Dripping Springs’ premier fine jeweler offering hand-selected diamonds, custom creations, and heirloom worthy pieces. We bring luxury, artistry, and heartfelt service to our community and beyond. DIAMONDS | GEMSTONES | BRIDAL | PEARLS | DESIGNER JEWELRY | CUSTOM DESIGNS
www.drippingdiamonds.com
@drippingdiamondstx
Text: 214-813-4250 | Call: 512-829-4186
realCFO was founded in January 2023 by Rob Jacob, a Dripping Springs local with two decades of experience in finance and FP&A.
Run your Business off the Numbers, not the Bank Balance
The owners who run the best businesses do something different. They build a model — a few pages that hold five numbers — and they feed it through systems and processes that run the same way every week. RealCFO calls this a healthy feedback loop, and it's the method:
How to Find Your Five Numbers —
1. How busy is your sales hopper?
2. How much do you keep from every sale?
3. What does it cost just to be open?
4. Who owes you, and who do you owe?
High-end video production and content strategy tailored for your business.
Cinematic video production and strategic content that helps brands stand out, build trust, and drive results. From commercial campaigns to social content, we turn your vision into visuals that captivate customers and elevate your brand.
bold, & redefining
unapologetic the home building process.
DanyaleKeim Design brings fearlessness and practicality to luxury home interior design.
From redlining floor plans to collaborating seamlessly with builders, architects, and trusted vendors, DKD guides every decision— from roofing materials to cabinet finishes. With 16 years of hands-on experience, we cut through the chaos so you can focus on loving the result.
A rare offering of 86 homesites in a gated community, thoughtfully crafted on the banks of Barton Creek and among the treasured landscape of the Texas Hill Country.
NOW SELLING
Led by Lara Dudek, MD, Board Certified Ophthalmologist, we’re proud to welcome Dr. Marilyn Kelinske, MD and Dr. Christina Payne, OD to our team.
From Dripping Springs to the Greater Austin area, we’re expanding access to advanced eye care, while staying grounded in the personal approach our patients trust.
texasgadgetcompany.com
Hill Country Crafted
Highest quality craft beer, handcrafted deep in the heart of Texas. Our tasting room is open daily and also offers local wine and a food truck. Now offering Turcotte Deli & Butcher food truck.
Everything you ever wanted to know about parapets. Starting with, “what’s a parapet?”
ĒSO is an Austin-based, woman-led architecture design studio that believes that great design starts with clarity, collaboration and trust. We take the time to explain the why behind every decision, balancing ambition with reality to translate technical details into plain language and practical choices. Because even the loftiest of dream projects needs to be rooted in reality. Our open, transparent process gives you the space to find your space. How many stories is your story? Let’s find out.
AN ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN STUDIO WHERE THEORY MEETS PRACTICE & COLLABORATION IS AT OUR CORE
Stop into the office to experience Colorescience® Total Protection™ Face Shield Flex SPF 50.
Even out your skin tone and shield against the sun
SHIVANI, RN
SARAH SAXON, MD
Tumbling, ninja, events and full day summer camps available
Rise, fight and win with the only Division 1 All Star Competitive Cheer program in Dripping Springs! Teams available for all ages. Summer skills clinics also available.
B u i l t w i t h P u r p o s e f u l D e s i g n www
F O U N D A T I O N S
O F H O M E
t h o u g h t f u l l y d e s i g n e d f r o m d a y o n e
G o A n y w h e r e . E n j o y E v e r y t h i n g .
Digestive care designed to keep up with your life—at home and beyond.
Don’t let digestive discomfort or unanswered questions get in the way of new destinations, great meals, and time well spent this summer.
With an office in Dripping Springs since 2018, Austin Gastroenterology brings a more refined approach to GI and liver care combining advanced technology with highly personalized treatment. From preventive screenings to specialized procedures, our board-certified physicians deliver expert care with clarity, discretion, and confidence, so you can feel your best wherever life takes you.
What Comes Next
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that exploration doesn’t always look the way we imagine it.
To me, explore means venturing into the unknown. Sometimes that’s literal, like taking the scenic route, planning a trip, trying a new restaurant, or finally checking off that adventure on your bucket list. But more often, exploration sneaks into our lives in quieter ways. It shows up in the decisions we make for our families, careers, homes, and even ourselves.
Right now, I feel like I’m living in a season of exploration.
My oldest will soon head off into his next chapter of life, and while I’m incredibly excited for him, I’m not sure how to navigate an empty room in our house. I never thought I’d miss the loud banter over an Xbox battle or the sound of the microwave heating up a second dinner at 11:30 p.m., but I already know I will.
Everyone says these transitions happen in the blink of an eye, and they’re right. One day the house is full of noise; the next, you notice the silence has a shape of its own.
Life has a funny way of shifting when you least expect it. Sometimes we choose change, and other times it quietly chooses us. Either way, there’s something exciting about figuring out what comes next.
Within these pages, exploration looks like pursuing a new business idea, finding a home that better fits your season of life, prioritizing your health, refreshing your wardrobe, reconnecting with nature, or simply making more room for joy.
Whatever it looks like, I hope this issue inspires you to lean into something new—big or small. While the path ahead may feel unfamiliar, it’s often the journey through the unknown that shapes us most.
Ty Coleman, Marissa Fisk, Carolann Magnani, Sarah Taunton Marino, M.D., Larry McGinnis, Kimberly Olson, Ph.D., Jenny Ozee, Kristi Sellers, Christina Thompson, Micah Wiener
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Isabella Aldrete, Stacy Berg, Kimber Brown, Marissa Fisk, John Lair, Jack Marshall, Matter Films, Claire Mulkey, Kate Svedersky
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Meredith Wilson
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
Proverbs 3:5-6
WHERE SUMMERS COME ALIVE
Wondrous Westcave
A
Debate
Transforming Spaces, Elevating Experiences
Hours: Monday - Wednesday 8-5, Thursday 8-3, Friday Appointment Only
city scene
1: Ivory House Salon and Palm Social celebrated its grand opening with shopping, music, and community 2: Former DSHS Tiger Ava Williamson won the NCAA beach volleyball national championship 3: Congratulations to Izzy Crew on qualifying for the UIL State track and field meet 4: William Chris Vineyards welcomed Mexican winery delegates for a day of wine, hospitality, and connection 5: RED Arena hosted its annual Round-Up, a fundraiser supporting rider scholarships, programs and horse care 6: Aubrey Bragg, a Level 10 gymnast, won state titles in Floor Exercise and All-Around 7: The Dripping Springs High School baseball team celebrates winning the regional championship
business monthly
The Cunningham Sisters Release “God’s House”
The Cunningham Sisters recently released their new song, “God’s House,” which aired on American Country Network. The feature highlighted the rising country music duo and their latest release. TheCunninghamSistersMusic.com
Twisted X Brewing Company Celebrates 15 Years
Twisted X Brewing Company brought the community together for its 15th anniversary, celebrating with a full day of live music, food, raffle prizes, and the release of its limited-edition Fuego jalapeño pilsner. TwistedXBrewing.com
Dripping Springs Community Library Debuts New Bookmobile
Dripping Springs Community Library unveiled a custom Ford F-350 bookmobile designed to bring the library directly into the community. The mobile unit features shelving, televisions, speakers, and interactive elements built to create an engaging experience wherever it travels. DSCL.org
Photography by @thecunninghamsistersmusic
Photography by Claire Mulkey
Photography by @dscommunitylibrary
Advantage Guides Buyers Through Rates, Options, and the Road to Home
The Homebuying Adventure
ARTICLE BY KRISTI SELLERS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISABELLA ALDRETE
Buying a home can feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory. Interest rates fluctuate, neighborhoods evolve, and the process itself can often seem overwhelming for first-time buyers and longtime homeowners alike.
For Justin Hrabovsky, founder of Rate Advantage, helping clients navigate that journey is about more than numbers. It’s about helping people confidently explore the next chapter of their lives.
“My vision is to create a brand that is known for the most competitively priced mortgage loans any given day for any given loan program, without sacrificing customer service, access, and knowledge,” says Hrabovsky.
At its core, Rate Advantage was built upon the idea that mortgage lending should feel approachable, transparent, and highly personal. While many people associate the home loan process with stress and uncertainty, Hrabovsky has worked to create a business that focuses on communication, education, and putting relationships first.
Rate Advantage is partnered with a brokerage platform connected to the largest lender network in the country, with access to more than 300 lenders in the wholesale lending market to secure the best terms available in the marketplace. “This provides great competition amongst this lender network,” says Hrabovsky. “We really are more like fiduciary mortgage advisors in this network. When you work with Rate Advantage, you will know you are getting some of the best mortgage terms available, all within one single broker.”
