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12 | austin WOman | april 2015

on the scene23 KRISTY’S TOP 10 April’s To-Do List

26 PHILANTHROPY Girl Scouts Women of Distinction

28 HOROScOPeS Happy Birthday, Aries!

30 OUT AND ABOUT Party Pics

must list32 BeST Of THe BLOgS Austin’s Gardening Goldmine

34 MUST ReAD Rethinking Your Impact on the Planet

style36 New YORK fASHION weeK Fall 2015

39 fASHION Urban Oasis

home48 DeSIgN ADvIce A Happy Marriage: Art and Interiors

50 SMALL SPAceS The Tiny-House Movement

gourmet54 DININg The New Southern Comfort

36

contents a p r i l

on the cover photo by Jace Rivers, jacerivers.com

Makeup by Joshua Frey, raecosmetics.com

Hair by Allison Deitiker, raecosmetics.com

wellness58 HeALTH Health News You Can Use

60 NUTRITION Sant: Kick-Starting Wellness

62 fITNeSS Hooked on Boxing

opposite sex76 MeMO fROM JB Really Going Green

savvy women78 MOTHeR Of THe BRIDe Checking Off

the To-Do List

80 YOU SHOULD KNOw Creative Conservation

82 wOMeN IN LeADeRSHIP Fashion for Fun and Fundraising

86 IN THe NewS Susan Rieff

88 LAST wORD Minimalism

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VoluMe 13, issue 8

Co-FounDeR AnD PublisheR Melinda Maine Garvey

viCe PResiDent AnD Co-PublisheR Christopher Garvey

AssoCiAte PublisheR Cynthia Guajardo

Co-FounDeR Samantha Stevens

EDITORIALeDitoR-in-ChieF Deborah Hamilton-Lynne

AssoCiAte eDitoR Molly McManus

CoPy eDitoR Chantal Rice

ContRibuting wRiteRs

Jamie Balli, Cheryl Bemis, Deborah Alys Carter, Jill Case, Silvana Di Ravenna, Andy East, Meredith Ellis, Carrie Gavit, JB Hager, Libby McNamee, Veronica Meewes,

Anastasia Miller, Kristy Owen, Rachel Phua, Scarlett R. Smith, Alison Stoos, Steve Uhler

ARTCReAtive DiReCtoR Niki Jones

ARt DiReCtoR Nicole Brown

ARt AssistAnt Nora Iglesias

ContRibuting ARtists

Rudy Arocha, Cheryl Bemis, Bo Bezdek, Allison Deitiker, Silvana Di Ravenna, Meredith Ellis, Joshua Frey,

Ashley Hargrove, Marsha Miller, Matthew Murphy, Shree Padre, Annie Ray, Jace Rivers, Ted Sabol-Williams,

Stephen Spillman, Buff Strickland, Sean Su, Marc Swendner, Andrew Tung, Natalie Wetjen,

Jessica Wetterer, McKenzy Windham

ADVERTISINGACCount eXeCutives Samantha Gallion, Katie Paschall

ADMINISTRATIONoPeRAtions AnD MARketing MAnAgeR Maggie Rester

PRoJeCt MAnAgeR Sharrin Bacon

inteRns

Daniel Azneer, Jamie Balli, Stephanie Bennett, Carrie Gavit, Rachel Phua, Audrey Sandberg,

Scarlett R. Smith, Alison Stoos, Natalie Wetjen

Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc., and is available at more than 1,150

locations throughout Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved.

For submission requirements, visit awmediainc.com/contribute.

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

Visit us online at austinwomanmagazine.com. Email us at info@awmediainc.com.

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16 | austin WOman | april 2015

“i went to the woods because i wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if i could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when i came to die, discover that i had not lived.” — Henry David Thoreau

I have a confession to make. All of my life, at least ever since I read Walden; Or, Life in the Woods, I have been in love with Henry David Thoreau—in love with his mind, his writing, his poetry and his philoso-phy. I have always secretly wanted to have the courage to do as he did—to chuck everything, build a very simple house with my own hands and go into the woods. I want to “live deliberately” and I want to “live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.” It just sounds grand. So why haven’t I done it? Well, that is a story too long for this letter, but when I learned that Jan and Bob Ryan were building a “Zen retreat, the yang to Austin’s yin,” I knew it was a story we had to tell.

When you meet Jan Ryan, you are immediately captivated by her smile and later by her kind heart, engaging intellect and indomitable spirit. It was my honor to spend time with Jan and Bob onsite at their off-the-grid ranch in Wimberley, and to see the pride they are taking in the creation of their compound. Although it is a work in progress, it was such a pleasure to share in their vision and to see their dream home coming to fruition. In many ways, it represents the best of the ideals we serve up in this issue: love your mother

(Mother Earth, that is), repurpose, recycle, use technology to re-duce your footprint and simplify, simplify, simplify.

Spring is a time for renewal and growth. Austin Woman Publisher Melinda Garvey bravely offered to take a leap to simplify and redefine herself, and honor the changes in her life and lifestyle as she refined her style with the help of signature stylist Thea Wood. The fascinating and in-depth process is profiled step by step by Silvana Di Ravenna, and the results are impressive. Insider dish: Several of our staff members are happily repurposing items from MG’s closet that went into the “leave it” pile.

Speaking of style, we have the hottest looks directly from the runways of New York Fash-ion Week, exclusively from Cheryl Bemis of Fashionably Austin, and we were privileged to be the first publication to shoot photos atop the new JW Marriott, poolside. This is resort wear to die for! From former cover woman Sally Brown and her co-chair, Amy Ingram, we have the scoop on Milly designs that will be gracing the runway for the annual MJ&M fashion and fundraising event.

Meredith Ellis shares her tips for adding art to your décor, just in time for a sneak peek at Art City Austin. Andy East interviews one of the most interesting men in Austin, Professor Dumpster. We’ve got tips on gardening, books to help you

go green, innovative recycling ideas, info on a spot with finger-licking Southern cuisine, health news you can use and a fitness routine that is a total knockout.

This April, I hope you will take Thoreau’s advice to heart: Spend some time simplifying and take time to enjoy connecting with nature. Living in harmony with the environment and in harmony with your true self may just be the antidote to the stress, multi-task-ing and overscheduling that can push us over the edge. Be inspired by Jan and Bob Ryan’s example, best epito-mized by another of my favorite Thoreau quotes: “If

one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unex-pected in common hours.”

Here’s wishing you unexpected success as you move confidently in the direction of your dreams.

From the editor

DeboraH HaMilTon-lynne

Editor-in-Chief

1. hiking in Point lobos state natural Reserve,

Carmel, Calif.

2. Meditating at hamilton Pool nature Preserve,

Dripping springs, texas

3. watching the sunrise at the crater of hale-akala national Park,

Maui, hawaii

4. whale watching anywhere. but

lahaina, hawaii, and Provincetown, Mass., are always winners.

5. snorkeling in the Mesoamerican reef in

the Caribbean. My favor-ite spots include Roatan,

honduras and the Riviera Maya in Mexico.

deb’s top Five places to Get in touch With mother natureMost of my favorite places and ways to commune with nature involve travel outside Texas.

However, Hamilton pool is just a heartbeat away.M

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contributorsJace riversCoveR PhotogRAPheR, JAn RyAn, PAge 64

Jace rivers is an international award-winning photographer who has explored more than 45 countries, and his images have been featured in publications worldwide.

“To me, living a simple life means reducing in-take and increasing out-

put. supplementing what we buy at the gro-cery store with food that we grow ourselves is not only rewarding but cost-effective.”

steve uhlerCoveR wRiteR, JAn RyAn, PAge 64

steve uhler is a free-lance writer whose work has appeared in such diverse pub-lications as New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, Filmfax and Cat Fancy, as well as many newspapers throughout the u.s.

“i’m trying to simplify my life by consolidating and conserving more of my time: buying groceries in bulk, more efficient loads of laundry, filling the gas tank on occasion, fewer words.”

silvana di ravennawRiteR, theA wooD, PAge 70

silvana Di ravenna is a fashion and lifestyle writer and photographer for various publications, including Austin Woman magazine. she will soon launch her very own lifestyle blog, Dot Dress Gorgeous.

“i have made the com-mitment to only keep things that i really love. as a result, my place looks neater while still maintaining my essence.”

allison deitikerCoveR hAiR stylist, JAn RyAn, PAge 64

allison Deitiker moved to austin five years ago, and opportunities in this city and with rae Cosmetics have been like nothing she could have predicted. she employed her makeup services for this issue’s cover story,

and says she very much enjoyed working on the photo shoot with cover woman Jan ryan, who allison says sparkles with genuine kind-ness and enthusiasm.

“i think i only recently realized how precious spare time really is. i should buy boxed wine so i spend a lot less time being totally lost in the wine aisle!”

This month, we asked our contributors: In what ways have you simplified your life?

TickeTs/info(512) 476-6064 or austinsymphony.org

Upcoming events: Austin symphony orchestra Butler Texas Young composers concert—April 1

Jaime Laredo, violin; sharon Robinson, cello—April 10 & 11

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media sponsorsseason sponsor

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

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

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

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

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

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

All artists, programs, and dates subject to change.

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20 | austin WOman | april 2015

EDITOR’S PICK

connect With us!FiND uS oNliNe AT AuSTiNWoMANMAGAziNe.CoM

fOllOW us @austinwoman

like us facebook.com/austinwoman N

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more from Digging. Pam Penick, the blogger behind Digging, shares tips for what plants to garden with this Spring.

more Ways to Go Green. Racing Extinction is truly a game-changing, must-see film. The latest from Oscar-winning director Louie Psi-hoyos, Racing Extinction had a spectacular debut at the Sundance Film Festival and, subsequently, the Discovery Channel purchased the domestic and international rights. Read Editor-in-Chief Deborah Hamilton-Lynne’s review and info on upcoming release dates.

more events. For four days in April (the 23 through the 26), 72 pieces of John Lennon’s visual artwork will be on exhibit at the Rus-sell Collection Fine Art Gallery on West Sixth Street. More information is available at russell-collection.com.

more home accessorizing With art. Head out to Hotel Vegas on April 25 for the free Emerge event. We’ve got the details on this unique show that features street art and graffiti for purchase, along with live art demonstrations and music.

more from thea Wood. Get ready for your closeup, an exclusive and fun swimsuit-shopping excursion, details on what makes Wood’s styling technique unique and Wood’s take on the importance of color.

more cover Woman updates. Shannon Sedwick, founder of the hilarious Esther’s Follies and former AW cover woman, is not only celebrating her 65th birthday, but also more than 10,000 performances at Esther’s this month. On April 10, Esther’s will honor Sedwick with some of the best characters and sketches from her tenure, including Martha Stewart, Cleopatra and Patsy Cline.

more fashion. Ways to wear pastels and floral fashion in key pieces for Spring.

Plus, explore Wimberley! Inspired by the home of cover woman Jan Ryan, we take a weekend trip to Wimberley, Texas. We’ll check out delicious food and cute boutiques, and even visit Ulli Johnston, otherwise know as The Boot Whisperer, who owns a vintage boot shop and can name your shoe size upon arrival. It’s worth a visit, no?

can’t Get enOuGh Of this issue? Check out austinwomanmagazine.com.

featured event

How LittLe You AreApril 18, 8 p.m., Bass Concert Hall Fresh off their recent Grammy win, Conspirare collaborates with austin Classical Guitar for an unprecedented performance of a new work by nico Muhly. Muhly, one of the rising-star com-posers in contemporary classical music, joins the voices of Conspirare and guitars of the los angeles Guitar Quartet, Dublin Guitar Quartet and the Texas Guitar Quartet for a can’t-miss event. Tickets are available through texasperformingarts.org.

Win This! Zink Vegan Jaunt Handbagin the spirit of earth Day, the Jaunt tote is one in a new collection of vegan handbags made from animal-friendly materials from austin-based designer Zink. To see more vegan looks, visit zinkvegan.com.

To win, tag @austinwoman in a photo on instagram of your favorite place on Mother earth. The most inspiring photo wins.

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Old settler’s music festivalApril 16 – 19, Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben McCullough

What better way to spend a lovely spring day than heading to Driftwood with friends to listen to some of the best musicians around? old settler’s is laid-back and relaxing, and a great way to include the entire family. The lineup this year includes The Mavericks, robert earl Keen, sam bush, Jit-terbug Vipers and more. We have the complete lineup and details. Tickets are available at oldset-tlersmusicfest.org.

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ON THE SCENEkristy’s top 10April’s to-do list from 365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas.By kristy OWen

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lonestar round up April 17 and 18, travis County exposition Center, 7311 Decker lane

lonestarroundup.com

this event for car enthusiasts is one of the best the city offers. the show started more than 10 years ago as a small gathering on a football field, and has grown into a huge event featuring cars from throughout the country. some have even gone as far as to call it the best car show in america! the actual show takes place at the travis County expo Center, but the best way to experience the cars without committing to the show is to stroll south Congress avenue. Friday night and saturday, the street is lined with classic cars as far as the eye can see.

24 | austin WOman | april 2015

3tribute to billie holiday at one World theatre April 19, 7 p.m., one world theatre, 7701 bee Caves Road

womeninjazz.org

Come celebrate billie Holiday’s 100th birthday with a tribute at one World Theatre. listeners will be treated to a one-of-a-kind show that will have them feeling as if they’re back in the 1930s and ’40s. Former AW cover woman Courtney sanchez is a featured performer for the night. This is sure to be a jazz performance you don’t want to miss!

austin earth day Festival April 18, noon to 6 p.m., Mueller Park, 4550 Mueller blvd.

earthdayaustin.com

austin is a city that celebrates being green, so it’s no surprise we have an entire festival devoted to earth Day. There will be speakers, kids’ activities, a Composting 101 crash course, gardening tips,

face painting and more. it’ll be an entire day of celebrating Mother earth and learning what we can do to keep austin green. admission is free.

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ON THE SCENE KrisTy’s Top 10

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moontoWer comedy and oddity Festival April 22 – 25, various locations

moontowercomedyfestival.com

The Moontower Comedy and oddity Festival brings together some of the most world-renowned comedians and lots of local talent for days of non-stop laughs. The comedians perform everything from stand-up and sketch to improv. This year, some of the big-name headliners include ron White with Margo rey, Tim Minchin, Marc Maron, Wanda sykes, Maria bamford and patton oswalt.

austin Food + Wine Festival April 24 – 26, Auditorium shores, 800 w. Riverside Drive

austinfoodandwinefestival.com

The name speaks for itself. This is a festival combining two of the most glorious things on the planet: food and wine. The Grand Tasting tent has more than 70 food and lifestyle exhibitors, and you can walk around and sample food and wine at your leisure throughout the entire festival. There will also be demonstrations from top chefs in Austin, book signings and more. If you are a food or wine connoisseur, this event is for you.

Pro tip: The more popular demonstrations can fill up quickly, so make your way there a few minutes early. (Don’t worry, you can bring your wine with you.)

