Issuu

Absolute Living

CARRIE HOLLE A DREAM BORN OF ICE CREAM AND HIGH HOPES

HERE IS YOUR SUMMER HAIR GUIDE!

MAY 2019

A NEW VISION IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD

BAZBEAUX PIZZA

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CONTENTS

18 12

@absolutelivingmagazine

A Dream Born of Ice Cream and High Hopes! HERE IS YOUR SUMMER HAIR GUIDE!

A NEW VISION IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD

BAZBEAUX PIZZA

38 FOLLOW

CARRIE HOLLE

An Interview with Tom Wood Lexus GM Bart Schlosser An Iconic, Hoosier-Grown Establishment

OUTDOOR LIVING Volume 12. Issue 04. (#138

SUBSCRIPTIONS For more information go to absolutelivingmagazine.com, call 317.509.3981, or email jpena@ absolutelivingmagazine.com. To sign up for Absolute Living's monthly newsletter, go to absolutelivingmagazine. com/newsletter. COMMENTS Contact us via social media or email us at jpena@absolutelivingmagazine.com

Lexus Plus takes the pressure out of the buying process, allowing me to focus on the overall guest experience. Hearing their positive feedback makes my day! ALICIA CRUTCHER ~ Digital Concierge Team Lead for Business Development Center

FAIR AND TR ANSPARENT PRICING . ONE POINT- OF- CONTACT. LEXUS PLUS .

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her husband.

Absolute Living

Publisher / Co-Founder JUSTYNA PEÑA

Editor-in-Chief / Co-Founder EDUARDO PEÑA

Account Executive JUSTYNA PEÑA

Senior Writer MATTHEW HUME

Business Development NANCY PORTO

Contributing Writers KARI DIDIER JUSTIN GUILD

Photography KENNETH BLAND EDUARDO PEÑA

Art ROGER PEÑA

Marketing Director ISMAEL PEÑA

Circulation USPS & ABSOLUTE LIVING MAGAZINE

Comments & Feedback EDITORIAL@ABSOLUTELIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

Subscriptions SUBSCRIBE@ABSOLUTELIVINGMAGAZINE.COM Absolute Living Magazine is published monthly by Pena Group, Inc. Copyright by Pena Group, Inc. Absolute Living Magazine is a registered trademark of Pena Group, Inc.

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5.19

BEAUTY & Cosmetic

By Kari Didier, Stylist at Salon One Four

Here’s Your Summer Hair Guide! The sun is shining, the days are longer, and the weather is finally heating up. Summer is officially on its way! Are you and your hair ready for it?

Here are some new products and styles you’ll definitely want to try this summer. Surf’s Up

Everyone still wants those iconic beach wave curls, the epitome of summer. But what’s the best way to keep those curls? KEVIN.MURPHY created the perfect blend of sexy, summer, salty, surfer-spray in a bottle with HAIR.RESORT.SPRAY. This spray won’t weigh down your hair, but instead delivers a soft, natural looking hold, providing the perfect amount of texture. How to use: After you have finished curling your hair, either use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to brush out your waves. Then spray with HAIR.RESORT.SPRAY and you are good to go. Easy Summer Styles When the temperature is high, the last thing you want is sweat and frizz ruining the hair you worked so hard on. Here are some great looks

that are super easy and will keep the hair off your face.

Mohawk French Braid

Get this look by starting a French braid at your hairline and stopping when you get to the back of your crown. You can either lock in the braid with bobby pins or an elastic hair band. You could even jazz up this look by putting the remaining hair in a ponytail or bun.

Bubble Fishtail Half Updo

This is one of my favorite styles and holds up beautifully in the summer heat. Start by putting your hair half up and securing it with an elastic band. Take the hair in the ponytail and fishtail braid 9-10 stitches, secure with an elastic band, and pull the edges of the braid to make it a bit wider. Repeat this process until you braid through the

ABS O LUT E L IV IN GM AGAZ IN E .COM

remaining ponytail. Spice up your look by adding a hair accessory.

