January 2015

Austin Woman MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come.” —Alfred Tennyson

DANCING IN THE RAIN collection www.nanis.it

2900 WEST ANDERSON LN. | 512.452.6491 BENOLDS.COM

Austin Thyroid & Endocrinology Center Control your hormones. Control your life.

ENDOCRINOLOGY

is the science of hormones, substances released by glands that regulate every cell in your body, for both men and women.

Examples of endocrine diseases: thyroid, osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome and obesity, hirsutism, menopause, pituitary and adrenal pathology, low testosterone in males, andropause and impotence, polycystic ovaries, recurrent kidney stones, irregular or lack of menstrual periods, high and low calcium, diabetes etc.

We provide a comprehensive assessment of your hormone balance, in-house hormone testing, thyroid ultrasound, and bone density.

THYROID DISEASE

affects thirty million Americans, half of which do not know they have the disease. Examples: hypo and hyperthyroidism, Graves and Hashimoto disease, goiter, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Each person has a different genetic set point for TSH. Thyroid problems require lifelong attention.

We are the premiere thyroid clinic in Austin, and offer the latest treatment for thyroid disease, aggressive management of thyroid cancer with radioactive iodine, and second opinion consults for thyroid surgery.

2 DO YOU KNOW YOUR TSH?

2 HAVE YOU SEEN AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST?

is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis affects one in two women and one in four men over fifty and is generally missed.

Bone fracture is the “heart attack� of the bone. New treatments reduce the risk of fracture and build new bone. A bone density test is the only way to test for osteoporosis.

We have the latest bone density testing equipment in Texas, and provide instant bone metabolism, medical consultation, and treatment option.

2 DO YOU KNOW YOUR BONE DENSITY?

deal with your health before disease prevention or treatment.

Optimal health is the ideal yet achievable health of your body as you reach middle age and beyond. Your biological age is a measure of how well your body functions compared to your actual calendar age.

Our specialized equipment allows us to measure and evaluate your biological age, a composite of your brain age, bone age, heart age, and vessel age. We help you achieve your optimal health, a major factor in the quality of your life.

2 TEST YOUR BIOLOGICAL AGE TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL HEALTH

DR. SIMONE SCUMPIA FACE FRCP BOARD CERTIFIED IN ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM Fellow American College of Endocrinology, Fellow Royal College of Physicians Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine In-house thyroid ultrasound, bone densitometry, total body fat analysis, hormone testing, and radioactive iodine treatment.

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GOOD IS

a bank that recognizes the power of women.

SUSAN DOSS | VP, Treasury Management

KARA PINNELLI | SVP, Middle Market Banker

LAURIE LOGUE | SVP, Commercial Real Estate

What is good? Good is women controlling nearly 60% of the nation’s wealth today and an estimated two-thirds by 2030.

It’s the phenomenal growth of women-owned businesses, with women starting new businesses at twice the rate of men and employing approximately 27 million Americans. At Broadway Bank, good is placing women in vital roles within our institution as proof of our strong commitment to and understanding of the power of women.

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NO HEARTBURN. NO PILLS. NO KIDDING. Some people want to get rid of their heartburn medications almost as much as their heartburn.

The Heartburn and Acid Reflux Center at Scott & White Healthcare - Round Rock offers new treatment options to help you say goodbye to pills and heartburn.

Take control of your heartburn and acid reflux.

Schedule your appointment at 512-509-GERD (4373).

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Physicians are employees of Scott & White Clinics, an affiliate of Baylor Scott & White Health. Š2014 Baylor Scott & White Health. SWCLINIC_68_2014_KD

Christopher Brennig, MD

Austin Vein Institute State-of-the-art Varicose Vein Treatment

C h r i s t op h er W. B r en n i g , M . D .

CERTIFIED: The American Board of General Surgery SUB-SPECIALTY CERTIFIED: The American Board of Vascular Surgery

Va r i c o se V e i n s Spider Veins L a se r t h e r a p y Sclerotherapy

512.346.2727

7000 N. Mopac Ste. 320 Austin, TX 78731

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

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

Dr. Benjamin L. Nemec • Dr. Christina Hobson • Dr. E. Anne Hagan

5 12. 347. 0044 • ww w .t hehi l l sd ent a l spa .c om

a first for Texas.

St. David’s HealthCare is proud to be a recipient of the 2014 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award — the nation’s highest presidential honor for performance excellence.

Awarded annually by the President of the United States and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, St. David’s HealthCare is one of only four organizations in the nation and the first ever healthcare system in the state of Texas to receive this prestigious honor.

With this designation comes tremendous responsibility. Performance improvement never ends. We’ll continue to raise the bar and push ourselves to be the very best — for our patients, our physicians, our employees and for our community.

stdavids.com/Baldrige

“Today’s honorees are the role models of innovation, sound management, employee and customer satisfaction, and results.

I encourage organizations in every sector to follow their lead.”

U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker

WHAT COULD WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY MEAN TO YOU? Whatever your goal, as Williamson County’s first hospital to earn national accreditation in bariatric surgery from the American College of Surgeons, we’re here to help. With weight loss surgery, medical guidance, lifestyle coaching and the techniques it takes to eat right and live healthier, you can change your life. We invite you to learn more about our patient-centered bariatric program at one of our regular seminars and look forward to helping you on your journey.

1401 MEDICAL PARKWAY

To register for a free seminar and find out if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, call 512-528-7317. Learn more online at CedarParkRegional.com/weightloss.

IT’S ABOUT

A BETTER LIFE.

Patient results may vary. Consult your physician about the benefits and risks of any surgical procedure or treatment.

Vein Vein VeinSpecialists Specialists SpecialistsofofofLakeway Lakeway Lakeway VENOUS VENOUS VENOUS DISEASE DISEASE DISEASE Venous Venous Venous reflux reflux reflux disease disease disease isisprogressive. isprogressive. progressive.

Symptoms Symptoms Symptoms can can can worsen worsen worsen over over over time time time ififleft ifleft left untreated. untreated. untreated.

Healthy Healthy Healthy leg leg leg veins veins veins contains contains contains valves valves valves that that that open open open and and and close close close tototo assist assist assist the the the return return return ofofof blood blood blood back back back tototo the the the heart. heart. heart.

Venous Venous Venous reflux reflux reflux disease disease disease develops develops develops when when when the the the valves valves valves that that that keep keep keep blood blood blood flowing flowing flowing out out out ofofof the the the legs legs legs and and and back back back tototo the the the heart heart heart become become become damaged damaged damaged ororor diseased. diseased. diseased.

AsAsAs a aresult, aresult, result, vein vein vein valves valves valves will will will not not not close close close properly, properly, properly, leading leading leading tototo symptoms symptoms symptoms ofofof venous venous venous insufficiency. insufficiency. insufficiency.

SYMPTONS SYMPTONS SYMPTONS OF OF OF VENOUS VENOUS VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY INSUFFICIENCY INSUFFICIENCY • Varicose • Varicose • Varicose Veins Veins Veins • Skin • Skin • Skin Texture Texture Texture Changes Changes Changes • Swelling • Swelling • Swelling ororor Edema Edema Edema • Venous • Venous • Venous Ulcers Ulcers Ulcers • Spider • Spider • Spider Veins Veins Veins

These These These symptoms symptoms symptoms can can can be be be assessed assessed assessed by by by aaa physician physician physician ininour inour our office office office and and and treated treated treated with with with various various various approaches. approaches. approaches.

ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT

TESTING TESTING TESTING

AAthorough Athorough thorough review review review ofofthe ofthe the lower lower lower extremity extremity extremity venous venous venous system system system isisessential isessential essential before before before treatment treatment treatment isisadministered. isadministered. administered.

Venous Venous Venous anatomy anatomy anatomy isisvariable isvariable variable ininthe inthe the lower lower lower extremities. extremities. extremities.

The The The lower lower lower extremity extremity extremity has has has both both both a asuperficial asuperficial superficial and and and deep deep deep venous venous venous system. system. system.

The The The superficial superficial superficial system system system isiscomplex; iscomplex; complex; ititincludes itincludes includes the the the great great great and and and short short short saphenous saphenous saphenous systems systems systems and and and other other other unnamed unnamed unnamed veins. veins. veins.

Doppler Doppler Doppler ultrasonography ultrasonography ultrasonography isisaisapain-free apain-free pain-free test test test performed performed performed ininthe inthe the office office office totoassess toassess assess the the the severity severity severity ofofvenous ofvenous venous insufficiency insufficiency insufficiency and and and reflux. reflux. reflux.

TREATMENT TREATMENT TREATMENT OPTIONS OPTIONS OPTIONS

VISUAL VISUAL VISUAL RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS

Radio Radio Radio frequency frequency frequency ablation ablation ablation isisaisaminimally aminimally minimally invasive invasive invasive outpatient outpatient outpatient procedure procedure procedure that that that isisperformed isperformed performed ininoffice. inoffice. office.

ByByBy using using using RFRFRF ablation, ablation, ablation, the the the walls walls walls ofofthe ofthe the vein vein vein shrinks shrinks shrinks until until until ititisitisclosed. isclosed. closed.

Most Most Most ofofthe ofthe the time time time spider spider spider veins veins veins will will will disappear disappear disappear after after after treating treating treating the the the greater greater greater and and and small small small saphenous saphenous saphenous veins veins veins with with with RFRFRF ablation. ablation. ablation.

IfIfpatients Ifpatients patients do do do not not not qualify qualify qualify for for for ororif orifspider ifspider spider veins veins veins don’t don’t don’t disappear disappear disappear with with with ablation, ablation, ablation, they they they may may may be be be treated treated treated with with with sclerotherapy. sclerotherapy. sclerotherapy.

The The The vein vein vein isisinjected isinjected injected with with with the the the sclerosing sclerosing sclerosing agent agent agent bybyby the the the physician. physician. physician.

Sclerotherapy Sclerotherapy Sclerotherapy isisperformed isperformed performed ininthe inthe the physcian’s physcian’s physcian’s office. office. office.

InInsome Insome some instances, instances, instances, sclerotherapy sclerotherapy sclerotherapy isisused isused used ininin conjunction conjunction conjunction with with with RFRFRF ablation ablation ablation for for for maximum maximum maximum results. results. results.

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bmwofaustin.com

66

On the cover

The Many Facets of Camila Alves

By Deborah Hamilton-Lynne

76

feature

Photo by Tania Quintanilla.

your year to shine

Contents

45 on the scene

wellness

25 KRISTY’S TOP 10 January’s To-Do List 28 horoscopes Happy Birthday, Capricorn!

58 health Health News You Can Use 62 NUTRITION Weight-Loss Goals in the New Year

must list

opposite sex

style

92 J OB ENVY KEYE-TV’s Chikage Windler 94 a ll the right questions Do You Need a

86 memo from JB A Forrest Gump Revelation 31 travel Close-in Getaway 32 trending The Pursuit of Happiness savvy women 36 Must-have Apps for Getting Organized 88 You should know Five Talented Jewelry 38 best of the blogs Caroline Rector of Unfancy Makers 42 BEAUTY Pantone Color of the Year 45 winter trends Winter White Fashion

home 50 design update Freshen Up 54 guilty pleasure Throws to Keep You Toasty

gourmet 57 c omforT food

Green Chile Mac and Cheese

Life Coach?

96 LAST WORD

The Power of Second Chances

on the cover

Photo by Tania Quintanilla, tqphoto.com.

Styled by Ashley Hargrove, dtkaustinstyling.com, and Kate Maurice, juliangold.com.

Makeup by Kelsey James, kelseyjames.com.

Hair by Jorge Buccio, jbuccio.com.

Herve Leger Agyness white bandage dress, $1,690, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.

Coomi diamond earrings, price upon request, available at Julian Gold, 1214 W. Sixth St., 512.473.2493, juliangold.com.

Previous page: La Petite Robe by Chiara Boni pink dress, $645; Oscar de la Renta crystal earrings, $425, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.

14 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

Photo by Niki Jones.

january

COMFORTABLE DENTISTRY

Confident Smiles

Actual Patient

AUSTIN DENTAL SPA MARK SWEENEY, D.D.S.

AustinDentalSpa.com 3305 Northland, Suite 515 Austin, Texas 78731

512.380.1300

New Year’s resolution done right.

The

AusTin symphony

Volume 13, issue 5

Co-Founder and Publisher Melinda Maine Garvey vice president and Co-Publisher Christopher Garvey associate publisher Cynthia Guajardo Co-Founder Samantha Stevens

EDITORIAL Editor-in-chief Deborah Hamilton-Lynne associate editor Molly McManus copy editor Chantal Rice contributing writers

Devon Bijansky, Jill Case, Silvana Di Ravenna, Meredith Ellis, Carrie Gavit, JB Hager, Ashley Hargrove, Tom Hushen, Laura Jack, Elizabeth Lombardo, Lauren Lumsden, Deborah Mastelotto, Rachel Merriman, Kristy Owen, Megan Russell, Eric Schweiger, Heidi Smith, Alison Stoos, Vanessa Whitmarsh

ART CREATIVE Director Niki Jones art director Jennifer Day ART ASSISTANT Nora Iglesias CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Rudy Arocha, Amy Bartlam, Tami Bone, Jorge Buccio, Jeanne Ciausullo, Scott Frost Delaney, Kevin Hail, Ashley Hargrove, Korey Howell, Kelsey James, Jamie Leibert, Lauren Lumsden, Joan Marcus, Kate Maurice, Natalie Paramore, James Patrick, Tania Quintanilla, Annie Ray, Aaron Rector, Audrey Sandberg, Jessica Wetterer

ADVERTISING SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kelly Keelen

ADMINISTRATION

Perfect date nights start here.

Operations and Marketing manager Maggie Rester project manager Sharrin Bacon web manager Rachel Merriman

Interns

Silvana Di Ravenna, Natasha Ford, Carrie Gavit, Tom Hushen, Audrey Sandberg, Olivia Smith, Alison Stoos

ALison BALsom

Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media, Inc., and is available at more than 1,150 locations throughout Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved.

For submission requirements, visit awmediainc.com/contribute.

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

Visit us online at austinwomanmagazine.com.

Email us at info@awmediainc.com.

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

cD ReLeAse PARTy @ WATeRLoo

Upcoming events: Alison Balsom, trumpet January 9 & 10 Party for Aso’s debut cD release Waterloo Records, Lamar Blvd January 6, 5:00 p.m.

This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

season sponsor This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

All artists, programs, and dates subject to change.

This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

media sponsors

TickeTs/info

(512) 476-6064 or austinsymphony.org

From the publisher Last year, at the dawn of 2014, I was apprehensive about what the new year would bring. Things were changing in Austin and the magazine business, and for the first time in a long time, I was having a hard time seeing the path laid out before us. So we did the only thing we were absolutely sure of: We put one foot in front of the other, one issue after the next and made a commitment to really listen to our readers and advertisers about what they were looking for from us. And we got our answer, loud and clear. Do more of what we do best: inspiration, real and authentic connections with women in Austin, information about this great city we inhabit and, yes, more beauty, fashion and glam.

Throughout the year, we have been adding, changing and tweaking, but with this January 2015 issue, we present to you a re-packaged, re-defined commitment to all things women and all things Austin. I am so thankful for our amazing team, who work tirelessly and filled with passion on Austin Woman. The creative and design team—Deb, Niki, Molly, Jen—did an amazing job diving deep and coming up with creative editorial plans and a beautiful new design to house them. Cynthia, Kelly and Maggie brought great ideas from the field so we can make sure to follow the pulse of our readers and supporters. We present this newly designed issue— and all the future issues to come—with love and appreciation for you, our readers and this great city full of extraordinary women.

Next month, our focus is connections, and the relationships that develop from those connections. They are truly what make Austin unique and authentic, and our mission is to make sure that Austin women always have the opportunity to connect through the pages of Austin Woman and in person at our events.

Thanks for joining us on this incredible journey.

I’ve said this before and still believe with all my heart that it is true: The best is yet to come!

Melinda Garvey Co-Founder and Publisher

From the Editor New year, new look, fresh content and design: We’re starting up a brand new day!

As we go to press on this issue, there are some pop songs that I can’t seem to stop singing: “I had a dream so big and loud.

I jumped so high I touched the clouds.

This is gonna be the best day of my life.”

And “Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof. Because I’m happy.”

Admittedly, sometimes my enthusiasm and singing drives my creative team crazy, but for this dawn of a brand new day, I think they are coming along with me as we watch our vision for Austin Woman become a reality. For me, Jan. 1 will be more like Christmas morning. I am sure my heart will be racing as I eagerly await delivery of the magazines. Starting a new year is always exciting, filled with hope and possibilities, but this year, it will be especially poignant.

