moxie! summer/fall 2016
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Come see us at our new location 705 Generations Drive • Suite 101 • New Braunfels
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We help you get back to the life you love Welcome to Foot & Ankle Surgery of New Braunfels, your podiatric experts close to home. We provide the highest degree of service in an efficient, personal, and professional manner. Our focus is to maximize the health, function, and quality of life of the population we serve. Model, not actual patient.
When you have problems with your foot or ankle, you need to turn to a specialist who listens and responds ...a friendly physician who counsels you on the best ways to maintain and improve your health. Our staff meet all these criteria. Plus, you benefit from a dedicated team of trained professionals who give you the individualized attention you deserve.
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Dr. Brandon James, DPM Dr. Sarah James, DPM
contents
summer/fall 2016 Life in Harmony Susan Gibson’s connection to family, friends and fans................26
on the cover model Kat Kyle Balmos and Tyler, the dog photo by Beth Bizer
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Health
Nutrition
Life
Healthy You! Flip-flops - The good, bad & ugly..........14
Smart Breakfasts Best choices for smart travelers............20
Love? According to Marty....................................12
Your Best Energy Healthy tips for women on the go!......16
Healthy Recipe Summer Salmon Burger...........................22
The Book Club Inspirational reading pleasure................34
Style
She’s the Boss Home-based business entrepreneurs..36
Moxie Makeover A new look for a life in transition..........28
Moxie Message
Fitness Barre Drunk What really happens in a barre class...18
Chic Shots! Unique, eclectic, vintage style...............32
The Girls in the Hood................................42
from the editor
“You can’t drive a parked car.” I love this quote from one of my favorite Joyce Meyer books. It’s such a great metaphor for life.
H
ow many times have you felt stuck…like your life was going nowhere? Maybe your car is in park. Shift gears and get going, girl! There’s a world of opportunity and fun just waiting for you, but you’ve got to get your car in motion. Even if you start out in the wrong direction, recalculate and try a new path. In this issue of Moxie!, writer Charlie Agar brings you three stories of women who have found their path in life. And they each took a different road getting there. Read how they did it on page 36. As summer turns to fall, there’s still time to get a trip in, or two. Margaret Polser and Jill Sharp are both world travelers and health gurus. They have
moxie! Editor in Chief: Georgia Williams Design Director: Pete Williams Feature Designer: Colin Williams
easy health tips to take on the road with you (see page 16). And nutritionist Elissa Lueckemeyer shares her delicious “on the go” breakfasts – perfect for when you’re traveling or just trying to hurry up and get out the door in the morning. If all you have time to do is sneak in a good read, check out our list of inspirational books on page 34. Keep this list handy; share it with your friends and book club buddies. It’s time to get in gear and do the thing you were meant to do!
Writers: Marty Newton, Sarah James DPM, Margaret Polser, Jill Sharp, Maggie Wiggins, Elissa Lueckemeyer, Kristy Hurst, Laurie Espil-Goode, Charlie Agar Photographers: Beth Bizer, Pauline Stevens, Charlie Agar Copy Editor: Kelly Williams Advertising:
Caryn Benson caryn@moxiemagazine.com 512.627.1020
Be courageous! Be excited! Be MOXIE!
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MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016 11
My Romance that Led On my 40th birthday, I to an decided to do something Abandoned to commemorate my mid-life point. Bus...in Alaska
I
took a gang of my friends out to Big Bend National Park for a 16-mile hike up Emory Peak and The South Rim, which my sister later referred to as our “death march.” On the last day of the best birthday weekend - ever, I found myself in La Kiva Bar in Terlingua, Texas. It was a By Sunday afternoon and the place was occupied solely by the Marty bartender, a wilderness guide, my wingman Evelyn and me. Newton I chose the seat next to the wilderness guide and began my full inspection of his being – starting with his legs. After viewing him from head to toe, my intrusive gaze met his kind and inquisitive green eyes - in a time stopping manner. I broke the silence by saying, “If we were survivors in a plane crash and we had to resort to cannibalism --and you died before I did, I would eat your calf muscles, first.” Without flinching, he replied, “I would eat your lips, first.” And so began my romance with the wilderness guide who smelled like Dr. Pepper and pork chops. We will just call him W.G., because he would hate this. W.G. spent his time river guiding in Big Bend National Park and Denali National Park in Alaska. I remember exclaiming to my father, “I met a river guide!” To which my father said, “Of course you did.” The kind of guy who has carved a life for himself doing something outdoors, sporting a beard that confirms the 8 to 5 gig-- is just not for him, has always been my type. It’s my type with a few tweaks, that is. Invariably, I try to convert the beard to a G.Q. looking beard rather than a, “I don’t own a mirror looking beard”. W.G. and I spent some years in each other’s lives, but I would stray from time to time, tempted by someone who showered daily and who had health insurance, and a mortgage. W.G. would tell me he loved me while I was sleeping... I hoped he would never gain the courage to say it in the waking hours because the only appreciated response is to respond in kind. Nobody wants anybody to respond with, “Awwww.” I tried to convince myself that I was probably enough of a narcissist that I just thought I heard someone According to telling me this in my sleep, every night. As the years have passed, I realize I probably did have some love for W.G. The most romantic night of my life was with him. He paddled us down the Santa Elena Canyon and I only had to re-cork my bottle of wine once, as he navigated the Rock Slide Rapid. We camped under the most amazing Marty Newton is a freelance writer and lives in New Braunfels with a cat. starry sky I have ever seen. I did eventually visit the bus where W.G. lived in the last frontier and discovered that reality has an odor. It smells like an abandoned bus in Alaska.