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easy tiGer’s easy sunday April 19, 2 to 6 p.m., easy tiger, 709 e. sixth st.

easytigeraustin.com

i’m all for taking it easy at easy Tiger’s easy sunday. We at 365 Things To Do in Austin, Texas have teamed up with easy Tiger for a perfect little sunday fun-day action. The event will include $1 austin beerworks cans, a pingpong tournament, a pop-up shop from Windmill bicycles and screen-printing by Fine southern Gentleman. and we’re giving away a Fairdale bike! 8

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6 umlauF Garden party April 23, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., umlauf sculpture garden & Museum, 605 Robert e. lee Road

umlaufsculpture.org/gardenparty

The umlauf Garden party is a chance to spend an evening at the sculpture garden in a one-of-a-kind setting. They’ll have wine, bites from the city’s most iconic restaurants, music, as well as a live and silent auction, with proceeds supporting austin’s beloved garden and museum. This event is an opportunity to enjoy the nice spring weather while checking out some cool art.

untapped Festival April 18, Carson Creek Ranch, 9507 sherman Road

untapped-festival.com

austin is a city that loves its beer, so this festival has chosen the perfect location. For the first time ever, the untapped indie Music and beer Festival is coming to austin. They’ll have 65 breweries and 200 beers, all out at Carson Creek ranch for a day of boozing and listening to music. i think this festival is going to fit right into the austin scene.

kristy owen is the event mastermind and blogger behind 365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas. to stay up to date on the best Austin has to offer, visit her blog, 365thingsaustin.com.

texas veGFest April 4, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fiesta gardens, 2101 Jesse e. segovia st.

texasvegfest.com

The austin culinary scene has something for everyone, from those who want to endlessly indulge, to those who choose or need to abide by dietary restrictions. The Texas VegFest is a festival promoting and celebrating plant-based diets and cruelty-free

lifestyles. educational lectures, cooking demonstrations, community outreach, featured nonprofits, a dedicated youth area, local and national sponsors and vendors, great food, craft beer and live music are just some of the activities Texas VegFest 2015 has to offer. The event is free but a $5 donation gets you a swag bag.

austin Fashion Week: ut Fashion shoW, ‘Fusion’ April 23, 5:30 p.m., Frank erwin Center, 1701 Red River st.

universityfashiongroup.com

austin Fashion Week runs april 10 through april 18, and there will be fashion events throughout the city. While it technically happens right after Fashion Week, the university of Texas’ senior fashion show is a must-attend for those with a flair for fashion. and it’s free! The show, presented by the university Fashion Group, was well attended in 2014, and in the last 17 years, the show has grown from an audience of 500 in 1997 to 5,000 in 2014. The 2013 show was also attended by Daniel esquivel of the 2013 season of Project Runway, and Cameron silver of bravo TV’s Dukes of Melrose. Twenty-four apparel design students will present more than 120 original designs, then a team of local professionals will present awards in various categories.

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26 | austin WOman | april 2015

SponSored eventSamerican heart association: vestido rojoApril 11, 7:30 a.m., Shoal Crossing Event Center, 8611 N. Mopac Expresswayheart.org/austin

mack, Jack & mcconaugheyApril 16 and 17, various locationsmackjackmcconaughey.org

tWiB luncheonApril 17, 11 a.m., Shoal Crossing Event Center, 8611 N. Mopac Expresswaytexaswomeninbusiness.org

austin classical Guitar: How Little You AreApril 18, 8 p.m., Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Driveaustinclassicalguitar.org

Women in Jazz: Billie holiday tributeApril 19, 7 p.m., One World Theatre, 7701 Bee Caves Roadwomeninjazz.org

university of texas at austin: fusion fashion showApril 23, 7:15 p.m., Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River St.universityfashiongroup.com

Girl scouts: Women of distinctionApril 23, 11 a.m., AT&T Conference Center, 1900 University Ave.gsctx.org

komen austin: Pink PartyApril 24, 7:15 p.m., Hyatt Regency, 208 Barton Springs Roadkomenaustin.org/pinkpartytaralynn mackay

McDonald, Mackay & weitz llP Taralynn Mackay is both a lawyer and a nurse. She volunteers with multiple organi-zations, including pro-fessional, personal and

community groups. With more than 70,000 attorneys licensed to practice in Texas, she is one of the 7,000 that are board certified. Within this group, Mackay is board certified in administrative law, a specification that includes fewer than 200 Texas attorneys. Mackay was a Girl Scout in Montgomery, Ala., and returned to scouting when her chil-dren entered the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

“She has incorporated the lessons she learned as a scout into becoming a successful leader in business and in the community,” says Mary Beth Prete, Mackay’s friend.

christy Pipkinnobelity Project Christy Pipkin is the co-founder of Nobel-ity Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging gaps in edu-cation in communities

throughout the globe. The organization works to provide school essentials, films and free teaching materials, as well as to build and support schools internationally.

In 2011, Pipkin produced the documen-tary film Building Hope, which recorded the construction of a school in Africa. Pipkin con-tinues to make an impact on Kenyan schools in need and believes that by improving condi-tions in one community, the state of the global community can also be improved by working together. Pipkin has been featured on the cover of Austin Woman and received the 2013 International Women’s Day Humanitarian Award from Ten Thousand Villages.

ON THE SCENE pHilanTHropy

2015 Women oF distinctionFive distinguished women are honored by Girl scouts of Central Texas at the annual luncheon. By Jamie Balli

austin is fortunate to have several accomplished women who serve as role models for young women in our community. The Girl scouts Women of Distinction event honors five of these outstanding women at a luncheon on april 23, to be held at the aT&T Conference Center.

“The mission of Girl scouts of Central Texas is to help build the next generation of leaders,” Director of Marketing and Communications lolis Garcia baab says. “We know that in order for girls to succeed, they need adult mentors and role models. our Women of Distinction have paved the way and show our girls what a true leader looks like.” To purchase tickets for the luncheon, visit gsctx.org.

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Gigi edwards BryantgMsA Management services inc. Former Austin Woman cover woman Gigi Edwards Bryant is the owner and president of GMSA Manage-ment Services. For the past 15 years, Bryant’s public ser-

vice appointments have included involvement with several organizations that focus on serving children and families, including the Children Trust Fund of Texas, Texas School Safety Cen-ter board and Eastside Youth Services.

“Gigi Edwards Bryant is an example of what Girl Scouts teaches to girls in giving of them-selves to improve our environment through working, giving back and teaching. Bryant serves the community through her commit-ment to education, youth in the foster system, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation issues throughout Central Texas,” says Lisa Copeland, a 2012 Woman of Distinction winner and gen-eral manager of Fiat of Austin.

linda medina lopezAustin isD Linda Medina Lopez serves as the community engagement coordinator for the Austin Indepen-dent School District. Lopez has created several scholarship opportuni-

ties in Austin, including the El Paso Social Network scholarship and the Young Hispanic Professional Association of Austin scholarship fund, which has provided more than 15 schol-arships to area high-school students. In the Summer of 2014, Lopez also established the Founder’s Award to recognize emerging young Hispanic professionals in Austin.

“Not only does Linda give back to the com-munity through her time, but her talent and resources support a variety of organizations,” says Melisa Santillano, a friend of Lopez’s and a senior renal clinical consultant.

ingrid vanderveldtebw2020 llC Former AW cover woman Ingrid Vanderveldt is the founder and CEO of Em-powering a Billion Women by 2020. Through EBW

and related investments, Vanderveldt aims to provide smartphones, mentoring and financial literacy tools to every woman in the world. Vanderveldt’s philanthropic efforts focus on women’s leadership, development and entrepre-neurial initiatives in developing countries.

“EBW2020 is about empowering one billion women, and Ingrid has made it her personal passion and mission,” says Melinda Garvey, publisher of AW Media Inc.

ausTinWoManMaGaZine.CoM | 27

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O

taurus (aPril 21 – may 21): april plops you firmly into roles in which you can pioneer, so take your position as visionary and first responder seriously. you have prophetic dreams, clairvoyant visions, strong hunches and sometimes just an absolute certainty of some-thing beyond the shadow of a doubt. This month, you need to stay out of crowds unless you are leading them; you won’t be able to hear yourself think. and people will follow you this month. so protect your own special energy from distractions and energy drains, and try to believe in yourself without being foolhardy.

Gemini (may 22 – June 21):Groups, clubs and fans, friends, goals and plans: That’s april for you, with a heavy emphasis on fans and plans. part of the rea-son you have so many fans this month is that you are so darned cute. and you’re fun. and popu-lar. This popularity puts you in the path of mind-expanding adventures and innovative surprises. and even though you seem a little, well, arrogant, that appeals to your adoring multitude, so it just might be in your best interests to do a little disrupting. let your rebellious nature lead the way.

cancer (June 22 – July 22): Communicate and educate: That’s your real job in april. planetary alignments force your career forward with the speed and power of a steam engine, and once you climb on, that train’s not stopping for anyone or anything. even if you try to take a backseat, you’re thrown

out front anyway. lucky breaks and fortuitous encounters are fuel to keep you barreling full speed ahead down your career track. you have friends who ap-preciate your feisty side, but try not to take advantage of their good nature and impose your irresistible will on them. Have a heart, learn the art of compro-mise and avoid conflicts, oK?

leO (July 23 – auG. 22): pack your portmanteau with clothes, get a new passport photo taken and make a phone call to your good buddy in london or lis-bon or sydney. let them know you’re coming to stay for the entire month of april. and don’t worry, you’re so charming and interesting, they’ll welcome you with open arms no matter how long you stay. if you’re a writer, this is a perfect, magical time to get your work published, or written, if you’ve procrastinated until now. Go get your degree or connect to some foreign or exotic group, or all of the above. Get the picture?

virGO (auG. 23 – sePt. 23): in april, you aren’t interested in anything shallow, casual or trivial. your head is full of intense issues like death, sex, taxes, insurance and all man-ner of psychic, esoteric and metaphysical things. it’s no wonder your brain doesn’t have much room in it for light or small things. oddly enough, it’s a great month for financing or refinancing houses, and here, you’ve got wisdom, good tim-ing and enough common sense (and intuition) to make your master plan work. This stuff can wear out even the cleverest

brain, so we recommend medi-tation, prayer and anything else that stills your mind.

liBra (sePt. 24 – Oct. 23): you may not be aware of this, but you now inspire a growing circle of friends. They’re in-spired by your business part-nerships, your acumen, your ability to stay task-focused and your ability to attract the perfect thing at the perfect moment. What they don’t see is the high bar you set for your business and even your romantic partners. a basic requirement for you from any kind of partner is the freedom to follow whatever interests you at the moment while still staying connected. it creates a little drama, but it’s better than boredom.

scOrPiO (Oct. 24 – nOv. 22): you’ve always been single-minded about work. you want your own way and are perfect-ly willing to force your opinion if that’s what it takes. you don’t mean to bully. it’s just that you have a sharp mind and can make sharp decisions in the blink of an eye, so expressing yourself forcefully is second nature. This month especially, you must execute your own plans, and heaven help the wretch foolhardy enough to stand in your way. but you’ll need minions. There is just no way you can do everything on your dry erase board yourself. That’s why this month, you really need to be nice.

saGittarius (nOv. 23 – dec. 21): This month, it’s cosmically important for you to focus on pleasure, but pleasure as the result of creativity. Creating is giving of yourself and making something—art, culture, crafts, publicity, music, theater, chil-dren, parties, love—so use your time wisely. everything about april is electric and eccentric, so we aren’t talking about mundane, garden-variety pleasure and creativity, but ec-centric pleasure and eccentric creativity within an eccentric lifestyle, at least for a month. The main thing to keep in mind is this: no matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to fly under the radar.

caPricOrn (dec. 22 – Jan. 20): you’re going to have a very busy, unusual and uncon-ventional home life this month. Maybe you experience a sud-den change in your home envi-ronment. Maybe you fall in love with an unusual home and try to buy it. Maybe you fall in love with an unusual someone and move them in. relatives could pop in and out. you may start having meetings in your home, or maybe you just want to get independent of your family, create your own identity. no matter how you express your lively and unusual thoughts, try not to demand too much and force ideas on your family.

aquarius (Jan. 21 – feB. 19): For you, romance and reli-ability go hand in hand. you approach relationships slowly and steadily, looking for some-one solid and secure, someone who can help make the home be harmonious, at least this month. you need to make your home beautiful, but more im-portantly, you need communi-cation. lots of communication. in fact, this month, you are a master of communication. you communicate with friends, with neighbors and siblings, with partners. you want to know anything and everything, and can’t bear it if someone you know knows something you don’t. and this is the month for a road trip. What better way to acquire information?

Pisces (feB. 20 – march 20): in april, your focus is on acquir-ing what you value. it can be money, but you also value what you own, and that’s not always a tangible thing. you own cars, boats, clothes and stocks, true, but you also own your feelings and emotions, or should. your abilities, needs and wants drive your actions to acquire, and the grown-up steps you take with your career to get you to the place where you can acquire stuff, and the hard work you do to get there is what this month is about, so that probably means no downtime until May.

➺ april is a feel-good month full of fun and good times, opportunities, happiness and plenty of friends. but be wary of overreacting to things. your key to successfully handling this month’s energy is to respect other people’s viewpoints and compromise.

By deBOrah alys carter deborah@pinkaustin.com

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N THE SCENE horoscopes

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1. Kristin armstrong 2. Kevin, Mandy and presley Hernandez 3. Jeanell Davis and april peters 4. Kerry Hall, susan patten, allison Knaupe, ann Jerome, lucy reagan, Melissa baethge 5. lisa Copeland and Melinda Garvey

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austin’s GardeninG Goldminepam penick dishes the dirt (literally) to Central Texas gardeners through her indispensible blog, Digging.By alisOn stOOs

uST LIST besT oF THe bloGsMpam penick has had her green thumb on the pulse of the gardening community since 2006, long before blogger could be considered a professional career. With equal parts curiosity and frustration, penick launched her popular gardening blog, Digging, mostly because she wanted to showcase the gardens of Texas.

“I started the blog partly because I wanted to join in on the gardening conversation and share what I was learning with an audience, but also because of the general frustration with not seeing my region represented,” she says. “I was somewhat new to Austin at that time, and wanted to help start create that dialogue about what would grow well here and what gardens are like here, which I wasn’t seeing represented in [popular gardening] publications.”

Named one of 30 Bloggers You Should Be Following in 2015 by Southern Living Magazine, Digging has become a valuable resource for curious creatives in Central Texas who want a beautiful garden but don’t know where to start. Texas, espe-cially Austin, is not known to have the most forgiv-ing climate, even among the gardening community.

“People I know who have gardened here and moved elsewhere universally say Texas was a hard place to garden, and I know what they mean,” Penick says. “Other areas have their challenges too. Maybe they have cold winters but overall have a milder climate that can grow a variety of plants. But here, you have to find plants that will survive periods of drought and then periods of flood.”

Living with these difficult and intimidating con-ditions, Austinites could have long abandoned any hopes of green gardens and gone straight to gravel yards, but this is far from the case. Penick assures that Austin boasts a plant society that’s alive and well, buzzing with folks who love a challenge.

“The fun part of Austin gardening culture is that we like to experiment, and that’s where the trials and tribulations come in,” Penick says.

Although there are plenty of native plants that do naturally well in our city, the gardeners of the future are interested in change.

“People here push themselves a little bit and are growing things that need to be [grown in] a little bit warmer [climate]. They’re the ones who are scurrying around every time it freezes, going, ‘Oh, my plants!’ ” Penick laughs.

Along with blogging and running a garden-design business, Penick has penned a book, Lawn Gone!, which covers the increasingly popular movement of removing the traditional lawn for a more sustainable yard.

