June 2019

AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE | JUNE 2019

“Unless we are creators, we are not fully alive.” —Madeleine L’Engle

In a split second, her world was torn apart.

Roopal Bhatt was hit by an SUV while she was walking with her son and daughter.

It took months of therapy for her to learn how to walk again.

Watch her story at stdavids.com.

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ON THE COVER

THE DAILY GRIND

BY CHANTAL RICE

49

FEATURE

WILD MINDS AND DISCIPLINED EYES

Photo by Annie Ray.

BY HANNAH J. PHILLIPS

CONTENTS

Photo by Brianna Caleri.

JUNE

58 SAVVY WOMEN

GOURMET

18 C OUNT US IN

56 R ECIPE REVEAL

20 GIVE BACK

Women in Numbers

Sikara & Co.

22 F ROM THE DESK OF 24 S TART THE CONVO

Nina Means The Vaccine Debate

DISCOVER 27 TEXAS TRIPPIN’

58 F OOD NEWS

Lettuce Grow

WELLNESS 60 W AITING ROOM

Coleman

Velouria Frozen

Espresso Martini

62 H ER ROUTINE

Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness

Solo Paddler Lisa Rivera

STYLE + HOME

POINT OF VIEW

30 T RENDS

64 O N THE MONEY

All Ruffled Up

36 S EE HER WORK

Hatmaker Aimee Speer

38 A T WORK WITH

Kendra Scott

Getting Creative on a Budget

66 ASK LUCY Grocery Pup 68 I AM AUSTIN WOMAN Amy Cartwright

ON THE COVER Photo by Annie Ray annieraycreative.com Hair and makeup by Carin Gonzales elevecosmetics.com

8 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

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Promoting women in business is everyone’s business.

Through our women’s entrepreneur network, girl-focused STEM initiatives in school, and inclusion at our own workplace, Dell Technologies is committed to cultivating and commemorating women leaders around the world – and right here in our hometown of Austin.

ATXDOCTORS

A PUBLICATION OF AW MEDIA INC.

GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 10

CYNTHIA GUAJARDO SHAFER Publisher NIKI JONES

CHANTAL RICE

Creative Director

Managing Editor COURTNEY RUNN

Assistant Editor MADILYN BISCOE

Marketing and Events Manager AMBER CALLAHAN, MONIKA KELLEY

Account Executives POONAM PATEL

Operations Manager CONTRIBUTORS

Editorial: Brianna Caleri, Amy Cartwright, Kaiti Evans, Kara E. Henderson, Jenny Hoff, Anna Lassmann, Sabrina LeBoeuf, Hannah J. Phillips, Lucy J. Phillips, Chantal Rice, Courtney Runn, Gretchen M. Sanders, Andrea Tinning Art: Rudy Arocha, Brianna Caleri, Suzie Ford, Carin Gonzales, Kara E. Henderson, Korey Howell, Julia Keim, EllieMae Leal, Hannah J. Phillips, Taylor Prinsen, Annie Ray, Chantal Rice, Gretchen M. Sanders, Edward Verosky, Max Wanger, Madison Weakley, Jessica Wetterer INTERNS

Brianna Caleri, Kaiti Evans, Priscilla Flowers, Kara E. Henderson, Anna Lassmann, Sabrina LeBoeuf, Amanda MacFarlane, Chelsea Perry, Auva Saghafi, Andrea Tinning, Bailey Whelton

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FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR COMMUNITY

PARTNERS

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

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W

hat an exciting time to live in Austin, particularly if you love supporting female makers. Our once eccentric college town known as the weird confluence of hippies and cowboys has become a bit more refined, now hailing as a hub for techies, foodies and an abundance of makers, crafters and artists. OK, so maybe there are still a few hippies and cowboys, and that diversity of lifestyles is part of what makes Austin so enchanting and engaging, particularly for artisans and imaginative thinkers.

In this, Austin Woman’s first issue dedicated to the local female makers who help define this city as one of America’s most creative, we highlight some of the visionary women daringly and dynamically making their mark with their original designs, coveted products and innovative ideas. And while we could have filled many a magazine issue with the stories of Austin’s innumerable female makers, we are confident the women featured within these pages will inspire and enthrall you—and maybe even embolden you to embrace your own creative pursuits.

That’s definitely the case with our cover woman, the fearless and ingenious Nina Berenato, who has taken Austin by storm with her bespoke and bewitching jewelry designs, amulets she intentionally creates to arm women with a sense of strength and self-assurance, but who is also the epitome of altruism, selflessly making the support of other women a tenet of her flourishing business.

Additionally, the three women makers highlighted in our feature story—Raeka Panda of Raeka Beauty, Jennifer Kassell of Understated Leather and Christine Flores of The Beeswax Company—prove that creating a distinctive and handcrafted product is just the beginning; establishing a successful business based on that product is the real challenge, and these makers are crushing it!

From jewelry to fashion, beer and cocktails to food—even dog food—this makers-focused issue of AW spotlights a variety of creative industries and the talented local women behind these triumphant businesses.

If you’re feeling somewhat energized and motivated to pursue your own creative ventures after reading these makers’ stories, we encourage you to take that first step. Our financial contributor, Jenny Hoff, offers up some suggestions for tapping into your inner maker and exploring your creative side on a budget in her “On the Money” column, while Nina Means, the director of Austin Community College’s new Fashion Incubator, shares her tips for how Austin women can join the growing sphere of fashion entrepreneurship in our “From the Desk of” piece.

Whatever your passion, make it your own. And know a community of extraordinary Austin women are here to support and champion you.

As always, we love to hear your feedback about the women featured in our pages and the women who should be featured in our pages, so feel free to reach out with your ideas, recommendations and insights. Until then, we wish you all the success in, as our cover woman says, finding your true purpose and pursuing it in earnest.

Cheers!

CHANTAL RICE

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Join the conversation @AustinWoman #TheMakersIssue

12 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

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Headshot by Korey Howell.

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CONTRIBUTORS

hear a great story

This month, we asked our contributors: Who is your favorite local female maker?

ANNIE RAY

COVER STORY PHOTOGRAPHER, “THE DAILY GRIND,” PAGE 40 Since 2005, Annie Ray has focused on bringing out the “real stuff” in everything she shoots. Her relationship with every subject will make 1,000 words say so much more.

“Alyson Fox! I have known her since I moved to Austin, over 13 years now. Her work is amazing and she isn’t afraid to work with different mediums.”

HANNAH J. PHILLIPS

WRITER, “WILD MINDS AND DISCIPLINED EYES,” PAGE 49 Hannah J. Phillips is a freelance writer based in Austin with her pit bull, Lucy, who also contributes to Austin Woman through her monthly pets column, “Ask Lucy.” Covering food, culture and travel, Hannah enjoys writing stories about people who are making the world a better place.

On weekends, Hannah and Lucy love taking day trips and exploring state parks.

“It’s hard to pick just one! I’ve been so honored to share the stories of badass women like Samantha McCrary of Bricolage Curated Florals (I’m so inspired by her grit and grace), and serial entrepreneurs like Monica Peraza (I’m amazed by everything she has done for Austin and the arts), and the three incredible creatives in this month’s makers feature. Writing about women pursuing their dreams inspires me to keep chasing my own!”

ELLIEMAE LEAL

HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTIST, “ALL RUFFLED UP,” PAGE 30 EllieMae Leal is one half of a collaborative duo called The Hybrid Canvas, which provides on-location hair and makeup services.

Her passion is in fashion and production, and she has worked in the beauty industry for 12 years, specializing in bridal and specialoccasion services. You can see her work at thehybridcanvas.com.

Upcoming events: February 9 Singin’ in the Rain— film with orchestra Austin symphony’s Butler pops at Long center’s Dell Hall, 8:00 p.m. peter Bay, conductor February 22 & 23 brahms’ Requiem masterworks series at Long center’s Dell Hall, 8:00 p.m.

With conspirare symphonic choir craig Hella Johnson, guest conductor peter Bay, conductor

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“Julie McCullough of McCullough Official is my favorite female maker local to me and based out of Dallas. Her store, located in the Bishop Arts District, is a one-ofa-kind experience that centers around her unique and practical designs. I admire her designs most because they blur gender lines.”

Singin’ in the Rain

all artists, programs, and dates subject to change.

MADISON WEAKLEY

ILLUSTRATOR, “FROM THE DESK OF NINA MEANS,” PAGE 22

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Madison Weakley is a multidisciplinary artist and illustrator based in Dallas. She is a University of Texas graduate and has been creating work since 2014. Her work is inspired by the everyday life: the people and things she encounters, along with small details, textures and colors. As an elementaryschool art educator, she is inspired and fueled by the natural desire to explore, express and experiment.

“My favorite female maker is Emily Eisenhart. I just recently discovered her work and have fallen in love with it. It is so colorful and lively and captivating. It is eye-catching and refreshing and leaves you feeling, which is exactly what art should do.”

“Don’t you know yet?

It is your light that lights the worlds.”

—Rumi

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CONNECT WITH US! IN CASE YOU MISSED IT… Check us out at atxwoman.com.

➥ Rape-kit Backlog. With much due pressure from local advocates and sexual-assault

survivors, the Texas Legislature delved into several key pieces of legislation in the most recent session that addressed the backlog of more than 2,100 untested rape kits in the state and would streamline processing procedures so victims can finally get justice.

➥ Let’s Go on Safari! As 9-year-old Austinite Kate Gilman Williams says, “Advocacy

has no age limit.” And she should know. The third grader recently traveled to South Africa, where she learned all about wildlife conservation, a topic that quickly became close to her heart. After returning home, she turned her interest into action, writing the book Let’s Go on Safari!, which has since sparked a movement to get other kids involved with wildlife advocacy.

➥ Casa Marianella. With the goal of providing shelter, food and supportive services— including financial, legal and medical care—to homeless immigrants, particularly women and children, Austin-based Casa Marianella is easing the burdens of immigrants from more than 40 countries, many of whom entered the U.S. seeking asylum and fleeing dangerous circumstances.

comes High Note, a new restaurant focused on the modern healthy lifestyle. Check out its recipe for fresh-squeezed celery juice, and for more daring imbibers, how to spike it with tequila.

WIN THIS!

UNDERSTATED LEATHER LADY LUCK CAMERA BAG One fortunate Austin Woman reader will soon luck out, thanks to maker Jennifer Kassell and her chic fashion brand, Understated Leather. The company, inspired by Kassell’s Australian heritage and rooted firmly in the Texas way of life, will bestow our giveaway winner with the stylish Lady Luck Camera Bag (a $210 value). Perfectly sized for a day at the office or a night on the town, this nubuckleather crossbody bag, which features a solid-brass-chain shoulder strap plated in brushed gunmetal, is finished with a detailed custom horseshoe buckle designed exclusively for Understated Leather. To enter to win, follow us on Instagram @austinwoman and stay on the lookout for the giveaway announcement in mid-June. A winner will be chosen and notified by the end of the month.

DON’T MISS Austin Woman Summer Launch Party June 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Kendra Scott Flagship, 1701 S. Congress Ave. atxevent.com

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Let’s Go on Safari! photo courtesy of PR by the Book. Celery juice photo courtesy of High Note. Win This photo by Taylor Prinsen.

➥ High Note. From the team behind beloved Austin establishment Kerbey Lane Cafe

Dominic trusted the adult who sexually assaulted him.

When he eventually told his mom, she felt the trauma along with him.

Dominic and his mother came to Eloise House, SAFE’s forensic clinic for a rape exam and supportive services. They received immediate care and continue to meet with a counselor.

Together, they are healing.

You can help SAFE provide safety, stability, and healing for anyone who has experienced violence and abuse.

Learn more at safeaustin.org.

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WOMEN IN NUMBERS

As manufactured products become the norm, handmade goods— particularly those made by women—are making a comeback.

BY ANDREA TINNING, ILLUSTRATIONS BY JESSICA WETTERER

$44 Billion From furniture and jewelry making to statement art pieces, artists are more than just makers in the literal sense of the word; they’re money makers. While the female-dominated crafting industry is often overlooked in comparison with others, it makes up a huge market in the national economy. A study by the Association for Creative Industries found the U.S. creative industry to be worth nearly $44 billion in 2016. Research was conducted in part by analyzing the average American’s monthly craft spending. In comparison, the sports industry is expected to be worth more than $73 billion by this year, but there’s no World Series or Super Bowl for needlework.