Marty
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HEALTHYyou!
The Good, the Bad, the Ugly with Flip-Flops By Sarah James, DPM
Now that we’re in the middle of summer, you’ve had time to show off those cute little feet and toes in the latest and brightest flip-flops. The idea of slipping them on to run out the door to meet with friends, taking the kids to the park, floating the river, is one less thing to worry about. But are those cute flipflops doing more harm than good?
However, your toes aren’t the only ones to suffer. With your sandals not providing any shock absorption or cushioning, they can lead to stress fractures in your feet. Standing or walking too long in these thin, flat sandals can cause tiny cracks in your bones. Heel pain or plantar fasciitis, is something we’ve either had before, or we’ve known a friend, relative, or family member that has suffered from this frustrating condition. Unfortunately, most flip-flops lack in support, particularly in the arch and the heel. This can cause the foot to over-pronate, or flatten out. When your foot flattens out as you walk, it stretches the thick band of tissue on the bottom of your foot that attaches to your heel leading to inflammation and the condition known as plantar fasciitis. Last but not least, wearing flip-flops can affect your ankles. With the thong sandal not providing any support, it causes you to walk differently. You take shorter steps and hit your heel with less vertical force which can throw off your natural gait and trigger pain and problems throughout the body. This can lead to issues in your ankles, knees, hips and back. But there’s good news! So before you throw those summer sandals away, here are some tips to see if yours live up to the safe standards. Make sure they fit according to your size, the “one size all” motto is not something you want to follow. Ensure that your toes and heels are not hanging off the edge.
Unfortunately, most flip-flops lack in support, particularly in the arch and the heel.
When you pick up your thong sandal and can bend it in half like a sandwich, it’s time to put it back on the rack. You’re looking for a sandal that has support with a bend in only in ot all flip-flops are created equal and some are better the ball of the foot. Along with the support, you want a sandal than others. Like all good things, moderation is key. that has a thicker sole with some kind of arch support in order So just slipping them on to go to the pool most likely to prevent that stubborn heel pain from flaring up. won’t do much harm, but if they’re your go-to shoe gear for Before you walk away from the coral jeweled sandals, the summer, your feet may pay the price come early fall. look to see if they have more of a thicker strap that goes across Let’s talk about what happens when you slip on those the foot and one around the heel in order to create good bright colored thong sandals. Starting with the toes, with contact between the foot and sandal. only a small piece of fabric holding the foot in place, your Not all materials are the best for our feet. Look for a toes need to grip the sandal to keep it on. With the constant sandal that is made of good quality soft leather to prevent gripping of the toes, the muscles working those toes can lead painful blisters and calluses. to overuse which could trigger inflammation of the tendons Last but not least, flip-flops wear out and should be and the nerves surrounding those tendons. Tendinitis can be replaced every year, especially if they’re showing signs of painful and could result in tears or ruptures. With constant wear and tear. over-wearing, your summer sandals can also lead to hammerHopefully you have a few sandals that lived up to the toe toes (contracture of the joint that causes your toes to standards, if not, it’s time to go shopping! bend abnormally) or make them worse. Your sandals may also even encourage bunion formation or make an existing For more information contact Dr. Sarah James, DPM, at Foot & Ankle Surgery of New Braunfels. newbraunfelspodiatry.com bunion worse.
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14 MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016
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YOUR BEST ENERGY
ON THE M OV E “There’s no substitute for just going there,” according to Yvon Chouinard founder of Patagonia, and we are inclined to agree!
