Her by Kelly Nealon

HER VOLUME ONE, ISSUE FOUR

THE GREAT UNKNOWN MAKE WAY FOR MONARCHS BIG CITY, SMALL ISLANDS

Cover Photography Anna Reynal Location Austin, Texas

D E A R YO U

With every new season comes change, transformation and a new beginning. In this issue, we focus on metamorphosis and the idea of transforming over time. We look at one remarkable couple’s transformation from co-workers and friends to husband and wife as their lives changed and led each other closer. We look at the Monarch butterfly’s remarkable transformation and migration over 3,000 miles to Mexico, one of nature’s most spectacular sights. We look at Hong Kong and how this bustling city has grown and transformed over the years, while its islands still retain their simplistic remote beauty. Just as caterpillars transform, cities expand and relationships grow, we continually transform and bloom with every new year. With every new season, we evolve and transform ourselves. The way we think. The way we dress. The way we behave. All these transformations are important to our own personal M E TA M O R P H O S I S .

Kelly K E L LY E D I TO R I N C H I E F

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HER STYLE

K E L LY N E A LO N

KRISTEN SPILMAN

E D I TO R I N C H I E F, C R E AT I V E D I R E CTO R ,

A S S I S TA N T C R E AT I V E D I R E CTO R ,

D E S I G N E R , W R I T E R , P H OTO G R A P H E R

D E S I G N CO N S U LTAT I O N

ANNA REYNAL

SANDRA MAXA

P H OTO G R A P H E R

D E S I G N CO N S U LTAT I O N

E L L E N LU P TO N

ANNE THROPE

D E S I G N CO N S U LTAT I O N

CO N T E N T

N I CO L E F I G L I O L A

TA R A R A I N

A S S I S TA N T A RT D I R E CTO R

RO S I N A S AQ I B

R U BY F I T E R S

T R E N D S P OT T E R

P H OTO G R A P H E R

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HER BEST FRIEND

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H E R J O U R N E Y, T H A I L A N D

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MADI DIAZ

H E R R E C I P E , T H A I C U R RY

PLANTERS FOR HER

H E R CO N C E RT S

H E R D R I N K , LYC H E E M A RT I N I

Big City. Small Islands Hong Kong is much more than a bustling city. Her takes a look at remote island life in Hong Kong. 20

The Great Unknown A couple from Austin’s journey from friends and co-workers to husband and wife and how life moments brought them closer. 12

Metamorphosis A look at Monarch butterflies‘ magnificent migration and alarming diminishing numbers. 38

H E R FA M I LY

DESIGNER

p h oto a n n a r e y n a l

HER BEST FRIEND Think you’re ready to add a furry friend into your family and home? Tips from veterinarian Zoe for making the transition into pet parenting easier.

All baby dogs grow rapidly in the first few months of life, much more quickly than a human does. A dog needs to fit all of its growth and maturing into 12-18 months, where as a human takes 18 years to reach the same point. This means that puppies grow fast, and need to have a high quality diet so their bodies can meet the demands of getting bigger. Puppies should start out on a growth diet, which is specially formulated to supply enough calcium and phosphorus for growing bones. The best way to ensure they are getting all they need is to use a good quality commercial dry diet. Initially feed your puppy three meals a day, otherwise they will get very hungry. After six months of age, depending on the breed, reduce the amount of food you give to keep your pooch to keep them lean with a lovely waist and ribs which are easily felt.

How do you pick a healthy pup? Puppies should be bright-eyed, alert, and playful. Their coat should be glossy and the pup needs to be a good weight. If you can see the ribs or spine bones, they are too thin, and may be undernourished. See if you can watch them eat, they should have a hearty appetite. When you buy a new pup, ensure that it comes from a hygienic environment. If it comes from a pet shop, make sure that the cage has clean straw on the floor. Similarly, if it comes from a breeder, are the kennels clean? Your puppy should have been regularly wormed by the time you get it home. Now that you have your puppy home, it’s time to train. Puppy school is highly recommend to ensure good behavior that will last a lifetime. Make sure you’re on track with regular vet visits and vaccinations.

H E R FA M I LY

HER HOME

f r a m e s wo r l d m a r k e t

DO IT HERSELF You can picture exactly how you want those frames to look in your head, but why is it so hard to recreate your vision on the wall? Tips to hang them right the first time all by yourself.

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After you’ve chosen your frames, hold them up against the chosen wall. Consider placement and desired arrangement.

Map out a composition with kraft paper trimmed to each frame’s exact dimensions. Tape sheets to wall using painter’s tape.

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Measure the distance from the top of the picture to the crossbar or hanging wire.