Rate Advantage offers a variety of mortgage solutions, including conventional loans, refinancing, investment property loans, and options for first-time buyers. Beyond the services themselves, Hrabovsky’s philosophy centers on
“My vision is to create a brand that is known for the most competitively priced
mortgage
loans without sacrificing customer service, access, and knowledge.” - Justin Hrabovsky
helping clients feel informed throughout the process. Instead of overwhelming borrowers with industry jargon, he prioritizes education and accessibility.
An emphasis on guidance feels especially important in the Austin area, where growth continues to reshape the housing market. New residents arrive every day, neighborhoods continue evolving, and buyers are often trying to balance lifestyle dreams with financial realities. For Hrabovsky, part of the excitement lies in helping people explore opportunities they may not have initially considered.
According to Hrabovsky, Rate Advantage offers true wholesale rates—raw margin rates with zero revenue or margin built into the pricing—directly to the customer. They are compensated by the origination fee on the estimate provided to customers. With this pricing model, their rates typically carry lower built-in margins than those offered by many traditional lenders.
“This equates to about 0.5 to 0.87 percent lower on the actual rates, any given day, than the majority of lenders. This is a substantial difference in creating affordability in the rate market,” says Hrabovsky. “This is putting the client first.”
In an industry that can sometimes feel transactional, Hrabovsky has focused on building lasting relationships.That community-oriented approach has helped Rate Advantage grow through referrals and repeat clients who appreciate having a trusted resource in their corner.
Outside of the financial side of lending, Hrabovsky also recognizes the emotional component that comes with major life
transitions. A home purchase may coincide with a marriage, a growing family, a career move, or a fresh start. Understanding those moments allows him to connect with clients in a more meaningful way and create an experience that feels supportive from beginning to end.
“The legacy I hope to build through Rate Advantage professionally is to be known as the go-to lender in the community for the best loan terms and mortgage education available in the marketplace—a legacy where anyone thinking of buying a home, refinancing an existing loan, or tapping into home equity says, ‘You must give Justin at Rate Advantage a call. He and his team are the best. You will not be disappointed,” says Hrabovsky.
The word “explore” often brings to mind travel, adventure, and discovering something new. In many ways, homeownership carries that same spirit. Exploring a new neighborhood can mean discovering local coffee shops, parks, schools, trails, and businesses that eventually become part of everyday life. Hrabovsky believes the lending process should support that excitement instead of overshadowing it.
For those looking toward their next move, whether that means purchasing a dream home, refinancing, or investing in the future, Hrabovsky and Rate Advantage offer something increasingly valuable in today’s fast-paced world: clarity, trust, and a sense of partnership throughout the journey.
A H ILL COUNTRY TREASURE MARKS 50 YEARS OF CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND STEWARDSHIP
ARTICLE BY CAROLANN MAGNANI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACK MARSHALL
WESTCAVE WONDROUS
“Is this where the fairies live?” David Cook, who’s guiding our photography tour, says children often ask this question upon arriving at the stunning grotto at Westcave Preserve. And honestly, it’s hard to blame them.
As sunlight slips through the canopy of massive, ancient trees and glimmers across the grotto’s water, this hidden canyon—just 12 miles from Dripping Springs—takes on a magical quality.
Moss and ferns cling to the limestone walls embedded with fossilized oyster shells, and nearby, a 40-foot waterfall spills over a rocky edge into an emerald pool. The grotto is completed by the small cave for which it is named.
Taking in this enchanted scene, it’s quite clear why John Covert Watson, who bought the preserve’s original 25 acres in 1974, decided it needed protecting. At that time, the canyon was completely overgrown, with hundreds of trespassers and piles of trash destroying its natural beauty and polluting its ecosystem.
Enter John Ahrns, who became the first preserve manager at Westcave in 1976. After being recommended to Watson by a mutual friend, Ahrns relocated from Dallas to Westcave with his wife, Brenda, and their young children, Amber and Jeff, to begin the daunting work of cleaning up and restoring the land.
“It was getting loved to death,” says Amber Ahrns Gosselin, a Dripping Springs High School alumna who’s carrying on her father’s legacy as the preserve’s current director. Westcave has been part of her life since she arrived with her family at 2 years old.
Among her father’s many tasks vital to cleaning and opening up the preserve was installing approximately 120 steps that are still used today by visitors making the milelong descent to the grotto. “He’d put me on a baby blanket and move me down as he built each step,” Gosselin says.
“It was an idyllic place to grow up for me and my brother,” she adds. “We ran all over the property like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.”
She wishes she could give her own children that same type of childhood: “I was very lucky. I didn’t realize it at the time.”
However, thousands of children have had the opportunity to experience Westcave’s magic since it opened five decades ago. Last year, the preserve welcomed approximately 17,000 visitors, including 2,700 students.
Visitors typically begin their Westcave adventure at the nationally-renowned Warren Skaaren Environmental Learning
Center (ELC), which opened in 2003. The 3,000-square-foot, award-winning green building was designed by Austin architect Robert Jackson and houses hands-on activities and stations that tell the story of Westcave’s geological history, introduce local species of birds and animals, and more. Gosselin says you can easily fill a half day at the preserve by taking a canyon tour, having a picnic, and exploring the ELC.
On this morning, I’m one of 15 people who arrived at Westcave at 6:45 on a Saturday morning to photograph its beauty (totally worth it). The guided photography grotto hike is usually offered twice a year and attracts both novice and experienced shutterbugs.
We descend into the canyon, guided by Cook (a photographer who has led tours at Westcave for several years), who informs us that all four types of venomous snakes in Texas live here! On a more comforting note, we can hear a symphony of bird song, including the canyon wren, Louisiana water thrush, and acadian flycatcher. Westcave is a birder’s paradise.
As we pass an enormous, 300-year-old bald cypress tree, the grotto opens up before us. It is a sight to behold. Cook offers our group pointers on great spots to shoot from and suggestions about lighting and camera settings.
Rafael, a fellow hiker who’s visiting from a suburb of Fort Worth, says he’s interested in shooting landscapes, wildlife, and macro photography. It’s his fourth trip to the preserve in three years, and he plans to return in the future.
Thanks to the Ahrns and Watson families, that future looks solid. In the mid-1980s, they had the foresight to partner with the Lower Colorado River Authority, which bought the property and gave Westcave a 99-year lease for $1 per year.
Fifty years on, this now 76-acre local gem remains protected, ensuring future generations can continue to learn, explore, and find a deeper connection with nature through guided canyon tours, monthly star parties, photography and night hikes, and more.
Visiting Westcave—located at 24814 Hamilton Pool Road in Round Mountain—is by reservation only through the online portal. Westcave.org | @westcave
Boot Ranch , Frederic sbur
A NEW ERA OF WELLNESS
ARTICLE BY SCULPT WELLNESS SPA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISABELLA ALDRETE
There’s a quiet revolution taking place in our community—not created in a laboratory or derived from the latest wellness craze, but grown organically.
Sculpt Wellness Spa was born from the vision of bringing old-world practices into a modern setting. Borrowing the best from science yet firmly rooted in ancient wisdom, everything offered at Sculpt honors the body’s innate ability to heal itself— without injections, medications, or supplements. It’s the perfect place for those seeking a truly natural, simple return to vibrant health. The body knows what to do; it just needs to be supported and reminded.
This vision started with Meggie Buenz. As founder of Sculpt, she opened her doors with a single focus on cold laser therapy: a non-invasive, highly effective modality for clients to lose inches and naturally shrink fat while preserving their metabolic state.
The treatment stimulates the body to release triglycerides, fatty acids, glycerol, and excess water without harmful side
effects. Buenz experienced firsthand how well the therapy worked: She felt something shift and knew she was on the right path to restoring her health. It was too good not to share, and she felt called—by something greater than herself—to make it available to others. In January 2026, she signed a lease in the Dripping Springs’ downtown Mercer Street district and opened Sculpt.
“The body only needs a gentle nudge—just enough to ignite its natural ability to heal and bring you back to you,” Buenz says. “I don’t believe in forcing the body. I believe in working with it. Everybody is different, and every body knows, very intelligently, how to restore itself. I’ve lived it and am now passionate about getting that message out.”
From the beginning, Buenz held a firm standard: Every product and modality at Sculpt had to reflect the mission to do no harm to the body. No hidden ingredients. No fast trends. And as that standard took shape, something remarkable happened: The right people walked in the door.
SCULPT WELLNESS SPA: SUPPORTING THE BODY’S INNATE ABILITY TO HEAL
When Buenz met Dani Chiltern and Windi See, she discovered that all three women held the same healing philosophy and aligned with Sculpt’s vision. It seemed divinely guided and serendipitous.