35 Percent You don’t have to be a grandma to love quilting, and you don’t have to have decades of experience to be considered a crafting expert. Changing things up from previous decades, people between the ages of 18 and 34 now outnumber 55-plus crafters in the United States, comprising 35 percent of the total craft market.

No. 1 As a state known for having bighearted and hardworking people, Texas employs more craft artists than any other state. A “craft artist” is defined as someone who creates or reproduces handmade objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery and needlecraft, but other creative industries ranging from writing to the performing arts are also included in this category. Following close behind for the states with the most crafters are California, New York, Georgia and Colorado.

$17.66 1.98 Million When Etsy launched in 2005, many disregarded it as a fanciful crafters’ version of eBay. Lo and behold, now boasting 1.98 million sellers, 86 percent of whom are women, Etsy has slam-dunked on the e-commerce market, proving there’s a strong demand for handmade and artisan goods.

The company facilitated more than $3.25 billion in merchandise sales during 2017, saw revenue growth of 37 percent in 2018 and is expected to further grow revenue by 31 percent in 2019.

18 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

Who says all artists are starving? While it’s true not everyone can be Picasso, crafters can still overcome the stereotype of having to sacrifice their passion for money and rake in some cash.

And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas is a nice place to make it happen. The average hourly wage for craft artists in the Lone Star State is $17.66, compared with the national median wage of $16.46.

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GIVE BACK

THINKING GLOBALLY, GIVING LOCALLY

Local jewelry brand Sikara & Co. takes Austinites on a journey of exploration and generosity.

BY JENNY HOFF

This is what Mousumi Shaw dreamed of when she founded Sikara & Co. Modern Fusion Jewelry, a brand inspired by the architecture, sights and people from throughout the world. While the theme is global, Sikara’s impact is very much local. Every year, the company supports almost 60 organizations that empower women and children, further the arts and help budding entrepreneurs.

“I want to show entrepreneurs that you don’t need to have a multimillion-dollar business to give back and be involved,” Shaw says.

“There are so many ways to contribute to the community.”

Shaw says creativity is key. Whether it’s providing event space, donating goods or offering mentorship opportunities, every little bit a local business provides can strengthen the community.

Nonprofit leaders agree.

“Local businesses are such an important part of our fundraising,” says Christi Cuellar Lotz, director of development for Ballet Austin, which Sikara & Co. works with to help bring in revenue. “We simply could not function without their support.”

Mousumi Shaw

20 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

Shaw credits her philanthropic drive to an experience she had at 7 years old, when she visited her parents’ hometown of Calcutta, India. The poverty she witnessed made a stark impression.

“I felt grateful to be born in America and into the family I have,” she recalls. “If those children had the same opportunities as me, they probably would have been the ones to go to Harvard or start their own businesses.”

Sikara & Co. opened in Austin in 2007 with a showroom on Rio Grande Street. After founding a technology startup and then attending Harvard Business School, Shaw knew she wanted to start a business that would inspire women to go on an adventure, to experience the world.

“I was passionate about travel and photography. I loved sharing the history of the world with people,” she says. “And I grew up in the jewelry business. I saw an opportunity to create a brand of jewelry that was unique and had a story to tell.”

With rings inspired by a snake charmer in India, necklaces reminiscent of Icelandic sculptures and earrings evocative of Antoni Gaudí’s famous architecture in Barcelona, Spain, each one of the 600 pieces in Sikara & Co.’s collection is inspired by an original travel photo Shaw took in one of 10 countries.

“Some of our customers love to travel and want a piece of jewelry that reminds them of their favorite country,” she says. “Others dream of travel

Photo by Julia Keim.

There’s nothing like a statement piece to complete a look.

But when that piece comes with a story of adventure in distant lands and an impact here at home, that’s when you’ve really made a statement.

and want something that inspires them to do it.”

Inspiring and empowering women is at the heart of Sikara & Co.’s company values and key for Shaw herself. For the last decade, she has been actively involved with the Girl Scouts and the Young Women’s Alliance, which provides mentorship to women starting out in their careers.

Sikara & Co. has also created unique jewelry pieces to support specific causes, like a teardrop necklace inspired by the documentary Camp 72, which details the experience of a girl named Gladys who was held captive by rebel soldiers during Liberia’s civil war. Engraved on the necklace is the phrase “Peace is love,” and the proceeds from each sale help give Gladys the education she was robbed of as a prisoner.

“Thanks in part to sales of the pendant, Gladys is now attending university, with the goal of becoming a human-rights lawyer,” says the filmmaker, Seema Mathur, a former Austin news reporter. “We can collectively bring positive change. The making and purchasing of the Camp 72 pendant is one example of that.”

Even after hours, often, the lights are on at the flagship Sikara & Co. store on Second Street, as organizations enjoy free use of the space to host events.

“It’s my way of thanking my customers who keep us in business,” Shaw says. “Whenever you buy a Sikara piece, you’re not only getting a beautiful piece of jewelry inspired by the beauty of another country, but you’re also supporting your local community.

I think that matters.”

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FROM THE DESK OF

NINA MEANS

The director of ACC’s Fashion Incubator offers her tips for starting a fashion brand.

STORY BY SABRINA LEBOEUF, ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON WEAKLEY When it comes to fashion, Nina Means knows more than just what to wear. As the director of Austin Community College’s newly launched Fashion Incubator, Means is an expert when it comes to entrepreneurship in the fashion world.

After interning with brands like Rebecca Taylor and Kohl’s and designing for American Eagle Outfitters and H by Halston, Means moved to Austin and began her own Nina Means apparel label.

With experience in multiple facets of the fashion industry, Means is hoping to use her expertise to help new designers build their skills and start their own businesses. Even though she’s sacrificing part of her own brand to lead the ACC Fashion Incubator, she sees this as part of building the future of the fashion industry.

Following the launch of the Fashion Incubator April 30, Means shares her advice for up-and-coming fashion entrepreneurs.

YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO START YOUR BUSINESS. “One of the things regarding fashion is that we have an appetite. Our consumer behavior has an appetite for special, niche product. I think just that culture of Austin [makes it] a really great place for an emerging designer to start. Whether it’s participating in CraftHer Market or the [Junior League] or getting incubated at [an] incubator like ours, [when] really learning how to grow a business, the local community can really support this.”

22 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

WORK WITH ANOTHER BRAND BEFORE STARTING YOURS. “I think the network and collaboration you get from working with other businesses is really important for a young designer. You don’t have to make all the costly mistakes yourself. You can learn from the businesses of others.

The fashion industry is very expensive, and it’s easy to make a costly mistake.”

WHEN SEEKING FUNDING, HAVE A DEFINED BUSINESS PLAN. “Some people go the route of looking at a lender once they’ve created a [concept]...but for a lender, they’re going to want to know how they’re going to get their money back. Having a clearly identified business model is going to help you be able to do that.”

QUALITATIVE FEEDBACK IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS QUANTITATIVE FEEDBACK. “I’ve literally seen a customer put on a jacket and then walk around the store and keep shopping, like she’s taking it home. ... [With] those qualitative assessments, sometimes you’re able to get both sides of the equation just by being present.”

MINIMIZE YOUR HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPETITION. “In fashion, we call it ‘white space.’ We encourage businesses to find the white space. What that means is, ‘Where is the hole? Where is the opportunity in the market and where do you fit in to that?’ ”

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TO VACCINATE OR NOT TO VACCINATE

Here’s what you need to know about the vaccine debate and potential looming health crisis.

BY COURTNEY RUNN is concerned and actively preparing for one.

“I think it does have potential to become a health crisis just because it can rapidly spread within a community,” she says. “Because we are becoming more of an international hot spot and we have people flying in daily to [Austin-Bergstrom International Airport], it does present a challenge for us.”

The health department regularly monitors for more than 70 “different notifiable conditions,” which include vaccine-preventable diseases like whooping cough and mumps, which occur annually in Austin.

The health department has a 24/7 hotline through which medical providers can immediately report cases so the department can initiate outbreak protocol.

In addition to checking on vaccine inventories, in order to prepare for a potential measles outbreak, Pichette says the department closely monitors measles cases throughout the country and world, and educates local health-care professionals about how to recognize and treat measles, as some doctors have not seen or treated measles in their careers.

To encourage vaccination efforts, APH operates two Austin clinMEASLES IN TEXAS ics to provide vaccines to anyone, The Centers for Disease Control and regardless of insurance, citizenship Prevention defines a disease outbreak or residency. According to the CDC, as three or more cases in one area, and the measles vaccine is 97 percent according to that definition, seven states effective when both recommended are currently experiencing an outdoses are taken, meaning only 3 break of measles (Texas is not one percent of vaccinated people may of them). This year, as of mid-May, still get the disease.

HOW TO START THE CONVO 880 cases were reported in the “Washing your hands and staying country, a 136.6 percent increase Know the facts. Hot topics thrive on hearsay. Do your rehome when you’re sick, in general, from 2018, representing the highsearch as you engage with your community on this issue. is always a good thing you can do est number of reported cases in Janet Pichette suggests visiting austintexas.gov/resident/ to prevent spreading illness in your the past decade and the highest public-health or cdc.gov. workplace or out in the community,” number, according to the CDC, Pichette says, noting knowing the since 1994.

Talk to your doctor. Many doctors offer vaccine delays if signs and symptoms of measles can A recent study by researchers at you’re concerned about the effects or aren’t sure about be key in recognizing the long-dorthe University of Texas and Johns the pacing of the traditional vaccine schedule. mant illness.

Hopkins University found Travis Call your representatives. Regardless of your position, County is one of 25 of the most atVACCINE EXEMPTIONS talk to your local political reps to make your voice and risk communities in the country for a From allergies to religious convicconcerns heard. measles outbreak. Harris County and tions, reasons vary for vaccine Tarrant County are also among the Know the symptoms. According to the World Health exemptions. While most states offer top 25. The report cites non-medical Organization, measles symptoms include a runny nose, religion-based exemptions, Texas vaccination exemptions and internacough, red and watery eyes, white spots inside the cheeks also offers residents an “exemption tional travel as the two most common and a body-wide rash. for reasons of conscience,” leading factors in the potential spread of to its high rate of unvaccinated com“vaccine-preventable diseases.” munities. In the capital city, Austin While measles is returning at higher Waldorf School has the largest number of students with exemptions, rates, the report iterates that many airborne diseases that were thought to be with 45 percent of its student body filing for a “conscientious exempeliminated from the U.S. could also return with these factors at play. tion” in the 2018-2019 school year. Austin Discovery School comes in Janet Pichette, the chief epidemiologist for the Austin Public Health second, with 35 percent. department, confirms there has not been a case of measles in Austin this year. While she can’t predict an outbreak, she says the health department In a media statement, representatives of Austin Waldorf School said while

Measles is making headlines again. The highly contagious disease infected 3 million to 4 million Americans each year at its peak but was officially eliminated in 2000, largely due to an aggressive vaccination campaign that prescribed a double dose of the measles vaccine. Nineteen years later, the disease is at the forefront of vaccine debates, and it’s increasingly difficult to sift through the heated socialmedia debates and clickbait headlines to find out whether a health crisis truly is threatening the country.

From Americans concerned about government-mandated vaccines to parents convinced vaccines lead to more diseases to others fully supporting vaccines, everyone is picking sides.

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almost half the student body filed for exemptions, many of those students have some or all vaccines but are on a delayed vaccination schedule. While alternative vaccination schedules are not promoted by national health organizations, many doctors do offer and support flexible schedules.

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PERSONAL FREEDOM VERSUS PUBLIC SAFETY Beyond debating the safety of vaccines, the issue of parental rights versus public safety emerges in the national conversation about vaccines.

