Elevate

Elevate

Table of Contents Masthead

4

Letter from the Editor

Elevate Inspiration

Elevate Point of View

Elevate Style

Elevate Now

Elevate Beauty

Elevate Wellness

Elevate Experience

5

Editorial- The Age of Empowerment Special Thanks

6 8 11 13 16 18 20 24 27

Contributors Editor-in-Chief Emily Amaimo Creative Director Jessica Batt Fashion Director Kathleen Cush Style Editor Karen Otero Wellness Editor Asha McCarthur Beauty Editor Carina Barrera Advisory Board Peggy Blum

4 Contributors Page 路 Elevate

Letter From The Editor Emily Amaimo

“ We are seven,

twenty-somethings that are pushing the limits and redefining what it means to be a modern woman

„

Our jour ney in creating the first issue of Elevate has been a short but never-the-less-stressful one. From the beginning, our vision was to create a magazine with a voice. Our intention is to push the boundaries that have for med around us as women, and allow our readers into our lives. We are 7, twenty-something’s that are pushing the limits and redefining what it means to be a moder n woman. Each has lived a different beginning but share in the desires for an ending overflowing from experiences.

Elevate is our version of those beginnings, created to empower and ignite inspiration. The content of this magazine has been carefully picked and written to elevate the power and confidence our reader has within.

In this issue, you’ll find a preview to the Fall 2014 trends, beauty tips + tricks for a radiant glow, along with wellness hints for keeping cool under stress. You’ll read about a jour ney in finding your passion in the city, the struggles of paving your own path and the misconceptions of what our lives are supposed to look like once we reach adulthood.

Cheers!

Editors’ Letter · Elevate 5

Elevate Inspiration

Words make us laugh uncontrollably, cr y just a little, dream a little big ger, and smile just when we need it. Below are a fe w quotes that resonate with the Elevate staff most.

Kathleen Cush

Fashion Director

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.

Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

- Steve Jobs

Emily Amaimo

Editor in Chief

“You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.”

– Robin Williams as John Keating in Dead Poets Society

Carina Barrera

Beauty Editor

“There is no power equal to that of a deter mined woman.”

-Unknown

Asha McCarthur

Jessica Batt

Creative Director

“You’re off to great places.

Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”

- Dr. Seuss

Karen Otero

Style Editor

“Its all about falling in love with yourself and sharing that love with someone who appreciates you, rather than looking for love to compensate for a self love defect.”

- Unknown

Wellness Editor

“Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size. But when start to tell them. They think I’m telling lies. I say, It’s in the reach of my ar ms. The span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips. I’m a woman. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.”

- Maya Angelou

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Point of View

The Contemporary Feminist Emily Amaimo and Jessica Batt

I

’ll admit that I have been that woman who has rolled her eyes and scoffed at the idea of “feminism” and bra-burning. I’ve found it slightly comical that women have had to fight to be heard or to be treated fairly in the work place. Why wouldn’t you just stand up and say, “ENOUGH!”? Do we really need a movement behind us? As a 20-something woman, who has grown up in a culture shaped by the history of women’s suffrage and the idolized, Rosie the Riveter, I see a misconception of what feminism and the “Feminist Movement” is and only recently have I found the importance behind this community of braburning, trail-blazing women

Tur ning 25 has its perks. For instance, I can rent a car- oh joy-, I’ve lived a quarter of a century and I’ve shed those pesky college years; embarking on the jour ney of adult-hood. Though no one ever war ns you of the onslaught of questions and life-altering expectations that will quickly ensue after the start of your self-proclaimed “new-life”.

Growing up in a single-mother, all female household was a blessing and a curse. As the oldest child, I grew up incredibly independent, self-empowered and a bit of a bossy pants (I believe this was due to being the oldest). My mother raised us with the notion that our self-worth wasn’t dependent on the presence of a man, or husband. We were told we could do anything a man could do- kill the spiders, mow the lawn, take out the trash, you know the typical “man” stuff. But what she also showed us was that our

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lives weren’t defined by our relationship status. We were independent women, who had the world for our taking.