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e both like to travel, and we are fortunate to have many opportunities through our work to travel, experience, and explore within the United States and around the world. However, there is no doubt that challenges around maintaining our health rituals and rhythms while on the road exist. So if like us, you are looking for ways to enjoy your travel and arrive with your best energy, we have some travel energy enhancing strategies to share that will enable you to bring your best self to your next business meeting or your much anticipated family vacation. Top of the list? You guessed it… exercise! It helps alleviate jetlag, maintain sleep cycles when you change time zones, and equips you to better handle unforeseen stressful events such as flight cancellations, flat tires, and excited/road weary children or grandchildren. Exercise affects your circadian rhythms, and there are three factors that have the biggest impact on those: Light, time, and melatonin. Exposure to daylight has the most significant impact of the three. Light hitting your eyes transitions to a new
16 MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016
BY JILL SHARP & MARGARET POLSER
Enjoy travel while maintaining health rituals and rhythms
cycle. So taking your exercise outside is a great strategy when changing time zones. Another helpful trick is to exercise at the same time that you would exercise at home. If that is normally 8am, try to exercise at 8am at your travel location. Your muscles produce more energy when you exercise, and your circulatory system’s activity during exercise enhances the supply of fluids, oxygen, and nutrients that your muscles need for energy production. You can certainly stay with your usual fitness routines, but traveling is also the perfect time to try something new. Your brain and body are already primed for novelty simply by making the decision to travel, so leverage that. Remember, any activity that creates discomfort or challenges you is considered exercise, so broaden your scope of possibilities! A new cycle class, yoga experience, or running trail can be both invigorating and inspiring. What about surfing or paddle boarding? Dancing? And in our experience, there is no better way to see a city than by walking it. Stay hydrated. Airplane cabins usually have a humidity level of 10-20 percent, considerably lower than a typically comfortable outdoor humidity of 30-65 percent. In addition, traveling to areas of higher elevation can also compromise your body’s hydration. We recommend being proactive and prepared. Drink plenty of water
pre, during, and post travel. For flight travel, most experts suggest 8 ounces of water for every hour you are in the air and to spread that consumption out throughout the flight. Remember that alcohol and caffeine can have a negative effect, actually promoting dehydration. Practice portion control. First, remember that when you are sedentary, your body’s fuel demand is lower than normal. Adjust your intake accordingly when traveling. We like to come prepared with a nutrient-dense snack or meal in a pinch options. Portion controlled packages of nuts and dried fruit are easy and don’t require climate control. Small apples with packages of almond or peanut butter work well, and you will rarely find us without a high quality energy bar in our bags. There will certainly be times on your trip when you will want to splurge a bit with food and/or drink….a little indulgence is part of a balanced approach to food. But save your splurges for foods you really want. We suspect those are not necessarily sodas, snack crackers, or packaged cookies on the plane. Seek out nutrient rich foods when you can, which will allow you to enjoy local treats in smaller servings without compromising your energy. A serving of amazing pasta in Italy? Absolutely! Savor each bite and pair it with some salad or fresh vegetables, bypass the bread, and how about a glass of red wine? The ice cream
cone at Disney? You bet! Enjoy it after an open-faced turkey sandwich piled high with lettuce and tomato, an apple, and some water or unsweetened ice tea. Move….often. Have you ever noticed how when you are confined to a seated position for extended periods of time, your body demands movement? You tap your foot, find yourself shaking your leg back and forth, you fidget in your seat? Your body knows what it needs and it needs to move in order to maintain circulation. We recommend small movements or stretching every 60-90 minutes. These can happen even while seated…think neck rolls, shoulder shrugs, and arm reaches. And we recommend not sitting for longer than two hours at a time…think standing up, walking and squats. Lastly, explore, laugh, and play! Make opportunities whether you are on the go for work or vacation to try something new, connect with others, and tap into your child-like wonder and playful side. Make the decision to go with the flow. According to the Mayo Clinic, short-term, laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, and increases endorphin releases in the brain. Long term, it improves your immune system, relieves pain, and increases personal satisfaction. Don’t allow the desire for the “perfect” trip to block the enjoyment that can be found in all of the chal-
lenges and imperfect, memory-making circumstances. With a bit of preparation, mindfulness, and flexibility, you can enjoy your travel and return home with great energy for your daily life and next trip!
Quick In-Flight Workout: 20 leg extensions 20 glute squeezes 20 ab twists 20 calf raises 20 inner thigh squeezes 10 shoulder rolls, forward and back Neck stretch, hold for 30 seconds each side Twisted shoulder stretch, hold for 30 seconds Seated knee to chest stretch, hold for 30 seconds Things to take along: Johnson & Johnson 7 Minute Workout App Resistance bands are a great, easy to pack strength training tool Pack an empty water bottle and fill it after clearing security
Jill Sharp is a certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer with over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry. She is also an experienced corporate trainer and performance coach, specializing in the development and delivery of personal and professional performance improvement programs. (jillmsharp@aol.com) Margaret Polser has a master’s degree in education and is a certified personal trainer. She is also a trained and certified Wellness and Performance Coach, specializing in physical fitness, nutrition, and stress management. (mpolser@mpolserwellness.com)
Barre drunk Yes, it’s a real thing, and it does not involve alcohol
By Maggie Wiggins
Legs like jello, trembling after just seven minutes of working my thighs at the barre. Then we move on to glutes and I start to wonder if my cheeks might fall off. “Just eight more reps,” the teacher tells us. At this point, I realize she might be a liar. But for some reason, I keep doing exactly what she tells us to do. Fifteen more pushups - at least I think that’s how many it was. I may have blacked out. And then finally, at the end of the hour, I find myself lying on my mat. We’re told to close our eyes and relax. Oh, thank goodness, it’s time to stretch and cool down… the real reason most of us come to class! In a daze, I collect my things and trust that my legs will, at the very least, get me to my car. And then I think, “I’ll go to barre again tomorrow.”
PHOTOS BY PAULINE STEVENS
Barre classes are intense and challenging, no doubt about that. But well worth the effort!
