When I first started studying and working in branding — which I define as the strategic process of identity creation — the word “brand” was foreign in some sectors, and carried a negative connotation in most. When I wrote my master’s thesis on re-branding art museums to increase accessibility and…

Create your own “Alternative Texas Wine Trail” — The Texas High Plains have long been regarded as our state’s primary grape-growing region. And the stretch of 290 between Johnson City and Fredericksburg, widely known as “Wine Road 290,” has become one of the most popular wine destinations in the United States. In the Texas Hill Country alone, there…

A small gratitude practice with big feels. — Dazzling light. Vibrant colors streaming across the horizon. Curious clouds drifting just enough for the movement to be perceptible. A new masterwork revealed each evening. When I was a girl, I watched the sunset with my dad from our back deck. Today, and every evening I can, I watch the…

Nostalgia is a vibe right now. Y2K is somehow a fashion trend, with cargo pants, low-rise jeans and crop tops making a comeback. And did anyone else notice Hilary Duff wearing a Jordan jersey in the intro to How I Met Your Father? Emo is on the radio and taking…

Revisiting my most memorable, most intense, and most surreally-sized live music experiences. — While I often feel the most visceral emotional response to memories of intimate shows, some of my most vivid and intense experiences come from concerts of epic proportion. …

Well, we made it to the end of 2020! No easy feat, but we did it, and we proved that we can persevere and be resilient in the face of the unexpected and unprecedented. We are stronger than we once believed ourselves to be. Undoubtedly, we’ll continue to face challenges…

Do you love the outdoors AND the finer things in life? This post is for you! The Texas Hill Country is known for its scenic beauty — the big sky, rolling blue hills, limestone cliffs, clear rivers and natural springs. It’s also known as Texas Wine Country, with more than…

Music preserves us The next installment in my nostalgic live music memoir series… Austin, TX — I was a freshman in high school, and we were taking a field trip to the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth. On the bus ride, the boy I had a crush on took the seat next…

Reflections: Music Can Cure a Lonely Heart — I’ve been in a very reflective mode lately. I’m always pretty nostalgic, but the pandemic is really bringing it out of me. As we think about the uncertain future of live music experiences and yet rely on music to sooth our souls now more than ever, I’m thinking about the…