I prefer to think of our redesign as a fresh start rather than a makeover.

As a child, I sang, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold.” As we gathered to plan for 2015, we started by looking at the things we liked about the magazine, the things that were working and the things we wanted to keep. Then we began to dream, brainstorm and play the “What if you could do anything you wanted?” game, and the result is the issue you hold in your hands.

New beginnings should always build on what has come before, and I am eternally grateful for the vision and dogged determination of Melinda Garvey, who had a dream to create a magazine with a mission to shine a light on the women of Austin and to help them become the best they could be. And with that in mind, we kept the best of the old and freshened our content and look with new fonts, a new layout and new ways to tell the stories of Austin’s most interesting and innovative women.

People rarely realize what it takes to put together each and every page of a

magazine, and the amount of thought that goes into each and every decision and story. Indeed, it takes a village and is a team effort that not only includes our staff, but also a team of writers, photographers, beauty professionals and stylists, PR reps, former cover women, contacts with great ideas and our readers, who give us great feedback.

To each of you, I am so appreciative of your talent and grateful for your support and contributions.

Camila Alves is a remarkable woman and we were privileged to tell her story.

She was candid, down-to-earth, interesting and interested, and a genuine pleasure to work with. While her beauty shines through on the cover and the pages of the feature story, I think you will find her true beauty in her own words.

If you believe in love at first sight, look no further than our Style section. I dare you to try to not fall in love with the winterwhite looks and, more importantly, with our furry friends who stole the shoot.

We are planning on making 2015 our year to shine, and we hope that you will clap along with us as we get happy. Our second feature is filled with expert tips and ideas to make 2015 your best year yet. We have also included diet choices, must-have apps for getting organized, ways to streamline your wardrobe, info on gaining 100 days of happiness, easy home makeover tips and a close-in getaway perfect for recharging and relaxing. Resolved! 2015 is your year to shine!

So join in the chorus as we make a fresh start on Jan. 1. “I howled at the moon with friends and then the sun came crashing in. But all the possibilities, no limits just epiphanies. This is going to be the best day of my life.”

Because I’m happy, wishing you all the best in the new year.

deborah hamilton-lynne Editor-in-Chief

Resolved! Deb’s Five resolutions to make 2015 her best year ever.

1. Get fit and go back to training in preparation to hike the Camino, with the help of Gold’s Gym and The CUPS Diet.

2. Escape personal and professional duties one day a month to unplug, relax and recharge at the Sage Hill Inn.

18 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

3. Come into a new era of computer literacy and proficiency as I say goodbye to my HP Pavilion G7 notebook PC and say hello to my new HP Pavilion X2 tablet/ notebook combo.

4. Freshen up my look with the help of AW Creative Director Niki Jones and Stylist Ashley Hargrove, starting with a new winter-white accessory: the Lapizta Amur watch.

5. Begin and end each day with a reflection on blessings and gratitude.

EXCUSES ARE SO LAST YEAR.

contributors Tania Quintanilla

Cover photographer, “Camila ALves” Page 66

Tania Quintanilla, fashion and advertising photographer and artist, was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and is now based in Austin.

What would you love to shoot more of in 2015?

“In 2015, I would love to shoot in more exotic locations. There is so much to see in Texas and beyond.

Every location brings a new energy to every shoot. It can almost be as important as the model in telling a story. And, of course, I just want any excuse to travel.”

MEREDITH ELLIS

WRITER, “Freshen up” Page 50

Meredith Ellis is an Austin-based interior designer who prides herself on creating beautiful, classic yet incredibly liveable interiors that reflect clients’ personalities and spirit.

How do you start fresh in the new year?

“The new year is the opportune time to shed all the excess baggage we’ve built up over the past year, literally and mentally. So, I clean, throw away, reorganize and write many todo lists (much to my family’s chagrin). That way, I have clear sight on the year ahead.”

JOIN in JANUARY

Annie Ray

photographer, “Frozen” Page 45

At the YMCA of Austin, we make getting fit fun!

Choose from more than 500 group exercise classes weekly, get personalized workouts from our Trainers, dive in to our women-only swim, find your inner triathlete and so much more!

JOIN US TODAY, THE NEW YOU STARTS TODAY AT THE Y! FREE GIFT* for NEW members! * while supplies last

Do you have any work-related resolutions for the new year?

“I’m excited to launch a boutique agency with a friend that will be helping local businesses with creative services.”

Deborah MASTELOTTO

WRITER, “horoscopes” Page 28

Deborah Mastelotto is an obsessive remodeler (of people and places), a pathological entrepreneur, a minor student of quantum physics and an unapologetic observer of human nature.

What’s in the stars for 2015?

YMCA OF AUSTIN 512.730.9622 AustinYMCA.org 20 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

Since 2005, Austin photographer Annie Ray has focused on bringing out the “real stuff” in everything she shoots.

“We have good reason to anticipate the arrival of 2015, especially the first six months. We will all feel the energizing effects of fire in the months to come, and a few major themes are freedom, action and change, and not necessarily in that order.”

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Connect with us! find us online at austinwomanmagazine.com

FEATURED EVENT

The Lodger With Austin Classical Guitar

Jan. 16 & 17, 7 p.m., Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar Alfred Hitchcock’s early silent masterpiece, The Lodger, will be set to an original score by Austin Classical Guitar’s composer-in-residence, Joseph V. Williams II, performed by renowned cellist Bion Tsang and the Texas Guitar Quartet. Tickets are available at austinclassicalguitar.org.

Win This!

Mamma Mia! Tickets

EDITOR’S PICK Downton Abbey Wines and Premiere Pull out your formal attire, white tablecloth and fancy stemware, and get ready to enjoy Downton Abbey in a whole new way. The Downton Abbey Wine Collection is crafted in the famed EntreDeux-Mers region of Bordeaux, France, by Dulong Grand Vins, a family-owned vineyard with more than 130 years of winemaking experience. Fifthgeneration winemaker Jean-Marc Dulong has created elegant Bordeaux wines that Mr. Carson would have chosen to serve Lord and Lady Grantham.

Try the velvety claret or refreshing blanc, starting at only $16.99 each. Crack open a bottle for your party, or give one as a gift to your Downton Abbey-loving girlfriend. You can order a bottle— or four—at downtonabbeywine.com.

Can’t get enough of this issue?

Check out austinwomanmagazine.com More Diets:

➥ Check out facebook.com/austinwoman for updates from AW’s staff on how

each of their chosen diets is going in January. Visit Page 65 for more details.

More Must-Have Apps:

➥ New apps for a fresh start, plus apps to trim your waistline and your spending.

More Events:

➥ Information about United Way for Greater Austin’s Women’s Leadership

Council and St. David’s HealthCare Lean In panel on Jan. 30, which will discuss issues women face in the workforce and opportunities.

More Fitness:

➥ Discounted places to workout to jump-start all of your fitness resolutions, plus free fitness events.

➥ Ladies Who Lift: The benefits of lifting weights and the women who can’t get enough of it.

More Fresh Starts:

➥ Latest restaurant reinventions and fresh starts, including Waterloo Ice House and Lucky Robot. ➥ Five New Year’s rituals. ➥ Fifteen beauty and style trends for 2015.

Follow us

@austinwoman

22 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

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Best of the Blogs: Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo is a clinical psychologist, media consultant and highly sought-after speaker who wants to help people “before they need a couch.” She’s been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Health, USA Today, and on MSNBC, CNN and National Public Radio, and has made multiple appearances on The Today Show.

See resolution tips from Lombardo on Page 78 or visit her blog, elizabethlombardo.com.

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@ austinwoman

The Lodger photo courtesy of Austin Classical Guitar. Mamma Mia! photo by Joan Marcus.

Mark your calendars! Season five of Downton Abbey airs Jan. 4, and runs every Sunday through March 1 on Austin’s PBS station, KLRU.

Running Jan. 20 through 25 at Bass Concert Hall, Mamma Mia! is one of the most popular musicals of our time, featuring songs from Abba. Lucky for you, Austin Woman is giving away two pairs of tickets. In order to win, like our Facebook page and keep an eye out for a post asking readers to share a favorite memory of their mamma.

White is not the only fashionable color this season We Deliver a Lifetime of HAPPINESS #WeDeliverHappiness

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ON THE SCENE kristy’s top 10

January’s to-do list from 365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas.

Photo courtesy of Save Our Springs Alliance.

By kristy owen

1

Polar Bear Swim at Barton Springs

Jan. 1, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (The official plunge takes place at 10 a.m.), Barton Springs Pool, 2101 Barton Springs Road Free admission

For 35 years now, Austinites willing to brave brisk January temperatures have been taking the plunge at Barton Springs. The water stays a constant 68 degrees, so we have it a little easier than some of our polar bear neighbors throughout the country. In some cases, the water will actually be warmer than the air temperature, depending on the type of New Year’s Day we’re having! Like the Full Moon Swim at Barton Springs, this event is a potluck, so feel free to bring a dish to share. They’ll have coffee to warm you up, and will be selling 2015 commemorative T-shirts. austinwomanmagazine.com | 25

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n the scene

kristy’s top 10

Pat Green at ACL Live

Jan. 31, ACL Live, 310 Willie Nelson Blvd. acl-live.com/calendar/pat-green-2015

2

Pat Green is one of those performers who made me fall in love with Texas country music back in the day. He has a way of interacting with the crowd that makes you feel like he’s your old college buddy sharing stories and strumming along on his guitar. There’s no doubt that he’ll put on a great show.

The Peached Tortilla

5520 Burnet Road thepeachedtortilla.com It’s always exciting to see a trailer take the leap to a brickand-mortar location. The step has finally happened for The Peached Tortilla, and I’m pretty thrilled about it. The décor of the new place is charming, sleek and retro, all at the same time. The restaurant offers a full bar with beer, wine and quite an impressive list of cocktails. Even better, their take on Asian fusion is one of the best in town. The menu is always rotating, so it’s hard to give food recommendations, but since most dishes are designed to be shared, I like to order a bunch of options and eat family-style. The restaurant does feature its famous Japa Jam Burger, so that is a mustorder on one of your visits.

Peached Tortilla fans, your day has come. Enjoy!

Free Week

Jan. 1 – 7, various Austin music venues do512.com/freeweekaustin

5

Free Week Austin is a rockin’ start to the city’s music scene each year! Experience Austin’s live music firsthand and get a closer look at the talent in our own backyard. Free Week features bands and musicians from the Austin area. Shows take place throughout town, so Free Week gives you the chance to explore new music and check out a new venue.

26 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

4

Free Admission to Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. wildflower.org/events

During the month of January, admission is free to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. This is a great opportunity to head out there and see what they’re all about.

3. Photo by Inked Fingers. 4. Photo courtesy of Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

3

7

Whole Foods Cooking Class

6. Photo courtesy of Whole Foods Market. 7. Photo courtesy of The Paramount Theatre. 8. Photo courtesy of The University of Texas at Austin. 10. Photo by Jamie Leibert.

Whole Foods downtown, 525 N. Lamar Blvd. wholecateringaustin.com/calendar.php

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January is a time full of New Year’s resolutions and plans. If brushing up on your cooking skills is on your agenda this year, a Whole Foods cooking class is just for you. It’s the perfect outing to experience with your girlfriends or on a date night. From knife skills to Thai cuisine, there is a class that will pique anyone’s interest, so be sure to check the schedule.

Texas versus Oklahoma

Jan. 5, 8 p.m., Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River St. As an Austinite, it’s basically a given that sporting burnt orange and cheering for Texas sports is going to become a favorite pastime. Every now and then, it’s necessary to get off the couch and go see sports live in action.

The Texas versus Oklahoma basketball rivalry always makes for a good game.

Tickets start at $15, so it is a relatively affordable evening that will be jampacked with excitement! As always, hook ’em, Horns!

8

9

MLK Day Celebration

Jan. 19, 9 a.m. mlkcelebration.com/celebrationevents/march-and-festival

Everyone is invited to join the march that will start at the MLK statue on the University of Texas at Austin campus and end at Huston-Tillotson University.

After the march, participants can join a day of celebrations and fun with local vendors and music. The MLK Day parade and celebration is the perfect chance to learn about history while having fun.

Anchorman Pub Run and Screening

Jan. 13, 6 p.m., The Paramount Theatre, 719 Congress Ave. austintheatre.org

Leave it to Austin to pair a pub run with a movie. Here’s the rundown: You run/walk to a nearby-ish destination, enjoy a pint of local brew and then trek back to The Paramount Theatre for the show. Naturally, there is an Anchorman costume contest, so dress the part because you could win prizes from The Paramount.

For more from Kristy Owen: 365thingsaustin.com

Color Fun Fest 5K

Jan. 11, Travis County Exposition Center, 7311 Decker Lane colorfunfest5k.com/austin

How’s this for coloring outside the lines? Start this 5K in a stark white T-shirt and finish looking like a human rainbow. Something about running while getting splattered with as much colored powder as possible makes me feel like I’m reliving my childhood. This event is perfect for runners of all levels and ages. The color makes things fun, even for people who don’t love to run. Participants make their way along the route at their own pace while getting doused with brightly colored powder. At the end of the race, there’s a party, complete with live music, color throws and more colorful fun.

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austinwomanmagazine.com | 27

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horoscopes

Happy Birthday, Capricorn!

Dec. 22–Jan. 20

Your month: This year, a major sweep through the closet of your unconscious mind demands you take a hard look at what’s been hiding in there. Focus on getting rid of your irrational fears, regrets about things you’ve left undone and attachments that don’t serve you anymore. Read Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior by Leonard Mlodinow, the winner of the 2013 PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. This will be an effective tool to prepare you for the cerebral housekeeping you’ll be doing in 2015. ➺ Freedom. What does it mean to be free? Does avoiding responsibility equal freedom? We’ll re-evaluate our sense of freedom and personal boundaries, commitment or lack thereof.

We’ll be presented with new challenges. We’ll get to build (or test) a higher wisdom in ourselves, and there will be little or no room for lies, embellishments or hype because truth will win out. 2015 and 2016 make for a reality check that will most likely wipe away delusions and pathological idealism. We need to pursue truth first, seek out the real and find beauty in it.

Aquarius (Jan. 21–Feb. 19): The first half of 2015 is all about relationships. Finally. It’s going to be a great time to make contacts, develop new acquaintances and start cooperating personally and professionally.

It’ll be easier because people are paying you more attention, your talents are noticed and recognized, and so your social activities increase exponentially.

But even the most adept socializers can use a little help. We recommend the book Networking is a Contact Sport: How Staying Connected and Serving Others Will Help You Grow Your Business, Expand Your Influence—or Even Land Your Next Job by Joe Sweeney and Mike Yorke.

Pisces (Feb. 20–March 20): For the last three years, you’ve taken the philosophical but uncharacteristically practical approach to life and work that most of us envy. You’re dissatisfied with your job situation but hesitate to disrupt your hardwon security. You could teach; teaching does help you keep the big picture in sight. But if you could quietly dictate policy while saving abused animals, feeding the hungry or caring for the elderly, you just might jump at the chance. Reading the book Take This Job and Love It: How to Change Your Work Without Changing Your Job by Dennis T. Jaffe and Cynthia Scott might help you solve that dilemma.

Aries (March 21–April 20): True, you’ve had a little

chaos and it’s made you a little crazy, but have you thought about how much you’ve grown creatively since 2011? Safety and a calm life don’t necessarily encourage creative energy, so you may have actually benefited creatively from the chaos. We think the book Chaos, Creativity, and Cosmic Consciousness

by Rupert Sheldrake, Ralph Abraham and Terence McKenna could be your operating manual for the next six months. The chapters on creativity, the imagination and chaos are some of the most useful, and it’s one of Amazon’s Best Books of 2014.

Taurus (April 21–May 21): During the next six months, you’ll experience endings of all sorts, so don’t be afraid of letting go when something’s run its course. You’ll learn so much by probing deeper into the darker areas of life. You may have some tricky moments with changes, employee turnover or even death, but try to see these experiences as lessons to help you understand the underlying forces at work in the universe.

Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Move Forward by Henry Cloud is perfect for you right now.

Gemini (May 22–June 20): You guys have a lot going on: Your fans, like your clubs and groups, grow by the minute, and your goals and dreams take more twisty turns than a road through the Alps. Now

28 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

that you have all these people (and projects) clamoring for your attention, you should read The Five Keys to Mindful Communication: Using Deep Listening and Mindful Speech to Strengthen Relationships, Heal Conflicts, and Accomplish Your Goals by Susan Gillis Chapman.

