You said in a recent newsletter that The Lovely is your home base.  What do you mean by that?

In my first newsletter back after taking a six-month unexpected hiatus from publishing, I stated that The Lovely was going to be my home base. For me, as much as I enjoy writing blog posts and creating content for social media, the real place of connection between me and my audience, and the most valuable, vulnerable work I produce is housed inside The Lovely. I send it out on Sunday evenings to my email subscribers, and if I had to choose one place to show up creatively in the world, this would be it. The Lovely is where I create meaning from big feelings, share what I am experiencing and learning and look for ways to model hospitality through the lens of my life. Writing The Lovely feels like home.

How do you define lovely living?

Lovely living is the art of blending form and function, vulnerability and decorum, practicality and elegance. It is caring well for yourself so that you can care well for others. It is creating beauty is small spaces and holding space for joy in big moments. Lovely living is never perfect, never without pain, but always focused on learning, growing and evolving as a person.

As a business owner, blogger, and mom, I imagine life can be overwhelming. How do you maintain order and peace?

Yes, life is overwhelming, order is not always possible, and peace can be crowded out by anxiety, but I do my best to value both in my life. In my experience, order is easiest to maintain when we live within our limits. Whether those limits are the amount of space we have in a closet, the amount of time we have in a day, or the amount of emotional bandwidth we have to give to others, limits are there to protect our resources. Chaos ensues when I step outside of my limits and overextend myself. Not enough sleep, saying yes to too many commitments, bringing more stuff into my life than I have space to hold—all of it forces me outside of my limits and ultimately creates chaos. I am my most ordered self when I am living squarely inside my limits in all areas. And oddly enough, for me, order ushers in space for creativity and freedom. As for peace, well, that can be more complicated. Sometimes we cannot control the stressors of life, and we have to manage our resources and tend to our wounds as best we can, always with kindness and patience. I have learned to listen to my gut and intuition. I know and can feel in my body when something is out of alignment with my values or prevents me from showing up as my true self. Whenever possible, I remove myself from situations that ding my internal alarm system. Peace is being able to lay my head on my pillow each night knowing I have protected my sense of well-being and safety so that I can show up as my most wholehearted, aligned self. It’s not easy, and not always possible, but it is the only way I want to live.

What drew you to hospitality?

Belonging is what initially drew me to hospitality. My life has been a series of circumstances that have delivered the message that I don’t belong. In an effort to find a place where I felt like I belonged, I began to create that for other people, using my own experiences of rejection and pain as a place to create home and family for others. I learned to cook so I could invite people over for dinner. I figured out how to be present at my own parties so that I could connect with other people instead of stressing out and missing the fun of the event. I dug deep from a well of sorrow to create spaces where people would feel loved and cared for because in doing so, I found a slice of home and belonging for myself.

What small changes can someone make so that their home feels like a sacred space?

Sacred spaces in our homes are so important. I think the best place to begin is in the bedroom because it is the most intimate, personal space we occupy. A bed that welcomes you at the end of a long day, embracing you in layers of warmth and coziness. A closet that feels full of joy and acceptance because it only houses articles of clothing that fit well and reflect a sense of personal style. A bathroom full of small yet significant ways to care for your physical body. A collection of items that remind you of who you are and where you come from. These are the ingredients for a space that pours into you instead of draining you. Once you establish a place for yourself that you return to at the end of the day and step into each morning, you can learn what works for you and begin to create that same feeling of sacredness in other areas of your home.

Where do you feel most inspired?

I feel most inspired when I consume the creative work of others. Movies, songs, television shows, beautiful rooms, delicious meals, interesting architecture, magical performances, well-written books, even a stunning pair of shoes…I love things that make me feel something. The feelings are where my work begins, and the things I create always originate from an emotion I feel very deeply. I have learned to listen to what moves me, without any judgement of the source. Being open to feeling in response to something moving is vulnerable work, and judgement will only snuff out the flame of inspiration. Admitting that a Taylor Swift song, a sublime cheeseburger, a high school band concert or a perfectly appointed guest bathroom can be the birthplace of inspiration can sound silly, but I am willing to be silly for the sake of living a creative life. So what if an episode of The Bear made me weep? What’s important is looking closely at what the art unveiled in me, discovering why I am feeling what I am feeling, and then using those feelings to create something of my own.

Any summer trends on your radar?

My favorite summer trends aren’t really trends. I tend to gravitate toward the classics, particularly in the kitchen. Stocking the freezer with homemade ice cream. Eating garden-fresh tomatoes with grilled sourdough and homemade ricotta. Lemonade, watermelon, peaches. I also adore the slower pace of summer and try to absorb every drop of ease I can find. As for fashion, my current favorite is a summer sweater, which I know sounds bizarre, but is oddly satisfying. The blast of AC indoors can create the need for a loose-knit layer to throw over my shoulders, and while I do not need it the second I step outside, the sensory experience of the summertime sweater is top-notch in my book.

Describe your perfect day or evening.

