with relationships and connections that ran deeper and felt stronger.

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FIVE CONVERSATION STARTERS TO BREAK THE ICE “We love using the Dayspring conversation jar at The Turquoise Table,” Kristin Schell says.

“The questions get the conversation flowing.”

She shares her favorites. oW hat are you most grateful for at this very moment? o What

do people most often ask you to help them with? o Would

you prefer a live-in massage therapist or a live-in chef? o How

do you feel when someone shows up at your door unannounced? o What’s

one dream you’ve set aside for the moment?

Slate DenimFlex jeggings, $39; rhinestone bar necklace, $16; earrings, $10.50, avaiable at Maurice’s, 10515 N. MoPac Expressway, 512.795.8723, maurices.com. Top and booties, model’s own.

48 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

The epiphany she had been waiting for came serendipitously. Having agreed to host a backyard barbeque for a friend at the last minute, have been the “Queen of Crazy” bumper sticker that Schell and her husband, Tony, realized they had no outdoor furniture adorned her minivan, or her growing dissatisfaction to host guests. They had a small budget in mind, and a hasty internet with her frazzled lifestyle, running day to day from search turned up unfinished picnic tables that would seat six to eight place to place and not feeling like she was truly people in a pinch. Schell placed an order for delivery the next day. connecting with her children, her husband, her friends When the truck arrived, one of the tables had been unloaded and or her community. placed under a magnolia tree in her front yard. The sight took Schell’s “I was doing instead of being,” Schell recalls. “I was breath away. She realized this was what she had been waiting for, and a spinning my wheels and going nowhere.” plethora of what-if scenarios began to bubble up in her thoughts.

As Schell grew increasingly frustrated with the “What if we left the table in the front yard as a gathering place rapid-fire pace of her daily to-do list, she began to long to connect with our neighbors?” she remembers thinking. “What if for a time when she had experienced a welcoming sense we moved our backyard activities to the front yard? What if we took of belonging and ease as an exchange student in France.

15 minutes to be under that tree and connect with nature and our There, she had seen the power of the ritual of sharing a community? What if I grabbed a cup of coffee and my laptop in the leisurely meal and conversation around the table. morning and people started to come by?”

“It was much different than what I knew in the U.S. To make the table stand out, Schell chose to paint it her favorite It was nothing for ‘table time’ to last two hours,” Schell color, turquoise, a color she later learned represents friendship in says. “I wanted to recreate that feeling again, but I Native American cultures. She began to share the vision of community didn’t know how.” she had for the table with neighbors, family and friends. As people Schell had always been a woman of faith, so she began began to gather in her front yard, sometimes by invitation and voicing her desire through prayer, asking for authentic sometimes spontaneously, The connection and for a community Turquoise Table movement began. like the one she had experienced in Schell started to include the France, where everyone—family, vision of The Turquoise Table friends, neighbors—was welcome project in speeches at conferences at the table. As she prayed to be and the movement began to grow shown how to build the community THINK ABOUT IT. ALL organically, spreading from one she envisioned, serendipitous neighbor to the next by word-ofevents began to happen. While PEACE TALKS START AT mouth. To date, there are reports of attending a conference at Austin the movement reaching all 50 states Music Hall, she saw a film about A TABLE, SO MAYBE, IN A and at least eight countries. an extraordinary Czechoslovakian GRASSROOTS WAY, WORLD “People just started putting the woman, Ludmilla Hallerova, who tables and telling the story,” had managed to open her home PEACE CAN START IN THOSE Schell out says of the movement. “They to listen to and pray with friends CONVERSATIONS AT THE started sharing their stories on my and strangers during years of blog. Somehow, a radio show in suppression of religious and TURQUOISE TABLE. Australia got wind of the project personal freedom by totalitarian —KRISTIN SCHELL and reported on it. It all seemed regimes. to be so random because I had no Hallerova’s story had a profound plan as to what would happen at effect on Schell. She realized what the table. I certainly had no business plan and never saw myself as an she wanted to create was simple. Schell wanted her entrepreneur. I see myself as a dreamer.” gatherings to take place at her table, to be like those she Fast-forward four years from when she placed her picnic-table order, had experienced in France. She kept praying and began and Schell is busy shepherding an online community of table members, to make gradual change, starting with her family. touring the state and country as a speaker, as well as establishing Schell’s first approach to encourage more merchandising partnerships with Dayspring and Tuesday Morning. conversation was to initiate a strict technology-isHer book, The Turquoise Table: Finding Community and Connection in the-only-unwanted-guest-at-my-table policy. Schell Your Own Front Yard, debuted in summer 2017, and she has plans to remembers making a shift at one family dinner. launch a podcast this spring. All the while, no matter how frantic her “I saw my wedding candlesticks that I had never new schedule is, Schell continues to make time to return to her own used on our family table because they were too good,” turquoise table as often as possible. she says. “Somehow, I was inspired to put them on Schell confides the table has allowed her to meet and get to know the table. What was I saving them for? Something more of her neighbors on a personal basis. It’s not unusual for someone so simple and within arm’s reach shifted the entire to walk across the street carrying a plate of cookies and sit down to atmosphere of the dinner. It was no longer hustle and talk with Schell. For her, The Turquoise Table has been the fruition bustle, eat some grub and move on. It was a time that of her prayers and desires. The idea has spawned a deeper sense of was special. It was holy in the most literal sense of the community, one of belonging and connection. When speaking of the word, meaning ‘set apart.’ ” connections that happen at the table, Schell notes there’s a difference Motivated by that memorable evening at the dinner between hospitality and entertaining. table, Schell began to use other talismans, from fine “When I was entertaining, I felt like I was performing. My house had china to flowers, as visual reminders that gatherings at to be clean, my food had to be gourmet and I had to plan it to the T. I the table were a time to slow down, enjoy a meal and be flitted around, but I wasn’t making a deep connection,” she explains. present in each member’s company.

The giveaway that something didn’t feel right could

“”

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HONEY-AND-GARLIC BAKED BRIE This is Kristin Schell’s go-to recipe for festive gatherings.

Ingredients 2 frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed 1 tablespoon butter 4 to 5 cloves garlic, minced 1 16-ounce wheel brie 4 tablespoons honey Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie or tart pan.

3. D rape one of the pastry sheets over the pie pan, allowing the edges to hang over the side of the pan. Place the brie on top of the puff pastry in the center of the pan.

4. I n a small saute pan, heat the butter and garlic over low heat until it’s melted and fragrant. Do not brown the garlic. Pour the melted garlic butter on top of the brie. Fold up the edges of the pastry so they cover the brie. The edges of the brie and pastry will not touch the sides of the pie pan but will expand when cooked.