“We realized that our services didn’t just complement each other. Together, they not only enhanced results but, very importantly, helped people reconnect to their bodies,” says Buenz. “This is something so important in healing and something that is often overlooked in other wellness spaces.”
Dani Chiltern has spent over 20 years as a student and researcher of holistic health. She joined Sculpt in March as a certified clinical herbalist and regenerative health coach and will soon hold the distinction of being one of only 21 certified biofield tuning practitioners in Texas, offering personalized sessions in this field at Sculpt.
After experiencing profound autoimmune healing in her own body— and witnessing it in others—Chiltern’s life mission became clear: Teach others about the simplicity the body needs to regenerate all on its own.
“Through herbal protocols, sound therapy, and self-directed frequency-based techniques, I teach clients to listen to their bodies in ways they likely have never learned, or even heard of,” she says.
Chiltern also owns DC Farm and Apothecary, rooted in her family’s mini farm in Dripping Springs, where she grows and handcrafts medicinal herbal remedies for every stage, from infancy through end of life. Her product line is sold exclusively at Sculpt and through her online shop.
Windi See brings comprehensive lymphatic care to Sculpt through her practice, Inner Flow Wellness. This calling is shaped by a lifetime of following nature’s path and many years of living in Europe and Asia, where natural healing is woven into everyday life. “Think of our lymph as a sewage system,” See explains. “When the pathways are blocked, inflammation sets in: We puff up, feel sluggish, irritable, stagnant, and not like ourselves. My work is to guide clients through clearing that system.”
With an initial lymphatic health assessment, clients learn exactly where and to what degree the stagnation occurs, and then a specialized protocol is created utilizing the Flowpresso System—a Class II medical device combining pressure,
“THE BODY ONLY NEEDS A GENTLE NUDGE—JUST ENOUGH TO
- MEGGIE BUENZ
compression, and thermo-dynamic heat—as well as other modalities such as electro-lymphatic decongestive therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, and ionic detox therapy.
See is also a certified havening practitioner, applying this neuroscience-based psychosensory method to help clients calm the fight or flight state and heal from emotional distress, ruminating thought patterns, and trauma.
Combining their specialties, the trio offers three signature packages: a comprehensive signature wellness plan, a monthly membership, and a 21-day jump start program.
While much of today’s wellness industry leans on supplements, hormone injections, and weight loss shots—many of which carry real side effects—Sculpt offers a different path. The standard is simple: The body is not broken; it is simply waiting to be heard. Every offering honors the body’s own intelligence.
Sculpt is located in the heart of Dripping Springs, and the team is ready to meet you exactly where you are.
SculptWS.com | 512.318.3329
EXPLORING COMMUNITY
ONE WARDROBE AT A TIME
CABI
APPAREL
ARTICLE BY KRISTI SELLERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISABELLA ALDRETE
“A CABI STYLING EXPERIENCE IS REALLY JUST A GATHERING OF FRIENDS— WARM, RELAXED, AND FUN.”
In a world that is increasingly driven by online shopping carts and fast-moving trends, many women are rediscovering something they didn’t realize they were missing: Connection. For cabi Apparel stylist Christine Roti, that sense of connection is woven into every styling experience she creates.
What begins as a fashion gathering often becomes something more. It turns into a place where women gather, laugh, encourage one another, and step outside their comfort zones together.
Founded in 2001, cabi Apparel has built its reputation not simply on clothing, but on relationships. Through personalized styling sessions and in-home fashion experiences, the company has created a unique space where fashion becomes less about following trends and more about helping women feel confident in their own skin. For Roti, that mission resonates deeply.
Rather than focusing solely on what is hanging on the rack, Roti approaches styling as an opportunity for exploration. Sometimes that means encouraging someone to try a bold color they would typically avoid. Other times, it means helping a busy mother rediscover her own personal style after years
“WHEN YOU BUY CABI, YOU’RE NOT JUST INVESTING IN YOUR OWN WARDROBE; YOU’RE INVESTING IN ANOTHER WOMAN’S LIFE. THAT’S SOMETHING I’M
INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE A PART OF.” - CHRISTINE ROTI
of putting everyone else first. In many cases, it simply means creating an environment where women feel seen and celebrated.
“A cabi styling experience is really just a gathering of friends— warm, relaxed, and fun. Women come together, try on pieces, share what they love, and help each other style things in ways they might not have considered on their own,” Roti explains.
As a stylist, Roti is there to guide, suggest, and celebrate each person. “What makes it so connecting is that it strips away the isolation of typical shopping,” she says. “You’re surrounded by other women, and that energy is contagious. It becomes less about the clothes and more about the experience of feeling good together.”
Roti has observed women crying tears of joy when trying on new clothes, simply because they feel beautiful and comfortable. “Clothing is deeply connected to how we see ourselves,” she explains. “When something fits well and feels like you, it’s not superficial; it’s powerful.”
While many women often struggle to put an outfit together or feel like they have nothing to wear, cabi designs entire collections that mix and match seamlessly, making it easy to get dressed every day. “That alone is a confidence builder,” she says.
Roti shares that cabi has challenged her to push her own styling boundaries, and she appreciates that the brand is fashionable yet classic. “One thing that keeps me so excited about the brand is that cabi is on trend rather than trendy —there’s a difference.”
Cabi incorporates the latest fashions and guides customers through them, but their pieces are designed to stay timeless. “I wear everything on the line myself, whether I am grabbing a new shirt off the rack for a Zoom call or putting together the cutest traveling outfit,” Roti shares. “I never have to choose between feeling current and feeling like me.”
In today’s fast-paced culture, experiences centered on genuine interaction can feel increasingly rare. That is part of what makes cabi’s approach stand out. Instead of anonymous transactions, the experience prioritizes relationships. And instead of asking women to fit into a trend, it invites them to explore what makes them feel most like themselves.
Just as important, cabi stands for more than clothes. The company’s culture emphasizes empowering women through entrepreneurship, confidence, and community-building. Through initiatives like the Heart of cabi Foundation, the brand extends
its mission beyond fashion, supporting women-focused charitable efforts and community outreach programs around the world.
Every May and December, cabi runs a buy-oneget-one program where, for every item purchased, one is donated to a woman in need. Through the Heart of cabi Foundation, the company has donated over $70 million in clothing and financial support to women in 66 countries, restoring dignity, funding small business loans, and providing aid in disaster relief.
“Yes, the quality is exceptional and yes, the fit is unlike anything else I’ve found, but it’s also a brand with a heart,” says Roti. “So when you buy cabi, you’re not just investing in your own wardrobe; you’re investing in another woman’s life. That’s something I’m incredibly proud to be a part of.” Exploration does not always require a plane ticket or a passport. Sometimes, it begins much closer to home. Through her work with cabi, Roti is helping women discover that style can be more than what they wear. It can also be a pathway to confidence, friendship, and community.
CabiOnline.com/christineroti | @christine_lately
“EXPLORATION DOES NOT ALWAYS REQUIRE A PLANE TICKET OR A PASSPORT. SOMETIMES, IT BEGINS MUCH CLOSER TO HOME.”
A Healthy Debate
Exploring Opportunities for Unity on Hard Healthcare Topics
Healthcare discussions have become increasingly polarized, especially on emotionally charged issues where people feel that personal values, finances, and family well-being are at stake. Yet meaningful conversation becomes possible when people acknowledge that opposing viewpoints are often rooted in legitimate concerns rather than malice or ignorance.
Two controversial healthcare topics that illustrate this challenge are GLP-1/ GIP agonist medications and insurance versus health-share models. Although opinions differ strongly, opportunities for unity exist when we focus on shared goals such as holistic health, affordability, and informed decision-making.
The first topic involves GLP-1 and GIP agonists, often casually called “the shots,” including medications used for weight
loss and diabetes management. Supporters emphasize the significant benefits these drugs can provide, particularly given that obesity and insulin resistance contribute to many of the leading causes of premature death and chronic disease in this country.
Studies have shown that these medications can improve weight loss, blood sugar control, cardiovascular health, and overall quality of life for many patients struggling with obesity or metabolic disease.
Advocates argue that obesity is a complex chronic illness, not merely a failure of willpower, and that these medications can offer life-changing help when diet and exercise alone have not produced results.
Opponents raise important concerns regarding long-term safety (largely unknown), side effects, and dependency. Some worry that our culture may
overmedicalize weight management while neglecting nutrition, movement, sleep, and emotional and spiritual health. Others question whether the widespread demand for these medications could encourage unrealistic expectations about rapid weight loss. A balanced view recognizes that both sides ultimately desire improved health and responsible medical care.