She exhibited behaviors and attitudes of a feminist but lacked the man hating that many believe feminism is.

The curse is that now, in my mid-twenties and

entering back into the dating world, my independence and forceful nature is intimidating. I’m faced with the decision to either be less fierce and more submissive or be a single, husband-less bra-bur ner. Why can’t I be both? I want my cake and I want to eat it too!

Our gender has not come as far we have hoped through our fight for equality but the truth is, we allow it to happen. -Emily Amaimo

“Take Ownership

It’s become a feeling of confidence and control over my own destiny. I feel the obligation to empower and encourage my friends, cousins, sisters, aunts, mother(s) and grandmother(s) to speak their mind in order to make the playing field equal. Yes, it most definitely sounds like a constant struggle…believe me, it is. We’ve got hundreds of years of history to overcome. It’s not a one-woman job; it’s an every woman job. We’re only given one body and one chance in this universe; we have to make it our own.

Notable campaigns opening the discussion of sexism to the public are: Yes All Women, Stop Telling Women to Smile, and One Billion Rising. The overall message presented with these campaigns is awareness. Bringing awareness to sexism, gender roles and expectations, and violence against women sticks with people, inspiring change.

Life

AND

As Emily mentioned, the idea of feminism has been quite misconstrued over the years. The old clichés are still prevalent: bra-bur ners and man-haters. While I personally have never en-countered a woman who practices these ideals (why would you ever bur n a $50 Victoria’s Secret bra!?), we still have to deal with these stigmas – every.single.day. With new social media campaigns popping up almost daily, I think it is safe to say female empower ment is having its mo-ment again. Not that we shouldn’t always be empowering each other, this time around just seems to be more prevalent with the instant gratification age of The Inter net. But what does it all mean? What are we supposed to do about it? Do we picket our respective city halls over every single female issue? Do we blast our friend’s emails with petitions opposing each abortion related legislation?

To me, feminism has taken on a new meaning.

of youR

Be Assertive” The Inter net has played a vital change in the way we discuss and research social and economic issues. We can thank the almighty Beyoncé for bringing attention to the issue with her self-titled 2013 sur prise album, released via The Inter net.

Beyoncé can thank Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for an influential TED Talk discussing gender roles in her home country of Nigeria. In the U.S., we can thank Riot Grrrls of the early 1990s and Hollywood legend Katharine Hepbur n. Hell, even Madonna and Lady Gaga put it all out there. We can educate ourselves and other fe-males with the click of a button. Is there a quick fix to make our world more gender equal? Absolutely not. It’s a slow progression that we must all take responsibility for. What I’m saying is: “Ladies, educate yo’ selves!”

Read the #YesAllWomen Twitter account, lear n about Kathleen Hanna and the Bikini Kill ‘zines of the 90s, talk about sex just like the guys do, investigate your state laws regarding women’s health care, call out the cat-callers and inappropriate gestures. Take ownership of your life and be assertive - no one’s going to do it for you. Future generations of beautiful, amazing women are depending on us to make a change. -Jessica Batt

POV · Elevate 9

Style

RAPTURE Karen Otero

Fran莽oise Nielly is a French knife-painter who is famous for painting vibrant and colorful close-up portraits of people. Inspired by her pop of color our 2014 Fall/Winter trend, Rapture, expresses your outmost craving for color in your style.

Benedetta Bruzziches

Zaffiro Jewelry

marni sunglasses

Dior Fall/winter 2014 Patterned dress from H&M

Daniella Helaye lssa

H&M satin pants

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ALLEGORY There is a spark within everything. A living light in the eyes of a person, a memory that flares up, the glow of a passion that was never declared.

Sylwia Makris captures this in her photograpgy, inspiring Allegory to express yourself im ebony and ivory hues connecting in a beautiful unison of

Erdem Moralıolu

opposites.