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articipants are encouraged to come to class, do what they can, and take as many breaks as they need to. Because it’s not about doing all the reps. It’s about pacing yourself, building strength through safe, effective movement and improving a little bit with each class. A typical barre class begins with a warm-up on the mat, followed by upper body exercises using very light weights ( 1 – 3 lbs). Participants then move to the barre for a series of lower body movements. Then it’s back to the mat for core strengthening, followed by a cool down period and stretching. All selected exercises target a specific muscle group, work it to exhaustion, and then stretch immediately afterwards in order to develop long, lean muscles and increase flexibility. Barre classes are great for any level of fitness! The exercises engage tiny movements that are low-impact and easy on your joints. Challenge yourself! But don’t forget to nurture yourself, too. Go ahead and spoil yourself with a celebratory drink now and again. That’s what got me addicted to barre - the challenge, the celebration and the nurture all in one. And, unlike a hangover, you’ll never regret your decision, even if it does hurt a little the next day. Maggie Wiggins is owner of Lucky Studio in New Braunfels
Pose 1 - Parallel Thigh
For this exercise, using the yoga ball creates additional work for your inner thighs. The ball is placed just above the knees. Walk the feet in so they’re hip width apart. Place your hands on the barre, shoulder width apart. Maintaining a light grip on the barre for balance, sink your hips down and maintain neutral spine and pelvis throughout the entire exercise. This is your work zone. Now, it’s all about tiny movements. Lower the hips one inch, then back up just one inch. Continue for 2 – 3 minutes. Your legs will be shaking!
Pose 2 - Bent Knee, Standing Gluteal Strengthener
Take an underhand grip on the barre, standing with your hips one inch away from the barre. Bend one leg behind you and flex your foot. Maintain a soft knee bend on the standing leg, and keep your hips even the entire exercise. Press the flexed foot away from you one inch (as though you are pressing against a wall). Hold the contraction for a moment before releasing. Keep the working leg behind the standing leg the entire exercise. Work each glute for two minutes.
Pose 3 – Fold-Over Position
This is a great exercise for the glutes and it works the muscles of the back as well. Fold your upper body over so that you’re parallel to the floor. Keeping the hips even, lift one leg up to hip height and maintain a soft knee bend in the standing leg. The extended leg remains straight while you lift it up one inch. Hold this gluteal contraction for just a moment before releasing the leg down. Work each glute for two minutes. Remember, these are tiny, but very effective, movements! MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016 19
SMART BREAKFASTS FOR THE SMART TRAVELER Summer is here, and that means time for travel and new adventures. But does broadening your horizons have to mean a broadening of your waistline? No way! Ditch the fast food and start your day right with a healthy, on-the-go breakfast to fuel your day of fun. With a little extra planning, you can take any of these delicious breakfast ideas on the road while on vacation, or maybe just for your morning commute. They are portable, low fuss and have what truly makes breakfast the most important meal of the day: protein. Have them for a satisfying snack, saving you from resorting to that gas station hot dog. Besides, who needs guilt getting in the way of summer fun?
By Elissa R. Lueckemeyer RDN, LD
“Portable� cereal: Pour your favorite whole grain cereal into some vanilla yogurt and skip the milk sloshing in a hot car. Throw in some nuts, berries or dried fruit. Whole grain English muffin with avocado and hardboiled egg slices: Especially delicious with mustard. Hardboiled eggs: Pair these nutrient powerhouses with fruit and whole grain crackers. Peanut butter and banana fold over: Spread some peanut butter and banana slices on a piece of whole grain bread and fold it over for an easy-to-eat classic treat. Works on a bagel as well. Fruit and cheese: Take your taste buds to the French countryside! This can include string cheese, maybe some walnuts or almonds and a complementing fruit of choice, such as apple slices or grapes. Energy bars: Great for when you are in a pinch, but choose bars high in protein and lower in sugar content. Odwalla, Kashi and GoLean are good choices.
Breakfast wrap: Wrap turkey and cheese around a whole wheat tortilla. If you can scramble eggs and peppers before you hit the road, you can have a breakfast taco. Fruit or green smoothies: Whip up your favorite recipe before you head out and enjoy on the open road. Especially easy to enjoy for the driver. Cottage cheese and pineapple: Grab one of those convenient cottage cheese snack cups with some pineapple. If you buy pineapple fruit cups, choose ones packed in their own juices, not syrup. Homemade trail mix: Throw together some of your favorite unsalted nuts, seeds, whole grain cereal, and dried fruit in a ziplock bag. If you are worried about your portioning, divide into one-serving snack bags. Oatmeal-on-the-Go: Cook your favorite oatmeal the night before, pour into a little mason jar and let it cool. Layer on top with yogurt, fruit, and nuts. Throw it in the fridge and it is ready to go the next day
Elissa is a registered dietitian and owner of Food 4 Success, LLC, providing nutritional counseling and education to the New Braunfels and San Antonio areas. She has a passion for whole-foods cooking, writing and improving nutritional knowledge in the community with the latest scientific-based information. Elissa@food4success.com
20 MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016
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Recipe provided by Chop House, located in the Park Plaza Hotel in Seguin, Texas Photo by Pauline Stevens
SUMMER SALMON BURGER
1 l b S al mon Fi let 1 Lemon ( ze s te d ) p lu s th e ju i ce of th e lem o n
½ cup ( total ) Chopped Pa rs le y, Ch i ve s , a n d G re e n On i o n s
2 Tbsp Di j on Mus ta rd
¾ cup Mayonna i s e
½ tsp Cayenne Pep p er
½ tsp S alt and Pep p er
1 Eg g White Cut Salmon into large pieces. Place Salmon into food processor and pulse until in small pieces, or for about 10 seconds. Place Salmon into chilled bowl. Mix in all of the above ingredients. Form mixture into two 8 oz. patties. Cook patties over medium heat with olive oil.