Unity becomes possible when both sides acknowledge the importance of transparent research, respectful communication, and patient autonomy while also recognizing the shared desire to protect our health.
Another important topic is insurance versus health-share programs. Traditional health insurance offers broad regulatory protections, standardized coverage, and financial safeguards for catastrophic illness. Many people appreciate the predictability and sense of security that insurance can provide despite rising premiums and administrative burden.
Alternatively, health-share programs appeal to individuals seeking lower costs,
greater flexibility, or faith-based community support. Members often value the healthy balance of personal and shared responsibility these programs foster. Critics, however, caution that health shares may lack guarantees, regulatory oversight, or coverage consistency in serious medical situations.
Despite differing perspectives, both approaches reflect the same underlying
concern: access to affordable healthcare without financial devastation. Greater unity may emerge when discussions shift away from political labels and toward practical solutions that prioritize patient well-being, transparency, and compassionate care. In a divided healthcare landscape, listening carefully to opposing viewpoints may be one of the healthiest practices of all.
MarinoMedica.com | @marinomedica
As a proud Dripping Springs resident and business o wner, Justin Hrabovsky is committed to helping local families move forward with confide nce.
Justin Hrabovsky and family
STOP DRAINING,
How One Hill Country Company Is Helping Pool Owners Save Millions of Gallons of Water
ARTICLE BY CHRISTINA
THOMPSON | PHOTOGRAPHY
BY STACY BERG
START RESTORING
High CYA can create what pool professionals refer to as “chemical lock,” preventing chlorine from properly sanitizing the water. The traditional solution is often partial or full draining, a process that can waste 20,000 to 30,000 gallons of water at a time.
The Halls initially tried partially draining their pool, but the problem persisted. Searching for alternatives, they discovered a reverse osmosis pool treatment service near Georgetown and decided to give it a try.
“The water quality afterward was incredible,” Bill says. “It fixed the CYA issue completely.”
What surprised them most was how uncommon the service was in Central Texas, despite years of drought concerns and increasing pressure on local water supplies. The couple contacted a manufacturer that builds mobile
After moving to Dripping Springs in 2014 to raise their family, Trisha and Bill Hall quickly fell in love with the Hill Country lifestyle, including spending long summer days by the pool with their two children. What they did not love was learning that maintaining a healthy swimming pool in Central Texas often meant draining tens of thousands of gallons of water every few years.
That realization eventually led the Halls to launch Aqua P.R.O., a family-owned company built around a simple, but increasingly important, idea: Stop draining pools and start restoring the water already in them.
In a region where drought restrictions and rapid growth continue to strain water supplies, Aqua P.R.O. is introducing many Hill Country homeowners to mobile reverse osmosis filtration, a process that cleans and restores pool water instead of replacing it. Using specialized equipment mounted inside a trailer, the company removes contaminants such as excess calcium, cyanuric acid (CYA), and dissolved solids while conserving up to 85 percent of a pool’s existing water.
The idea for the business began in the Halls’ own backyard.
“We’re pool owners ourselves,” Trisha explains. “A few years ago, we started having water quality problems. The pool was turning green, and we found out we had really high cyanuric acid levels.”
filtration trailers, waited months for a custom system to be completed, and launched Aqua P.R.O.
Now in its second year, the company estimates it has already helped conserve roughly 2.5 million gallons of water.
The process works similarly to reverse osmosis systems commonly used for drinking water. Aqua P.R.O. brings a mobile filtration trailer directly to a customer’s home and continuously circulates pool water through multiple filtration membranes, returning cleaner, balanced water back into the pool. Most treatments can be completed in about 10 to 12 hours without requiring homeowners to drain their pools.
The service has become especially valuable in the Texas Hill Country, where naturally hard water creates ongoing maintenance challenges for pool owners. Elevated calcium levels can lead to scaling that damages pumps, heaters, salt systems, and filtration equipment over time. Reverse osmosis treatment not only helps extend the lifespan of pool systems, but it can also reduce the amount of chlorine and chemicals needed to maintain healthy water.
The process has also become an important solution for fiberglass and prefabricated pools, which can sometimes sustain structural damage if completely drained.
Although reverse osmosis pool treatment has been widely used for years in drought-prone states such as Arizona and California, awareness in Texas is still growing. That is beginning to change as more homeowners search for environmentally conscious ways to maintain their pools.
Customer response across Dripping Springs and surrounding communities has been strong, particularly among residents looking for long-term maintenance solutions that align with the region’s growing focus on sustainability and resource conservation.
As Aqua P.R.O. continues to grow, the Halls hope their company will help change how Texans think about pool care, especially in a region where every gallon matters.
“If people remember one thing, we hope it’s this: Don’t automatically drain your pool,” Bill says.
“There’s a better option now. You can fix the water problem and conserve water at the same time.”
AquaProTX.com | @aqua_pro_tx
BUILT ON integrity
JOHN SIEMERING HOMES: DRIPPING SPRINGS’ GOLD STANDARD FOR LUXURY HOME CONSTRUCTION
ARTICLE BY MICAH WIENER
Some builders talk about craftsmanship. Some talk about trust. Very few have earned the right to speak about both. Across three and a half decades of building homes people never want to leave, John Siemering, founder of John Siemering Homes, can speak with confidence.
Long before he ever poured a foundation in the Hill Country, Siemering was driving nails in a barn on a family farm in Maxwell, Texas. That early work was straightforward, physical, and honest. It lit a fire that has never gone out. “Farm life teaches so many life lessons,” he reflects, “about collaboration, work ethic, and a deep appreciation for the bounty the land produces.” It was the first classroom in a lifelong education about building things that last.
Siemering’s maternal grandfather farmed, ranched, and built homes in a small south Texas community. The blueprint for a life in construction was laid early. But it was his father, a World War II Marine and his boyhood idol, who gave Siemering the code he still lives by today. “His words and handshakes were his currency in business,” he says. “If your word is no good, don’t bother signing the contract.” That creed was passed down to his three sons, and it remains the foundation beneath every home John Siemering Homes builds.
In 1991, Siemering lost his home to fire. Most would have paused, but something greater wouldn’t let Siemering do that. “I sensed God encouraging me to start building, even though we were in a bad recession,” he says. “I was obedient and answered His call, and I’ve been going strong ever since.” What began as an act of faith became a 35-year career marked by awards and accolades. What’s most important to Siemering is the experience of the owners of the homes he’s built.
In an industry notorious for budget surprises and mid-construction sticker shock, Siemering built his reputation doing the opposite. His signature approach, a price-clarity pre-construction agreement, was born from a common frustration: owners feeling ambushed by cost overruns they never saw coming.
Siemering’s solution is a detailed specification sheet he compares to the window sticker on a new vehicle. This transparent, line-by-line agreement shows exactly what an owner is getting for their investment. “When do you prefer to know how much the home costs?” he asks. “Before construction starts or mid-way through the build?” The answer, he’s found, is always the same.
This philosophy extends to every interaction. The John Siemering Homes team, which includes his wife and two of his sons, is built around what Siemering calls “white glove service.” His team anticipates needs, overcommunicates, and treats every build as if the family living through it were their own. “One of the biggest fears I hear from owners is the effect the building process will have on their family,” he acknowledges. “We’ve all heard the stories of strife and stress. That is unacceptable.”
In 2010, Siemering and his three sons moved to Dripping Springs. “We wanted the small-town environment. It was instant love for the community, as it is for so many owners we build for,” he says. He didn’t anticipate the growth that would follow, but he’s watched it with knowing eyes. “Even with the growth, it still feels like a close community, and I hear that from many owners.”
The Coronavirus pandemic era accelerated something already in motion: people taking a hard look at the life they were living
and asking for something different. The acreage homesites of Dripping Springs, with their ancient oaks, sweeping Hill Country views, dark skies, and slower pace, answered that question for thousands of families. Siemering was there to help them build the home that matched the lifestyle they craved.
Building in the Hill Country is not without its challenges. Many builders see the topography—rolling terrain and dramatic elevation changes—as an obstacle. Siemering sees the uniqueness as an opportunity.
“The most pristine views are often found right where the land is most complex,” he says. “The topography drives the design and orientation of the home.” The John Siemering Homes team spends significant time with owners and architects before a single shovel breaks ground, studying the land, understanding the light, and determining how to orient the home to capture the views that drew the family there in the first place.
That curiosity extends to the people themselves. Siemering is deeply interested in the “why” behind every build. Why this land? Why this moment? Why this home? “Some want larger acreage, some smaller,” he says. “A place for kids and grandkids to return to. A peaceful retreat.” Understanding the why, he believes, is what allows him to deliver a home that genuinely reflects the life an owner has always wanted to live.