A great thinker and talker, and always willing to expand your mind, you’ll put the advice in this book to immediate use and be an inspiration to your fans.

Cancer (June 21–July 22): In 1995, Anthony J. Robbins, Del Mar motivational guru and king of late-night infomercials, was summoned to Camp David for a consultation with President Clinton. The theory was that Clinton was respectful of Robbins’ money savvy and wanted to pick his brain. The next six months are all about money for you, so we think you could use the book MONEY—Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins.

As good as your money chops are naturally, you’ll appreciate Robbins’ money expertise too.

Leo (July 23–Aug. 23): You want adventure, public acclaim, freedom to explore unknown realms and climb the highest peaks (as long as they’re not too high and you have Sherpas).

You don’t want to hide your light anymore, and you need recognition for your professional achievements. During the next six months, the timing is perfect to accomplish all that and more, so you’ll benefit from this amazingly ingenious book: Training to Imagine: Practical Improvisational Theatre Techniques for Trainers and Managers to Enhance Creativity, Teamwork, Leadership, and Learning by Kat Koppett. You’ll be entertained and inspired to utilize theater techniques in the day-to-day theater of your work world.

Virgo (Aug. 24–Sept. 22): During the next six months, you feel a strong tug in the direction of real estate. You want to buy or sell or remodel or refinance or any combination therein.

There’s every indication you’ll benefit big, so we recommend you pursue those tugs and read the book Mortgage Ripoffs and Money Savers: An Industry Insider Explains How to Save Thousands on Your Mortgage or Re-Finance by Carolyn Warren.

Even if you’re not thinking of refinancing, you Virgos love to collect tidbits of information, so you’ll love the money-leveraging tricks in this book.

Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Your natural social-butterfly personality is in full flight this month. With a heavy emphasis on building and maintaining partnerships and friendships, you benefit abundantly from this magical star alignment.

You don’t even need to be in the same room with anyone for them to want to follow you.

Outsmarting Social Media: Profiting in the Age of Friendship Marketing by Evan Bailyn is the book for you. It takes the friend trend to a whole new level, and shows you how to move it from nuisance to essential. Now is the perfect time to kick your social game up a notch.

Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): For the next six months, do what you were born to do: lead.

Embrace the direction the wind blows, set your sails and leave the safety and the comfort zone of your dock for the open sea, your fleet following closely behind. 2015 brings significant change, thank goodness. Your natural inclination toward selfdoubt and insecurity should give way to the promise of public and professional recognition.

Achieving this may require personal sacrifice. Recipes for Life Hacks: How to Build Leadership Qualities and Change Your Life

by Max Smith can show you a few different leadership techniques, and the e-book is free with Amazon Prime.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): Here’s your book: Grace’s Guide: The Art of Pretending to Be a Grown-up by Grace Helbig. In the next six months, your main aim should be to extend your point of view and open your mind to becoming a grown-up, or at least acting like one. Maybe this means you go beyond what you’ve known to understand cultures and philosophies outside your own life experiences. Maybe it means you need to fill your soul with optimism and faith in a stable future. Or maybe you finally get to see the big picture and stop tripping over the small stuff.

By Deborah Mastelotto deborah@pinkaustin.com

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RESOLVED: Must Relax and Recharge in 2015

Sage Hill Inn Above Onion Creek is the perfect place to escape for a day.

By Deborah Hamilton-Lynne

What do Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates have in common? They all valued and made a practice of taking time away to unplug, relax and recharge. Following their lead, I resolved that in 2015, I would take a day each

month to completely escape from all my personal and professional responsibilities, a day for me to be present with nature and with my thoughts. Luckily, I found the perfect stress-free respite just a few miles from home at an inn overlooking the Hill Country, with a beautiful pool, a spa, gourmet breakfasts and dinners, hiking trails and a cozy firepit for evenings under the stars. It’s only a short drive to Kyle, where you can spend the day or stay overnight. It is 88 acres of heaven, and best of all, it is affordable, with rooms starting at less than $300, which includes breakfast and dinner, and spa treatments starting at $55. It is a small price to pay for peace of mind and one resolution I just might be able to stick with.

For reservations and information, visit sagehill.com.

austinwomanmagazine.com |  31

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trending

The Pursuit of Happiness

How a social-media challenge can improve your daily outlook.

By Carrie Gavit The holidays have just ended, and you’ve gone around the dinner table one too many times stating why you’re blessed or grateful for the life you live. Additionally, in recent months, social media erupted with expressions of gratitude and thankfulness via Facebook posts, Instagram hashtags and the like. Your first reaction may be to write off all the Internet-related challenges as they continue to flood your accounts outside of the “normal” time of year dedicated to giving thanks.

Wait a moment. Take a step back. Could there be something more to these seemingly pesky social-media posts? Keep in mind that they aren’t

simply reminding us it’s possible to give thanks each day, but they’re challenging us to do so.

What if you take this challenge on, share it with the world and wait to see what happens? That’s exactly the leap Lauren Delaney took shortly after she moved from New Jersey to Austin last July.

Like many of us, Delaney first discovered the 100 Happy Days challenge from hashtags her sister posted on her Instagram account. She decided to see what the hype was all about, in order to stay connected with her family back home.

100 Happy Days is a foundation based on making the world happier through this challenge. For 100 days, each individual is encouraged to snap a picture of a happy moment or something worth cherishing from the day. Next, the photo is post-

ed to any social-media forum with the appropriate hashtag, such as #100happydays, which then connects people worldwide so daily happiness can be spread. At the completion of the challenge, a coffee-table book can be purchased that contains all 100 happy moments you shared.

However, according to the 100 Happy Days website, only 71 percent of those who attempt the challenge manage to follow through to the 100th day. Delaney made it a goal to be one of the 71 percent.

“I have always been interested in practicing gratitude,” she says. “I’m interested in the science of it and how we can reframe how we look at life. I now look at things through a different lens. There are new opportunities to register

You Are a Badass cover courtesy of Running Press Publishers. The Happiness Project cover courtesy of Harper Paperbacks.

Tools to Go Deeper With Your Happiness

32 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

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Delaney photo by Scott Frost Delaney. The Geography of Bliss cover courtesy of Twelve Books.

Lauren Delaney

why what I did makes me happy. Although we can usually be dismissive of it, [the 100 Happy Days challenge] frames it in a way that makes it special. It’s also a visual way to share.”

For Delaney, the challenge quickly blended into her personal project, The Bikini Experiment, a healthy-living blog. Working in the marketing industry, Delaney felt she did not have a creative outlet. Her interest in working out and healthy eating inspired her to begin a blog.

“I saw the blog as a way for me to share the challenges I have faced and help someone else through their journey as well,” Delaney says.

Through this blog and her experiences as a certified nutrition coach and writer, Delaney shares with other women how to find and follow the path to wellness, strength, quality eating, natural beauty and organic living.

“Healthy living is sort of a process of adjusting to a healthy lifestyle. For instance, you can’t wait and say you’ll be happy when you start running,” Delaney says.

Although Delaney has not reached her 100th day yet, she has stayed true to the challenge by posting each day rather than sporadically remembering to share a moment. The practice of learning to cherish small moments from each day became infused into her life beyond social-media posts and her blog.

“My boyfriend actually started the challenge a few weeks ago too. We eat dinner together three to four times a week and now we make it a practice to take a few minutes to say why we are thankful for the other person. It’s a good way to acknowledge when the other person did something nice,” she says.

While many cannot find the time each day to appreciate a moment, Delaney did not take the 100 Happy Days challenge halfheartedly. What began as a way to stay connected and involved with her family on social media transformed into a daily practice of finding moments to cherish. The challenge became a lifestyle change for Delaney similar to the prior lifestyle changes she had made in terms of healthy, active living.

“I would recommend completing the 100 Happy Days challenge because it reminds you of small things in life that you are grateful for. It improves your outlook and attracts more positivity in your life. That’s the challenge. When you’re having bad days, you can still say, ‘I have this cozy apartment, or I read this great article.’ You still search for that one thing that was good or positive, even on a bad day. That’s both the challenge and benefit of doing the challenge every day,” Delaney says.

Through the 100 Happy Days challenge and the Facebook challenge of posting three things you are grateful for each day for a week, Delaney demonstrates how there are opportunities to embrace these challenges beyond social-media forums. These challenges can become a new way of seeing the world and living.

Tools to Go Deeper With Your Happiness You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero You Are a Badass, a self-help, how-to guide, shares stories, advice and exercises. As an author, speaker and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero helps people in their transformation, whether it involves money, a career or relationships. Each of the 27 book chapters provides a different piece of insight to discover your path through life.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin The Happiness Project immediately rose to the New York Times bestsellers list through Gretchen Rubin’s incorporation of wisdom of the ages with scientific research as she shares her personal experience of her year searching for greater happiness. The project has even expanded past a book into a blog and a movement, as “happiness projects,” in which people discuss their personal happiness projects, continue to pop up throughout the country and the world. Check out her novel, Happier at Home, in which Rubin continues her search in realizing that home was the most crucial element influencing her happiness.

The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner In his search for happiness throughout the world, Eric Weiner takes us from America to Iceland to India. Through a combination of psychology, science and humor, Weiner attempts to discover where happiness is in the world. In each city he encounters, Weiner asks questions as to why this city’s happiness flourishes. Pick up this read if you’re looking for new travel destinations to improve your happiness while learning about how happiness is maintained in other cultures.

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Must-have

Get Organized

These five apps will help keep 2015 productive and organized.

By Tom Hushen

Once all the holiday festivities come to an end, it’s time to start thinking about how to make 2015 the best year yet. To start your year off on the right foot, we’ve compiled a list of must-have organizational apps to help save time and energy, and lead you to a more productive lifestyle.

Mailbox

Slack Slack is an app built for seamless communication in the 21st century. You can create open channels for projects, groups and topics that the whole team shares. Channels include messages, files and comments, inline images and video, rich link summaries and integration with the services you use every day, such as Twitter, Dropbox and Google Drive. You can search entire conversations to find exactly what needs to be completed in your team projects. It is synced between your phone and your computer, so you can pick up exactly where you left off and wherever you happen to be.

Slack is available for iPhone, Android, PC and Mac.

Timeful Timeful is an app dedicated to helping you plan your day effectively by merging a traditional calendar with a to-do list. The advanced algorithm allows you to list what things you’d like to get done during the day, and the app will offer the best way to plan out each task. You can sideline certain events on your calendar that can be missed if you have a more important event to attend.

One of the more interesting features is implementing your habits and goals. Timeful will monitor your progress and show you results based on a daily, weekly or monthly collection.

Timeful is currently available in the Apple app store.

Humin In this fast-paced world, it is understandable to forget a thing or two. Humin is a new app developed to search through your phone in the way you naturally use your brain. The app categorizes your contacts to help search for them in new ways, such as “Lives in Chicago” or “Met last week.” You can add surrounding events that occurred when you meet someone new, like the location, date and time of your encounter. The app will also alert you when one of your contacts is visiting your city.

Humin is available in the Apple app store or through a pre-ordered beta option for Android users.

36 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

Mailbox is the inbox reinvented for a world on the go. The application will sync your existing emails into one deliverable service. However, Mailbox has a few features that separate it from the average mail app. It will remember the mail that you continuously delete and create an auto swipe that will move it to the trash for you. You can also “snooze” alerts from the app at different times, depending on the severity of your response. If it is an email that you don’t have to respond to until the weekend, you can now set it to be redelivered during your weekend.

Mailbox is available for iPhone, Android and in a beta version for Mac OSX.

Quip Quip is a mobile-productivity suite that enables you to collaborate on any device. Quip combines chat, documents, spreadsheets, checklists and more in a simple interface that makes collaboration easy. Some of the features include collaborative editing, a chat thread for every document and notifications when someone makes an edit.

The app is available for iPhone, Android, Mac and PC.

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Best of the Blogs

Fewer Clothes, More Style

Caroline Rector, creator of the minimalist fashion blog Unfancy, shows how to simplify and beautify your wardrobe this year.

By Alison Stoos, photos by Aaron Rector Retail therapy no more! This year, have a fresh start by pairing down your wardrobe to a few fabulous essentials with the help of Caroline Rector, whose minimalist-style blog, Unfancy, utilizes a 37-piece “capsule wardrobe” each season (three months) without a single new purchase. The result is unique and chic outfits she chronicles on her site. With her guidelines and advice, going un-fancy in the new year might just be the way to save your budget and style.

After a Black Friday shopping binge in 2013, Rector arrived home with what she describes as, “a mess of clothes that contributed nothing to my style or needs,” and knew that something had to change.

“I had noticed that I had a bad habit of using shopping as a way to jolt myself out of a bad mood with a little instant gratification,” she says. “I realized I wasn’t shopping for clothes; I was shopping for happiness. No wonder my closet didn’t make any sense.”

An Internet search for “how to find your style” and “how to curb a shopping problem” brought Rector to two modern minimalism style blogs, Into Mind and Project333. The idea of a simplified closet piqued her interest and eventually grew into an experiment with a long-term lifestyle. A few months later, Unfancy was born.

The driving force of Unfancy is the capsule wardrobe, a carefully curated selection of seasonally appropriate pieces to pull from every single day, and no other purchases. She utilizes only the clothes from her capsule for three months and only shops for new items at the end of said season, solely with the next capsule in mind. For Rector, that means pairing her closet down to 37 pieces that include 15 tops, nine bottoms, two dresses, two jackets and nine pairs of shoes. (Accessories, pajamas, swimsuits, underwear and exercise attire are all exempt.) Everything else she stores and, if fitting, rolls into the next wardrobe. Instead of purchasing all new items, Rector tries to pull from her clothing storage in order to “strike a balance between keeping it minimal and making sure it’s a fun experience,” all without backtracking into overspending or impulse buying. The purpose of having a restricted closet was never to suffer, but to prove to herself that it’s possible to live on less while still having a killer wardrobe and plenty of style options.

For Rector, the most important aspect of each item in the capsule wardrobe is quality since the quantity is already set. However, funds still play an important factor in her minimalist lifestyle. She sets a budget for each new capsule, keeping in mind that less is more.

“Quality is a top priority. However, I also have to live within the limits of my budget,” she says. “Sometimes that means passing on something I love, but that’s OK because this is a long-term project.”

She even notes on her blog that the longevity of her clothes has stayed the same, despite reaching for the same pieces again and again, proving that investing a little more money and washing things a little less pays off in the end.

To a perfectionist, the idea of limiting your clothes to a 38 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

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choice selection may seem daunting. What if you choose wrong? What if there’s another polar vortex around the corner? How will you be prepared? Rector says fear not.

“There are always a few mistakes in my capsule wardrobe, but I don’t really regret them,” she says. “[They] end up being the best teachers.”

A freak weather incident aside, Rector doesn’t change her selection, despite any doubts, and tries to make the best of her choices. Some items she originally has reservations about become her favorite pieces.

“The mistakes help me hone in on my style even more and help me know what to do better next time,” she says.

Although Rector’s blog has an article dedicated to building a capsule wardrobe of your very own, the first step being to empty your closet, she still has advice for those hesitant to take the plunge.

“Try doing a big closet cleanout, but instead of getting rid of the clothes you clean out, simply store them instead,” she says. “It gets the visual clutter out of your closet but it takes the pressure off.”

For Rector, living an un-fancy lifestyle isn’t meant to be a punishment, but a challenge.

“If you need two capsule wardrobes, one for work and one for the weekends, go for it. If you need more than 37 pieces, add them in,” she says. “Invent your own rules that fit your own lifestyle.”

Overall, for Rector, revamping her approach to clothes has happily and not accidentally revamped her life.

“Trying something new and taking control of your closet can be a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to change your life,” she says. “I realized that happiness, contentment and joy come from within, not from stuff or external circumstances.”

When asked if she sees herself ever going back to a life unbounded by storage and three-month cycles, she stays optimistic.

“I’ve asked myself that question a lot, actually, because I know life changes and we change with it,” she says. “I think I’ll always live with a version of a capsule wardrobe.

I’m excited to see what that looks like down the road.”

“Trying something new and taking control of your closet can be a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to change your life.”

austinwomanmagazine.com | 41

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beauty

Marsala: pantone color of the year

Spice up 2015 with this rich, earthy hue. compiled by audrey sandberg

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Nars Satin Lipstick in Tolede, $26, narscosmetics.com

MAC Blush in Animal Instincts, $22, maccosmetics.com

42 |  Austin Woman |  JANUARY 2015

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Photos by Annie Ray Styled by Ashley Hargrove Hair and makeup by Lauren Lumsden Models: Leann Selman and Emma Hefti, Wilhelmina Brown Austin Canine models: Belvedere Morrison and Bo Colunga Chinchilla courtesy of Zoo Keeper Exotic Pets, 9012 Research Blvd., 512.453.8800.

