Xochitl Chorba is the new Billboard Bride

All that glitters

Xochitl Chorba glistens at Bridal Extravaganza’s Billboard Bride photo shoot. You will see her picture on billboards all over town this summer.

Photography by Loyd’s Photography

Xochitl(pronounced Zochi) and her boyfriend, DJ Safady, were at the Civil War exhibit at the Museum of Natural Science, one of her favorite places since she was a child. They were with another couple admiring a gemstones exhibit when she noticed a display case featuring a small box with a ring inside.  She was mortified when DJ started wriggling the case, fearing security would kick them out for touching the exhibit.  Moments later, she realized the ring was for her! Her friends were taking pictures and DJ was on one knee.  At that moment, she began planning an October wedding began.

Part of the planning involved attending the Bridal Extravaganza Show. She applied for, and was selected as the next bride to appear on billboards.  “I couldn’t believe it when I got the call,” she recalls.

 

Loyd’s Photography and Video hosted a day-long photo shoot and captured the perfect photo. Visiting their office is like playing on a movie set.  Vignettes surround the country property and provide backdrops for a variety of photos.

 

Three gowns from Ventura’s Bridal were selected for the shoot.  Beading can’t be ignored.  Two of the gowns feature beaded tops, and the third gown, the mermaid gown, is head to toe crystals. “We’ve got to have the element of bling,” says Jessica Bennett, bridal consultant.

The Bridal Extravaganza Show tapped The Bloom Room to design bouquets for the summer billboards. Kya Heinen, owner and designer created three unique bouquets for this occasion. “Dark purples are still hot,” she says.  So are non-traditional colors like platinum and pewter. Kya is noting a return to simplicity and a tendency towards the vintage look.

The team at Thalio Beckham Make up Artistry was on hand to make Xochitl look and feel beautiful. Her skin was airbrushed to flawless perfection and her eyes had a particularly dramatic focus.

“Seeing my picture on the billboards should give hope to other Houston brides,” she says.  “I wasn’t one of those girls who was planning my wedding my entire life,” she says. “And still I had my fairy tale.  When I look at the billboards, I’ll say.  I did that.  It was fun.”

Get this look:

LoydsPhoto.com

VenturasBridal.com

TheBloomRoomLLC.com

ThalioBeckham.com

 

Roatan

Off the radar, this Honduran island is home to hidden beaches, superb diving and one of the most pristine reefs in the world.

United Airlines offers direct flights and the dollar still buys a lot in these parts. The primary tourism area, the West End, has a host of restaurants, hotels and shops.  Aquarium-clear waters, dolphin encounters, world-class diving and glass bottom boats make this Honduran gem a must see.

5th Annual Run for The Roses Kentucky Derby Party honoring Holly Harwood Skolkin and benefitting the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation

www.roseribbon.org

Mo’s …A Place for Steaks and Momentum Volvo present the 5th Annual “Run for The Roses” Kentucky Derby Party honoring Holly Harwood Skolkin and benefitting the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation

On Saturday, May 5^th, 2012 restaurant owner, Johnny Vasallo, owner of Mo’s…A Place for Steaks, located in Houston, TX will host the 5^th Annual Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Party honoring Holly Harwood Skolkin and Benefitting The Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation.

The Kentucky Derby themed event, chaired by Chyra Blackaller and Lori Lemon-Geshay is poised to be the largest event to date for Mo’s, with such noteworthy sponsors as Momentum Volvo, Lexis Florist and Festari for Men.  The afternoon event is destined to be the most fashionable, for both men and women.  So grab your seersucker, linen suits and your grandest hat as this “Greatest 2 Minutes in Sports” event will feature complimentary mint julep’s, derby-tini’s (pink martini), Mo’s quesadillas, Carolyn Farb guacamole with wonton chips, and assorted sushi, along with betting, a hat contest, and a silent auction of items ranging from diamond rings, sports memorabilia, clothing, spa services, weekend getaways and so much more!  Ticket Information:   Advance Ticket Purchases: $40.00 each | Day of the Event: $50.00 each.  To learn more about the event and to purchase tickets, please visit www.roseribbon.org or contact Autumn Ayers at (713) 622-3610.

