When Peggy Garner launched Cypress Lifestyle in August 2018, she was starting fresh after more than two decades in a corporate job. One hundred issues later, she reflects on that first leap, the stories that have stayed with her and the neighbors who helped make the magazine part of the Cypress community.
CL: Before the first issue ever hit mailboxes, what led you to launch Cypress Lifestyle? What was happening in your life, and what made you believe Cypress needed a magazine like this?
Peggy: After 21 years with a corporate job, I was laid off and was subsequently approached by City Lifestyle to launch a community publication. Cy-Fair Magazine had recently closed, and given its former popularity, I knew there was a strong market for a local lifestyle publication in our community.
CL: What do you remember most about putting together that very first issue? Did you ever imagine we’d be celebrating 100 issues?
Peggy: Well Hurricane Harvey hit right after I bought the franchise, so it took me a while to launch, but by June of 2018 I knew my first issue would be August. It was a mad dash to get both August and September together because of the way our deadlines work. I was very confident that Cypress Lifestyle would be well received and I was right! So, I’m not surprised we are celebrating 100 issues but I sure am proud of the accomplishment!
CL: How has Cypress Lifestyle changed since those early days, and in what ways has the heart of the magazine stayed the same?
Peggy: Apart from the branding, which has changed quite a bit, the heart of the magazine has stayed the same. And my “why” has never wavered. Cypress Lifestyle is created for our community and is meant to bring us together by sharing happy and inspiring stories, celebrating our neighbors’ wins, supporting local businesses, and helping community members when they are in need. It’s what makes Cypress and the greater Cy-Fair community such a wonderful place to live and work.
CL: Looking back over 100 issues, what are you most proud of?
Peggy: A few things stand out. First and foremost, simply launching the magazine! When I started, the only people I knew in Cypress were connected through my kids—teachers, parents, and friends. The Cy-Fair Chamber was huge in helping me network and connect with local business owners, and everyone was so welcoming and eager to support me. It was truly an eye-opening experience.
Making it through COVID was another major milestone. So many publications closed, but I was determined to keep printing. With everyone stuck at home facing endless bad news, I hoped Cypress Lifestyle could bring a bit of positivity into their lives.
I remember talking to a woman who moved here in early 2020 from out of state.. She told me that reading the magazine was how she truly got to know her new community. Hearing that really stuck with me and reinforced my purpose.
CL: Is there a particular story, cover, interview or issue that stands out as especially memorable to you?
Peggy: I love history and our community is rich with it. In the November 2022 issue, we did an article on the history of the Cy-Fair Fire Department. Two former firefighters were working on a project to document the history starting with the first fire department in the 1940’s. It’s amazing stuff really!
Another memorable issue is the March 2019 Home issue. We did a story on the origin of what is now Cypress. It shares how around the time the railroad reached Cypress from Houston, the then secretary of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, William R. Baker, bought the tract of land that became Cypress Top. Many of us drive by the old buildings on Hempstead between Spring Cypress and Fry Road and don’t know there is such a rich history behind them. You can visit the yellow caboose, which houses the Cypress Historical Society and a small museum to learn how Cypress Top played a part in the Battle of San Jacinto, among other things.
I really have so many other stories that stand out. I love all the Women of Influence and Men of Distinction articles that showcase some amazing men and women making a difference in our community. I totally fangirled on our September 2025 issue featuring the Cordrays from Restoring Galveston. I even stay in touch with Bitsy, Michael Cordray’s mom! And of course the stories about our local non-profits that make such a difference in our neighbors' lives. We truly have an amazing community of givers!
CL: Over the years, you’ve met countless local residents, business owners and community leaders. Are there any encounters or relationships that have had a lasting impact on you personally? What do they mean to you?
Peggy: When I bought the magazine franchise, I really didn’t know many people in Cypress beyond the families and teachers I knew through my kids. The magazine gave me a reason to introduce myself, hear people’s stories and build relationships I might never have made otherwise. I’ve met business owners who took a chance on an idea and neighbors who quietly show up for others. Those connections have made Cypress feel like home to me.
It still makes me laugh that I feel like I know so many people here, yet I rarely run into them when I’m out and about! Cypress keeps growing, and I’m always glad to meet someone new and learn what brought them here.
CL: What has surprised you most about Cypress—and about owning a community magazine—over the past 100 issues?
Peggy: The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Cypress! I’ve met so many new business owners who wanted to break free of corporate America. It used to be that you'd work for a company helping to build it as an employee and that company would take care of you because of your hard work. Today you can no longer count on that loyalty. I know that firsthand, which is how I ended up launching Cypress Lifestyle.
What they don’t tell you about owning your own business is that there is so much you don’t know that you don’t know! There has been a lot of trial and error along the way. I wear many hats - bookkeeper, accountant, tax preparer, human resources, marketing and sales, copywriter, etc. I am a firm believer in being able to perform every job in your business. Too many times I have colleagues call me in a panic when their editor is out unexpectedly, and they don’t know how to submit articles.
CL: If you could go back to the beginning and give yourself one piece of advice before publishing that first issue, what would you tell yourself?
Peggy: Don’t get discouraged when a prospective partner says no. Almost every time, it’s not a “no,” but a “not right now.” It’s always worth making the connection, getting to know their business and staying in touch. Some of the relationships I value most took time to grow.
Our advertising partners make it possible to print and mail the magazine every month. When readers choose those businesses for the products and services they need, they support the people who help us share Cypress stories. That’s where I put on my sales hat, but after 100 issues, I’ve learned that the best partnerships begin with getting to know each other.
I especially want to thank Roy Campbell of Telge Roofing and Linda Goff of Great Escapes Custom Pools. They believed in Cypress Lifestyle from the beginning and are still our partners today. Their support through 100 issues means so much to me, and I’m grateful for the relationships we’ve built along the way.
What does this 100 Issue milestone mean to you—and what do you hope the next chapter of Cypress Lifestyle looks like?
Peggy: It makes me proud—and a little amazed but excited that we’ve made it to 100! I still remember how much work went into getting those first issues out. Since then, we’ve made it through some difficult years, met wonderful people and shared stories that might otherwise have gone untold. I’m grateful to our team, our advertising partners and the readers who have supported us along the way.
As Cypress keeps growing, there will always be new neighbors to meet and new stories to tell. I hope the next chapter brings more of those connections while staying true to why I started the magazine: celebrating this community and bringing people together.
Cypress Lifestyle is created for our community and is meant to bring us together.
I’ve learned that the best partnerships begin with getting to know each other.