Akris Punto sheath dress, $1,190; Oscar de la Renta beige Sabrina pump, $750; gold and silver pave bracelet, $390; gunmetal starburst earrings, $85, available at Julian Gold, 1214 W. Sixth St., 512.473.2493, juliangold.com.

austinwomanmagazine.com |  45

Above, on Emma: silver statement necklace, $24.95, available at H&M, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, 512.873.0375, hm.com; Ralph Lauren ivory jacket, $795, available at Julian Gold, 1214 W. Sixth St., 512.473.2493, juliangold.com; Elizabeth and James silk tank, $255; Elizabeth and James Aeon lattice skirt, $295, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.

Right, on Leann: Elizabeth and James silk tank, $255; Haute Hippie silk track pants, $395; Valentino ivory Rockstud flats, $995, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com; vintage mink fur and pink feather earrings courtesy of Ashley Hargrove.

46 |  AUSTIN WOMAN |  JANUARY 2015

DKNY ivory laser-cut sweater, $495; Derek Lam 10 Crosby white denim jeans, $230; Ash white jungle sneakers, $195, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.

austinwomanmagazine.com |  47

Vince oversized turtleneck sweater, $365; Haute Hippie embellished tuxedo pant, $695, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com. Badgley Mischka gold glitter Kassidy pumps, $200, available at Julian Gold, 1214 W. Sixth St., 512.473.2493, juliangold.com.

48 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JANUARY 2015

Trina Turk Florence dress with popover top, $378; Kendra Scott gold cuff, $65; Kendra Scott Diva Glitz white earrings, $95; Oscar de la Renta beige Sabrina pump, $750, available at Julian Gold, 1214 W. Sixth St., 512.473.2493, juliangold.com.

AUSTINWOMANMAGAZINE.COM |  49

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ome

design update

freshen up

Little changes can make a huge difference.

By Meredith Ellis, photos by Amy Bartlam The first time I meet with homeowners interested in my design services, there is generally a lot of nervous laughter. I often hear, “It was on sale,” “It was a hand-me-down from my in-laws,” “It’s been like this since we moved in,” or “I let my kids choose the paint colors.” I reassure them that it’s fine, and usually those things stay unfixed too long.

Your home is an extension of yourself. You need to nurture and care for it, change it and keep up with it, just like you do your appearance and your health.

A great time to start is in the new year, when you are eager to start fresh and make changes. In 2015, start to look for little things that are dating your house because it’s these things that are usually quick fixes, and changing them up can make a huge difference.

50 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

Five Signs Your Home is Dated: 1. Y our window treatments look like your grandmother’s bloomers.

2. You are still using the same lampshade on the lamp you inherited from your great aunt.

3. You have a bedroom set.

4. People tell you your house reminds them of Disneyland because it’s such a fun trip!

5. Your house lacks charm, warmth and calmness, and is not at all reflective of the awesome person you already are.

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FIVE Easy Fixes: 1. Paint. I know everyone says it, but I can’t emphasize it enough. Experiment with types of paint (not necessarily the color). If your house is more formal, high gloss the trim. If you want more depth, paint the trim a slightly darker color than the wall. If you have old floors and don’t want to refinish them, paint them. Just be sure your paint colors flow from room to room. It needs to make sense from one area to the next.

Before: This is a view from my kitchen to the front door.

It had too many jarring colors and the rooms didn’t relate.

After: I wanted my house to flow from room to room cohesively.

Simplifying the colors did that. Painting the trim white and the front rooms a warm gray green was much more harmonizing.

2. Window treatments.

First, do you even need window treatments? If your architecture is beautiful and there isn’t a need for privacy, sometimes it’s better to do without. If you choose to do window treatments, it’s a good idea to hire a professional. This will eliminate your guesswork and ensure proper fit and function. I am a big believer in doing it once and doing it right. It will save you time and money.

3. Change it up. Eliminate the desire to match all your furniture. You bring charm to your house when it feels collected or evolved, not like you went into a department store and bought everything on sale.

4. Pay attention to the details. What may seem unimportant is actually the period to your sentence. It could be something as simple as switching out your pillows.

5. Replace dated lampshades.

Don’t be afraid to explore fun fabrics. Just make sure they fit properly. Take them to a lamp shop like Tipplers if you need help.

New Year’s resolutions come and go, but refreshing your home is something that will last. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could say the same thing about the 10 pounds we lost with that New Year’s gym membership?

Before: This is a pair of windows in my bedroom. The shades were dated and they didn’t provide a feeling of warmth I desired.

After: By adding curtains to the windows and choosing a softer paint palette for the walls and trim, the room feels warm, finished and inviting.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 53

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ome

guilty pleasure

Lap of luxury

Five throws to keep you toasty. compiled by Audrey sandberg

Clockwise from top left: Brunello Cucinelli plaid-print cashmere throw, $2,890, neimanmarcus.com; Missoni Nadal throw, $1,999, stardust. com; Desiree fur throw in mahogany, $25,000, frette.com; Hermes cashmere throw, $3,025, usa.hermes.com; Adrienne Landau jaguar-print fur throw, $1,975, horchow.com.

54 |  Austin Woman |  JANUARY 2015

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Directions: Cook macaroni in plenty of salted water until tender, then drain and set aside. Sauté onions and peppers in oil for four to five minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add cream and reduce for five minutes. Add macaroni and turn off the heat. Fold in the cheese (setting aside some for topping) and check seasoning by taste. Place mac and cheese in a baking dish and top with additional shredded pepper jack cheese and some panko breadcrumbs.

Bake in a 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 57

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health

Health News You Can Use

The latest studies that impact your health.

By Jill Case

Improper Care of Contact Lenses is a Significant Cause of Eye Infections Almost everyone who wears contact lenses has done it—left the contacts in a little too long, not cared for them properly—but a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proves it’s important to properly care for your lenses and your eyes. The study analyzed data from outpatient care centers and emergency rooms throughout the United States to see how many cases of keratitis (an infection of the cornea) occurred. It found there were almost a million cases of this infection, which causes pain, inflammation and can even lead to blindness. What’s the single biggest risk factor for developing keratitis? Wearing contact lenses!

To avoid these infections, the CDC has the following recommendations:

›R emove contacts before going to bed, showering or swimming.

›D o not touch contact lenses unless you have thorFor Safety, Babies Need to Be Put to Bed With a Fitted Crib Sheet and No Other Bedding Researchers at the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other institutions report that approximately 55 percent of infants in this country continue to be put to bed each night with unsafe bedding.

The NIH’s Safe to Sleep Campaign recommends caregivers take the following steps to help prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome):

› P ut the baby on a firm sleep surface

such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib covered only with a fitted sheet.

›D o not use any of the following items anywhere that your baby is sleeping: pillows, crib bumpers, blankets or sheepskins.

›D o not place soft objects, toys or loose bedding anywhere in your baby’s sleep area.

“Parents have good intentions but may not understand that blankets, quilts and pillows increase a baby’s risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation,” says Carrie K. Shapiro-Mendoza, the study’s first author.

The study’s authors also point out that while there has been a decline in the number of people placing loose bedding over their babies, they continue to see people placing blankets or pillows under their infants.

“This finding raises a concern that parents may incorrectly perceive the recommendations as only pertaining to items covering or around the infant, and not include items under the infant,” the study notes.

For more information on how to keep babies safe, go to Safe to Sleep: nichd.nih. gov/sts/pages/default.aspx

oughly washed your hands with soap and water.

› E very time you remove your lenses, rub and rinse them in disinfecting solution.

›D on’t forget the case. Rub and rinse it with solution, dry it with a clean tissue and store it upside down with the caps off after each use.

›C ontact lens cases need to be replaced at least every three months.

›D o not “top off” solution in the lens case.

Determining Whether You Have a Cold, the Flu or an Allergy Even though winters in Austin are usually mild, it’s still cold-and-flu season. How do you know whether your symptoms are caused by a cold, the flu or an allergy?

Dr. Teresa Hauguel, an expert on infectious diseases that affect breathing, notes that different viruses cause colds and the flu.

“As a rule of thumb, the symptoms associated with the flu are

more severe,” she says.

If you have a cold, you may experience nasal congestion, a runny nose, cough and sore throat. The flu will also give you those symptoms, but there are additional symptoms to look for: a high fever lasting three to four days or more, headache, fatigue and aches and pains.

On the other hand, a virus

58 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

does not cause allergies. Instead, allergies are caused by a trigger (something you are allergic to like pet dander or pollen), and exposure to these triggers causes respiratory tissues to swell, leading to a runny, stuffy nose, often accompanied by itchy, watery eyes. The symptoms last as long as you’re exposed to the triggers, whereas colds and the flu usually

only last a week to 10 days.

Hauguel believes it’s important for people to understand the differences between colds, the flu and allergies.

“If you know what you have, you won’t take medications that you don’t need, that aren’t effective, or that might even make your symptoms worse,” she says.

Source: NIH News in Health

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Inadequate Vitamin D May Contribute to the Depression Associated with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) A recent international research study found a link between SAD and a lack of sunlight.

“Rather than being one of many factors, vitamin D could have a regulative role in the development of SAD,” says Alan Stewart of the University of Georgia College of Education. “People with SAD have the same symptoms every year, starting in fall and continuing through the winter months. … We believe there are several reasons for this, including that vitamin D levels fluctuate in the body seasonally, in direct relation to seasonally available sunlight.”

People with darker skin usually have lower vitamin D levels than fairer skinned individuals, putting them at an even greater risk for depression. The good news is there is a way people can help themselves: sunlight. Most people only need a few minutes of exposure to sunlight each day to remedy a vitamin D deficiency, but if you’re concerned that you are suffering from SAD, you should discuss the best ways to get more vitamin D, as well as other aspects of treating SAD, with your physician.

Gaining Weight When You Quit Smoking is Still Healthier Than Continuing to Smoke

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Maybe you are one of those people who has hesitated to quit smoking because you’re afraid you’ll gain weight. Maybe you’ve even made the argument that gaining weight would be just as bad for you as smoking. Research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Session 2014 shows people who gained weight after they quit smoking cigarettes still had a lower risk of death.

“Quitters had a significantly lower risk of death compared to smokers, regardless of their weight change after they stopped smoking,” Dr. Hisako Tsuji, the lead author of the study, said in an American Heart Association news release.

Researchers in Kyoto, Japan, found that, on average, women only gain about 8 pounds when they quit smoking, so it isn’t as much weight as many people fear when quitting. The American Cancer Society suggests people walk or do other exercise to help reduce cravings and the stress that may come with giving up smoking.

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ellness

NUTRITION

Thick and Tired: Maintaining Your Weight-Loss Goals in the New Year

Dr. Beth Miller has some sound advice on how to lose weight and keep it off.

By Megan Russell It’s a new year, and you know what that means: a new you! It’s the season of filling your head with lofty ideas of who you think you want to be, only to drop those goals two months from now with a private “Who was I kidding?” attitude masked publically as confidence in who you are.

The ultimate goal in this yearly game every woman seems to play is losing weight. And while this article may already be a bit too cynical about resolving to change yourself, one thing’s for sure: Meeting your weight-loss goals can often be not only life changing, but lifesaving. Where these resolutions inevitably go wrong is that people don’t really understand where to begin and how to maintain their weight loss.

This is something Dr. Beth Miller, internal medicine residency program director at University Medical Center Brackenridge, hears every single day from patients. They want to know where to start, and once the weight is off, how to keep it off.

For Miller, the best place to start is by understanding what you’re eating now.

“Take an inventory of what you eat and how you eat so you know how many calories you eat. Where are your ‘danger calories’ and what kinds of foods you binge on? And you have to be impeccably honest,” she says.

So don’t forget that little piece of candy you grabbed on your way out of work. Miller also cautions to not overlook the calories in alcoholic beverages, something many people tend to let slide after a stressful workweek.

The easiest way to track inventory of what you eat is through a food diary. These days, they are free and easily accessible on your phone. Apps like MyFitnessPal and My Diet Diary offer calorie counters so you can see where your danger calories are coming from.

“The best thing to do is to keep it up for a few days,” Miller says. “Most people eat similarly week to week, and you can take a look at that and ask yourself, ‘What can I do without?’ Or, ‘How can I modify this?’ I usually go through a long behavior discussion with people because there are certain things you know you’re going to overeat.”

And to overcome that behavior, Miller recommends being methodical about your diet.

“Do practical things you think you can sustain,” she suggests. “It’s of almost no value to bounce up and down: to diet, lose weight and regain it and then diet, lose weight and regain it. It’s of more value to pick out a weight, even if it’s not your ideal weight, but maybe it’s where you tend to land all the time, and just don’t gain anymore. Stay 62 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

there and decide that you’re going to be happy with it.”

Often, people try to set a goal that’s far below what they can sustain in the long run, so choose a goal that’s practical, and learn to love where your body naturally lands.

And what should you be eating? The top foods Miller recommends are fruits and vegetables.

“I recommend five to eight half-cup servings of fruits and vegetables a day. And I know that’s a lot, but it pushes out a lot of the other unhealthy foods because you’re too busy focusing on your healthy choices,” she says.

When consuming enough fruits and veggies, you’re not hungry. You can eat as many veggies as you want, but your body doesn’t want to binge on those foods. A lot of our heavily processed foods have been manufactured and created so the body doesn’t say stop, Miller notes. In other words, if you’re eating grapefruit, you’re probably not going to want to eat four grapefruit; your body will say stop. Or if you’re eating carrots, you’ll get a funny feeling in your stomach and your body will say stop. But if you’re eating potato chips, you just keep eating them and you don’t stop because they’ve been manufactured to be that way. This means all that unhealthy, processed junk food confuses your body’s signals. Junk food doesn’t give your body the nutrients it needs. When your body doesn’t get nutrients, no matter how much food you put into it, it still thinks it’s hungry because it’s starving for nutrients.

Once the weight loss starts, how is it maintained? For starters, Miller warns against binge diets and fasts.

“You binge a few times and then you regain your weight. The problem is your body remembers being heavier and thinks that is its ideal weight, and your body’s fat cells remember

MyFitnessPal

My Diet Diary

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NUTRITION

and they want to go back there,” she says. “So your appetite will always need discipline. And you have to ritualize the way you eat. But it can’t just be a binge diet or fast. That doesn’t work. You have to come up with something where you lose weight and have a maintenance plan in place as well.”

That maintenance plan will look different for everyone. The most important thing is to find a support group, be it friends, family or even strangers online who will encourage and motivate you in your weight-loss goals. Even turning to a personal trainer or diet-and-lifestyle coach can lessen the blow of the more emotional parts of the process. One of the biggest hurdles on your weight-loss journey may very well be finding comfort in things other than food, and, maybe more importantly, getting comfortable with finding comfort outside of food.

Of course, diet is only one part of weight loss. The other, and oftentimes more intimidating aspect, is exercise. Miller recommends starting slow and finding something you can easily do.

“A lot of my patients have really enjoyed water aerobics because it’s not stressful on the body,” she says.

Austin has a plethora of women’s-only water-aerobics activities. (Check your local YMCA or women’s clubs like Premiere Lady Fitness.) If the gym or an exercise class is too much for you at the beginning of your weight-loss journey, try walking around your neighborhood a few minutes a day. If your knees hurt or you have serious weight problems, a stationary bike can be helpful and usually won’t be too painful.

If you’re older and have problems with balance, consider moving around in a chair.

“Standing up 30 times from a chair and then sitting back down is a good thing to do,” Miller says, pointing out that ultimately, where exercise and diet are concerned, it’s all about a behavior change, even if you begin with something seemingly very small, like moving in your chair, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, spending more time gardening or parking at the back of the lot and walking farther into work.

If you really are serious about your weight-loss goals and it’s not just another throwaway resolution this year, Miller insists, “You can’t ever eat like you did.

You have to eat less calories overall or be consistently more active.” And most importantly, she adds, “be kind to your body and feed it good food.”

Livliga Founder and CEO of Livliga, Sheila Kemper Dietrich developed this elegant line of dinnerware with one thing in mind: to once and for all stop the yo-yo dieting she was all too familiar with. This new and innovative complete line of dinnerware, serveware and glassware helps to subtly guide diners into eating meals with the appropriate serving sizes. Based on the idea that our bodies and minds look for visual cues to determine the amount of food to eat in a sitting, Livliga allows you to maintain healthy eating habits without sacrificing your favorite foods. livligahome.com

AW Staff’s fresh start In the goal to lose weight and get healthy, exercising can bring aches and pains all over your body. And while the exercising part can often make you hurt so good, the dieting part can be a huge pain in the butt. We’re bombarded with the practical and the outlandish: add fiber, do a cleanse, stay hydrated, cut portions, stick to booze! How do you know which is the right path and which is miserably misguided?