Since its inception in Houston, Texas, in 2005, the Rose Ribbon Foundation, in collaboration with Cindi Rose, Dr. Franklin Rose and Tony Rotondo, CEO of the First Street Surgical Center, has helped breast cancer survivors, including women, men and children receive free reconstructive surgery. Its mission is to improve the emotional health of those with critical illness by providing free reconstruction, to both uninsured and under-insured individuals, of all ages and both sexes. Yearly, twelve to fifteen people receive free breast reconstruction from the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation. All the money donated goes directly to the patients, including their total hospital cost, all nurses, medicines and other doctors. Recently, the foundation has included non- human hair wigs, comfortable robes, pillows, permanent eyebrows and psychological support to those with critical sickness.
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Glen Ellen

Just north of San Francisco, in the heart of Sonoma’s Valley of the Moon, the sleepy town of Glen Ellen is the perfect wine country escape.

Many wineries are close by, including Cline Cellars whose stunning grounds are the perfect place to get lost for an afternoon.  For dinner, the Glen Ellen Inn Oyster Grill & Martini Bar serves California-fusion food in a romantic setting.  After a day of tasting, you’ll be familiar with many of the names on the extensive wine list.  Glen Ellen is what Napa and Sonoma used to be before the word got out: peaceful and undiscovered.

Waikiki

From surf lessons to haute cuisine, you and your sweetie will have a ball unwinding in Waikiki.

 

Overlooking both Diamond Head and Koko Head craters, the Kahala Hotel and Resort was a favorite of Conrad Hilton when it opened in 1964.  The secluded sandy beaches and spacious rooms are famous with the Hollywood set.  Photos of Frank Sinatra, John Wayne and many more adorn the walls.  When H Texas Weddings visited, we spotted James Gandolfini from “ The Sopranos” and Deborah Lin saying “I Do.”

Florida’s Forgotten Coast

White sand dunes and blue tinted water abound on the interior gulf coast of Florida.  The WaterColor Inn sits right on the beach and has beautiful panoramic views, large balconies and ocean views from the shower. Head up the coast to Apalachicola for a glimpse of Florida’s historic and preserved past. This forgotten coast is being rediscovered.

image complements Sweet Tea Journal

Florida’s Gulf Islands

This string of quaint beach towns is the ideal escape

Rent a car to peruse Anna Maria Island.  The folks at Cedar Cove Resort will welcome you like old friends.  If you arrive late, the key will be waiting for you by the office door. A casual meal at Ginny & Jane E’s at the Old IGA will kick off your trip.  Searching for manatees?  A guided kayak tour of Palma Sola Bay with Anna Maria Island Eco Tours should top your list.  Dining at The Beach Bistro and dessert at Euphemia Haye are culinary highlights.

@VisitBradenton

 

GHOST RIOTER

THE DEN – It’s time to catch a program on my new 50-inch plasma TV. Eh? A loud moise from the kitchen. I go to see what happened. There is my wife’s brand-new crystal pitcher shattered into a hundred pieces on the floor. Then the clock strikes 13 o’clock just as the hot water heater, with its lifetime guarantee, burns out. This can only mean that my house ghost, Lawrence of Suburbia, has returned. “Lawrence, where are you? I’ll count to three.”

“Should I start your Teleprompter?” says a ghostly voice. “Miss me?”

“No. Because of you, Texas has had the hottest and driest summer in its recorded history. My pipes broke, the foundation cracked, the yard died and my electric bill for the a/c tripled. Go away.”

Do you ever have those days when the car won’t start and the cat disappears? Then you discover you lost your winning Lotto ticket worth $57 million, you’re laid off at the sewage treatment plant and discover the reason car won’t start is because the cat is lodged in the fan belt? It’s not just bad luck or happenstance. It’s because you probably have a Lawrence, too, even though most people think ghosts only haunt Scottish castles, Italian monasteries and Chevy Volt dealerships.

He continues: “Since last I saw you I was in charge of Bin Laden’s security detail. You’ve heard of the Arab Spring? In all modesty, I’m responsible for the Syrian Summer. I had a stint as safety inspector for BP’s Gulf of Mexico drilling operations. I mentored Rush Limbaugh on how to attract women listeners. He clearly has no idea about sex. No wonder he’s had four wives and no kids.”