Rebecca Hardy, director of state policy at Texans for Vaccine Choice, says she first joined the political vaccine fight when one of her Dallas representatives introduced a bill that would remove vaccine exemptions in schools. With a child in school with a vaccine exemption, she was determined to not let the bill pass. She created a Facebook group with other moms with the same stance, and the group quickly grew from 20 to thousands, and during the 2015 legislative session, she says they successfully fought against multiple vaccine bills. “My greatest fear is to wake up in a state that no longer values parental rights,� she says. “When we start elevating the rights of one group, you are removing the rights of another, and that is not the definition of a free society.�

While Hardy personally doubts the safety and reliability of vaccines, she is clear to say her organization supports vaccine access. Her primary concern is forced vaccinations or exclusion of children from schools or other public places based on vaccine exemptions. “We do not advocate to dismantle the vaccine program in this state,� she says. “We do firmly believe informed consent is lacking when it comes to vaccines and we do encourage informed consent.�

Many parents worry their children will be excluded based on personal beliefs. Beyond exclusion, families may also face backlash from communities because of their decision to not vaccinate. Several parents declined to comment for this story based on that fear.

While the vaccine debate rages on, the likelihood of more outbreaks in the U.S. is high. To make an informed decision and continue this conversation within your own community, see our tips for starting the convo.

VACCINES BY THE NUMBERS 22ND MOST AT RISK Travis County is the 22nd most at-risk community in the U.S. for a measles outbreak.

1/4 OF TEXAS CHILDREN More than one-fourth of the children in Texas don’t receive the recommended immunizations by age 2.

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880 CASES Some 880 cases of measles have been reported in the U.S. this year.

97% The measles vaccine is 97 percent effective when both recommended doses are taken.

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DISCOVER

SMALL TOWN 2.0 Photo by Chantal Rice.

Two optimistic serial entrepreneurs are breathing new life into historic Coleman, Texas, with their modern and sophisticated establishments.

BY CHANTAL RICE Mural by Calina Johnson, facebook.com/calinamishay

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with gorgeous photographs of nature and the ranching lifestyle shot by Robert Williamson himself; the RLV vineyards and wine bar; their sleek yet approachable Rancho Pizzeria; and their keystone business, Rancho Loma, a five-room boutique hotel nestled among hundreds of acres of idyllic countryside.

While the chic nature of these establishments may belie the weathered essence of this town, formed in 1876, the Williamsons’ enterprises do hold alluring appeal, for visitors to Coleman anyway.

“This is our home and we wanted to improve it,” Laurie Williamson says of why the couple desired to bring their businesses to town, beginning in 2006 with the opening of their Rancho Loma restaurant and continuing on to as recently as 2015 with the birth of their pizzeria. “Our businesses are definitely a weekend thing Despite its many relics of a bygone era, there is a charm to this quaint with people from out of town. Locals either love us or not.” burgh. A turn down Commercial Avenue, once lined with the And therein lies the paradox of small-town revitalizamany fundamental businesses of a small community, tion. For instance, though the RLV wine bar is a shiny reveals strands of festive lights strung low above and swanky example of what progress can look the street, as well as pleasant melodies pumped Despite its many relics like (and is the kind of classy, modern tasting through a public sound system and an assortment room that would be consistently packed were of a bygone era, there of splendid wall-sized murals, many of them creatit located in Austin), locals rarely frequent the ed by Texas artist Calina Johnson. The few locals joint, perhaps considering it a bit too out of is a charm to this sauntering into the Coleman Public Library or place for Coleman. Additionally, residents were Owl Drug—Coleman County’s hometown pharmacy not so keen to pay for high-priced coffees when quaint burgh. since 1923—are warm and easygoing.

Laurie Williamson opened a contemporary café across But modernity is creeping—and sometimes clawing its slick the street, forcing her to shutter the business before it really way—into Coleman, with varied success. The latest merchants hawking got off the ground. She hopes a soon-to-open steakhouse taking progress are Laurie and Robert Williamson, who hail from West Texas its place will be more readily embraced. However, locals are quick but escaped to Coleman after careers in the film industry in Dallas, opento extol the attributes of Rancho Pizzeria, even happily offering ing a slew of local businesses, including their glossy 410 Gallery, filled up opinions about their favorite pizza options, essentially proving

Photo courtesy of Rancho Loma.

Rolling into the small town of Coleman, Texas, population less than 5,000, is akin to jaunting into just about any other minimally inhabited Texas locale off the beaten path: Oncethriving businesses have departed, leaving behind empty lots and ramshackle structures haunted by the memories of generations past, though, of course, the courthouse remains a dominant fixture on the square; few locals wander the streets, presumably secreted away in their timeworn homes on the edges of town; and peeks of billowing green, combined with the unmistakable fragrance of livestock, hint at the acres upon acres of wide-open spaces, ranchland and prairie just beyond the hill.

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Photos courtesy of Rancho Loma. RLV wine bar photo by Chantal Rice.

that tiny Texas communities may only welcome so much—or particular varieties of—revitalization at a time.

The Williamsons’ tony and cozy Rancho Loma hotel and on-site restaurant, located a few miles away in Talpa, Texas, don’t have trouble attracting guests, as most patrons of the inn visit from larger Texas cities, and the restaurant’s fare—cooked up exquisitely by Laurie Williamson, with the menu revised weekly—is nearly reason enough to travel the three-plus hours from Austin to Coleman, but there are some seemingly discordant characteristics of the hotel property.

Located on a vast amount of land, the hotel begs for visitors to disconnect and refresh amid phenomenal big skies and unspoiled pastoral views, friendly chickens and the many farm animals that call the place home, and bask in the genuinely unequaled lush air and lack of cellphone service. But by virtue of the fact that the modestly scaled inn boasts only five rooms, albeit luxurious in their minimalistic style, it can feel a bit like close quarters, particularly for guests who may be in search of a solitary experience among nature. And the lack of bathroom doors in the guest rooms adds to the potential for discomfort or awkwardness, even among room cohabitants.

Likewise, the adjacent restaurant—which oddly does not carry RLV wines nor any alcohol, for that matter—is compact in nature and reminiscent of a classic stone cabin, with tight seating for only about a dozen guests. This inherent intimacy leads to somewhat of a forced communal ambience that may not be espoused by all.

Regardless of a few possibly vexing details, Rancho Loma is worth the visit, its off-the-grid qualities providing a welcome chance to luxuriate amid a ravishing natural landscape. And the folks who reside in Coleman, billed the friendliest town in Texas, are more than happy to tip their hats to visitors, along with a hardy “Howdy!”

MUST-VISIT COLEMAN SPOTS Rancho Loma hotel, rancholoma.com Rancho Pizzeria, ranchopizzeria.com 410 Gallery, 410.gallery Rancho Loma Vineyards and wine bar, rlv.wine Bonneville retro furnishings and accessories, m.facebook.com/bonnevillecoleman Owl Drug, owldrugrx.com J.L. Palmer Boot Co., facebook.com/groups/287946172053430 Coleman Public Library, cityofcolemantx.us/library ATXWOMAN.COM | 29

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TRENDS

ALL RUFFLED UP

Bright colors and ruffle details are a must this summer.

PHOTOS BY RUDY AROCHA HAIR AND MAKEUP BY ELLIEMAE LEAL STYLED BY NIKI JONES MODELED BY SUZIE FORD SHOT ON LOCATION AT FONDA SAN MIGUEL

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Page 30: Free People floral-print V-neck fluttersleeve maxi dress, $128; necklace, stylist’s own.

This page: Free People Summer in Tulum tunic, $108.

Both looks available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 31

[ON LOCATION] Color: It teases the spirit in whimsical décor, triggers emotion when splashed on canvas and tempts like foreplay when served on a plate. It is also the essence of Mexico’s interior, brought to life at Fonda San Miguel, Austin’s premier restaurant for the distinctive cuisines of Mexico.

Fonda San Miguel is considered the grande dame of cocina de origen of Mexico experiences, and it all begins when you walk up to the front doors, massive and hand-carved and from the state of Guanajuato. Inside, the atrium is a Mexican embrace, big and familial. Around you, art by some of Mexico’s most renowned artists captures the pure soul of Mexico. You can hear the bar bustling with longtime patrons while Fonda’s most dedicated staff awaits you in the dining room. After more than 40 years of success, Fonda San Miguel is a celebration of its distinctive cuisine, its colorful history and the transforming influence it has had on Mexican restaurants throughout the country, a place where culinary connoisseurs, art lovers, visiting celebrities and guests all come to partake and enjoy. fondasanmiguel.com

32 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

Page 32: Eliza J. halter ruffle maxi dress, $178.

This page: Alice + Olivia Julius tie-neck rufflesleeve blouse, $295; Tinsel acid-wash denim shorts, $49; bracelet, stylist’s own.

Both looks available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 33

Fuzzi floral tulle ruffle dress, $470, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com.

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SOCO | L AMAR | DOMAIN

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HATS OFF

Aimee Speer of Covet Hats finds inspiration in her clients’ personal style.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KARA E. HENDERSON

Though an avid collector of hats since her early 20s, Aimee Speer never envisioned she would thrive as a custom hatmaker in the heart of Texas. In fact, when she moved to Austin from New York nearly 20 years ago, she initially entered the Southern fashion scene with the launch of her denim company, Hem Jeans.

“I had a boutique downtown for 10 years,” Speer says. “I loved being in the fashion industry but wanted to create something with my own two hands. The manufacturing process gets lost in translation, and you’re basically putting your vision in someone else’s hands instead of knowing that everything is the way you want it and [ensuring] the craftsmanship and quality is there.”

So, in 2015, she made a pivotal decision.

“I closed the store,” she says. “My third daughter was born and I took six months off and just thought about my life.”

It was during this time—the first break she’d taken from working since she was 16 years old— that she had a revelation.

“I realized I need to be working. I’m not the stay-at-home-mom type,” Speer says. “My identity is my work. I’m passionate about it.”

While she knew fashion was the right field, she wasn’t sure what her role would be in it. But soon, clarity came.

“One day,” she says, “I put on a hat and looked

36 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

in the mirror and thought, ‘How do you make a hat?’ I started obsessing over not knowing how to make a hat and I wanted to find out how.”

Thus, Covet Hats was born.

To Speer, a hat is “one of those pieces I consider wearable art because it’s so personal, and people don’t always have that opportunity to [own] something that is truly made for them; they put [it] on their body and that represents them.”

The start of her hat-making journey was paved with dead ends and denials.

“It was a frustrating process,” she shares. “I got a lot of doors slammed in my face, people turning me down for information or apprenticeships.

Fortunately, she found an ally in legendary hatmaker James C. Whittington, better known as J.W. “I found a gentleman online that after 35 years wanted to pass on the knowledge of his craft,” Speer says. “He was ready and at a place in his life where he just wanted to give information and spread the techniques. He was brilliant.”

In terms of what inspires her, Speer has a simple answer.

“My clients and what’s important to them,” she says. “I sit down and pretty much interview them. I get a sense of their style. It’s one of those pieces you need to feel good in every day.

Ultimately, I want [my clients] to be happy when they come to pick up their hat, and to light up a little bit when they put it on.”

“I feel grateful for all of the support in the [Austin] community. I’ve been fortunate where I now have a waitlist, because there’s only so many hats that I can make in a day. It’s humbling to know that people are willing to wait for my work because they could go get a hat from anywhere or from any other hatmaker.

The fact that they’ve chosen me is such a gift, and I don’t take it for granted.” – Aimee Speer

ATXWOMAN.COM | 37

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AT WORK WITH

KENDRA SCOTT

Look inside the dreamy jewelry headquarters on South Lamar Boulevard.

BY COURTNEY RUNN

Deep within the office, the woman responsible for the free pedicures and workout classes and crown-molding-trimmed hallways sits behind a shimmering gold desk. Kendra Scott remembers what it felt like to work long hours in retail only to eat lunch on a mop bucket in a grungy back room. Now, as the CEO of a global jewelry brand, she’s committed to building her “ideal heaven of what a work environment would be.” She starts every day with her namesake smoothie, the Kendra Green Jade (kale, spinach, mango, banana, pineapple, almond milk and vanilla protein), and encourages her employees to take advantage of the healthy options to beat the afternoon slump. (But, of course, her company stocks candy too, she says.)