Place a 1.5 inch or 2 inch nail in the center of pencil marking made earlier. Nail with a hammer at a 45 degree angle.

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Position frame on nail. Use a level to determine whether or not the pictures are straight and admire your work.

HER HOME

p h oto k e l ly n e a lo n

transform your table from dreary to cheery Try hanging wind-chimes and lanterns above your table to add a new dimension of tropical ambiance. Mixing floral flatware is another way to spruce up your spring table settings.

HER GARDEN

SUCCULENTICIOUS Succulents are a great way to add an elegant and sometimes unexpected touch to your home. Only water once a week and make sure they receive plenty of light and a dry environment.

HER GARDEN

H E R FA M I LY HER BEST FRIEND

16 HER BALANCE

H E R A RT

HER PLANTERS

PA I N T I N G H E R WAY

19 S E W I N G H E R OW N

H E R GA R D E N

HER G N HEN H EARR D KE I TC

S U CC U L E N T I C I O U S

M AU D LI EDNI ATZ S U CC ICIOUS

S U CC UHLEERNRT EI CCI IO U,ST H A I C U R RY PE

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PLANTERS FOR HER

CRE RT P L AHNE TRECO RS N FO H ESR

P L A N TH E RE SR FDORRI NHKE, RLYC H E E M A RT I N I

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above (from top to bottom) fiber claypot form trough water jar iron lattice

low egg pot straightedge cube fluted urn

hanging chandiler teak trough cube pot garden bucket

THE G UNKN 06

G R E AT N OW N How a tough time transformed one Austin couple from friends and co-workers to husband and wife.

Photographs Anna Reynal

I T S TA RT E D A S A N O R M A L M O N DAY for Lynn and Brad. Both graphic designers in Austin, Texas, they worked side by side for over two years. Lynn and Brad chatted about normal friends stuff: interests, hopes, goals, what they did over the weekend. Brad knew Lynn grew up outside of Philadelphia and came from a family of four and Lynn knew Brad lived in Houston, Texas all his life with two older brothers and loving parents. They were friends: no more, no less — until this particular Monday. After their normal morning coffee and team meeting, Brad received a phone call. His mother was diagnosed with cancer and it was bad. Lynn saw the distress in Brad’s face and Brad felt close enough to Lynn to confide in her. Tears flooded into Lynn’s eyes when she heard the news. Brad didn’t know this about Lynn, but her mother also was fighting cancer.

“Tears flooded into Lynn’s eyes when she heard the news.”

T H E G R E AT U N K N OW N

It was a story Lynn didn’t share with many people, especially her work friends. She worked hard to be strong for her mother while maintaining a normal life and work balance, but hearing Brad’s news brought her back to the moment she found about her mom’s diagnosis. The good thing about having been through it, was that Lynn knew how to cope. Brad got through the work day and after work, Lynn asked Brad if he felt up to going for a walk. He did. They always had a connection. They made each other smile, made each other laugh, but now it ran deeper than that. Lynn shared her mom’s story with Brad and for the first time she felt relief. She finally had someone in Austin that she could open up to and she instantly knew that she wanted to be that person for Brad. After that walk on that particular Monday, Lynn and Brad were inseparable. They started driving to work together, eating lunch together, eating dinner together and making plans together. It wasn’t always a walk in the park for Brad and Lynn. On the contrary, the next two years were tumultuous ones. A rollercoaster ride full of emotions, remissions, re-diagnosis for both their mothers, but through it all Lynn and Brad shared a special understanding. They knew when it was appropriate to make the other laugh, when it was best just to be silent, when it was okay to cry. They developed a pretty routine schedule of spending every other weekend in Philly with Lynn’s family and back to Houston the following weekend to see Brad’s and they always managed to make it to work. On time. Together. Every Monday. At about the one year mark, Lynn’s mom took a turn for the worse. They weren’t sure she’d make it through the fall, but Christmas

vacation came and went and Lynn’s mom stayed strong. Brad’s mom continued to grow stronger and seeing her son happy and with such a brilliant girl like Lynn made her able to better push on through the hard recovery. It was also around this same time and Lynn and Brad decided to move in together. It seemed like a no-brainer as their situations with their mothers kept them always wanting the other around, so the couple bought a piece of land in the Austin country side. Brad always wanted to keep a garden and the spacious lot gave them ample room. They started growing vegetable and flowers together. Gardening for them wasn’t just a hobby. Being in the garden was therapeutic for them both. Bringing things to life and having control over the outcome of their crops. They loved showing pictures to their moms every weekend, so they could breathe in the new life that was all around. If refreshed their senses and gave them a positive outlook on the future. Lynn and Brad became so involved with their mothers’ recovery they knew their must be other people in Austin that could be in need of a support system similar to what they had built and found in each other. So over the next six months they worked to organize a statewide support group called Friends of Fighters. The group meets weekly and it is a safe supportive place where people can share stories and family members’ progress. They can get advice on things to say and do for support. They can also just take a load off and during their planned therapeutic activity session they can learn a range of skills from painting to gardening.