A perfect day? Waking up rested without an alarm, followed by coffee and an easy breakfast while I feed the kitten, listen to music, and check my phone. I love my work, so chipping away at a project would feel good and productive, requiring me to expend some creative energy and perhaps collaborate with others.  A lunchtime trip to the grocery store (my happy place) buying ingredients for an upcoming meal, followed by an afternoon resting and being alone sounds ideal. And then, finishing the day by getting dressed in something fun for an evening with friends, enjoying a meal, lingering over drinks, talking and laughing and feeling seen. These are the kind of evenings I adore. Finally, returning home for a long bath, a cute pair of pajamas, a few pages of a good book or a few stitches of needlepoint, and then falling into my bed and turning out the light. It’s the simple things that make the perfect day and having them all in one day would be magical.

The post Worthy Convos: Katherine Sasser and All Things Lovely first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Founded by brothers Addison and Randolph Clark during Reconstruction as AddRan Male and Female College, the College’s vision was as simple as it was progressive: to create a place where both men and women could earn a classical education while developing their character. It may be hard to believe that the original intentions of the College (the name was later changed to AddRan Christian University before becoming Texas Christian University) did not include plans for what would become a nationally recognized football program, but that minor oversight would be corrected before the turn of the century.

The student population at AddRan has grown significantly since the original 13 students and has undergone other seismic changes, but the brothers Clark would undoubtedly recognize the same dedication to providing young minds exposure to a spectrum of disciplines in preparation for a successful launch into the world. On the college’s website, in a mixture of jest and gravitas, is a rhetorical question with the perfect answer:

“What can you do with a liberal arts degree? Anything.”

A concise summation of what an AddRan education can do is found on a sign staked into the grass outside Scharbauer Hall that reads, “Unlock languages. Unlock the world.” This powerful and straightforward message comes from the college’s polyglot Department of Modern Language Studies (MLS), which offers undergraduate courses in six languages and the opportunity to major or minor in Chinese, French, German, or Italian. But the faculty of MLS provides students with more than just formal instruction. After all, any language department worth its sal knows that learning by immersion is the difference between correctly pronouncing the word for a buttery, flaky pastry and déguster un croissant en lisant Le Monde.

photo credit: Raquel Witt

Take it from junior Ella Mercer, an ambitious and contagiously cheerful journalism major and political science minor whose only exposure to Italian before choosing it as her foreign language was food-related.

“Other than eating pizza, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I had never been out of the country,” recalls Mercer with a laugh.

The decision to choose to learn Italian was not one that Mercer spent much time contemplating. Nor was she looking to unlock a language to unlock the world. It was a basic equation. Credit requirements, plus a friend signed up for the class, plus a plan to get a stamp in her passport equaled Italian 101. But one study abroad trip later, and Mercer was hooked.

“I went on a two-week study abroad with my Italian professor, the study abroad coordinator, and a history professor. It was a fantastic trip, and we got to see so much of Sicily. There was a beginner Italian course for everyone, but my friends and I felt a little ahead of the curve because we were already a semester into studying the Italian language. We ate so much good food. We went to the beaches. We learned about Italian culture, about nonprofits helping immigrants – it was just a phenomenal experience,” gushed Mercer.

The Nashville native entered her sophomore year with an Italian minor.

Photo courtesy of Ella Mercer

Dr. Muriel Cormican, associate dean of undergraduate studies and professor of German, refers to Mercer’s experience as “the tipping point.” Having devoted her entire career to teaching foreign languages (prompted by a very similar undergraduate experience in Austria to Mercer’s), Cormican attributes this shift in a student’s attitude toward whatever language they are studying to an immersive experience like studying abroad.

Prior to joining TCU’s faculty five years ago, Cormican and her husband were German professors at the University of West Georgia for over two decades. Every summer, they would take students to Deutschland for 10 weeks, and every summer, she would witness the transformation. It was as regular as German clockwork.

“The first three weeks were really positive. It didn’t matter what level the students were because everything was new and exciting, and they were away from home,” said Cormican. Then came the dip in morale during weeks four and five.

“We seriously prepared for this. We knew it was going to be awful. [The students] are all going to be depressed. They’re going to be homesick. Their brains are going to hurt. They’re going to feel like they’ll never be able to do anything.”

But just as all hope faded, the inevitable shift occurred.

“It was about week six or seven when this turn came for students at every single level. There was a point as the departure home came into focus, and they realized that this was really an extraordinary experience. Maybe enough time had passed where they could see what they had learned and how far they had come. We brought back so many students from that program who wanted to complete a minor,” Cormican said with a big smile.

Mercer did not spend 10 weeks in Italy for her study abroad (and if she had, she might not have returned to Fort Worth), and it certainly wasn’t enough time to master her language skills; however, it was enough time for her to fully understand that “you can’t separate the language from the culture.” If she couldn’t live in Italy for the duration of her undergraduate studies, the next best thing was to enroll in TCU’s MOLA Language House Program.

