The Girl. The Myth. The Legend.
Welcome to Katy Lifestyle’s annual Ladies Edition, where we celebrate the extraordinary women who lead, nurture, and inspire throughout our community.
I grew up surrounded by strong women, with four sisters, more than a dozen female cousins, and a childhood spent on a cul-de-sac with fifteen girls all close in age. I was immersed in a world where friendship, support, and resilience were a part of everyday life. Those early experiences planted the seeds for a lifelong appreciation of the strength and beauty of female community.
In the early years of my nanny career, I had the privilege of working alongside some of the most powerful and influential female CEOs in the world. These remarkable women trusted me to help care for their children while they led companies, built organizations, and shaped industries. Watching them balance motherhood, leadership, and vision through a distinctly feminine lens left a lasting impression on me. They modeled a kind of leadership that combined strength with empathy, strategy with compassion, and ambition with deep care for the people around them.
Each of these women helped shape and inspire who I am today, reminding me that leadership doesn’t stand in opposition to nurturing — it grows from it. It truly takes a village.
And here in Katy, that village is thriving.
Within the pages of this Ladies Edition, we are honored to share the stories of women who are building, guiding, and strengthening our community in remarkable ways. From The New Mom's School that supports local mothers as they learn to raise the next generation, to authors inspiring young girls through stories of courage and adventure. To dynamic women’s networks empowering female entrepreneurs, and organizations that are walking alongside women rediscovering their purpose and stepping boldly into their callings.
We also celebrate the spaces that care for Katy’s women in a different, yet equally meaningful way—the spas and wellness sanctuaries that help us pause, refresh, and restore. These places remind us to care for ourselves so that we can continue to pour into others, helping women feel healthy, renewed, and radiant as we glow from the inside out.
These women represent the beautiful balance of power and nurture — leaders who are building businesses, raising families, mentoring others, and creating spaces where generations of women can flourish.
Katy Lifestyle is honored to share just a glimpse into the stories of Katy’s Ladies The Girl. The Myth. The Legend.
SHAWNA HINMAN, PUBLISHER @KATYCITYLIFESTYLE
May 2026
PUBLISHER
Shawna Hinman | Shawna.Hinman@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Lauren Piland | Lauren.Piland@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
G. Nichols Photography
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
Proverbs 3:5-6
Shawna Hinman
KATY CITY LIFESTYLE PUBLISHER
Antonio Landscapes 713-412-2014
Blooming Ink
WWW.BLOOMINGROSEKIDS.COM
CORE Recovery Lounge
WWW.CONNECTANDRECOVER.COM
Edwards Interiors and Design
WWW.EDWARDSINTERIORDESIGN.COM
Empire Glow By Angie
WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/EMPIREGLOWBYANGIE
F45 Cinco Ranch West
WWW.F45TRAINING.COM/STUDIO/CINCORANCHWEST
Floor Coverings International Katy
832-548-0700
Healthy Home Cleaning System
WWW.HEALTHYHOMECLEANINGSYSTEM.COM
House Doctors Handyman Services of Southwest Houston
WWW.HOUSEDOCTORS.COM/SOUTH-KATY
Infinite Possibilities Luxury Interiors
WWW.IPHOMESTAGING.COM
Katy Celia Health
WWW.CELIA-HEALTH.COM/MY-MOUNTAIN
KTX FIT
WWW.KTX.FIT
Kvitkafa
WWW.KVITKAFA.COM
LeeahV Books
WWW.AMAZON.COM/GIRL-VALLEY-GOLDEN-CITY/ DP/1987411242
Lucid Roofing Services
WWW.LUCIDSERVICESCO.COM
Onsite EMS
WWW.GOONSITECORP.COM
Seree Reynolds EXP Realty
WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/REALTOR.REYNOLDS/REELS
The Junkluggers of Katy
WWW.JUNKLUGGERS.COM/KATY
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: 11th Annual Graeme's Run raised $190,000+ for congenital heart defect research to honor its namesake 2: A beneficiary at Katy Taste Fest, Lunches of Love provides student lunches during school breaks 3: Danielle Dott and Nicole Cox led The Business Brunch Club's Bloom & Brew networking event 4: November Maker's bolo booth was a hit at the Houston Rodeo for the second year 5: The Dryer unveiled its rideable train "The Katy" with 900ft of tracks around the venue 6: Humble Grounds Katy + Tiffany's Tiny Boutique hosted their Hoppy Little Hunt & vendor market 7: The City of Katy brought fun & music to their Street Dance on the Square
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THE GRAEME MCDANIEL FOUNDATION
business monthly
The New Mom School Has Arrived in Katy
Motherhood wasn't meant to be done alone. At the New Mom School of Katy, they offer confidence, knowledge and a supportive community with 100% in-person classes grouped by your baby's birth date. Everything from newborn classes and breastfeeding support, to raising toddlers and prenatal bump dates - find your tribe here. Register now at their new location on Seven Meadows Parkway at NewMomSchool.com
Floor Coverings International Expanded Services in Katy Area
If you're looking for a better way to buy and install new flooring in Katy, your local owners with Floor Coverings International® bring high-quality flooring right to your door. Now with expanded services in the Katy area, their Mobile Flooring Showroom® brings curated flooring samples directly to you. You’ll see how each option looks in your lighting and alongside your furniture, making decisions that much easier. Schedule your consult at FloorCoveringsInternational.com.