Givenchy Natalie Dissel

Alexander Wang

Haider Ackermann Fall/Winter 2014

QUIETUDE W hen bridging the gap between abstract and realism, Ryan Pickart’s oil portraits bring us to Quietude. If you aren't so loud or so dark quietude gives you just that soft innocence. Get ready to layer your sweaters and wrap them together with your favorite belt this fall/winter.

Golden Lane Bag

Celine Fall/Winter 2014 Martin Margiela

Linda Farrow

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What’s Now?

What’s Now

Music

L

ately, I’ve found myself embracing weirdos. Anyone that has the balls to put everything out there and step outside of the box is alright in my book. Most of us don’t listen to just one genre of music, so why should these artists be confined to that also? Here are a few out of the ordinary artists that I’m crushing on.

St. Vincent

Phantogram

Gessafelstein

The baddest b**ch in rock ’n’ roll right now, also known as Annie Clark.

In recent months, she’s released her self-titled fifth album, filled in for Fred Ar misen in the Late Night With Seth Myers house band, and secured a supporting spot on The Black Keys world tour this fall. A key player in the art rock movement, St. Vincent brought her robotic stage antics and guitar shredding skills to Diane von Furstenburg’s F/W 2014 show back in February. Ms. Clark surely is at the top of her game on every level: career, fashion, and beauty.

Ethereal and airy, hip-hop and psychedelic, pop hooks and swirling guitar riffs. Not many bands can check all of these adjectives off of their list of descriptors at one time.

Phantogram does it. Between a Big Boi collaboration later this year, making friends with The F laming Lips, and appearing on nearly every festival bill this year, Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter are checking off more than just industry praise.

Mike Lévy, better known as Gesaffelstein is sort of the antithesis of EDM. No hard hitting drops, neon, or fancy vocals from breathy female artists here. Get out your leather jackets, Gesaffelstein is about to take you to industrial church — the church of Nine Inch Nails and Daft Punk.

Producing two tracks on Yeezus and remixing for A$AP Rocky, Lana Del Rey, and Phoenix have brought him attention, but seeing him live is the true feat. With very few shows in the United States and a seizure-educing light show, Gesaffelstein is not one to miss. Bonus: he’s not hard to look at either.

Whats now· Elevate 13

Fitness

Books

Under Armor Under Ar mour has unbelievably rapidly become one of the top sportswear companies in the world in just eight short years. With quarterly revenues clocking in around $600 million, its safe to say they are an enor mously influential brand, and their newest women’s campaign solidifies it. I WILL WHAT I WANT is a powerful call to action for women of all ages, race, and size. With unconventional ballerina Misty Copeland at the forefront of the campaign, Under Ar mour shows us “It’s a reminder that you don’t need per mission, advice, or affir mation when you have WILL. It’s a celebration of who you are. As an athlete. As a woman.”

What She Saw

by Lucinda Rosenfeld

Girls In White Dresses

by Jennifer Close

Girls in White Dresses is utterly hilarious and riveting. All twentysomethings can relate to these three young women experiencing the heartbreak of lost love, the struggle of finding new love, tough career changes and family pressures all while attending endless weddings and bridal showers.

What She Saw is a fresh look into the twentieth-century heart.

Lucinda has imagined a character, which every ready can relate to as you join in on her jour ney from adolescence to adulthood. Through love and loss, excitement and sorrow, Lucinda paints a beautiful story for her reader to enjoy.

Technology

Soul Cycle We’ve all heard about it: its a cult, its a movement, it will kick your ass. I can personally attest to all of these things. My name is Jessica, and I am in love with SouCycle. The philosophy is simple: fitness can be joyful. With amazing playlists, inspiring instructors and an unbelievable sense of community, SoulCycle is the place that brought the buzz back to cycling. While there is not a location in our home base of Austin, this is one work out I would travel far and wide for.

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The Bell Jar

by Sylvia Plath This classic novel by Sylvia Plath is still riling it’s readers, 50 years later through it’s shocking and intense emotional jour ney of a woman falling into insanity. Sylvia guides her reader through Esther Greenwood’s life and battle against her looming insanity. The Bell Jar is a must read for those needing a change in their out-look.