Lawrence pauses for breath. “That sex mess began when Obama asked me, ‘Should I demand that Catholic institutions be required to offer their employees birth control programs? That might be trouble.’ I told Barry I had smoothed out everything and there would be no repercussions. Then he brought up my recommendations on Solyndra, so it was a short gig; like when I served as George W’s adviser on WMDs. I swear those giant windmills looked like IBMs aimed at Crawford. I was Rick Perry’s mnemonics coach, and wrote the new Texas sonogram laws. Don’t you love being the laughingstock of America? Oh, do you receive the Longhorn Network?”

Lawrence is always bragging on himself, like the time in New Orleans when Brownie told him, “You’re doing a heck of a job.” I won’t even get into his work on Wall Street, but when he says your house is under water, it’s actually under water. Now he’s working for Bill Maher, washing out his mouth with soap after every show. “I sold a black helicopter franchise to Glenn Beck. I got Disney to produce ‘John Carter.’ Cost a quarter billion dollars to make and thus far is the biggest bomb since Hiroshima.”

After he leaves, my TV explodes. The warranty doesn’t cover ghosts.

 

Ashby is haunted at ashby2@comcast.net

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Fe, New Mexico

ANA Airline’s Lounge takes you away

Moist towel-ette?  Check.

Complimentary Internet?  Check.

Set to a pallet of black, gray and white, the ANA International Lounge in Japan’s Narita airport is a calm respite from the hustle and bustle of international travel.

 

Unlike other lounges, when you enter the ANA lounge, calming spa-type music subtly sets the relaxation tone.  The lounge is created with low walls similar to upscale office cubes.  The walls create “pods” of six to eight chairs and plush couches.  From this vantage point, you can head to the bar, or simply sit and watch the airplanes prepare for take off.

The food takes center stage here.  H Texas arrived at 8:00am on Thanksgiving Day.  Despite the time, there were several choices of wine and local beer on tap.  Egg salad sandwiches, rice puffs, rice cakes, and several sweets were available along with Pumpkin and Miso soup.

Other amenities include: International money changing machine, payphone, computers, concierge, and duty free shopping.   This lounge helps make International travel a breeze.

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16th Annual San Luis Salute

 

More than $100,000 was raised for The University of Texas Medical Branch’s new Jennie Sealy Hospital. Once completed in 2016, this $438 million hospital will be among the leading inpatient facilities in all of academic medicine, with 310 patient rooms, 20 state-of-the-art operating suites and a 28-room day surgery center.    Paige Fertitta, Tilman Fertitta, Gabrielle Giffords, Mark Kelly

More than 1,200 guests danced and dined at the South Beach-themed ball. When the fuchsia curtain rose, the gala guests were wowed at the transformation of the ballroom designed by Richard Flowers and Kirksey Gregg of The Events Company. The South Beach themed gala featured spectacle and pageantry, music, burlesque, surprise acts, a swimsuit fashion show, lights and plenty of glamorous action.

Stacy Soriero, Kara Howes, Tiffany Wong

Following a procession of notables from business, politics, medicine and Mardi Gras royalty, the night was packed with all-star entertainment, from performances by Jessie’s Girls and the Philidelphia Mummers to Las Vegas showgirls. A special performance by the former lead singer of the Go-Go’s, Belinda Carlisle, surprised guests and kept the dancing going until 1:30 a.m.

PHOTO CREDIT:    Michelle Watson

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Deer Lake Lodge

Deer Lake Lodge: 50-Acre Holistic Retreat & First Detox Spa & Wellness Resort in the Southeast US to Open Summer 2012

All-natural resort built with 100% eco-friendly construction  

HOUSTON (February 27, 2012) – Deer Lake Lodge & Spa, an exclusive destination health spa and wellness resort, will promote enhanced living through holistic cleansing and other therapeutic approaches in a relaxing, secluded environment. Scheduled to open early in the summer of 2012, Deer Lake Lodge & Spa will provide guests with a one-of-a-kind experience by being the only spa in the Southeast to offer all four services of juice fasting, colonics, body works and energy works.

Located on a 50-acre rustic-chic oasis, only 40 minutes from central Houston and 15 minutes from The Woodlands, the green-construction health haven is a country mile away from stress.

Deer Lake Lodge and Spa’s ideology is to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit through organic spa treatments, juice-fasting programs, colonics, yoga and spiritual enrichment workshops in a tranquil, private setting surrounded by nature. Through these holistic services and treatments, guests of Deer Lake Lodge and Spa will return home not only feeling cleansed and relaxed, but energized and educated about living enhanced and healthier lives. Most participants tend to lose weight during their stay; others simply come away feeling clean, stabilized and invigorated.