Waves and Braids

Start by curling your hair with a 1-inch or 1 1/4-inch curling iron or wand. Using a side part, start a French braid at your hairline and stop when you get to your ear. Hide the remaining braid under your hair and secure it with a few bobby pins. Voilà! New seasons are the perfect time to switch up your look. With a little practice and fabulous products, the transformation can be effortless!

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We recommend pairing your stacks in odd numbers. Whether you’re wearing three or five, make sure that you have variation of thickness and patterns. As long as you love the way your final combination looks, you’ve successfully mastered the “stack”.

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Carrie Holle

A Dream Born of Ice Cream and High Hopes

By Matthew Hume | Photography By Eduardo Peña | Artwork By Ismael Peña

s I strolled along Carmel’s Main Street one recent afternoon, I drank in the warm, vernal breeze and sense of purposeful yet easyliving that circled through the energetic, pedestrian-dotted Arts and Design District. I stopped when I reached Highgarden Real Estate - The Carrie Holle Group (110 West Main Street, Carmel), but as I entered the boutique luxury real estate agency through its wide-open doors, my impression of being one with the surrounding community remained. In my subsequent conversation with Carrie Holle, broker and owner of the agency, I discovered that this comfortable oneness I felt with my environment was not an accident. In fact, Carrie sees those front doors as a bridge between her team of

agents (#girlpower) and the vibrant Carmel downtown she loves and feels so proud to be part of. “We absolutely love it here,” Carrie says of her environment, having witnessed so much growth in the past few years. In a way, you might say Carrie’s agency is a dream born of high aspirations and ice cream. “When my boys were younger, we’d bike up and down the Monon, and stop at Bub’s for ice cream. I was stuck in a dark office at that time, and I wanted to be able to open the doors on my own little patch of Main Street and welcome life in.” And according to Carrie, opening her agency in the summer of 2015 was the best choice she’s ever made in her life. Carrie’s been a part of the Indianapolis area real estate industry since 1995, something she never could have imagined as a youngster. “The irony is that my job back in high school was reception at a real estate office—and I hated it!” she laughs. But at

ABSOLUTELIVING

Step right into high-end

style with The Carrie Holle Group. Located on Main

Street in Carmel’s Arts &

Design District, the boutique

real estate agency has been

named #1 Real Estate Team in Hamilton County, featured

as Indianapolis’ Top Producer, and named as Five Star

Agents for the past six years. Absolute Living’s Matthew

Hume sat down with Carrie Holle recently to learn the

story behind this success.

22-years-old, as a recent grad in broadcast journalism from Purdue, Carrie’s dreams of being behind the camera were muted when her only offer to the dozens of resumes she had sent out came from an easy listening radio station in northern Indiana. “I couldn’t imagine that life,” she says—and the day before she was supposed to leave, she made the decision to stay local. Working for a brief time in sales, it wasn’t long before some friends tempted her to check out the world of real estate. The rest is history. DREAM IT – THEN GO FOR IT Throughout her life, Carrie’s been a goaloriented go-getter. As a wife and mother of three teenage sons, she says the most important thing to her is hands-down being a good mother and raising “good human beings.” But beyond that, she makes it a point to achieve her dreams. “My whole life, if I’ve wanted something, I set my eye on the prize and go after it,” she says. “If I dream it, then I go for it—I don’t think or mull over things too much, I just dive in and work until I accomplish what I’m after.” Since opening the doors on The Carrie Holle Group, it’s a tight-knit and successful group of agents with a passion for selling luxury homes that Carrie’s been working to build. “It’s taken a solid three years to achieve the momentum we’re at now,” she tells me. But my, what momentum! “We’re so little and tiny, nestled amidst these franchise real estate companies,” she says. “We’re just this little boutique real estate company on Main Street, but in the past two years we’ve produced $100 million in sales.” #smallbutmighty #GIRLPOWER Curiously—and believe me, I asked—it’s not by design that all of Carrie’s agents are women. “It’s worked really well, though—we can be girls in here,” Carrie admits. “We work hard, play hard, support each other and challenge each other—it’s kind of like our own little sorority.” And through the support that the team offers each other, strong bonds of friendship have been forged. “All of us