After more than three decades of building, what drives him most is the moment an owner walks through a finished home and feels, unmistakably, that it is theirs.
In a world of transactions, that distinction—builder as guide, not salesman—is perhaps the truest reflection of a life shaped by a father’s handshake, a grandfather’s hammer, and a calling answered in the middle of a recession.
Siemering looks forward to many more years in the community he’s come to love. And somewhere in the Hill Country, on land that rolls and rises under wide Texas skies, another family is about to find out what it means to build with someone who treats their word as currency and their home as sacred.
JSH.group | @johnsiemeringhomes
Septic Installations / Maintenance & Repairs
Rainwater Installations / Excavations / Land Clearing
Since 2005, Sunset Construction and Excavation has provided quality septic installations, as well as, design, maintenance, and new site preparation for residential and commercial projects. James works closely with homeowners, builders, developers, and engineers to ensure septic systems are properly installed and functioning to the highest standards. We are local to Dripping Springs and proudly serve the hill country area. No matter what service you’re looking for, you can rest assured it’s being delivered with integrity, honesty and quality.
CARROLL TROBERMAN LAW FIRM PROVIDES STEADY COUNSEL THROUGH LIFE’S TRANSITIONS
TURNING POINTS
In the Hill Country, life is often measured through milestones that shape the future of a family. Marriage, adoption, guardianship, and separation are not simply legal matters; they are deeply personal transitions that influence relationships, financial security, and the stability of generations to come. During these defining moments, thoughtful legal guidance can provide clarity, structure, and peace of mind.
Carroll Troberman law firm approaches each family’s circumstances with discretion and care, focusing on resolving immediate legal concerns as well as helping clients make informed decisions that support long-term stability. Whether navigating a joyful new beginning or a difficult period of change, attorneys Blair Carroll and Shelly Troberman guide clients through the process with steady counsel and a clear sense of direction.
ARTICLE BY TY COLEMAN
Marriage represents more than a personal commitment. It also establishes a legal and financial partnership that can affect property rights, inheritance, and future obligations. Understanding these implications early allows couples to move forward with confidence and alignment, creating a stronger foundation for the future.
Adoption reflects one of the most meaningful decisions a family can make, as it intentionally creates permanence, belonging, and security for a child. While deeply emotional, adoption also requires careful legal planning to ensure every aspect of the transition is clearly structured and fully protected for years to come.
Separation and divorce often bring emotional and financial uncertainty, particularly when children, family businesses, or significant assets are involved. During these periods, thoughtful legal guidance becomes essential. Decisions made in moments of transition frequently shape family dynamics and financial outcomes well into the future, making a measured and strategic approach especially important. Handled with care, even difficult transitions can preserve what matters most.
Similarly, guardianship matters require sensitivity and foresight. Whether establishing care for an aging parent or protecting the interests of a vulnerable child, guardianship provides an essential legal framework that safeguards well-being while preserving dignity and stability for those involved.
Across each of these life transitions, one principle remains constant: Proactive planning creates stronger outcomes. Many individuals wait until circumstances become urgent before seeking legal counsel, yet early guidance often provides the greatest flexibility and the clearest path forward. Addressing important decisions before conflict escalates allows families to better understand their options, reduce uncertainty, and avoid unnecessary complications.
Carroll Troberman approaches the legal process with a broader understanding of what families truly need during periods of change. Beyond documents and court proceedings, these moments often involve concerns about continuity, protection, financial security, and the well-being of loved ones. Children benefit from carefully structured arrangements that prioritize stability, while elderly or incapacitated family members depend on thoughtful planning that ensures proper care and oversight.
This balanced and deliberate approach helps clients move through uncertainty without losing sight of what matters most. By combining legal experience with practical perspective, Carroll Troberman provides guidance designed to support both immediate needs and long-term goals.
Life’s transitions inevitably bring change, but they also create an opportunity to strengthen foundations, clarify priorities, and shape the future with intention.
With experience, discretion, and a steady approach, Carroll Troberman helps families navigate these defining moments with confidence. While change is inevitable, stability is something that can be thoughtfully built. Clarity transforms uncertainty into a path forward.
CarrollTrobermanLaw.com | 512.478.3800
TRUSTED GUIDES
At the heart of Carroll Troberman Law are founding partners Blair Carroll and Shelly Troberman, whose decades of experience, courtroom success, and professional recognition have made them trusted advocates for families across Central Texas.
Carroll brings nearly two decades of experience in criminal defense and family law, earning recognition for outstanding professional achievement and commitment to the legal community. A former DWI defense attorney under nationally recognized attorney Mimi Coffey, Carroll has represented clients across Central Texas in high-stakes criminal and family law matters, pairing strategic advocacy with firsthand empathy shaped by his own custody experience.
Shelly Troberman brings the perspective of both a seasoned attorney and mother of four to every case she handles. A former Travis County prosecutor, Shelly is known for her relentless advocacy in family law, CPS, and child protection cases, approaching each client with compassion and strength.
DESIGN + BUILD FAMILY-OWNED CUSTOM HOMES AND STABLES
Ford Design
WRAPPED IN Purpose
The Hustle, Craftsmanship, and Steady Growth Behind Graphics Guys
ARTICLE BY MICAH WIENER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISABELLA ALDRETE
Before there were fleet wraps and F1 cars, Byron Mowery was a man in a suit selling radio airtime. He had a quiet hunch and a dream that there was something better. That hunch led him to a vinyl cutter and a computer, and it cost him every last dollar he had.
Mowery is the owner and founder of Graphics Guys. His earlier work in a small San Antonio sign shop had quietly set the stage. “I did not realize at the time that it was foreshadowing,” he says.
The early hustle wasn’t glamorous. Mowery walked “trailer alley” on Highway 290, pitching banners and signs to mobile home companies. Weekends meant flea markets and racetracks—Friday nights at Longhorn Speedway and Saturdays at Thunderhill—selling decals out of a booth. It was bootstrapping at its purest.
Over more than 25 years, Austin has transformed from a sleepy college town into one of the country’s fastest-growing cities, and every wave of growth brought new opportunities for Mowery. He is quick to note that growth alone doesn’t guarantee survival: “The biggest thing in this industry is to stay up on technology and processes to make sure you can do the jobs as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.”
Scaling the business required a leap of faith. “I was always nervous about going too big and getting in too much debt,” Mowery admits, “but I could see that if we did not scale, we would never get over the ceiling. I believe now more than ever: If you build it, they will come.”
Ask Mowery about his most demanding projects and the list reads like a motorsports
hall of fame. Graphics Guys has wrapped F1 cars for Haas Racing, Williams Motorsports, and Red Bull, along with drag cars and exotics. “There is not a flat panel or straight line on the whole car,” he says.
Their most audacious job, though, was a Foxcommissioned wrap of a four-story downtown Austin building during South by Southwest. It took his team three weeks of printing and prep and three days to install.
Managing work that spans fleet graphics, motorsports, and architectural signage comes down to people, specifically great employees and delegating. “We have a bunch of guys that really care about what they’re doing,” Mowery says. “We also hold each installer accountable for their work.”
Mowery’s approach to design is rooted in function. “You want someone to say, ‘Oh, that’s Waypoint Roofing—what a great wrap.’” And when problems arise, his standard is equally direct: “If you always tell the truth, you will never have to remember what you said.”
Finding and keeping great people is a priority he takes seriously. “Retention is big for me because good help is hard to find and bad help can be detrimental to business,” he says. His hiring criteria are straightforward: attention to detail, a strong work ethic, honesty, and attitude. “Everything else is training. Attitude drives everything.”
A new UV flatbed printer capable of printing directly onto substrates up to 4 inches thick has expanded what the shop can produce and how fast it can complete jobs. With four total printers running, Mowery has eliminated bottlenecks that once limited growth. “No downtime plus no missed deadlines equals happy clients that will stick with you.”
As for Dripping Springs, it’s more than a business address. From City Hall signage to school district murals, Graphics Guys has grown alongside the community. “The businesses and owners in this area are not only clients but have become friends over time,” Mowery says. “Say what you do; do what you say; be honest and on time. The rest will come to you.” Twenty-five years in, it still does.
GraphicsGuys.com | @graphicsguys
Graphics Guys at a Glance
Byron Mowery founded Graphics Guys more than 25 years ago with a single vinyl cutter and a willingness to hustle. Today the company operates out of a 10,000-square-foot facility in Dripping Springs with four industrial printers, including a new UV flatbed unit for direct substrate printing. Their work spans commercial fleet graphics, custom vehicle wraps, and motorsports liveries. Large-scale event installs, architectural signage, and school district graphics round out a portfolio built on one simple principle: Do what you say you’ll do, every time.