Ta r r a g o n M a y o n n a i s e
¾ cup Mayonnaise
4 Tbsp Finely Chopped Tarragon
2 t sp Lemon Juice
Salt and Pepper to Taste Using a butter-toasted Brioche bun, spread Tarragon Mayonnaise on both sides of bun. Place one salmon patty on bun and then add your favorite toppings like arugula, radishes, tomato, thinly sliced red onion, etc..
You might think that someone who has written one of country music’s most recognizable songs – a song that rocketed to No. 1 on the charts, stayed there for a month, and was embraced as an anthem for a generation of young people – might let success go to her head. But in the case of Susan Gibson, the exact opposite is true.
LIFE IN HARMONY
SUSAN GIBSON
BY KRISTY HURST PHOTOS BY PAULINE STEVENS
Susan wrote that now-famous song in 1993, while visiting her family over her Christmas break from studying forestry at college in Missoula, Montana. When her parents wanted to know why she had stayed out late the night before, Susan tapped into her youthful angst and furiously scribbled out the early stages of the lyrics that would one day rise to the top of the charts:
She needs wide open spaces Room to make her big mistakes She needs new faces She knows the high stakes
T
he words sat forgotten in a notebook at home, until Susan’s mother mailed the pages to her in a care package. Seeing the song’s potential, Susan finished “Wide Open Spaces,” started playing it around her college town, then brought it with her when she moved to Amarillo in the mid-1990s to become a nanny for her sister. Soon, she was the lead singer of a popular Amarillo band called The Groobees, which recorded the song on an album produced by the renowned Lloyd Maines. Maines liked it so much, he introduced the song to his daughter Natalie’s new band: the Dixie Chicks. “Wide Open Spaces” soon became one of the most beloved songs in country music history, and was named the Country Music Association’s Single of the Year in 1999. “That song was in the first dozen songs I ever wrote,” she says. “It was way before I knew anything about the craft of songwriting. I was just trying to put down a true feeling. It’s not my best-written song, and it’s
not my favorite, but it was true.” Hearing the Dixie Chicks passionate version of “Wide Open Spaces” makes Susan proud, but the song’s meaningful role in people’s lives means even more to her. “The biggest success was getting that truth down and connecting with people,” she says. “When someone says they played that song at their graduation, or at their best friend’s funeral, I don’t even know if proud is the word. It’s a super connection to people.” The runaway success of “Wide Open Spaces” earned Susan BMI’s Songwriter of the Year award and opened endless doors for her career. “That song changed my life,” she says. “It was exciting and beautiful and scary.” Susan could have ridden the wave of success into a songwriting career in Nashville, but instead chose to go where she felt she belonged: the Texas Hill Country. She bought a nearly five-
“That song changed my life... it was exciting and beautiful and scary.” acre parcel of land in Wimberley in 2003, which is still home base for her and her five dogs. Together, they tour in her Sprinter van, clocking thousands of miles on the road each year. Named the West Texas Music Hall of Fame’s Entertainer of the Year in 2009, the 44-year-old singer/songwriter now has five solo albums in addition to four recorded with The Groobees. While she occasionally assembles a band for bigger gigs, her main focus now is playing house concerts around Texas, where she shares the stories behind her songs with small groups of people in private homes. 26 MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016
“It’s intimate,” she says. “I get to hang out with the people who are facilitating my career. We’ll have pie and coffee together. It feels like an evolution, to go back to the time of traveling minstrels, going home to home, playing for your supper.” If you’re not lucky enough to see Susan at a private house concert, you might be able to catch a performance at a fundraising event supporting dog rescue. Her love of animals and training in working with dogs led her to volunteer with Wimberley’s WAGS animal
shelter, where she works to socialize and train dogs to make them more adoptable. Susan also plays many fundraisers to fight cancer, having lost her mother to lung cancer in 2013. She is grateful that her Mom, a piano teacher, gave her a childhood surrounded by music: She grew up singing, harmonizing, and playing “name that tune” while doing dishes, which led to violin lessons, and eventually, learning guitar from a high school friend, one song at a time. Decades later, Susan is still writ-
ing songs, drawing inspiration from all aspects of everyday life. Ideas come from everywhere: reading, driving, or simply overhearing conversations that spark metaphors for her own life experiences. “Lyrically, I think the definition of ‘songwriter,’ and by extension, ‘artistic,’ is just paying attention to the world with the idea that you want to make something out of it,” she says. “Songwriting is a ‘make something from nothing’ craft. You just have to be open and ready for inspiration.” It’s not a talent she wants to keep to herself. Susan teaches songwriting workshops, serves as a one-onone songwriting coach, and has been a mentor at a children’s songwriting camp, helping others learn the process and structure of piecing together lyrics and melody. “I write songs for me,” she says. “I would love to have 25 more cuts on different records, but my goal for myself is to have a body of work that I love and am proud of. It’s not without hard work, but I consider longevity to be its own success in this business.