“When I started a design business in 2006, most of [my clients] were interested in rip-ping out their lawn, especially because of the mega-drought years,” she says. “It was kind of a watershed moment for Austin where we real-ized we had to change the way we gardened. A lot of people started thinking about what they could do to reduce the water bill and still have a beautiful garden that will survive these droughts.”

Penick’s next book, The Water-Saving Garden: How to Grow a Gorgeous Garden With a Lot Less Water, covers everything related to green gardening and is set to re-lease in February 2016.

Although gardening in Austin is not without its challenges, Penick considers herself lucky to live and garden in our fair city.

“I’ve asked other gardeners and designers why they think that [this area] has attracted this community, even though it is such a hard place to garden, and several of them have responded that it’s partly [because of ] the whole creative mindset in Austin,” she says. “Creative types are drawn here and that includes people who are [interested in] gardening and people who are into design of all kinds.”

A city that celebrates the arts, coupled with abundant independent nurseries and natural resources such as the Lady Bird Johnson Wild-flower Center, where Penick says she first really learned to garden, make Austin a surprisingly entertaining place to exercise a green thumb.

For Central Texas gardening inspiration and tips, visit Pam Penick’s Digging blog at penick.net.

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34 | austin WOman | april 2015

rethinkinG your impact on the planet Go green and off the grid to reduce your carbon footprint. By carrie Gavit

uST LIST MusT reaDM

it may no longer be the beginning of a new year, but that shouldn’t stop you from deciding that this month, you are going to set a new goal or make a positive change. Don’t know where to start? Take a look at these books to help you decide whether going green, moving off the grid or finding creative and easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint may be the next step to becoming a better, more environmentally aware you.

The New ArT of LiviNg greeN By erica Palmcrantz aziz and susanne hOvenäsLooking for direct, daily challenges to break some bad habits and instead live green? Authors Erica Palmcrantz Aziz and Susanne Hovenäs use this book, published in 2014, to provide tips, tricks and advice for those desiring to deliberately live a green life. Breaking the book down into different sections, the authors cover their bases by addressing the world, the home, the body, the garden, work and play, raw food and spirituality. Whether you’re interested in changing your household cleaners, learning how to buy safer food or focusing on yourself, this book includes all the facets of adjusting to a healthier, proactive lifestyle. For those who need to know exactly what to do, each chapter ends with seven helpful challenges for you to try on your own.

GoinG GreenCouNTdowN: our LAsT, BesT hope for A fuTure oN eArTh? By alan WeismanAfter taking on the world, journalist Alan Weisman published his follow-up book to The World Without Us. As he travels to 20 different countries and comes in contact with a multitude of cultures, political systems, religions, beliefs and histories, Weisman continuously asks hard questions concerning Earth and its ability to support a constantly growing human population in his 2014 book, Countdown. As long as the population con-tinues to increase the draining of resources and pollute the planet, how is a sustainable human future possible?

Although population control can be a tricky subject, Weisman provides information through the experiences of those dealing with the one-child policy in China, to those who do and do not support contraception, to countries with plans connecting family planning with wildlife protection. Take a look at the world through Weisman’s travels to begin to understand the connection between overpopulation and its effects on the planet.

GoinG off the Gridoff oN our owN By ted carnsInterested in living with modern conveniences without utilizing the power grid? Ted and Kathy Carns have done just that in their Western Pennsylvania home. The Carnses live with no waste and total recycling. Off On Our Own is Ted Carns’ how-to guide for living off the grid. The book works through his home, with him explain-ing how he created the systems that power his appliances, from the fridge to the hot tub to the flat-screen TV. He discusses topics concerning self-reliance, waste, nature and how to reduce one’s carbon footprint. In addition, the book include 60 black and white photos to visually display the Carnses’ off-the-grid experience.

Dive into the Carnses’ life and find out why professors make the trek to bring their students to the Carnses’ home in order to experience their lifestyle firsthand.

prepper’s LoNg-Term survivAL guide By Jim cOBBIn 2014, Jim Cobb published this book full of do-it-yourself projects, creat-ing a workbook for going off the grid. Whether you’re looking to make a life change, simply get prepared or are curi-ous as to what life off the grid looks like, this step-by-step book addresses it all. Instead of encouraging purchasing the typical kit for situations in which you are forced off the grid, the projects in this book teach the reader how to prepare for and handle it on your own. From collecting and preparing water to drink, to storing and growing your own food, to first aid and treatments without a doctor, Prepper’s Long-Term Survival Guide instructs readers how to be independent in their off-the-grid experience.

The homeowNer’s eNergy hANdBook: your guide To geTTiNg off The grid By Paul scheckelEnergy expert Paul Scheckel offers practical ways to adjust your lifestyle. Using his knowledge of the fun-damentals of solar, wind, water and biofuel energy production, Scheckel creates chapters complete with step-by-step instructions. In this handbook, you will find discussions on renewable energy sources, green guides and how-to information on building your own energy-saving equipment. From a biogas generator to a wood-gas camp stove to a bicycle-powered genera-tor, Scheckel gets creative in offering methods to generate your own power.

If you’re searching for advice on how to live off the grid plus the reasoning behind becoming energy efficient—whether that includes going off the grid entirely or simply adding a few new additions to your home—it’s all located in Scheckel’s energy handbook.

reducinG Your carbon footprintyour wATer fooTpriNT By stePhen leahyTaking a twist on the carbon footprint discussion, Stephen Leahy strictly addresses what he terms “the water footprint.” Your Water Footprint, published in 2014, focuses on the ways in which water is used that render it polluted or unusable after-ward. Through cited official reports and studies, Leahy gathers facts, evidence and estimates to explain why a meat-based diet requires extensive amounts of water and how aquifers are being drained faster than they are replenished. Rather than speaking at the reader with merely numbers, words and examples, Leahy provides something for everyone with his extensive lists, image-based color maps and charts to present his arguments.

Although the estimated household use of water only comes in at 14 percent of humanity’s water footprint, Leahy still leaves room for tips on how to consume and pollute less water in your household. If you’re looking for solid reasons and explanations to adjust some of your daily water use, this is the read for you.

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hot oFF the runWay looks for Fall 2015, fresh from new york Fashion Week. By cheryl Bemis

STYLE neW yorK FasHion WeeK

36 | austin WOman | april 2015

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Monique Lhuillierson Jung wan

The anticipation of attending new york Fashion Week in February is twofold for me. i get excited on one hand to see the new Fall 2015 collections, and it is fun to reconnect with my photography friends from throughout the world. and if i can dodge Mother nature’s snowy wrath to arrive safely in new york City, well, that is just an added bonus.

This trip, arrivals and departures were uneventful, however this Fashion Week was recorded as one of the coldest I have ever experienced, and this is my sixth year. Despite the weather, a few fun and interesting things happened. One such interesting item was a University of Texas student studying from Australia, Chloe, who sat next to me on the airplane and to whom I extended a ticket to enjoy a show. And what are the odds of having Stephanie from Westlake High School sit next to me at the Westminster Dog Show? Then I ran into Austinites Venus Strawn and Katrine Formby in the tents after the Pamella Roland show. And what fun it was to capture some great shots of celebrity Jeannie Mai from day-time show The Real. She posted the pictures on her Instagram feed of more than 300,000 followers! What are the odds?

At the end of the runway, there were several strong trends I saw through my camera lens, some I loved and others I’ll just leave as a memory. Check out which ones you’ll love and wear once the chill in the air returns in Austin.

cOlOr: I am happy to report that black is still a staple shown in all the collections, but gray is the new black, and was paired with several popular shades, from mustard yellow (Pantone’s Oak Bluff ) to military green (Pantone’s Dried Herb) and a hot fall trend, metallics. My personal favorite is a deep turquoise (Pantone’s Biscay Bay), and the purple jewel tone called amethyst orchid seen at Son Jung Wan and Lela Rose. A soft cashmere rose will be a quiet and subtle accent for Fall 2015, or select the color of the year, Marsala. Good news: The black, red and gray combo is an amazing color trio for Fall 2015.

metallics: Pick gold, pewter, bronze or any metallic of your choice, and you’ll rock it for Fall 2015. From casual accents to full red-carpet gowns, the over-the-top opulence is reminiscent of the Dynasty days, and you could use a disco ball for an accessory. My personal favorite gold gown was a Monique Lhuillier dress that looked like a painted-on, geometric, metallic work of art.

lace: You’ve seen this trend for a couple of seasons, but designers couldn’t leave well enough alone, having to jack with something so simple and pretty and make it bigger and bolder, bedazzling it with sequins, pearls, glitter and shine. Reem Acra, Badgley Mischka and Naeem Khan created some very opulent looks, but Acra’s collection took her gypsy inspiration over the top, and the pieces looked more like a costume collection rather than ready-to-wear.

makeuP and hair: Lead makeup artists had some fun with a new trend for Fall 2015. While smoky and thick cat eyes were seen on many of the models, there was one trend that took the smudge down to the lower lashes at Mara Hoffman and Nicole Miller, creating that “I forgot to take my makeup off before bed” look.

Natural, fresh faces are also in, but don’t feel bad if this trend isn’t for you. Red is the lip color for Fall 2015, so pick out your favor-ite shade now.

I love following the hair trends at Fashion Week. Messy up-dos were my favorites, with effortless locks at Badgley Mischka and Pamella Roland. Slicked-back, wet-styled hair in a clean geometric bun was the rage at Son Jung Wan. Severe parts and glossy shine were seen at several collections, along with a beautiful chignon shown at Naeem Khan.

BOOts: The most popular trend shown on the runway was over-the-knee boots. Street stylers were all over this to stay stylishly warm during the shows. These boots are the perfect accents to pair with many fall looks. Gray suede over-the-knee boots will put you on the best-dressed list come fall.

For more on the trends and runway videos,

visit fashionablyaustin.com.

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a happy marriaGe: art and interiorsHow to incorporate art into your home. By meredith ellis

HOME DesiGn aDViCe

art and interiors are extremely personal. They reflect our taste, the way we live and the way we see the world. Whatever period of art and style of interiors you gravitate toward, the goal is for one to complement the other. When installing a job, the one question i always get is, “Where should i hang this?”

as a rule, with large pieces or very personal, important pieces, i like to design the entire room around the art. but if you are simply looking to finish a room or include a personal collection, it can often get a bit puzzling. Here are some tips for how to effectively and creatively incorporate art into a room to compose a cohesive space.

POints tO cOnsider When disPlayinG art

scale. sometimes, playing with scale can draw attention to the art. a large piece in a small room can make a big statement. Just as powerful, however, can be a small piece on its own in a large room. To make this work, you need to include the proper interiors. For example, hanging something in an empty hallway or over a simple bench in a small room draws attention to the art. a small piece needs help from the interiors to keep it from floating in “neverland.” Centering it over a long sofa or hanging it above a bed grounds it with the furniture, as seen in the photo on the bottom right.

arrangement. art doesn’t just have to be hung. it can be grouped, stacked or leaned just about anywhere: in hallways, bathrooms, on bookshelves, in front of fireplaces or over sinks. Think outside the box. adding other pieces around the art can also make it more impressive. i like to use plates, european mounts, coral, brackets with vases. The ideas are limitless. This really ties the art and the room together.

Group like-minded Pieces together for more impact. Groups of pictures, whether in a collage or spread throughout a room, can be interesting and effective. assemble pieces with a similar subject matter or complementary frames.

style/aesthetic. sometimes a piece of art can be so powerful, you might want to place it in a monochromatic setting to make it the sole focus. but if you don’t want that single focal point and desire the room to flow, you can use color, texture or a variety of materials to complement its beauty and accentuate the elements you love. art should enhance the surroundings as much as the surroundings should respect the art.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to the type of art you prefer or how you choose to display it. it really is subjective. if you love it, go with it; it’s perfect for you. There is always a place for something special. Whatever you do, just do it with confidence.

in this client’s living room, a collection of antique china is displayed on either side of a simple black and gray portrait painting. The added texture and color of the china draws the painting into the room.

a variety of bird prints are displayed throughout this family room.

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Katie Musolff: Trumpets Playing for Queen Cardinal, watercolor on paper

Art City Austin selected some of the best artists from throughout the country and the world to exhibit and sell their work during this weekend. some of the ones i will be checking out include:

looking to supplement your art collection or start One? Check out the 65th annual art City austin event.

april 25, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., april 26, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

location: Downtown austin, Cesar Chavez street between Guadalupe street and lamar boulevard

Tickets: $10 each day. Children 12 and younger and art alliance members receive free admission.

For more information and advance ticket sales, visit artallianceaustin.org.

dolan Geiman. Geiman is a mixed-media artist specializing in the reuse of found materials. His artwork is known as contemporary art with a southern accent. i’m particularly fond of his faux taxidermy and acrylics.

Jay long. He creates beautiful work in oil

paintings and mixed media. When not working in

the garden with his wife, nicole, searching through

junk stores, speculating on quantum mechanics, trying

to play guitar like a gypsy or voicing the political

opinions of a disillusioned malcontent, long can be

found diligently working at his home studio in austin.

lisa kattenbraker. Her works have a narrative slant and many consider them wall-hanging stories. They are batiks on cotton fabric and are framed under uV-protected glass.

katie musolff. Musolff is a full-time painter living on the banks of the Mississippi river in Wisconsin. Her watercolor paintings capture her adventures along the river. she says painting only from life allows her to honestly record her findings.

Dolan Geiman: In the Cattails

Dolan Geiman: Faux Taxidermy

Jay Long: Ladderabbit, mixed mediaLisa Kattenbraker: Music Lessons

Hang a picture on a bookcase for added interest.

rooms don’t always have to be just white to make a painting stand out. in this client’s dining room, the painting was actually found after the room was finished. it helps to enhance the bold colors, and really makes it feel finished.

Meredith ellis is an austin-based interior designer who prides herself on creating beautiful, classic yet incredibly liveable interiors that reflect clients’ personality and spirit. meredithellisdesign.com

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close QuartersTaking a look at the tiny-house movement. By andy east, PhOtO By natalie WetJen

HOME sMall spaCes

Would you trade your home for a 33-square-foot dumpster? Jeff Wilson, environmental science professor and dean at Huston-Tillotson university, proved that one man’s trash could be another man’s home by living in a dumpster for a year. Austin Woman introduces you to the Dumpster project team and austin Tiny Homes, two local ventures that are changing the way austinites think about sustainable living.

From left to right: Dr. Karen Magid, Dr. amanda Masino

and Dr. Jeff wilson (aka, Professor Dumpster)

50 | austin WOman | APRIL 2015

ausTinWoManMaGaZine.CoM | 51

“[Our team has] a dumpster sixth sense,” confesses Wilson, a member of the Dumpster Project.

“Now I notice sizes, colors and companies,” says Karen Magid, sustainability coordinator at Huston-Tillotson University and project manager for the Dumpster Project. “We are way more aware of dump-sters now.”

After living in a dumpster for a year, Wilson, aka, Professor Dumpster, hopes the project spurs conversa-tion about sustainability and consumption.

“It’s a magic conversation box in a lot of ways,” says Wilson, who now calls the dumpster his vacation home. “We’re able to engage our students, faculty, staff and really the world.”

“It gets people thinking about stuff that is wonky and boring,” adds Amanda Masino, assistant professor of biology at Huston-Tillotson University and a mem-ber of the Dumpster Project.

But this is not your garden-variety dumpster. No trash or pungent smells are present, and it has been retrofitted with heating, air conditioning, a duvet and other amenities.