The program has four language houses: Chinese, French, German, and Italian. All the language houses are located on TCU’s campus, and all welcome learners at every level of competency. Since the purpose of living in a language house is to further immerse yourself in your language of study, each house has assigned coordinators (native, near-native, or other competent speakers of Chinese, French, German, or Italian) to speak with the House residents, provide language tutoring, and organize cultural events for the residents and the university at large.

Cormican, who used to oversee the language house program when she was the department chair, says it’s essential that the coordinators employed in the house “encourage the students to stay in the languages as much as possible” since the intent is to replicate the study abroad experience.

“We’ve got two English native speakers in this apartment [Mercer’s apartment in the Italian House], as well as one Italian native speaker and one Spanish native speaker. So, there’s just a ton of languages going on all the time, especially when we’re on the phone calling home. You’ll have one of us speaking Spanish, one speaking Italian, and one speaking English. It’s just really funny. But we do try to speak Italian when we’re together, just talking to try and get that conversational aspect,” said Mercer.

Another critical aspect of the “educational experience” that Mercer enjoys is eating. And if there’s one country that’s synonymous with good food, it’s Italy. When asked where her favorite Italian food in Fort Worth is, she replied, “Our professor’s house. Honestly, she can cook extravagant Italian pasta meals. There are flavors that I’ve never even tried before and pasta shapes I’ve never even heard of before that she rolls out by hand. Or we make pizza by hand.”

Mercer is entering her second year in the Italian House, and her positive experience brings genuine joy to Cormican because she knows the effort that her department puts into its student programs.

Photo courtesy of Ella Mercer

“The faculty and the department are, by and large, incredibly dedicated to the students, wanting to interact with them in really holistic terms, not just as people in the classroom, but as human beings. Everybody takes a lot of joy in [their] foreign language. They so love the act of using it and hearing others use it and learn it. I think that’s a really strong aspect of the modern language studies department and TCU in general,” said Cormican.

Cormican also specifically credits Dr. Nick Albanese, associate professor of Italian and department chair, for the continued success of the language house program. “Nick is absolutely devoted to the Italian program…and he’s done a great job maintaining the tradition and strength of the houses since he took over as chair.”

When asked about her plans following graduation next May, Mercer is hopeful for another trip to Italy but has no intention (yet!) of making a permanent move to la bella Italia. Instead, she would like to pursue her other passion for storytelling and work in broadcast news as a producer for a local station while continuing to use the Italian language and all that it taught her.

“I think the whole point of college is to try to learn about other people and other perspectives. Without that, you get echo chambers and a social media world that’s dangerous to navigate. But with other perspectives and with a globally focused mindset, I think I’m setting myself up for a better future.”

Ella Mercer may not have intentionally planned to unlock the world, but she certainly unlocked something in herself that will help guide her through the next phase of what’s sure to be a very dolce vita.

Learning a language is a lifelong pursuit, according to Dr. Muriel Cormican. If you are up for the challenge, these expert tips can help get you started and keep you motivated.

Photo courtesy of Ella Mercer

Dr. Cormican’s five tips for learning a language as a working adult

1. Commit to a formal structure. A class, even one weekly tutorial (can be online); something to keep you accountable.
2. Don’t underestimate listening. It’s a crucial part of language learning. Spend 10 minutes of your commute or walk listening to something.
3. Don’t overestimate Duolingo. It’s gamified learning and has its pluses, but it also has many shortcomings.
4. Sing in the language. Find some songs, listen, sing along, learn the lyrics.
5. Persist and take risks. Appreciate that it’s like running and rerunning marathons. It’s a long process with good and bad days; you just have to keep going.

The post Unlock the World first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Moss is the creator and co-owner of Franklin & Anthony, a bespoke menswear and womenswear company in Fort Worth that continues to grow and evolve since its launch in 2015. The clothier’s ethos is simple: quality fabric and keen design make a lasting impression. This Deion Sanders-like ideology of how presentation affects outcome (“If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good.”) was adopted by Moss back when he went by a different name.

In the early 2000s, Moss was a young kid pursuing a hip-hop career. He was known to everyone as Quite Frank and was known as much for his style as his rhymes. It was one of the constant themes in his music, too.

photo credit: Jordan Smith

“I used to rap about fashion. But because we were all in college, I still went to Burlington Coat Factory and Ross to get thrifty clothes that were in style,” said Moss, laughing as he recalled his bold choices then. “I remember being one of the first people to wear Ed Hardy before it actually became something big. The thing that made me stand out more was my fashion was always different. I used to get clowned in the neighborhood because I used to wear skinny jeans before skinny jeans were the thing.” He grinned, “And now, the people who clowned me back then are still wearing skinny jeans even though skinny jeans are no longer the thing!”