The South Lamar Boulevard headquarters reflects Scott’s personal and corporate style, with neutral palettes and pops of colors. From wallpaper made of original jewelry sketches to conference rooms inspired by precious gems, every inch of the space is on brand. The company’s family-first core value also translates to the design, with a nursing room for moms and refrigerators dedicated to storing breast milk. While Scott is passionate about her business, she’s clear with her staff that work is just one part of life, so if they’re struggling to make it to workout classes, she’ll bring the gym to them. According to Scott, the company is more than

Photo courtesy of Kendra Scott.

Entering the Kendra Scott headquarters is like walking onto a rom-com set.

Women in chic, trendy outfits click down the manicured hallways, navigating the maze of conference rooms with a swipe of a badge. Gold drips from every surface, punctuated by the company’s signature yellow, and everything is Kendra Scott branded, from the weights in the office’s gym to the polishes at the nail salon. If an employee doesn’t have time to grab breakfast on the way to work, there’s a smoothie bar and fully stocked snack kitchen she can peruse.

38 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

96 percent female, and she’s always dreaming up perks for her employees. She wants the office to be their second home.

“There’s no such thing around here as back space or backrooms,” she says. “Every space is beautiful.”

Scott gave us a look inside her dream office and talked about the impact design has on company culture.

working in our distribution center, whether you’re working in one of our over 95 stores, you have that same warmth and love, and it was important to me that my employees know how much I respect and care for them, and the way that I can show them that respect is…by just giving them an amazing work space.”

ON HER PERSONAL DESIGN STYLE “I love mixing old with new. I love contemporary art, but I also want a home that’s very comfortable and livable that you feel like you can sit on any chair and any sofa.

You don’t have to worry about hurting anything in my house. So, it’s not museum-y at all, but it still is beautiful.”

ON WHO IS INSPIRING HER RIGHT NOW “I love [Monique Lhuillier] as a person. … I think she’s approaching the fashion industry with heart and kindness and I really look to people like that, people who are balancing fashion but also…are able to do something good. I look at brands like Tesla and Elon Musk. He is a revolutionary thinker. He’s not just changing industry; he’s changing the world.”

ON WHERE SHE FINDS HER FAVORITE PIECES “I love going to all the galleries here. [Gallery] Shoal Creek is one of my favorites.

Wally Workman is always doing amazing things. So, I’m always looking at our local art galleries, and they bring in amazing artists. … I love antiques, so I love Jean-Marc at [Jean-Marc Fray French Antiques]. We have a lot of antique, vintage pieces mixed in with the new and contemporary pieces.”

Top left photo courtesy of Kendra Scott. Top right and bottom photos by Kara E. Henderson.

ON WHY EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE INTENTIONAL WITH WORK SPACES “That’s where a lot of companies are like, ‘That’s where we’re going to save money,’ but they’re actually hurting themselves because they’re not creating happy employees, and we want our team to feel loved, no matter where they are. … No matter where you work within our company, whether you’re here at this amazing headquarters, whether you’re

ON HER PHILOSOPHY AS A BOSS “I think compassion to your employees brings passion to them in their workplace and kindness brings loyalty. If more companies got that, this world would be a different place and the work environment for people would be so different. And I promise you when you do those two things, when you’re compassionate and you’re kind and you show respect, you’ll have employees that will give it their all every single day.”

KENDRA SCOTT’S FAVORITE TEXAS ARTISTS Diana Greenberg Sydney Yeager Joyce Howell Roi James

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THE DAILY

Grind Jewelry designer Nina Berenato has spent a lifetime in preparation to become one of Austin’s most beloved makers. By employing her impressive (and mostly self-taught) skills, tapping a seemingly endless well of inspiration and displaying an insightful and compassionate approach to her community, she’s proving she’s the real jewel.

BY CHANTAL RICE PHOTOS BY ANNIE RAY HAIR AND MAKEUP BY CARIN GONZALES

40 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE FEBRUARY 2019 2019

On somewhat of a whim and with a fierce bootstrapping mentality, hospitality and specialevents queen Kim Hanks built her vast kingdom, coming to reign in the Wedding Capital of Texas.

BY HANNAH J. PHILLIPS | PHOTOS BY ANNIE RAY HAIR AND MAKEUP BY GERTIE WILSON | STYLED BY ASHLEY HARGROVE

ATXWOMAN.COM |  41

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FORGING THE PATH

Throughout the long course of time, the connection between women and power has been laced with mysticism, struggle and no little amount of portent. Ancient Romans might make a ritual offering to Fortuna, the goddess of fortune, in hopes of a lucky harvest. Ancient Greeks invoked the goddess Nemesis when longing for divine retribution. In Norse mythology, the Valkyries, the handmaidens of Odin, held immense persuasion over which warriors would be slain in battle.

And the foundation of the indigenous Kogi people’s way of life stems from a belief in the creator figure known as The Great Mother. But in 2019 in Austin, Texas, women seeking to emancipate themselves from society’s holds and arm themselves with handforged, otherworldly, formidable talismans turn to Nina Berenato.

Berenato is a maker in the true sense of the word. In her mere three decades on this earth, she has designed and created countless pieces of wearable art, wielding various implements with practiced precision, lionhearted zeal and a startling amount of grace. But despite her designs being influenced by the terrestrial and ethereal planes, the cosmic and the folkloric, her true muse is her customer.

“At the end of the day, I am a maker at my core and I just want to be in there getting dirty making my things. … But the most important thing is for every woman to be able to wear these pieces and feel comfortable,” says Berenato, who began her career in jewelry modestly when apprenticing under a jewelry designer in Brooklyn, N.Y., picking up shaping techniques and construction methods in a slapdash and sometimes chaotic sort of on-the-job training. “Every time I’m creating, it still goes back to what’s visually appealing to me, what in history or in nature is really sparking my interest—that’s kind of where my design eye comes from—but now I’m doing it with way more of a purpose. … We’re telling this brand story and, for me, there’s a heroine in the story, and it’s our customer. It’s not me.”

Much of that purpose evolved out of Berenato’s connection with Austin women in particular. After deciding to move from New York, she turned to market research to determine her career’s next sphere, applying two criteria. She discovered Austin was the city with the most economic growth and the fewest jewelry stores. So, she set her sights on the capital city, setting up a pop-up shop in the unlikely mall setting of Barton Creek Square just in time for the holiday season. But after she experienced a series of disheartening circumstances, a New York friend suggested Berenato connect with another friend, burgeoning public-relations wiz Cara Caulkins. In 2015, while both women were working to launch their own brands, the two became fast friends, with Caulkins even offering up her spare bedroom so Berenato could check out of the Airbnb she’d been inhabiting for a month. (The pair could sometimes be found literally selling Berenato’s jewelry off their own bodies to admirers on the street.) Before long, Berenato purchased and decked out a vintage Airstream trailer and parked it at a more suitable location: Barton Springs Road.

“In terms of starting to create these designs that are specifically used to empower women, that never happened until I got to Austin,” Berenato says, reminiscing about customers visiting her Airstream shop and regaling her with stories about wanting to treat themselves to her jewelry after landing a new job or overcoming various life challenges. “Someone would say, ‘If I’m going into a meeting with all men, I put this ear cuff on because it makes me feel so powerful,’ and I was shocked. It made me feel like I had this power with the jewelry to give something back, and that kind of developed into the jewelry line being more of something of service to the women than just being something I wanted to make. … Austin women have been what launched me into where I am now. I owe the women of Austin everything.

Really, I’m thankful for them every day and I’m driven to keep creating for them.”

From Caulkins’ perspective, there was never a doubt Berenato would become successful in Austin.

“One of the things that is so impressive about Nina is her passion for all that she does, especially her business,” Caulkins says. “It literally defines her and she doesn’t stray away from her mission or her direction for her business, no matter what anyone says. I think that is when I knew early on that she would be successful in whatever she puts her mind to. She is determined and passionate.”

ATXWOMAN.COM | 43

PROVING HER METTLE Born and raised in St. Louis, Berenato always thought she’d become a fashion designer, calling her journey into jewelry a “complete weirdo, falling-into-it situation,” particularly considering she rarely wears jewelry herself. And like many aspects of her life, her calling toward a fashion vocation was driven by her experiences as a child. Self-identifying as “super artsy,” “weird” and a “late bloomer,” Berenato grew up with divorced parents and was mostly raised by her mother, a religious and frugal woman who Berenato says didn’t wish to spend money on such things as sports equipment or trendy clothing. So, the coming-of-age girl spent much time in the library, as well as committing herself to all sorts of crafty enterprises, collecting bugs and developing a secret language between herself and her imaginary friend, Mr. Nobody. By the time she reached high school, attending an academically rigorous girls’ Catholic school in a wealthy neighborhood, she became determined to stand out not by fitting in and wearing what other girls wore on nouniform days, but by creating her own handsewn fashions.

“I couldn’t go to J.C. Penney and get something like Abercrombie & Fitch,” she admits. “Everyone would know. So, I had to go to the other side of the spectrum with something completely off the wall that was totally my own.”

It was such self-sufficient craftiness that would serve her well later in life, though her enthusiasm eventually turned from fashion to jewelry.

Also instilling a strong sense of self in the young Berenato was her relationship with her father. Though she saw him only every other weekend, an arrangement she confesses likely led to her idolizing him, he inspired in her a passion for entrepreneurship and a never-give-up attitude—hallmarks she says have contributed to making her the successful businesswoman she is today. A serial entrepreneur, the elder Berenato would often take his daughter on sales calls and delight her with maxims such as “Never ask a question you don’t already know the answer to.” And in a somewhat prophetic undertaking, he even went so far as to name one of his first businesses Berenato and Daughter, foreshadowing his child’s adventures into entrepreneurship. She was a year old at the time.

But more so than his business savvy, Berenato surely inherited her father’s zeal for life and ability to bounce back, no matter the circumstances.

“I think I’m most proud “My dad is like an insane salesperson. He can sell anything, and he’s the most persevering person. of the environment You cannot get him down. He lost half his leg in a motorcycle accident and was instantly back up and I’ve created for the starting another business. He just does not stop,” girls that work here.” she says. “If you have the two of us together, our personalities are identical. We fall down and we get up.

Something like losing all your money’s not a big deal, you know? You can move on and you can create something else. … He just never gave up, which I think has always just kind of stuck with me.”

That ability to persevere, regardless of the situation, has manifested itself in Berenato’s adult life in seemingly superhero attributes. While she admits she does feel fear on occasion, she rarely, if ever, falls victim to the anxieties and worries plaguing many a modern woman.

“I have an extremely high tolerance for pain and I don’t really have anxiety,” she admits. “The stuff that should really upset me or [things] like this could be the end of your business, they don’t.”

While Berenato’s father’s influence impacted her at a young age, it wasn’t until more recently she rekindled a relationship with her mother, a relationship she says is the most prized in her life. Never close with her mother’s husband, Berenato says a wedge was driven between herself and her mother once her stepfather became ill. For some 15 years, Berenato’s mother was his primary caretaker, a dedication that kept Berenato and her mother apart.

“She was kind of trapped in that situation and I really was upset by that. So, when he passed away, it really just opened my mom up to being able to have a relationship with me,” Berenato says. “When I was younger, I saw her caretaking nature and how shy she was and how selfless she was as a turnoff. I was like, ‘Why are you being like this? Why don’t you stand up for yourself? Why don’t you care about yourself more?’ It really made me mad. Then, when I became older, I realized what kind of strength that kind of sacrifice actually takes and it made me really cherish and honor her a lot more than I had before.”

Indeed, Berenato’s recent jewelry collection titled Mother is an homage to her mom. And in a similar way that her father fostered a sense of determination in her, her mother unknowingly ingrained in her strong caregiving characteristics.

44 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

THE COLLECTIONS Nina Berenato releases a new collection twice a year. From inspiration to being displayed in the shop, pieces take about three months to create. The many collections Berenato has created in her time as jewelry designer extraordinaire include: Warrior: inspired by the stories of the Valkyries of Norse mythology Shaman’s Trance: inspired by the traditions and art of the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert Hidden Universe: inspired by the Dostoevsky Drama Theatre in Russia Bichos: inspired by the sculptural works of Venezuelan artist and sculptor Gertrud Goldschmidt, aka Gego Doors of Janus: inspired by the passages and entryways Berenato encountered when she first moved to Austin. Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, is also a fitting symbol for Berenato’s rebirth in Austin.