“We’re not actually advocating that anybody else move into a dumpster home,” Wilson says. “Dumpsters don’t seal that well. Thirty-three square feet is prob-ably pretty tight for most people, even if you’re single with not a lot of stuff. What we’re doing is a radical ex-periment testing the absolute limits of small space. But there are certainly a lot of things between a dumpster and where a lot of folks actually are that they could examine based on this experiment.”

While the sardine-can feel of a 33-square-foot living space might not be attractive, Austinites are increas-ingly purchasing tiny homes, houses that typically range from 100 to 400 square feet.

“[My customers] are wildly across the board,” says Bo Bezdek, founder of Austin Tiny Homes, an Austin-based tiny-home manufacturer that has sold nearly 60 tiny homes in the past three years. “I get retirees looking to downsize, really young people looking for their first house, soccer moms looking for a little rental property.”

Bezdek says 80 percent of his customers have been women. Although prices and sizes vary, a typical tiny home runs about $16,000 and is 16 to 18 feet long and 12 feet wide.

nOminate a teacher tO live in the dumPster

“We’ve transitioned the dumpster into a living space for teachers and artists doing sustainability work,” Jeff Wilson says.

The Dumpster project is accepting nominations for teachers-in-residence.

Visit dumpsterproject.org/homeschool to nominate a teacher.

the interior of Professor Dumpster’s home.

A 161-square-foot tiny home.

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a 170-square-foot tiny home made by austin tiny Homes.

52 | austin WOman | april 2015

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“When we started, we got four to five emails or calls per week,” says Bezdek, who started building tiny homes in 2012. “Ninety percent were people who didn’t know what a tiny home was, hadn’t seen one and just wanted to know what they were about.”

Bezdek’s business has since tripled, and he says his customers want to save money or make money by using the tiny home as a rental property. While Bezdek says tiny homes can reduce energy consumption, he and the folks at the Dumpster Project are quick to caution that going small does not always mean you are going green.

“Tiny is not necessarily green,” Magid says. “It can be. Less stuff is usually on your way there. But there is a distinction between tiny, sustainable and affordable. You can still consume a lot [in a small home].”

“It can be an important piece, but it has to be done in the right way,” Masino adds. “Part of that is not just paying attention to the volume of things, but these other footprints. What is your energy footprint? What do you do for travel? What’s your water use?”

Bezdek recommends simulating life in a tiny home before purchasing one.

“Mark off the square footage in your living room and try to keep yourself inside of there and see how that works,” Bezdek says. “If you haven’t killed each other inside of a week, you just might make it.”

Although different in nature, ventures like the Dumpster Project and Austin Tiny Homes are offering Austinites new ways to think about how they live.

“If you’re willing to re-examine how much space you need, then some of those other factors can shift around it,” Wilson says. “If I want to have a three-bedroom, two-bath, 4,000-square-foot house, I’m probably going to have to live down in Buda. If I want to move my family of three and have walkability to parks and stores and be able to take the train to work, maybe I would like to examine something smaller, like 1,100 square feet.”

While a tiny home may not be for you, re-evaluating energy and water consumption could go a long way to making Austin a greener place.

Visit dumpsterproject.org and austintinyhomes.com for more information.

Want tO see the dumPster in actiOn?

The Dumpster project will be at the austin earth Day Festival on april 18. Visit earthdayaustin.com for more information. T

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A 170-square-foot tiny home made by Austin Tiny Homes.

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54 | austin WOman | april 2015

the neW southern comFortFixe delivers southern hospitality with Texas-sized taste.By verOnica meeWes

DininG

Visitors to Austin don’t usually come to town seeking out the ultimate hush puppies or the crispiest fried chicken. Typically, their sights are set on the arsenal of smoked meats Texas has to offer. You might say smoke gets in their eyes. But in the past couple of years, several homegrown restaurants have been stepping up our city’s Southern cuisine by merging tradition with creativity.

Pork shoulder

54 | austin WOman | april 2015

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One of those establishments is Fixe, which opened in the bottom of the IBC Bank building on Christmas Eve. Executive Chef James Robert and Director of Operations Keith House worked together for eight yeas in the Eddie V’s restaurant group, where they cultivated the art of fine dining in both the back and front of house, respectively, before deciding to join forces on a venture of their own.

Robert draws most of his inspiration from growing up in a food-loving, tight-knit family in the small town of Opelousas, La.

“The warm and comforting feel of Southern food is something I took with me from my mom’s way of cooking and, before her, her mom’s,” he says. “In our house and my grandmother’s house, it was always a huge deal. The whole family gathered around the table, not just on Sundays but every day of the week. It was something that we looked forward to, a chance to be together, bond and break bread. So we’re trying to capture some of that here.”

The Fixe kitchen staff begins each shift by breaking bread together with their own ritual “family meal,” which usually features a range of dishes, from Cajun-style chicken and Andouille stew to slow-roasted pork shoulder for carnitas tacos and creamy tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches.

“It’s a big camaraderie piece and a little celebration before we enter each shift every single day of the week,” Robert says.

The restaurant’s interior was designed with that same sense of family and Southern hospitality in mind. Guests are greeted with the offer of a cocktail at a mesquite welcome bar, and the center of the dining room features an open-air “porch” hung with string lights. There is also a definite sense of the old meeting the new. Several accent walls are adorned with juxtaposed vintage mirrors and a collection of antique plates, with low hanging Edison pendant lights providing ambient light. Also visible are several beautiful private dining rooms, which would turn any meal into a celebration.

However, the best seats in the house are undoubtedly found at the oversized chef ’s table located closest to the action. Because Robert has taken the notion of an open kitchen to another level, the kitchen at Fixe flows seamlessly into the dining room, with no separation between guests and hosts, another homage to his family’s meals.

Begin your meal with Song of the South, the customized blend of black tea, apple, cinnamon and almond, infused tableside and poured over ice. Biscuits are practically a rite of passage here, and it’s a challenge not to fill up on those alone. There is a true art to the golden, flaky layers Fixe has perfected, and the accompanying red currant preserves and zesty, flavor-packed ’nduja served with them are an indication for the rest of the meal.

“We do biscuits and grits and fried chicken that people would expect, but with that being said, we’re trying to capture a little bit of the unexpected as well, whether that’s putting a little twist on a recognizable dish or bringing in some modern technique. That’s where we differentiate,” Robert explains.

For example, in lieu of the blackening spices often used for coating blackened red snapper, a most popular Louisiana fish entree, Robert makes

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DininG

austin’s tOP sOuthern cuisineGot a hankering for soulful comfort food? The options in town keep growing and include every-thing from southern staples to inspired fusion, and down-home cookin’ to haute cuisine.

olamaie. after their recent James beard award nomination, followed by cooking at the James beard House, chefs and co-owners Michael Fojtasek and Grae nonas are showing the nation that genteel southern cuisine can, in fact, be found west of the Mississippi, with a menu that regularly rotates.

Jacoby’s. Known for its ranch-to-table business model, which results in fresh, flavorful steaks and burgers, Jacoby’s is also home to incredible shrimp and grits, velvety mac and cheese, and crispy fried catfish with crab hush puppies and spicy slaw.

kin and Comfort. ek Timrerk’s idea was simple: to blend comfort foods from two different cultures, and the results are delicious. The trek north to Hana World Market is worth it for flavorful Thai spinoffs like tom kah shrimp and grits, panang mac and cheese, catfish fries and rotating specials.

Red star southern. erica Waksmunski’s silver airstream trailer has received much acclaim since the opening. The menu is a smorgasbord of her favorites from up and down the east Coast: nashville-style hot chicken, Carolina-style pulled pork, pimiento cheese, hush puppies and even some vegan options, like a housemade “beetloaf.”

the Peached tortilla. Chef and owner eric silverstein drew inspiration for The peached Tortilla from his Japanese upbringing and childhood years spent in Georgia. The recent opening of his first brick-and-mortar location has allowed him to expand from the original food-

truck menu, bringing on flavor-packed dishes like a blistered catfish bowl or the southern Fun (braised brisket, kale, bean sprouts).

24 Diner. 24 has gained quite a following for its thick-battered fried chicken, which comes atop a thick waffle, but the comfort doesn’t stop there. Try the smoky deviled eggs, bacon corn fritters, Kentucky-style Hot brown sandwich, all-natural meatloaf and more. each Tuesday, they sell out of the chicken and buttermilk chive dumplings—and for good reason.

a black powder out of dehydrated black garlic, squid ink, charred onion and merengue. He then sautes rock shrimp, butternut squash, bone marrow and Sea Island red peas and sprinkles the mélange with traditional blackening spices.

“These little twists keep it unexpected and fun,” he says. “A playful side to cuisine is something we appreciate and something we enjoy, so we feel that it’s present there for sure.”

However, sometimes tradition does trump invention. Robert’s boudin recipe mimics his family’s favorite, and one requirement is that it’s accompanied with chow chow, a mustardy pickle relish made in quantity and jarred by his grandmother, then stored in her larder.

“We make ours with green tomatoes, green cabbage, cucumbers, yellow onion and then it’s verbatim my grandmother’s recipe,” he says. “I got my hands on her recipe, so I make it exactly because no change is necessary.”

Other standout plates include impossibly creamy deviled eggs topped with fermented cabbage and trout roe; crispy tendon prepared like chicharrones and paired with the sweet heat of addictive Fixe hot sauce; an unexpected take on potato salad featuring peewee potatoes, pickled quail egg, mustard greens and lemon aioli; and a bowl of eight grains, some puffed and some cooked, served over silken mushrooms and umami-packed uni.

Further into the menu, an entire section is dedicated to grits. Robert sources an heirloom variety from Anson Mills in South Carolina, then interprets grits three ways: The Herbivore (garlicky kale, farm egg, romesco, salsa verde), The Carnivore (Texas quail, pickled pears, pecan granola, barbecue consommé) and The Pescavore (Texas shrimp, freeze-dried corn, shrimp butter, bottarga). His lobster crawfish pot pie, hearty and comforting yet enrobed in a delicate pastry, is inspired by similar dishes crafted by his mother.

Robert and Chef de Cuisine Zach Hunter also create all the desserts, so be sure to try the signature red beans and rice dish (red bean beignet, caramelized sugar mousse, rice ice cream) or the next-level sweet potato pie (sous vide sweet potatoes with maple and bourbon, brioche, hazelnut and burnt merengue). Any good Southern grandma will tell you there’s always a little more room for pie!F

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58 | austin WOman | april 2015

Whealth neWs you can useThe latest studies that impact your health.By Jill case

ELLNESS HealTH

e-ciGarette vapors, FlavorinGs triGGer lunG-cell stress

Do electronic cigarettes help people quit smoking? As the debate continues on that point, a new Uni-versity of Rochester study suggests e-cigarettes are likely a toxic replacement for tobacco products.

Emissions from e-cigarette aerosols and flavorings damage lung cells by creating harmful

free radicals and inflammation in lung tissue, according to the UR study published in the journal PLOS ONE. Irfan Rahman, professor of environmental medicine at the UR School of Medicine and Dentistry, led the research, which adds to a growing body of scientific data that points to the dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping.

The investigation suggests the harm begins when the e-cigarette’s heating element is activated. The heating element is designed to turn a liquid solution (known as an e-liquid or “juice”) into an aerosol that mimics cigarette smoke. The inhaled vapors contain heavy metals and other possible carcinogens in the form of nanoparticles, tiny particulate matter that can reach farther into lung tissue, cell systems and the blood stream. Rahman’s study also shows some flavored e-juices, particularly cinnamon, create more stress and toxicity on lung tissue.

“Several leading medical groups, organizations and scientists are concerned about the lack of restrictions and regulations for e-cigarettes,” Rahman says. “Our research affirms that e-cigarettes may pose significant health risks and should be investigated further. It seems that every day, a new e-cigarette product is launched without knowing the harmful health effects of these products.”

Rahman’s study notes manufacturers typically don’t disclose all materials and chemicals used to make e-cigarettes and e-juices. Without that information or long-term use studies, consumers have limited information about the potential dangers for human health and the environment, he says.Source: University of Rochester Medical Center. “E-cigarette vapors, flavorings trigger lung-cell stress.” ScienceDaily. sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150206174840.htm, accessed Feb. 11, 2015.

drinkinG Wine could help you burn FatDrinking red grape juice or wine in moderation could improve the health of overweight people by helping them burn fat better, according to a new study co-authored by an Oregon State University researcher. The findings suggest consuming dark-colored grapes, whether eating them or drinking juice or wine, might help people better manage obesity and related metabolic disorders such as fatty liver.

Neil Shay, a biochemist and molecular biologist in OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences, was part of a study team that exposed human liver and fat cells grown in the lab to extracts of four natural chemicals found

in muscadine grapes, a dark-red variety native to the Southeastern United States. These plant chemicals are not a weight-loss miracle, cautions Shay.

“We didn’t find, and we didn’t expect to, that these compounds would improve body weight,” he says.

But by boosting the burning of fat, especially in the liver, they may improve liver function in overweight people.

“If we could develop a dietary strategy for reducing the harmful accumulation of fat in the liver, using common foods like grapes,” Shay says, “that would be good news.”

The study, which Shay conducted with colleagues at the University of Florida and the University of Nebraska, complements work with mice he leads at his OSU laboratory. In one 2013 trial, he and his graduate students supplemented the diets of overweight mice with extracts from pinot noir grapes harvested from Corvallis, Ore.-area vineyards. Some of the mice were fed a normal diet of “mouse chow,” as Shay calls it, containing 10 percent fat. The rest were fed a diet of 60 percent fat, the sort of unhealthy diet that would pile excess pounds on a human frame.

“Our mice like that high-fat diet,” Shay says, “and they overconsume it. So they’re a good model for the sedentary person who eats too much snack food and doesn’t get enough exercise.”

The grape extracts, scaled down to a mouse’s nutritional needs, were about the equivalent of one and a half cups of grapes a day for a person.

“The portions are reasonable,” Shay says, “which makes our results more applicable to the human diet.”

Source: Oregon State University. “Another reason to drink wine: It could help you burn fat, study suggests.” ScienceDaily. sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150206111702.htm, accessed Feb. 11, 2015.

We often say someone has a broken heart after a bad breakup, the death of a family member or any stressful, sad event in their life, but broken heart also refers to an actual medical condition that feels like a heart attack. Broken-heart syndrome occurs during highly stressful or emotional times, such as divorce, the death of a spouse, a serious medical diagnosis or significant fi-nancial problems, says Loyola University Health System cardiolo-gist Dr. Sara Sirna.

Broken-heart syndrome also is known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, Takosubo’s cardiomyopathy or transient apical ballooning syndrome. The underlying cause is not known but is thought to be secondary to the release of adrenalin and other stress hormones that have a deleterious effect on the heart. Symptoms typically include chest pain and difficulty breath-ing, and can easily be mistaken for a heart attack. Broken-heart syndrome typically occurs in patients older than 50 and is more common in women, although it can also occur in younger women and men.

“Like a heart attack, broken-heart syndrome can be very alarming to patients,” Sirna says. “But unlike a heart attack, broken-heart syndrome usually is reversible, with no long-lasting effects on the heart muscle. Most affected individuals regain cardiac function within a short period of time.”

It’s often difficult to tell the difference between broken-heart syndrome and a heart attack. Therefore, if you experience symp-toms such as chest pain and difficulty breathing, don’t assume you’re experiencing broken-heart syndrome; call 9-1-1, Sirna says.