HER STYLE

FA S H I O N I S TA

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A L M O S T E X AC T LY T WO Y E A R S L AT E R Brad and Lynn headed to work on a Monday. Except, now Brad’s mom was in remission and he had Lynn by his side. They drove to work together like they had done everyday, they got coffee, they went to morning meeting and as they were walking back to their offices to get to work Brad got on one knee. Lynn said “yes.”

big city

SMALL ISLAND Photographs Martin Charrat Model Danielle Stephen

DS Many people think of a bustling crowded city when they think of Hong Kong. Her travels to some of Hong Kongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hidden gems: the small villages of Lamma, Tai O and Cheung Chau.

LA MMA

Lamma was named after the shape of the island which looks like the fork of a tree, or the Chinese character 丫 (pronounced “ah” in Cantonese, and which has the same shape as the letter Y), and Naam meaning “south” (/l/ is a lazy sound of /n/). Lamma (南丫) thus means literally “southern Y”. The name can also mean “Southern Peninsula Island”. The original name of the island is Pok Liu. The island is shaped like two Y in opposite direction. The north Y is Pak A (北丫) and south Y is Nam A (南丫). When the British first came to the island, they used the colloquial pronunciation of Nam Ah, i.e. “Lam Ah (Lamma)” as the name of the island. The Chinese names of East Lamma Channel (東博寮海峽) and West Lamma Channel (西博寮海峽) are still formed from Pok Liu instead of Nam A. Another folk etymology says the name came from a former lamaist monastery on the island. Lamma Island is located to the southwest of Hong Kong Island. It has an area of 13.55 km²[2] and is 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) in length. The northern village is called Yung Shue Wan (Banyan Tree Bay) and the eastern village is called Sok Kwu Wan. Few people live on the southern part of Lamma. Access for much of this part is by hiking or boat.

Mount Stenhouse is the tallest mountain in Lamma (353 metres above sea-level), situated between Sok Kwu Wan and Sham Wan. Unusually shaped rocks can be found all over this mountain, but a grueling hike is necessary to access these. Lamma has an estimated population of 6,050 people. However, with future developments such as a planned beach community in Sok Kwu Wan the population capacity is expected to double to 11,000 residents. Actor Chow Yun-fat (周潤發) grew up on the island in the village of Tung O in Yung Shue Wan. His family still operates a seafood/pigeon restaurant called “Shau Kee” in the main village. Lamma has a significant Western and international population. The island has had a reputation for alternative lifestyles, hippies, and a relaxed attitude, but Lamma is being urbanized and property prices are on the increase, because of the attraction of this lifestyle. In contrast to Hong Kong Island, Lamma is peaceful, with relatively natural scenery. Buildings higher than three stories are prohibited and there are no automobiles but diminutive fire trucks and ambulances, as well as distinctive open-back vehicles to transport construction materials. The community’s only transport means is by foot or bicycle.

B I G C I T Y, S M A L L I S L A N D S

m o t o b l a ck l e at h e r t o p

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TAI O On the main part of Lantau Island, a river splits to the north and west and at this fork lies the island referred to as Tai O. Two pedestrian bridges cross the river on its northern and western forks. The village is located mostly on the banks of the river. The western and northern parts of the island facing the South China Sea are uninhabited. Nearby archaeological sites date back to the Stone Age, but permanent, and verifiable, human settlement here is only three centuries old. Stories that would be impossible to substantiate have Tai O as the base of many smuggling and piracy operations, the inlets of the river providing excellent protection from the weather and a hiding place. In early 16th century, Tai O was once occupied shortly by Portuguese during the Battle of Tamao. At nearby Fan Lau, a fort was built in 1729 to protect shipping on the Pearl River. Smuggling of guns, tobacco, drugs and people remains a documented illegal activity both into and out of mainland China. When the British came to Hong Kong, Tai O was known as a Tanka village. During and after the Chinese Civil War, Tai O became a primary entry for illegal immigration for those escaping from the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of China. Some of these immigrants, mostly Han Chinese, stayed in Tai O, and Tai O attracted people from other Hong Kong ethnic groups, including Hoklo (Hokkien) and Hakka.

de n i m s h o r t s

antrhopologie

Currently the fishing lifestyle is dying out. While many residents continue to fish, it barely provides a subsistence income. There is a public school on the island and most young people move away when they come of age. In 2000, a large fire broke out destroying many residences. Now what remains of the village is now mostly squatters huts and dilapidated tin stilt houses.