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Katy Creative Corner: Local Novelist Aimee Pinard Releases Fourth Title
Local author Aimee Pinard recently kicked off celebrations for her fourth novel at a release party at Mockingbird Books. Alternate Reality is described as a thriller that "explores a grieving blogger's rise to viral fame that turns dark when a stalker emerges who knows more about her than she ever shared." Signed copies of Alternate Reality and her additional releases available at Mockingbird Books.
Photography by The New Mom School Katy
Photography by Aimee Pinard
Photography by Floor Coverings International
OU R P I CKS FOR
the CITY LIST
Best Boutique Shopping
We have such amazing, innovative business leaders in our community who are proud to serve you, our residents, with class and quality. We’ve compiled some of our top company picks for the services that might be on your mind this month in an effort to make your lives a little easier.
Want to suggest a monthly pick?
Monica Marie Boutique http://www.shopmonicamarie.com/
Ivy & Rae Boutique
http://www.ivyandrae.com/ | 281.698.7781
The Mompreneur Paper Co. Katy https://themompreneurpaperco.com/
Neat Method https://neatmethod.com/pages/services?zipcode=77077
Teal Poppy https://tealpoppy.com/ | 832.471.8031
Best Cosmetic Surgeon
Renew Wellness Center - Cinco Ranch https://renewwellnesscenter.com/cinco-ranch-katy-location/ | 832.491.2852
Body by Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics bodybyravi.com/ | 281.242.1061
Dr. Erica Bartlett | Enchanted Beauty Plastic Surgery http://enchantedbeautyplasticsurgery.com/ | 281.406.3988
ARA Med Spa https://www.thearamedspa.com/ | 346.500.5825
Lab De Skin Katy http://www.labdeskin.com/ | 832.437.8128
Best Lash Studio
Best Hair Salon
Nhiên Head Spa Nail and Wellness https://www.nhienheadspaandwellness.com/ | 346.604.7635
Aurea Salon http://www.aureasalon.com/ | 281.395.6711
Natural Hair of Katy http://naturalhairofkaty.com/ | 281.407.4372
Live Oak Salon
https://www.fresha.com/book-now/live-oak-salon-v6h0uxnb/all-offer?pId=41171 281.619.0174
Curl Boss https://curl-boss.square.site/ | 281.741.9408
The Lash Lounge Katy – Elyson https://www.thelashlounge.com/tx-katy-elyson | 346.268.5274
Lash Touch Studio https://www.lashtouchstudio.com/ | 832.400.5678
MILASH Lashes Extensions Katy https://milash.net/ | 346.478.0123
Polished Nails Studio https://polishednailsstudio.com/ | 281.665.8716
The Best Lash Studio & Head Spa https://the-best-lash-studio.square.site/ | 832.321.5324
Best Dermatologist
Clear Dermatology cleardermatology.com/ | 832.772.3330
Elite Dermatology & Plastic Surgery https://www.elitedermatology.com/?utm_source=gmb_auth&utm_campaign= fulshear | 281.612.0050
4Ever Young Anti Aging Solutions https://4everyoungantiaging.com/location/katy/?utm_source=GoogleLocal&utm_ medium=organic&utm_campaign=Googlelocal | 346.514.5288
Katy Dermatology- West Clinic http://katydermatology.com/ | 281.665.7097
Dream Aesthetic by Dr. Ortiz https://yourdreamaesthetic.com/ | 346.539.2104
the craving for connection in our female communities
A PRIDE OF HER OWN
ARTICLE BY LAUREN PILAND
Since the dawn of time, many life forms have been built around its communities. And at the heart of most, are the females.
