Woman

From the publisher
Last year, at the dawn of 2014, I was
apprehensive about what the new year
would bring. Things were changing in Austin and
the magazine business, and for the first time in a long
time, I was having a hard time seeing the path laid out
before us. So we did the only thing we were absolutely
sure of: We put one foot in front of the other, one issue
after the next and made a commitment to really listen
to our readers and advertisers about what they were
looking for from us. And we got our answer, loud and
clear. Do more of what we do best: inspiration, real
and authentic connections with women in Austin,
information about this great city we inhabit and,
yes, more beauty, fashion and glam.
Throughout the year, we have been adding,
changing and tweaking, but with this January 2015
issue, we present to you a re-packaged, re-defined
commitment to all things women and all things
Austin. I am so thankful for our amazing team, who
work tirelessly and filled with passion on Austin
Woman. The creative and design team—Deb, Niki,
Molly, Jen—did an amazing job diving deep and
coming up with creative editorial plans and a beautiful
new design to house them. Cynthia, Kelly and
Maggie brought great ideas from the field so we can
make sure to follow the pulse of our readers and
supporters. We present this newly designed issue—
and all the future issues to come—with love and
appreciation for you, our readers and this great city
full of extraordinary women.
Next month,
our focus is connections,
and the
relationships that
develop from
those connections.
They are
truly what make
Austin unique
and authentic,
and our mission
is to make sure that Austin women
always have the opportunity to connect through the
pages of Austin Woman and in person at our events.
Thanks for joining us on this incredible journey.
I’ve said this before and still believe with all my
heart that it is true: The best is yet to come!
MeliNDA GARVey
Co-Founder and Publisher
From the Editor
New year, new look, fresh
content and design: We’re
starting up a brand new day!
As we go to press on this issue, there are
some pop songs that I can’t seem to stop
singing: “I had a dream so big and loud.
I jumped so high I touched the clouds.
This is gonna be the best day of my life.”
And “Clap along if you feel like a room
without a roof. Because
I’m happy.”
Admittedly, sometimes
my enthusiasm and
singing drives my creative
team crazy, but
for this dawn of a
brand new day, I think
they are coming along
with me as we watch
our vision for Austin Woman
become a reality. For me, Jan. 1 will be
more like Christmas morning. I am
sure my heart will be racing as I
eagerly await delivery of the magazines.
Starting a new year is
always exciting, filled with
hope and possibilities, but this
year, it will be especially poignant.
I prefer to think of our redesign
as a fresh start rather than a makeover.
As a child, I sang, “Make new friends,
but keep the old. One is silver and the
other’s gold.” As we gathered to plan for
2015, we started by looking at the things
we liked about the magazine, the things
that were working and the things we
wanted to keep. Then we began to
dream, brainstorm and play the “What
if you could do anything you wanted”
game, and the result is the issue you
hold in your hands.
New beginnings should always build
on what has come before, and I am
eternally grateful for the vision and
dogged determination of Melinda
Garvey, who had a dream to create a
magazine with a mission to shine a
light on the women of Austin and to
help them become the best they could
be. And with that in mind, we kept the
best of the old and freshened our content
and look with new fonts, a new
layout and new ways to tell the stories
of Austin’s most interesting and
innovative women.
People rarely realize what it takes to
put together each and every page of a
magazine, and the amount of thought
that goes into each and every decision
and story. Indeed, it takes a village and
is a team effort that not only includes
our staff, but also a team of writers,
photographers, beauty professionals
and stylists, PR reps, former cover
women, contacts with great ideas and
our readers, who give us great feedback.
To each of you, I am so appreciative of
your talent and grateful for your support
and contributions.
Camila Alves is a remarkable woman
and we were privileged to tell her story.
She was candid, down-to-earth, interesting
and interested, and a genuine
pleasure to work with. While her beauty
shines through on the cover and the
pages of the feature story, I think you
will find her true beauty in her own
words.
If you believe in love at first sight,
look no further than our Style
section. I dare you to try to not
fall in love with the winterwhite
looks and, more
importantly, with our furry
friends who stole the shoot.
We are planning on making
2015 our year to shine, and
we hope that you will clap along
with us as we get happy. Our
second feature is filled with expert tips
and ideas to make 2015 your best year
yet. We have also included diet choices,
must-have apps for getting organized,
ways to streamline your wardrobe, info
on gaining 100 days of happiness, easy
home makeover tips and a close-in
getaway perfect for recharging and
relaxing. Resolved! 2015 is your year
to shine!
So join in the chorus as we make a
fresh start on Jan. 1. “I howled at the
moon with friends and then the sun
came crashing in. But all the possibilities,
no limits just epiphanies. This is
going to be the best day of my life.”
Because I’m happy, wishing you all
the best in the
new year.
deborah HAMilton-LYNNe
Editor-in-Chief
Resolved! Deb’s Five resolutions to make 2015 her best year ever.
1. Get fit and go back to
training in preparation
to hike the Camino, with
the help of Gold’s Gym
and The CUPS Diet.
2. Escape personal and
professional duties one
day a month to unplug,
relax and recharge at
the Sage Hill Inn.
3. Come into a new era
of computer literacy and
proficiency as I say
goodbye to my HP Pavilion
G7 notebook PC and
say hello to my new HP
Pavilion X2 tablet/
notebook combo.
4. Freshen up my look
with the help of AW
Creative Director Niki
Jones and Stylist Ashley
Hargrove, starting with
a new winter-white
accessory: the Lapizta
Amur watch.
5. Begin and end each
day with a reflection
on blessings and
gratitude.
18 | Austin Woman | JANUARY 2015