Sony Smart Watch The Sony Smart Watch is one of many, though it’s sleek appearance and affordability rank it among the top perfor mers. This watch comes equipped with a 1.6inch display for checking various media outlets and of course, telling time. Retails for $79.99 at B&H.

Misfit Shine This fitness tracker is a stylish accessory to any look with it’s small size and sleek appearance. It is compatible with iOS systems and syncs with the user’s phone. Retails for $84.61 on Amazon.com.

fans will have a chance to see her designs on an entirely new crowd— ballerinas. On September 23rd, the New York City Ballet’s annual fall gala will unite two important for ms of art—ballet and fashion.

Katrantzou gathered her inspiration from one particular look in her resort 2015 collection.

The sketch above depicts the same look of some of her designs from previous collections, but a little softer, and is on point with the ballet’s polished aesthetic.

LVMH to Acquire Proenza Schouler

Socialmatic Camera Polaroid Socialmatic Camera This camera, set for release later this year, will change the face of Polaroid as we know it. It features an inkless printing system which allows users to customize and print stickers of their captured moments.

Fashion

The word on the street is that LVMH has been in talks to buy at least a forty percent stake in New-York based brand, Proenza Schouler. Delphine Ar nault, the daughter of LVMH chair man and CEO Ber nard Ar nault, publicly showed her interest in the brand last year saying, "I love what they do. They have an amazing talent - just look at the fabrics. We've been following their work for a while.” This comment may have been a foreshadow of what was yet to come.

Liketoknowit

Mary Katrantzou to Design Costumes for the NYC Ballet Mary Katrantzou’s designs have been known to steal the spotlight on the red car pet for years. The word on the street is that now, her

Lately I’ve been noticing the enor mous impact the popular mobile application Instagram has

made on the fashion industry. The boutiques and entrepreneurs that tempt their buyers into buying their products by strategically posting filtered photos of their products.

Just recently I was looking at the “Insta” account of a favorite blogger of mine. I noticed in a description of a picture of herself in a pretty little red top and a sunhat that she had included a link to a website, and the description was titled “Shop the Look” A quick trip to the website she had advertised for provided me with infor mation on where I could buy everything she was wearing, from her hat to her shoes. This site, LiketoKnowIt is a new service that pairs with Instagram and provides its users with the option to browse items they see in their Instagram feeds and may want to buy. Here is how it works. First, you must sign up with an email that is linked to your Insta-gram account. Then, once you “like” a photo that contains a “liketoknowit” address in the description, you will immediately receive an email with detailed infor mation on where to find the products. When it comes to fashion, I know I like to know it, don’t you?

Art Free Art Friday Fridays in Austin are becoming more than just a doorway into the weekend. Word on the street is that in fact, to some local Austinites, Fridays have become the day they look forward to the most. Thanks to local artists, and social media, a weekly treasure hunt is now lighting up the streets of Austin with free art and the local Austinites hunting it down.

Here’s how it works. A local artist creates a piece of art, hides it within the city on Friday and leaves clues about its location. Giving a nod to Instagram again, locals use the app as the primary platfor m to virally spread their clues. Fans, followers, and sometimes even accidental participants hunt down the creations by following the hashtag #atxfreeartfriday.

What’s Now· Elevate 15

Beauty

De-Branding: The New Sign of Distinction Carina Barrera The idea of being eco-friendly and “going green” is gaining popularity as beauty consumers buy natural products over well-known cosmetic brands. Herbal products have been used for centuries in the orient, and today, many beauty brands are investing in the development of a new line of biologique (organic) cosmetics. Healthy, beautiful skin does not just happen. Consumers are looking for this “eco-chic” trend and are buying biologique (organic) products, even from lesser known brands. Being one of these consumers, I visited my local Whole Foods Market beauty section to find out more about the effectiveness of these products and their benefits. Here are a few things I lear ned.

· Of the foundations I tested, my favorite was Gabriel. It is 100% natural, containing mineralbased ingredients. It provides excellent coverage with a fresh appearance. This foundation allows the skin to breathe, with an abundance of antioxidants.