have children at home or pursuits outside the job that are equally, if not more, important,” she says. “We understand the challenge of having our hands in many pots and we do all we can to support each other in those endeavors.” Of course, it’s not all work and no play for these “sisters.” Carrie calls her coworkers friends. “We go out socially, and in January we went to Cabo together, got a big house, and had ourselves a great time. We really like each other, and that’s part of what makes our team special.” Nevertheless, I can attest that the doors of The Carrie Holle Group are open to all, even if you happen to be a guy. Carrie greeted me warmly as I walked in that afternoon, urging me to settle into the oh-socomfy green couch that serves as a centerpiece to the gathering area at the front of the room. I felt I had taken a seat in a community living room, of sorts, one that provides Carrie’s clients a glimpse of the luxury homes awaiting their showings. It was only partway through our conversation that I realized I wasn’t sitting on just any couch—I was sitting on THE green couch of Green Couch Confessions fame. Carrie proceeded to tell me about the popular video blog that she and agent Lori Shanahan started a while back. “I had started a written blog a few years ago to share funny stories about being a Realtor,” Carrie explains, “and someone suggested we turn it into a video blog.” She says that she and Lori, who is one of her best friends, were always full of witty banter, and just sat down one day on the couch to talk. They recorded themselves and before they knew it, they had a following. “People we didn’t know would come in and say, ‘There’s the green

couch!’ We couldn’t believe other people were watching this,” Carrie smiles. (I marveled how grand it would be for HGTV to catch wind of the Confessions and pay a visit one day. Carrie liked that idea.) UNOFFICIAL AMBASSADORS Appointed recently by Carmel’s mayor to the Carmel Plan Commission, Carrie looks forward with gratitude to the role she plays in Carmel’s growth. “Honestly, this office—we almost serve as ambassadors to new people moving to the city because of where we’re located,” she says. “This door is open as soon as the weather breaks, and we end up talking to hundreds of people throughout the year, visiting and thinking about moving here. We all love this town, and it shows when we talk to people. I can’t wait to get my hands involved in helping Carmel to grow and thrive.”

“If I dream

it, then

I just

dive in and

Towards the end of our time together in the comfort of that “community living room,” I ask Carrie a potentially uncomfortable question. Does she really like the work she does in real estate, after all these years? “I actually do love it,” she says, adding, “in a weird, demented way. It’s a part of my life, like eating and sleeping.” What she really loves, though, is that she has developed something special here on this stretch of Main Street that contributes to the community. “I love that I’ve created this business and have this awesome group of women working together. It’s not always like this in the real estate world!” But step right in through those double doors, take a seat on the agency’s prized green couch, and you may soon be swept into a dream of your very own.

work until

accomplish what

I’m after.”

ABSOLUTELIVING

A New Vision in the Automotive World:

An Interview with Tom Wood Lexus GM Bart Schlosser

By Matthew Hume | Photography By Kenneth Bland | Artwork By Eduardo Peña

ou may think it somewhat strange to be reading about a car dealership in our issue celebrating women-owned businesses. But then again, Tom Wood Lexus is not your average car dealership, nor is it managed by your grandfather’s—or grandmother’s—GM. Indeed, a look at their “About Us” page on the company’s website reveals something remarkable in the car world. Out of the six members of Tom Wood Lexus’s management team, two are women.

the strong involvement of women in day-to-day operations that he sees in his current position. And that’s something he’s rightfully proud of. Bart considers himself, and in fact, the whole dealership, to be very fortunate to have such talented and strong female leadership at all levels of the company’s structure. “You tend not to see many women in employee positions in car dealerships,” Bart says, “but we’re incredibly lucky to have had women through the years that have done an exemplary job and we’ve rewarded that with increasing responsibility.”