Chaos: inspired by the ancient myth of chaos symbolizing the shapeless heap from which the world began Fortuna: inspired by the Roman goddess of fortune and luck Mother: inspired by and a tribute to Berenato’s mother, whose favorite flower is the calla lily Inferno: inspired by the fire each woman holds inside

Page 41: Jumpsuit and sneakers, model’s own.

Page 42: Once Was Berkeley camisole, $160; Once Was Berkeley drape midiskirt, $260, available at Estilo, 2727 Exposition Blvd., estiloboutique.com.

Page 45: Luxe Deluxe De Chine kaftan, $346, available at Estilo, 2727 Exposition Blvd., estiloboutique.com.

Page 46: Nicole Miller Words & Letters miniskirt, $230, available at Estilo, 2727 Exposition Blvd., estiloboutique.com. Vest and T-shirt, model’s own.

All jewelry by Nina Berenato, ninaberenato.com.

ATXWOMAN.COM |  45

“I really love to be a caretaker and I love to be of service to other people. That’s what makes me happy.”

46 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

CRAFTING A COMMUNITY

A FEW OF NINA BERENATO’S FAVORITE THINGS Architecture. “When I started the line in Brooklyn, I was super inspired by street style and modern architecture.”

Mythology and folklore. “I’m a huge mythology nerd! I grew up reading all the stories for bedtime stories and I loved it. The heroines and the goddesses are my favorite thing.”

Stained glass. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to make it. That’s on my side platter of dream projects.”

Antiquities. “I love to see any type of antiquities. If I travel, I want to go to the museums and check out all the ancient Greek and Roman stuff.”

Kites, turtles, butterflies, flowers. “I’m extremely sentimental, so anything that reverts me back to my childhood, I love.”

Stickers. “I’m someone that needs the smallest things to be happy, like stickers. I love stickers. … And I think stickers on things make everything more cheerful.”

Learning. “I love to learn anything in any way I can. I’ll usually listen to an audiobook, usually about business in some way. I’m constantly listening to podcasts and e-books and all that stuff.”

Making jewelry. “It’s really just what I love. What lights me on fire every day is making things.”

NINA BERENATO’S TOOLS OF THE TRADE oxyacetylene torch oxygen tank acetylene tank wire

sheet metal rods wax flex shaft grinder

In order to witness Berenato’s benevolence and tenderheartedness, one needs do no more than spend an afternoon at her shop, located in The Domain. There, she happily puts everyone—her customers, her wholesale clients, her fellow makers and definitely her employees—first. In fact, she often takes pains to carve out time and even money for those she’s never met. That’s how she devised a plan to create the Making It Together grant.

Well-versed in the challenges facing female entrepreneurs, particularly makers, and having never received any of the many grants she’s applied for herself, she decided to effect some change for her adored female-makers community.

“We just kind of thought if we can’t get a grant, maybe we could give a grant,” Berenato says with her trademark and infectious good nature.

So, she designed the Making It Together necklace, with $50 from the sale of each piece dedicated to the grant fund. Once she raises $5,000, a grant will go to an American-made, female-owned business. Once that grant is awarded, she’ll start the fundraising process again.

“I’m going to be specifically looking for people that would look like bad bets for funding, which I think most makers are because if you’re out there seeking capital and you’re a woman that makes pottery, nobody is investing in you. Nobody. You’re going to have a hard time getting your aunt to invest in you,” Berenato says. “So, we thought we’d try to make it happen on our end.”

In addition to launching the grant endeavor, Berenato’s altruistic tendencies play out in nearly every aspect of her life. She admits to being on a path to bettering herself and her personal relationships—and notes it’s important for her to make time for her boyfriend and his family, and for her dog, Sunshine, who she says is “the light of my life,” as well as to carve out time for herself to reflect and ensure she takes her precious daily walks and meets regularly with her therapist—but even Berenato’s journey to becoming her best self hinges on how she can improve the lives of others.

“I want to be the person that you can count on, that is going to give you really genuine, good advice, that really cares, that is selfless and generous,” she says. “I really love to be a caretaker and I love to be of service to other people. That’s what makes me happy.”

It’s not uncommon for women in Berenato’s community to have experienced this firsthand.

“Sometimes when you meet women that ‘support other women,’ you can almost immediately tell that they aren’t fully being honest, but Nina truly does want to uplift any and every woman around her,” says Meghan Sekone-Fraser, a friend and amateur kickboxer Berenato sponsors.

“She doesn’t bother filtering herself and she speaks her mind. So, when she says that she loves something, she truly means it, and you can also depend on her to call you on you not being your best. That quality is super underrated and why I know that everything she says and does comes from the heart. There is no ulterior motive, and that honesty in a friend is such a gift.”

Berenato can be found at her shop every single day. Whether she’s designing and producing her jewelry pieces, chatting casually with customers in her signature hospitable manner, teaching an array of jewelry-making classes for visitors and pricing classes for makers, checking in with some of her best friends (aka her employees) or creating a space for other makers to sell their wares in her shop, Berenato is relentless in her selflessness.

She says the most challenging part of her career involves ensuring her all-female team of employees is happy and healthy.

“I think I’m most proud of the environment I’ve created for the girls that work here,” she says. “They can thrive in a place where they can feel comfortable to talk about their periods or their postpartum or whatever. … Like, literally, they can talk about whatever, and there’s no shame here and they’re getting paid a fair wage and they have a place where they can grow. And even if they grow out of here, I’m happy for them.”

That dedication is definitely felt by her employees.

“At every twist and turn, Nina is mentoring and helping us grow professionally and personally,” says Lillian Hutchinson, who has worked for Berenato for the past two years.

“And through each fail and success, she is always in your corner, cheering you on, getting you to the next step in your career. … Just being around Nina can spark some drive in yourself, and before you know it, you will be going after your dreams.”

Likewise, Berenato’s affection for and commitment to the makers community buoys her daily.

“I love the work of other artists and I love to support other artists as much as I possibly can,” she says. “Where I first see us really growing is in this support system and creating a creative space. So, even though I don’t think I’ll ever open up a second store, I could see myself opening up other locations that revolve around teaching and creating a place for female makers to learn and grow and thrive in a really affordable way.”

In the meantime, she hopes to help further the careers of other women makers by offering her pricing class online, showcasing their work in her shop, supporting them on social media or simply shouting accolades about them from the rooftops.

“I think the most important thing in life is finding your real true purpose and going after that,” Berenato says. “I think my true purpose is lifting other people up and bringing people up with me and using jewelry to do that or using myself and my words or my store. But that’s what I think I’m meant to do. I think that’s the meaning of life, and to just keep letting that evolve. Once you’ve done it in one way, find another way to do your purpose.”

ATXWOMAN.COM | 47

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EYES Three Austin makers share how they pursued their passions, built their businesses and what gets them out of bed each morning.

BY HANNAH J. PHILLIPS | PHOTOS BY TAYLOR PRINSEN Author and humorist Dorothy Parker once wrote, “Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” But how does a creative convert passion into a full-time profession? What inspires creativity in the first place? Three local female creators came up with their own answers to those questions and paved individual paths on their journeys to success.

Inspired by her grandmother’s homemade remedies, Raeka Panda created the world’s first turmeric peel-

off mask, featured on The Huffington Post and Buzzfeed and included in Ipsy’s monthly beauty-product subscription box. Jennifer Kassell became a fashion buyer by the age of 19. When she moved to Austin with no natural next step in her career, she started her own fashion line. Christine Flores bought a fledgling beeswax business a month after giving birth to her daughter, and her candles are now carried by retailers throughout the country.

There may not seem a direct link between turmeric-based beauty products, leather jackets and beeswax candles, but the makers behind Raeka Beauty, Understated Leather and The Beeswax Company share that, regardless of the industry, the ability to create while also leading a business requires a capacity to balance risk and freedom, a resilience to failure and a commitment to craftsmanship and care.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 49

50 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

Raeka BEAUTY Raeka Panda always had a passion for DIY skin care, but when her grandmother died, she started incorporating natural ingredients she knew of from her Indian background into homemade beauty products.

“I didn’t realize it at the time, but I think that was a coping method for me,” she says, sharing childhood memories of her grandmother’s natural remedies.

“I had very sensitive skin growing up, and she would always tell me to go to the kitchen, mix turmeric with water and wear it as a face mask.”

Years later, as Panda experienced the results of using turmeric in her DIY products, she started researching the benefits of the golden spice. Turmeric is very popular in Indian culture, used not only in food, but also in ancient rituals. During the haldi ceremony, for example, a turmeric paste is applied to a bride’s face to bring about, among other blessings, that pre-wedding glow.

Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is an ayurvedic ingredient. Ayurveda means “the science of life” in Sanskrit and is one of the world’s oldest holistichealing sciences.

The guiding tenet is the inextricable connection between mind, body and spirit. Identifying one’s mind-body type, or “dosha,” allows you to change your lifestyle and support your unique nature. Turmeric, says Panda, is the only ingredient that balances all three doshas.

As she continued studying both the properties and the market for ayurvedic ingredients, Panda learned customers in the U.K. and Canada were more familiar with herbal skin care than their American counterparts. The research also revealed a startling statistic.

“I started learning about FDA regulations and how the U.S. only regulates 11 ingredients, while the rest of the world bans 1,400,” Panda says. “That made me want to enter the clean-beauty space, but I wanted to go a step beyond and bring ayurvedic ingredients to the U.S. market.”

Living in Florida at the time, Panda decided to move home to Texas to surround herself with the support she needed to start a new business. When her handmade products sold out during her first holiday pop-up in Austin, she knew she was onto something. She started working with doctors and chemists to start her ayurvedic-based beauty line, launching the world’s first turmeric peel-off mask in the spring of 2017.

“I chose peel-off masks because I wanted something less time-consuming,” Panda says. “Combining that with the ayurvedic ingredients, I wanted something with low alcohol content to leave the skin hydrated instead of drying out.”

Within six months of launching, Raeka Beauty products were featured on Buzzfeed and The Huffington Post. When Ipsy featured the products in its monthly beauty subscription boxes, the company catapulted to national recognition. With recognition came new logistical hurdles for a small but growing beauty line, and Panda had to quickly master the entrepreneurial challenges of marketing and distribution.

“I learned quickly to go with the flow and not be in control of everything,” she says. “Distributing was one of the biggest challenges, but I found that a lot of the bigger companies are eager to help small businesses. You just have to reach out, build a network and be confident in what you are doing.”

Her goal is to make ayurvedic ingredients accessible to everyone, elevating their presence in the U.S. market but also catering products to South Asian communities that most beauty lines overlook. With her line launching in Kuwait and Germany this year, Panda’s confidence—both in herself and in her products—is what propels her through each new business challenge. And passion is key.

“Don’t ever do something because you think it’s going to make money,” she says. “If you love what you are doing, the money will come on its own.”

“I learned quickly to go with the flow and not be in control of everything.”

AY U R V E D A 1 0 1 Developed more than 3,000 years ago in India, ayurveda is one of the oldest healing sciences. In ayurvedic practice, each human possesses a unique mind-body type, or dosha, which determines temperament and response to stress. There are three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) based on the five natural elements in Hinduism: ether, air, earth, fire and water. Identifying your dosha allows you to make specific changes to your diet, beauty regimen and exercise routine that support your unique nature. You can meet with an ayurvedic practitioner or take an online test to discover your dosha.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 51

Understated LEATHER When Australian-born Jennifer Kassell moved to Austin, it felt right. Growing up in Sydney, Kassell became a fashion buyer at Australia’s largest online retailer by the age of 19 and a fashion director by the age of 21. She moved to New York to run a showroom and later pursued fashion buying in Los Angeles before settling in Austin because, at last, it “felt like home.”

“You feel like you can breathe,” she says. “It’s just an easy place to be. And the people are so wonderful.”