Fashion came naturally to Moss. He had confidence and an intuition for predicting trends, and he caught the attention of an industry professional. By 2005, Quite Frank was part owner of Supreme Records, a Fort Worth label promoting Texas hip-hop artists. The manager of Supreme Records’ biggest artist expressed an interest in also managing Moss. “He wanted to manage me. But he didn’t like me as a rapper. He [understood] the potential that I had as a brand…and thought I should get into fashion more,” said Moss.

Around this time, Moss was already elevating his style, transitioning from urban wear to menswear under the influence of a debonair cousin, who dressed the part of the quintessential gentleman – waistcoats, cardigans, pocket squares, etc. This cousin’s advice was straightforward: “When you get dressed for work, you should be able to take that same outfit and go to the club.” This advice resonated with Moss, a single man at the time. When he embraced this more formal look, Moss noticed that others’ behavior towards him changed.

photo credit: Jordan Smith

“People treat people different if they’re wearing a suit. I used to think it was because I was a Black man, but I’ve learned it’s far beyond that. The conversation is different. The treatment is different. You also create a new environment every time you walk in a room wearing a suit,” said Moss.

Of course, hindsight can make everything obvious, but we often lack vision in the moment. Despite emceeing fashion shows across the country and eventually working as a stylist, it wasn’t until a school friend, Keaon Anthony, asked if he wanted to start a suit company did Moss consider turning an interest into a formal pursuit.

The friends knew the only thing that stood between them and success was the need to learn the business side of fashion while providing for their families. Moss’s club days were behind him as he was now a married man and father, and the same applied to Anthony. So, in addition to full-time jobs, they apprenticed at Persona, a Dallas-based suit company, for a year before starting Franklin & Anthony.

“We worked to learn the game and to have an understanding of how things worked. We were able to do research to find fabric companies, and that’s when we found the tailors and everything we needed,” said Moss. (The owner of Persona gave his blessing to the duo to study the business. He and Moss remain good friends today.)

Franklin & Anthony opened in 2015, offering an alternative to the fast-casual trends athleisure helped create. But the multi-billion-dollar fashion industry has never intimidated Moss. On the contrary, it only helps his business. While three-piece suits and pocket squares are not as commonplace as leggings and poly-blend golf polos, there is a consumer base looking for sophisticated options. Even in Fort Worth.

“There are still people who live a gentleman’s life or believe in that world of looking good and feeling good,” said Moss. And it’s those individuals Franklin & Anthony serves.

Moss works with his clients to design a suit or wardrobe from scratch, incorporating elements that reflect their personality. Not only do clients walk away with an outfit tailored to fit like a glove, but they also receive an education in the process. Rather than designing behind closed doors before presenting a finished piece to the client, Moss adopts the role of collaborative partner, preferring to involve his clients in all decisions so that they leave with an understanding of and an appreciation for how their suit was built. “I feel like we create the suit together,” said Moss who shies away from being labeled a “designer.”

photo credit: Angie Garcia

In almost a decade of business, some things have changed at Franklin & Anthony. Keaon Anthony left in 2016 to focus on family, and Moss now runs things with another Anthony – Michael Anthony. COVID hit, but their sales doubled. Their customer base now extends well beyond Texas. A true-to-its-roots operation, Franklin & Anthony collaborates with local artists like Sunflowerman and embraces the Western culture of the city, designing a line of high-end denim and pearl snap shirts. “We’re trying to show that you can do luxury menswear and still be a Fort Worth person… because we’re fancy whether we want to acknowledge it or not,” said Moss. The company also plans to open a haberdashery in late 2024 or 2025, employing in-house tailors and pattern cutters from a Dallas-area design school.

Moss’s designs are bold and assertive, but he’s humbled by his success, always acknowledging the friends, partners, and mentors he’s encountered along the way. He’ll tell you he’s still earning his seat at the table. Whether true or not, he’s sure to be the best-dressed one seated there.

The post The Man Definitely Makes the Suit first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Responses by Sadie Funk and Sara Redington of Best Place for Kids!®

Let’s start with the mission and origin of Best Place for Kids. How did this movement come about? 

In 2015, The Miles Foundation began hosting quarterly convenings with leaders from business, philanthropy, education, healthcare, nonprofit and government to discuss how we could come together to build a “whole community” approach to education in Tarrant County. This initial vision evolved into The Best Place for Kids!®, a public-private partnership that focuses on connecting local families with local education opportunities, events and community resources to help them thrive.

What was the reason for developing the Parent Pass app?

Parent Pass was developed in response to local families sharing that they spent too much time searching for and connecting to resources – and to community partners who said they struggled to find and connect with every family they wished to serve.

We saw an opportunity to leverage technology to help address this need and ensure every family could have access to the plethora of opportunities and resources available in our community. We engaged with 10 local Fort Worth neighborhood community organizations and 100-plus parents across the city to begin to build, from vision to execution, an app that would help local families connect to one another, events across the city and the amazing community resources that we have here in Tarrant County.

The app has been in development for two years. What was happening during that time? 

Our Best Place for Kids!® team and more than 100 Fort Worth families spent a collective 2,200 hours over the past two years co-designing and co-developing Parent Pass. This included bi-monthly meetings with those families to set the initial vision, brainstorm and iterate on the design and detail how the app would function.