B I G C I T Y, S M A L L I S L A N D S

C HE U N G CHAU Geographically the island is formed from two mostly granite masses joined by a It was a story Lynnkm²,[1] didn’t share withis many people, especially tombolo. With an area of 2.45 the island therefore “long”, henceher the work friends. She worked hard to be strong for her mother while name as translated from Cantonese is “Long Island”. Thus, it is redundant to say maintaining a normal life and work balance,with but hills hearing Brad’s “Cheung Chau Island”. The island is dumbbell-shaped, at the northern back to the moment sheinfound about her mothand southernnews endsbrought and theher settlements concentrated between. er’s diagnosis. The good thing about having been through it, was that of Lynn to cope. Brad got the work dayThe andlaneThe central part the knew islandhow is well developed withthrough shops and houses. after work, Lynn asked Brad if heisfelt up to going for a walk. ways are so narrow that normal motor traffic impossible. Instead, there are small He did. motorized trucks officially termed “Village vehicles”. For example, there are small specially designed mini-fire engines, ambulances and police cars. Residential They hadofathe connection. made each otherthe smile, made areas also exist onalways the hills north andThey south. Traditionally island was a each butfishing now it fleets ran deeper than that.the Lynn shared her fishing village andother therelaugh, are still working from harbor. However mom’s story with Brad and for thetourist first time she feltoffering relief. She in recent years the island has become a major attraction, a mixture finally had someone in Austin could open up toculture. and she of sandy swimming beaches, seafood cafes,that andshe traditional Chinese instantly knew that she wanted to be that person for Brad. After that walk thatSecond particular Monday,of Lynn and Brad wereTerritories inseper- and Under the terms of theon 1898 Convention Peking, the New 200 smaller able. islands including Cheung Chau were leased to the United Kingdom for 99 years. At that time, Cheung Chau was mainly a fishing village; it had more It wasn’t always a walk in the park for Brad and Lynn.been On the con-by residents living on junks than on land. Cheung Chau had already settled nextintwo years were tumultuous ones. A rollercoaster ride people from trary, other the places Southern China; for example, Hoklo, they are mainly fullHakka of emotions, for island both their mothers, fishing people; people;remissions, Chiu Chau; re-diagnosis and Yue Ca. The slowly evolved but through it all Lynn andselling Brad shared a special into a commercial hub with merchants supplies to the understanding. local fishing people, They knew when it was appropriate to make the other laugh, when boat repair and fishing gear as well as the place to do business for fishing people it was best just nearby to be silent, when was okay to cry. and small farmers of other islands likeitLantau Island.

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HER STYLE

p h oto a n n a r e y n a l

HER LOOK INTO SPRING Transforming your wardrobe from winter into spring can be challenging. Her trend spotters are loving the bright pops of prints and pastels this season and suggest adding a big brimmed hat to your collection. Picture perfect for derby season: statement pearl necklaces, sun dress and topped off with her best hat. Matching your lipstick color to an outfit accent is another way you can tie your whole spring look together.

HER STYLE

IN G N P I R SP STE R E H

above (from top to bottom) Alexander Wang mule Christian Louboutin sling back

BCBG t-strap Elie Saab t-strap

Carolinna Espinosa bootie Gianvito Rossi heel

HER MUSIC

MADI DIAZ DAZZLES US With her thoughtful lyrics and catchy beats, its not hard to see why Madi has been all the buzz in the Philly, New York and Austin music scenes. you grew up near rural lancaster county, pa. how did that inform the way you approach singing and songwriting? My parents were incredibly passionate, self-driven people. They would kick my brother and me out of the house for the day and tell us that if we were bored, it was our own problem. We lived in the middle of nowhere, so we had a lot of time to get lost in the surrounding cornfields, follow old deer paths and build forts. Growing up like that definitely helped me learn to be okay with being alone, especially during my writing process.

word on your instagram is that you have some new music on the way. what can we expect—and when? I am so excited about my new record. This past year has been a crazy one—crazy in love, crazy out of love, lost without love, and then just wide open again. The record is incredibly honest. As for timing, I’ll be putting out a song in early March, and then dropping singles as we head into summer. Hopefully you will have the whole record by the end of the summer!

you’ve been playing and creating music for most of your life. who are your biggest influences? The one I turn to time and again is Fleetwood Mac. I’ve also rediscovered my love for Interpol and Kate Bush. I have been inspired by records from Daughter, London Grammar and Susanne Sundfør. Also, I have totally lost it on an airplane listening to Nick Drake and gotten up a few tough hills during my morning runs thanks to M.I.A.

HER MUSIC

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