At Austin Woman, we, too, get overwhelmed and confused by the waves of dieting trends that wash over us each year. To help wade through these muddled waters, four of our staff members have chosen to try a new diet in an effort to gain a fresh start in the new year.

Follow us at facebook.com/austinwoman for updates on how each diet went.

The CUPS Diet Deborah Hamilton-Lynne, Editor-in-Chief The CUPS Diet, developed by psychiatrist Dr. Jimmy R. Mascaro, stands for Control Using Portions. This diet effectively gets rid of calorie counting, points systems and prepackaged food by instead focusing on portion control. As with any diet, you want to stick to foods you know are healthy, like fruits, veggies, nuts and lean proteins, but this program does allow you to eat all kinds of foods, as long as you accurately estimate their measurement amounts. The system helps you determine whether you need one cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup or 3/4 cup.

21-Day Fix by Beach Body Molly McManus, Associate Editor The 21-Day Fix by Beach Body is a workout and diet system all in one. The exercise component includes two DVDs with six 30-minute workouts for total body, upper body, lower body, Pilates, cardio and yoga. The diet that goes along with it is what seems to be this year’s on-trend theme of portion control, complete with colorcoded containers that encourage healthy choices.

Volumetrics Kelly Keelan, Account Executive Rather than your typical restrictive diet, Volumetrics, created by professor Barbara Rolls, is more about the energy density of food. A food’s energy density is based on how many calories per gram it has. Less energydense foods have fewer calories. What Volumetrics claims is that people tend to eat the same amount of food each day, regardless of calories, so you can eat that same amount, but fill your diet with less energydense foods. In this way, you can manage your hunger by eating as much as you normally would, but focus on an abundance of low-density foods while eating highdensity (caloric) foods in moderation.

In her latest book, The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet, Rolls offers a 12-week program that turns Volumetrics into a new lifestyle plan rather than just another diet.

Going Raw: Raw Food Diet and Cookbook

by Karen Braden Jennifer Day, Art Director The raw-foods diet may seem scary and too restrictive for some people, but at its heart, it’s really about getting the most out of your food. The idea is simple: Cooking food destroys vital enzymes and nutrients, thereby reducing health benefits. Eating your favorite fruits and veggies raw, and in some pretty creative ways, allows your body to soak up all of the nutrients it needs.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 65

The Many Facets of

Camila

Alves

Wife, mother, daughter, friend, philanthropist, businesswoman, model and designer: The art of juggling multiple roles and shining brilliantly.

BY Deborah Hamilton-lynne Photos by Tania Quintanilla Styled by Ashley Hargrove and kate maurice makeup by Kelsey James | hair by jorge buccio

k66 k

It is 9 a.m.

on an unseasonably warm December morning. The crew is assembled in a small studio on the Eastside. Everything is in place: makeup palette, various hair products and paraphernalia, more than $80,000 of clothing hanging on racks, lights, backdrops and green juices to get us through the day. The stylist holds up a pair of $48,000 diamond earrings that have been registered with the Smithsonian and everyone swoons.

Austin Woman Creative Director Niki Jones and I discuss our plan for the photo shoot with the photographer as the anticipation grows. Although Austin doesn’t really lend itself to a celebrity culture, we are, after all, preparing to photograph one of Austin’s most visible, glamorous and recognizable women, and we want to get it right.

Expecting that she will arrive with an entourage, or at least a couple of assistants, I barely recognize the woman who rushes in alone. Dressed for comfort, she is wearing a white cotton buttondown shirt with sleeves rolled up and a pair of cream-colored jeans. The first thing I notice is the way her long tousled hair moves, but when she removes her sunglasses, her smile fills the room, and as everyone relaxes and goes about their jobs, I know it is going to be a great day.

There is an art to cutting diamonds into multiple facets to best release the fire and the brilliance of the stone. Camila Alves is a woman whose life has taken many twists and turns, testing her often and allowing her to define her priorities and values. In the process, she has become multifaceted, and like the strongest stone on earth, she shines brilliantly. Juggling these facets and making them all mesh has released her fire and passions. While she is frequently strolling down the red carpet with her accomplished husband, Matthew McConaughey, the role she most cherishes is being a mother.

She has, after all, spent 15 years as a professional model, so it comes as a surprise that she is slightly anxious about this cover story.

“Sorry, I am a little tired,” Alves

says, talking to the hair and makeup crew. “I didn’t get much sleep last night, up with one of the kids.”

I reassure her that she couldn’t be any more beautiful.

“I never do interviews here in Austin because this is Matthew’s hometown, the place he loves, and I really respect that,” she explains.

“I want this to be the way people in Austin get to know the ‘real’ me.”

Determined to honor that heartfelt request, I decide on the spot to let Alves show off all of her facets and tell her story in her own words.

There are many words that I would use to describe this high-profile woman—strong, determined, faithful, intelligent, loving, passionate, talented, beautiful—but the one word that encompasses all of the facets is “genuine.” She is the real deal.

68 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

Coming to America and Becoming a Model

I came here when I was 15 to live with my aunt in L.A. When I left Brazil, my family, my friends, my culture, I left everything I knew. I was so young, but once I got on the plane, I knew I wasn’t going back. I didn’t speak English; all I could say was “Hi, how are you?” “How much does this cost?” and “I don’t speak English,” but I didn’t have the luxury to call my parents to pay my bills, so I cleaned houses and worked in restaurants as I learned English and saved to go to New York to look for an agency to represent me.

Growing up, I was always the ugly duck of the group. I was super skinny and my hair was super curly and big. All my friends had boyfriends, and I was the only one that didn’t. I never really looked at myself as beautiful. My mom said that I would look at pictures in magazines. I saw a Chanel ad and told her that was what I was going to do.

When I was 14, I was tall for my age, and someone stopped me and asked if I had ever thought of being a model. That is when the seed was planted and things started to happen.

I was dating a musician who was on a tour and he was going to New York City. He asked me if I wanted to go with him to see the modeling agencies, so I literally went to every agency in the city and they all said no until I was in the street with my portfolio under my arm, crying, thinking it was all over and not going to happen for me. I was thinking I might have to go back to Brazil. The last agency I went to was Major Models. They are still around today and they said yes, they wanted to work with me.

I am a very optimistic person. My dad taught me to never sell myself short, and in the few times I have felt like giving up, I looked to the sky and said, “God, if I don’t have something important to do here, then take me back to the things I know, to my family and my friends, back to Brazil.” Every time that happened, I felt like God opened a door and was saying, “No, you have to keep going this way.”

On Matthew McConaughey

We met at a bar on Sunset Boulevard. It is public knowledge, and it was one of those things. He was trying to call me across the room, but I am not that kind of woman, so he got up and came over to me.

We started talking and didn’t stop. From the moment we started to spend time with each other, we have not been apart.

I left my apartment and everything in it in New York, and came to live with him in the Airstream in Malibu. My father is Old School, and he thought I was crazy. We don’t even have trailers in Brazil. It took him a while to come around.

When we decided to have kids before we got married, that was a big thing for my family but not for us; it was a conscious decision for us.

I told my mom, but I made Matthew tell my dad.

They had dinner and because my dad doesn’t speak English, my brother had to translate the conversation. It was tricky.

One thing I love about our relationship is that we really want to see each other do their best at whatever we want to do, to be their best at whatever we want to be or choose to do. We have a lot of respect for each other, and respect is a big thing for me. Respect is the key to any relationship.

My everyday life is very different than my red-carpet life. On the red carpet, I have a full team that helps me because it is like getting ready for a wedding day every time you go to an event.

I do this out of respect for Matthew and for what he does, his talent and his work. We have created a plan with the children’s school, which allows all of us to travel together when he is on set. We live in the Airstream and I am cooking for him every day.

On Motherhood

I always knew I wanted to have a family and that I wanted to have my children when I was young. Motherhood is the kind of thing that no one gets you ready for. It is the most beautiful thing, but it is hard work, an adventure every day.

One of the things I love about motherhood is that the minute you become a mother, every single one of your priorities changes instantly, and I didn’t realize that would happen. Everything I thought was important, all of a sudden, it was not important and it became easy for me to make decisions because every decision I made was for the best for my family. If it takes away from my family, I am not doing it and it is not going to happen.

Having kids has made me sensitive to the things around me. My capacity for love for the whole world is bigger. I am more empathetic and less selfish. Now I feel really bad being selfish, even if I need to be.

Previous page: Elie Saab ivory jumpsuit, $2,510; Coomi earrings, price upon request, available at Julian Gold, 1214 W. Sixth St., 512.473.2493, juliangold.com.

Yves Saint Laurent studded ankle-strap heel, $1,295, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.

Opposite page: Herve Leger Agyness white bandage dress, $1,690; Alexis Bittar liquid crystal open cuff bracelet, $275; Alexis Bittar liquid crystal earrings, $345, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 69

On Style

My style changes all of the time, depending on where I am and what I am doing. Before I had kids, I wanted to be sexier, and after I had kids and got married, I still wanted to be sexy but also respectful of what I carry behind me.

I like to have fun with style and also like things that are timeless and ageless. I like a mix of vintage and designer clothing, and jewelry things that are very beautiful and tasteful. I mix and match a lot. I get my $9 earrings or clothes from Target, and I mix with very fancy pieces.

Most of my expensive jewelry has been given to me as a gift. I love collecting vintage pins and jewelry.

I always mix high and low. I have a really hard time paying a lot of money. I come from a simple background and I love a bargain. In my life, I always had to make things look better than what they cost.

The biggest mistake women make is when they try to look like someone else. The beauty of fashion is that every single woman can look different; they can put their own flavor on an outfit. When I need to get inspired, I watch the everyday woman.

On Her Priorities

My No. 1 priority is my family. I love them the most. After I had my third child, my time became more limited and my husband was working a lot, project after project. And time is a limited thing, so I started to think about the things I really enjoy doing and decided that is how I am going to spend my time, do the things that I love: cooking, decorating, entertaining and my kids’ activities. I enjoy anything that is related to creating a beautiful lifestyle.

If I wanted to be present in my kids’ lives, I had to shift my priorities, and that was very important to me. I stepped back from my handbag-design business that I created with my mother. I realized how hard it is to be a woman and juggle everything. Deep down, I think all women want their home to be beautiful, they want to look their best and they want to cook for family and friends. I am passionate about sharing those things, and anything I can do to encourage and help other women makes me happy. I like to touch people on a deeper level, bring a smile to their faces and share the things I love to do.

I always try to be in a good place in life. I can’t stand false drama.

Life is going to bring real drama naturally, so save ourselves for when that happens. Right now, I’m just enjoying my life. I am my husband’s biggest supporter. I want to see him doing the best that he can. That makes me extremely happy. I believe that everything falls into place when it is supposed to.

On Business

I have to work. I have worked my entire life. Otherwise, I would go crazy. In my mind, I have always been a businesswoman. I love marketing ideas and developing products. I love to hear stories of how businesses got started and how they grew, how they operate and connect.

When you are creating a business, it is a big commitment. The first question I ask myself is, “Do I love it?” You can never succeed in

Watching the transformation

from everyday Camila to supermodel bewitches everyone in the studio.

As she steps in front of the camera for the first shot, she is completely on. The camera loves her and she loves the camera. Never pretentious but always confident in her look and what will look right for her, Alves works with the team on all aspects of the shoot, from wardrobe to hair to makeup.

70 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

something you aren’t passionate about. I am very excited by my new partnership with Target, which will allow me to share tips and advice for other moms about all of the things I am passionate about, from decorating and entertaining to beauty and cooking.

On Philanthropy

I have always done charity work, ever since I was a kid. Growing up in Brazil, it is almost impossible to ignore the need. We started JKL [Just Keep Living Foundation] when Levi was born. We sold his baby pictures to fund the foundation, and people questioned that, but we wanted to control those first photos and gave 100 percent to fund the foundation, and it has become more successful than we could have imagined. In six years, we are in 24 schools across the country, in L.A., Austin, Dallas and New Orleans.

I call the work of the foundation the science of happiness. Happiness is the result when it all comes together, and we have proof of our success, from the grades to the graduation rates to the jobs our kids are getting when they participate in the program. It has four pillars: fitness, wellness, service and nutrition. It started as an after-school fitness program for teenagers during their most vulnerable years. We wanted to give the kids a safe place to go. We included all kids: those with special needs, the athletes and those with low self-esteem and weight problems.

We talked about the problem of bullying in school, taught them about nutrition on a budget and took them outside of their neighborhoods to see that there is a big world around them. They are learning how to be a productive and active part of their community. It is amazing to see how it has changed them.

On Austin

Matthew has a long history with Austin. He made most of his good friends here when he went to UT. He genuinely loves this town and we really wanted to raise our children here.

The thing that I love most about Austin is the way the people are, who they are and they own it, not trying to act like something else and not trying to look like something they are not; they are who they are. People here don’t expect you to be like anyone else. They are not overly impressed with celebrity. They are very accepting, proud but not trying to prove anything. Austin people just smile when they see us in a grocery store and give us a high five like they are happy we are here.

People who live in Austin are happy to live in Austin and they are happy with what they are doing. My children’s teachers are happy to be teachers, content with their life. People here think outside the box and there are a lot of talented people here. Everyone wants everyone else to do well and succeed. People want to share their happiness. There are a lot of smart people here and people believe in each other.

We go to church every Sunday when we are here. Our kids are learning to be part of the community. We can share traditions, family and sports. Austin is a liberal city in a conservative state and we like that balance. It is a good place to raise our kids.

She is a total pro and, before I know it, she is back in her street clothes and we are sharing a Chinese chicken salad during the interview like old friends. The interview goes longer than expected and ends when her phone notifies her of a prior engagement with her No. 1 priority. She hurriedly says her goodbyes as she rushes out the door to spend time with her children. She is perfectly backlit as she opens the door of the dark studio, a woman whose many facets are shining brilliantly.

Fashionably Camila

Bringing high style to the runway for the third annual Mack, Jack and McConaughey.

“This event is very important to us. Raising funds for the organization to help kids and families is near and dear to our hearts, so when the guys [Mack Brown, Jack Ingram and Matthew McConaughey] got together and planned the weekend with the concert and the golf tournament, I started to think about what the wives were going to do if they didn’t play golf, and I came up with a fashion show and put it together with Neiman Marcus. It has grown and this year will include a Champagne reception, runway show and luncheon to be held at the W Hotel.” – Camila Alves

“Mack and I have been so thrilled that Matthew has brought Camila into our lives.

Everything is more joyful when she is around. She epitomizes beauty and elegance and is brilliant and funny. Working with her and playing with her are equally great. Through the fashion show, she has added her personality and style to MJ&M.” – Sally Brown

Mack, Jack and McConaughey

April 16 and 17, 2015

This two-day event includes a golf tournament, gala, outstanding auction, two concerts and a runway fashion show, all to raise funds for organizations that empower children and families.

Fashion Show April 17, W Hotel Presented by Neiman Marcus Featuring Milly Tickets start at $125 For more information: mackjackmcconaughey.org

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves, Mack and Sally Brown, Jack and Amy Ingram

The McConaughey family, 2014

austinwomanmagazine.com | 71

Five-minute Q&A With Camila Alves Austin Woman: What are the five things you can’t live without?

Camila Alves: My family, floss, my tea, my blessed charm necklace and steak every so often!

AW: What’s one thing you would rather do without?

CA: E-mails. I am really bad at it and prefer a phone call.

AW: What’s the Camila style?

CA: My everyday outfit is jeans and a button-down shirt and my old gray and pink Converse shoes.

AW: What’s one thing that sets an outfit apart?

CA: How you make a basic outfit unique to your taste and personality.

AW: What do you look for in accessories (handbags, shoes, jewelry)?

CA: For me, it has to be practical and unique. I am not a big fan of wearing one brand head to toe or wearing something that I see five other ladies wearing.

AW: Who are your favorite designers for clothing and jewelry?

CA: I love so many designers, from fancy to simple, I could go on and on about, but I will tell you that for jewelry, I love Neil Lane.

AW: What are the best-kept secret places to shop in Austin for costume/vintage jewelry, as well as clothes?