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Red, White, and Brewed
Twisted X Goes All Out for the Fourth of July
ARTICLE BY MELISSA SVOBODA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLAIRE
MULKEY
The countdown has begun. In just a few days, Twisted X Brewing Company will roll out the red, white, and blue carpet to celebrate the semiquincentennial—that is, the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.
The event promises a Fourth of July celebration unlike any Dripping Springs has experienced, featuring craft beer, family activities, and a dazzling fireworks show that will light up Drip’s dark skies.
After weather forced the cancellation of last year’s event, Twisted X is bringing that same energy forward this summer—and this time they’re going even bigger.
For Twisted X president and CEO Hunter Stewart, the celebration is a natural fit for a Texas-born company built upon craftsmanship and small-town connection.
“With it being the 250th year—and we’re proud Americans, proud Texans—we’re excited about the opportunity to bring our growing community together to celebrate,” he says.
From food trucks and live music to an artisan market, kids’ activities, a splash pad, and LED displays, the Fourth of July celebration offers a full slate of family-friendly entertainment. And of course, Twisted X will showcase its lineup of small-batch handcrafted beers, including Fuego— the brewery’s seasonal Tex Mex jalapeño pilsner.
The night will culminate in a largescale, professionally produced 30-minute fireworks spectacular
choreographed to music and designed to rival displays typically reserved for major city celebrations. “The show we’re putting on is one of the best I’ve ever seen,” says Stewart.
The goal is to create a Fourth of July tradition families will return to year after year. “We want to give the community a great event right here in Dripping Springs, so they don’t have to go anywhere else,” says hospitality manager Raf Robinson.
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“Let’s bring everybody together because we’re all celebrating as Americans.”
With that in mind, guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets or chairs and make themselves at home. With about 400 parking spaces available, Twisted X is preparing to welcome a full house for a family-friendly day.
Even with hundreds expected to attend, Twisted X wants the celebration to feel unmistakably “Drip.” Robinson says, “It’s an all-American event that still feels small-town, where you run into your friends and neighbors.”
For Robinson, that kind of connection happens best in places that encourage people to slow down and spend time together.
“I believe we were designed for community,” he says. “Having spaces where people can come together—that encourage people to gather—we need places like that.”
Twisted X has leaned into that idea by creating more room for people to settle in and stay awhile. Expanded shaded seating, larger kids’ areas, margaritas, non-alcoholic beer, and a new food truck—Los Brochachos, serving delicious tacos, nachos, smashburgers, and more—are all part of the brewery’s continued effort to create a welcoming place for the community to gather every day.
It all comes together for the Fourth of July bash. At its core, the event is focused on giving back to the Dripping Springs community, helping to raise funds for local organizations such as Patriots’ Hall and the North Hays County Fire Department.
In many ways, the celebration reflects the story of Twisted X itself—a homegrown company that has weathered challenges while staying deeply connected to its hometown. Locally made by hard-working people, “It’s a brand that’s gone through the ups and downs and continues to hang in there,” says Robinson. “I think that’s the definition of the American spirit.”
The team hopes the Fourth of July celebration captures that spirit from the first cold brew to the final burst of color across the night sky. “I think about my kids and
that twinkle in their eye when they’re watching the fireworks— those are the special moments,” Robinson shares. “Sometimes we take freedom for granted, but generations before us understand the cost.”
Twisted X has it all covered—beer, food, fireworks, and a full day of family-friendly fun. So grab your lawn chairs, pack a blanket, and head down the road for a home-brewed celebration under the stars and stripes.
TwistedXBrewing.com | @twistedxbrewing
Drifting Downtown
From Wide-Open Spaces to Urban Retreat, Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club Extends into Austin
ARTICLE BY JENNY OZEE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN LAIR AND MATTER FILMS
Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club—the private luxury residential community just east of Dripping Springs—has built its identity upon rolling Hill Country landscapes and a family-friendly atmosphere. Now, Discovery Land Company has created Driftwood Downtown, a members-only retreat designed to bring intimacy, sophistication, and community back to downtown Austin nightlife.
Perched in the heart of Austin, Driftwood Downtown serves as the urban extension of Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club. While one embraces wide-open landscapes and outdoor
“It is less about being seen and more about belonging to a community. ”
adventure, the other delivers a metropolitan energy. The result is a seamless balance between Texas ease and downtown refinement. For those not yet ready for a Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club membership, Driftwood Downtown is its own destination, with its own identity, community, and membership path.
From the moment members step inside, the atmosphere feels intentionally curated. Warm lighting, layered textures, rich woods, and understated contemporary design create an environment that feels elevated without becoming intimidating. Unlike many high-profile nightlife destinations that thrive on spectacle, Driftwood Downtown leans into comfort and discretion. It is less about being seen and more about belonging to a community.
The club’s rooftop terrace has quickly become one of its defining features. Framed by sweeping views of downtown Austin, the space
offers an intimate setting for sunset cocktails, private conversations, and relaxed evenings above the energy of the city below. It captures the spirit of Austin nightlife while removing the chaos.
Inside, the experience unfolds across multiple levels and social spaces. A sophisticated mezzanine lounge offers areas for coworking, casual meetings, or afternoon coffee service, while the tap room brings a playful energy with golf simulators, billiards, live entertainment, and private gatherings. Discovery Land Company has long been known for blending luxury with livability, and Driftwood Downtown reflects that philosophy in every detail.
What ultimately separates the club from traditional private bars is its emphasis on hospitality and experience-driven programming. Members have access to curated events throughout the year,
“In a time when luxury often feels transactional, Driftwood Downtown succeeds by making exclusivity feel personal rather than distant.”
including mixology classes, comedy nights, intimate live music performances, chef-led dinners, game nights, and social gatherings designed to foster genuine connection. Rather than operating solely as a nightlife destination, Driftwood Downtown functions as an extension of members’ lifestyles.
That sense of personalization is central to the Discovery Land Company approach. Across its global portfolio of residential communities and clubs, the company has built a reputation for creating highly tailored environments centered on family, service, and community. Driftwood Downtown marks one of the brand’s first dedicated urban club concepts, bringing its signature hospitality model into a downtown setting.
Driftwood Downtown’s concierge-style service further elevates the experience. Onsite member services teams assist with everything from reservations and event coordination to personalized city recommendations. In a time when luxury often feels transactional, Driftwood Downtown succeeds
by making exclusivity feel personal rather than distant.
Its arrival also speaks to Austin’s continued evolution. As the city grows into an international business and cultural hub, demand for elevated private experiences has grown alongside it. Driftwood Downtown positions itself perfectly within that landscape by offering a refined alternative to the traditional downtown scene while still embracing the creative energy that defines Austin.
In many ways, the venue represents the future of luxury hospitality: highly personalized, experience-focused, and community-centered. It is not simply a private bar. It is a modern social club designed for the way people increasingly want to gather, work, celebrate, and connect.
For members, Driftwood Downtown is more than a place to grab a cocktail. It is an extension of home set against the skyline of one of Texas’ most dynamic cities.
DriftwoodGolfClub.com | @driftwoodgolfclub
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251 OLD FITZHUGH RD, DRIPPING SPRINGS
Petals, Pastries, and Paradise
Fresh Flowers, Artisan Bread, Vintage Finds, and Hill Country Charm Await at Market at the Barn
Webster’s New World Dictionary defines paradise as “any place of great beauty … or condition of great happiness.”
You may think of paradise as a place of captivating bliss, far off on a blue horizon. But it is closer to home than you think. Right here on Nutty Brown Road, the Nutty Brown Farm tucks itself like a secret behind a forest of cedar trees. A sign at 13900 points west to the Market at the Barn, where Kim Stearns and her market day partners Chris Warwick, Sara Novesky, and Hannah Warwick will sell you a bouquet of paradise or a basketful of happiness.
Inspired by a love for hand-cut flowers, the Market began in 2015 in a tiny, pioneer-style log cabin at the farm’s front gate. It has since moved deeper onto a ranch that has been in Kim’s husband Joel Stearns’ family since 1941. To get there, follow the caliche country lane where it emerges from the cedar grove, skirts a pasture of prairie grass, and eases across a cattle guard into the shallow ripple of a low water crossing on Bear Creek.
The lane ends in the shade of an expansive canopy of stately red oaks, cedar elms, and bodarks. The scene is a
ARTICLE BY LARRY MCGINNIS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIMBER BROWN
veritable postcard of Hill Country splendor. There, a massive wooden barn might make you think of wizards and magicians. No fire-breathing dragons here, but inside you’ll find Kim, Chris, Sara, and Hannah working their magic.
The Market specializes in organically grown flowers Kim and Chris have personally cultivated—Kim in her field behind the barn and Chris at her farm and in her urban garden.