Females that nurture.
Females that lead.
Females that connect.
From prides of lionesses and queen bees, to matriarchal indigenous tribes and bands of voices for women’s rights, to the lifelong bonds of female friendships - to know, and to be cared for by women is something fierce.
Something that is built around bonds. Bonds that teach and care for our young, and bonds that support and uplift our elders, and every stage in between.
We’ve all heard these phrases time, and time again:
“It takes a village.”
“Find your tribe.”
“Women supporting women.”
But for many modern women who feel they’re in the trenches alone, they know it’s easier said than done.
Has our fast-paced, digital age disconnected our women from one another?
A village takes connections. A tribe takes commitment. Support takes networking. And now, in post-pandemic times, the emphasis and importance on coming together, especially in person, shoulder to shoulder, is vital in so many ways.
So, women in Katy have taken it upon themselves to step up and step in to fill that void in new ways.
Women like Natalie Thomas, who founded Katy Moms Network in 2018.
“Motherhood is hard, it can be very isolating, it can be scary, confusing, all the things no matter what stage of motherhood you’re in,” she says.
So, she created a place where mothers can not only connect for resources and camaraderie, but for in-person events that lead to meaningful relationships. To not only guide their young through childhood, but to help guide each other through motherhood.
A space where women can share stories of sleepless nights over cold coffee and crumbly goldfish.
A space where women can brave social events alone for the chance of walking out with a new friend.
A space where women can juggle careers and families while looking forward to a night out to herself.
Women, like Natalie, who were searching for something they couldn’t quite put a finger on, but ultimately ended up finding a place where they felt seen, felt supported, and felt the female bonds we’ve been designed to share.
“I leaned on what I felt my gifts were, sharing information with moms, connecting with moms and letting mothers know, you’re not alone,” Natalie says.
But female community is not just for motherhood. It’s for all stages of life.
Life is full of twists, full of turns, and while partners hold a significant place in our journey and hearts, so do the women we surround ourselves with.
Because, why do it alone, when we can do it together?
Olivia Martin knows this importance all too well. A College Station transplant, she knew no one, and knew little about opening her own business here in 2018.
Determined to earn the support and trust of a brand new community, she set out to illustrate just what her company was capable of. And learning as she went, she realized so many others were in the same boat.
Women ultimately ended up finding a place where they felt seen, felt supported, and felt the female bonds we’ve been designed to share.
Natalie & Brooke of ChatKTX; photography by Quincy Marie Photography
Jujuu Photography
“I say I started KTX Window Cleaning with a google search bar, and (that just proves) you can do anything that you put your mind to,” she admits on local podcast ChatKTX.
But facing business challenges is better with friends. Better with women to collaborate with. Better with women who’ve felt your struggles, and cheer your triumphs.
And with the success Olivia and her husband felt after sharing their talents with the community, she wanted others to feel that support as well. With her friend and fellow business leader, Stacy Jacobs, they founded the development group, Women of Katy. Both a program that hosts quarterly events with inspirational speakers and topics, and a scholarship-based foundation that mentors women into becoming strong leaders, knowledgeable business owners, and hopeful stewards to usher in the next era.
Olivia says, “Katy is special. And I thank my husband everyday for bringing me here. Because for the first time in forever, we’re able to grow into our own.”
Growing into our own, supported by our village, should be a fundamental stage in every woman's life, not just a privilege.
And, groups like Katy Moms Network and the Women of Katy aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
Natalie introduced her community to her newest avenue, ChatKTX, a local podcast with friend and host Brooke Gonzalez.