Spa amenities include a fasting lounge, heated saltwater pool, jetted spa, infrared sauna, and scenic countryside walking trails. The cleansing program consists of a combination of semi-fasting and therapeutic treatments targeted towards detoxification and elimination. Guests have the option to participate in yoga and attend a variety of seminars on meditation, relaxation, healthy living and other similar topics. In addition, patrons can enhance their experience with the purchase of luxury organic spa accoutrements including:

• Stimulating hair wash/scalp massage
• Therapeutic body massages
• Detoxification body treatments
• Dry brush massage
• Body splash massage
• Organic facial
• Organic pedicure and exfoliation
• Organic manicure
• Foot detoxification
• Cellulite and skin stimulation
• Colonics

Every element of the resort is carefully selected and made from all organic or natural materials. From the recycled asphalt and gravel walkways, to the exclusive green-construction facility which includes eight rooms made from repurposed shipping containers, Deer Lake Lodge & Spa is committed to leaving behind the lightest carbon footprint.

The spa uses rain harvesting, low-VOC paint, natural insulation, re-utilization of building materials, FCS lumber, all LED lighting, and low-EMF wiring to promote energy and water conservation efforts. Organic and biocompatible cleaning supplies, spa products and bedding have been chosen to promote optimal health for your body and the earth.

Co-founders of Deer Lake Lodge & Spa, Tracy Boulware and her sister, Dr. T.C. Hughes, N.D., decided there were more sensible ways to improve health rather than simply masking symptoms with solutions that are often toxic to the body. The sisters began to notice a lack of holistic approaches in the market, and after extensive research, they expanded on the concept of a place where spa-goers could enjoy a multi-faceted detoxification program in a resort atmosphere.

According to co-founder of the spa, Tracy Boulware, “We are excited to introduce a new, holistic and relaxing environment for people to reenergize and cleanse their bodies and minds. With the spa located in such a beautiful and natural setting, it was important to me to be as environmentally friendly as possible during construction, and I am thrilled with the end-product.”

Initially, Deer Lake Lodge & Spa will offer one program from Thursday through Sunday; and the resort allows no more than 22 guests at a time, ensuring the highest level of care for each guest. The resort will also be available Sunday-Wednesday for private corporate events and seminars.

Deer Lake Lodge and Spa is located at 10500 Deer Lake Lodge Road, Montgomery, Texas 77316. To make advance accommodations for a weekend getaway, and for pricing options, call 713-590-3771.

For more information, visit: http://deerlakelodge.com/.

 

Le Taha’a Island Resort and Spa

FOCUS ON LOCAL INGREDIENTS: French Polynesia

424241 7233

www.letahaa.com

It takes a full day of travel to arrive in French Polynesia.  It is worth the trip.  Part of the prestigious Relais et Châteaux collection, Le Taha’a Island Resort and Spa transports you to another world.  Stay in a villa on stilts over lagoon waters, snorkel from your back patio and swim to a private motu (island).  When you want to relax, the spa is a well-being haven.

What’s Hot Now?

Vanilla, an important crop in this area, is also an important ingredient in spa treatments.  The Vanira Noa Noa starts with a flower and vanilla foot treatment and is followed by a full body and scalp massage with warm Vanilla oil.  The healing properties penetrate the skin leaving you relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to swim with the sharks (and stingrays).

 

Rodeo Uncorked

We’re Serious about our Wine

Rodeo Uncorked helps Houstonians appreciate great wine

A cart of unlabeled wine is wheeled into the room. Participants taste and sip; swirl and rate. The criteria: How does it hold up against other wines in the sampling?  Should it be top seller?  How does it taste?  Everyone offers a score. The scores are tallied and turned into the committee. Blind judging events just like this one go on for two full days during the Rodeo Uncorked International Wine Competition.

Rodeo Uncorked is a nine-year-old series of events promoting the love of wine. Besides offering wine lovers an excuse to gather, the events spotlight great wines and bring new audiences to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. And, of course, raise money for charity.

Setting up the season is no easy task. There are hundreds of volunteers and numerous committees driving Rodeo Uncorked’s success. The Winery Relations and Publicity committee gather wine entries. The wine sales committee sells event tickets, sampler cases of winning wines and tickets to educational seminars.  The events committee hosts multiple soirees throughout the year.