Kim’s passion for growing flowers bubbles up within minutes of conversation. She is mesmerized by Mother Nature’s ability to take a tiny seed, pry it open with a splash of water, and reward you with a beautiful splay of color. “It’s always nice to hear our customers say how much longer our blooms last and how much they enjoy the wonderful bouquets of aroma that fill their homes,” says Kim. To make sure of that, she harvests her flowers in the morning just before the Market slides open its big doors.
After 30 years as a marketing executive, Chris now grows flowers as proprietor of Ranch 101 Flowers and Provisions. She arrives at the Market with contagious enthusiasm. “I’m proud to partner with Kim and Sara to bring local wholesome goodness to the community every Saturday during the growing season,” she says.
Kim and Chris coordinate what to sell like a carefully choreographed ballet, knowing which variety enters the dance at the right time. If you have a princess in your family who needs a crown of dried flower petals to celebrate her birthday, the Market will weave one just for her.
Sara adds a baker’s touch to the emporium with such delicacies as fresh scones, classic and rosemary rye sourdough breads, strawberry jam tarts, and cookies from her Goodbake ATX bakery.
CONTINUED >
She will tell you her first love is bread. “I started my baking career in a small, family-owned bakery surrounded by mixers, huge buckets filled to the brim with dough, and a multi-deck bread oven, and it is there where I fell in love with the craft.” As an alumnus of the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, California, she brings to the Market years of experience in restaurants as a pastry chef and baker.
Few things are better than sitting on a porch rocker overlooking an immense, flower-covered field while enjoying one of Sara’s brown-butter chocolate-chunk cookies and watching the quiet beauty of life at work. A red-shouldered hawk might soar overhead on warm thermals while you decide whether to return to the table for another cookie.
“Each Saturday, the Market invites visitors to explore its Dripping Springs paradise.”
But there’s more than green thumbs and baker’s mitts at the Market. Shoppers will also find a thoughtfully curated collection of local goods that invite them to linger as they meander through the barn. Tables and shelves are filled with handmade gifts—pillows, tea towels, floral décor, wreaths, and candles in scents like eucalyptus and firewood from Hannah’s Menagerie Candle Company. Kim and Chris also often set out on adventures to hunt for vintage treasures, which they mix throughout their own collection.
Behind the flowers and merchandising is Joel, who keeps the farm’s infrastructure running smoothly as demand grows. Often on duty on market days, he enjoys sharing stories about sourcing parts to tune up his grandfather’s 1955 Massey Ferguson tractor with front-end loader. The classic tractor is parked by the barn, where visitors can see the masterpiece of antique farming machinery up close.
Each Saturday morning, the Market opens its doors with fresh offerings from Kim, Chris, Sara, and Hannah, inviting visitors to explore their Dripping Springs paradise. It’s a beautiful way to start a weekend!
NuttyBrownFarm.com | @nutty_brown_farm
Farmer Kim
Fourth-generation Texan Kim Stearns brings hard work, honesty, and a passion for growing flowers to the farm, sharing blooms many visitors never imagined could thrive in Texas.
ARTICLE BY KIMBERLY OLSON, PH.D.
Youth Softball Program Forges a New Path in Player Development
Texas
Trailblazers™
Texas youth sports are more competitive now than ever. For the founders of Texas Trailblazers™, the vision is to build a top-tier softball program capable of competing on any stage without losing sight of what matters most: developing the whole athlete. With this focus, Texas Trailblazers™ is creating a different kind of softball experience for families in the Dripping Springs area. With a strong emphasis on mindset, leadership, confidence, and character development, the organization was founded to help young athletes grow both on and off the field. While skill development and competitive play remain
important, the team’s leadership believes the mental side of the game is often what separates athletes who simply participate from those who truly thrive under pressure.
“Talent matters, but confidence, composure, and resilience matter too,” says head coach James Kuykendall. “We want our athletes to learn how to compete with courage, handle adversity, support their teammates, and lead well in every environment they step into.”
Texas Trailblazers™ is rooted in a faith-first, teamfirst culture that prioritizes growth, accountability, and integrity. The organization is committed to building an
environment where athletes are challenged, encouraged, and developed through intentional coaching and leadership.
The program also incorporates mindset and athlete development training through Athletic Authority, led by Kimberly Olson, Ph.D., director of leadership development. Through team sessions and ongoing mentorship, athletes are introduced to concepts such as confidence under pressure, emotional resilience, communication, and leadership skills designed to benefit them not only in softball, but throughout life.
Assistant coach Trevor Trepanier brings additional leadership and player development experience to the organization, while fundraising director Whitney Whatley helps foster strong community connection and support around the program.
As the organization prepares for its inaugural season, Texas Trailblazers™ is focused on building more than a roster. The long-term vision includes creating a strong developmental culture, expanding opportunities for athletes, and raising the standard for what youth sports can look like when leadership and purpose are prioritized alongside competition.
For families looking for something different rooted in development, discipline, and long-term growth, Texas Trailblazers™ hopes to become a place where young athletes can compete with confidence and become leaders both on and off the field.
TexasTrailblazers.org| @texas.trailblazers
Texas Trailblazers™
10U Fall Tryouts
Texas Trailblazers™ is currently preparing for its inaugural 10U fall season and will host upcoming tryouts for athletes interested in joining the program. Families will have the opportunity to meet the coaching staff, experience the team culture, and learn more about the organization’s development-focused approach to youth softball.
Check out social media for tryout dates, open practice information, and program updates.
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Big Bend, Small World
We were more than three hours into the seven-ish-hour drive to Big Bend, Texas, when my 12-year-old son, Mac, looked up from his iPad and said, “You remembered to bring our passports, right?”
I turned to my husband in the driver’s seat. We locked eyes, and my stomach dropped. No. We had not remembered.
The whole trip had been Mac’s idea. A history buff and map-obsessed middle schooler, my inquisitive son had learned that Big Bend National Park shares a border with Mexico. He did the research: Just wade across the Rio Grande, and you could be in a whole different country. That he could literally stand with one foot in the United States and the other in Mexico fascinated him.
So we booked a long weekend in Terlingua, an offthe-grid, eclectic desert town known for its teepees, domes, and a handful of restaurants serving as a base camp for Big Bend visitors.
And now the trip was a bust. I could practically see Mac’s dreams of international adventure flying out the car window.
So I went into mom mode—there had to be a solution. Turning around wasn’t an option, and after a few frantic phone calls, we learned that UPS couldn’t deliver anything to tiny Terlingua until Monday.
I felt ridiculous and desperate. But desperate times apparently call for neighborhood Facebook posts. So I opened the Dripping Springs group page and typed: Is anyone headed to Terlingua/Big Bend this weekend?
A few minutes later, a message popped up: I can help. Want to have a quick chat?
Record scratch.
Was I really about to hand over our passports to a random stranger? Just what kind of Facebook creeper was this, anyway? I clicked on his profile: local university alum, baseball fan, outdoor enthusiast. He didn’t look like a con artist. What could possibly go wrong?
I gave him my number.
Kindness Knows No Borders
ARTICLE BY MELISSA SVOBODA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY STACY BERG
I know, I know. But this is a story about kindness, not a cautionary tale. (Still, for the record: Kids, absolutely do not give your number to strangers on the internet.)
As social media fate would have it, Dripping Springs neighbors Lance and Rachel were heading to Big Bend the next day. They met my parents in Drip to retrieve our passports (my wary mom may or may not have photographed their license plate, just in case), and we arranged to meet the following evening at the legendary Starlight Theatre in Terlingua. There, under dim parking lot lights, our documents changed hands as in a scene from a low-budget spy thriller. We thanked Lance and Rachel profusely for saving our vacation while they insisted they were happy to help, that it was no big deal. Soon, we were all laughing about how differently the story could have ended had they actually been identity-thieving masterminds.
And then we decided that this story was too good to end in that dirt lot.
The next morning, we all headed to Boquillas, the tiny Mexican village on the other side of the Rio Grande. Together, we flashed our precious passports at the official port of entry, and Mac checked an item off his bucket list as a local guide pulled us across the river to a foreign country in a small rowboat. We rode donkeys down a dusty path into town, wandered the small shops searching for the perfect poncho, and, over cerveza and cabrito tacos, got to know our new friends.
Thank goodness this story had a happy ending. Our family spent a wonderful weekend exploring Boquillos, hiking Big Bend, listening to live music, and soaking in the silent, jetblack skies of Terlingua.
But oddly enough, the most memorable part of the trip happened before we even arrived. In a world that can feel disconnected and even a little suspicious, we found something unexpectedly reassuring: strangers willing to help, people willing to trust each other, and a reminder that kindness still has a way of finding us when we need it most.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
The 10% Target Mindset
Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT
Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.