Not only that, it also contains a non-chemical sunscreen that protects your skin from har mful sun exposure, which can cause various for ms of skin cancer. ($27.49)

If you are looking for a radiant, natural looking blush, try Mineral Fusion blush. With six different colors to choose from, it will give your skin a beautiful glow. ($12.99)

Dr. Hauschka Volume Mascara was one of my favorites. It provides full, thick lashes and contains antioxidants with black tea extract to soothe sensitive eye area. ($29.99)

For lipstick, lip gloss and eye shadows, Zuzu Luxe has a big color palette. All are made from natural ingredients, plus vitamins, which give you a fresh, radiant look. (Under $30)

Mad Hippie is a line of serums for advanced skin care. This serum can be used as a face moisturizer, which leaves your skin feeling silky smooth. Two of my favorites are Antioxidant Peptide Cream and Vitamin C Serum. (from$15.99 to $39.99) Antioxidant Peptide Cream contains ingredients to enhance collagen and elastin production. It energizes cells to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains B3, which works to reduce sun damage. The coconut oil soothes the skin and promotes natural healing within the cells.

Vitamin C Serum is loaded with antioxidants and vitamins that help maintain skin’s moisture by balancing the natural oils found within our cells.

The main reason I love these two products is because they make my skin feel radiantly fresh and I can go without wearing any makeup at all.

The bar soaps are great for daily use. Their natural ingredients and vitamins help maintain skin’s cleanliness and they moisturize without har mful effects to your body, or the environment.

Some of the main ingredients used in these products are aloe, Ginseng, egg, green tea, honey, olive, soybean, black sugar, rise and snail extract.

Researchers are diving deep to find solutions, like salt, mud, and Dead Sea minerals, found in many all-natural skin care products. These ingredients allow you to express and reveal all your natural beauty.

Perfumes are becoming skin friendly too. Pure essential oils are being used to create these ecofriendly fragrances which are also nutritious for your skin. This trend is going back to the essentials by using healthy natural products.

Now you know the great benefits that biologique products provide. Next time you visit your local organic store, stop by the beauty aisle and get yourself a few natural products. Your hair and skin will thank you.

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Wellness

Elevate Wellness Asha McCarthur

G

oal setting and time management are irreplaceable personality traits necessary for a busy schedule.

Last quarter, I had some difficulties in my life. I had five classes and missed a few days, which put me behind. I had to catch up with two weeks of work, and only had a few weeks to complete it. I was so stressed out on how I would complete all this homework that is due next week! So I came up with several strategies to get my assignments done in due time. Here are some strategies that can help you out as well.

1. To start it out, I took the time to organize what I needed to accomplish. My first idea was “I will take all my important due dates and write or text it in my calendar”. I also wrote a to do list on what is due that week.

2. To motivate myself to finish up my goal, I found a friend that was in the same class as I was who had missed number of days. Since we missed a few assignments here or there, we decided to meet up and work on our projects together. Since the goal had to get done, we made an arrangement to check in each week and to encourage each other.

3. In some of my classes, my schedule was crazy. So I got up earlier than nor mal to start

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my task. I will tell myself, “I will give myself an hour or two on work, and then I will eat my breakfast”. I also give myself more time to complete and tur n in the final draft.

As I used my strategies to motivate myself, it definitely paid off in the long run.

I got caught up with every task that was in my calendar. By staying committed, I was deter mined to ear n good grades that release a heavy load off my shoulders.

Experience

Elevate Experience:

New York Kathleen Cush

New York City July 17th- 20th 2014 `**Disclaimer: T his is an edited version of a jour nal entr y I wrote for my personal records after my trip to Ne w York.

“And it was to this city, whenever I went home, that I always knew I must retur n, for it was mistress of one’s wildest hopes, protector of one’s deepest privacies. It was half insane with its noise, violence, and decay, but it gave one the tender security of fulfillment.” – Willie Morris Wednesday July 16, 2014 8:30 p.m.

