From holiday cocktails to Reggae music with Jessica

What's your favorite holiday ritual and why?

‘I am not a big fan of the holidays, but I will say I like to try festive holiday cocktails!’

What is the one staple that we can always find in your purse?

‘Jao lip balm. It's the best!’ 

 Favorite Movie?

 ‘Amelie’

Do you have a favorite local coffee shop? 

‘It's a toss up between Once Over on South First and Medici on West Lynn’

What music have you been listening to lately?

‘Reggae. I love summer and warmth and it makes me feel like I'm on an island...of mild mannered vegans and sunshine.’

Joann's favorite things..

What is the one staple that we can always find in your purse?

‘My iphone and Jao lip balm, that’s technically two, but they are both always in there’

What is the last movie you saw?

‘Winter’s Bone’ - Great film, but very heavy.

Favorite item of clothing lately?

‘I recently bought a pair of shoes from Stella Says Go, just down the street from Sabia. I love them and have been wearing them almost everyday!’

What TV show are you looking forward to watching this week?

‘The Big C’ on Showtime - I LOVE Laura Linney & Oliver Platt!’

Do you have a favorite local coffee shop?

‘I’m probably the only person in Austin that doesn’t drink coffee, but I like LIFT. I usually drink tea or water, but the food is great!’

Is there a restaurant or dish in Austin that never gets old to you?

‘I love UCHI and UCHIKO, I could eat at either, everyday. The crispy oysters at Jeffrey’s are amazing and when I am feeling like Mexican, El Meson has the most delicious guacamole, that, accompanied with the Horseshoe Margarita...heaven!’

What is your favorite holiday ritual?

‘My family always celebrates Thanksgiving and Christmas the weekend before the actual holiday. Both of my kids are married and have children. The holidays can be a bit stressful when you have to visit the parents, in-laws, extended family, etc..as well as trying to have your own traditions. By celebrating the weekend before, it helps us to take the stress off, relax and enjoy our time together’

Favorite Austin landmark?

‘Town Lake, right before the sun comes up. The lake is so beautiful and you can literally see the city waking up.’

Thanks to Joann for sharing with us...until next week...

Joann talks lash extensions and preventative skincare

Luckily Austinites aren’t subjected to harsh winters, but the weather does change, the heaters kick on and our skin is subjected to this. What are your tips for adapting to these changes?

‘Stay hydrated. This is a great time to do a series of peels to help repair the damage from the summer. Another option is microdermabrasion, which typically uses mineral crystals to help remove wrinkles. However, at Sabia, we use the NewApeel DiamondTome System, which does not use crystals, therefore resulting in little or no irritation.’

Tell us about some of the lash services that you offer

‘I love doing lash extensions! I have been doing them for about four (4) years now, they are so much FUN and make getting ready in the morning so much easier. A synthetic lash is individually applied to one of your natural lashes using surgical glue. I can create a natural look or we can make them look very dramatic, and who doesn’t want longer more lush looking lashes without the use of mascara?’

What is your before bed beauty ritual?

‘I have to say, I agree with Elizabeth and Emily, the Clarisonic is the best at washing away the day. Many of us don’t realize that it's important to spend a full minute washing our faces. The Clarisonic has a timer, so when it beeps, you are done! 

I use the LHA Cleanser with my Clarisonic brush, I then follow with the LHA Solution to remove dead skin and residual makeup and sunscreen and LHA Serum to loosen the bonds that hold dead skin together and finish up with A.G.E. Interrupter as moisturizer and A.G.E. eye complex, all by SkinCeuticals, Revitalash for my lashes and  Jao lip balm. While this may sound like quite a few steps, the key to aging gracefully is preventative skincare’

 *We mentioned the LHA Serum a couple of weeks ago here.

Stay tuned as we wrap up our week with Joann tomorrow! 

Finishing up with Miss Emily

Emily has been so busy this week! But, we finally got her to answer our last set of questions...

Can you tell us what is always a staple in your purse?

‘Whether Im heading out on the town or to work, I always have TRUE pressed powder in Fair 1 and Jao Lip Balm.’

What music have you been listening to lately?

‘I have been really into the male singer songwriters lately. David Gray, Amos Lee, Pete Yorn and Matt Nathanson.’

Whats the last film you saw at the cinema?

‘Eat, Pray, Love’ - however, I wasn't a big fan. I thought the character was a bit whiney for my taste’

Do you have a favorite local coffee shop?

‘Sweetish Hill! Im there every other day for breakfast and a latte, skim no foam (in case anyone is wondering), please and thanks!’

Staple item from your closet?

‘Any of my scarves! This Southern girl is NOT OK with cold weather!’

What is your favorite TV Show?

‘Gossip Girl! I love the boys and the fashion is TO DIE!’

Favorite Austin restaurant?

‘Austin has so so many great restaurants! Too difficult to choose just one, but I return to Moonshine, Perlas, Imperia and Eddie V's’

Favorite Austin Landmark?

‘Town Lake is where I take my pups!

Continuing the conversation with Elizabeth Aubrey

Now that we are moving into colder weather, do you have any suggestions for adapting our skin to the climate?

'You will need a heavier moisturizer! Our skin has different needs as the weather changes. You might also want to change up your cleanser from FOAMING to something CREAMIER and less drying. Its also ok for all you RETINA gals to get back on the junk now that our skin isnt working so hard to protect us from the harsh summer sun, but SUNSCREEN is especially important for you!'

Do you recommend any supplements for skincare?

'Yes, MSM, which stands for METHYLSULFONOMETHANE and it is an incredible ANTI-INFLAMMATORY for all connective tissue. This means, it is a great help for those who suffer from arthritis, but it is also a huge support for hair, skin and nails. You can add it in your smoothie at the Daily Juice here in Austin or take a supplement in capsule form, which we carry from The Inventive Line.'

Do you have a before bed beauty ritual?

'YES! CLARISONIC, CLARISONIC, CLARISONIC. That is how I know my skin is truly clean from all the grime of the day.'

What is the one staple that we can always find in your purse?

'JAO LIP BALM'

What music have you been listening to lately?

'Band of Horses and Broken Bells'

Do you have an item of clothing or favorite accessory that you wear over and over again?

'My LIZZIE FORTUNATO necklace from KICK PLEAT (Austin) - Heavy vintage chains woven with embroidery thread. TO DIE!!'

Is there a restaurant / dish in Austin that will never get old in the eyes of your tummy? 

'Kona Kampachi at UCHI and Tuna Tar Tar at VESPAIO (Mercury be damned!)'

Favorite Austin landmark?

'Deep Eddy Pool and Matts El Rancho'

What do you look forward to doing during the holidays?

'Well, every year, I dress up my little Pug, VIOLET, for Halloween and we head over to the pumpkin patch for a little photo shoot. This year, she was Frida Kahlo....enjoy!'