Dr. Sara Sirna is a professor in the Division of Cardiology of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Her specialties include women’s health, preventive cardiology and clinical cardiology. Sirna is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

Source: Loyola University Health System. “When a broken heart becomes a real medical condition.” ScienceDaily. sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150210130502.htm, accessed Feb. 11, 2015.

a Broken heart can Become a real medical condition

iF Facebook use causes envy, depression could FolloW

Browsing Facebook has become a daily activity for hundreds of millions of people. Because so many people engage with the website daily, researchers are interested in how emotionally involved Facebook users can be with the social-networking site and how regular use can affect their mental health. Researchers at the University of Missouri have found Facebook use can lead to symptoms of depression if the social-networking site triggers feelings of envy among its users. Margaret Duffy, a professor and chair of strategic communication at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, says how Facebook users use the site makes a difference in how they respond to it.

“Facebook can be a fun and healthy activity if users take advantage of the site to stay connected with family and old friends and to share interesting and important aspects of their lives,” Duffy says. “However, if Facebook is used to see how well an acquaintance is doing financially or how happy an old friend is in his relationship—things that cause envy among users—use of the site can lead to feelings of depression.”

For their study, Duffy and Edson Tandoc, a former doctoral student at the University of Missouri and now an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, surveyed young Facebook users and found some of those who engage in “surveillance use” of Facebook also experience symptoms of depression, while those who use the site simply to stay connected do not suffer negative effects. Surveillance use of Facebook occurs when users browse the website to see how their friends are doing, compared with their own lives. The researchers found that Facebook postings about things such as expensive vacations, new houses or cars, or happy relationships can evoke feelings of envy among surveillance users. They say these feelings of envy can then lead to Facebook users experiencing symptoms of depression.

“We found that if Facebook users experience envy of the activities and lifestyles of their friends on Facebook, they are much more likely to report feelings of depression,” Duffy says. “Facebook can be a very positive resource for many people, but if it is used as a way to size up one’s own accomplishments against others, it can have a negative effect. It is important for Facebook users to be aware of these risks so they can avoid this kind of behavior when using Facebook.”

“Social-media literacy is important,” Tandoc says. “Based on our study, as well as on what others have previously found, using Facebook can exert positive effects on well-being. But when it triggers envy among users, that’s a different story. Users should be self-aware that positive self-presentation is an important motivation in using social media, so it is to be expected that many users would only post positive things about themselves. This self-awareness hopefully can lessen feelings of envy.”Source: University of Missouri-Columbia. “If Facebook use causes envy, depression could follow.” ScienceDaily. sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150203123415.htm, accessed Feb. 11, 2015.

M. CAROLINE JONES, DMD

60 | austin WOman | april 2015

Wsant: kick-startinG Wellness and micro philanthropya tea company brings an unknown wonder fruit to town while empowering villagers in india.By rachel Phua

ELLNESS NutritioN

Tea drinkers know the benefits of these humble leaves. The antioxidants and cleansing properties most teas have make it a good substitute to coffee or soda as a pick-me-up.

Here in Austin, we luck out with the wide variety of health-food stores and independent teashops and suppliers for when we need a dose of Zen. From a peace-giving green tea to a potent dose of Earl Grey, our city has it all.

However, there’s a new type of tea that Austinites have yet to try until now, and it will leave your taste buds tingling. Kim LaPaglia, the founder of innovative tea company Sant, discovered a little-known superfruit called garcinia indica during her stay in India. The fruit is rarely trans-ported overseas, but there is an abundance of the superfruit in villages in India. Farmers haven’t been able to commercialize the garcinia indica because few people know about the fruit and its health benefits, to the point where 60 percent of the fruit goes to waste because farmers can’t afford to harvest it, LaPaglia says.

LaPaglia started Sant through an innovative entrepreneurial portal: Kickstarter. While the crowdfunding website is populated with new startup and high-tech ideas, she felt that even the simplest of items would garner popularity and support. She was right. The campaign has managed to raise more than the $10,000 goal she set out to achieve.

The tea is made from infusing the dried garcinia indica in water for an hour, less for a lighter taste. The tea packs all kinds of vitamins, potassium and magnesium, and has five times more antioxidants than kale. Some of its many benefits include helping with digestion, sleep, inflammatory and skin problems, and it works as a cooling agent for an overheated body. The Austin Woman team had a chance to try the tea in its pure form, gar-cinia indica soaked in warm water for an hour. The drink had an appeal-ing pink hue, a citrusy aroma and intensely tart flavor that was refreshing and energizing after a long day of interviewing and writing.

We felt good too, knowing that the tea was made from socially con-scious efforts. Sant is working with 800 farmers and 90 female self-help groups in rural India to support them economically as they harvest

the fruit. The company also buys the fruit at “a price that [the farmers] determine,” LaPaglia says. The money helps the villagers to meet their basic needs, she adds.

LaPaglia’s story of founding Sant is just as touching. She quit her corporate job in hopes of setting up a social enterprise, but failed and took a leap of faith, traveling to India alone. She cried for the first eight months living there, but her journey in India turned her life around. She became a vegan and her research into the lifestyle helped her discover the fruit, its benefits and the abundance of it in rural India. Now, she hopes that she can share the wonders of the superfruit to better lifestyles and empower others.

Having tried Sant’s tea and read about its values, we look forward to its success as well.

For more information on Kim LaPaglia and Sant tea, visit idrinksant.com.

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62 | austin WOman | april 2015

Whooked on boxinGWhy women are flocking to Title boxing Club for classes that pack a punch.By mOlly mcmanus

ELLNESS FitNess

I was a little intimidated as I walked into my first-ever boxing class at Title Boxing Club North Austin. I had heard the hype and was intrigued. I didn’t know what to expect but came with an open mind, prepared to put my gloves on and punch it out.

Title is a nationwide fitness franchise and no-contact gym with two locations in the Austin area. Each hour-long boxing and kickboxing class burns a reported 1,000 calories. Additionally, members who attend classes two to three times per week average a 10-pound weight loss in a month. And what really surprised me was that 76 percent of women make up Title’s membership. Title North Austin instructor and Assistant Manager Morgan Miller has been training in kickboxing since 2001, with a background based in martial arts and Muay Thai. With Title since April 2014, Miller offered sage advice for newcomers. “Go at your own pace. Get the technique. Slow is smooth and then smooth is fast. If you get the technique first, then you can add the power and the speed,” she says. After a quick tutorial—I must stress first-timers should ask for this to avoid injury—I was ready to step up to the bag. The class is designed in three sections. The first 15 minutes, the warmup, is an intense cardio pregame that includes anything from jumping rope in place, jogging, high knees, burpees, squats and jumping jacks. Follow-ing is 30 minutes of boxing and/or kickboxing rounds, in which you essentially go to town on the bag while the trainer shouts out differ-ent combinations of punches and kicks. There are breaks scattered throughout, with options to continue moving for those who love the extra intensity. After boxing (your arms will probably feel like they

want to fall off your body), the hour is finished up with 15 minutes of core work with a medicine ball, with crunches, leg lifts, scissor kicks and more. During the class, I felt an immediate release of stress from the week and a new-found strength to take on the world. Even the thought, “I could take someone on in the ring,” surfaced, which, in retrospect, I would never want to do, but it is exemplary of the power of these classes and what they do to the inner workings of your mind. “Mentally, you feel like you can conquer anything,” says Miller, who’s witnessed the transformational influence boxing can have on Title’s members. “I love seeing people’s lives changed. A lot of people come in, you can tell that they’re self-conscious. But once people start hitting the bag, they start seeing results and just seeing that shift in their presence is very awesome. You can see their confidence come out. When I can see it change them from the inside out, that’s my favorite part. That’s what makes it worth doing.” After a month of taking classes, I am already down 5 pounds and feel I’m at the strongest I’ve been in a long time. There are people of a variety of ages and body types, or, as Miller calls it, “all ages and all stages.” She even reported that one member is 78 years old. This non-threatening environment at Title, combined with welcoming and knowledgeable trainers, and a supportive class in which every individual is working on bettering themselves, is what makes me look forward to going back each week and continuing to improve, strengthen and release.

For class schedules and membership information for Title Boxing Club North Austin, visit austin-us183.Titleboxingclub.com. Title also has a location in Round Rock, and plans to open several more Austin locations in 2015.

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66 | Austin WomAn | april 2015

Jan Ryan is leading a double life.Look fast enough and any weekday, you can spot her just about anywhere, make that everywhere, throughout Austin. As one of the busiest and most celebrated serial entrepre-neurs and social-technology execs in a city where you can’t throw an iPhone without hitting one, Ryan is a whirlwind of activity. Pausing during an early morning bike ride in her Barton Creek neighborhood, she punches up her schedule for the day: 8:30 a.m.: Board planning call for CEO

Summit, Austin Technology Council 9:30 a.m.: Client meetings with early stage

startup12:30 p.m.: Lunch downtown 2 p.m.: Capital Factory pitch-practice

coaching for new founders 5 p.m.: Teleconference with co-lead of

upcoming SXSW panel6:30 p.m.: Facilitate Women@Austin forum

at Capital Factory Jan Ryan knows a lot about entrepreneur-

ship and startups. She’s built her share of them, resulting in four successful acquisi-tions and one IPO. Moving to Austin in 1996 as the vice president of worldwide sales for Vignette Corporation, she went on to raise $7 million in funding to launch Rome Corpora-tion, a software startup, in 2001. Eight years later, she founded Social Dynamx, an early social customer-care platform designed for the needs of big businesses. The venture was so successful that within two years, Lithium Technologies acquired the company. In 2013, Ryan became a partner and mentor at Capital Factory, the Austin-based incubator and

mentoring program for startups. She’s also the founder and CEO of Women@Austin, the nonprofit community that actively supports and promotes women entrepreneurs.

“Some people just complain about the way things are. Jan Ryan did something about it,” says Joshua Baer, co-founder and CEO of Capital Factory. “She pays it forward to first-time entrepreneurs. Austin wouldn’t be the same without her!”

Ryan has a gift for bringing concepts into tangible, profitable existence, with a touch that borders on entrepreneurial alchemy.

“I love to create things out of nothing,” she says. “It’s my passion.”

No doubt about it: Ryan loves building things from the ground up.

But then there’s the other side of Jan Ryan. Come the weekend, she eschews her fashion-able business attire in favor of scuffed jeans and leather work gloves, and she and her husband of 35 years, Bob, take an hour-long commute deep into the Hill Country to their “other life” at 3 Hills Ranch. Far away from the chaotic hubbub of the city, the Ryans are busy shaping a totally different type of land-scape, both literally and figuratively.

Nestled among a dense grove of oak, cedar and elm trees at the end of a seemingly end-less dirt drive, 3 Hills Ranch is not only off the beaten path, it’s also 100 percent off the grid, a combination flagship of sustainable living, nature retreat and spiritual sanctuary rolled into one.

The project started modestly enough. On Valentine’s Day five years ago, the couple closed a deal on a parcel of raw acreage just outside Wimberley, Texas, with the vague vision of building a simple cabin for weekend

retreats and recreation. “I remember we actually built a heart

shaped out of stones we collected that day, right in the middle of this clump of trees to celebrate,” Ryan recalls, smiling at the memory. “By a bizarre coincidence, that actu-ally became the very spot we built on.”

The couple began spending their weekends together on the property, clearing trees and brush, getting familiar with the terrain and blue-sky ideas. As they spent more time on the land, the dream for a simple cabin grew into something else, something bigger.

“The land really spoke to us and told us what felt right,” says Ryan, with nary a hint of New Age irony. “In many ways, this project sprouted out of the soil. It wasn’t an over-night decision to create an off-the-grid ranch. It was kind of a natural evolution of following after another dream, which was this cabin we wanted to build for a retreat, to get away from the city and back to nature.”

The more time they spent on the property, the less drawn they were to traditional meth-ods of architecture and building.

“We didn’t bring in a team to clean-cut ev-erything,” Ryan says. “Yuppies are notorious for doing that. We actually decided to go out every weekend and do everything ourselves. By doing that, we were able to know the land, and a vision gradually took shape. A couple of years of doing that was incredibly good therapy. We both have very busy lives in the city, and it enabled us on weekends to have that yin and yang, just completely distraction-free.”

The actual construction process was unique. “We sort of did things backward,” Ryan

says. “We built an outdoor pavilion first.

austinWomanmagazine.com | 6767

jan ryan’s three tips For austin Women entrepreneurs During her many years as a serial entrepreneur, Jan Ryan couldn’t help but note the scarcity of female CEOs, founders and managers, and decided to do something about it. Ryan founded Women@Austin in the Fall of 2013.

“I reached out to other women who have had exits or have built companies to see if we could come together. What would it take to make Austin the most accessible, supportive city in the nation for women entrepreneurs? We should be,” Ryan says. “We have this incredible ecosystem for entrepreneurs. Why not women?”

The organization now boasts more than 20 women who are experienced entrepreneurs and leaders.

“It’s difficult for some people, whether it’s because of self-promotion or self-preservation, to know how to give or receive help,” says Autumn Manning, founder and CEO of YouEarnedIt, an Austin-based software company. “Women@Austin has really stepped up in our community. … I’ve really come to appreciate what Jan brings to me as a mentor, and the resources she has brought to entrepreneurship in Austin.”

“I think this is a time where we’re going to see women truly make an economic difference, and take their own seat at the table,” Ryan says. “I see some amazing women with brilliant ideas. Women entrepreneurs are one of Austin’s best-kept secrets.”

Austin Woman asked Jan Ryan for three tips on helping Austin women entrepreneurs.

1. increase your visiBility.“We need more options to see women. I remember that shortly after Social Dynamx was acquired by another company in California, I went to an event that was a conference for CEOs. There were 212 men there and five women,” Ryan says. “I continued to see that women were very much in silos; they weren’t talking to each other. We need more options to see women reaching out to and interacting with one another.”

2. Get a mentor.“It’s important to be able to talk to somebody, whether it’s a man or a woman, but especially women, to see a role model of a successful woman entrepreneur,” Ryan says. “Studies show you’re seven times more likely to launch a company yourself if you have within your sphere of 100 people someone you know who’s launched their own company. You need to know you’re just like them.”

3. Gain capital.“Women so rarely have the opportunity to do some of the traditional seed investments,” Ryan says. “The statistics are very low for women in venture capital. However, we’re growing very fast in angel-based funding. There are many ways to help women get into the networks that are necessary to understand how to get funded. We have multiple groups in Austin like CTAN [Central Texas Angel Network] that are a collection of angel investors.”

Find out more about Women@Austin at womenataustin.com.

68 | Austin WomAn | april 2015

With his father, Tony, Ira Martin has been designing and building state-of-the-art green homes for more than 25 years. Working in collaboration with Jan and Bob Ryan, he was the principal designer for 3 Hills Ranch.

Austin Woman: the design and construction at 3 Hills Ranch is stunning. Can you talk a little about the woods you used?

ira martin: We use a lot of reclaimed materials, such as vintage barn wood siding, which is retrieved off of old farms in and around the area. The ceiling beams, as well as the flooring, [were] retrieved out of the old Joske’s building in San Antonio that was demolished a few months ago. It was built in the late 1800s, and the original portion of the building had this rare, unbelievable antique pine in it. That’s what we used.