Brooke, a veteran teacher and entrepreneur herself, with her gym CrossFit GonzStrong, also felt the itch to connect with her neighbors here in Katy.
She felt she could provide a platform to share more about the great things and amazing stories happening right in our own backyard.
Especially proud of her years in the classroom, Brooke says, “The teachers and the coaches are what makes this district amazing. The leaders in our school. Let’s shine a light on them. That’s community. That’s how we thrive here in Katy TX.”
That’s the power of this community. Taking pride in helping raise strong students into strong leaders, supporting strong women into strong entrepreneurs, and nurturing strong mothers into strong matriarchs.
With a community this large, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or disconnected, but these women are connecting women one business, one event, one social post, at a time.
As this women-led web continues to grow, it continues to build stronger. Continues to withstand real challenges. Continues to foster real community. Together.
Special thanks to Brooke and Natalie of ChatKTX for podcast permissions, you can find full episodes at @ChatKTX on YouTube. You can also follow along with Katy Moms Network, the Women of Katy and KTX Window Cleaning on their Instagram pages.
Olivia Martin and Stacy Jacobs; Lifetime of Clicks Photography Lifetime of Clicks Photography
Ways to Connect
motherhood
Katy Moms Network
New Mom School Katy
We Rock the Spectrum play gym
Special Moms Meet Up at Humble Grounds
business building
Women of Katy
The Biz Brunch Club
She Means Business
community
book events at Mockingbird Books
Katy Social Women’s Network
mahjong events with Hey Let’s Mahj
area Ladies’ Clubs & Junior Leagues
EMPIRE STATE OF GLOW
redefining beauty & restoring confidence, one body at a time
ARTICLE BY LAUREN PILAND PHOTOGRAPHY BY G. NICHOLS PHOTOGRAPHY
To glow is to emit light, radiate heat or emanate a feeling of passion.
A feeling that Angie Ramirez believes women should feel about themselves everyday. Growing up in Bogota, Colombia, radiating energies are evident in their culture, their spirit, and their way of life.
Angie Ramirez of Empire Glow
“I’m here to guide them through a full body process, and for them to get their glow back.”
She explains that Colombian women are known to be very in tune with their appearance and style, exuding a confidence that stems from taking care of and pride in themselves.
A norm that enveloped Angie at a young age. In fact, as the daughter of a hair stylist, she really doesn’t remember a time where the beauty industry wasn’t part of her lifestyle growing up.
“From about 15 years of age, my sister and I would experiment on all of the new beauty trends, inspired by all of the beautiful women we were surrounded by,” she says.
After graduating and spending a year in Barcelona, she was ready to start bringing her industry knowledge back to the women in her hometown. Helping women build confidence and self-esteem with therapeutic spa services that help reinvigorate, stimulate and awaken the body from the inside out.
It wasn’t until years later that she felt her first culture shock, when relocating to Saudi Arabia with her husband.
“The beauty industry is very different there,” she says. She had to quickly take into account how modest and conservative beliefs come into play when feeling beautiful and tasteful. Relying more on a more natural, subtle beauty.
And when their journey brought them to Katy, she set out to pave yet another path with a whole new culture to get accustomed to.
She says, “American women fall somewhere in the middle.” Finding our own rhythm of balancing beauty with modesty, of mirroring self-confidence with personal taste.
One step into her Empire Glow studio space in Katy, and you instantly feel at home. A relaxation with a symphony of sounds and scents that transport you to a place of peace. A place of calm. A place of non-judgment.
CONTINUED >
“Seeing their reactions when they’re appreciative and feeling good in their own skin again makes it so worth it.”
Angie strives for clients to feel right at home, and gives ample time for her one-on-one sessions because she believes in getting to know her clients, their insecurities, their goals, and taking the time to put them at ease for a truly rejuvenating experience.
“A lot of women come in postpartum, feeling insecure about the body that was once theirs but now feels foreign,” she says. “I want them to know I’m here to help. I’m here to guide them through a full body process, and for them to get their glow back.”
Her services include reductive contouring massages, radio frequency sessions to stimulate collagen production, pressotherapy treatments
that promote lymphatic drainage and muscle stimulation sessions to tone muscles.