As General Manager at Tom Wood Lexus since 2012, and having worked corporately for Toyota and Nissan in years past, Bart Schlosser says that in his nearly 30 years of work in the car industry, nowhere has he seen

From where Bart stands, it’s imperative to promote and give more responsibility to those employees—regardless of gender—who are performing at the highest levels. “It’s not so much about whether we promote a man

ABS O LUT E L IV IN GM AGAZ IN E .COM

or a woman in a particular role,” he says. “It’s about finding the right employee to fit the culture of our dealership, and women have been major supporters of the culture we’re trying to develop.” Bart was excited to share that Alexis Walters, featured in last month’s issue of Absolute Living, had already been promoted—from Pick Up and Delivery Coordinator to Assistant Service Manager. “We’re getting her trained up, and with her skill set, she could be a candidate for service manager in the next 18 to 24 months,” Bart predicts. He points to Brooke Bell as another woman on the team who has shot up the ladder with her strong work ethic and leadership skills. Beginning her career scheduling service appointments, Brooke was a service advisor for several years before being tapped as the project manager to oversee the business’s implementation of Lexus Plus. (Tom Wood Lexus is one of only 11 Lexus Plus dealers in the country.) “Lexus Plus was a huge endeavor, a change in our business model,” Bart says, “and Brooke was our point person throughout that process.” Today, Brooke is the dealership’s Digital Operations Manager.

"We’re working on creating an internal mission statement that goes after our own north star,” Bart says. “We’re a little bit different,

Lexis corporation nurtures a company culture that values the contributions and growth potential of each if its employees, and that’s something that Bart Schlosser has certainly done right with Tom Wood Lexus. Still, Bart tells me there’s more to his store than the corporate mission statement would lead one to believe. “We’re working on creating an internal mission statement that goes after our own north star,” he says. “We’re a little bit different, and I want the people within our four walls to know that.”

and I want the people within our four walls to know that."

Rest assured, with the talented women and men leading the customer experience, and with Bart Schlosser at the helm, Tom Wood Lexus will always strive to take care of its clients, build strong rapport, and keep the Lexus Plus experience a positive one, through and through.

ABS O LUT E L IV IN GM AGAZ IN E .COM

BAZBEAUX

PIZZA

An Iconic, Hoosier-Grown Establishment Matthew Hume | Photography By Eduardo Peña | Artwork By Ismael Peña

For more than 30 years, Bazbeaux Pizza (111 W. Main Street, Carmel; other locations in Broad Ripple and Downtown Indy) has been satisfying hungry patrons throughout the greater Indianapolis area with its creative takes on scrumptious pizza, sandwiches, salads, good wine and local beers, and an always reliable soundtrack of classic 70s rock. (During my recent visit, my ears picked out Boston, The Kinks, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, to name a few.) I, too, have passed many an hour with friends and family at the various Bazbeaux locations, but since I’m usually hungry for my Quattro Formaggio or Tchoupitoulas when I walk through the doors, I’d never taken stock of just how expansive the Carmel location is. While the official policy is “no reservations” (though owner Jeff Berman and Carmel store manager Phil Fitzsimons assured me they work to accommodate groups whenever possible), generous seating includes a small room up by the bar that faces Main Street, a main dining area looking out onto the Monon Trail, another seating area in the back, and a semi-sheltered patio on the Monon that provides outdoor seating to over 100 guests, so if you’re hungry for a pizza, come on in. They’ll probably find you a spot.

Basilica. Chilope. Neptune. Tchoupitoulas. The Luke. And that’s just a few of the curious names you’ll

find for Bazbeaux pizzas. “Some of these names were inspired by my time in New Orleans,” Jeff explains. “Others come from a trip to Italy I took many years back.” The Luke is a fairly new addition. “It’s a play on Lucas Oil Stadium—a buffalo chicken wing type of pizza, with bleu cheese and celery.” I asked Jeff and Phil to share their favorites..

Phil – More of a pizza

purist. Prefers sausage and pepperoni. Happy

to pass on the veggies.

Jeff – Says it’s hard

to name his favorite.

A big fan of veggies, especially eggplant. If pressed, he’d

have to go with the Mediterranean.