Drape the second puff pastry sheet over the brie and tuck its corners around the brie.

5. B ake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. Transfer to a serving platter and drizzle the brie with honey.

6. S erve immediately or at room temperature.

50 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

“At the table, you can come as you are. I [set out] a pitcher of something as simple as tea or lemonade or maybe just coffee. Food can be anything from nuts to cookies to a bowl of fruit. I use plastic cups and paper napkins. It is all about the conversation, not what I am wearing or what I am serving or how my house is decorated. The root of the word ‘hospitality’ means love of strangers. I substitute one of my favorite quotes from William Butler Yeats for a mission statement about The Turquoise Table movement: ‘There are no strangers here, only friends you have not met.’ The important thing is that everyone is welcome.”

Although we are connected now more than ever through social media, Schell believes that while those connections are wide, they barely skim the surface of intimate, authentic relationships. She believes there is a longing for face-to-face community, a void that time spent at The Turquoise Table fills. Schell also believes listening is an important factor in making lasting connections. She encourages people to develop listening skills to hear what the person sitting across the table is really needing and trying to say. To her, the table signifies a return to principles as basic and old as time, when women gathered at village wells.

“Putting the table in the front yard literally gave a new meaning to ‘grassroots.’ What is simpler than gathering around a picnic table? The table only holds four to six people comfortably, so it encourages us to gather small, listen when people need to be heard and love deeply,” she says.

Schell is convinced face-to-face, intimate conversations held at the table might just be a way to bring together people who have widely different opinions and viewpoints. Her conversations with those who set foot on her front lawn cover a wide spectrum; some end in laughter, and some more vulnerable and honest conversations end in tears. Each conversation is different, but in the end, it’s all about respectfully giving each member a safe place to hear and be heard.

“The things that divide us should not be played out on social media. We need a better platform if we are ever going to try to move the needle on either side of the argument,” Schell says, explaining the difference between making connections online or on social media versus making connections in person.

“We skip a basic step when we only relate on social media. We haven’t gotten together in any human way before, yet we are out there taking sides. It is better to have a civil dialogue than a social-media diatribe. We may never agree, but we can start with the things we have in common. When you can sit across the table and look someone in the eye and have bread, cheese and wine, that is where you relate. I believe most people genuinely mean well, even if I don’t understand their positions or opinions. And I believe that we must try to understand. Think about it. All peace talks start at a table, so maybe, in a grassroots way, world peace can start in those conversations at The Turquoise Table.”

Schell expounds further, noting the overarching takeaway she’s received from her time spent at The Turquoise Table.

“Relationships are important,” she says. “Through them, everyone can make a difference. People want to make a big difference, but I learned that I don’t need that power. What if these simple moments of connection are the ones that make the real difference? I am never going to be the secretary of state or a Nobel laureate, but I can effect change in meaningful ways to the person sitting right in front of me.”

Because one restless woman followed her heart and continued to ask, “What

if?” a simple, unfinished pine table painted turquoise and placed in a front yard became the talisman for face-to-face conversations and meaningful connections that are being made throughout the world. Schell is confident time at the table will change the world, one community, one neighborhood at a time.

“My vision,” Schell says, “is for people to take ownership for making positive change in their own way, in their own communities. Can you even imagine what might happen if our conversations led to that?”

To learn how to create a Turquoise Table community, visit turquoisetable.com.

ARCHER HOTEL AUSTIN Archer Hotel Austin, a luxury boutique hotel at Domain Northside, offers 171 guest rooms and balcony-clad suites, along with locals’ favorite Second Bar + Kitchen and an abundance of Lone Star State touches, from wall coverings born from old leather belts to Austin-sourced turndown-service treats. Texas-size fun awaits for women of all ages and stages with Archer Austin’s Girlfriend Getaways, complete with decade-specific itineraries and treats for 20-somethings to the don’t-ask decade.

3121 Palm Way, 512.836.5700, archerhotel.com/austin

KRISTIN SCHELL’S RECOMMENDED READING Rhythms of Rest by Shelly Miller “As an extrovert with the gift of hospitality, it’s important for me to remember to rest, not just naps or Netflix binges, but intentional breaks from work and routine. Shelly, an expat living in London, shares the wisdom and gift of practicing Sabbath in our fastpaced world.”

Loving My Actual Life

by Alexandra Kuykendall “Alexandra needed a restart, a recalibration of her days, so she embarked on a nine-month experiment to make a few small changes each month that led to big changes for [her] and her family. It’s a perfect time of year to join in on the practical experiments to love your actual life too.”

How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird by Amy Lively “Fellow neighboring advocate Amy is a friend and gifted writer. Her book offers fantastic tips and ideas for getting to know your neighbors. Although, in Austin, we’re cool with being weird, right? [It’s] a great companion book to read with friends at The Turquoise Table.”

Here Goes Nothing: An Introvert's Reckless Attempt to Love Her Neighbor by Kendra Broekhuis “One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is, ‘How do I love my neighbors when I’m an introvert?’ Since I can’t speak from an introvert's perspective, I lean on the wisdom of my friend and fellow community builder, Kendra.”

Malbec DenimFlex jeggings, $39; striped wrap-front top, $29, avaiable at Maurice’s, 10515 N. MoPac Expressway, 512.795.8723, maurices.com. Sneakers and bracelet, model’s own.

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52 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

She Takes the

Cake

Natalie Sideserf, co-owner of Sideserf Cake Studio and co-host of Food Network’s Texas Cake House, has become an internet sensation by putting her baking and artistry skills on display, sculpting showstopping cakes that are incredibly intricate and hyperrealistic, including busts of Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James.

BY SHELLEY SEALE | PHOTOS BY RUDY AROCHA

In Austin, Willie Nelson is a cultural icon. Much more than merely a singer/songwriter and celebrity, Nelson is part of the very fabric of this city. That said, with his worldwide renown, it’s not at all surprising a Reddit post about the red-headed stranger would go viral overnight, shooting to the No. 1 most-read thread on the site. What is surprising, however, is that such a phenomenon originated from Japan, and the post in question was a photograph of a cake that looked impeccably just like Nelson. Yes, that’s right, a cake.

This wasn’t just any ordinary cake, to be clear; far from it. This was a literal sculpture, incredible in its likeness and detail of Nelson, down to the last minutiae. It turns out the stunning, one-of-a-kind cake portrait of the musician had been crafted by Austinite Natalie Sideserf using a sculpture medium known as edible art. Not only did an image of the Nelson cake go viral on Reddit, thanks to Sideserf’s brother, who lives in Tokyo and is credited with posting the photo, but the cake also won Sideserf the 2012 Best of Show award at That Takes the Cake, garnering media attention from throughout the world.