CA: OK, I do have my favorite place about 30 minutes away, outside of town, but if I tell you, it won’t be a secret anymore and I won’t be able to find the vintage jewelry that I collect anymore! So I am going to keep that one to myself!

AW: What are the things you like about Austin, places to eat, things to do?

CA: My favorite sushi restaurant in the world is Uchi, and when I say that, I mean it! I have been to sushi restaurants all over the globe, including Japan, and every time I am there, I wish I was at Uchi! My fast grab-and-go food places are Fresa’s Chicken and Maudie’s Mexican food. I can’t have enough of them too! I love to take the kids kayaking on the lake. Even my little guy loves it and sits through it the whole time.

On the Quirks That Make Her Who She Is I love floss, can’t go anywhere without flossing. I have to have it in my purse at all times.

I am obsessed with documentaries.

I have a fascination with the premade homes. Every time I see one, I have to go inside.

I love flowers and making my own arrangements. I do it for my house and my friends. It is my therapy.

I love chocolate, peppermint tea, chips and salsa, french fries and my husband’s steak.

I love to travel and I love Greece.

I love my kids’ laughs. It is the best sound in the world.

Trina Turk silk blouse, $228; Citizens of Humanity denim jeans, $188; Coomi silver earrings, $770, available at Julian Gold, 1214 W. Sixth St., 512.473.2493, juliangold.com. Nelson swag leg armchair, $599, available at Design Within Reach, 200 W. Second St., 512.472.7200, dwr.com; necklace, model’s own.

72 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

austinwomanmagazine.com |  73

Your

Year to

SHINE

How to have the best year ever.

With every new year, there’s an opportunity for a fresh start. Somehow, when the clock strikes midnight, something magical happens: You’re suddenly freed from any negativity of the previous year and a renewed sense of self and optimism washes over you with all the possibilities the new year can bring.

While most of us make resolutions and set goals come January, we often get sidetracked with the challenges of daily life. The tricky part is sticking with it. To assist, we’ve brought together a team of experts in the fields of fitness, relationships, life coaching, beauty and fashion. As you navigate ways to improve your life for the better, remember that any time of the year can be an opportunity to check in with past resolutions, set new goals and get in line with what you want out of life so that, ultimately, you can reach your full potential and have the best year ever.

76

Fitness Fundamentals Expert advice for maintaining a successful exercise routine.

Brooke Stacey lives and breathes her job. Stacey became a personal trainer and fitness model after deciding four years ago to change her life with daily exercise and clean eating. A true Austinite, she places health as the top priority in her life and has been featured in leading health magazines such as Oxygen, Women’s Health & Fitness Austraila, STRONG Fitness and Health & Fitness Dubai. Austin Woman sought Stacey’s guidance for finding a routine you’ll love and how to maintain your fitness goals in 2015.

Austin Woman: How should someone choose a fitness routine?

Brooke Stacey: The top two things to consider when starting a fitness routine are to figure out what your goal is and choose a routine that works with your schedule. A goal will drive you to do your new routine, and the ease of fitting it into your weekly schedule is crucial to success. If you don’t have a goal or you don’t know why you are working out, you will be less likely to follow through with it. If achieving your goal is important to you, the more motivated you will be to make your workouts happen.

AW: What questions should you ask yourself before making a fitness plan?

As told to Molly McManus

Brooke Stacey’s Personalized Fitness for Every Pace The woman with no time: P90X video at home on her own time, beachbody.com

The woman who wants a high-intensity workout: Boot camps, personal training session

The woman who wants a mid-range fitness routine: Pilates, cycle class, yoga Brooke Stacey

BS: A great question to ask is, “What do I enjoy doing for physical activity?” Do you love to dance? Try dance classes or Zumba. Do you love the outdoors? Invest in a bike and trail ride or start walking an outdoor trail like Lady Bird Lake. Are you unsure of what you like? Try different types of classes to see what you enjoy. Start with a new activity every week and go several times to classes like yoga, Pilates or cycling. You will figure out quickly what environments you feel most comfortable in and what will keep you wanting to come back for more. Consistency is the key to success, so you want to find something you can enjoy and commit to.

Photo by James Patrick.

AW: What fitness regimens do you recommend?

BS: My No. 1 recommendation is to invest in a personal trainer.

They will always design a specific workout plan for your body type, current health and weight, as well as helping you set goals. What better investment is there to make than to invest in your health?

When you work with a personal trainer, he or she can help modify workouts for injuries, health conditions, mobility issues and current physical limitations. A personal trainer is going to motivate you, push you and give you the tools to look and feel your best. It can also be a starting point for someone new to the gym, familiarizing them with a workout routine they can stick with when they are on their own.

Everyone and every body benefits from resistance training.

That’s right, lifting weights! It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, man or woman; everyone needs to maintain muscle mass for strength and overall conditioning and health. Most women want to be toned and lose the jiggle, and men also like to have a good shape and size. All of these goals go back to lifting weights.

If you do not want a personal trainer, there are group class environments that can help build muscle and lean up. Body pump classes at gyms, barre classes and Pilates are great choices to incorporate resistance training into your workouts. Yoga is also an excellent source of training for body, mind and spirit, as it incorporates bodyweight strength.

Variability in what you do is also great. It keeps your body guessing and challenges your body in unique ways when you incorporate different activities.

AW: What fitness trends have you been seeing that you love?

BS: If it is good and safe for your body and you are moving, I think it is great. One trend I would recommend is participation in group instructed classes. People seem to like a class environment because they can be accountable to a group for participating and they can rely on friends for moral support.

For more from Brooke Stacey, visit brookestacey.com.

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2015 The only problem with New Year’s resolutions is that, despite our best intentions, it can be difficult to stick to them throughout the year. Here are 10 ways to achieve and maintain your resolutions.

1

Why do you want to make this change?

Write out a list of all the reasons why you want to make this change. Include as many as you can. For example, if your goal is weight loss, then some of the items on your list may include: ›B e a good role model for my children › I mprove my self-confidence ›R educe aches and pains › I ncreased energy so I can › I mprove sleep › P revent illness or disease › I mprove relationships › I ncrease my sense of adventure

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3

What are your obstacles and how can you overcome them?

Obstacles may also include people, past “failures,” fears—experiences that you perceive are keeping you from achieving your goal. For example, some often-sited obstacles to exercising are: › I have no time. › I don’t like gyms. › E xercise is boring.

Any of these sound familiar? These are what I call plastic obstacles because they are, in fact, changeable.

Try asking yourself the $10 million question: If you were guaranteed to receive $10 million if you exercised three times a week for 30 minutes for six months, could you do it?

If you answer yes, then the obstacles you have are plastic.

This is not to say that overcoming the obstacles and making the changes are easy. But they are possible.

Look at each obstacle and figure out ways to overcome them. Let’s take the ever-present obstacle of “I have no time.”

Research shows that working out for three 10-minute periods is as effective as working out continuously for 30 minutes (and may even result in greater health benefits).

Try this: ›W ake up 10 minutes earlier in the morning and go for a 10-minute walk. I know you like to sleep. Me too. But 10 minutes is not going to be a huge deal. ›A t lunchtime, go for a walk for 10 minutes. ›B efore dinner, do another 10-minute walk.

If you really implement the above plan, you will find it doable.

78 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

What is good about the way things are now?

There is a reason that you continue to act the way you do. It is vital that you identify what is good about your habit.

Many clients look at me like I am crazy when I ask questions like “What is good about smoking?” No one has ever asked them that question. And yet, it is vital that we figure out what is pulling them to continue to smoke. If we don’t identify and address these benefits, we will never be able to sustain change.

Write out all that is good—in your mind—about your habit. For example, one of my clients who wanted to quit smoking identified the following “benefits” of smoking: › I t is something I do with my friends. › I am afraid I will gain weight if I stop. ›M y cigarette breaks are sometimes the only time during the day when I get some peace.

If she didn’t address these reasons, it is very unlikely that she would be able to stop.

4

Write out your commitment.

Research shows that when we write out our goals, we are much more likely to achieve them. Write out your goal(s) and read them every day at least twice. Reading your goals in the morning will keep them at the forefront of your mind and encourage you to prioritize and focus on those goals throughout the day. Reviewing your goal at night before bed helps your brain to work on that goal unconsciously as you sleep.

5

Visualize success.

Our brains have a picture of who we are, which helps guide our feelings and behaviors.

To help illustrate, consider something called phantom limb pain, which refers to the continued sensation of a physical affliction in a limb after it has been removed. Someone who has had their leg amputated, for example, would still feel the pain. Not only that, but they might try to get up and walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night, thinking their limb is still there.

What causes phantom limb pain? Scientists think it has to do with our brains, which continue to have this painful limb represented as an attachment to the body.

How does this apply to us? It appears that our brains also have images of other aspects of us too, such as our size. If your brain sees you as overweight, then even if you lose weight, you will eventually gain it back.

The good news is that we can change our brains using visualization. Close your eyes and picture yourself having achieved your goal: being smoke-free, losing weight, interacting with your loved ones in a stress-free and calm manner.

Now focus on this experience. How do you feel? What kinds of things are you saying to yourself? What are others saying to you?

What do you see? Use all your senses to really experience what it will be like to sustain your goals.

Our brain does not decipher from real life or imagined. As a result, visualization will help train your brain to see, and then achieve.

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Resolution Guide Get help from friends.

Rome was not built in a day, nor did one person construct it. Reach out to get the support you need.

Tell the people in your life what your goal is and how they can help you. For example, if you are trying to lose weight, ask friends not to bring you any sweets. Enlist some friends to go walking with you. Find an accountability partner to whom you report your progress.

You may also want to seek assistance outside of your current network. Support groups, online social networks and even professional help may be instrumental in assisting you.

There is nothing wrong with asking for help.

If you are having trouble, go back to No. 1 on this list to review why this is important.

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How to effectively make resolutions and make them last.

By Elizabeth Lombardo

7 9

Change your environment.

If you are trying to lose weight, then it is probably best not to hang out in the doughnut shop.

If your goal is to limit your alcohol intake, then being with your drinking buddies may not be helpful as you make this change.

Track your success and reward yourself.

Document when you do whatever it is you want to do. For example, put a smiley face on the calendar for every day you do not smoke. Or write in a journal each time you exercise and for how long. Tracking your success will help keep you on the right path.

Reward is a powerful motivator, much more than punishment. That is why beating yourself up when you don’t achieve your goal often does not help you get back on track.

Develop a reinforcement system, and make sure the reward is something you want. Make it contingent on achieving your goal. I had a client who loved to get massages. She decided that, after achieving her shortterm goal for one month, she would reward herself with a spa treatment.

The problem, though, was that she knew she would still get a massage even if she didn’t exercise as planned. The result? No motivation to workout for a reward massage, which resulted in less motivation to workout.

Have that carrot dangling in front of you to help you stay on track.

10

Address setbacks.

The average smoker takes seven times to quit for good.

Scientists who study change consider relapse to be a normal part of change. This does not mean feel free to give in every once in awhile. It does mean that if it happens, you need not beat yourself up.

What others call failure I call data. If you vowed to never have a drink again but find yourself having consumed half a bottle of wine, ask yourself why.

What went into that decision? Consider components such as your stress level, environment, people around you, emotional state. Use the answer to the why question as data or information to get back on the right path. Proactively identify possible future triggers and ways to overcome these.

Set realistic goals.

This is not to say don’t shoot for the sky. If you want to lose 100 pounds and your healthcare provider agrees that your body would benefit, then most certainly make that your ultimate goal.

In addition to your ultimate goal, you also want to develop short-term goals, focusing on the smaller, more manageable steps to reach your long-term goal.

Make goals based on your behavior rather than the outcome. For example, the average person’s weight can fluctuate five pounds during the course of a day. A short-term goal based on pounds lost may not be the most accurate representation of your weight-loss success.

Instead, try “I will workout four times per week for 30 minutes each day.”

Make sure your short-term goals are attainable. Expecting yourself to workout seven days a week for 60 minutes when you normally do not exercise may not be a healthy initial goal for you.

“I will never again eat anything with sugar in it” can set you up for disappointment.

AW’s Tried and True Resolution Resources:

The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy

The Best Year of Your Life, Debbie Ford

Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who helps people before they need the proverbial shrink couch. Her newest book is Better than Perfect: 7 Strategies to Crush Your Inner Critic and Create a Life You Love. Learn more at elizabethlombardo.com.

The Vein of Gold, Julia Cameron

New Year, Bet ter

Relationships

Relationship expert Michelle Skeen shares six essential communication skills for healthy relationships from her book, Love Me, Don’t Leave Me: Overcoming Fear of Abandonment and Building Lasting, Loving Relationships.

By Rachel Merriman

Self-disclosure.

Empathy.

“It’s difficult for us to feel vulnerable. We feel like we won’t get hurt if we don’t let someone know who we really are. Sometimes, though, we expose too much too soon. There are certain people who are not going to be appropriate to share our innermost thoughts with. Go at a good pace. Ultimately, the goal is to make connections by showing parts of yourself that aren’t perfect but make you an imperfectly perfect person, like we all are.”

“When you’re feeling difficulty making that empathic connection, imagining that other person as a child makes it easier to find an emotional connection that will allow you to at least understand their perspective, even if you don’t agree with it.

It’s also a tool I use for people to create self-compassion.

We’re our own worst critics; the things we say to ourselves can be so harsh.”

Listening.

“When we feel vulnerable or fearful, often our past experiences come to the surface. We get so overtaken by memories that we’re not listening to what the other person is saying; we’re busy predicting what they’re saying. If you’re overwhelmed emotionally, say, ‘Can we have this conversation another time when I’m not so upset?’ Another strategy is to repeat what you think someone is saying back to them so they have the opportunity to say, ‘Actually, that’s not what I was trying to say.’ We all communicate differently, so clarification is really important.”

Need expression.

“The key to need expression is identifying whether a need is a present need or a need from your past that didn’t get met. It can be damaging to put all of your past needs on your current relationships, so it’s important to identify what your present needs are and communicate them clearly. You also can’t have the expectation that one person is going to meet every need. Not that your partner can’t be your best friend, but you have to be careful about how much pressure you put on one person.”

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Validation.

“Validation helps create a healthy cycle of communication. Whether you agree with someone or not, you can say, ‘Yes, I hear what you’re saying, and I understand why you would be upset about this.’

If the other person feels like you’re hearing them and that you appreciate what they’re sharing with you, they’ll share more, and start to give you the same validation.”

The apology.

“To many people, apologizing means that you’re weak. It’s easy to go to a place of judgment because we are certain we wouldn’t have gotten our feelings hurt, but people get hurt by different things. Even if you don’t think that you did anything wrong, you know from what someone is telling you that they’re hurt by something you did. An apology needs to be sincere, and the wording is important. You can’t say, ‘I’m sorry that you think what I did hurt your feelings.’ That’s distancing yourself from the experience.

Instead, say, ‘I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. Now that I have this information, I’ll try not to do it again.’ ”

Michelle Skeen’s advice on how to have a better relationship with…

Your spouse/ significant other: “Make a habit of acknowledging every time they do something you like (even if it’s something they do all the time) rather than pointing out the things you don’t like.”

Your children: “Listen and respond without judgment. We want to be there for them, and sometimes we’ll be ready with a solution or impose our views on them rather than listening and understanding.”

Your parents: “Have empathy for your parents.

Whatever they did (unless in the case of abuse), have the underlying belief that they did the best they could do with their limited experiences and resources at the time.”

Your boss: “Everyone gets nervous when they have a meeting with their boss. Your mind can race and it’s easy to get defensive. Be relaxed and listen really well to their feedback.”

Your co-workers: “Maintain boundaries. So often, we become friends with the people we work with, but make sure that you don’t mix business talk with pleasure, or mix pleasure talk with business.”

Yourself: “Practice self-compassion. Until we can truly develop compassion for ourselves, our compassion for other people is not as sincere.”

For more information about Love Me, Don’t Leave Me and Michelle Skeen, visit michelleskeen.com.

Listen to Your Heart and Take the Big Leap

How to be happier in your work and know when it’s time to make a change.

By Laura Jack Time for a

When I was a little girl, my mom asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. My response, “I want to be happy,” is the same answer I would give today. One of the secrets to my happiness has been following my heart, and as a transformational life coach, I have found that those who are happiest in their work and lives have learned the art of listening to their hearts.

Unfortunately, following your heart isn’t always easy or clear. We are taught early on to be socialized, follow the rules, make our parents proud, work hard, be contributing members of society, get married, have kids and to have a career that supports us. But what happens when we don’t do what we have been taught? We disappoint, and disappointment is often worse than anger. In this socialization period, we often forget how to listen to what our heart wants. However, losing sight of our purpose, our calling, our heart’s desire is certainly the fastest way to wake up halfway through life full of regret.