Knowing she wanted to stay in Austin, Kassell wasn’t sure how to pursue a fashion career in her new town, so she started her own business. While extensive international buying experience armed her with a strong knowledge of both the product and the consumer, she had no experience in design, marketing or business management.

“We started without any investments and built it from the ground up,” Kassell says. “And we’ve never plateaued. It just happened because it was supposed to happen.”

She applies the same serendipity to the genesis of the product itself, calling the company’s original leather-engraved denim jackets “a happy accident.” When her husband started experimenting with laser-engraving techniques in leather, Kassell wondered whether she could turn the products into a viable business.

They started adding leather patches to jackets from a thrift shop and posting the photos on Instagram.

Still one of her most popular designs, the tongue-in-cheek Go Sit On a Cactus jacket sold out immediately. Inspired by 1970s denim trends and biker patches, the custom products gained rapid traction on social media. Soon, the biggest problem was learning how to scale quickly. With 300 new orders to fill, Kassell couldn’t buy secondhand jackets from thrift shops any longer, so she learned how to make her own denim.

“Suddenly,” she says, “I either had to let down a lot of people or I had to figure it out.”

As the company grew, Kassell started focusing on leather jackets as her signature product. Prioritizing a classic fit and ageless style, she sources heavy, high-quality materials to achieve the luxury feel and structured look of a timeless piece. As a result, her jackets are soft and beautiful yet powerful and strong—just like the customers she aims to serve. The brand name Understated Leather came from the idea that products should help the wearer stand out, not the other way around.

“We don’t need our branding and our label on everything,” she says. “We want the person wearing our jackets to have the confidence they need. It’s all about you, girl.”

This commitment to authenticity has paid off. Her personal attention to the craftsmanship of each product has garnered support from celebrities like Lady Gaga and musician Lzzy Hale, both repeat customers. One of Kassell’s favorite memories involves watching Saturday Night Live one weekend and realizing Ryan Gosling was wearing her Studded Easy Rider jacket in a sketch.

“My husband was asleep and I woke him up screaming,” she says, laughing.

“It was actually a woman’s jacket, but we got so much attention from it that I had to make it a men’s jacket.”

Celebrity or not, Kassell and her team treat each order with equal care, which is how a custom Understated Leather jacket ended up in a shoot for Vogue Paris.

“All of our orders are equally important,” Kassell says, “so we didn’t notice that [fashion photographers Vinoodh Matadin and Inez Van Lamsweerde] had purchased a custom jacket. A few months later, there it is on a two-page spread in French Vogue and I only learned about it because [they] tagged me.”

“I either had to let down a lot of people or I had to figure it out.”

52 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

THE BUZZ ON WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT In partnership with Bumble, Understated Leather recently launched a limited-edition T-shirt to benefit The Kindness Campaign.

Bumble and Understated Leather collaborated on the I’ll Build You Up Buttercup T-shirt slogan to embody their shared ethos of women supporting each other in life and business. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit The Kindness Campaign, a nonprofit that works to fight bullying and inspire a generation of kind leaders.

That kind of unexpected support has been one of the best parts of starting her own line, she says, and it constantly affirms her commitment to authenticity with each new business decision.

“There are struggles every day,” she says, “but it’s just about making the right decisions for your brand. At the end of the day, I can have a vision, but it’s also my life, so it has to feel right for our whole team. I think that mantra really resonates with everybody who works with us.”

ATXWOMAN.COM |  53

54 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

The Beeswax COMPANY Christine Flores is the embodiment of patience. In her line of work, you have to be. The Beeswax Company harvests beeswax from local farmers throughout Texas to create 100 percent pure beeswax candles. Not only does hand-pouring each product require a high degree of precision, but harvesting the beeswax relies on what the land—and pollenating flowers, in particular—provides, which varies from year to year. As with all of Mother Nature’s processes, timing is key, and the outcome isn’t always predictable.

Pregnant with her daughter and with no experience running a business, Flores first heard about The Beeswax Company in 2010 when her father came across the listing through his work in mergers and acquisitions. Intrigued, she remembered her maternal great-grandfather had been a beekeeper. As she started researching family history and the craft behind beeswax candles, Flores felt called to build a company that would preserve and build upon that legacy.

“I’m a seventh-generation Texan,” she says, smiling, “so I really value heritage and legacy. And I thought, ‘What am I inheriting? What am I building upon that’s already been built that I’m going to leave behind and teach?’ ” Flores and her family bought the company when her firstborn was 1 month old. The decision was daunting, but she believes running her own business provides autonomy and flexibility as a working mom. She attributes that freedom to her staff, confident she can delegate to a team that shares the same commitment to the quality of each artisan candle.

At the same time, being a maker and a business owner means she’s never not working.

“It doesn’t leave your veins just because you exit the building,” she says.

Rather than take a toll on her family, business challenges often remind Flores of the support they provide. She recalls coming home in tears one night, telling her husband she was ready to quit.

“I didn’t know my daughter was in the room,” Flores says, “and she runs in crying too, saying, ‘You can’t quit!’ It was so special.”

As it is with many business owners, one of the biggest challenges for Flores was marketing. After immersing herself in the product and the business for the first three years, she focused on building the brand, sourcing the right packaging and working with the right retailers to represent the high quality of her purebeeswax candles. Not every relationship worked out, but Flores learned to prioritize brands that aligned with her values versus increased visibility.

“Our price point didn’t always translate at certain retailers,” she says. “We are at a higher price point than our competitors because we are really particular about our beeswax.”

The Beeswax Company exclusively sources pure Texas beeswax rather than importing underregulated and often highly adulterated products from outside the state. Plus, sourcing local beeswax supports Texas farmers and ranchers, one of the company’s core tenets.

“We value hardworking Texan men and women that are out there every day putting food in our stores,” Flores says, “and we really care about maintaining that connection to the land.”

Ultimately, branding and packaging are just offshoots of the company’s biggest challenge, which is to educate customers in such a way that not only changes minds, but also hearts. As consumer trends revert more toward sustainable businesses, Flores hopes to see The Beeswax Company candles in national retailers throughout the country.

“I want The Beeswax Company to be a name that carries weight,” she says, and not just for the sake of the product, but for the sake of the planet. “As humans, we have a responsibility to preserve the longevity of this finite resource we have.”

“I’m a seventh-generation Texan, so I really value heritage and legacy. ” MIND YOUR B E E SWA X Beeswax candles burn brighter, cleaner and longer than commercially manufactured soy and paraffin products. Once the candle melts down, leftover beeswax can be recycled. The Beeswax Company offers 10 uses for candle stubs and scraps on its website, and Christine Flores shares her recipe for homemade lip balm here.

HOMEMADE LIP BALM Ingredients 1 ounce The Beeswax Company beeswax 2 ounces organic coconut oil 1 teaspoon organic almond oil 2 capsules vitamin E oil 15 drops peppermint essential oil Directions 1. H eat the beeswax, coconut oil and almond oil until it’s liquefied.

2. Let the mixture cool slightly, then add the vitamin E oil by puncturing the capsules and squeezing in the contents.

3. Stir the mixture, then add in the essential oil.

4. Stir the mixture again, then pour it into vessels.

5. Let the lip balm set overnight before using.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 55

G

OURMET

RECIPE REVEAL

MARTINI TIME

SoCo’s newest bar is whipping up an ice-cold pick-me-up with a kick: the Velouria Frozen Espresso Martini.

BY KAITI EVANS

Velouria is the newest hot spot on South Congress Avenue for coffee in the morning and cocktails in the evening. Sultry vibes and green velvet chairs accentuate the beautifully lit bar for a cool and comfy space, perfect for any time of day.

VELOURIA FROZEN ESPRESSO MARTINI Ingredients 2 ounces vanilla vodka 2 ounces espresso 1 ounce coffee liqueur 1 ounce simple syrup Directions 1. Toss all ingredients on ice in a blender and blend until smooth.

2. F or an added kick, sprinkle some espresso-bean dust on top.

56 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

Photo courtesy of Cassandra Klepac Photography.

Owners Sara and Tim Lupa recently opened Velouria, adding to their drink domain, which includes two other bars in Austin: The Brixton and Drinks Lounge. Sara Lupa says she wanted to open a coffee shop and bar in the same space because it suits the neighborhood.

Opening a coffee-and-cocktails bar “is definitely not normal for us,” she says. “We have only ever done bars, but it seemed like the perfect place and all the stars aligned, so we did it. We just felt like this place needed both. With so many residents here, we thought it could be an all-day spot.”

The coffee menu features an array of pourovers, espresso and cold brews. Guests have the option to pair pastries, breakfast tacos or sandwiches with their coffee as well. In the evening, classic cocktails are available, along with snacks and charcuterie boards.

For the summer, Sara Lupa’s drink of choice is the Velouria Frozen Espresso Martini, noting it perfectly displays the intricate dynamic of coffee and booze Velouria excels at.

“With the [Velouria Frozen Espresso Martini], you are getting both things: coffee and booze,” Sara Lupa says. “It’s a cocktail-and-coffee place, so it’s something that represents us—and it’s perfect to make at home.”

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A NEW LEAF

Zooey Deschanel is empowering Austinites to take sustainable agriculture into their own hands—in their own backyards.

BY BRIANNA CALERI When Zooey Deschanel and her husband, Jacob Pechenik, were expecting their first child, they realized they didn’t know enough about where their food came from.

Top photo by Brianna Caleri. Bottom photo by Max Wanger.

“There was very little transparency in the food business,” Deschanel says. “We wanted to be responsible consumers, and it was excessively difficult.”

That question led Pechenik to take over a hydroponics farm in Austin called Agua Dulce, where he realized the real barrier was not growing the food, but getting it to people’s homes throughout the country.

Using Pechenik’s entrepreneurial experience and Deschanel’s talent for addressing the public, the two created The Farm Project to “reconnect people with food” and start the company Lettuce Grow, which delivers backyard-ready hydroponics systems with monthly starter plants and access to a helpful app for foolproof growing.

The Farmstand, a stackable tower with 24 to 36 ports, allows home gardeners to make the most of a 3-foot-by-3-foot space. Water cascades down the inside of the tower, over the soil-free hanging roots of the plants and is sent back up again by an electric pump. Made of recycled plastic collected in coastal communities without waste-processing facilities, The Farmstand runs on a tiny amount of electricity and uses only 5 percent of the water a plant would need were it in the ground.

At harvest time, mature plants spill out lushly, yielding everything from herbs like basil and leafy greens like kale to heavy ground plants like eggplant and edible flowers like nasturtium. (The peppery buds of the bright-red nasturtium flowers elevate The Farmstand from a practical home grow space to a luxurious excursion into flavors rarely found on restaurant menus.)

58 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

Photo by Brianna Caleri.

“There’s a magic to it,” Pechenik says. “You start to see the wonders of nature.”

Lettuce Grow is meant to encourage people, especially families, to overcome the fear of failure implicit in traditional gardening and learn to approach growing food through a supportive community. And Farmstand growers may graduate to other types of food curiosity as they learn.

Agua Dulce, just 7 miles from Austin’s city center, is the main seedling supplier for the company in the Austin area and home to its R & D efforts. There, Stephanie Scherzer is overseeing customer experience by developing a recycled packing system, as well as curating recipes for subscribers and undertaking other odd jobs that get food from the farm to The Farmstand. Scherzer often sends her 7-year-old daughter outside to collect an entire “tower salad” for dinner.

“I’ve been growing food for 20 years,” Scherzer says, “but this seems to be the easiest, most successful [way].”

One of the most common hazards for people trying to make a difference is a feeling of isolation, helplessness in the face of billions of other people living differently. The Farm Project and Lettuce Grow address that weakness with a sense of community, which includes donating one Lettuce Grow membership to a local school or community-based organization for every 10 purchased memberships, as well as creating a docuseries starring Deschanel called Your Food’s Roots. The goal in schools is to use gardening and nutrition curricula alongside tasting the harvested plants or selling them to parents as a fundraiser for more school supplies. Similarly, the docuseries is best viewed as an offering of “positive choice[s],” Pechenik says, rather than yet another monolithic food system.

“You might only grow 10 or 20 percent of your food at home,” he says, “but you’re going to have those things in your mind…and you start living and making purchase decisions according to those values.”