Rewind a few years, though, and Sideserf, a Cleveland native, didn’t start out thinking she’d make a career

out of sculpting cakes. With an upbringing steeped in artistic pursuits and with encouragement from childhood teachers, Sideserf attended Ohio State University as a fine-arts major focused on working with more traditional sculpture and painting media.

After graduation, in 2008, a friend suggested Sideserf try her hand at using edible materials. She took up the challenge, and her first edible sculpture was a cake in the shape of a cow skull, which she created for a friend’s birthday.

“I fell in love and realized the potential cake has and wanted to bring more of my artistic point of view to the cake community,” Sideserf recalls.

Equipped with her newfound artistic inspiration, she and her husband, Dave, decided to pack up and move to Austin in 2011. She figured the city’s Keep Austin Weird sensibility would provide the perfect dose of support for this delightfully weird art form to take shape.

New to town, Sideserf went to work at a small bakery to learn the basics while she taught herself the artistic process of elaborate cake sculpting.

“My background in painting really helped with the cake art,” she says. “It really comes to life with the edible painting, and that’s the most fun part.”

ATXWOMAN.COM | 53

At the bakery, she met Jennifer Bartos, owner of Make It Sweet, “The kids had a lot of fun tasting the parachute and learning about a local baking-supply store and class space, and the founder of how it was made,” Sideserf says, smiling. the Capital Confectioners Cake Club, the same club that hosts the Participating in classes where she gets to share her knowledge annual That Takes the Cake competition. and skill set with others is one of Sideserf’s favorite things to do. As Sideserf decided to jump-start her new intricate-cake-creation her cake studio and television show began garnering high-profile endeavor by entering the competition in 2011 with a hippopotamus attention, she began making the rounds on the food-show circuit, cake made from a Bundt base. But Bartos says it was Sideserf’s soon headlining events with demos and workshops that focused on Nelson entry the following year that was the talk of the entire show. her baking process. Sideserf says she enjoys the teaching process, “People were joking that the rest of his body must be under the sharing fun and simple techniques with people, ones they can use table. It was just that realistic,” Bartos says of Sideserf’s sculpture. when baking at home or in their own businesses.

“She has submitted entries in subsequent years, winning awards “The techniques are simple enough that no previous experience each year and always stretching and showcasing her talents to is necessary, but they are also pragmatic in that they can be applied create cakes that are so realistic that it makes viewers question if in a number of ways,” she says. they are really cake.”

In more in-depth classes, such as the one she hosted at Creative That Takes the Cake is among the largest and most respected Action, she gets the chance to work hands-on with students in fullcake competitions in the country, with hundreds of entries day workshops, helping them create elaborate pieces step by step. submitted by cake artists, ranging from beginners to professionals “My students range from young adults to seasoned business and master decorators. owners, and they blow my mind—and their own—every time,” “The distinguished panel of judges are some of the best in the Sideserf says. country and around the world, and they comment about Natalie’s There’s one memory, one particular sight from a two-day class growth and application of skills, [and how she’s] always bringing she hosted at a food event in Louisiana a few years ago that she entries that highlight her exceptional talents,” Bartos says. can’t shake. In the class, she taught 15 students how to create a cake After the huge success of her Nelson bust cake, Sideserf coined shaped like the bust of a chimp. the term “cake studio,” given the emphasis on the artistic aspect of “When we were done, we lined them all up alongside each other. her cakes, and Sideserf Cake Studio was born. She started baking Not only was their work really impressive, it was also incredible cakes out of her home while her husband helped with the business to see all their different sculpting and painting styles,” Sideserf side of things. explains. “One of the things I love most about hosting these classes “Up to that point, bust cakes were a rarity, so I really felt like I was is seeing how people take my instructions and make them their onto something,” Sideserf says. own. In the case of the chimp cakes Success with her newfound all lined up, it looked like a series “It’s really cool to see people profession escalated quickly. A of masks from Planet of the Apes. frenzy of international attention Although they were all chimps, interacting with the cake. and buzz surrounded the they all had subtle differences that competition’s winning cake, represented them as individuals.”

It’s definitely a bit of a show.” and media and production When asked if she has a favorite —Natalie Sideserf companies were quick to follow cake she’s worked on, Sideserf is its creator, knocking at Sideserf’s door. She serendipitously became quick to respond, noting it was her own wedding cake. As one something of a cake-art celebrity and was soon fielding invitations might guess, her wedding cake was anything but traditional. The to be featured in commercials, as a guest on popular late-night talk creation featured the severed heads of Sideserf and her husband shows such as Conan with Conan O’Brien and to have her own Food on a cake board with a banner that read, “’Til Death Do Us Part.”

Network show, Texas Cake House.

“Dave and I were married at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz in “Because our cake designs are so unique and realistic, I had a downtown Austin, and it was near the Halloween season, so we number of production companies reach out to me asking if I had wanted to do something fun that was seasonal and movie-related,” ever thought about having our own show,” Sideserf says. “We had Sideserf explains. “Dave loves horror movies, so I had the thought many conversations that ultimately lead to two seasons of Texas of putting us in the movie, so to speak.”

Cake House, which includes a lot of the process of our cakes, but She didn’t tell anyone about the cake design beforehand. also showcases Austin as a character. Our favorite part of the show “Our guests were floored, and when one of the Drafthouse staff is that it gives us an opportunity to work with and promote a lot of members posted an image of the cake online, it had gone viral by local businesses that we know and love. Now that I am part of the so- the time we made it to the reception,” she says. “It wasn’t all blood called entertainment industry, it is refreshing to see this movement and gore, though. The inside was confetti cake, which we thought of women empowerment.” was a really funny counterbalance.”

The business and artistic medium are truly elements of a creative Sideserf loves the unpredictable reactions she receives to her endeavor of love for Sideserf, who puts an incredible amount of cakes. Some people are shocked and some love a creation, while thought into each and every cake design. others hate it. She relishes them all, though, and it’s clear the “I reference and research fine artists, tattoo artists and specialonly direction she won’t go in is to design a boring cake that effects makeup artists daily, and have been pretty successful in pleases everyone. experimenting to find the edible equivalent to traditional art media,” “I love that reaction when there are conversations over whether she says. “For example, I found that watered-down royal icing people even like [a cake] or not,” Sideserf says. “There’s no middle painted onto wafer paper and placed in a bowl set aside to dry would ground.” create a papier-mâché effect.”