As I sat down over beers with Jeff and Phil recently out on the patio, facing both the Monon and the new developments of the Arts & Design District, I jumped right in and asked them what the secret was to making the perfect Bazbeaux pizza. While there’s a lot to it, Phil says the biggest factor affecting quality is the cook. “If the pizza’s not cooked right, it just won’t work well,” he says. “The cook knows the oven’s hot spots, where to move the pizza for optimum heat, how to avoid the colder parts of the oven…” Jeff and Phil both agree that the dough matters immensely, too. Bazbeaux makes theirs fresh daily, and it’s more complicated than one might imagine. “You have to adjust your hydration depending on the time of year,”

Phil tells me. “If the weather is more humid, you use less water… drier weather requires more water in the dough. It’s vital for the dough to have just the right consistency.” Another interesting tidbit—this is quickly becoming a crash course in the science of pizza dough—is that the chemical content of the water used in making the dough, especially chlorine levels, can affect the quality. To help ensure consistency, Bazbeaux always filters the water they use for their dough. “We use a high-quality carbon filter for the water we bake with,” Jeff says. GOOD PIZZA, GOOD PRICE If you and your krewe are feeling that Bazbeaux pull, you’re never too far away to satisfy that urge. The deal gets even

ABSOLUTELIVING

sweeter, though, if you time it right to take advantage of the array of specials the store runs throughout the week. On weekdays, from 11am to 1pm, all three locations offer a lunch special—a slice, salad and soft drink with unlimited refills for under $7. As for washing that slice down with something stronger, Carmel has offered half-price bottles of wine on Wednesdays for the past few years, and as of the afternoon I spoke with the fine gentlemen at Carmel’s helm, that location will offer $3 pints on Mondays and $2 domestics on Tuesdays. (Really, they made this decision right in front of me. Maybe I should visit all my favorite establishments and start talking specials.) Jeff was quick to point out, too, that even when

the wine isn’t on special, a glass of the house chianti (Ruffino) sets you back just $5, and a half liter is just $9. For goodness’ sake, if you don’t come for the pizza, come for the wine! (All locations also offer a selection of bottled domestic and imported beers, and a mouthwatering list of craft beers from local and far-flung breweries at quite reasonable prices.) IT YOU BAKE IT, THEY WILL COME? Of course, building a loyal following requires more than good pizza. What else about Bazbeaux keeps people coming back for more? Phil offered some thoughts. “We tend to be laid back about things,” he starts. “We’re not drowning our patrons in signage or loud music, so people can concentrate more on their experience with friends.” Jeff went on to add, “It’s a feel-like-home kind of environment, and we offer a classy night out without breaking

the bank. Plus, when prices go up on our ingredients, we don’t cut back on the quality of what you’re getting. We keep the quality and the portions the same.” Bazbeaux Pizza is also doing something right when employees stick around for 25+ years in some cases—almost since the beginning. “All three of the people we have in the kitchen here have been here since we opened in Carmel in 2006,” Phil says. A Marine Corps vet with a liberal arts degree, Phil began his tenure as a delivery driver at the original Bazbeaux location in Broad Ripple. “He was very energetic and way overqualified,” Jeff remembers, “but he liked the business and wanted more responsibility.” He quickly became a manager, and when Carmel opened in 2006, Phil oversaw the process and stepped in as manager for the Carmel location.

ABSOLUTELIVING

About the team, Phil says, “Everyone gets along, and we respect each other.” In some cases, the team at Bazbeaux has gotten along really well—yes, the Bazbeaux environment has even led to wedded bliss. A PIZZA THAT KNOWS ITS PLACE If I had to point to one aspect of Bazbeaux Pizza that keeps me, personally, coming back, it would have to be how down-toearth the restaurant and its team remains, even with their huge following and decades-long hold on the Indianapolis pizza scene. Spending an hour in conversation with Jeff and Phil out on the patio that spring afternoon, no one was in a rush. There was a sense that this was the good life. And for anyone who has been to Bazbeaux in the past, and to those who will stop by in the years to come, the good life of this groovy pizza joint will always hit the spot.

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HOME&STYLE

OUTDOOR LIVING

If you’re about to begin the process of landscaping or redesigning your backyard, you might find yourself challenged when considering the best ideas for your spring or summer update.

ere we’re illustrating inspiring backyard designs to help navigate you in the right direction, but the most important thing to consider before making any move is the manner in which you will use your backyard. Do you see it as a place to entertain friends? Or do you want to use it as a dedicated gardening hub? Maybe you just want a place where you can relax outdoors to enjoy the beautiful weather—or maybe you need a combination of any and all of the above! To help you in your backyard design efforts, local landscaping company Country Gardens Landscaping, trusted creators of elegant outdoor living, shares some of their best backyard work for 2019 and beyond. These trending accouterment to your family’s lifestyle will transform your backyard into a fun, relaxing, and inviting space where the good times can roll all season long.