Parent Pass had a soft launch in March of 2022 and over the next six months we continued our partnership with parents to pilot the app. They provided feedback and guidance on each iteration, tweak, and update to ensure Parent Pass was easy to use, relevant and, most importantly, helpful to them.

Parent Pass officially launched to the public in October 2022 with a community-wide celebration at the Dream Park.

We continue to make updates and upgrades on a regular basis with an eye toward ensuring the app is even easier to use and more customizable for families’ individual needs. This past fall, we hosted a Parent Pass Birthday Bash which attracted thousands of attendees and over 25 community partners at Fort Worth’s iconic Dream Park. We are growing rapidly and have big plans to reach even more families in 2024.

Today, Parent Pass exists as a hyper-local app for parents and caregivers that provides instant access to vetted social services, neighborhood events, and local education resources, as well as a larger network of parents in their community. Due to user demand, we recently expanded to all of Tarrant County with more than 8,000 families using Parent Pass to ease their parenting journey.

As a parent, what feature do you find most beneficial or exciting? 

I love the parent-to-parent chat and the daily events. Having a network of thousands of parents and caregivers that I can ask about eczema creams or potty-training tips just lessens my mental load – letting me be part of a parenting village versus an island of one.

I also love the events section. It makes weekend planning quick, and our actual weekends better as we explore new parks, discounted museum features and festivals I wouldn’t otherwise have known about!

Looking ahead, I’m really excited about an upgrade we’ll be adding to our childcare search tool that will provide customized support to our local families in finding child care that works for them AND that will incorporate after school and summer camp options.

What role did community partners play in launching this program? 

Our 70-plus community partners have played an instrumental role in the growth and success of Parent Pass. They continue to help spread the word about this one-stop-shop resource for Tarrant County parents, and they make sure we have the most up-to-date resources and events listed on Parent Pass every single day. They also provide free activities, educational programming, and other key resources for families at our Parent Pass events across the community.  In short, we couldn’t have Parent Pass without them!

Why is Fort Worth the perfect city for something like the Parent Pass App? 

As the 13th largest city in the nation where more than 36% of our households have children, Fort Worth ranks second across the U.S. for the number of families with children in a large city – and that is for a reason. Fort Worth has some of the best educational opportunities, entertainment, neighborhoods, outdoor recreation options and employment opportunities in the country. The problem was that too many parents didn’t know about the amazing resources that were out there waiting for them and their families.

In addition, Fort Worth is a city with an innovative, collaborative spirit. We have an active, engaged Mayor (Mattie Parker) whose vision is laser-focused on economic growth through being THE Best Place for Kids. With her support, alongside that of the city government partners like the library, local non-profits, Fort Worth families, and community partners, Fort Worth has all the ingredients to be able to build and sustain a first-of-its-kind, all-in-one app that walks parents through each step of their parenting journey.

This love for community has enabled Parent Pass to thrive in Fort Worth, and we look forward to continuing our growth in Tarrant County.

We live in a digital world and are sometimes more trusting of technology than we should be. How is the app providing safeguards and protecting sensitive information? 

Parent Pass was built to respect the safety and privacy concerns of parents.  User information (and that of their children) is never sold or shared with third parties. Parents can choose their own display name for use in the chat.

Built into the app are safeguards against inappropriate content, language, or pictures being posted. Also, users have the ability to report anything within the app that may find inappropriate. Additionally, our Parent Pass manager monitors the app daily to ensure content and conversations are relevant and appropriate.

We also understood that parents were looking for more than just Google or Facebook. They were looking for a place to seek information across vetted resources. Parent Pass provides this vetted experience through the Parent-to-Parent Chat section where parents can talk honestly and learn what worked for other parents, learn from vetted resources developed by experts about your child’s development, and also get local reviews on key community resources. Even better, it hosts a community calendar of events happening across the city from partners we know and trust like Boys and Girls Club and the Fort Worth Library.

How does a community change when we start focusing on kids and parents? 

Everyone reaps the rewards. When families are put at the center, diverse partners in a city can come together to build a comprehensive and innovative solutions like Parent Pass that benefits our families of today and lays the foundation for a brighter future. When we focus on supporting a thriving workforce by embracing policies that work for parents and businesses, such as our sister initiative Best Place for Working Parents®, it creates a home for increased economic growth and development, and a sustainable strategy for attracting businesses, families and leaders to places where they can thrive.

The post Worthy Convos: Parent Pass App Is the Ultimate Resource for Families first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Sunago opened just in time for the new year. What do you hope to offer the remote workforce of Fort Worth?

We are the friendliest coworking and private offices community, where high-performing and productive professionals thrive. We offer more than just a place to work – we foster a sense of community and networking. Our modern and thoughtfully curated workspace is ideal for individuals and teams looking to elevate their work experience.

What makes a coworking space more appealing than simply working from home? 