Sticking with it is success enough.” Her creativity isn’t limited to music, flowing into other art forms as well. “Painting always has been and still is a release for me,” she says. It has also supported her music career: When her touring van was destroyed by a drunk driver, she launched “The Van Go Project” and began creating paintings
“I think the definition of ‘songwriter’...is just paying attention to the world with the idea that you want to make something out of it.” for fans who pitched in to help her buy a new one. Today, her Sprinter is covered with the names of people who came to her rescue and kept her and her music on the road. With her sister and her partner moving to the Hill Country from Amarillo, her niece and nephew going to UT Austin, and her father moving
into assisted living in San Marcos, Susan’s future is happily focused on family and home. “I am so looking forward being in my family again in regular, day-to-day way,” she says. “That is a big adventure for me. It sounds like it’s a slowing-down thing, and probably that is a little bit true, but it’s just really clear to me how important family is. Most of my songs have an element or inspiration from someone in my family. It will be nice to eat dinner together, to do the fun stuff and the hard stuff.” She’s looking forward to spending more time at home, writing more songs, and making more records – including two EPs and an album she plans to release by this time next year. “I’m loving every minute of it,” she says. “I am so lucky to have wonderful place to call home, and that the thing that makes me leave home is something I love to do. I have blessings all the way around.”
Kristy Hurst is a freelance writer. She lives in New Braunfels with her husband and two children.
New Patients Welcome! Chance Litton DDS
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(830) 625 4313 MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016 27
moxie
makeover
At age 55, Deana Frontz decided it was time for a life transition.
She took a sabatical from her advertising job and traveled across the country to visit family she hadn’t seen in nearly 30 years, and to help her favorite Aunt recover from hip surgery. When Deana returned from her trip, she spent time as a caregiver for her in-laws who were both dealing with health issues. Realizing she has a passion for caring for others, Deana is ready to begin a new career in healthcare and we’re excited to give her a brand new look!
Makeover At CosMedical Esthetics, Michelle McAskill uses Clear & Brilliant laser treatent to even out Deana’s skin tone and give her face a fresh, healthy glow.
Deana found lots of cute outfits at Trends & Traditions Boutique in San Marcos! She fell in love with a blue, lace overlay skirt that can be dressed up or down.
At William Edge Salon, Natasha Peterson chooses deeper tones for Deana’s hair color (to complement her skin tone and dark eyes) in shades of auburn, caramel and rich brown.
Corbin Shullanberger cuts Deana’s hair in a long, choppy bob with free-handed layers to add texture. After blowing her hair out smooth, he added back ribbon curls mimicking her naturally curly hair.
Makeup artist, Alicia Canon, gives Deana’s complexion a dewy glow. She uses purple blush on her cheeks for a summer glow and a soft, natural rose color for her lips.
“I love the new me!”
28 MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016
Paint The Town Teal! …or at least paint your toes!
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and we want to get the conversation started! Ovarian Cancer is a sneaky disease and claims the lives of more than 14,000 women each year. In addition, approximately 22,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2015. During the month of September, paint your toenails teal, the ovarian cancer color. Get your friends to paint their toenails teal too, and when they ask about it, make sure they know the signs of this whispering killer. Early detection is key to a positive outcome! Visit a participating salon in your area. These salons have beautiful polish ready for you, may offer discounts on your service, and/or donate a portion of the proceeds to cancer research. You will also receive a handy card to carry in your wallet that lists the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Your toes (and fingers!) will be so happy!
Visit one of these salons: The signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer: Bloating that is persistent
The Retreat Salon and Day Spa 245 S. Union • New Braunfels • 830-620-0615
Eating less and feeling fuller Abdominal pain Trouble with your bladder See your gynecologist if you have these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks. Experts suggest a combination pelvic/rectal exam, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a CA-125 blood test
Naturally You
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Happy Salon + Spa
1605 West 6th Street • Austin • 512-236-9868
Additional symptoms may include fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation, and menstrual irregularities, although these symptoms are found equally in women without the disease. (From the symptoms consensus statement endorsed by the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance)
www.tealtoes.org
“When you’re ready to buy or sell...”
Janie Macredie R E A LT O R ®
jmacredie@cbharper.com (830) 608-5418 (830) 708-5926 Fax: (830) 608-2718
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Haoran Yu, M.D. Managing Diabetes locally for 18 years If you have uncontrolled diabetes, Dr. Yu and his team can help, with extensive medical knowledge and clinical experience and advanced technology,
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Lindsey’s Massage Affordable, therapeutic massage for the relief of chronic pain facebook.com/Lindseys-Massage-146949346764 • 830.481.9977 MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016 31
Chic Shots!
Vicky Brietzke Mortgage Banker
SWBC Mortgage
I am the most happy and inspired being in a soulful or eclectic interior space, so I guess I would consider my style in clothing to carry the same definition.
Photo by Pauline Stevens
DON’T
FREE CONSULT
Some girls have a Signature Style
Dr. Nicole Talbot
It’s a style that is unique to her and she pulls it off so well. Vicky Brietzke is one of those girls, and we want to know how she does it! Where does she shop? What inspires her? We’ve got the dish on it!