AW: the stonework is beautiful.

im: They’re actually shaped by the masons onsite and applied to the veneer of the house. The stones are quarried in an area between Arkansas and Oklahoma. The colors and patinas are beautiful reds and ambers and yellows and browns and blacks. It really gives the stone a lot of depth and color.

AW: What’s the biggest change you’ve noticed in building green during the last few years?

im: People are finally downsizing. Instead of building 12,000 square feet, by working with the client, we’re able to get a great design in 4,500 square feet, 3,500 square feet. People are seeing that less is more. And we’re being good stewards of the environment.

AW: so smaller equals better?

im: Geo-thermal’s great, solar’s great, but what good is it if you’re building a 15,000-square-foot house? Why not design something that’s a quarter of that size, and spend the money on the quality of the structure? That’s the whole idea behind this house. It’s really around 1,700 square feet, but it feels much bigger because of the floor plan and use of space.

AW: How do you see the future of sustainable building and living?

im: Very bright. More and more companies are going geo-thermal. Solar energy is becoming more affordable every year. I think it goes back to building houses that are well-designed and smaller because then it makes solar and geo-thermal that much more appealing and affordable on a smaller scale. You don’t need to have a solar farm or 50 windmills on your property to power a 15,000-square-foot house. It boils down to getting realistic with proportionate, smaller homes. That’s where it all begins.

For more information, visit tonymartininc.com.

sticks, stones and styleIRA MARTIN ON CREATINg 3 HIllS RANCH

It’s a 16-by-32 timber frame with [a] dry stack fireplace and outdoor kitchen. So right in the middle of this acreage, we had this terrific out-door pavilion. We had to power it somehow, so we used solar.”

The Ryans sought out the expertise of Native builders, a local sustainable-living construction company specializing in installing solar systems.

“I remember flipping the switch, turning it on. It was almost otherworldly. The music, the lights, everything just worked!” Ryan recalls, her face lighting up at the memory. “We built the pavilion first, and then the house three years later.”

Securing the services of Tony Martin Inc., the renowned Fredericksburg, Texas-based design and building company specializing in antique and reclaimed materials, they decided to go as green as possible. The main ranch house evolved into more of an extension of the environment than an intrusion on it.

“The great thing about working with Jan and Bob was how involved they were,” says Ira Martin, principal designer. “Ultimately, it’s their house. Basically, we designed the ranch house off the historic vernacular architecture of the Hill Country.”

By the time they began laying the foundation for the ranch house two years ago, the Ryans were converts to a sustainable-living ethos and going totally off the grid.

“We used all-natural materials to build the home: different types of stone, reclaimed woods, copper and other metals. We’re using a lot of cottons and natural furnishings inside, as well,” Ryan says.

From outside, the ranch house evokes a modified antique German Sunday house, part fitted stone, part aged wood, all designed to give the illusion of a century-old edifice that’s been incrementally and lovingly eased into the 21st century. A perpetual breeze graces the front porch, a blessing during brutal Texas summers. All heating and cooling for the ranch house is geo-thermal, all energy is solar-driven and all the water is drawn directly from the property.

Step inside, and delightful touches abound: a cozy sleeping cubbyhole, invitingly perfect for reading and napping; an airy and open chef’s kitchen, complete with a Wolf Range; a mud room with hidden, recessed washer and dryer. Reclaimed materials adorn and accent the interior: a pair of latticed windows, circa 1900, recovered from a pastor’s study in Pennsylva-nia; another antique window from Germany, repurposed into a stylish bathroom mirror; rough-sawn ceiling beams brought in from an abandoned Ohio barn. The entire house exudes a rococo, elegant simplicity.

“Several years ago, I read a book by Sarah Susanka, The Not So Big House,” Ryan explains. “She’s an architect and the book impacted me a lot. She writes about if you want to have that ‘special home’ feeling, don’t go for a lot of square

austinWomanmagazine.com | 69

footage. Surround yourself with things you love and exclude everything else. When you start to bring ceilings down and go back to the values and things you love, it really makes a difference.”

The dichotomy between Jan Ryan’s city-based life as busy, technology-dependent entrepreneur, and alternate off-the-grid, sustainable-living advocate may appear extreme, but the gulf isn’t as wide as it seems. They are two separate but comple-mentary halves of a whole embracing similar skill sets.

“I’ve always had a high level of energy and curios-ity, and I’m fascinated by the latest technology,” she points out. “It’s part of what I do as an entrepreneur. I promise you that clean energy and sustainable living is huge in this wave that’s coming. So it’s natural that I’d be interested in it. That absolutely is con-nected. You’re discovering something new and trying to bring it into reality.”

Though the house itself is complete, the project is far from finished. The couple is con-templating next steps, possibly adding a smaller guest cottage, a corral, maybe a fishing cabin. But they’re in no hurry.

“We’re doing this for ourselves, something we feel organically is the right thing to do. We also want to be able to give back in the right way

toward a sustainable future. This is an opportunity to collect and share the information that was hard for us to get,” Ryan says. “A lot of the infor-mation is just not there. You end up feeling, ‘Why is our nation not doing more of this? Why are we so stuck

on fossil fuels when this is not that hard?’ ”Lounging on the front porch, Ryan savors the

silence around her. “I love being able to reflect here,” she says.

“When you’re closer to nature, you recharge. That’s where I get my creative juices as an entrepreneur. You have to have that white

space to recharge and think. … When I’m in the city, I’m living an interrupted life. Here, I can literally spend hours with my 4-year-old grand-daughter getting in the dirt, looking at wings of bugs and be just as happy as I can be. Discover-ing small pebbles, collecting flowers in a Mason jar, seeing things through her eyes: Those simple things are just delightful when you have a granddaughter.”

Tomorrow, Ryan will be back in the city, renewed, refreshed, recharged. But on this cool Spring evening, she lingers on the porch, scan-ning the horizon, tracking the fading image of the late-evening sun dipping slowly below the tree line.

“We’re building this as a legacy, something to hand down to our children and grandchildren,” she reflects. “This is meant to last. This house is not going anywhere.”

Neither is Jan Ryan. Like 3 Hills Ranch and the land it stands on, this lady was built to endure.

“Why are We so

stuck on fossil

fuels When this

is not that hard?”

Austin Woman publisher melinda Garvey undergoes an enlightening style transformation, thanks to the chic eye of style guru thea Wood. By silvana Di ravenna

THEA WOOD AnD THE BusinEss Of finDing YOur sTYlE fOrmulA

THEA WOOD AnD THE BusinEss Of finDing YOur sTYlE fOrmulA

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fashions fade, but style is eternal.” Nobody could have said it better than late couture king Yves

Saint laurent. And what a mantra to have in a time and age when fashion trends and fads come and go as quickly as the latest app updates.

While dressing stylishly is challenging enough when you’re young, the task becomes even more daunting after you hit 40. With so many colors, patterns and

shapes to choose from, you could easily find yourself in a never-ending style identity crisis.

Even though it may be tempting to rely on your tried-and-true favorite pieces (We know you can’t let go of that sequin jacket from two decades ago.), what if we told you that you could create a perfect wardrobe with colors and styles that directly reflect who you really are, empowering you to levels you didn’t think possible? Does it

sound tempting? Do you think it’s unachievable?

Think again because Thea Wood’s Signature Style Program was created with that exact purpose, and with you in mind, a woman that is powerful, confident and unique, but who has yet to find that signature touch that would make her look unique and unmistakable wherever she goes.

Want to be convinced that it can work? Read on.

“

THE PrOgrAmWood’s Signature Style Program was specifically created for women experiencing a major life tran-sition, or women who are ready to start one, say a change of career or starting your dream business. It also targets women who are overcommitted, to a fault. Think of busy, successful women like our own Melinda Garvey, who, besides being a multi-tasking wife and mother, is also the publisher of Austin Woman and ATX Man magazines.

Garvey was going through her own personal style crisis, as she felt that her wardrobe no lon-ger ref lected who she is. In other words, it was time to make a dramatic change and embrace what is new with both her image and her body.

Wood promptly came to the rescue to help Garvey achieve all her stylistic goals by provid-ing a comprehensive style consultation and the inevitable closet makeover. But the changes be-gan even before Wood stepped into (and raided) Garvey’s closet.

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DiscOvEring YOur TruE cOlOrs: Color Design anD HarmonyGarvey’s makeover finally started with a thorough consultation that lasted about three hours. During this consultation, Wood provided a custom color analysis for Garvey in order to discover her signature true colors based on her skin, eyes and hair.

Garvey quickly learned that colors are really our most powerful introductory card, and wearing the wrong shades can easily play against you and perpetually project a less-than-desirable impres-sion. And since, according to some studies, we are judged on our appearance in seven seconds or less, who wants to take chances with it? Not Garvey.

THE mAkEOvEr, sTEP BY sTEPsTEP1sTEP2

knOWing WHO YOu ArE: Personality assessmentBefore Wood got into real action, she handed Garvey an insight-ful personal questionnaire designed to obtain a clear picture of Garvey’s personality, lifestyle, style preferences, challenges and overall goals. The questionnaire covered topics that ranged from music to favorite restaurants, to more personal questions, such as the strengths and personality traits that truly helped reveal Garvey’s inner self.

Once Garvey had answered all the questions, Wood was ready to determine the visual message that Garvey wanted to portray to the world, as well as Garvey’s true personal energy, which turned out to be yang. (According to Chinese philosophy, yang is the ac-tive, positive and masculine force that moves the universe.)

Melinda’s customized personal color wheel

austinWomanmagazine.com | 73

knOW YOur sHAPEs: BoDy arCHiteCture analysisDuring the same preliminary consultation, Garvey also learned about her unique body shape. The analysis was based on her face, body lines and proportions, as well as her unique bone structure. Truly, she was measured from head to toe.

Wood explained that, as time passes, women experience myriad shape fluctuations that are directly related to giving birth, lifestyle habits and the simple passage of time. And even though we are aware of these changes, we don’t necessarily reflect those changes in our wardrobes. To put it simply, we might be wearing things that fit our former bodies more than our current ones.

“No wonder I never have anything to wear,” Garvey said at the time.Once both the Color Design and Harmony and Body Architecture Analysis were completed,

Wood then created a customized portable color fan for Garvey, with the help of Creative Cre-ations, a company based in Colorado that provides color solutions for image consultants.

This customized fan is given to all of Thea Wood’s customers, and its purpose is to guide them in making the perfect color choices for clothing, hair, makeup, nail polish and even home décor. This fan is also used to help clean and restructure clients’ closets.

rAiDing THE clOsET: a signature style is BornPerhaps the most fun part of the styling process is the day when Wood and client meet to restyle her closet. And in Garvey’s case, that was pre-cisely the highlight of the experience.

Like most women, Garvey had a considerable amount of clothes and shoes that she no longer wore, but had forgotten she even had. Some of her other pieces were worn only once or, even worse, had never been worn at all. She also had an outstanding number of shirts, and a lack of appropri-ate bottoms.

Wood proceeded to create a wardrobe audit, during which she walked Garvey through the “love it, leave it or alter it” process, a kinder, gentler version of TLC’s style show What Not to Wear.

Even though the experience wasn’t as scary as the popular television show, the process was still not easy for Garvey, who had a considerable number of favored pieces that she wouldn’t let go. Ultimately, she opted for keeping the pieces that really helped her project her new image while still maintaining some of her most beloved items.

To fill in any newly acquired voids, Wood also created a personalized shopping list for Garvey, with new items that would complement her reno-vated closet. (Think: a closet staple such as a vibrant red blazer.)

“Because we all need one of these,” Wood concluded.

sTEP3sTEP4

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cAPTAin Of HEr sHiPsTYlE PrOfilE fOr A PETiTE, rEcTAnglE BODY TYPE WHO is jusT sHY Of An HOurglAss sHAPE. sHE likEs nAuTicAl AnD PrEPPY influEncEs,

OWns A WOmEn’s mAgAzinE, is An OuTgOing, friEnDlY gO-gETTEr, likEs TO minimizE THigHs, ADD HEigHT, HAvE fun!

tHe extra elementssTYlE guiDE BOOkThea Wood’s program includes a comprehensive and customized Style guide Book that’s all about her client’s new visual image. It provides detailed style advice, with the customer’s unique image in mind. This includes colors, shapes, patterns and even most desir-able haircuts based on the client’s face shape and body proportions. The book is filled with images and information that will help users navigate their next shop-ping trip. It serves as a permanent guide they can refer to time and time again.

PinTErEsT BOArDsWood additionally creates a custom-ized Pinterest board for each of her clients, with pins that support each customer’s new visual image. But since privacy is always a concern, cli-ent names are never disclosed on the boards. In garvey’s case, the board (shown below) is filled with preppy themes and nautical patterns.

PsYcHOlOgicAl cOnsulTATiOnFor the personality assessment, Wood works hand in hand with Dr. louise Menlo of Compass Settings. Menlo helps create the About U Report and participates in the psychological as-sessment with clients in the Signature Style Program.

Learn more about Dr. Louise Menlo and her services at compasssettings.com.

“A white leather tote is perfect for spring/summer and blends well with your color pal-ette. Petite women need to be mindful that their totes aren’t too big, which can make your silhouette look wider and shorter.”neimanmarcus.com

“These espadrilles are perfect for Texas summers and work well with the nautical/preppy styles this style profile client loves.”shop.nordstrom.com

“A slip-on bootie is a comfortable, casual weekend choice. Try to avoid horizontal straps around the ankle (which shorten the leg) and wear with straight-leg or bootleg pants.”shop.nordstrom.com

“These oblong posts by Kendra Scott mimic a rectangular face

shape with a scale that helps keep the neck looking

longer and slimmer.”shop.nordstrom.com

“A fit-and-flare hides the thighs yet creates an hourglass, as long as the waist is visually cinched with a dark belt that doesn’t add volume. V-neck is best!”neimanmarcus.com

“This Alex and Ani ‘cross wrap’ expandable wire bangle reminds me of the nautical Southern cross. An exciting accessory that you can dress up or down with just about everything in this profile.” shop.nordstrom.com

“long trousers like these dark-wash jeans with heels slim and elongate thighs.”

joesjeans.com

“Maison Scotch lightweight print scarf is a smaller print

that looks almost like a texture. For short necks, tie it like a

sailor’s tie, low knot hanging vertically with a collared top.”

shop.nordstrom.com

austinWomanmagazine.com | 75

mEET THEA WOOD, THE fAcE BEHinD THEA WOOD signATurE sTYlE.Thea Wood’s relationship with style and fashion began serendipitously after she gave birth to her son. Tired of concealing herself behind mater-nity clothes, even after eight months postpartum, she strategically shied away from cameras that would per-petuate a look she no longer felt com-fortable with.

She knew something needed to be done to regain the confidence that seemed lost between a new set of pri-orities and responsibilities. Ready to make a swift career change and style makeover, Wood met with Dr. Lou-ise Menlo, a psychologist at Compass Settings, a career consulting company based in Austin.

Menlo, who now also works as the About U Report creator for Wood’s Signature Style Program, helped Wood reconsider her own unique strengths and recognize what truly excited her. She soon realized that fashion, particularly fashion retail sales that supported her financially during her high school, college and post-graduation years, was one of her biggest strengths.