Whether you are entering the job market for the first time, returning after time away or changing careers, one thing remains the same: Following your heart is the way to live in alignment with your purpose.

While it may not be easy, it is certainly worth it, not only for you, but also for the people you love, as they are also affected by your happiness and/or misery.

How do you learn what your heart wants? When it comes to finding your calling, my favorite questions come from the book The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. They are:

3 What do I most love to do? I love it so much that I can do it for long stretches of time without getting tired or bored.

3W hat work do I do that doesn’t seem like work?

3 I n my work, what produces the highest ratio of abundance and satisfaction to amount of time spent?

3W hat is my unique ability? Yes, we all have at least one.

The first step to finding your calling is to answer these questions. If these are hard for you, begin by taking the Myers Briggs Personality Test to give some insight into your strengths and weaknesses. The next step I would encourage you to take is to reach out to your closest friends and family members and ask, “What am I doing when I am the happiest?” Don’t argue with them. Just listen.

In The Huffington Post article The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying by Joe Martino, we discover that the top regret of the dying is, “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” Since we don’t know how much time we have on this earth, why wait to follow your heart or live a life true to yourself? If we wait to get permission from our boss, spouse, parents or friends to live the life we desire, we may end up waiting a lifetime.

We all deserve to live in what Hendricks calls the Zone of Genius, and live a life full of joy, purpose and passion. Underneath what we “should” do, we all have the ability to connect with our hearts and find our calling. Don’t wait for permission to take the leap and begin your journey to live the life you desire.

Change?

Five questions to ask yourself to decide if it’s time to transform your life.

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3 4 5

Is there any part of your current work situation you enjoy? Hint: If so, can you do more of that? If not, it is time to begin your search.

If money or job title were not the focus, what would you do with your time? Hint: If it isn’t what you are doing now, it may be time to begin looking for your purpose.

If you were to make a change, who in your life would be affected, both positively and negatively?

Hint: If what you do is making you miserable, the people in your life are affected by your misery as well.

What might you lose that you value if you were to follow through with finding your purpose? Hint: This very well may be the reason you are afraid to walk away.

If you were to look back at the story of your life, would you be happy with the way it looks right now? Hint: You only get one life. How do you want to spend it?

Additional Resources:

Myers Briggs Personality Test: humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/03/top5-regrets-of-the-dying_n_3640593.html Laura Jack Coaching: laurajack.com austinwomanmagazine.com | 81

A Beautiful Fresh Start Makeup, hair and skin tips and trends to make you feel and look your best from the inside out.

Makeup

By Lauren Lumsden

2015 Trends

In 2015, fresh, natural makeup gives way to bold lipstick shades, daring, non-traditional eye-shadow colors and dark, smoky eyes usually reserved for winter.

Bold Lips Bold lipstick, from orange and poppy shades, to dark burgundy hues, was prevalent on New York Fashion Week’s spring 2015 runways. Lips were intense shades of red, from bright to berry-stained, unlined and imperfect, with soft, faded edges.

Skin Care

2015 Medical Trends Advances in aesthetic technology are changing the way we age. From erasing acne scars to skin tightening, lasers and other systems are revolutionizing the approach to skin care. Here are three treatments to assist the body’s natural rejuvenation process:

The Lob

By Dr. Eric Schweiger

Skin Tightening Ultrasound Ultherapy is the first non-invasive procedure to improve fine lines and wrinkles on the face, chest and neck, using ultrasound to build new collagen and tone and lift skin.

Violet Shadow

Laser Resurfacing

Derek Lam makeup artists applied a subtler all-over lilac wash to the upper eyelid, almost to the brow, while Vera Wang showcased more smoky bedroom eyes. Also try generously sweeping a deep plum shadow under the eye in lieu of defined liner.

Laser Genesis is a multi-purpose fractional laser that addresses a range of concerns, including large pores, wrinkles, scars and rosacea, all in one simple treatment.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Smudgy, charcoal “morning-after” eyes that exude sexiness and glamour are in for the bold woman. The less blended and the darker, the better, with thick black eyeliner outlining the entire eye.

Kim Kardashian propelled this treatment into popularity with her shocking selfie. The PRP, injected into the skin, promotes your own collagen to grow, regenerates tissue and thus acts to naturally smooth and tighten.

Dr. Eric Schweiger is the founder of Schweiger Dermatology Group.

Tricks of the Trade

Tricks of the Trade

Smoky Eyes

Which Eye Shadow Color Looks Best on You? Picture the color wheel. The color directly across from the shade of your eye color is most accurately the color of shadow that will best enhance your eyes.

Brown Eyes Blue is opposite brown on the color wheel, so colors in bright cobalt and navy, as well as purples, all look great. However, brown-eyed girls can wear almost any color, as brown is neutral and a mix of all of the primary colors.

Blue Eyes Orange-based shades like bronze, copper and gold are the most complementary for blue eyes. The best colors for blue-gray eyes are shimmery whites, metallic coppers, peaches and warm purples, while blue-green eyes pair well with violet, indigo, cranberry and reddish browns.

Green Eyes Green is across from the pinks, purples and reds. For dark green eyes, try deeper purple shadows. Light green eyes and those that contain hints of gold look best with light purples and pinks.

Hazel Eyes Because hazel eyes contain a range of tones varying between green, brown and gold, different shadow colors are used to bring out each tone in the eyes. To highlight green tones, try shadows in lavender, violet and plum. Gold shadows enhance golden tones.

Lauren Lumsden is an Austin-based freelance makeup artist. For more information, visit facebook.com/laurenlumsden.hair.makeup.

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Hair

By Vanessa Whitmarsh

2015 Trends 2014 saw the reign of “the lob,” and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

Ladies are opting for short, and it’s all about the lob.

Classic and Natural Whatever the length, cuts in 2015 will be strong, classic shapes. Additionally, more ladies will embrace their natural hair textures. We’ll see fewer Brazilian blowouts, more curls and waves, which also sit well in strong shapes.

Color In 2015, we will see women becoming more adventurous with their hair color.

Too scared to get the real deal dye job?

Try clip-in extensions.

Tricks of the Trade

What Bob is Best for Your Face Shape?

By Heidi Smith

There are two questions to ask when considering a skin-care product: 1. Is this product good for me?

2. Does it produce results?

Recently, companies and consumers have shared an ever-growing awareness of and emphasis on the damaging effects of the sun, the environment and the additives found in skin-care products.

This has put cleanliness top of mind with products that not only boost skin health, but also are free of parabens, phthalates and harsh chemicals.

HydroPeptide Setting a standard in anti-aging, HydroPeptide replaces harsh ingredients with natural peptides derived from vegetables, grains and yeast, which address wrinkles, discoloration, blemishes and other concerns, and increase organic collagen production. HydroPeptide can be tailored to a diverse set of skin types, ages and conditions.

Eminence Having recently launched a peptide-based line (Arctic Berry Illuminating System), this natural approach to anti-aging matches Eminence’s overall philosophy, which includes organic- and earth-minded practices around skin care.

Heidi Smith is the spa director at Spa Django at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort.

For more information, visit lostpines.hyatt. com/hyatt/pure/spas.

Heart-Shaped A bob that hits below the chin will fill in space around the jaw.

Round An angled bob with long layers balance a round face. Feel like making more of a change? Make it asymmetrical.

Square A tapered chin-length bob with textured ends will soften a strong jaw.

Oval Adding a fringe will shake up your bob and make oval faces seem less long.

Vanessa Whitmarsh is a hair stylist at Jackson Ruiz Salon, with experience in print and runway styling. For more hair inspiration, visit facebook.com/vanessawhitmarsh.hair or jacksonruiz.com.

2015 Your fashion guide to

By Ashley Hargrove

Photos courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

Let’s start with trends that are still in: the classics. As I always say, you should invest in pieces that will never go out of style. Leather jackets, a nice leather handbag, black leather pumps, white button-down, a nice watch, etc. These are pieces that aren’t trendy and will never go out of style.

Here are some trends that you should definitely get rid of to make room for 2015 fashion. I’m not opposed to fashion trends, but I feel people should really invest in what actually fits their body type instead of shopping for these trends to fit in.

Why are people ditching matching sets of earrings and sporting one? Who wants to wear just one earring?

Oversized clutches are another trend that I never understood. I have a lot going on during the day and I am juggling clothing, coffee, my dog, etc. Others are juggling the same, including a child. Who wants to attempt to look cool and carry a massive handbag instead of using the shoulder strap?

That’s just not convenient for the working woman.

And last but not least, crop tops. Enough said.

Rule of Thumb

Quite a few fashionistas have been asking what we should anticipate in the 2015 fashion world.

Bohemian and oversized floral-print dresses are making a major comeback.

I’ve also noticed trouser suits are becoming a more prevalent trend. To me, this is a great trend that I would love to wear since it can be worn on a daily basis.

Now, there is a fashionable twist on the classic suit.

Gingham, suede and sheer fabrics are other hot trends that were seen on the runway during Fashion Week. Stock up on fringe, tassels and feathers if you really want to have fun with fashion and aren’t afraid to wear certain styles.

These are three of the hottest trends I saw on the runway. Not everyone can pull them off, but everyone can have fun with them in moderation.

Trends to Toss

2015 Trends

The Classics

Fashion is ever changing when it comes to what’s in and what’s out. The problem with frequently changing trends is the consumer’s need to spend more money to try and keep up. I feel that your wardrobe needs to be updated with what actually works for you, no matter what the hottest trend is. Trends are exactly what they sound like, trendy, and they don’t work with everyone. So base what’s in on what will look good on you. If you love something, wear it, and if you don’t, save your money.

If you are having trouble figuring out if a trend is really you, just ask yourself, “What are three outfits I can wear this with?”

If you can’t figure that out in about five minutes, put it back. If it is a piece you just can’t live without, make the investment and see if you wear it within the allocated return period of that retailer.

For more from Ashley Hargrove, visit dtkaustinstyling.com.

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15

Treat Yo Self

Things to Do for YOU in

2015

Have a case of the Mondays? Feeling down and out? Refer to this list whenever you’re in a slump and, as always, do as Parks and Rec’s Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford do and ‘Treat. Yo. Self.’

By Molly McManus

Go on a walk.

Studies show that daily walking strengthens your heart; lowers disease risk; tones your arms, core, legs and derriere; boosts vitamin D levels and gives you energy. Want more out of your walk? Once a week, take a “gratitude walk” and focus on all the positive things in your life.

Run a bath.

Who doesn’t love a good soak with romantic candlelight, a glass of red wine and a great novel? Get an aromatherapy candle or some bath oils, and slip into deep relaxation.

Meditate.

Find a park, a beautiful spot on Lady Bird Lake or a peaceful area of your home.

Meditation helps with centering and mental clarity, and increases creativity, happiness and emotional stability while decreasing stress, anxiety and physical ailments, such as high blood pressure.

Not into meditation? Take a yoga class.

Yoga has all the benefits of meditation, plus it’s a really great workout. For those of us who love a bargain, here are a few free meditation and yoga classes offered throughout Austin: Q Meditation in Austin meditation group, Wednesdays, 7 p.m., meditationinaustin.com Q AOMA meditation class on Sundays, 5 p.m., aoma.edu Q Yoga at Cherrywood Coffeehouse, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m., cherrywoodcoffeehouse.com Q Yoga at Lululemon (downtown location), Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., lululemon.com

Make a multiplecourse meal…for yourself.

Look up interesting recipes, find a wine or cocktail that pairs well, put on a podcast (Serial, anyone?) or your favorite album and enjoy the solitude and hard work you put in for you.

Include a decadent dessert or a meal that brings back happy memories.

84 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

Get a facial or massage.

Facials can soften expression-induced lines around eyes, lips and brows, help expel acne-causing toxins and de-puff and brighten the eye areas. Go to an experienced aesthetician or do a quick Google search to find how to perform your own facial at home, free of charge.

Massage is proven to help alleviate stress, tight muscles and pain; lessen depression and anxiety; increase joint flexibility and promote tissue regeneration.

It’s a great alternative to a chiropractor or physical therapist, and instantly makes you feel better.

Take yourself on a date.

Get a mani/pedi.

This is all about pampering yourself and giving some much-needed attention to those phalanges. Another option? Get your hair cut or styled, or schedule a makeup consultation. Sometimes looking beautiful on the outside can help you feel beautiful on the inside.

Check something off your bucket list.

Clean out… something.

It doesn’t matter if it’s to the movies, dinner, an outing to an art gallery or some hot event happening in town, going on a festive excursion with yourself, for yourself, can be a very rewarding experience.

Whether it’s your car, attic, closet or desk, cleansing is good for the soul. You may not love the act of cleaning (try channeling Thich Nhat Hanh), but it has been shown to reduce stress. Not only that; you will instantly gain a sense of accomplishment.

Try something new.

Plan a vacation.

Getting outside your comfort zone can be challenging, but challenging yourself builds confidence, and you may stumble upon something you would’ve never known you liked if you hadn’t tried it.

Turn off the electronics.

Try it for a couple of hours, or better yet, an entire day. It’s more difficult than you may think, but it will open you up to endless possibilities that have nothing to do with work emails or your friends’ latest Facebook posts.

Buy something impractical but fabulous.

Whoever said retail therapy was a bad thing? (Velvet slippies, cashmere socks, velvet pants, cashmere turtleneck.

Treat yo self!)

Whether it’s a close-in getaway or an out-ofcountry expedition, plan a weekend or week when you can truly unwind. Traveling feeds into your curiosity and adventurous nature, and allows you to spend time with yourself and loved ones outside of the, at times, monotonous routine.

Write in a journal.

Take a page out of Julia Cameron’s The Vein of Gold, and commit to three pages of daily, longhand morning writing. According to Cameron, the pages will center, empower, comfort, stimulate, intrigue, challenge and activate you.

They need not be literary masterpieces, just whatever comes to your head: “I need to grocery shop today,” or “Sarah was really weird at work yesterday.” Whatever is up there, put it on paper. It’s a way to clear the clutter and focus on the more important things in life.

Volunteer.

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pposite sex

memo from jb

A Forrest Gump Revelation

Is she just like me or…?

By JB Hager, photo by Rudy Arocha One of the best scenes ever in a film took place toward the end of Forrest Gump. Forrest, a less-than-intelligent, low-IQ man with a big heart, meets his toddler son for the first time. He says to the mother of his child, “Is he smart, or is he…?” (He points to his own chest to finish the sentence.) “…or is he like me?” He tears up with joy finding that his son is smart, suggesting he has a chance at a better life.

I am, in fact, a lot like Forrest Gump, except I’m not very good at running or PingPong and I rarely eat chocolates.

As parents, we want our kids to top our achievements and accomplishments. We want them to be smarter, kinder and have more opportunity. Our parents wanted the very same things for us.

For those of you who have not had children yet, or perhaps they are still toddlers, I am about to tell you one of the hardest things I have learned about parenting, and that is

finding out that your kid is just like you.

Unless you are Gandhi or Mother Teresa, this is bad news. About the time my daughter started middle school, it felt as if things were starting to get serious, so what do we do?

Do we start to crack down, just like our parents did? The questions come: ›W hy isn’t your homework finished? ›W ill you put down your phone? ›W hat makes you think you can talk to your mother/father that way? ›W ould you pay attention?

You wake up one day and see an exact replica of yourself. At times, it makes you completely insane. Other times, it makes you completely understanding, but they will never believe that you can empathize because they see themselves as completely different people.

For the sake of not embarrassing my daughter (something I hated at 13), I’ll share a few things she inherited from her old man.

Bless her heart, she got my ADD. We’re daydreamers. Imagine how difficult it is for me to get her to focus and/or pay attention when I

“As parents, we want our kids to top our achievements and accomplishments.”

86 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

can’t do the same myself. I also see snapshots of myself in her impulsive behavior. (I’m lucky to have survived my childhood.) Overly sensitive to people and the conversations around her? Yep, she internalizes everything.

Sometimes I see her withdraw with social anxieties, something I didn’t understand about myself until I hit 40! As a parent, I want to assist and correct these things with the knowledge I have, but sometimes they are what they are.

Then there are the flaws she inherited from her mother. I have yet to find one but I will keep you posted.

My wife has the same conflicts I do. My daughter’s characteristics that are like her mother’s don’t bother me, but they can sure make a mother and daughter find the other’s last nerve. My wife and I have conversations about the traits we have passed on, often blaming ourselves. If only I could have given my wife a chart of my genetic flaws prior to her saying, “Yes.” Much like trading baseball cards, all these years later, I got the better deal.