“I want to help people because I know how it feels. Seeing their reactions when they’re appreciative and feeling good in their own skin again makes it so worth it,” Angie states.
She believes the people you surround yourself with, are the ones who will shape your self-esteem, your self-confidence, your glow from within. And that doesn’t change even if your continent does.
If you’d like to learn more about Empire Glow’s services, please visit her Instagram @EmpireGlowbyAngie.
Creating Unique Spaces Tailored to You
At Edwards Interior Design, we believe that every home should be a reflection of its owner With years of expertise and a passion for thoughtful design, we create spaces that blend beauty, comfort, and functionality tailored uniquely for you
Villagio Shopping Center - Cinco Ranch 22764 Westheimer Parkway Suite 620B Katy, TX 77450 | 832 437 6214 www edwardsinteriordesign com hello@edwardsinteriordesign com
Behind each of our 200+ City Lifestyle magazines is someone who cares deeply about their community. Someone who connects people, celebrates businesses, and shares the stories that matter most. What if that someone was you?
Or maybe it’s someone you know. If this isn’t the right time for you, but you know someone who could be the perfect fit, we’d love an introduction.
how one woman got curious, and found her own path to healing
Fighting Her Fire Within
ARTICLE BY LAUREN PILAND
Mycelium
Many early twenty-somethings yearn for exploration, adventure and finding purpose to set the stage for entering adulthood. From jungles to the outback, from rocky roads to smooth sails.
And, Koehl Robinson felt that itch. With a natural entrepreneurial spirit from her parents, and an indomitable heart that thrived on curiosity, it came as no surprise that she had already ventured into starting three companies and traveling the world by the ripe age of 24.
In her early ventures, Koehl sought to connect mission-focused brands around the globe to sustainable stores that could support their visions for worthy causes and conservation efforts worldwide.
Her passions were ablaze, her team was growing rapidly, and she felt her future endeavors taking shape. But unbeknownst to her, there were other things brewing.
After nearly a decade of weaving in explorations abroad, she ended up bringing home more than memories, inspiration and relics.
At the age of 28, Koehl’s personal life came to a screeching halt. A near-fatal halt. And, thus a new path of curiosity and adventure was taking shape. But this time, it meant traveling within.
Koehl was now forced down a years-long path of chronic illness, infections and immune dysfunction. And as her body was screaming out, she tried desperately to listen in.
But, just what was her body was trying to tell her?
Weary of seeing so many results coming back inconclusive, her tenacity got the best of her. She started researching broadening remedies from the worldly cultures and ancient sources she once visited.
It was then that she came across one homeopathic doctor that finally had a clear answer. A treatment for internal parasites. A lifesaving effort to regain the lifeblood that was being consumed from inside. And, finally, it worked.
But this revelation would turn out to be just the beginning of her next journey. A journey to complete wellness not only for herself, but for others. A journey not just to restore a state of survival, but a state of thriving. CONTINUED
Koehl Robinson
CeliaRX
“Often the answer was that everything looked “normal” or that what I was experiencing didn’t have a clear explanation. That feeling of being stuck in your own body without clarity is incredibly isolating,” says Koehl.
She has since discovered ways that we can provide our body with a road map toward healing. Listening to our body and its system as a whole, and healing the network within.
Our cells can regenerate. Our bodies can adapt. Our genetics do not have to dictate our destiny.
After years of navigating her own path to healing, she wanted to share this information with others in similar situations. And, with her entrepreneurial flame still in tact, she founded CeliaRX.
Stemming from the feminine form of the mycelium mushroom roots that break down matter and absorb nutrients, “celia” represent a network of nourishment in a dynamic system.
Celia’s mission explains the power of using peptides for healing, “They signal. They guide. They tell your body when to repair tissue, regulate inflammation, balance hormones, or support metabolism. They don’t force the body to do something unnatural, they help it respond more effectively.”
Getting back to her roots, and branching out to help others, was maybe the path Koehl was destined to be on after all. And if there’s anything a good entrepreneur understands, it’s how to pivot, how to adapt, and how to forge their vision to reality, even in uphill battles.