Another of her favorite designs was one she created for the AMC Sideserf used this technique on a cake made for Creative Action, television network, representatives of which asked Sideserf to make a nonprofit art-based youth-development program that provides a cake to be featured on a commercial spot that aired during the hands-on creative-learning classes. The design was a hand-sculpted premiere of last season’s Walking Dead. chocolate kitten being blown away by an edible parachute.

“I chose to create a bust of character Mike Ehrmantraut from

54 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

Photos courtesy of Sideserf Cake Studio. Bottom right floral cake photo by Rudy Arocha.

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, played by actor Jonathan Banks,” Sideserf explains.

“The commercial was a great experience, but the best part is while I was on the late-night talk show Conan, Jonathan Banks personally thanked me for making the cake. Being a fan of both Conan O’Brien and Banks, it is still surreal that they had a conversation about my work.”

Perhaps the only drawback to Sideserf’s amazing creations is that they’re so hyperrealistic, lifelike and artistic, people often don’t want to ruin them by actually eating the cake.

“It’s really fun for people,” she says. “There’s a moment when they hesitate to cut into it and eat. It’s really cool to see people interacting with the cake. It’s definitely a bit of a show.”

Sideserf enjoys this multisensory experience of her work.

“When you see a cake in person that’s sculpted like that, you not only see it, but you smell it, you cut into it, you use all your senses, and people really get a kick out of it,” she says.

So, what sweet project is next in the oven for Sideserf? With constant growth in business, she’s working on opening a brick-and-mortar location for Sideserf Cake Studio, which currently operates out of rented space. The company has become so successful, in fact, that her husband was able to quit his tech job more than a year ago to join the studio full time. Sideserf also says they want to expand their offerings to make the studio more accessible to the community.

“We absolutely love and appreciate Austin,” Sideserf says. “We have had the privilege of working with some of our favorite organizations and plan to continue partnering more with local businesses in the future.

We’ve had some amazing clients, like the Alamo Drafthouse, Austin Pets Alive, the Museum of the Weird, South By Southwest and the Moontower Comedy Festival. Our social-media followers are primarily in New York and Los Angeles, and Austin is third. In 2018, we want Central Texas to be No. 1 on that list.”

ATXWOMAN.COM | 55

LEARN HOW TO SCULPT A FLAMINGO CAKE What Join Natalie Sideserf in this hands-on class, where you will sculpt your very own realistic flamingo cake. Learn innovative sculpting and painting techniques, along with her new approach for creating hyperrealistic glossy eyes.

When

Feb. 26, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where

Make It Sweet, 9070 Research Blvd., suite 203

How

Sign up for the class at thattakesthecake.org/product/flamingo.

56 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

ATXWOMAN.COM |  57

Special Promotion

FIVE WAYS TO GO GREEN IN 2018 TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS MAKES IT SIMPLE. With each new year come new resolutions. Perhaps your 2018 goals include eating healthier, hitting the gym before work or even waking up an hour earlier each day. But when creating your New Year’s resolutions, did you stop to think about some that could not only benefit yourself, but your community as well? For Texas Disposal Systems, 2018 is the year to go green. But the organization can’t do it alone. TDS needs your help to keep Central Texas beautiful. Consider adding these stress-free resolutions to your list this year.

BY LAUREN JONES

1. START SIMPLE. So, what exactly can you do to go green this year? Start

simple by correctly disposing of waste. For example, magazines, cardboard and empty plastic containers can be recycled, while organic waste, such as fruits and vegetables, can be composted. For those wanting more details on exactly what can and can’t be recycled or composted, TDS has made it easy by including a list of accepted materials on its website, texasdisposal.com. For a fun, interactive way to learn more, check out TDS’ Waste Wizard.

2. MAKE SURE YOUR RECYCLING IS PUT OUT ON TIME. This one is easy. Sign up for reminders and notifications through TDS’ Waste Wizard. You will never miss recycling day again. Be the neighbor whose curb is always right!

2017 BY THE NUMBERS 2,417 wreaths Did you know TDS partners with Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization, to lay wreaths on the graves of veterans?

With TDS’ help, volunteers honored more than 2,000 graves at the Texas State Cemetery. TDS recycled all the wreaths and 269 wreath boxes, making it the greenest memorial ceremony in the nation.

3. HIT THE ROAD. Going green begins at home, but it shouldn’t end there.

Whether you are out shopping, catching a flight from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport or out with the girls, be on the lookout for TDS Eco Stations, where recycling and composting has been made even more convenient.

4. SPREAD THE WORD. Become a go-green activist by following TDS on social media (We promise, you’ll love it.), attending events and staying attuned to waste-diversion tips. You’ve got this!

5. INVOLVE YOUR KIDS. Recycling is important and it’s up to you to

make a change. Get your kids involved by making recycling enjoyable and educational. TDS recently launched Eco Academy (ecoacademy.org), a program that educates K-12 students about trash, recycling and composting options at school, plus the importance of waste diversion. Check out content online and get your school on board.

50,000 pounds Each hour, 50,000 pounds of materials are recycled through TDS’ Materials Recovery Facility.

193.25 tons TDS is a proud partner of the Austin City Limits Music Festival and each year, helps keep Zilker Park trash-free.

In 2017, TDS recycled 5,914 cubic yards, or 193.25 tons, from the festival.

For more information on how you can go green in 2018, visit texasdisposal.com.

@TexasDisposal

/TexasDisposalSystems

@TexasDisposalSystems

RECYCLE > REUSE > DIVERT

A CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL EARTH OR A POLLUTED ONE: IT’S YOUR CHOICE Toxic chemicals from plastics thrown into the landfill can leach into groundwater and make us sick.

Recycling and composting are the best ways to divert trash from the landfill.

Did you know that household items such as washers and dryers can be recycled too?

Recycling just one ton of office paper saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 463 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space and enough energy to heat an average home for six months.

At 1,609 pounds per person per year, the U.S. is the No. 1 trash-producing country in the world. This means that 5% of the world’s people generate 40% of the world’s waste.

The more materials put in landfills creates more greenhouse gas methane, which contributes to global warming.

The Materials Recovery Facility at TDS processes 50,000 pounds of recyclables per hour!

Learn more about our services and commitment to environmental preservation at texasdisposal.com.

The Rise School of Austin’s 11th Annual Fashion Luncheon

Heart Soul

Friday, February 9th, 2018 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Mimosas & Mingling Silent Auction Featuring Handbags & Jewelry

Seated Luncheon Fashion show Starring Rise Students & Honorees

J.W. Marriott Austin For more details and to register for the event, please visit www.riseschoolaustin.org/heartandsoul

GET IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT MARCH 29, 2018 Fast cars and philanthropy meet for the thrill of a lifetime!