Baby girl, I’m sorry for my shortcomings and the things I’ve passed on to you. I see you struggle with them but have no doubt you’ll tackle them better than I have. Each generation strives and succeeds at improving inherited flaws.

If archeologists are mystified by a missing piece of a pyramid, it was probably one of my forefathers.

As Forrest Gump expressed it best, I’ll get all misty eyed if she’s better, as opposed to “just like me.”

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avvy Women

You Should Know

Shining STARS

Inspiring designs and words of wisdom from five talented jewelry makers.

By Silvana Di Ravenna

Melanie Edwards, Rifle + Radford rifleandradford.com Austin Woman: Did you always want to be a jewelry designer?

Melanie Edwards: Growing up, I was always making jewelry, purses and dresses. I majored in knitwear specialization for fashion design at [the Fashion Institute of Technology] in New York City. One summer, I started making jewelry with gemstones for fun to sell to friends and family. When it was time for me to open my own business, it made sense to start with something small, and I had already created about six earring styles. I put these, as well as a few new ideas, online in June, about three and a half years ago. They sold within the hour! From that initial day, my designs and business have navigated organically into a full-fledged jewelry design studio.

AW: Tell us about your favorite pieces from your collection.

ME: My favorite piece would be the Ivette studs: titanium-dipped jasper druzy with a limited-edition crown bezel. However, I think of pieces more about the stones. My favorite stones to design with are the emerald green jasper druzy or the green agate. It’s a great pop of color for winter. Also, I’m loving the burnt-orange citrine geodes.

ME: Playing with beautiful gemstones all day! I feel very lucky to be my own boss and to be able to have days filled with creativity.

Claire Sommers Buck, Claire Sommers Buck Jewelry clairesommersbuck.com Austin Woman: How did you become a jewelry designer?

Claire Sommers Buck: I grew up with a family of craftspeople, so from a very early age, I knew that working with my hands was in my blood. However, it wasn’t until after I earned a degree in international environmental studies and traveled through South and Central America that I discovered metalsmithing. In 2009, I studied jewelry fabrication and casting at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. Since then, I’ve been developing my work independently. Working on my own has given me a very raw and unique perspective on my craft, one that allows me a lot of personal and creative freedom.

AW: Why do women love jewelry?

CSB: Jewelry is a very personal and powerful way for women to express their style and exude confidence.

Wearing a particular piece of jewelry can give you incredible energy and can help define who you are as a person.

AW: What advice would you give to anyone wanting to start a business?

CSB: First and foremost, you have to work hard. There will be lots of ups and downs as you pursue your goals.

It is important not to dwell on the downs too much, but to learn from them and keep moving forward. Always let your passion guide the way.

88 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

Edwards photo courtesy of RIFLE + RADFORD. Sommers Buck photo by Jeanne Ciausullo.

AW: What is the best thing about what you do?

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You Should Know

Elizabeth Gibson, Eliza Page Jewelry elizapage.com Austin Woman: How did you fall in love with jewelry making?

Gibson photo courtesy of Eliza Page.

Elizabeth Gibson: I have loved jewelry since I was a young girl, but mostly I have always loved making things. Friendship bracelets, weaving and beading were pretty popular in the early ’80s, and I would spend hours in the bead store, creating and dreaming up new projects. Jewelry is a very approachable art form, and you can make it out of almost anything. It’s very gift-able and sharable, and I have always enjoyed that aspect of jewelry too.

AW: What materials inspire you? What’s your favorite piece?

EG: Practical beauty inspires me. I like to put simple things together that work for wear. And my favorite piece is my melted gold ring. I never take it off!

AW: Do you have any advice for someone who is just starting out in jewelry design?

EG: Work for someone else in the industry or field…so you know what to expect and can decide if it’s for you. Read The E-Myth. Once you start your business, employ others to help with the aspects that don’t utilize your strongest talents and, therefore, the best use of your time. Know that owning a business will be more rewarding and challenging than you ever imagined.

Rebekah Vinyard, Rebekah Vinyard Jewelry rebekahvinyard.com

Vinyard photo by Kevin Hail.

Austin Woman: When did you realize you wanted to be a jewelry designer?

Rebekah Vinyard: I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember, turning old things into new treasures or creating something from nothing. It’s a magical feeling to make something you’re really proud of. I started playing around with jewelry when I was in high school and slowly started figuring out new techniques and new ways to work with different kinds of materials. I fell in love with metal. Since then, I’ve taken classes, read tons of books and figured out a lot through trial and error. I didn’t always know I wanted to design jewelry. I just knew I wanted to create.

AW: What inspires you?

RV: I mostly work with brass, and usually begin with a solid sheet. It feels like a blank slate that I could cut anything out of. That freedom is very inspiring to me.

AW: What’s your favorite piece from your collection and why?

RV: My favorite piece at the moment is probably my Hollow Arrow necklace. It’s the most labor-intensive and time-consuming piece I make but I always feel like it’s worth it.

It’s fun and easy to wear with everything.

Suzie Gallehugh, Suzanna Dai Jewelry Gallehugh photo courtesy of Suzanna Dai Jewelry.

suzannadai.com Austin Woman: Why do you think jewelry is more relevant than ever in our lives?

Suzie Gallehugh: I think people still choose the jewelry they wear as an expression of who they are or who they aspire to be. It’s a way to bring glamour and personal flair into everyday life. Jewelry makes the wearer feel special and unique.

AW: What’s your favorite piece to wear currently?

SG: I love wearing my Khepri statement necklace. The mix of cobalt and teal is beautiful.

AW: What inspires you?

SG: I am inspired by travel, other cultures, history and all things vintage. I love going to markets in foreign countries and discovering local handicrafts. And I have been shopping in vintage clothing stores and flea markets since I was in high school.

I get an adrenaline rush while searching for my next find, and this inspires many of my pieces.

AW: What’s the best part of your job?

SG: I love sourcing new beads and designing. Being creative is really fun for me but also a vital part of who I am. One of my favorite things about my job is receiving samples of new designs. It’s like Christmas!

austinwomanmagazine.com | 91

S

avvy Women

job envy

Bright and Sunny

A snapshot into Chikage Windler’s dream job as chief meteorologist for KEYE-TV. Growing up in Oklahoma, the middle of Tornado Alley, both terrified and inspired Chikage Windler, chief meteorologist for KEYE-TV. “When I was a young kid in middle school, a tornado hit across the street,” she remembers. “It freaked me out that something could happen so close to me.”

It was that moment that Windler determined her future, a focus she still channels today.

“Instead of being afraid of storms, I decided that I would just take the bull by the horns and learn everything I could about the weather,” she says.

Windler never deviated from her goal.

She went to the University of Oklahoma with a freshman class in her major of about 300 students. The number at the end of her collegiate years was much smaller.

“I graduated with around 25,” she says.

“It was hard: math, science, calculus and engineering classes. It was really the die-hards that made it through the entire process.”

Two degrees later, in broadcast journalism and meteorology, Windler is now working in what she describes as her dream job.

Windler has observed her field changing immensely since she first started 15 years ago.

“It was a male-dominated field back when I first got into it,” she says. “People are surprised. They always ask, ‘Oh, did you go to school for this?’ They think I’m just the weather girl.”

Even as a kid, it was rare for her to dream of this career.

“When I was growing up, literally every TV station that you’d go to would [be] all men. I didn’t really have a female mentor,” Windler says, noting that she didn’t let gender roles stand in her way. “My mentor was a meteorologist named Jim Giles. He’s since passed away, but he was an amazing guy.”

It’s this same optimism and determination that make Windler so likable to watch on TV. Behind the scenes 30 minutes before the 5 p.m. news airs, Windler chats with me, and works with four simultaneously working computer screens, taking quick breaks to re-analyze the Doppler radar screen and type in the correct closed 92 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

captioning for every minute of her segment. She stays cheerful, saying her job has gotten her very good at multitasking. She’s midsentence when a countdown begins. She smiles and rises toward the green screen.

It’s mere seconds after she hits her mark that she begins talking to her audience, bright and sunny.

On an easy day, Windler says she can put the forecast together in “about an hour and a half,” but the rest of her workday is jampacked with her other—and most important—job, being a mom.

“A lot of people who do the 10 o’clock news, they’ll just sleep in and wake up when they wake up,” she says. “But if you have schoolage kids, the alarm goes off at 6 in the morning.”

The mother of two daughters, Austen and Zailey, Windler has a schedule that is constantly full, a pace she loves.

“I come in around two o’clock, I do the five and six o’clock shows, then I go home for dinner, get the girls to bed and come back to work and do the 10 o’clock. So I’m on the go all the time,” she says.

Even as she describes her full day, she does so warm-heartedly. “I kind of feel like I’ve hit the jackpot. I get to have my life doing weather and my passion, but then I’m a short drive home to be with my family and not miss out on all those important events.”

Her spirit is contagious, and she also views the bad workdays as a chance for growth.

“Even on those days where I think [the weather] is going to be one thing and it ends up being something else, I consider it a character-building experience,” she says.

“It helps me get better as a meteorologist.”

When asked about the most challenging

aspect of her career, her answer is immediate.

“Ice,” she says certainly, “especially in Central Texas.”

For those wanting to follow in Windler’s footsteps, all you have to do is turn on the 5 p.m. news to see a new kind of meteorologist mentor. Mentioning an educational talk she gave at Hutto ISD the morning of our interview, she speaks from the heart.

“I told the kids today, ‘Whatever you do, whatever you want to pursue, do something you love,” she says, pausing, thoughtful and content. “I have fun at my job. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Photo by Korey Howell Photography.

By Alison Stoos

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avvy Women

All the Right Questions

Do You Need A Life Coach?

Ann Daly on when to seek advice and how to know if you need a life coach.

By Carrie Gavit

94 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

from there. It’s all about what the individual client needs,” Daly says.

In addition to Daly coaching clients in meetings, her blogs and newsletter offer women another way to get insight, advice or answers without necessarily joining her client base.

Daly’s blogs can be found on anndaly.com and womanadvance.com.

“Each channel is a way to share coaching reminders, profiles of women and tips/tactics,” Daly says. “I have fun, channeling ideas and stories from coaching in the blogs and newsletters. It’s a way I can spread my ideas to women beyond my client base.”

At the end of the day, whether through direct coaching or her other outlets, Daly knows she wants to help women.

“I help women get clear about what they want and how to get it,” she says. “Clients want to walk away with a clear goal, an actionable plan and an effective set of strategies to work that plan. I don’t tell people what to do. I listen and ask questions so they can dig deeper and think broader, gain insight past blind spots.

Self-insight is the first step to power.” anndaly.com

How to know if you need a therapist, not a life coach:

›Y ou want to analyze the root causes of emotional distress.

›Y ou want to change emotions in the long run. ›Y ou seek relief from psychological pain. ›Y ou want to understand your past. ›Y ou seek emotional healing.

How to not get the most out of your time with a life coach:

› Avoid commitment by scheduling conversations directly before and after other appointments.

› E xpect miracles or unrealistic outcomes. › S elf-sabotage by not taking homework assignments seriously.

›W ithhold personal investment in the process. ›D on’t commit 100 percent to the process, despite its intensity.

Photo by Tami Bone.

high school. It has been my comHave you stumbled upon a crossroads mitment forever to take all that in life? Are you unsure of what comes feminist theory and research next, what changes you need to make and use it in the real world with real women to reach your goals or how to handle a who are struggling,” Daly says. transition, personally or professionally?

By choosing this specialty, Daly is able to Prior to becoming a life coach, Ann Daly focus solely on catering to her set of clients. asked herself these questions when she “I think it’s advantageous to choose a coach reached her own crossroads in life. who has developed a depth of knowledge or Daly began her career working in the field specialty over the years. You’ll directly benefit of journalism before heading to graduate from that added expertise,” Daly says. school at New York University to become a In order to act most beneficially as a life professor. Eventually, she joined the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin as a women’s coach, Daly created her own method for coaching. From a manifesto, to two blogs, a studies professor. newsletter and her personally created coach“I loved working one on one with graduate ing starter kit, Daly wants clients to understudents. Certainly, coaching is a form of adstand who she is, what they are searching for vising and teaching,” Daly says. and how her coaching works prior to beginHowever, life coaching was not the simple, ning the coaching process. clear-cut answer to her career transition. In “I created the kit, which is a series of inter2005, when Daly decided to assist her first cliactive quizzes, questionnaires and exercises ent, life coaching was a relatively new field. that help women consider more deeply the “It was a new thing. I had dinner with coaching process, and get to know me and friends of my husband, and that’s how I heard my approach a little better. It’s a great way to about a coach coming to help with a business. connect with potential clients who I grilled her on what a may still be a little too shy. Coach“Self-insight is coach was. Then I made needs to be a safe, comfortable the connections through the first step ing space in order to be most effective,” my education background to power.”

Daly says. and used my teaching Daly offers three forms of coachskills to begin work as a coach,” Daly says. ing. Personal coaching may be related to a Daly quickly realized how interconnected client switching careers, generally starting all her career paths in life were. Each acted as a over or looking for what is meaningful. Career foundation or building block to reach her next coaching deals with developing a set of skills, career goal, eventually leading her down the learning how to keep your career moving path toward life coaching. forward or managing your talent. Executive “There is a red thread through journalcoaching is for women who are advanced in ism, teaching and coaching. I learned clarity, their career. how to gather information and how to comOnce clients have made the decision to purmunicate in a way that everyone understands sue a specific form of coaching with Daly, they through journalism. This was a great beginbegin their meetings. While some coaches meet ning skill set for anything. My writing was in person or communicate via the Internet, Daalways clear in academia too. When I started ly’s coaching is all conducted on the phone. She coaching people, in so many words, they believes this enhances privacy while cutting would eventually say, ‘I’m sorting things out. back on costs for both the client and the coach.

Everything’s a mess, but I’m getting clarity,’ ” Clients are asked to commit to weekly sessions Daly says. for a minimum of eights weeks.

Now, after providing nearly 10 years of life “An effective coaching process needs to get coaching, Daly assists clients locally, nationstarted with a period of intensity that builds ally and internationally. More specifically, she momentum. After eight weeks, we see where sees women. we are. My coaching is client-focused, so “I gave my first speech on women’s issues in clients decide how they want to proceed

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avvy Women

last word

The Power of Second Chances The most important second chance is the one you give yourself.

By Devon Bijansky, illustration by jessica wetterer A few years ago, I made a deal with a runner friend: If she would do something life changing, I would run a marathon with her. Although I run regularly as part of my (amateur) triathlon training, a marathon was never on my to-do list, but she did her part, so I was committed. I ended up getting injured and wasn’t able to run the same race she did, but I owed her a marathon, so I signed up for a training program aimed at the 2011 Austin Marathon.

It was agony. The weekly long runs were torture, and it didn’t help that running took me away from swimming, cycling, yoga and everything else I liked better than running. But if I was going to do it, I wanted to do it reasonably well, so I set a goal based on shorter races I had done.

After hundreds of miles of training, race day finally came. Despite all my training, I inexplicably hit the infamous “wall” around mile 12. The rest of the race was so demoralizing that I found myself wishing I’d just pass out already so I could stop. I missed my target by nearly half an hour. As someone used to setting goals and achieving them, it felt like a massive failure. All in all, it was one of the worst experiences of my life.

And shortly thereafter, the friend for whom I had run it proved herself not a friend at all.

Like so many others after a marathon, I swore I’d never run another,

but my feelings went so much deeper than that. If I’d had a time machine, I would have gone back to before the marathon and never run one at all. But that wasn’t an option, and I was haunted by a feeling of that can’t be my time forever. When asked, I continued to say I’d never run another marathon, but deep down, I knew that probably wasn’t true.

Earlier this year, a friend (a true friend, as true as they come) mentioned that she and some of her other friends had registered for the Portland, Ore., marathon. The time felt right to get back on that horse, so I invited myself along. Only four people knew what I was doing, and I gave myself permission to remove my timing chip before the finish if I didn’t hit that original goal. No pressure.

Maybe it was the different mindset—this one was for me, for redemption—but training through the sweltering Texas summer felt easier than my previous cool-weather training had been, and when race day came, I knew I’d be well under my goal time. From the start to the finish, running felt good—fun, even—and somehow, all that training turned into a Boston-qualifying run.

Ultimately, running a marathon, even a fast one, isn’t earth shattering, but it showed me the power of second chances and taught me that sometimes, the most important second chance is the one you give yourself.

March’s Last Word topic will be “How SXSW Changed My Life.”

To be considered, email a 500-word submission by Feb. 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com.

96 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015

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