Coworking spaces are appealing because they provide a professional environment, networking opportunities, and a sense of community. Plus, you get to leave your house, which means fewer battles with the cat over the keyboard or dogs insisting on joining every Zoom call. Which is fun but maybe not all the time or when you are just trying to get some work done.

Sunago is located in the River District. Why did you choose this location?

If you haven’t been over here lately, I invite you to come take a look at the redevelopment that has taken place. You won’t be disappointed! It is one of a kind in Fort Worth anchored by the Trinity River. It’s just outside downtown so you are close enough but not right in the middle of traffic and hard to find, expensive parking. We have some great neighbors including Heim BBQ, Salsa Limòn, Lettuce Cook, Gemelle and Pearl Snap Kolaches.

How does a membership work? And what are the different options?

Membership gets you access to all amenities, plenty of coworking spaces, use of conference rooms or any unused office. Starting with a 10 day a month pass for $150, full-time membership for $200 & dedicated desks for $350. Our private offices range from $750 – $1100.

Amenities are important. What can people expect?

Thoughtfully designed conference rooms, team meeting spaces, green spaces, high-speed internet and a coffee bar with coffee provided by Ampersand. We offer fully furnished offices that include adjustable standing desk, chairs, cabinets and monitors if needed. We have a new networking group “The River District Round Up Group” that meets every Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. We also offer virtual mail and a private mailing address.

We live in a virtual world which has changed office/work culture. But are there some traditional values that Sunago feels people still value when it comes to their 9 to 5?

The importance of community and collaboration remains strong. Despite virtual settings, individuals appreciate a culture that fosters collective achievement. Here, you can still accomplish that without committing to long-term, expensive leases. Membership provides flexibility and a ready-to-use professional environment. We like to think of it as plug and work; we take care of everything else- utilities, cleaning, insurance and maintenance.

What is the 3-day pass promotion Sunago is offering?

Try our different offices, a new coworking space and meet our Founding Members. We are just getting started so we would like you to join us in building this new community. The 3-day pass lets you do just that without any cost or commitment.

The post Worthy Convos: Serenity, Productivity, and Collaboration at Sunago first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

The owner and pâtissier extraordinaire of Loft22 Cakes in Near Southside, Tareka is a literal confection. She wears a permanent smile and is just as generous with her laughs as she is with her frosting. Tareka is the quintessential happy baker. But if sweetness was all this pastry chef had going for her, this beloved Fort Worth bakery would have closed its ovens long ago.

Tareka was Madeworthy’s cover girl exactly five years ago in 2018. She was a year into her business, making a name for herself in the very kitchen where she once interned for Robbie Werner at Stir Crazy Baked Goods, trying to satisfy credit requirements to graduate from culinary school, barely making ends meet. “I remember Robbie telling me, ‘I can’t pay you, but you can have the tips from the tip jar.’ And that would sometimes be just enough to get a McDonald’s burger and put the [rest] in the tank,” Tareka recalls solemnly. She pauses briefly, allowing herself to relive the hard days, before laughing about her first wedding cake order.

Photo courtesy of Loft22 Cakes

And this is how the rest of the conversation unfolds. The artist’s journey to bake for a living, and a good living at that, is filled with bittersweet moments, full circle moments, aha moments and come-to-Jesus moments. But what has kept her on course, even when derailed, is one essential ingredient – faith.

“I’m a spiritual person. I believe that whatever you’re meant to do is already inside of you. So, in some small way, cake was always there. It’s my purpose. I feel like I’m doing what I was born to do,” says Tareka.

This conviction that she was pursuing her destiny was put to the test when March of 2020 arrived, just as Loft22 was catching its stride.

“It was a struggle those first two years. I really didn’t know that we would make it. But right at the top of 2020, we had good press. Business was booming. Weddings were coming in left and right. It felt like we were in a movie. And then the whole world shut down, and every wedding I had on the books canceled.”

Tareka was forced to lay off most of her staff. Like the millions of other small business owners across the country, she had to operate as lean as possible to have any chance of survival. Down to just two bakers, herself included, the eternal optimist looked for a sign. And she was just as surprised as anyone to find that sign in a roll of toilet paper.

photo credit: Lexie Krug Photography

The cake artist combined her sense of humor with her baking prowess and made a toilet paper cake that she posted on Instagram during the shelter-in-place order.

Loft22 went viral.

“People were ordering like six of them acting like it was real tissue,” Tareka laughs. Her tissue cakes were delivered to the doorsteps of friends and neighbors who missed each other, to hospital staff working on the front lines, even to Mayor Price. “It was making people laugh and making people happy.”

But that was just local demand. Once Loft22 was featured on NBC’s Today show, the baker from Texarkana was swept up in a craze of her own doing. “I woke up to almost 1,000 emails from people all over the country. ‘How can I get one of those tissue paper cakes in Salt Lake City? I’m in Miami. I’m in New Jersey. I’m in New York. I’m. In LA. Can you send one to Idaho?’ Our phone was ringing off the hook. I had to get a second phone line installed. Both lines stayed jammed up. People were getting upset because they couldn’t get through,” Tareka recalls in disbelief.