Take on the world-renowned Circuit of The Americas track for an action-packed day of motorsport activities.

GOURMET VALENTINE’S DAY IN

Pull off a memorable date night without breaking the bank.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY NATALIE PARAMORE

This year, whether you have plans to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your significant other, Galentine’s Day with your closest gal pals or are all set to revel in a solo evening at home, a fun dinner and date night in is easier to pull off than you might think. Incorporate some seasonal pink-and-purplehued ingredients like strawberries and beets into the menu for a fresh, colorful approach. A memorable evening doesn’t have to be complicated.

Whip up a flavorful salad, a buttery cast-iron-cooked steak that tastes just like one you’d find at your favorite steakhouse and some decadent darkchocolate beet cupcakes. Light a few candles, pour a glass of your best bubbly and in no time at all, you’ll be happy to have swapped those pricey dinner reservations for a cozy and delicious date night at home.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 61

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OURMET

TO MARKET

STRAWBERRY AND SPINACH SALAD Serves two

Ingredients 3 cups baby spinach 1 cup strawberries, diced 1/2 cup cucumber, diced 1/4 cup feta, crumbled 2 tablespoons red onion 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Directions 1. Toss all ingredients together and serve immediately.

2. If you’re making this recipe in advance, wait until you’re ready to serve to add the oil, vinegar and cheese.

STEAK IN A CAST-IRON SKILLET These cooking tips work for almost any cut of steak.

Directions 1. L et the beef come to room temperature and season it with salt and pepper.

2. G et the cast iron smoking hot. Turn up the heat and let the pan get hot for five to 10 minutes, or until you can see smoke coming off it.

3. T he steak should sizzle once it hits the pan. Let it sit for two minutes before turning it over.

4. Don’t be afraid of butter. It adds a lot of flavor and will help you achieve that steakhouse taste. Add a tablespoon of butter per steak after turning it the first time. Use a metal spoon to lap melted butter over the top of the meat.

5. U se a meat thermometer to ensure you don’t overcook or undercook the meat.

6. P ull the steaks off the cast-iron skillet when they are about 10 degrees cooler than you want them. Then wrap them in foil and the steaks will continue cooking on the counter. This will allow the meat to soak up the juices and not dry out.

7. Wait at least 10 minutes after cooking before cutting into the steaks.

62 | AUSTIN WOMAN | DECEMBER FEBRUARY 2018 2017

DARK-CHOCOLATE BEET CUPCAKES Makes about 24 cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients

Directions

1 cup beet-root puree (about 2 to 3 small beets)

1. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

3/4 cup dark-chocolate chips (Pro tip: Use the highest cocoa percentage you can find.)

11 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/4 cup hot coffee

2. Boil

the beets whole and unpeeled until they’re fork-tender. This should take about 30 minutes. Drain the beets and when they’re cool enough to touch, slide the skins off.

3. In a blender or food processor, process the beets until smooth.

4. Using

the microwave, melt the chocolate in a small bowl. Cut the butter into small cubes and gently stir it into the melted chocolate until it’s well combined.

5. Add hot coffee and stir until just combined.

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons allpurpose flour

6. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and cocoa.

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

7. I n another separate bowl, separate the egg whites and yolks. Whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form.

3 tablespoons cocoa powder 5 eggs

8. C ombine the egg yolks with the chocolate-and-coffee mixture, then gently fold in the beet puree. Next, stir in the sugar. Then gently stir in the egg whites.

1 cup sugar

9. Lastly, add in the sifted flour, baking powder and cocoa mixture until well combined.

Frosting Ingredients

10. Ladle the cupcake mixture into the cupcake pan. Fill the liners about 2/3 full to give the cake room to rise, and bake for about 25 minutes, or until the cake is moist but set.

8 ounces cream cheese

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

11. For the frosting, let the cream cheese soften at room temperature then beat it until fluffy. Add in the beet-root puree and vanilla until combined. Then add the powdered sugar one cup at a time until the mixture is smooth. Let the frosting chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

2 cups powdered sugar

12. Once the cupcakes have cooled, frost and enjoy.

2 tablespoons beet-root puree

ATXWOMAN.COM | 63

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OURMET

FOOD NEWS

A FRENCH FLOURISH

Soraiya Nagree, a former chemical engineer, followed her dream to open La Pâtisserie, a beloved boutique featuring French macarons and pastries.

BY MIKAILA RUSHING

“It’s our home. We open up our home to you and we want you to come and stay and enjoy,” Nagree says of the dessert-focused shop.

Nagree has loved baking since she was a young girl growing up in Weatherford, Texas. Her love of macarons, though, stemmed, she says, from a trip she took to Paris when she was just 10 years old.

She sat down at Ladurée, a luxury bakery that dates back to 1862, and had her first rose macaron.

When it came time to choose a career path, Nagree decided to pursue a degree in chemical engineering from Trinity University, and went into the business of chemically engineering bowling balls after graduation. It wasn’t until further down the road that Nagree decided she would pursue her passion in baking, going back to school to earn a culinary-arts degree. In 2006, she started her own luxury bakery, Luxe Sweets, to deliver her baked goods throughout Austin.

“It was a lot of mixing chemicals and creating color patterns,” Nagree says of her chemical engineering days. “I always tell people that I basically went from mixing poisonous chemicals to edible chemicals.”

In 2010, after four years of slowly growing awareness for her sweets brand, Nagree’s husband came across a little house on Annie Street in South Austin and immediately knew it would be his wife’s dream storefront. Nagree bought the house, added some much-needed TLC and turned it into La Pâtisserie.

With the name change came a stronger focus on promoting macarons as the shop’s main pastry.

Now a happy mother of three with an expanding business and a loyal clientele and staff, Nagree opened a new location of La Pâtisserie on Burnet Road in 2016.

While the second location is smaller and offers more grab-and-go options than the mothership location on Annie Street, Nagree does everything she can to make sure everyone who walks in the door feels as though they’re a part of the family.

“My rule for staff is that you treat the person who comes in for a cup of water the same as a person who’s doing a $1,000 wedding,” Nagree says.

The most popular menu items at La Pâtisserie tend to be the salted caramel, espresso and chocolate macarons. For Valentine’s Day celebrations, Nagree says the shop will sell strawberry-Champagne macarons, as well as conversation-heart macarons.

64 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

Top photo courtesy of Happy Day Media. Bottom photo by John Pesina.

