SETTING THE SCENE
Stylist Stephanie Coultress O’Neill brought racks of pretty dresses, pants, feminine blouses, shoes and jewels from her store estilo; Quenton Barnett and Kelsey James set up hair and makeup stations respectively in The Temptress Suite; Hill Country Herb Garden dropped off picnic baskets with a farm-to-table lunch; OroBianco Italian Creamery set up a gelato cart by the pool; Cynthia Aguillón Bernard, aka ATX Yoga Girl, arranged crystal bowls in the backyard of the A Little Bit Alexis bungalow for a sound bath; Meierstone Vineyards owner and winemaker Krystal Patel set up a wine tasting. Johnny Was bags were packed with goodies like gift certificates to Sage Restaurant and Slow North candles for the girls to take home. The stage was set to host a beautifully curated day away at The Menagerie in Fredericksburg for best friends Jamie Lynn Sigler, Becca Tobin, Genevieve Padalecki, Odette Annable, Kimberly Van Der Beek and Stacy Keibler – busy moms and creatives who welcomed the time to be present with ones they love. We caught a few wondrous moments on camera, and spoke to the women about the meaning of quality friendships, lessons they’d like to teach their daughters (where applicable), things they enjoy doing with their girlfriends in Austin and more.
JAMIE LYNN SIGLER
On quality female friendships It means I get to be my most authentic self and I am going to be heard, understood, and then given honest support and advice. They are the people I can be all my versions of myself with.
Favorite thing to do with girlfriends in Austin is go out on a boat.
Favorite part of the day at The Menagerie was getting to have a day with some of my best friends, getting dressed up together and celebrating our friendship, what’s better than that?
Of the girls at the shoot I’ve known Stacy the longest, 22 years! But, all of these women have multiple avenues that could have connected us. That’s how I know they are my soul sisters. I love the many versions of ourselves there are and that we can have compassion for all of them.
BECCA TOBIN
On quality female friendships Having quality female friendships means having a deep sense of security. I know that whatever happens in life, good or bad, I have a support system that will carry me through all of it.
Favorite thing to do with girlfriends is going to one of our houses in sweats and no makeup to catch up, play games and eat delicious food.
If I have a daughter one day I’m going to tell her to always remember that no matter what messages you are receiving from society, there’s ALWAYS room at the table for everyone. Competing with other women instead of uniting with them will always make life harder.
GEN PADALECKI
On quality female friendships It’s like having a partner in crime, someone who lets you be your true self. Like Mark Twain says, ‘Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.’
Favorite thing to do with girlfriends in Austin is walking Lake Austin Trail, having coffee at Better Half, a beer at Idle Hands, a bite at The Well. Although the best ones are usually hangouts on my girlfriend’s couches lounging in sweats.
What I love about being a woman is embracing all the intricacies, challenges, and beauty it entails. It’s about embodying strength, grace, femininity, grit, compassion and vulnerability.
I hope to teach my daughter to embrace who you are and where you are. Don’t apologize for being you. Be kind, but be strong. Listen, but also be heard. And run with the wolves. Own your wild. I love this quote from Women Who Run With Wolves ‘The way to maintain one's connection to the wild is to ask yourself what it is that you want. This is the sorting of the seed from the dirt. One of the most important discriminations we can make in this matter is the difference between things that beckon to us and things that call from our souls.” Do not be afraid to listen to yourself.
ODETTE ANNABLE
On quality female friendships she says I was raised by women who celebrated other women. The women in my family taught me that it is absolutely necessary to have female friendships, for they will teach you the most valuable lessons in life. I learned by example and have cultivated the most beautiful friendships that I treasure and protect and would most definitely call some soulmates.
Favorite thing to do with girlfriends in Austin would have to be spending a day on a boat on Lake Austin and making a pit stop at Ski Shores for a boozy lunch with the girls. There’s nothing better than that to me.
The day at The Menagerie, I truly enjoyed every bit of the well-curated day. I love interior design and walking into the Menagerie for the first time was a visual feast. I spent time in each room admiring how thoughtfully designed each space was. I could have spent hours and hours just gazing at the interiors alone. Add my best friends with wine, sound baths, delicious food and ice cream? Dream Day.
Something I love about being a woman is our complexity is never lost on me. I am fascinated by women and their stories and how capable we are. Of anything.
A trait I hope you can teach my daughters is resilience and the gift to not take yourself too seriously.
*Don’t forget to tune in to see Odette on Walker! Its fourth season started April 3!
KIMBERLY VAN DER BEEK
On quality female friendships Sisterhood means the world to me. Having friends that you can dance in this experience of life with, share a cup of tea and time in the garden with are a treasure. Life is such a journey and there are there during the highs and lows. I love that my children also get to benefit from a circle of women that I trust and have unique perspectives on life.
Favorite thing to do with girlfriends in Austin during the day I enjoy tea ceremony, gardening and the occasional swing through Sunlife Organics.
The woman at the shoot I’ve known the longest is Stacy Keibler. We go back to our pre-baby eras.
What I love about being a woman is being a mother.
I hope to teach my daughters to trust your instincts.
STACY KEIBLER
On quality female friendships Having girlfriends who are like sisters provides me with unconditional love, empowerment, and support for personal growth. My girlfriends enrich my life in so many ways and I don’t know where I would be without them!
When I hang out with my girlfriends some of our most cherished moments happen right at home. The best part is that our kids all get along so well. It's been fantastic seeing them grow up together – some actually met back when we lived in California, and they were thrilled to reconnect here in Austin. The kids have a blast, playing games and keeping each other entertained and we can truly relax and enjoy each other's company.
On the day at The Menagerie There’s something so special about being able to do a photo shoot like this with strong women who you admire—and who are also your best friends. We have fun no matter what we are doing, but I loved ATX Yoga Girl giving us a sound bath together, followed by the 100% grass-fed buffalo milk gelato from OroBianco!
I love being a woman because I get to experience the transformative experience of pregnancy and motherhood, which leads to personal growth, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of myself. I also appreciate the strong bonds and connections I share with other women through these shared experiences.
I hope to teach my daughters first and foremost to practice self-love. I am already trying to teach them the importance of compassion, kindness and generosity towards others. I hope to encourage self-confidence and to believe in themselves, their abilities and their worth. I also want to teach my daughters how to bounce back from setbacks, failures, and disappointments. I want to them to view challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. I hope I can help them grow into confident, compassionate, and resilient individuals who are empowered to thrive in all aspects of their lives!