Where are your favorite places to shop? Free People, vintage shops, traveling pop up’s, and South Congress in Austin, Texas…such great finds! What are the three most important items in your closet? My Frye boots, my skinny jeans, and a flowing, off-the-shoulder top. I never leave home without... Earrings, my vintage gold bracelets, a great purse, and of course my pink lipstick (which I will wear until the end of time!). Of course, if cooler weather permits, I always grab a fabulous layering piece…. Maybe even a vintage fur!
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How would you define your style? I have always believed that style is a relationship to the internal; a way to express ourselves and our identity. I am the most happy and inspired being in a soulful or eclectic interior space, so I guess I would consider my style in clothing to carry the same definition. I like to layer a lot with interesting and fun pieces. My style is always pretty basic - black, grey, and white to begin, and then the fun comes with the layering. I absolutely love the addition of a fabulous kimono, ethnic scarf, leather fringe vest, or handwoven poncho. And boots!!! I adore boots….I wear them year-round.
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N
eed a little inspiration to add to your book club selection? We asked Laurie Espil-Goode, owner of The Retreat Day Spa in New Braunfels (and lover of a great book), to share her list of books that not only entertain, but truly inspire her. “This list is a culmination of books I’ve loved and which have inspired me. I also asked a few women whom I admire for their input. They too are avid readers and said they go back from time to time and read snippets from these books to get that ‘shot in the arm’ they may need on any given day.” Laurie Espil-Goode
The
Book Club
Fiction and History Mark of the Lion Francine Rivers (trilogy) No Life for a Lady Agnes Morley Cleaveland Undaunted Courage Stephen Ambrose Half Broke Horses Jeannette Walls Adelsverein: The Gathering Celia Hayes (trilogy) Men to Match My Mountains Irving Stone The Shoemaker’s Wife Adriana Trigiani Prayers for Sale Sandra Dallas The Alchemist Paulo Coelho Historical fictions about Eleanor Of Aquitaine and Joan of Arc Anything by Willa Cather Inspiration Courage to Change (One Day at a Time in Al-Anon) Only Receive Michele Longo O’Donnell The Leadership Secrets (of Billy Graham) Harold Myra & Marshall Shelley Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and be Happy Barbara Johnson Go Fish Mary Stolz The Four Agreements Don Miguel Ruiz Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap James Collins For Teens (and for us too!) The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (a collection of four books total) The Young Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews For Teens and Parents of Teens Screenagers (Movie) Delaney Ruston Documentary on social media and gaming from a pediatrician’s research which began for her children - two tweens and one teenager.
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NBMATTRESS.COM Bulverde/Spring Branch New Braunfels 20475 Highway 46 W. 345 S. Business 35 (830) 438-2999 (830) 625-5513 MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016 35
SHE’S THE BOSS STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHARLIE AGAR
Home-based women entrepreneurs take charge of their own destinies For native New Braunfelser Joy Lindsey, leaving the corporate world was about shucking an oppressive boss and building an empire from the comfort of her own home.
D
ressed in comfy PJs and slippers, Lindsey commands Vertex Solutions Group, a telecommunications company with accounts all across the US, right from her custom home office overlooking a garden and spacious backyard. Lindsey went to work right out of high school in the oil and gas business and “just kept getting promotions” without extra salary because she had no degree. So she went to night school in business and marketing at Texas State at the age of 27, and later found a job and success at the San Marcos Telephone Company. At the height of a successful telecommunications sales career, Lindsey quit over conflicts with an oppressive boss and went to work for a billing company where she found a niche in FCC compliance. When that company downsized she went on her own, later partnering with a colleague, Jeff Verderame, to launch Vertex Solutions Group. “Not only did I have the same job making four times the money but I had the freedom to do what I wanted to do,” Lindsey said. The focus of the business is billing, risk management, fraud control, data management, and FCC compliance, she said. “It’s all bits and bytes and fractions of cents. We process billions of bits of data.” In 2002, the company hired a programmer and took off, Lindsey said. And every time there is an FCC change it means Lindsey and her partner see new opportunity.
JOY LINDSEY While her husband Bryan is a commercial and residential property manager, Lindsey, 56 and the mother of two grown children, said working from home just fits the bill. “I roll out of bed, make myself a glass of iced tea and wander back to the office. If it’s a good day, at some point I brush my teeth,” she said. “I do a lot of my work between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.” While she still travels and sees clients face-to-face periodically, she mostly logs-in to work remotely and consults with clients by phone. Never bored or lonely, Lindsey is happy with her own environment and can’t see herself ever going back to an office. Her daughter now works for her and could one day step in as an owner. And Lindsey’s home-based business means she can hop in her car and pull her travel trailer along for an adventure whenever she pleases. MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016 37
“My love for herbs is really the inspiration for the products,” Burck said. “We watch what we put IN our bodies not what we put ON our bodies.” Burck researched for two years before going into business, and products such as “Paula’s Garten,” a mix of rosemary, sage, lavender and peppermint she uses in soap, lotion and mist, are the result of painstaking experimentation. The flexibility of working from home is freeing, Burck said, where there is no gossip or office drama and plenty of time to enjoy hobbies. She gets her dose of human interaction at area farmer’s markets and events, and her husband, a newspaper publisher, joins in to help on weekends so the two get to spend time together. “I think my husband enjoys that I’m smiling almost all of the time now. I’m just much happier,” Burck said.