Set foot into La Pâtisserie and the quaint, cozy and subtle French atmosphere is first to greet you. The worn hardwood floors conjure an approachable, come-as-you-are feeling, as though you are being ushered into someone’s home. And that is exactly what owner, macaron expert and pastry queen Soraiya Nagree intends.

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ELLNESS

WAITING ROOM

ALL IN THE GENES

Managing daily stressors is key to warding off hereditary health diseases.

BY LAURYN LAX

Families share many traits. You may inherit curly hair from your mom, a hot temper from your dad, your grandmother’s loving compassion, Uncle Rick’s mathematical brain or Aunt Alice’s artistic creativity.

But one trait no one wants to share is hereditary or genetic disease.

HEREDITARY DISEASE: FATE OR FLUKE?

“What’s your family health history?” It’s one of the first questions any doctor—optometrist, dermatologist or gynecologist—asks during an appointment.

According to many physicians, we are byproducts of our DNA. If Grandma Doris had “it,” you are flagged as having a risk factor for all sorts of diseases.

In recent years, at-home genetic testing through such companies as 23andMe and Ancestry has become popular, giving individuals more insight into the hereditary diseases and health conditions they are most likely to develop.

Are you doomed to get “it”—whatever “it” may be—if it runs in your family?

The answer: Possibly. As with most any genetic condition, if one family member has a genetic disease, your risk increases by as much as 50 percent.

According to national statistics, some of the top hereditary diseases include: > heart disease. The No. 1 killer of women, heart disease claims the life of one woman every 80 seconds. > d iabetes. Nearly one in three people have diabetes, and 84 million people are prediabetic. > hypothyroidism. One in eight women will develop hypothyroidism in her lifetime, and women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems. > A lzheimer’s. At age 65, women without Alzheimer’s have more than a one in six chance of developing Alzheimer’s during the remainder of their lives, compared with a one in 11 chance for men. > cancer. Every year, almost 850,000 American women hear the terrifying words, “You have cancer.” Breast cancer is the most common form, with 250,000 women—one in eight—in the U.S. diagnosed annually. > obesity. More than one in three Americans are overweight, and if trends continue, by 2035, 95 percent of all Americans will be in this category, kids included. > autoimmune disease. Women are twice as likely as men to develop an autoimmune condition, from rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease to lupus and multiple sclerosis, and approximately one in four women are diagnosed in their lifetime.

But there is good news: Genetics may not play as big a role as we thought.

“Yes, it’s essential to know your health history and know critical health numbers like blood pressure and cholesterol, but 80 percent of heart disease can actually be prevented with six words: Eat better, move more, don’t smoke,” says the American Heart Association’s Rosalyn Mandola.

A 10 TO 20 PERCENT CHANCE

Contrary to popular belief, in the big picture of health, genetic factors contribute to only about 10 to 20 percent of our total health. The other 80 to 90 percent is influenced by environmental, lifestyle, physical and mental stressors. In short, genes load the gun. Stressors pull the trigger.

So, you may have your mom’s slow metabolism, your dad’s mutation for celiac disease or your aunt’s gene for breast cancer, but these genes will only be fully expressed if stress triggers those conditions.

ADDRESSING STRESS

When we typically think about stress, we think about psychosocial and emotional stress, but stress goes far beyond the mental stressors of losing a job or a loved one, dealing with divorce or meeting deadlines at work.

66 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

In our modern sedentary, coffee-guzzling 9- to 10-hour workdays, the human body is not in its ideal element, as nature intended. But you don’t have to live in a bubble. When you recognize the most common stressors wreaking havoc on your health, take proactive steps to counter them.

Here are five act-now habits to put you in the driver’s seat: 1. Live by the unsexy diet. Let food be thy medicine. Just like the body was meant to thrive on less stress than we face in modern times, the body was also meant to eat real, whole foods. No crazy, sexy diets or overthinking are necessary.

2. Get drunk—on clean and filtered water, that is. Each day, you should drink half your bodyweight in ounces. If you have a difficult time wrapping your head around why so much water is necessary, think about it this way: What does a healthy, thriving plant need to survive? It needs sunshine, rich soil and water. What happens if you pour Diet Coke, tea, sports drinks or coffee on the plant? It doesn’t thrive.

3. Eat dirt. The gut is the gateway to health. Unfortunately, three of four Americans have some sort of gastrointestinal dysfunction. If your gut is unable to digest, absorb or deliver nutrients to your cells, organs and tissues, your body may suffer from infection, deficiencies, inflammation and autoimmunity. Ingesting healthy bacteria, found in probiotics, is a great way to improve the health of your gut microbiome. Love your gut by regularly taking a soil-based probiotic, like Primal Probiotics or Garden of Life’s Primal Defense Ultra, along with a prebiotic fiber powder.

4. Get your beauty sleep. One in three Americans sleep less than six hours per night. Sleep is when your body restores, detoxifies and goes to battle against stress. Aim to sleep seven to nine hours per night in a cooled, blacked-out room.

5. Breakup with MAC. Have a heart-to-heart with your beauty, hygiene, cleaning and kitchen products. If there are ingredients you don’t recognize, chances are your body doesn’t either. The FDA as approved more than 85,000 chemicals in such products that are still banned in other countries or have not been fully tested. While your makeup, toothpaste, conditioner, glass cleaner and plastic food containers may seem innocent, unrecognizable chemicals add up. Gradually toss and replace as you run out of products and plan an environmental overhaul.

Sponsored Content

TWENTY-ONE ITEMS EVERY AUSTIN WOMAN SHOULD KEEP IN HER CAR

BY CHELSEA BANCROFT

Hi, there. My name is Chelsea Bancroft, the strategicpartnerships and media manager for Roger Beasley Mazda. I will contribute a column to Austin Woman each month discussing a variety of topics important for every driver, from the car-buying process and how to not be fooled, to what the heck that light on the dashboard means. To start things off, here are 21 items every woman should keep in the car.

1. P roof of insurance. We all know this one, but legally, you must always have proof of insurance in your car.

2. Tire-changing kit. Even though many people

use a roadside-assistance program, it’s still smart to have all the supplies you need to change a flat: a spare tire, a jack and a lug wrench. Some manufacturers, like Mazda and Hyundai, offer roadside assistance with every vehicle purchase. Check the manufacturer’s website or inquire with your local dealership for details on each program.

3. J umper cables. They’re a must-have if your car battery ever dies.

4. O wner’s manual. Let’s be honest: Most of us

never even open it, but it’s good to have just in case you need it. Plus, where else are you going to keep it?

5. R eusable bags. If I had a reusable bag for every time I forgot a reusable bag, it wouldn’t matter because I’d still probably forget to bring them to the grocery store.