FIRE PITS

Our designers were unanimous in suggesting fire pits as one of their favorite backyard trends of late and expect them to become even more popular throughout 2019. Fire pits can adapt to any space, so whether you have a small or spacious backyard, you can easily install this outdoor feature in your yard. Fire pits also lend a warm and cozy feel to your outdoor space. For smaller backyards, consider a tabletop fire pit, featuring smart space-saving design.

WATER FEATURES

Adding water features to your backyard is one of those backyard ideas that everyone will be sure to enjoy for years to come. A gorgeous fountain can help create a Zen-like look to your backyard—plus, the soothing sound of water can make staying in your backyard even more relaxing. Aside from a water fountain, another great idea is to build a small pond to create a visual contrast alongside your plants. Birdbaths provide a great focal point that at the same time offers a welcome space to visiting birds.

ABS O LUT E L IV IN GM AGAZ IN E .COM

OUTDOOR BAR

Backyard bars are among the most popular trends for backyard designs, and for good reason. Homeowners recognize them as a practical propertyvalue enhancing investment that allows for endless opportunities in outdoor entertainment. If youâ€™re lucky enough to have ample space outdoors, this is one of the most beneficial backyard design ideas to consider for your home. And with so many different bar designs to consider, there are tons of design directions to help you evoke a custom feel. You can have a custom-made L-shaped bar complete with bar stools and wine cabinet, or you might opt for something more modern, outfitted with innovative appliances. Extra counter space and additional seating will make entertaining friends all the more comfortable.

OUTDOOR KITCHEN

If you love cooking for friends and family, our designers suggest installing a second kitchen in your backyard. A traditional outdoor kitchen that comes with a stainless steel grill works best for backyard entertaining. Or imagine yourself serving up brick-oven fired pizza prepared right in your own yard. Full-service outdoor kitchens are also one of the most popular backyard ideas of late, especially during summer when warm weather starts to set in. With an outdoor kitchen, entertaining friends will feel effortless since you can prepare and cook the food right in front of them instead of having to leave them outside.

A GAZEBO

When it comes to brainstorming backyard ideas, people naturally opt for something that enhances the beauty of their backyard space. If you want to beautify your outdoor environment, consider installing a stunning gazebo. Such a choice adds charm and character to your yard while enhancing the overall look of your outdoor property.

PATIO WITH PERGOLA

If you want to frolic under the sun but insist on a little bit of shade, installing a patio with a pergola can make for a great backyard design. Nowadays, some pergola kits come with precut lumber, which is ideal for DIY installation. However, if you want a more sophisticated design for your pergola, our designers suggest hiring a professional who can custom build a patio with a pergola for your backyard. Of course, make sure you include outdoor furniture to go with your patio, too. countrygardenslandscaping.com

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HOUSEWORKS IS A PROUD CONTRIBUTOR O F T H E D E C O R ATO R S ’ S H O W H O U S E A N D G A R D E N S

HW HW t h i r t y + ye t ha i rrtsy + ye a r s A HOUSE TOO GOOD TO SHARE ALL AT ONCE.

HOUSEWORKS HOUSEWORKS

But don’t take our word for it. Come see for yourself at the 58th Annul St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild Decorators’ Show House and Gardens featuring the Centennial Estate in Indianapolis. HOUSEWORKS created a multi-use modern family room, drawing inspiration from the Dutch master, Piet Modrian, who is known for his crisp white backgrounds and bold black lines with pops of brilliant colors. You’ll love the modern twist from HOUSEWORKS using turquoise, chartreuse and orange.

This event for a good cause goes from April 27 to May 12. Visit showhouseindy.org for tickets.

t h e w a y y o u l i v et h. e w a y y o u l i v e . NEW ADDRESS 4905 E. 82nd Street Indianapolis, IN 46250 317.578.7000 Mon. to Fri.10 - 7 Sat. 10-6 Sun. 12-5

houseworks.biz