Arts + Culture

The Right First Step

Five Things Every Parent Should Consider Before Choosing a Dance Studio Article by Jill King | Photography by Iris Castro 1. Culture Shapes Confidence: Your child’s self-image is influenced by the rooms they grow in. Choose a studio that intentionally builds leadership, resilience, and confidence alongside strong performance ability. 2. Training Should Be Progressive and Purposeful: Strong technique requires thoughtful structure and long-term vision. Ask how classes build from year to year...

Food + Beverage

FLAMING HEARTS

CHAMPAGNE SUPPER CLUB AT MELROSE RIVER CLUB Article by Jill King | Photography by Iris Castro The Melrose River Club recently set the stage for romance with an intimate Valentine’s Supper Club featuring Chef Kelyn Egbuka. Each thoughtfully crafted course was paired with a distinct Champagne selection from Perrier-Jouët, creating a sensory experience that unfolded beautifully throughout the evening. Guests dined beneath the Hill Country sky before strolling the scenic grounds and making their...

Home + Design

Building Your Nest Egg: Real Estate Wealth 101

A Path to Financial Independence With Mortgage Broker Erica Billé Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Iris Castro Blending her educator’s heart with an investor’s mindset, Erica Billé—a former high school math teacher and volleyball coach at Hays High School—is enthusiastically working to instill in clients the notion that real estate isn’t just about buying a home: it’s a path to financial independence. Erica loved teaching, but she began to wonder how she could accrue wealth beyond her...

Home + Design

The Hill Country Reset

A Season of Perspective in a Market That’s Evolving Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Iris Castro If you’ve noticed “For Sale” signs sitting steady in properties around Hays County, you’re not imagining things. After a couple of years of skyrocketing home prices and bidding wars, the local market has shifted in favor of buyers. “Technically, we’re in a neutral market, but it feels like a buyer’s market because we were spoiled during COVID,” explains Allison Pflaum, a veteran realtor...

Home Services

1626 Construction

Building with Integrity Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Iris Castro For homeowners nationwide, the stories of experiences with contractors gone awry are all too familiar. But luckily, here in the Hill Country where friendly relationships with neighbors and community abound, trust matters and word travels fast — making it easier to find the right person for the job. Based in Buda, family-owned and operated 1626 Construction has earned the trust of countless clients; in fact, about 90...

Food + Beverage

Jaclynn Renée Wine

Rooted in Texas, Poured with Heart Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Iris Castro Native Texan with an extensive education in all things wine in Sonoma, California, Jaclynn Renée van Sant-Downes is elevating the perception and reputation of Texas wine with her brand Jaclynn Renée Wines. Jackie’s boutique brand blends technical excellence, authenticity, and community. Since moving from Sonoma to Wimberley in 2021, Jackie has been steeping the Hays County community in her passion for...

Home + Design

The Art of Styling Spaces with Saint Montogren’s Florist

Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Iris Castro There’s nothing like the joy and comfort found in the beauty of flowers and plants, particularly when we adorn our homes with them…whether a single flower we pluck on a walk and place in a glass on our kitchen counter, a bouquet gifted to us as a symbol of love or celebration, or succulents and houseplants keeping us company in every room of the house. Owner of Saint Montogren’s Florist, Rew Holmgren, has always appreciated how grounding and...

Home + Design

Making a House a Home

Article by Jill King Tip 1 Books aren’t just decor filler. They add height, balance, and a sense of purpose to a tabletop. Choose titles that reflect what you care about. Subtle storytelling always wins.     Tip 2  Balance comes from contrast. Varying the height of candlesticks, art, and vessels allows the eye to move through the vignette with ease.     Tip 3 Form follows use. A small table and simple seating create space for conversation or pause, without excess.   Tip 4 ...

Entertainment

Five of My Favorite Things

Things that Make Life Beautiful Article by Jill King 1. Prosecco After traveling through Sicily and Italy, I fell in love with Prosecco. There’s something about the bubbles and sunshine that makes every moment feel celebratory. 2. Floral As a photoshoot and home stylist, I’m drawn to beautiful blooms. Favorites include white and blush Ranunculus, potted white Amaryllis at the holidays, blue thistle, and of course, Phalaenopsis orchids. Flowers bring life and texture to any space. 3. Live...

Home + Design

Heart and Home

: How Wimberley’s Rebecca Franchione Is Storming the Renovation World Article by Ashley Brown | Photography by Always & Forever Chacha, A Wimberley resident with a background that spans college football towns, charity, and now national television, Rebecca Franchione’s path into design and renovation wasn’t conventional. It began not with a vision board or a business plan, but with a deeply personal experience five years ago: renovating her childhood home so her father could safely remain there...