Super Bowl Blast!
Want to party with Michael Phelps, James Brolin and Common? Here’s your VIP ticket inside one of Super Bowl 51’s best bashes, the CityBook-sponsored Big Game Big Give blowout!
Feb. 6, 2017
AS WE SWAP out our warm comfy PJs for swimsuits, the thought of showing off our bodies can stir up all kinds of emotions, especially for us moms. Here are a few strategic steps to stride into the spring and summer months with confidence and feeling your best.
First, renewing your skin is a must, to wash away the winter blues. Dry winter weather — both in indoor heating and the cold outdoor air, dries out our skin and actually clogs the pores. Not to mention giving us ashy legs and arms. Escape Spa has two treatments that are ideal for making the body and face bright again.
The "Nourishing Glow Wrap" is a vichy shower treatment that will leave your skin feeling refreshed and radiant, perfect for showing off your summer glow. And your therapist is using a trifecta of some of our best products in this service. The LaTika Vitamin C scrub, Skin Authority’s Vitamin D serum and an aloe avocado oil. We use at least three of our product lines in this treatment for ultimate results.
The “Complete Fix Facial” — for a facial from which you can see the effects. Your skin will immediately appear more youthful, fuller, even toned and radiant. Powered by our best-selling, patented SGF-4 Technology this professional treatment elevates topical treatments to produce a new level of immediately visible cosmetic wrinkle and texture improvement without the need for injections of chemical hyaluronic acid formulations.
Implementing chlorophyll water as a part of your daily routine can do wonders for both hydration and overall skin health. You can buy drops online and create a refreshing morning beverage, like I do every day. This simple addition will enhance your wellbeing and glow from the inside out!
My year-round go-to for fitness is pilates, which is what helps me with the sluggish feeling of working out in the winter months. First created for ballet dancers who are rated some of the strongest athletes on the planet, this low-impact workout that focuses on core strength, toning and flexibility is an ideal way for busy moms to get toned and be able to come out of their cold weather cocoon firm and fit. High-impact workouts are great, but there's no need for intense high-impact with Reformer Pilates.
By following my few tips, and taking care of yourself both inside and out, you will be ready to step into summer with confidence and feeling your best! With the support of our trusted wellness partners that we carry at Escape, like Skin Authority, Zents, Dr. Dennis Gross, and LaTika you can enhance your self-care routine even further. Embrace the season ahead with self-compassion, determination,and a sprinkle of indulgence — you've got this, ladies!
AN ANNUAL EVENT to raise funds for some of the top Astros players’ favorite causes was a glam slam, thanks to a new venue and major league star power.
José Altuve, Kyle Tucker and Josh Hader hosted the event — attended by many of their teammates and more than 500 other guests — at Post Oak Hotel and won big for their charities. Tucker supports Hospice care organizations, while Altuve's foundation donates to several groups, including the Sunshine Kids Foundation. And Hader backs foster-care nonprofits like Covenant House and Be a Resource (B.E.A.R.). The Lance McCullers, Jr. Foundation, which raises funds and awareness for pet rescue and adoption groups, also received proceeds from the party.
This year's Team Up bash was more of an expo-style soiree, with an entrance flanked by Rolls Royce and Bentley vehicles and a towering Champagne Wall. With an open bar courtesy of Maven — which is also co-owned by Astros players — and stations serving bites from some of the best restaurants in town, the party was a hit. And who wouldn't want to pet the precious puppies who are up for adoption? Reps from local nonprofits brought their furry friends to promote the cause.
But add in a raucous live auction emceed by Johnny Holloway and touting all-star prizes, and it's no wonder that the Team Up fundraising record of $600,000 was topped! One of the most sought-after items was a private catered dinner with hosts Tucker, Altuve and Hader; the trio also donated autographed gear and custom art created by Skel and signed by the players. There was also the chance to throw the first pitch at a game, and to sit in owner Jim Crane's personal Diamond Club seats to cheer on the 'Stros.
Adonis Braithwaite and Jose Altuve
Josh and Maria Hader
Trevor and Emily Finnan
Audrey White, Kathy DeLamora and Julie Chen
Tammy and Tim Andreas
Brian Ching and Lindsey Yates
Susan and Mike Plank
Courtney McKinney and Samantha Tucker
Shooting Stars dancers
Craig Biggio
Shelli Lindley, Jenna Lindley, Adonis Braithwaite, Steve Lindley, Amber Braithwaite
Emily George, Lindsey Leigh, Natalie Jobe
Sam and Kyle Tucker
Eugene and Caroline Zhadanov
Rita Shuma, Marian Harper and Jennifer Wisler
Garrett and Jayne Johnston, Jennifer and Scott Allison
Peter and Helen Crain
Jim and Whitney Crane
Nick and Kristin Johnson, Lori Schultz, John and Lindsey Leigh Hohlt
Joe and Pamela Espada
Nancy and Mauricio Dubon
John and Terri Havens
Morgan Bourque, Jasmine Wilcoxson
Kat and Ryan Pressly
Tootsies models
Katie MaGee, Samantha Tucker, Maria Hader, Lauren Whidden
Mike Lowenberg, Daphne and Stephen Savva
Kyle Tucker, Skel and Johnny Bravo
Michelle and Chris Durham
Matthew Lindley, Jayme Hunt, Peter and Helen Crain
WHILE FALL WEATHER might still be a couple of weeks away (boooo), Houston restaurants are rolling out new patio-friendly brunch menus just in time for al fresco season! From spritz carts to toast topped with caviar, these new brunches have it all for fall.
Pancakes with Homemade Ricotta at Tavola
Every Sunday, be transported to the Italian coast with Tavola’s Brunch a Capri. This ultra-chic Post Oak hotspot has updated its patio with floral accents and the iconic colorful umbrellas that populate Capri’s coast as the backdrop for its boozy Sunday brunch — complete with a spritz cart and DJ. The food is equally as beautiful: The pancakes are topped with edible flowers, and gooey Nutella crepes are served with a mound of fresh strawberries. For an extra Italian twist, try the Buongiorno Negroni — it’s a carajillo meets a negroni and it’s delicious. Buon appetito!
Brunch Spread at Mandito's (photo by Claire McNeal)
After partying at Armandos on a Thursday, the weekend calls for a more casual brunch at its sister restaurant Mandito's. The Bellaire outpost offers brunch on Saturday and Sunday on its colorful, family-friendly patio. The menu serves up classic Tex-Mex brunch dishes like Migas, Chilaquiles, Huevos a la Mexicana and breakfast tacos. Bloody Mary’s are served with vodka or tequila. And, speaking of tequila, the menu has five unique takes on the classic margarita. The cucumber-mint version has fresh cucumber and lemon juice, housemade mint syrup and a hibiscus-salt rim — healthy enough for brunch!
The patio vibe at Best Regards
Speaking of healthy, Best Regards has collaborated with Thrive Juices — the expanding juice bar that donates healthy meals to underserved zip codes in the Houston area — to create a fresh and unique brunch menu. Offerings include the Thrive Juice Acai Bowl topped with granola and coconut flakes, and the blueberry-lemon-oat-milk pancake stack. For the decadent eater, don’t miss the Summer Toast: It’s topped with garlic Greek yogurt, cucumber, grapefruit, orange and habanero — and a heaping scoop of caviar!