Tareka brought her employees back to work, and they spent the next year riding the wave of good publicity. Despite the challenges of supply chain disruptions and shipping logistics, Tareka has a fondness for that period of global uncertainty.

“I wish I could bottle that kind of momentum and recreate that. But it was just a moment. It was something organic that happened, and it literally sustained us for the whole year with no weddings, no customs, no events, no nothing. From that experience, I learned that there is more than one way to thrive.”

Three years have passed since the quarantine cake frenzy, and Tareka continues to find herself at the center of unusual experiences. In May of 2022, she was selected to compete on Season One of the Dr. Seuss Baking Challenge on Amazon Prime which premiered in late December that same year. For Tareka, this wasn’t just an opportunity. It was a dream come true. Before she started baking professionally, Tareka watched Food Network religiously. Just a decade later, she found herself baking whimsical cakes alongside other talented pastry chefs and cake artists on television.

“That was the biggest highlight of my career. It was equally amazing and terrifying,” Tareka beams.

Listening to her talk about the travel, being on set, performing for the cameras, and meeting her idol, host Tamara Mowry-Housley (also a preacher’s kid like Lofton), is like watching a little kid read Dr. Seuss for the first time.

“They give you the star treatment. They put you in the luxury hotel, this BMW picks you up… Little me from Texarkana. It was incredible. All the participants were some of the best in the world. Just to be considered among them was very validating. Like, I’ve got to be worth something.”

Photos courtesy of Adam Rose/Prime Video

Lofton and her partner made it halfway through the competition before it was time to return home. She proved her abilities, though, with her Seussical creations and shone as brightly as her yellow chef’s coat.

“It was the experience of a lifetime. It would take some really major things to top that. I mean, who knows what the future holds, but so far, in my 41 years of living, that’s up there.”

Anyone with experience in the kitchen will tell you, baking is a balance. Achieving the right combination of texture and flavor requires discipline and skill. Tareka Lofton obviously knows this balance well and applies it to life. Because if anyone knows about taking the bitter with the sweet, it’s her.

The post The Sweetest Person Around first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Why was Fort Worth the perfect city to host this year’s TSAE New Ideas Conference?

The timing was perfect to experience Omni Fort Worth’s renovation, new hotels, like Hotel Drover, and the Mule Alley development was the perfect stage for the kick-off the welcome event in the Stockyards. Fort Worth was slated to host in 2020 and we’re so glad TSAE rebooked so we could highlight all the new, unexpected amenities we have to offer.

TSAE represents the association industry. Who are members of this industry?

TSAE represents the association industry across the state, which contributes roughly $3 billion to the Texas economy every year and supports over 124,000 jobs. The New Ideas Conference brings together C-suite professionals, meeting and marketing experts representing a vast array of industries as well as affiliate partners.

What were the numbers from this year’s conference? 

This year’s New Ideas Conference attendance was 522 attendees, the second highest attendance ever. Fort Worth was a big draw.

What part of this year’s programming was especially inspiring? 

The opening night party took place in Mule Alley, and a day of excursions featured attractions across the city including the Fort Worth Zoo, National Cowgirl Museum and Acre Distilling Co.

It’s always inspiring to see association professionals dedicated to professional development and TSAE’s innovative nature allows for collaborative learning and tangible takeaways.

How in recent years has Visit Fort Worth helped promote and guide the growth of this city?

As one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., Visit Fort Worth’s role is to continue to raise the profile of Fort Worth on a large scale to support and grow the visitor economy – a $3.6 billion annual economic impact supporting more than 30,000 jobs. There are more reasons than ever before to visit Fort Worth – conventions, sports, music, art, shopping, recreation, western heritage and more. We work with our partners to enhance visitor experiences, focus on facility needs and support transportation infrastructure to increase connectivity.  We also work with local neighborhoods and stakeholders to understand how tourism can benefit people who live here. All of this to ensure that tourism remains a vital part of our economy.

If you have a first-time visitor in town, where do you like to take them?

It’s hard to list one spot but the Fort Worth Stockyards are a must! It’s where the West began and now the Modern West is exemplified. You can experience the twice-daily cattle drive, dine in local restaurants and two-step to local artists. Some unexpected, hidden gems are the five world-class museums located in the cultural district or the Near Southside neighborhood filled with local merchants and eclectic restaurants.

Any other big events coming up for your organization? 

Phase I of the Convention Center expansion is underway, and we are excited for future meetings and events. In 2024, we have big sports coming to town, leading up to the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Especially the USA Gymnastics Championships at Dickies Arena. And we should soon learn more about how the 2026 World Cup will take shape in Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington.

The post Worthy Convos: Visit Fort Worth on New Ideas first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Let’s start with something simple, I think. What is folk art?