That’s when learning to grow becomes so much more than a garden-variety activity.

ZOOEY DESCHANEL’S TIPS FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE LIVING Shun single-use plastic. “Any time you can reuse something, that is a positive. Get a reusable water bottle and refill it. … Get reusable snack baggies for lunches.”

Use natural fibers. “Wash synthetic fabrics less and try to invest in more natural fabrics. The microplastics from our synthetic fabrics are washing into our lakes and oceans via our washing machines and it’s wreaking untold havoc on wildlife and ultimately ourselves.”

Go plant-based. “Eat less meat and dairy. If everyone cut down meat and dairy consumption by one-half, it would save a ton of resources.”

QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE? ACC is here to help!

512-223-7747 • austincc.edu/yourplan

Take the first step.

W

ELLNESS

WAITING ROOM

TREASURING LIFE’S MEMORIES

Learn to recognize the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and how to lower your risk.

BY ANNA LASSMANN

Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses are women, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The top reason for this disparity in genders is due to the fact that, on average, women live longer than men, and age is the greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s.

• monitoring blood pressure. “Aggressive control of blood pressure reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, as well as reduces cognitive decline. So, what is good for the heart is also good for the brain.”

• playing memory games. “We have also seen studies of things you can do to exercise your brain, such as crossword puzzles and doing a lot of reading and doing a lot of activity that gets one to think a lot.”

• practicing the Mediterranean diet. “We speak to the Mediterranean diet as a diet that can help reduce cognitive decline or help reduce the risk of developing the disease.”

60 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

FOLLOW THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET FOR BRAIN HEALTH This diet is not intended to help you lose weight and is more of a lifestyle change. It follows the food choices and eating patterns of people living in countries along the Mediterranean Sea, including Italy, Greece, France and Spain.

• Eat fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, legumes and seafood.

• Flavor your food with olive oil and natural herbs and spices.

• Consume poultry and dairy in moderation.

• Avoid foods that are highly processed or have added sugar.

Photo courtesy of Delia Jervier.

But not all hope is lost for women. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and spreading awareness about the disease is part of the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association. Delia Jervier, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association Capital of Texas chapter, says she wants more people to talk about the disease.

“Particularly now more than ever, we want people…to talk about the disease and for more people to be aware of how serious it is,” Jervier says. “But most importantly, [we want] to help increase the early diagnosis, and cognitive assessment helps with that.”

Catching the warning signs early can allow for better planning and discussions with patients and help avoid additional hospitalization that can come with a late diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The most obvious sign of early stage Alzheimer’s is memory loss, the kind that goes beyond forgetting where you set your keys, the kind that can really affect your day-to-day activities.

Examples include “leaving your home to go for a walk and not remembering how to get back, losing a sense of direction, making significant purchases such as purchasing one or two refrigerators because you forgot that you had purchased one last week,” Jervier says, “things that are impacting your daily activities on a consistent basis.”

There are still many things to be learned about Alzheimer’s, Jervier says, because research about the disease didn’t really begin in earnest until the past few decades, sparked in part by President Ronald Reagan announcing in a letter to the nation that he had Alzheimer’s.

There have been several studies that indicate ways to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s but not entirely prevent it.

“We do not talk about prevention because, as of today, there’s really not one thing that we can say, ‘If you do not do this, you will not develop Alzheimer’s disease,’ ” Jervier says. “However, we speak to the reduction of risk in developing Alzheimer’s disease.”

Jervier’s tips for helping to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease include:

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W

ELLNESS

HER ROUTINE

PADDLE BATTLE

Solo paddler Lisa Rivera gets in shipshape condition for the Texas Water Safari.

STORY AND PHOTO BY GRETCHEN M. SANDERS

62 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

Alligators, heat and rapids can’t scare Lisa Rivera off Texas rivers. The 38-year-old paddler will face all three when she competes in the world’s toughest canoe race this month.

The Texas Water Safari, a 260-mile slog that starts in San Marcos, Texas, and finishes in Seadrift, Texas, on the Gulf Coast, leaves battle scars. Rivera had pink eye and could barely walk after finishing the race in 2014 in a two-person boat. This time, she’s going alone.

Starting June 8, she’ll navigate the San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers for three days without a hot meal and little shut-eye. Snakes, mosquitoes, portages, fatigue, darkness— and loneliness—are inevitable. Yet she must reach the San Antonio Bay by her own muscle power, carrying all her equipment in her yellow boat. Only her team captain, Ginsie Stauss, may supply her with food, water and ice at authorized checkpoints.

“I’m petrified and excited,” says Rivera, an executive assistant at Ryan LLC. “It will be the hardest thing physically that I’ve ever done.”

Six months of training have bolstered her nerve.

“I have the knowledge to get down the river,” she says. “Now I must depend on myself.”

Here’s how this canoe captain will beat the white water.

THE A.M.:

“I set the alarm for 4:45 a.m. I hit snooze once, stretch, say a few affirmations, check the weather to determine if I’ll paddle that afternoon and head to the gym. I usually eat breakfast, eggs or oatmeal, at the office.”

THE WORKOUT:

“I feel more confident paddling long distances when I’m strong. I may encounter 15 portages during the Texas Water Safari, some the width of a street and others as long as a football field. To build stamina, I lift weights and do 90 minutes of cardio three times a week at LA Fitness. I mix running, stairs, the elliptical machine and swimming, plus 20 minutes of abs because I need a strong core and back. Weather permitting, I paddle four times a week, usually two short sessions on Lady Bird Lake and two longer ones on some stretch of the [Texas Water] Safari route.”

THE DIET:

“A [Texas Water] Safari diet is like going to a gas station. I eat eggs and bacon, granola bars, beef jerky, Sour Patch Kids, Fritos and brownies. Eating is a plan. If I don’t consume 300 calories an hour, I’ll notice changes in my paddling. My team [captain] will hand me a 1-gallon bag of food plus beverages and ice at each checkpoint. I’ll get a turkey sandwich with mayo, avocado and bacon on gluten-free bread, fruit and a Coca-Cola Classic because I need the caffeine. I’ll also receive a bike bottle of Hammer Perpetuem powdered fuel mixed in cold water, which equals one hour of calories, plus two half-gallon jugs of water, one plain and one with electrolytes. Each jug lasts just under three hours, depending on the heat. Hydration is complicated. I don’t drink alcohol for months before the race.”

THE GEAR:

“I paddle a yellow Wenonah Voyager, a solo boat that has an ultralight hull made with Kevlar. I bought it brand new in November from TG Canoes & Kayaks in San Marcos for about $3,000. It’s 17.6 feet long and weighs 34 pounds empty. For the race, I’ll carry two single-blade Zaveral Racing Equipment paddles, food, water, first-aid and snakebite kits, a cellphone and a life preserver, which I’ll wear at night and in the San Antonio Bay. I’ll face several portages in the first 16 miles of the race, so I want to keep my boat as light as possible. I’ll wear a Dri-FIT long-sleeve shirt with a running skirt over thin Nike tights, which protect my legs from sunburn and poison ivy. I may change into a tank top if I get hot.

Everything is Dri-FIT, even my skirt, tights and underwear. I cut a hole in the tights to make it easier to pee in a cup! I’ll wear this outfit for the entire race, plus fast-drying sneakers, no socks, a hat and BullFrog Mosquito Coast—sunscreen and insect repellent combined.”

THE MOTIVATION:

“The Texas Water Safari changes your life. It makes you better. You will face good times and bad, and you just have to get through them. It’s all on you. No one else can get you through. It’s like life.”

THE MINDSET:

“Win, Rocky, win! I watched Rocky with my mom growing up, and I feel she’s with me when I say this to myself.”

THE P.M.:

“I pack my lunch and paddling bag for the next day and give thanks for the life I have.”

ATXWOMAN.COM | 63

P

OINT OF VIEW

ON THE MONEY

EXPLORING YOUR CREATIVE SIDE ON A BUDGET Save money while developing your creative pursuits.

BY JENNY HOFF

1. TAKE AN ONLINE COURSE.

Some of the world’s best universities offer free classes you can register for at no cost. Purdue University offers an online writing lab through which you can watch tutorials, download guides and have access to multiple resources to sharpen your skills. The Open University offers multiple online courses for creative writing, poetry and structuring a novel. If music is what you love, edx.org (a forum for hundreds of online classes from universities) offers a course on Music for Wellness through Berklee College of Music.

A quick search will turn up classes focused on virtually any subject you’re interested in—and it doesn’t cost a penny.

2. BARTER.

Bartering is one of the oldest forms of currency and doesn’t involve any money exchanging hands. Perhaps you’re great at social media or you are an organizational pro. There is a good chance a professional artist in town could use your help in return for her instruction. Tango Tribe in South Austin advertises service barters accepted in return for dance lessons. Most improv theaters in town offer free intro classes, free monthly mixers and the chance for scholarships to take classes in exchange for some help with the blog or taking tickets at shows. So, whatever it is you want to master, look for a person or business you could learn from and see if there is a potential for exchange.

3. JOIN RELEVANT GROUPS OR START YOUR OWN.

Mastermind groups have become increasingly popular, and while it feels like a hot new trend, it’s really just the old practice of peer-to-peer mentoring. Start your own Meetup group or join an existing group that focuses on your interest. If you want to write a book, there are numerous Meetup groups in Austin that provide both quiet time to write and an opportunity to read passages aloud for feedback. There are similar groups for painting, music, acting and dancing. You don’t necessarily need to have access to a professional to get better; you just need to engage with people who are slightly more advanced than you.

64 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

4. GIFT YOURSELF TIME ON A REGULAR BASIS.

Acquiring knowledge and learning the basics are important starting points, but any professional artist will tell you putting in the time on a regular basis to practice is the No. 1 secret to mastering your craft. In The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, the author suggests starting every day with your “morning papers,” a free flow of thoughts you write long-form before you do anything else in the morning. It will open up the creativity in your brain and the ideas will start to flow. In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield writes that you need to consider your artistic pursuit as a duty and schedule time to practice.

Mark it in your calendar, treat it like a job and within time, you’ll see the benefits of your work pay off.

Try one or two of these ideas and feel the joy of nourishing your inner creative without having to become a starving artist in the meantime.

Bartering is one of the oldest forms of currency and doesn’t involve any money exchanging hands.

Research shows developing four key skills can increase creativity. They include: 1. w riting down new ideas as they come to you 2. c hallenging yourself with demanding tasks 3. b roadening your knowledge through classes, books, podcasts and museum visits 4. s eeking out a diverse group of friends

Headshot by Edward Verosky.

Inside most of us is a need to create, but for many, investing in classes to master an artistic skill feels like an indulgence. While investing in a creative pursuit does take time, it doesn’t necessarily have to take money.

Here are some ways you can sharpen your skills and truly master your passion without cutting into your budget.

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PROOF THAT SPEEDING IS NOT WORTH IT

BY CHELSEA BANCROFT

In honor of National Safety Month in June, Roger Beasley Mazda wants to remind all drivers to be safe on the roads, which includes following the posted speed limits. Besides tripling the odds of crashing, speeding is not worth it— and I have mathematically proven that. Let me explain.

Speeding on Short Trips

Time Saved?

Let’s say you are going somewhere that is 10 miles away and the speed limit is 35 mph. (I’m keeping this simple.

Obviously, other factors would affect drive time in real life.) You’re running late, so you decide to speed and drive 45 mph. Normally, at 35 mph, you would get there in 17 minutes, but at 45 mph, it would take you 13.5 minutes. You’re probably thinking, “Cool. Well, I saved nearly four minutes.” But if a police officer clocks you going 10 mph over the speed limit, that ticket would cost you about $200. Is $200 and tripling your odds of crashing worth four minutes? To put that into a better perspective, unless your time is worth $3,000 an hour, speeding to save four minutes is not worth it.

Maybe the risk of a fine is worth it to save time, but consider this: The average routine traffic stop takes roughly 20 minutes. There goes any time saved. Do you want to fight your ticket so you don’t have to pay the fine and increased insurance rates? That could mean one to two hours in court, plus you’re not guaranteed to win. You could hire a lawyer to help argue your case, but that’ll cost you more money. Taking a defensive-driving class can help reduce fines and points on your record, but Texas requires those courses to be six hours long, which is definitely not worth saving a couple minutes on a drive.