6. Duct tape. Is there anything duct tape can’t fix?

7. Stain stick. It’s perfect for those inevitable times when you have a breakfast-taco blowout or coffee splashes on your way to work.

8. Umbrella. We all know Texas weather has a mind of its own, so keeping an umbrella in your car can come in handy when it’s sunny in the morning and pouring rain in the afternoon.

9. Sunglasses. You’ll thank yourself for having a

back-up pair on days when you forget your regular pair at home.

10. Seatbelt cutter/window breaker and multipurpose tool. Hopefully, you never have to use these, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

11. W ater bottles. They’re good to have in case of

emergencies and for those unfortunate times when you forget to bring a water bottle to yoga class.

Photo by Chris Xu.

12. D ental floss. It’s a necessity for when you can’t

get that pesky piece of Franklin Barbecue brisket out of your teeth.

13. Cellphone charger. Get one with multiple charge ports to earn bonus points with your passengers.

14. Emergency-contact sheet. Keep a list of your emergency contacts in your glove box.

15. B lanket or towel. I especially recommend this one for dog owners. I don’t know

how many times my pup has decided to take an unauthorized dip in the lake while at the dog park. Having a towel has saved my car seats more times than I can count.

16. F irst-aid kit and over-the-counter pain medication. You never know when

you’ll bite the dust in the parking lot and need both a bandage and a couple of aspirin (not that I’m speaking from personal experience or anything).

17. Period backup. I always keep a tampon in my glove box, just in case. It’ll save you the dread of having to ask a colleague or stranger for one.

18. Flashlight. It’s another essential to keep in your car.

19. T ravel-size perfume. We all know how hot cars get during Texas summers and the inevitable back and leg sweat that come with the heat. Keep a small perfume bottle in your glove box for times when the heat is especially bad.

20. Gum. Besides fixing bad breath, apparently, chewing mint gum helps reduce road rage, which everyone who has to brave I-35 on their morning commute needs.

21. C harged cellphone. I’m stating the obvious here, but always have a charged cell-

phone, not to use while driving (Texas is hands-free now.), but to use if you have an emergency and need to call for roadside assistance.

Stay tuned next month, when I’ll talk about the dos and don’ts of selling your used vehicle.

Do you have suggestions or topics you want to learn about? Email them to me at cbancroft@rogerbeasley.com.

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ELLNESS

EAT THIS, NOT THAT

SIETE THE DIFFERENCE

A gluten-free, vegan or paleo diet doesn’t have to mean a meal without tortilla chips.

BY LAUREN JONES Corn tortilla chips have been a favorite American snack food for years. They’re the perfect edible vehicle for tangy guacamole and spicy homemade salsa, and the Snack Food Association estimates that on Super Bowl Sunday, which takes place Feb. 4 this year, nearly 8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips will be consumed nationwide.

Eat this: Siete Family Foods’ grain-free tortilla chips Not that: traditional tortilla chips Says who: Veronica Garza, co-founder and president of Siete Family Foods, an Austin-based and family-run company making grain-free tortillas and tortilla chips. The company uses wholesome ingredients, such as cassava flour, almond flour and avocado oil, so Siete products taste good and make healthy eating accessible for all.

Against the grain Going grain-free can aid in digestion, eliminate brain fog and reduce inflammation, and according to the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a grain-free lifestyle can help those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease.

“For me, going grain-free began as a personal decision,” Garza says. “I deal with multiple autoimmune conditions and I was struggling with those for many years. At one of my brothers’ suggestions, I started following a grain-free diet to alleviate a lot of the inflammation and symptoms I was experiencing. When I started eating grain-free, my whole family changed their diet with me. I started feeling better and they did too.”

Veronica Garza, third from right

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This year, opt for a more health-conscious choice and pop open a bag of Siete Family Foods’ grainfree tortilla chips. Not only will your stomach thank you, but you’ll also be supporting a local company.

A taste of home When Siete Family Foods got its start in 2014, there were no grain-free options on the market that even resembled the classic tortilla, a staple in the Garza household. “Our first product was our almond-flour tortillas,” Garza says. “At the time, I was looking for ingredients that I could eat that were more nutrientdense, and so, almonds seemed like a great option. I was looking for any ingredient that I could mix together and create something that was reminiscent of a tortilla.”

The test kitchen The quest to make the best grain-free products begins in the family’s kitchen. “I look for real food ingredients,” Garza says. “Sometimes it’s here in this kitchen or in my kitchen at home when I’m in a mood to create something. I can get in there and play around.”

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ELLNESS

HER ROUTINE

BOWLING STRIKES

Standout bowler Norma Manns is scoring points in competition and in life.

STORY AND PHOTO BY GRETCHEN M. SANDERS Norma Manns bowled her first game at age 20. In her 30s, she wanted to get better, so she watched professional female bowlers on television, studying every shot they made. With no consistent coach, Manns practiced what the pros did, trying out her skills in small tournaments, to much success. Soon, people wanted her to teach them all she knew.

“I left corporate America and became a full-time bowling coach,” Manns says.

Manns traveled the country collecting coaching certifications, eventually taking over one of the largest youth bowling programs in the country at the now-shuttered Showplace Lanes.

And since many of her students could not afford college, she took them throughout the country to compete for scholarship money. It proved a good plan. Nearly 20 of her students went to college on full or partial bowling scholarships, including her daughter, Anita Manns Arnett, who bowled for Wichita State University.

70 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

“I taught these kids life skills through bowling,” Manns says. “I wanted them to know that they’re not always going to win, but that they can still compete.”

Several of her other students went on to bowl internationally for Team USA and, in 2005, Manns coached and bowled for an adult team that won the Women’s United States Bowling Congress Championships.

Today, Manns manages insurance for MX3 Homes and teaches bowling in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and Houston. She also captains an eight-woman bowling team in a traveling league.

With time and age, Manns, now 59, is only getting better.

“I shot my highest score yet, a 290, in San Antonio in November,” she says.

A score of 300 is a perfect game.

Here’s how this self-taught champ keeps bowling strikes.

THE A.M.:

“I have prayer time at 4 a.m., and then I usually do a Beach Body video workout at home. I make spinach, kale and fruit smoothies for my husband and me every morning and drink mine on my way to work. I get there by 6:30 a.m.”