When asked to reflect on how her own story is now helping so many others correct theirs, Koehl says, “I would tell (my younger self) that the frustration and uncertainty weren’t the end of the story - they were the beginning of a new path. When you’re sick for a long time, it’s easy to believe that your body has betrayed you. What I eventually learned is that the body is incredibly adaptive when given the right tools and information. What felt like years of struggle ultimately gave me the perspective to build Celia Health.”
Through her growing business, Koehl is now leading an innovative team that has guided more than 2,000 individuals onto their own paths to not just living, but living well.
Our body is based on interconnected biology just like every other organism on our planet. Not meant for isolation. Not meant to live in a vacuum. But, meant to be a part of a network that stems from health, vitality and energy. The mycelium of life.
For more information on CeliaRX’s peptides and programs, visit Celia-Health.com/My-Mountain.
FROM misfits to MONARCHS
one woman’s fierce fight for rebirth and reemergence
ARTICLE BY LAUREN PILAND
Monarch butterflies are known to most for their beautiful reemergence. Meandering from a once prickly caterpillar, and growing into an illustrious marvel. One that takes determination, strength and instinct before embarking on their journey ahead.
Tyler Smith has personified that journey. One that started with self-imprisonment and addiction, and leading to actual incarceration and rock bottom. But, what happened next was a phenomenon of itself. A forced cocoon and reflection stage, that not only ended up turning her own life around, but the lives of so many women around her as well.
When Tyler had all of the odds in the world stacked against her, she chose a different path. She chose to turn inward, strive higher and dream bigger.
A journey that first sparked from her relationship with God. A light in her storm. A beacon in her turmoil. A flicker of hope in the face of uncertainty. From redefining her own self-worth and purpose, to facing her addiction head on, her spiritual being started to heal.
Healing her mind and spirit grew into a desire to heal physically as well. Knowing that carrying out her dreams, aspirations and purpose would ultimately need nourishment from the inside out.
When asked how fitness fits into her rehabilitation equation, she replied, “you can’t address all the areas of your being without addressing physical being as well.”
From once living on the streets to strutting across the body building stage, Tyler’s spiritual & health journey taught her discipline, resilience and pride. And once she was able to stand tall and reflect back on her journey, she knew it didn’t end with her own triumphs.
Tyler Smith; photography by Sabrina Casas Photography Studio
She had met countless women who walked in similar shoes. Women who felt they didn’t fit in. Women who felt they didn’t have a place in the world. Women who felt unwanted and unworthy. A misfit.
In 2022, Tyler created Misfits Mission. She first started as a mobile gym, traveling to mentor ladies in both fitness and discipleship, setting goals and igniting inspiration in her wake after every session. By 2023, she was ready to set her sights on something bigger.
Inspired by Holocaust survivor Corrie Ten Boom’s memoir The Hiding Place, Tyler realized her desire to provide a safe landing place, a sanctuary and an ally for weary travelers. Thus,
The Hiding Place was born, a haven for women willing to rest, reset and reemerge into something stronger than before. To break patterns, to break bread, and to pledge commitments to her yearlong process.
Based around five pillars of well-rounded growth and healing, residents are immersed in a new way of life, a new way of thinking, and a new way of serving.
From healthy routines and nutritional education, to financial literacy and professional development, to Christ-centered recovery support and trauma-informed care, this program helps residents restore their dignity, build their confidence, and prepare themselves for sustainable independence. Her program also shines a light on igniting their creative talents, bringing forth passions in art, music and tapping into simple joys within.
Her goal isn’t just to help women get on their feet, but to realize their full potential in all areas of life. When women are given the tools to realize their purpose, their worth, their God-given gifts to this world, they can truly be free.
But, Tyler’s not done yet. She’s set her eyes on a new goal. One that could usher in more women, and help wade through the stack of applicants on her waiting list. A second home called Our Father’s House is in the works, and comes with a hefty fundraising goal to purchase, repair, and remodel this safe haven where more women can heal and rebuild.
Misfits Mission is committed to raising up disciples who make disciples, women who are not only healed and singing their new song but empowered to go back and uplift others to sing alongside them.
To reflect. To grow. To reemerge.