When one of Wood’s friends sug-gested she become a personal shop-per, something finally clicked inside

her, and she dived headfirst into the world of image consulting.“It was like a light bulb went off,” Wood recalls. She signed up for training at the Stoltz Image Consulting Institute in Fort Worth, Texas, and

soon after, she found herself studying with Stacy London of TLC’s Love, Lust or Run and What Not to Wear, and Leatrice Eiseman, the creative director of the acclaimed Pantone Institute.

“Looking back, I was my own first client,” Wood admits fondly.As a member of the Association of Image Consultants International, Wood continues her

training to maintain her first-level certification. “I now understand the art behind dressing any type of body and how important color and

color psychology is in creating a visual message that says who you are and where you’re going, a kind of mantra for my clients,” Wood says.

On WHAT mAkEs THEA WOOD signATurE sTYE PrOgrAm uniquE“I’m more than a personal shopper. My services provide the tools and knowledge for you to be your own personal shopper so you minimize purchasing mistakes and build a wardrobe of mix-and-match garments,” Wood says. “Studies show that American women only wear 20 percent of their wardrobe 80 percent of the time. If you’re spending $3,000 a year on clothing, that means that $2,400 per year is wasting away. Of course, I provide shopping and wardrobe audit services because both can be overwhelming and time-consuming for a woman on the go.”

On THE imPOrTAncE Of cOlOr“Most stylists understand the importance of color, but my custom color analysis reveals how to wear colors for a flattering shape and a psychological message that you control. It’s a power-ful tool,” Wood says.

Wood’s programs, blogs, social media and workshops are designed to address image issues and give women the positive self-image they need to reach their goals. Wood has been fea-tured in Fox News Magazine, on retailmenot.com, The Fashion Spot and AICI Global Maga-zine, where she is the managing editor and previous editor-in-chief.

Wood’s additional services include DIY Style Kit, Style for the Camera, A La Carte and Hourly Rates and Group Presentations.

For free extra tips, news and sale alerts, find Thea Wood at:Twitter: @over40styleBlog: theawood.comFB: facebook.com/theasignaturestylePinterest: pinterest.com/theawood

“When we began discussing this fea-ture, I was definitely in a fashion funk. getting older, my body was defying me and changing in places that I didn’t want it to, and that led to ugly, multi-ple-clothing-change mornings, and I’d still leave the house feeling blah. In a word, my morning routine was compli-cated. And trust me, my life and work is complicated enough without that being layered on top.

I had met Thea Wood years ago in passing, but got re-acquainted with her through a friend of mine who had been through Wood’s Signature Style Program. I was hesitant at first about someone analyzing my closet (You saw the ‘before’ pics on a previous page.) and more importantly, critiquing my style. But my overwhelming frustra-tion at my situation quickly overcame those fears. And the reality is I had nothing to fear at all. Wood’s program is so thorough and analytical that by the time I got to the stage of emptying my closet and filling it only with those things that looked good on me (more importantly, made me feel good), I was ready to purge.

As you can see by the ‘after’ photos of my closet, I got rid of about 40 per-cent of my clothes and a fair amount of shoes. The first thing one of my AW staff members asked was, ‘Did giving away all of those clothes make you want to go out shopping?’ The answer is a resounding no. I am so excited to shop in my own closet, now armed with the tools I need to pair the best color combinations, to find the best fit for my body type, to know when to wear dark on bottom and light on top to accent my best features, and to know how to use prints to draw the eye to great features and away from not-so-great features.

During the last two weeks, I can honestly say I feel better about the way I look. I put out my clothes the night before to avoid the morning stress, and immediately after wearing, I hang my clothing up in its desig-nated place in my closet to keep that beautiful, streamlined look and feel. In a word, I have simplified. Ahhhh. And as a side note, lest anyone balk at the expense of doing an intensive program such as this, I can assure you that I have already and will in the future save far more than the program costs by not making the wrong purchases.”

—Melinda garvey

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i asked my wife this question and she cringed: “How comfortable would you be if you sat down with your grandparents and went through your credit-card statement, item by item, and told them what you purchased?” needless to say, my wife’s response was beyond freaking out. i also admit, i would be horrified to have had this conversation.

In the 2000s, it became very in vogue to be “green.” We bought hybrid vehicles with pride, maybe put solar panels on our roofs, or perhaps recycled enough empty wine bottles to give the sanitary pickup man a hernia. We all started patting ourselves on the back for our

environmentally friendly efforts, but we never really looked at our overwhelming amount of consumption, compared with our grandparents’ just two generations ago.

As I approach my late 40s, I considered myself to be an environmentally conscious person. I do what I can, but here is my personal reality check: I think mostly about my grandmother, who outlived her husband by 30-plus years, and the minimal environmental impact she had, compared with us buffoons. The home she lived in and we loved so much was the very same

home my father grew up in. She wasn’t chasing the better neighborhood, changing her status, obsessed with a change.

From my first recollection of her home, the furniture never changed, yet we are chasing trends and turning over furniture, fixtures, etc. We’re chasing new, tossing the old and wasting dollars, landfill and more. She never purchased

items that weren’t necessary, unless it came to her grandchildren or great-grandchildren. Even then, it was just small stuff: ice cream, a movie,

not video-game systems, an iPad or whatever it takes to satisfy a kid today.

Maybe because she lived through the Great Depression, she was very conservative with air conditioning. Her house was always hot and so quiet, except with no AC running, the wall clock was excessively loud. The amazing thing was that after a day with her, you got used to it and the cold air didn’t matter. What a waste, keeping our homes excessively cool today.

She drove the same four-door Chrysler from my earliest memory of her until my last. Cars were a way to get from point A to point B, not a luxury item to build our self-esteem. I wish I felt that way about cars.

I think about my grandparents’ garden and how a dinner salad could be thrown together from the backyard garden on a moment’s notice, yet I would have to make a list, jump in the car, go to the grocery story and either get it wrong or pick up veggies full of toxins, something that wasn’t even an issue back then.

If I had to go through my annual credit-card expenses with my grandmother, I would be so ashamed. Constantly changing furniture, the lawn expenses, the sprinkler system, landscape lighting, entertainment devices in the home, Starbucks: It’s just so darn embarrassing the way I have lived. Maybe I could be retiring now in my late 40s if I lived more like her.

Could you imagine walking through your home and showing your grandmother how many purses you have on shelves not being used, phone cases, the racks of shoes?

Even if we think we are environmentally friendly Al Gore types, when you break down what you do day in and out and over time, it’s humiliating, compared with just a couple generations ago. Our carbon footprint is probably bigger in a week than our grandparents’ in a year!

I’m slow to realize so much of this, but I’m grateful for so much learned from my grandmother. The material things don’t matter. The cars, the new home, wardrobe, entertainment center don’t matter. They do call it the Greatest Generation for a reason, after all.

Oreally GoinG Greenlessons we can all learn from the Greatest Generation.By JB haGer, PhOtO By rudy arOcha

ppOSITE SEx MeMo FroM Jb

if i had to go through my annual credit-card expenses with my grandmother, i would be so ashamed.

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78 | austin WOman | april 2015

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checkinG oFF the to-do listavoiding a meltdown with a mantra for all mothers of the bride. By cheryl Bemis

The long to-do list for my daughter britten’s wedding is slowly getting shorter. and some of the big things have been checked off the list: the dress, bridal-party assignments and the shower date. We are off and running to check off the next big things: venue, catering, flowers, décor and so on. so far, it has been pretty smooth sailing, but i fear that i am in for a full-blown meltdown.

Britten started searching venues online and she narrowed her top choices to a handful of options. One location was too big, one too small. Then, at the recommendation of my hair stylist, Lecia Harkins, we visited a quaint venue called Stonehouse Villa in Driftwood. It had that perfect charm we were looking for and offered an indoor wedding ceremony option for her 75-person guest list. It was time to narrow down the date.

Britten and I had discussions early on about a 2016 wedding, which would work well because Britten graduates from college in May 2015, and that would give us ample time to plan. My stepdaughter, Brittany, mentioned after the engagement was announced that there was no way Britten would wait that long, but I was hoping she was wrong.

The venue coordinator pulled out her calendar and we bounced around Saturday options. Britten’s first date, I thought, was Spring 2016. Then October 2015. How perfect! I can do that! Then the month of August popped up, then the June calendar. I know we have to work with the venue availability, but all I could think was, “Really, Britten?” Then she smiled at me and said, “How about the end of May?” to which I popped off a smart-a** comment. “Well how about you just go down to the courthouse and get married this weekend?” Enter, my meltdown.

After I calmed down, I reminded her that she is graduating from college in May, moving out of her college apartment, possibly relocating to Dallas. And if she waited until 2016, her wedding could be bigger and we would have much more time to plan. My sales pitch didn’t work. July appeared to be the target month.

It is a special month for Britten and Dylan because it is the month they started dating in 2007, so I understand the sentimental aspect. On the calendar, I could see an empty square. July Fourth was the only available Saturday in July,

it’s my mantra i have coined For any mother oF the bride:

breathe, smile and shut up.

and I thought, “Oh, great, the wedding is now months away and it’s a holiday! Are you serious?” I took a deep breath, smiled and shut my mouth. It’s my mantra I have coined for any mother of the bride: Breathe, smile and shut up.

To knock all of the next things off the list, thank goodness for the Bridal Extravaganza! The goal was to find options for a disc jockey, get some ideas on décor and some direction for her flowers because I, along with friend Diane Keen, am going to craft the flower arrangements.

Mission accomplished! Britten booked Complete Weddings and Events for her music, the decisions on her flowers were finalized and she even decided to change the colors of her wedding while at the show. It was all good info and it made for a very productive afternoon. The best part was a girls’ dinner at La Condesa.

Next up, choosing the cake, which was one of Britten’s most anticipated events on her wedding list. For some reason, the cake tasting was like a countdown on New Year’s Eve at Times Square. Britten researched several bakeries and ran into trouble, finding only one open on July Fourth. I anticipated that the date might be an issue, as it’s a holiday wedding, but that didn’t stop my make-it-happen kind of daughter, and she attended her cake tasting with fiance Dylan at Classic Cakes by Lori. Done and done. A two-tier cake, one layer lemon and the other almond white cake filled with scrumptious Bavarian cream and raspberry filling, all topped with fresh buttercream frosting, will be a tasty celebration at her wedding.

Britten and I discussed shooting her save-the-date pictures, but timing and weather were not on our side. She provided me with some shots that were July Fourth-inspired and I just hoped I could create what she wanted. The only way to pull off the photo shoot was to have sunshine. It needed to be warm enough not to wear a coat, and we had to coordinate three busy schedules.

There was a small window of opportunity on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. The happy couple arrived to my location just as the sun was setting. We literally jumped out of the car, rushed to my spot and I snapped her pictures in 10 minutes. It was very stressful, but I captured her “moment,” and the bride was happy. The save-the-date cards were printed, mailed and shared on Facebook.

As far as wedding-ceremony photography, that is a different story. Both my former husband and I are professional photographers. My stepdaughter is a wedding photographer and I have access to enough photographers in town to make the paparazzi jealous. Britten has gone as far as to say I am banned from taking any wedding pictures, but if you know me, that won’t happen. I am not sure what wedding photographer she will choose, but I’ll make sure I enjoy myself and keep from working my own daughter’s wedding.

Join me in the May issue of Austin Woman, in which I journey to find my perfect mother-of-the-bride gown. I will be joined with close friends and designer Daniel Esquivel. And rest assured, the Champagne will be flowing. Let the shopping begin!

conspirare Craig Hella Johnson

and Company of Voices

los angeles guitar quartet John Dearman, Matthew Greif,

William Kanengiser, Scott Tennant

dublin guitar quartet Brian Bolger, Pat Brunnock,

David Creevy, Tomas O’Durcain

texas guitar quartet Isaac Bustos, Jonathan Dotson,

Alejandro Montiel, Joseph Williams II

In this new work, How Little You Are, Nico Muhly uses musicand text to capture the sense of hope, fear, and loneliness that defined the experience of Texas’ original settlers as

they pursued the promise of a better life.

How Little You AreWorld premiere by Nico Muhly

How Little You Are For Voices and Guitars

nico muhly, composer | craig hella johnson, conductor featuring

april 18, 2015 | bass concert hall texasperformingarts.org | $10 Student | $12 Military

Presented in partnership with Conspirare, Austin Classical Guitar, and KMFA with support from Michael and Carol Fields, and Steve and Rebecca Guengerich. Support for the commissioning of How Little

You Are by Nico Muhly was provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Photo: Samantha West.

You’re invited to honor and celebrate

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Taralynn MackayChristy Pipkin

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80 | austin WOman | april 2015

creative conservation

austin Creative reuse Founder rebecca stuch on the importance and intersection of art and sustainability.

By mOlly mcmanus

in our commodity-based society, there’s a certain value assigned to the act of buying. Whether it’s purchasing the perfect plates for a Fourth of July celebration that you end up using one day out of the entire year, or the latest edition of the iphone that will likely be outdated by its release date, we are bombarded with messages for items we must buy. The message gets ingrained in us and there’s the thought that if we don’t have certain things in our possession, it somehow devalues our self-worth.

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Fun and funky gift bows made from frozen-food plastic bags.

Unfortunately, because of this mentality, we are being taught to not think for ourselves (Don’t worry, Apple will do it for you.), and in the process, are also slowly killing the environment. The ques-tion arises: Is it up to individuals to affect change for an environmentally sound tomorrow or should we look to organizations, corporations and policies to affect this type of change? Enter, creative reuse centers. These organizations work with individu-als in a more grassroots approach, yet hold the key to influencing some of our country’s policies and rethinking how we interact with waste.

Reuse centers are more efficient than recycling because they require no industrial processing. In addition to diverting hundreds of thousands of pounds of “garbage” from landfills each year, creative reuse centers also serve as hubs for artistic expression and community engagement. The intersection of art, sustainability and community is what makes creative reuse centers unique and vital to strengthening our society.

In 2009, Rebecca Stuch founded Austin Creative Reuse with a mission to foster conservation and reuse through creativity, education and community building. After seeing the success of reuse center The Scrap Exchange in her hometown of Durham, N.C., Stuch saw an opportunity to bring a similar model to Austin.

“Austin’s creative. There’s all these creative people moving here, creative industries and we’re pretty green. People generally have concerns about the environment,” she says.

Stuch grew up with a deep respect for nature and a passion for making art. However, much of the inspiration for Austin Creative Reuse came from a moment of having one too many flour sifters.

“I was doing a purge of my kitchen and I pulled out three flour sifters. I don’t even bake all that often!” she laughs. “I’d think I needed one and then it’d go to the back of the drawer. You think you’re the only one doing these things, and you ask around and everybody is.”

The first element Austin Creative Reuse intro-duced to Austin was craft night. Craft nights were and continue to be open and free to the public. People can bring in items from their home that they would typically throw away and make something purposeful out of them. Champagne corks are turned into stamps, plastic bottles are made into storage bins, old records into boxes and magazines become wrapping paper. The options became limit-less of what could be transformed from what we

would typically think of as waste into something uniquely beautiful.

In addition, Austin Creative Reuse runs educa-tor material drives, in which they collect items on behalf of teachers, who then use the items for craft projects in schools. For schools lacking resources, this is extremely beneficial, especially when deal-ing with a younger demographic, like kindergarten- and preschool-aged kids. The nonprofit also works with a handful of organizations in town, such as Austin EcoNetwork, Reuse Alliance, Whole Foods Market and South By Southwest to support the importance of reuse and creative expression.