PAULA BURCK
Paula Burck’s obsession with organic skincare products sent her on a business journey that has blossomed into her own brand and a flourishing home-based business — the Gruene Witch. And today Burck controls not only the organic ingredients she uses in her products but her time, income, and future. Whether inspired or calculated, driven by a dream or a need, starting a business like Burck’s is a way many women sidestep the corporate “glass ceiling.” Today American women own some 10.6 million businesses nationwide, employing more than 19 million workers and accounting for $2.5 trillion in sales each year, according to a recent piece in Entrepreneur Magazine. And regionally you’ll find as many startups and established businesses as the reasons women launch them. After a career in commercial real estate in her native Minnesota and later Vermont, Burck, 44, moved to New Braunfels with her husband David in 2010 where she decided on a “more balanced life.” She remembers telling herself: “I gotta do something that’s for me.” 38 MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016
CINDY RIFFE
For Cindy Riffe, 60, working from home is a necessity. When her husband John died unexpectedly in 2014, Riffe, who is raising two grandchildren — one with special needs — needed a way to pay the bills without leaving the kids alone from dawn to dusk. Riffe had always had an entrepreneurial bend. Years ago when she saw a gap in community services, she put herself through law school expressly for the purpose of launching the Children’s Advocacy Center of Comal County, which she ran for years. It was while trying to juggle needs at home after her husband’s death that a request for a custom outfit got Riffe going fulltime in her home-based business, Rifki Creations. And today she makes a living creating bespoke German dirndls for Wurstfest and other events, crafts look-alike dolls for children based on their picture, and
You have a great vision Let’s turn it into a great message
AD VER T I SI NG • MA RKE T IN G
Cu r re ntCG . co m
MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016 39
can even make lederhosen or do alterations. Riffe recovers cushions, makes Roman shades and other home items, as well as unique “memory blankets” crafted from T-shirts and children’s clothing to create a memoir of sorts. A longtime board member of Circle Arts Theatre, Riffe sews costumes for area theatrical companies and ramps up in the months before Halloween designing and making unique costumes. “I stay so busy it’s ridiculous,” Riffe said, and the word is spreading by word of mouth and on Facebook. Though times have been tight in the last two years, Riffe is making it work. “I’m a big adapter. I make my mind up and that’s how it goes. It wasn’t the plan, but it’s what I’m doing,” she said. And working at home means she’s available to take care of her family by day and make her own hours. “I can work in the middle of the night if I want to and then do what I want to do in the daytime,” she said. “I don’t see how I can do it any other way.” For more information about launching a business, home-based or otherwise, contact your local chamber of commerce or find resources through any university small business development center, such as the popular programs through University of Texas at San Antonio. Charlie Agar is a freelance writer and media producer in New Braunfels. Contact him at Charlie@FrontRowMultimedia.com.
Tea & Savories by ruth
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40 MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016
(210) 846-4857 • 146 N. Castell Ave New Braunfels
MOXIE! SUMMER/FALL 2016 41
My husband had his mid-life crisis when he was 30 years old.
The Girls H in the Hood By Georgia Williams
is solution to the crisis was to buy a house. We’d been married seven years, had two young children and were renting one side of a duplex. I was perfectly happy living where we were. There were several other young moms living near me and we spent our days playing with the kids, swapping recipes, and sharing housekeeping tips. But that husband of mine just had to own something, so we decided to start looking for a house to buy. It so happened that the neighbor in our duplex was in the market for a house, too, and one afternoon she brought me a flyer from a home she had looked at and rejected. That evening, my eager husband and I drove to the downtown property and took a tour with the homeowner. My dear husband fell in love with it at first sight! I was 25 years old and didn’t really have much of an opinion about it. But as we drove away, I looked back and saw the glow of a dimly lit lamp through the lace curtains in one of the windows. It looked so cozy and homey. SOLD! Nine weeks later we were the proud parents of our first home. It was in an older neighborhood and most of the residents on the street were old, too. And I’m talking 50’s, 60’s, 70’s…you know, old! We were definitely the new kids on the block. We settled into our sweet little house and spent our free time destroying and restoring each room. We added three more babies to the fray and that kept us plenty busy. Since there were no small children on our street, we took our kids two blocks over where there were young families and kids galore. It was fun and frenetic, and I’ll admit there were many times I longed to live on the “fun” street. But there were also plenty of times that I was glad to be able to go back to my quiet little street and my peaceful little house. As the years passed, so did life on our street. Our kids grew up, and one-by-one, left our little nest. New families replaced the older ones. My husband and I quietly went about our days keeping a low profile. But one day, there was a knock on my door. A young mom stopped by to invite me to the neighborhood Bunco game she was hosting that evening. I accepted the invitation even though I’d never played Bunco before. I arrived early and by the time the game got underway, the house was filled with twelve women laughing, chatting and having an absolute ball! I was amazed how well they all knew each other, and ashamed that I barely knew any of them. My neighborhood is now bursting with new life! And it’s a fun life filled with Bunco games, tea parties, baby showers, pool parties, poker games and monthly gatherings to walk together to a local restaurant for dinner. And even though I am now the “old” lady on the block, this happy group of girls have opened the door and invited me in. “Thank you, girls” for bringing fun to this old street!
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