All of the hard work has paid off; the wine industry has taken notice. Since inception in 2004, the competition has grown to nearly1,800 wines from 583 wineries around the world. Paul Bonarrigo of Messina Hof Winery and Resort in College Station has taken home many awards.  “The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Wine Competition is important because it is a world class stage presenting our wines to a world class audience,” he says.

Events:

The Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition kicks off the rodeo with one fun-filled evening of great tasting food and award winning wine. Here, winning wineries are celebrated as they receive custom-made saddles, chaps and buckles. Standing room-only crowds enjoy signature dishes from restaurants and sip award-winning wines.

2012 Best Bites Winners

Best Bites Popular Choice Awards

1^st – Royer’s Round Top Café

2^nd – Hasta La Pasta Italian Grill

Trailblazing Appetizer/Entrée Award

1^st – Valentino Vin Bar – Slow Smoked Flank Steak with Fregola and Smoky Tomato Demiglace

2^nd – Straits Asian Bistro and Lounge – Braised Singaporean Spice Short Rib Rendang

3^rd – Beaucoup Bar & Grill – BBY Shrimp and Grits

Two-Stepping Bread/Cheese /Dessert Award

1^st – Veldhuizen Cheese – Raw Milk Artisan Cheese

2^nd – Ooh La La Dessert Boutique – Blackberry Pie Bars

Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction and Dinner is an auction to be reckoned with.  Heavy hitters enjoy an evening including cocktails, dinner, and silent and live wine auctions.  Each year, the auction raises more money than the previous.  Last year’s Grand Champion Best of Show was Alexander Valley Vineyards CYRUS, Alexander Valley, 2006.  It was sold for a record price of $210,000 to The DeMontrond Automotive Group; John Eddie and Sheridan Williams; Raye G. White; and Robert and Michelle Marsh.

Rodeo attendees can enjoy the Champion Wine Garden located in Carruth Plaza in the northwest corner of Reliant Astrodome. By the glass or by the bottle, the garden is a great place to enjoy some of the best wines from across the world.  “We feature 55+ winning wines at all price points and all varietals,” says Stephanie Baird, Rodeo Uncorked chairman.  “This year we’ll have live music every single day.” Meet friends before a concert and raise your glass in support of the wine committee.  “It takes all of these hardworking dedicated volunteers to pull this off,” she says of her thousand people strong committee.  It’s not everyday you can drink in the name of scholarships.

International Wine Competition

Nearly 1,800 wines will be competing in this year’s International Wine Competition. Each category has two winners, a grand champion and a reserve champion.  “In addition, there is a competition within the competition where a Texas wine is also named grand champion and reserve champion” says Baird.

 

The Ritz Carlton Club and Residences

Vail, CO

theresidencesvail.com

877-525-3620

The Ritz Carlton Company continues to push the envelope by appointing Tom Hays as the first and only Wellness Concierge at the worldwide company. From his home base at The Ritz Carlton Club and Residences in Vail, CO, he says, ”wellness is very high on people’s list of what’s important to them.” The seed of the Wellness Concierge concept is to anticipate needs. There are so many trends, from hot yoga, Pilates, P90X to the Tracy Anderson Method, active spa goers can have their own, favorite routine. “We cannot provide all of those things internally, so our concept is to provide solutions,” he says. “I do not teach Pilates, but I will schedule it for you.” And so it goes, Hays offers consultations on nutrition, allergies and diet restrictions. “When you come to the Ritz, you should not have to change the lifestyle you are in the course of living,” he says. At the same time, Hays and his team help guests explore new healthy options.

What’s Hot Now?

Poolside Yoga “Sun salutations should take the cue from the early morning sun,” says Hays. When the sun is low in the sky, the temperature is cooler. “We salute the sun with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.”

Body Sculpting An older crowd attends this class because the focus is not on lifting weights, but using your own body weight to provide resistance. The class is filled with push-ups, pull-ups, planks and balancing on the stability ball. This low-key class doesn’t result in high sweat; rather, it focuses on neuromuscular training, injury prevention, toning and definition as opposed to physical, functional training.