You can learn more about Misfits Mission, make a donation or register for their fundraising events at MisfitsMission.org. In 2026, they’ll be hosting their Fifth Annual Spring RuckRaiser, May 9, at No Label Brewing Co. and their annual Fall New Song Gala, September 21, at Anthonie’s Market Grill in Simonton.
Misfits on a Mission
Nicole was like many women coming out of years of survival mode, but chose to prioritize her future by pursuing her Recovery Coach Certification and is now the Residential Recovery & Transportation Coordinator at The Hiding Place.
Kim spent 15 years in prison, but at The Hiding Place, she was able to focus and invest in her future, recently earning her Wellness Coach Certification and working at CincoFit Gym. With a bright future in sight, she’s continuing her education and now studying for her Nutrition Coach Certification.
Charity was the first graduate of the Misfits Mission program, committing to herself and her sons, and is now the House Manager of The Hiding Place. She calls Tyler her “spiritual mom” because without her, she would have certainly gone back to her old life. But Tyler says, “it’s not me, it’s my obedience through the Lord that gives her and others these opportunities.”
We are the environmentally friendly alternative to conventional junk removal specializing in removing and recycling or donating unwanted residential, commercial and industrial items.
Whether you are emptying out the attic or garage, getting rid of old furniture or appliances, changing offices, or need to clean-up a construction site, our junk removal and donation process couldn’t be simpler. No job is too big or too small!
ARTICLE BY KALI KASORZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
BECKY HILLYARD
From Side Hustle to Style Empire
The power of taste, trust, and the courage to “just start.”
She didn’t have a business plan, a media budget, or even a name anyone could pronounce. What Becky Hillyard had was taste, a young family, and the instinct to just start. Today, her lifestyle brand Cella Jane commands an audience the size of Vogue’s, she’s nine collections strong with Splendid, and she’s built it all while raising three kids — refusing to sacrifice one for the other. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Becky shares what it really takes to build a brand, a career, and a life you love. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full conversation.
Q: WHEN DID YOU KNOW CELLA JANE WAS MORE THAN A HOBBY?
A: Two moments. Women started emailing me saying they bought something I recommended and felt amazing — asking me to help them find a dress for a wedding. That felt incredible. Then I looked at my affiliate numbers for one month and realized I could cover our mortgage. I thought, I can actually do this. I never set out to build a business. I started it because I genuinely loved it.
Becky in Splendid x @CellaJaneBlog Spring 2026 Collection
Q: WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK WITH THE BRAND?
A: Designing my own collection. It’s easy to point at items on a website and say I love these. But to create something from scratch, put your name on it, and wait to see if people connect with it — that’s terrifying. I had an incredible partner in Splendid, and women loved the pieces. It was the biggest risk and the biggest accomplishment.
Q: HOW HAS INFLUENCER MARKETING CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?
A: When I started, brands didn’t know whether to take it seriously. Now it’s a legitimate line item in their marketing budgets — sometimes bigger than TV. Because what we’ve built is trust. People trust a real recommendation from someone they follow far more than a commercial. There’s no question about it now.
Q: YOU’RE A MOM OF THREE RUNNING A FULL BRAND. WHAT DOES YOUR DAY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?
A: I try to get up at five and not hit snooze — that first hour before the house wakes up is the most productive, most peaceful hour of my day. Then it’s all hands on deck with the kids and school drop-off. After that I work — planning content, connecting with my team, editing. After pickup, the day shifts completely and it’s all about them. I’ve learned to protect both halves fiercely, because both matter.
Q: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING OF THEIR OWN BUT KEEPS WAITING?
A: Don’t wait. Don’t wait for the perfect camera, the right strategy, or enough followers. We find every excuse to stay comfortable. Just start, be consistent, and be authentically yourself. The right people will find you — and they’ll stay.
This conversation is just the beginning. Becky goes deeper on the risks that almost stopped her, the design process behind her latest Splendid collection, and what she’d tell her 2012 self today. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle Podcast.
“Trust is the only metric that actually compounds.”