In typical fashion, I am running late. My original plan to leave Austin for Dallas by 5 has now tur ned into 8:30; conveniently putting me on the road at the same time the summer night-time construction begins.

12:45 a.m.

Three traffic jams, one speeding ticket, and one trip to the wrong hotel later, I arrive at my (true) hotel to find that my room has been given away because I am late, and all that is left are two smoking rooms. At this point all I want is a bed and a pillow, being that it is now almost one in the mor ning and my plane leaves at

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7:45. The lady tells me she has just retur ned from setting up two fans in the doorways of the rooms to diminish the smell. I ask for a six o’clock wake up call and make my way upstairs.

Thursday July 17, 2014 5:45 a.m.

Embassy Suites DFW My phone alar m goes off, for the second time, and naturally, with eyes still closed, I aimlessly move my thumb about on the screen, missing the “swipe key” to silence it each time. Once I succeed, I decide to go back to sleep and wait for the wake up call.

6:53 a.m. ...Still waiting on that wake up call (luckily I didn’t hold my breath).

7:30 a.m.

DFW Airport As expected, I miss my flight.

Luckily, I am able to book another flight for 10:45. Leaving me three hours to spare in the air port, which is just the amount of time enough time needed to make some adjustments to the itinerary that I had perfectly timed and mapped out months before the trip.

10:47 a.m.

Aboard flight US 565 to Philadelphia

I start to feel a little anxiety build up. I think to myself, “What if I don’t tip the cab driver the correct amount?”

“What if I get lost in an alley way and end up becoming ending up the basis for a new Law and Order episode?”

I put in my headphones, and hold to blame the series of unfortunate events that had taken place up until now, for my absurd thoughts.

Giving a play-by-play description of all of these rather unfavorable occurrences is completely relevant to my story if for no other reason, than to accurately portray the feelings I had upon my first glimpse of the Manhattan skyline.

4:50 p.m.

Aboard F light US 2003 I can remember looking over the entire city, in all its vastness, and longing to be down there and becoming a part of it. I imagined the people who had once walked those streets, and suddenly every worry or doubt that was ever one my mind vanished. I wanted to get lost in it.

5:45 p.m.

The Manhattan At Times Square Hotel I arrive at my hotel, put my bags in my room, head back out on the streets, and just start walking. Call it what you may, but I was in the New York State of mind. There are not enough words to truly describe the overwhelming sense of strength and self-confidence I felt while walking those streets. It was as if I was a new person, full of all these extraordinary ideas. I walk at least 20 or more blocks before stopping to eat at a cute little café with wicker chairs and outside seating (exactly what I had been looking for). Dinner and drinks for one? Check.

Friday July 18, 2014 6:30 p.m.

The Manhattan At Times Square Hotel My friend Elizabeth arrives just in time to save me from blowing all my money on the shopping spree I so graciously took myself on that day. She was arriving after a week-long business trip in Philadelphia. While she was

there she befriended many interesting people. One in particular, Travis, from Long Island, had given her plenty of recommendations and must-sees during our stay. She tells me that his friend

is the manager at LAVO, a seemingly “hard to get into” restaurant, and that he has made us a reservation for dinner on Saturday night. I instantly start thinking about what all I brought to wear, when I remember that it is still only Friday night, and we should probably find a place to eat soon.

8:00 p.m.

Five wardrobe changes later, we are finally getting in a cab. Making progress.

8:20 p.m.

Balthazar Restaurant As we approach a light, we find ourselves stopped in front of a restaurant that I recognize to be Balthazar. A restaurant my mother adamantly recommended to me weeks before the trip. So, taking this as a sign from God, we make the mutual decision to go inside. We are told the wait for the dining room will be an hour, or we can choose to have immediate seating in the bar area.

8:20 p.m.

Balthazar Restaurant We are seated in the bar area. The size of the table is comparable to a large serving tray, and is capable of holding only two small plates and two water glasses comfortably at all times.

We order the wine any ways.

9:30 p.m.

Balthazar Restaurant The two men who have been

19 Experience· Elevate

sitting uncomfortably close to us throughout the meal decide to initiate a conversation with us.