Sullivan’s re-opens Thursday

From Zaidi Syed, General Manager, Sullivan’s Steakhouse of Houston:

Less than 48 hours after a small grease fire caused minor damage to the Sullivan’s Steakhouse kitchen, located at 4608 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77027, the restaurant has re-opened for business. The fire, which occurred shortly before midnight on Valentine’s Day, caused no structural damage and resulted in no injuries. Repairs in the kitchen began immediately and the restaurant has been cleared to resume normal operations.

Dinner service will run as normal from 5:30 to 11 p.m. this evening, Thursday, February 16, 2012. Ringside, the lively lounge located inside of Sullivan’s Steakhouse will also swing into action tonight featuring the Buck Yeager Band from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Performances on Friday, February 17^th include Nobody’s Fool from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m and on Saturday, February 18^th a Mardi Gras party from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

About Sullivan’s of Houston Steakhouse:

Sullivan’s has been a local Houston mainstay for the last 10 years. Sullivan’s 1940′s styled steakhouse features the finest steaks and seafood, hand-shaken martinis, and great live music inside the Ringside jazz lounge. With 20 locations across the U.S., Sullivan’s offers comfortable fine dining in a lively atmosphere.

The bar boasts live entertainment Wednesday through Saturday and is graced with a beautiful baby grand piano, high-end cognacs, single malt scotches, and an incredible wine selection. Whether it’s for business, pleasure or both, Sullivan’s is quickly becoming Houston’s favorite local steakhouse.

Zaidi Syed serves as Sullivan’s General Manager along side Sullivan’s of Houston Executive Chef Teli Trikilis.

Sullivan’s offers lunch service Monday – Friday; 11a.m. – 2 p.m. and dinner service Monday – Saturday; 5:30 p.m. – 11p.m., and 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Sundays. Ringside is open Wednesday – Saturday; 8:30p.m – 1p.m. To make advance reservations for dinner or special events in the wine room, call (713) 961-0333.

 

The Spa at Four Seasons Provence

FOCUS ON DAILY FITNESS

Var, France

www.fourseasons.com/provence

33-04-94-39-90-00

 

The luxury, five-star resort is continuing to reinvent its wellness initiatives by offering a six-day, all-inclusive package.

What’s Hot Now?

Personalized Well-Being Program This six-day experience focuses on daily fitness regimens, slimming spa treatments and healthy cuisine. The package also enlists a nutritionist to create a balanced and complete plan for each person. Three hours of fitness instruction and one hour of guided meditation per day are included. Some of the fitness programs include Pilates, Body Sculpt, Aquafitness, Stretching, Fitball and Posture and Aquagym.

MOKARA spa

FOCUS ON BEAUTY: Houston, TX

www.omnihotels.com

713-871-8181

Spas across the country are offering their own version of B & Bs. But, at the MOKARA spa at the Omni Hotel in Houston, B&B stands for Brow Designs and Blow Outs. Typically, you would have the brow boot camp and the blow out simultaneously.  The brow boot camp is completely customized based on the state of your brows. The blow out bar styles can be customized based on your lifestyle, or whether or not you are on your way to a special event.

What’s Hot Now?

 

Brow Boot Camp According to Spa Director Laura Latronico, “The brow design experience is a definite way to enhance any woman’s face, in a fashion-forward, non-invasive atmosphere.” First, meet with a brow specialist who leads “boot camp” for unruly brows. The shape of your face and brows are analyzed and shapelier brows are designed. She pencils in your new shape, showing proper angle or arch. If applicable, a “no-tweeze zone” is identified.

NuFACE Facial Toning True magic happens via “NuFace.” Some call this handheld device a “Pilates trainer for your face.” The tiny machine delivers small electronic pulses to the forehead, eyebrows, and upper and outer eye, re-educating muscles and giving tired eyes a lift.

Blow Out Bar Treat yourself to a shampoo and blow dry. We all know our hair looks best when coifed by an expert. This is a perfect pick-me-up for active spa goers.

Worst Cooks in America

How a vanilla chicken sends its creator to prime time

Worst Cooks in America turns hopeless cooks into confident kitchen mavens. The hit primetime competition series returns for a third season with a secret weapon from the Houston area, Dorothy Strouhal. Working under the undefeated series champion, Anne Burrell, Strouhal and her teammates compete against another team of horrible cooks led by superstar Chef Bobby Flay. For eight weeks, Sunday evenings on the Food Network will make even the shakiest of chefs feel good about their kitchen prowess.