He calls days later.
That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.
The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.
The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.
“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”
FEATURING JEN COHEN
Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.
1 2
MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS
The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.
STACK THE DECK
Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.
3
DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE
No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.
4
SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP
Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.
5
NEVER MISS A MONDAY
The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.
There’s a certain power that lives inside you. The kind that’s unleashed with every serve, every rally, every victory—big or small. At Dripping Springs Racquet Club, we’re not just about the game. We’re about helping you unlock your potential through the energy of racquet sports and the support of a community that feels like home.
Whether you’re chasing goals, crushing cardio, or just discovering your love for the game, DSRC is where passion meets purpose. With tennis, pickleball, padel, and a crew of members who will cheer you on every step of the way—you’re not just playing… you’re thriving.
Fuel your confidence. Find your people. Elevate your game. Unlock your power.
PEDIATRIC CARE,
Pediatric care should be simple, available, and high quality. Direct Primary Care through Sparrow Pediatrics provides timely access to a pediatrician who provides individualized care focused on the whole child and partners with parents through all seasons of life.
Currently accepting new members, call or text for a consultation today
sparrowpediatricsgroup.com 737-210-1422 13341 W US 290 Bldg 2 Austin, TX 78737
MEDITERRANEAN STEAK KEBOBS AND TAHINI SAUCE
Chef Marissa Fisk Invites You To Explore New Summer Flavors
Summers in the Hill Country are hot, and the sunsets are magical. As a chef, I look forward to the abundance of local fruits and vegetables the season brings. I remember my Argentine grandparents cooking dishes that reflected both their culture and the time of year. Summer is grilling season at its best—known in Argentina as parrilla.
In cooking school, I trained in international cuisine and studied how different cultures developed new flavors based on what was available in their local markets. I fell in love with the rich history behind world cuisines and the stories that came with them.
As a chef in Texas, one of the things I most enjoy exploring is how local ingredients can inspire international dishes.
Here in the Hill Country, we have wonderful melons, tomatoes, peppers of all kinds, eggplant, basil, cucumbers, and local peaches. Summer invites creativity in the kitchen, from light salads and fresh salsas to vibrant sauces and unexpected flavor combinations. Sometimes the best meals come when we are willing to explore a little and challenge ourselves to try something new and inspiring. I hope this recipe offers that experience to you.
ARTICLE BY MARISSA FISK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIMBER BROWN AND MARISSA FISK
LOCAL TEXAS STEAK KEBOBS WITH TAHINI
DRESSING
Ingredients:
For the Kebobs
• 4 to 6 skewers (if wooden, soak in water for 30 minutes to avoid fire)
• 2 to 3 pounds of local Texas filet, kebob, or New York steak cut into 1½-inch cubes
• 3 local bell peppers cut into 1½-inch pieces
• 3 local onions cut into 1½-inch pieces
• 10 to 12 local cherry tomatoes
Marinade
• Juice of 2 oranges
• 1 tablespoon sumac
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 3 teaspoons grated garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• ½ tablespoon avocado oil
Tahini Dressing
• 2 cups tahini
• 1 to 2 cups water, depending on desired consistency
• Juice of 2 lemons
• ½ cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Dash of chili flakes
Directions:
Marinate the Steak: In a large bowl, whisk together all marinade ingredients. Add steak cubes and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
Assemble the Kebobs: Thread the steak, onions, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes onto skewers, alternating ingredients as desired. Lightly brush the assembled kebobs with avocado oil to help prevent sticking.
Grill: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill kebobs for about 5 minutes, then turn and continue cooking, flipping every few minutes, until desired doneness is reached, about 8 to 15 minutes total.
For medium-rare steak, cook to an internal temperature of 135 degrees.
Make the Tahini Dressing: Combine tahini, water, lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt, honey, and chili flakes in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding more water as needed to reach desired consistency.
Serve: Serve kebobs drizzled with tahini dressing or with the dressing on the side. Pair with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from your favorite farmers market, along with orzo or rice.
Eat with joy and cook with love!
MarissaFiskCatering.com | @modernmomchef
When most people think of exploration, they picture lots of gear, a road trip, or maybe a trail they’ve never hiked before. But adventure can be as simple as trying a new recipe, inviting friends over on a random weeknight, or slowing down long enough to enjoy a summer evening on the porch.
This Watermelon Mojito feels like the cocktail version of summer spontaneity. It’s light, refreshing, and just unexpected enough to feel a little special without being fussy. Think classic mojito vibes, but with a juicy watermelon twist that tastes like sunshine in a glass.
The fresh mint and lime keep things crisp; the watermelon adds just the right amount of sweetness; and a splash of club soda makes it
INGREDIENTS:
• Ingredients:
• 2 ounces white rum
• ½ ounce lime juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• 1½ ounces fresh watermelon juice
• 6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
• Club soda
• Lime wedge and fresh mint bundle for garnish
A Sip of ADVENTURE
ARTICLE BY DRINK TO REMEMBER PHOTOGRAPHY BY
STACY BERG
perfect for those long Texas evenings when it’s somehow still 92 degrees at sunset. It’s the kind of drink that feels equally at home next to a backyard burger spread, a charcuterie board with friends, or enjoyed solo after a long day when you simply need a moment to exhale.
Summer has a way of making us divert from the ordinary and seek out a little fun. Before you go all in on planning a weekend getaway, say yes to hosting the neighbors for happy hour and mixing up something new. You won’t be disappointed!
Consider it your gentle reminder that exploration doesn’t always have to be big. It can start with saying, Why not try something new?
DTRBartending.com | @dtrbartending
DIRECTIONS:
1. Add the rum, lime juice, simple syrup, watermelon juice, and mint leaves to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake for about 20 seconds until chilled and fragrant.
3. Pour everything into a Collins glass—yes, mint leaves and all! (This is called a dirty pour and it keeps all that flavor in the glass.)
4. Top with club soda, add more ice if needed, and garnish with a lime wedge and fresh mint bundle.
5. Then sit back, take a sip, and toast to wherever this season of exploration takes you.
Mojito: A Splash of Summer Spontaneity
Watermelon Mojito
Watermelon
JULY 2026
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
JULY 4TH
Freedom Fest
Dripping Springs
12 Fox Beer: 4700 West Fitzhugh Road | 12:00 PM
Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with live music, food vendors, drinks, fireworks, a vendor market, and family fun benefiting veterans and first responders. Tickets and details at FreedomFestDrippingSprings.com
JULY 4TH
Celebrate America’s 250th Patriot's Hall of Dripping Springs | 12:00 PM
Celebrate the 250th anniversary of America's independence with community festivities at Patriots’ Hall. Guests can enjoy a patriotic evening honoring local veterans, first responders, and American history. Learn more at app.betterunite.com/ patriotshallofdrippingsprings-250th
JULY 8TH
Pound House Farmstead Summer Music Series
Pound House Farmstead and Museum: 419B Founder's Park Road | 6:00 PM
The Pound House Farmstead Summer Music Series returns with an evening of live music and community gathering. Hosted by the Friends of the Pound House, the series supports the preservation and future of the historic farmstead. PFHMuseum.org
JULY 25TH
Hill Country Rally for Kids
Camp Ben McCulloch: 18301 FM 1826, Driftwood | 12:00 PM
Enjoy a day of family fun, community connection, classic cars, and barbecue competition supporting Hill Country Rally for Kids. Admission is free. Learn more and register at HCRally.com
JULY 25TH
4th Recon Veterans Hosts
BBQ Fundraiser
The Salt Lick BBQ: 18300 RM 1826, Driftwood | 12:00 PM
4th Recon Veterans hosts its first annual BBQ Fundraiser on July 25 at The Salt Lick BBQ. The evening will feature barbecue, live music, raffle prizes, and community support benefiting Marines and Sailors of the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion. Facebook.com/ events/965791232971876
JULY 27TH
Hill Country Culinary Series Launches at Camp Lucy
Camp Lucy: 3509 Creek Road | 12:00 PM
Camp Lucy introduces a three-day immersive barbecue master class featuring hands-on instruction from Texas pitmasters. The experience explores butchery, fire management, meat science, and live-fire cooking techniques. CampLucy.com
Luxury. Legacy. Forever.
Ranchette Communities with Breathtaking Views
Dripping Springs | Horseshoe Bay | Canyon Lake | Wimberley Areas
Ranch Lots from 6 to 23 Acres, including options with Custom Homes
FEATURED HOME BY KEITH WING CUSTOM HOMES
Listing agent | Jan Moreland, REALTOR® | Moreland Properties