Now, under any other circumstance I would have done the typical “Kathleen thing” and totally “shoot the bull” with them, until I found a polite way to fizzle out the conversation. I would decide that they were only interested in one thing, and that I would much rather have a meaningful conversation with my friend, instead of taking part in some superficial conversation about the weather. One of them offers us some of their escargot. I’ve never tried it before, but being that I am in New York I decide to give it a try.

9:55 p.m.

Balthazar Restaurant With a mouthful of escargot, and still no mention of the weather, I end up letting guard down just a tad bit. When we tell them about our mad search for the perfect rooftop bar, they shake their heads and laugh. They seem to know of a few better places, and ask if we’d like to join. Having both nodded our heads simultaneously, Elizabeth and I decide to go.

10:20 p.m.

When we walk outside there is a limo waiting. I’m imagining who is about to step out of the limo,

when I notice the driver open the door and motion for me to get in.

Naturally, I look over my shoulder, but am pleasantly sur prised to find that he is actually talking to me.

I’m still very confused/shocked,

but I don’t let it show. I decide to act as if this was somewhat of a nor mal occurrence for me, and as I lock eyes with Elizabeth, I realize she is probably thinking the same thing.

10:45 p.m.

Much to our sur prise, we pull up to a tiny hole-in-the wall bar/hot dog stand.

10:46 p.m.

I begin to think this may have been a bad idea. We get out of the limo and wait inside at the bar as Steven continuously walks to and from a phone booth. I’m thinking to myself “ Wow, he’s really got an important message to deliver”, but then I catch Graham say “ He thinks he’s going to get us into this secret bar, but no matter how much he pays, they’re not going to let us in.” Bummer.

10:47 p.m.

Ten minutes later, we are summoned by Steven; who now wears a huge grin on his face. He had succeeded. We leave hot dog land behind us and walk right on through a tiny door in the phone booth. It opens up into a swanky little bar with dim lighting and big circular booths. I have just died. As we sit down, we are given the rules, “ No loud/obnoxious behavior (obvi), and absolutely NO pictures.”

4:00 a.m.

We leave to go get back in the limo, when Elizabeth realizes she doesn’t have her phone. We tell them to get the limo while we run inside to find it. Ten minutes later, with still no sign of her phone. I call Steven, but discover his phone is dead. We agree that the night could not have been any more perfect, that at this point we’re exhausted, and decide to go back to the hotel.

Saturday July 19, 2014 9:00 a.m.

The Manhattan At Times Square Hotel I get a phone call from Graham, and as it tur ns out, they had Elizabeth’s phone, and we had Steven’s phone (both dead and useless). We tell them we’re going to get coffee and head over to make the switch.

9:30 a.m.

As the cab pulls down a street lined with brownstones, I begin imagining what it would be like to live in one, or to go inside one. At that moment, the cab comes to a halt. “Seriously?”

I think to myself, as I double-check the address I had given him. We we

walk down and few stairs and into a stairwell, where we can only go up. I call Graham and tell him that I think

once we arrive we realize they had something else in store for us. A few bottles of wine, a blanket, and a rooftop view later, I start to think that rooftop bar sounds pretty lame right about now.

2:00 a.m.

We talk and talk into the wee hours of the mor ning. It is refreshing to find that for the first time in three years, by taking a gamble and let a complete stranger in, that he tur ned out to be an indescribably brilliant person. As I sat there with him on that roof watching our feet dangle over the side, and catching every few lines of what appeared to be ‘Edelweiss’ fade in and out over the speaker, I felt truly infinite; like I was capable of doing anything I set we’re here. He tells us to walk up to my mind too then and there. the top floor. Three flights of stairs 3:45 p.m. later we are greeted by Steven at the The next day, on the plane ride door. We walk into the apartment to home, I decided to start writing “Beast of Burden” playing over the about my trip so that I could always record player, and I begin to think have something to look back to in about every thing that had fallen into remembrance. place at just the right time for us to It’s been almost two months get here. My thoughts are interrupted since I left New York, and I’ve when Steven asks if I wanted to see been able to make a few strong something amazing. Still trying to think realizations since I’ve been home of what could be more amazing than as well. I noted the person I was this, I follow him out into the stairwell, before the trip, and even further and climb up a ladder to the roof as back than that. I was a girl who, my eyes fall over central park, and the had lived her life passionately and Dakota Hotel. “Ok, so apparently it very rarely second guessed herself could become more amazing.” when she spoke, but who somehow 10:15 a.m. along the way, had allowed herself As we talked and time passed, we to become dumbed-down and realize we have a play to catch. We plan silenced. I reflected on the day to meet after our dinner reservations at my son was bor n and how in that LAVO, and shuffle out the door. breathtaking moment, I imagined 9:30 p.m. the life we would have as a family.