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THE WORKOUT:

“I usually spend three evenings a week at Dart Bowl. I get there around 5 p.m. and teach or practice for two hours. I stretch before I start because I sit in front of a computer all day, and my muscles need to warm up. If I’m not giving a lesson, then I’ll bowl a few games alone, working on different skills. Bowling keeps my arms toned, but my legs get the real workout. The sport requires more endurance than one might think. In competition, most bowlers will bowl three games, with each game lasting anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. I don’t sit between turns, so I’m on my feet a long time. If you bowl correctly, it’s definitely exercise, and it’s easier if you stay physically fit. That’s why it’s not uncommon for me to speed walk 3 miles at a school track on my way home.”

THE DIET:

“I eat throughout the day because I have a fast metabolism. About an hour after my early morning smoothie, I eat breakfast, oatmeal with raspberries and an egg. I snack on grapes before having a tuna sandwich for lunch. Cheese, nuts and cranberries hold me over in the afternoon until a dinner of grilled salmon, baked potato and salad—all made by my husband. People say I eat a lot, but I don’t drink alcohol and I don’t have a sweet tooth. I try to drink four 16-ounce bottles of water a day and eat trail mix if I’m really craving something sweet.

When I’m competing, I avoid salt so I don’t retain water. Salt makes my hand swell and not fit my ball.”

THE GEAR:

“I bowl in walking shorts so I can bend and get low to the floor.

When I go to tournaments, I always carry a minimum of six bowling balls drilled specifically for my hand. Balls are drilled to do different things, and they have different surfaces. Some balls are shiny, others dull, but they all react differently to the oil on a lane. Not all lanes are the same. Oil patterns on the lane change from day to day and determine how the ball will behave. A bowler must learn how to read oil patterns and know which ball to use. Each of my balls weighs about 14 pounds. I haul them around in roll bags and do all the handling myself. I wear special bowling shoes with detachable soles and a RevX glove to keep my right wrist in position. It helps my balls hit the pins harder. I also tape my fingers at the base for support.”

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THE MOTIVATION:

“I grew up poor, so I believe that it doesn’t matter if you’re a garbage woman, just be the best one they’ve got. I’m motivated to be the best bowler I can be. Even at my age, I don’t feel like I’ve peaked yet. I can get better. As long as I stay fit, I know it’s possible to improve. I’m more fit than many of the other bowlers out there.”

THE MINDSET:

“I don’t say negative things to myself. I say, ‘I’m strong, I’m powerful.’ ” THE P.M.:

“I watch tennis, basketball, [University of Texas] volleyball or really any sport on TV to wind down. My husband played football in high school, and I was a cheerleader at Huston-Tillotson. Our house is nothing but sports. I turn them off by 9:30 p.m., though, because athletes need more than six hours of sleep. Bowlers are athletes!”

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OINT OF VIEW

I AM AUSTIN WOMAN

LOVE WITH INTENTION

your daughter is attempting to excel at loving you. When you change, My parents first set foot on American soil in 1991. They had no one around you can stay the same. high hopes of pursuing the American dream, but after arA year into this journey, I found Austin Center for Design and riving in the U.S., they were thrown the biggest curve ball of decided to make the jump into becoming an interaction designer. their lives: me. They had no health insurance, no education, During this time, my classmates and I seized the opportunity to no car, no money and a baby on the way. To this day, my research the impacts of being second-generation Asian-Americans. mom cringes at the sight of McDonald’s, as it made up the This was the first time it really hit me that a refugee crisis is the majority of her diet when she was pregnant with me. It was exact thing my parents, their friends and my friends’ parents went all they could afford. through. The main thing I remember from the Logically, I knew my parents loved me, but research is that it’s rarely a lack of love, but a I never felt it because the way they showed lack of understanding. And secondly, it wasn’t love was radically different from what that they didn’t want to talk about love; they was shown on American TV. The way they just didn’t know how. Everyone wants strong showed me love was not the way I needed or and meaningful relationships, but how to create wanted it. My dad still responds, “OK,” when them isn’t so obvious.

I say, “I love you.”

My personal journey with my parents, Accident, burden, afterthought: Negative paired with my experience at AC4D, catawords and lies were embedded in me. These pulted me into starting Love Intently, an app lies and fears I kept to myself, but they and platform that empowers people to build haunted me daily. I believed my parents’ stronger relationships. We are starting with lives would be better without me. romantic relationships but plan to expand to We struggled and constantly fought, the other types of relationships in the years to kind of fighting where things are thrown, come. We give people tangible ways to excel at tears are uncontrollable and words are said loving each other by taking the guesswork out that you can never take back. This went on of how to show they care. for years.

Today, I have never felt more loved or supAs college approached, I chose to go out ported by my parents. They are my first invesof state. Things got a little better, mainly tors and main cheerleaders. We don’t question because when we fought, I had the option of whether we love each other, and I’m so grateful putting down the phone or hanging up. to be at a place where we can all fully receive After graduation, I had an opportunity to love the way we choose to show it. spend extended periods of time with refugees The best thing I can say to anyone seeking to from various countries. When you spend time embark on a similar journey is this: Start with I embarked on a journey with people who’ve lost everything based on questions. Start with why. Why do I act or feel conditions out of their control, what really of being more intentional this way? Why do they act that way? Do they matters comes to the forefront. mean it? Do they know how I feel? Then ask and understanding of what At the time, it was my dream to be an them questions. The vulnerable question that exceptional interior designer at a large firm things made them feel loved. transformed my relationship with my parents in San Francisco. As I pursued this dream, it was this: How can I be a better daughter to you? dawned on me that if I remained out of state, I would see my parents These simple questions I asked myself and the people around me three times a year maximum, on holidays and maybe birthdays. In not only bettered my relationship with my family, but also led to the the next 30 years, that’s a total of only 90 times—less than 100. How creation of Love Intently. When I became empowered, I found ways crazy is that? And at the rate we were going, we would be fighting or to empower others. yelling at each other for 50 of those times!

Diversity begins with an invitation, inviting people in who are I couldn’t shake it. Something in me knew I needed to put down my different from us. Unity begins with empathy, truly putting ourselves San Francisco dream and move back to my worst nightmare: Texas. into other people’s shoes. But love, the very thing we’re all really I was determined to redesign our relationship. I embarked on a after, begins with a choice. It’s not enough to love; we must choose to journey of being more intentional and understanding of what things show it daily. made them feel loved. Sure, there was frustration, trial and error, For fun ideas for building stronger relationships, visit loveintently.com. but as I changed, they did too. It’s pretty hard to yell or scream when Austin Woman features a reader-submitted essay every month in the I Am Austin Woman column.

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

72 | AUSTIN WOMAN | FEBRUARY 2018

Photo by Lyda McIver.

As the founder and CEO of the Love Intently app, Sophie Kwok wants to remind people that love in any relationship is a daily choice.

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