Stuch has also presented to the City of Austin, which has been working during the past couple of years to shift the city’s focus from “waste manage-ment” to “zero waste,” and is getting creative about how to turn waste into a commodity by re-utilizing resources. Stuch was brought in to inform city coun-cil members about the benefits of reuse centers.

Now in its sixth year, Austin Creative Reuse is looking to expand its services. The goal for 2015 is to open a brick-and-mortar creative reuse center that can be a place for community building and artistic expression through craft nights, a gallery for reused pieces of artwork and a space for people to pick up and drop off materials.

“I could probably fill a Wal-Mart in two weeks. I can get [materials], but how do you sort it? How do we get people to use it? We want to change the mindset of ‘I have to have everything new’ or ‘I can’t reuse things,’ ” says Stuch.

Other plans for expansion include working with children interested in robotics, working in prisons to teach job skills and provide an artistic outlet and working with retirement homes and mental-health facilities.

Austin Creative Reuse has become part of the fabric of Austin’s focus for making the city a greener place to live, and also serves to benefit the individu-als who live here, to not only inspire creativity, but also to harness the creative spirit of Austin.

So the next time you “need” to buy that adorable seasonal snowflake wrapping paper or a container for the clutter that’s collecting in your closet, take a look throughout your home and think outside the box. Challenge yourself to reuse what you already have available. Not only will you better the environ-ment in your own small way, but you’ll also engage your creativity. Even better, each item reused or crafted is given a new life and purpose that comes along with its very own story.

BY THe NUMBeRS: cReATIve ReUSe ceNTeRS r For the past 30 years, more than 25 creative reuse centers have been operating in the u.s. Many of these report diverting 60,000 pounds from landfills annually. Do the math: That’s more than 1.5 million pounds each year.

r in 2012 and 2013, austin Creative reuse diverted 22,150 pounds of materials from the landfill.

geT INvOLveDmOnthly craft WOrkshOPsbring your plastics to austin Creative reuse’s next craft workshop, taking place April 11 from 10 a.m. to noon at wheatsville Co-op, 4001 s. lamar blvd. austincreativereuse.org/events

vOlunteer OPPOrtunitiesaustin Creative reuse is looking for volunteers. Whether you’re interested in helping collect materials, teach workshops or work in the brick-and-mortar space, austin Creative reuse could use your help. Visit austincreativereuse.org for more information.

DIY INSPIRATION

For more Diy inspiration, visit austin Creative reuse’s pinterest page at pinterest.com/austinreuse.

ausTinWoManMaGaZine.CoM | 81

Rebecca stuch (bottom right) with the austin Creative Reuse board at their Raise the Roof fundraiser.

Produce netting and food packaging make for a festive gift bag.

simple ways to organize cleaning products by reusing plastic containers.

82 | austin WOman | april 2015

Fashion For Fun and FundraisinG sally brown joins forces with amy ingram and January 2015 AW cover woman,

Camila alves, to bring Milly to austin to benefit Mack, Jack & McConaughey.By deBOrah hamiltOn-lynne, PhOtOs By annie ray, hair By allisOn deitiker, makeuP By anastasia miller

on its website, Milly describes its clothing collection as “bold, advanced, contemporary fashion with a feminine edge.” That sounds perfect for austin, and that attitude, along with the bright, happy colors, cutting-edge fabrics and classic silhouettes, are what made designer Michelle smith and her collection a natural choice for this year’s Mack, Jack & McConaughey signature runway event.

Now in the third year, the MJ&M fashion event has grown, and for the first time, it will include a Champagne reception, runway show and luncheon to be held at the W Hotel on April 17, with Milly Founder Smith in attendance.

Although Camila Alves, founder of the style event, was on location with her husband, Matthew McConaughey, AW caught up with her compadres and co-chairs of the event, former AW cover woman Sally Brown and Amy Ingram, for a sneak peek at the collection and an update on the event.

Austin Woman: What’s new with the fashion show this year?Sally Brown: We are moving it to a larger venue and expanding it because it has always sold out so fast. We wanted to be able to include more people and be more inclusive.Amy Ingram: The Milly designs are fun and young. We’re looking forward to meeting Michelle.

AW: Talk about the evolution of MJ&M. In a short time, it has become one of the most anticipated events in Austin.AI: Jack always admired the relationship between Willie [Nelson], Ben [Crenshaw] and Darrell [Royal], and he decided to approach Mack to create an event where they could combine forces and do something together to raise funds for Austin organizations and be able to give a gift to the children, make an impact on future generations.SB: I think it has been a great combination of amazing causes. Our charities are so deserving. When we first started planning this, we all agreed that it had to be fun and something we would go to and enjoy. AI: No one has enjoyed it more than we all do.

AW: How do you make the event personal?AI: Our youngest has food allergies and this year, we started working with Dell Children’s, which is one of the beneficiaries of MJ&M, to help increase awareness and research for children who have food allergies. Also, through this event, we got involved with the Rise School, and when they built the new facility, they named the music room for Jack, and it is an amazing facility.

sally BrOWn

SAVVY WOMEN WoMen in leaDersHip

82 | austin WOman | april 2015

ausTinWoManMaGaZine.CoM | 83

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Convinced from a very early age that fashion design was her calling, Michelle smith earned a scholarship to Moore College of art and Design to study fashion illustration during high school. she later followed her passion to new york’s Fashion institute of Technology. smith worked at the Hermés boutique in Manhattan to help fund her tuition. upon graduation, she wrote to the president of Hermés, requesting an internship at the paris headquarters. Her request was granted, making smith the first american Hermés employee sent to work in paris with the legendary fashion house.

While in paris, smith continued her studies at the prestigious design school

esMoD while interning at louis Vuitton, Torrente and Christian Dior Haute Couture. smith returned home to new york three years later, intent on establishing her own design business, and founded Milly in 2001.

Milly has successfully expanded into categories beyond ready-to-wear, including Milly handbags, Milly small leather goods, Milly Cabana swimwear and, for budding fashion lovers, the Milly Minis children’s-wear collection, largely inspired by smith’s daughter, sophia. Milly ships to 170 countries worldwide, and this year will mark the launch of four freestanding Milly boutiques in the Middle east to complement flagship boutiques in Tokyo

and at 900 Madison ave., in new york City, as well as a boutique at 54 Main st. in east

Hampton, n.y.

aBOut mJ&m

MJ&M is a two-day event filled with music, golf, fashion and fun. Funds raised in 2015 will support the Rise school of Austin, just keep livin Foundation, heartgift, CureDuchenne and Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central texas.

For more information and tickets to MJ&M events, visit mackjackmcconaughey.org.

aBOut milly and michelle smith

AW: Did the three of you know each other well before you created this event?SB: When Jack came to Mack, we brought Matthew into the mix, and through the last three years, we have all become very close friends. The three couples do things together and so do Amy, Camila and I. We see each other all through the year.

AW: What are you looking forward to this year?SB: The clothes are beautiful. The music will be great. Little Big Town won my heart last year and they are opening for Toby Keith. Everyone is excited to see Toby. Jimmy Kimmel is Friday night and Jack always finds the best musicians for Jack and Friends. My favorite part of the event is going to the picking party afterwards. It is a semi-private time when everyone is causal and laid-back. People just pick up their guitars and everyone joins in. We are up to 3 or 4 a.m. that night.AI: We have had a lot more community involvement and heightened awareness about the event. It has grown so much. I am amazed at the number of people who have stepped up to participate and make this successful, and I think that has everything to do with the causes and organizations we support. We support a diverse group of organizations that support and impact children across the board. The fashion event has grown tenfold and I am so happy that we can make it more accessible this year.

amy inGram

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86 | austin WOman | april 2015

From arkansas to Texas to Washington, D.C., susan rieff has allowed nature to run its course and be her guide during a career characterized by distinguished appointments through her work in the field of environmental activism. in February, rieff was honored by audubon’s Texas Women in Conservation program as an inaugural recipient of the Terry Hershey award for her contributions to conservation in Texas. Hershey, for whom the award is named, is an acclaimed leader in the field with a lifetime of achievements and projects to her credit.

“I’ve known Terry for many years and had the good fortune to work closely with her when she served on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission,” Rieff says. “She was a relentless force for preserving important natural areas, especially the bayous of Houston. So to be chosen for an award honoring her life was very special to me. I also took it as a reminder from her to keep working for the wildlife and waterways that she loved.”

Born and raised in Fayetteville, Ark., on the border of the Ozark Mountains, Rieff spent much of her childhood outdoors exploring her surroundings.

“I loved studying biology and, after the first Earth Day was held in 1970, I realized that the natural world that fascinated me was at risk,” Rieff says. “That launched my interest in learning more and also my determination to do something about the threats to our environment.”

She went on to study environmental science at Texas Christian University before earning a master’s degree in public policy from the LBJ School at the University of Texas with an emphasis on policy as it pertains to natural resources and the

environment. Her first job was with the Federal Bureau of Land Management, where she worked to determine the maximum amount of livestock grazing the Western plains could support without harming watersheds or the area’s wildlife.

Rieff has served as the executive director of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for the last 10 years, working to advance the model of sustainable landscape. During her time at the helm, she oversaw the center’s transition from a nonprofit organization to a research unit of the university.

“In the 33 years since the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center was founded, we’ve seen significant changes in the way that homeowners and land developers are designing the landscape around their buildings,” Rieff explains. “In the early 1980s, many native plants were considered weeds that needed to be removed from any planned landscape. Today, a drive around Austin shows that native plants have been widely adopted for their beauty and their resiliency. These benefits have led the city as well as many private and public institutions to promote native-plant-focused, low-impact landscaping. The areas around Austin City Hall provide a great example of using native plants in ways that conserve resources and reflect our regional natural heritage, the Texas Hill Country.”

From 1995 to 1998, Rieff served as deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C., for the Clinton administration.

“As a student of public-lands policy, working for the Department of the Interior in the Clinton administration rarely felt like work, as I was involved in so many issues related to the National Park Service, protection of fish and wildlife resources and the conservation programs of the Bureau of Land Management,” Rieff says.

“My time at the Wildflower Center has also been a gratifying opportunity to help change on a national level the way that people make changes to the landscape, and shift conventional thinking about land development toward more sustainable approaches. This has enormous potential for conserving water resources, filtering pollution, conserving wildlife habitat and even saving money.”

Despite the progress that has been made, Rieff sees ample opportunity for improvement in the way we use and allocate land.

“Lady Bird Johnson said that her hope was that we could ‘find the ways to meet the needs of nature and the needs of mankind,’ and that is what we do at the Wildflower Center,” she says. “Our protocols for developing healthy landscapes are designed to help landowners not only reduce the environmental harm to their property, but actually build up the ecological services that well-designed landscapes can provide.”

Just don’t expect her to name a favorite plant. “That’s like asking a mother to name her

favorite child,” Rieff says. “I’m especially fond of our Texas live oaks, Mexican feather grass, coneflowers and agave. And seeing rain lilies after a storm always makes me smile.”

As for her next move, Rieff has recently taken a position with the School of Architecture at UT as a senior research fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development, where she will strive to further the creation of sustainable landscapes throughout the United States.

susan rieFF Meeting the needs of nature and the needs of mankind.

By scarlett r. smith

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88 | austin WOman | april 2015

minimalism Fad or way of life?

By liBBy mcnamee, illustratiOn By Jessica Wetterer

We just moved to austin from Virginia. yup, here we are, all svelte 16,000 pounds of us. That’s not even including our own weight after eating fast food for two months. of course, when it came time to pack up our old house, our belongings seemed to multiply like mosquitos near stagnant pond water. so we purged and we purged. Man, did we ever purge!

After at least a dozen trips to Goodwill, my husband borrowed a friend’s pickup. We filled that jalopy up and headed for the dump about six times. Oh, and then there was the trailer we filled to the brim, even while the movers were there. Now I can hardly remem-ber what we gave and threw away. Less is more, lots more, especially when it comes to moving.

The crazy part is our former abode did not look like the pilot for Hoarders Meet Sanford & Son. (At least, I didn’t think so.) So why? Why in the world did we have so many belongings in our possession of no value to us? How did they get in the door and create a nest for themselves in every spare nook and cranny? And why was our freezer packed with food we had no real intention of eating? With God as my witness, I am determined not to relapse into my clutter-bug ways. Ah, the joy of simplicity!

Of course, we still have lots more to pare down. Now that I’ve started though, it feels so good, I’m determined never to give it up. Hello, mini-malism! How liberating (and novel) to walk out of Target with just the

two items on my original list. So long, red cart full of impulse purchases! It’s high time to drive my own cart and not let endless consumerism drive it for me.

Minimalism is all the rage these days, just like Madonna’s Material Girl ruled the ’80s. It’s more than a fad though. Minimalism requires us to make an effort to change our mentality and habits throughout time. Although change like that isn’t easy, it’s lasting, unlike the passing fancy of bell-bottoms, disco and leisure suits.

We’ve all come to realize clutter can take a surprising toll on our daily lives, creating stress, draining energy and generating a firestorm of nega-tive feelings. Let’s face it, clutter is something we all have to combat in some form or another. It’s the American creeping crud.

Paring down is just half the battle though. Now I am on the lookout for new clutter. You see, whatever comes in the door could just be clutter hiding in a reusable shopping bag. (And do I really need 20 of those?) No more “maybe” or “what if” purchases! No more bargain stockpiles! If we don’t need it, it must stay at the store until we do. That’s why it’s called a “store.” (Pretty cool concept, huh?)

Clearing your path of chaos and clutter is a way of life. Minimal stuff means more living! Isn’t that the abundance we all want?

Writer Libby McNamee and her family moved to Austin in early 2015. A Texas newbie, McNamee invites readers to follow her adventures at libbymcnamee.com.

lasT WorDSAVVY WOMEN

June’s last Word topic will be “age is Just a number.”

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

3rd Annual MJ&M Fashion Show and Luncheon3rd Annual MJ&M Fashion Show and LuncheonPresented in partnership with Neiman Marcus

Space is limited and the event is expected to sell out. To reserve your seat or table please call 512-236-1001 or email Jessica@jhlcompany.com

N e i m a N m a r c u sp r e s e N t s t h e

miLLY2015 s p r i N g c o L L e c t i o N s

w i t h s p e c i a L g u e s tD e s i g N e r m i c h e L L e s m i t h

F r i D aY , a p r i L 17 t ht h e w h o t e L — a u s t i N , t e x a s

11:00 am Champagne Reception 11:30 am Runway Show

12:00 pm Luncheon

2 D AY S // 8 E V E N T S // 1 B I G I M PA C T

April 16-17, 2015April 16-17, 2015

Mack, Jack & McConaughey (MJ&M) 2015 returns April 16th and 17th with golf, a gala with headlining concert at ACL Moody Theater, the exquisite fashion event and the widely anticipated Jack & Friends Concert. Join us for two days of great fun benefitting CureDuchenne, HeartGift, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, just keep livin Foundation, and The Rise School.

For a complete schedule of events of all MJ&M happenings, visit www.mackjackmcconaughey.org.

Mack, Jack & McConaughey (MJ&M) is the joint fundraising effort of Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, ACM Award-winning recording artist Jack Ingram, and EPSN analyst and Texas coaching legend Mack Brown. MJ&M is a two day fun-filled event with music, golf and fashion benefiting organizations that reflect MJ&M’s goal to empower kids.

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