How does one earn the distinction as one of America’s worst cooks? Your husband nominates you, of course. Producers came to H-Town to interview Dorothy’s husband, Jimmy. He shared several stories including her vanilla chicken story. When they were first married, Dorothy watched a baking TV show where she heard vanilla tastes good with everything. So, she proceeded to include the sweet ingredient in her chicken batter. “It wasn’t bad,” she says. “It was just confusing.” She has also given him food poisoning twice and put him in the hospital once. She now understands the relationship between temperature and amount of time out of refrigeration.

For most of their twenty-year marriage, Jimmy has done the cooking. “I cooked also,” she says. “It just wasn’t good.”

When she arrived in New York, she prepared her vanilla chicken for the judges. It was bad enough to earn her a spot on Chef Anne Burrell’s team. Burrell’s team has never been defeated. “I see why,” says Strouhal. “Wow! She is tough and doesn’t hold any punches.” Her teaching techniques are really simple, memorable and easily applicable. “She’s good,” comments Dorothy. “She ‘teaches stupid’ is what I call it.”

When Dorothy found out she had been selected for the show, she flew to New York. She had not done any preparations. “I did try to watch the show on line, but it made me too nervous,” she says. And, when she arrived onset, she found herself in a big kitchen. “I didn’t know where anything was; and I didn’t know what half the items were.” The first challenge was to make breakfast eggs, pancakes and bacon. “Who knew that you could make eggs more than scrambled?” She asks.

At press time, she could not reveal the show’s outcome. She did say the show is good for some laughs. “You will have a good time watching us scurry like rats.”

Dorothy says participating on this show was a great experience. “I learned the basic skills you need to prepare a meal,” she says. She now enjoys cooking for her family. As a change, they enjoy it too.

Worst Cooks in America airs Sunday evenings on the Food Network.

Weekend in Wimberley

Looking for a quick getaway with a nod to yesterday? Chill out in Wimberley.  By Laurette M. Veres

Chill Out

A little off the beaten path, you drive on dirt roads, over one-lane bridges and dodge armadillos, possums and deer. What a great get-away.

It was a little stressful finding our cabin.  After navigating winding dirt roads with numerous switchbacks and deer sightings, we found our cabin and headed to dinner.  It took me a while to wind down. Just off the main drag, Ino’z Brew and Chew’s picturesque setting is the perfect location to enjoy a hill country sunset.  The open-air deck looks down on the Blanco River.  At first glance, I think the tables are too close to each other, promoting socializing and I’m not here to chat; I’m here to get away. As the final rays of the sun peak through the Cypress trees, I realize everyone here knows each other.  Before long, this Houstonian finally starts to wind down.  The tuna-stuffed-tomato is just the right size for a light lunch or dinner.  Soon, we converse with the family at the next table.  And the table next to them.  Along the river, there is a ceremony.  Is it a wedding?  No, women have joined together to thank God for the rain.  Yes, people in Wimberley have time to say thank you for rain.

Wake Up and Shop

Get lost in San Marcos’ Premium Outlets.  Most major brands have outposts here.  We visit a few, just to make sure the prices are lower. All this shopping makes us hungry.

The line at Centerpoint Station is long and for good reason.  Half of this establishment is an Americana memorabilia store with fun brands like Brighton and Vera Bradley. The other half is a counter service casual eatery. The fresh salad is brimming with bacon, pecans, strawberries and feta cheese.  It’s the buttery bread that makes the burger so flavorful and has earned the accolade “best burger in Hays County.”

Great Grapes

In the heart of the hill country, Trattoria Lisina is an unexpected, rustic Italian oasis.  Reminiscent of an Italian Villa, this is the closest you’ll come to Tuscany in Texas.  Enjoy wine in the tasting room, or try to snag a seat in the sold out dining room.  Enjoy Veal or chicken marsala, prime rib, asparagus and gelato or tiramisu.

Moreover, enjoy the slower pace of life. Where diners aren’t anxious to get their checks and always make time for desert.

Essentials:

Ino’z Brew & Chew, 14004 Ranch Rd 12, Wimberley, 512-847-6060

Centerpoint Station, S IH 35, San Marcos, 512-392-1103

Trattoria Lisina 13308 FM 150 West
Driftwood, 512- 894-3111

 

 

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