— Becky Hillyard
ARTICLE BY LEEAH V. BOOKS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMMY JAY ART
“THE GIRL”
TALKING ANIMALS, SINGING CREEKS, A STRANGE AND FANTASTICAL LAND! THIS IS WHERE A YOUNG GIRL FINDS HERSELF SUDDENLY EMBARKING ON AN ADVENTURE!
Chapter 7
She awoke the next morning to the sight of a horse drinking water from the creek that lay next to her. She sat up staring at him as she rubbed the sleepiness away from her eyes. She saw the horse was mostly white and dappled with dark gray spots all over his tall muscular body that was accompanied by a light grey mane and tail.
He lifted his head from his drink, looking at the awakened girl and proclaimed, “That was quite a battle here last night, neigh? Did you see the stars darting to and fro? They were quite busy, were they not? Do you happen to know what it all was for?”
Standing to her feet, her head slightly dropped in remorse she replied, “Yes. I think it all must have been about me, I’m afraid.”
“Well,” said the horse nodding a bit in agreement, “you must have come to some sort of decision then. Otherwise, I would not have been able to break through to be here with you now. But please, forgive
me. Where have my manners gone? I have yet to introduce myself to you. I am called Nissi, and I have been sent here to strengthen you and to help you accomplish that which you cannot do on your own.”
The girl lifted her head and stood up a bit taller at this information. A large smile broke over her face as she sighed with relief. “Oh good! In fact, I do have a long journey ahead of me. Only, I don’t quite know the way, and it seems so very far away from here. Do you think you could help me get to where I am going?”
The horse leaped up out of the water and onto the grassy bank beside her. With a gleeful smile, he replied, “Journeys happen to be my specialty!"
Continue the journey by purchasing The Girl on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Valley-Golden-City/ dp/1987411242
“The Valley”
“The Horse”
SATURDAYS
Farmers Market on Grand Parkway
1225 W Grand Parkway S, Katy | 8:00 AM
Every Saturday from 8am-noon, rain or shine, stroll the longstanding vendor lanes of the Farmers Market on Grand Parkway, located at the Church of the Holy Apostles, and featuring local, sustainably grown produce, pasture-raised meats, free-range eggs, local raw honey, crafts, breads, baked goods, and more! More at FarmersMarketonGrandParkway.com
SATURDAYS
Katy’s Farmers Market at The Dryer
The Dryer, 5339 E. Third Street, Katy | 9:00 AM
Located in the historic area of The Dryer venue & Katy Beer Garden, every Saturday, 9am-1pm, rain or shine, this weekly farmers market features a traditional assortment of locally grown and harvested vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat and other wholesome products. More at TheDryer.com
MAY 1ST
Angels Among Us Gala
The Crystal Ballroom, 909 Texas Avenue, Houston | 6:00 PM
Mothers of Held Angels is hosting their Angels Among Us Gala Friday, May 1. The mission of Mothers of Held Angels is to give a voice to grieving mothers who have experienced the profound loss of holding their baby after passing. From CuddleCots to Angel Boxes, gala fundraising provides comforting support in the most fragile times. More at MOHAnetwork.org
MAY 2ND
Society Prosper’s Healing in Bloom Fashion Show
The Ark - By Norris | 1:00 PM
Society Prosper is hosting their third annual Healing in Bloom Fashion Show benefitting their cause of providing trauma-based therapy services for children in our city. In Derby-themed elegance, guests will delight in the fashions, bites & wine presented by Mann Group Properties Team & Amp Lending. Tickets & tables at SocietyProsper.org
MAY 9TH
Misfits Mission's 5th Annual RuckRaiser
No Label Brewing Co., 5351 1st Street, Katy | 7:00 AM
The Misfits Mission is a fitness & spirituality-based program that provides housing & healing for women newly released from prison. Their 5th annual RuckRaiser is a family-friendly fitness event for all levels that includes a walk (with or without your own weighted ruck sack), a live DJ, food trucks and an opportunity to support their mission. More info at MisfitsMission.org
MAY 16TH
Downtown Disney on the Square
Katy Historic Town Square, 904 Avenue C, Katy | 6:00 PM
A touch of magic is coming to Katy with Downtown Disney on the Square. With fun for all ages, come spend an evening with your favorite characters under the stars. More at CityofKaty.com
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