I know this makes me seem like a total stickler for the rules, but on top of losing time and money from speeding, consider the stats again: Speeding triples your chances of being in an accident, and 30 percent of all traffic deaths are caused by a speeding driver. Be smart and slow down! It’s just not worth the risk.

Speeding on Longer Trips

What about longer trips? If you are road-tripping 180 miles and the speed limit is 60 mph, it would take you three hours to reach your destination. What if you drove the same journey at 70 mph instead? It would take you about 2.5 hours. Shaving off 30 minutes sounds great! But again, is 30 minutes worth risking a $200 ticket? Unfortunately, the cost of the ticket isn’t the only thing you have to consider.

In 2019, the national average cost of car insurance is $1,621 per year. (This can vary greatly depending on many different factors.) In Austin, the average insurance increase for a ticket you receive for driving 10 to 15 mph over the speed limit is 13.4 percent. After three years, that can cost more than $600 for some—and the cost increases more if you get another ticket!

Photo by Shelby Sorrel.

Headshot by Edward Verosky.

Insurance Premiums

Chelsea Bancroft is the strategic-partnerships and social-media manager at Roger Beasley Mazda and a blogger at onechelofanadventure.com.

P

OINT OF VIEW

ASK LUCY

A DOG’S DINNER

Local company Grocery Pup is shunning the dog-eat-dog world of processed chow with its fresh, healthy dog food.

BY LUCY J. PHILLIPS

Dear Lucy, With all of Austin’s pet-friendly patios, I often accompany my humans to restaurants and coffee shops. I know my humans care about what’s in their food because they love eating at places that support local farms, but it makes me wonder: What’s in my food at home? Can you recommend any favorite brands that make fresh, nutritious and unprocessed dog food? I know my humans would love to give me the best ingredients out there, but it’s hard to know where to start.

Best, Concerned Corgi

Dear Concerned Corgi, With all the misleading packaging on the market, finding the best dog food can be a puzzle indeed—and I don’t mean the fun kind where you have to find the treat hidden inside a toy. (Don’t you love those?) Our humans do have a hard task when it comes to identifying which brands contain nasty byproducts, chemicals and fillers in pet food. As in human food, there are many unhealthy ingredients that sneak into even the healthiest-looking products, so it’s important to read your labels (or encourage your humans to do so).

To avoid the pitfalls of commercial dog foods, I do know some fur friends who only eat raw diets of uncooked meats, whole or crushed bones, vegetables and eggs. While these diets are believed to promote a shinier coat, healthier skin and cleaner teeth, they could also expose you to deadly pathogens because of the bacteria in raw meats. Yikes!

That’s where my good friend, Lola, comes in. Beautiful Lola is a Pomsky: half husky, half Pomeranian—and 100 percent genius! She is the chief pup officer and taster at Grocery Pup, a local brand that makes fresh, real food with non-GMO meats and USDA veggies. Yum, right? Lola’s parents, Ruth and Javier Marriott, founded Grocery Pup because they wanted to find an alternative to both commercially processed pet food and raw diets.

Looking for a gently cooked option, they partnered with a veterinarian nutritionist and experimented with sous vide as a low-moisture way to cook and preserve food. Their goal is to provide foods that are as close to homemade as it gets—without your humans actually having to cook it themselves.

So, thanks, Lola, for being a picky eater. And thanks to the Marriotts for creating tasty food that is equally as healthy for pets as it is convenient for our humans. I hope you’ll give it a chomp.

Love and slobbery kisses, Lucy P.S.: In addition to making delicious and fresh food, Grocery Pup also has some pretty great swag, as you can see from the bandana I’m wearing in my headshot. You can check out more bandana styles and try food samples at a monthly Yappy Hour every first Sunday of the month at South Congress Hotel. Lola and I will be there June 2 from 10 a.m. to noon, if you want to come say hi!

If you have a dog-related question for Lucy, reach out and follow her on Instagram @asklucydog.

66 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

Headshot by Hannah J. Phillips.

Launched in May 2018, Grocery Pup just celebrated its one-year anniversary. The company’s yummy food comes in three different flavors: Bitchin’ Beef Stew (my favorite), Turkey Pawella (paw-eh-yeah—get it?) and Porky’s Luau. You can find these products online and at Tomlinson’s and local Whole Foods stores, and you can even try out a sampler pack of all three flavors. A 3-pound bag comes with three individually wrapped patties for easy freezer storage and lasts seven days after defrosting (which only takes 30 minutes in water before mealtime). According to the Grocery Pup website, each patty is sous vide for two hours until the food reaches 160 degrees, enough time to kill pathogens without losing any natural nutrients. My favorite part is that you can see all the whole foods while you are chowing down!

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TOP FEARS OF WOMEN DURING DIVORCE Divorce attorney Janet McCullar addresses your concerns.

BY JANET MCCULLAR

Virtually every woman who comes to see me about a divorce has fears about her situation. Many have spent months or even years contemplating divorce. The fear is palpable when I walk into the room. Tears are often shed, but sometimes those are tears of relief because I have provided some information to allay the fear. These are the most common fears expressed to me by women:

If you have these fears, schedule a consultation with a custody or divorce lawyer like me and get an opinion about the risks to you based on your specific situation. Most divorce lawyers charge for a consultation by the hour, but it is worth it to meet with an attorney, pay the consultation fee and walk out of the meeting with one less fear.

Just because you have a consultation doesn’t mean you are going to get a divorce.

Many people meet with me just to get some information about their rights and options, so don’t let your fears keep you from getting the information you need!

1. I’m going to lose custody of my children.

A husband may threaten to take the children, and most of the women I talk to have heard some horror story in which a good mom lost her children to an uninvolved dad. This is extremely unlikely. While I see more and more dads becoming involved and more parents choosing to divide their time between the children equally, change is slow to come in the area of divorce, and for the vast majority of couples, Mom will remain a primary caregiver and have the majority of time with the children. Although I have represented fathers who do have custody of their children, in every one of those cases, the mom was so impaired that she was unable to have the primary care of her children. If you are struggling or have struggled with addiction or a mental-health disorder, you are also not likely to lose custody if you have taken steps to deal with those issues. I have represented women who are recovered alcoholics or addicts who are fearful that their past actions will cause them to lose their children, and it is simply not the case.

2. I can’t afford to get divorced.

Attorneys fees are paid out of the resources of the marital estate, that is, the money you and your spouse have available.

No one has set up an account to pay for a divorce, yet every day, the costs related to a divorce are paid. Most attorneys accept credit cards and the divorce is paid for over time instead of one fee up front. Divorce attorneys know most people need some help figuring out how to pay for their divorce, and for many, it is a question of access to money to pay for it. Many women who come see me have no idea how much money they have or how they are going to pay for a divorce. There is no need to feel any shame about this issue. Many homes are still set up in a traditional way: a stay-at-home mom and a working dad. If your husband says he won’t give you access to financial records, don’t worry about it. Divorce lawyers know how to get the information they need to determine what you have, what it is worth and how to divide the assets and debts.

3. I can’t support myself while a divorce is pending.

It is your attorney’s job to see to it that you and your children are supported during a divorce. Most often, this is worked out by agreement between the lawyers. If an agreement can’t be reached, you may have to go to court, but courts are interested in making sure there is the least amount of disruption to a family. Even when I was going through a divorce, I wondered how we could afford two separate homes but, of course, we managed. No matter how much money you have, dividing it up creates fears. There may have to be some changes, but while the divorce is pending, support will be paid.

Janet McCullar is a nationally respected trial attorney known for her skill and success in the courtroom. She has represented clients in hundreds of complex divorce and custody cases. Although she represents clients during trying times, her cases are routinely resolved amicably to save the client the time, cost and pain involved in litigation. McCullar is board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She was also selected as a fellow in the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, an organization that consists of the nation’s top divorce attorneys.

The Law Office of Janet McCullar, P.C. | 3200 Steck Ave., Suite 300, Austin | 512.342.9933 | jmccullarlaw.com

P

OINT OF VIEW

I AM AUSTIN WOMAN

CHEERS TO INDEPENDENCE

Brewing is built on tradition and relationships, but the drive to experiment and innovate is what has catapulted American craft beer for the last 20 years. For me, Austin has changed in similar ways.

I moved to Austin in 1996 to go to the University of Texas. Between taking way too many classes and working at a brewpub called Bitter End, I explored Austin’s greenbelt, music joints and dive bars. Playing shuffleboard at the Horseshoe Lounge and shooting pool at Crown & Anchor over beers had a way of soothing the soul.

By the time they demolished Liberty Lunch in 1999, I was fully immersed in the dot-com boom. Building community-driven commerce, developing interactive content and finding new ways to connect with people was exciting and all-consuming. Austin was awash in venture-capital money.

While I desperately tried to find my own “great tech idea” on our little garage couch next to our kegerator, the beer in my hand became the real inspiration. It was not vaporware; it was tangible, delicious and could be enjoyed with my friends.

The road from pipe dream to starting a brewery was not easy. The process of working on a plan, talking with lenders, raising capital, sourcing equipment, filing permits and learning bookkeeping and how to lift kegs without pulling my back, it all started with the decision to really go for it, to give it a shot.

We started brewing our beers at Independence in October 2004, and we delivered our beer for many years. I recall telling our first employees, “If we are not changing how we do things every month, we’re not doing it right.” Growth required constant updating of delivery routes and fine-tuning routines at the brewery. With very limited resources, you constantly ask yourself, “How can this be improved?” to finetune your senses and drive you to try new things.

It’s that drive the led us to create cult favorites like Cucumber Redbud, a Berliner Weisse-style sour ale with cucumber, as well as harken to our Hill Country roots with our own take on a Germanstyle lager, the Native Texan Pilsner.

Old-timers in the beer business like to say beer is built on relationships. I think back to the Crown & Anchor. I loved it when I was in college. It was at the very top of my list of Austin bars we had to be in when we started the brewery, and it took me almost a year to get our beer on tap there. The folks at Crown & Anchor have watched me deliver kegs out of my Honda, transition to working with a distributor, raise my two daughters and grow to what we are today: one of the largest breweries in Texas.

While Austin and Texas have changed, our brewery has changed and the beers people enjoy drinking have changed, our relationships with our friends, neighbors, fellow business owners, the service industry, retailers and distributors have only grown stronger. These relationships sustain us; they are what make running a business worthwhile for me.

It all started with the decision to really go for it, to give it a shot.

68 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JUNE 2019

Photo by Rudy Arocha.

Co-founder and President Amy Cartwright shares how she grew Independence Brewing Co. from a daydream to a successful passion— and one of Austin’s most cherished brewhouses.

CELEBRATING

90 YEARS OF SPARKLING IN AUSTIN 2900 WEST ANDERSON LN. | 512.452.6491 | BENOLDS.COM

E.V.A. INITIATIVE EQ UA L V E H I C L ES FO R A L L Cars should protect everyone

AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE | JUNE 2019

I N T R O D U C I N G V O LV O ’ S

Some people are less safe on the road than others. That’s why it’s time to share more than 40 years of safety research – to help make cars safer for everyone. Not just the average male.

IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURES IN EVERY NEW VOLVO

A PROTECTIVE CAGE

AIRBAGS FOR ALL

To help keep the occupant space intact in the event of a crash.

A range of airbags are designed to help protect every occupant.

WHIPLASH PROTECTION Unique head restraint and seat design to protect both head and spine.

THE PROTECTIVE SEAT

DETECTING DANGER

The energy-absorbing functionality helps reduce spine injuries.

A range of systems that help to mitigate crashes and improve alertness.

VOLVO CARS OF AUSTIN | 7216 N. IH-35 • 866-974-6096 • VOLVOAUSTIN.COM

©2019 Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. The Iron Mark is a registered trademark of Volvo.

“Unless we are creators, we are not fully alive.” —Madeleine L’Engle

SAFETY BELT The three-point safety belt introduced

by Volvo in 1959.