After an amazing meal, we walk One broken engagement, two over to a small, but chic bar to wait for Graham and Steven to finish dinner.

As a nod to The Carrie Bradshaw, we order cosmos.

9:45 p.m.

A few cosmos later we befriend two very gay men. We are told that they are shocked to find we are not from the city. “You girls really know how to get our Manhattan on”.

To be told we were stylish and ‘so Manhattan’ from a gay man was, in my opinion, a right of passage.

10:45 p.m.

Two more cosmos later, we head over to Graham’s. We believe that we are just meeting them there before we go paint the town red, but

moves, and a custody battle later, I decided it was time to go back to the drawing board. For three years I have voluntarily pulled myself away from

men and dating. Mostly because I began to feel that the least connected I was with a man, the stronger I felt.

But this thought isn’t rational. New York helped me find balance. It made me realize that with or without a man, that strength and confidence had been there all along. That just because I refuse to be simplified, doesn’t mean I have to completely cut out the opposite sex to prove it. I’ve found that our lives often appear to be moving in one direction, and then suddenly we are thrown a curve ball, or a closed door opens, and everything changes. How we choose to move with that curve ball, or whatever it is on the other side of that door, becomes the moment that defines us, and takes us on a new path; one that we never dreamed possible, or never even expected. We begin to imagine something completely new and different for ourselves. In all actuality, there are many days that can change a person’s life, but some are remembered more than others. Some we just know will always stick with us, and remind us of who we are or who we might still become. My time spent in New York will forever be engraved in me as the trip that made me find the person I thought I had lost. I understand that I may not be able to relive those exact moments, under those exact circumstances, I understand that I may never get the rooftop view, or the boy, or the perfect night like that ever again, but I know that I will always have New York to remind me that it’s all possible.

Experience· Elevate

20

The

Age of

Empower ment A merican novelist, Edith Wharton, helped pave the way for the women of our past and future generations having became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize award for her innovative writing in “The Age of Innocence”, and “The House of Mirth”. Model, Marion Hayes portrays Edith both literary and romantic—unraveled in dramatic fashion.

“She had ever ything she wanted, but she still felt, at times, that there were other things she might want if she kne w about them.” Edith W harton Vintage deep V peasant sleeve dress paired with an ASOS gold chain link belt. Ne w Bohemia, Austin, TX

“Two ways to be a light for all, is to be a flaming candle or the mir ror that reflects it.� Edith W harton Vintage deep V peasant sleeve dress paired with an ASOS gold chain link belt.

Ne w Bohemia, Austin, TX

“Ever ything about her was war m and soft and scented; even the stains of her g rief became her as raindrops do the beaten rose.�

Edith W harton.

Vintage floral satin lace slip dress in soft pink embellished with a satin belt. Ne w Bohemia, Austin, TX

“She had no tolerance for scenes which were not of her own making.� Edith W harton Vintage floral satin lace slip dress in soft pink embellished with a satin belt. Ne w Bohemia, Austin, TX

Special Thanks Peggy Blum Quentin Keele Sarah Hinton Marion Hayes Robert Hill Brandon Monsees Monica Valenzuela Maria Beane Leah Roberts-Bartlett Isela Castillo Joshua Hinojos

27 Thanks路 Elevate