For me, folk art is art for the people. It’s art for the average Joe or Joanne. And people with other names. I use a lot of pop-culture references that most people recognize, so they’re already familiar with the imagery, and then I can hide the super deep and profound, capital “A” Art messages inside.

I keep my prices cheap, so the art is financially accessible to as many folks as possible. I’ve been told that people are buying their first piece of art ever from me. So, I hope that I’m something of a gateway for more people digging art. ‘Cuz art is fun. You’re welcome, art.

Based on some of your subjects (Pee-wee, Hank Hill, Waffle House Jesus, etc.), you have a sense of humor. How does amusement play into your process? 

Humor is definitely a big part of my work. It’s the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down. Regardless of whatever deeper meaning I think is in the piece, the first obvious thing people catch is the joke. It can often elicit a giggle or a smile, and that’s my favorite part of doing shows- seeing someone’s eyes light up looking at my art. I’ve always been a class clown; I can’t help myself.

Photo Courtesy of Jackdaw Folk Art

Word on the street is that you are the featured artist for this year’s ArtsGoggle. How does it feel being in the spotlight of Fort Worth’s premier festival of local arts?

It mostly feels like they wanna stress-test my imposter syndrome! But also, yeah, pretty stoked about it. I’ve been showing art and playing music at the Goggle for years. It’s my fave art fest anywhere, so I can’t wait to see my artwork just all over it. It’s gonna be nuts. I hope it doesn’t rain.

From the perspective of a Texas artist, what makes Fort Worth unique in the arts world?

We have a great art scene here. Obviously, we have some incredible art museums, a good range of galleries, and several big festivals, but then also so many smaller art markets and pop-up events where you can stumble across a lot of great, yet more affordable art. Art in Fort Worth really runs the gamut. You could see anything from a can of soup by Andy Warhol to a can of beans by a local artist. And there’s other stuff too. Also, I think we have the most horse paintings in the world.

Where do you draw inspiration from? 

My biggest inspiration is probably just the absolute absurdity of human existence. Forcing myself to laugh in the face of desperation and horror and the great gaping, sucking dark abyss. Oh, and Gary Larson’s “The Far Side.” Love “The Far Side.”

Did you choose the block printing life or did the block printing life choose you? 

I would say it chose me. I took a printmaking class at Tarrant County College in 2006 just for fun. I wasn’t familiar with any of the processes involved, but when we got around to linoleum-cut block printing, I was hooked. I thought, I’m probably just gonna do this forever now.

Photo Courtesy of Jackdaw Folk Art

You can only draw one thing for the rest of your life. What is it? 

Wow. Maybe I could draw every Whataburger in Texas. Does that count? Or maybe I should pick horses. Yeehaw, Cowtown!

When you aren’t creating or playing bass, where in the city are you hanging out? 

Well, speaking of art pop-ups and cool places to hang out- I curate a monthly art showcase featuring lots of local artists called “Liberty Lowdown” at Liberty Lounge in Near Southside. Find us on Instagram!

I always love diggin’ the new shows at ArtSpace 111, Bale Creek Allen, Fort Works, Gallery 440, Caracol, and Arts Fort Worth. And whatever ArtTooth’s cookin’ up. I hit up a lot of local music shows at Tulips, Lola’s, The Post, and Cicada. My tummy likes to get down on some fine dining at Guapo Taco, Gusto’s, or Ober Here. Or, you might just find me squirmin’ in the chair getting some new inkwork from John Clark at Outlook Tattoo. To make sure I’m super stylin’ fresh when I’m out and about, I get my drip from Morgan Mercantile or an AHK pop-up, or just old-school Dickie’s.

The post A Serious Artist Who Doesn’t Take Himself Seriously: Worthy Convos first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Botanic Garden

FLORIGAMIINTHEGARDEN is on display now through February 14, 2024. The exhibit is included with Garden admission.

What is the selection process for choosing exhibitions at the Botanic Garden?

When selecting a new exhibit for the Garden, our process includes considering what the Fort Worth community would be interested in, as well as what traveling exhibits are available and reflect our mission and goals. In the case of FLORIGAMIINTHEGARDEN, the artists who created the exhibit, Jennifer and Kevin Box, approached us because they thought FWBG would be a great partner to help them display their nature and origami-inspired metal sculptures.

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Botanic Garden

How would you describe the general preparation for an exhibition of this magnitude?

Prepping for an exhibition is a long, detailed process that can require many months or even years of planning and coordination. Our internal groups, such as education, horticulture, and guest services, strive to make sure we are giving the community the best possible experience on every level.

Logistically, the sculpture installation process alone is two weeks for FLORIGAMIINTHEGARDEN. Our team and the artists’ team will focus on each piece of art individually and make sure they are properly installed, stable and visible for our guests. As with everything we do, the Garden’s goal is to help our guests explore, discover and engage with the environment around them.

What is particularly compelling about this exhibit?

FLORIGAMIINTHEGARDEN brings together art, Japanese culture and nature in the form of 18 brightly colored, museum-quality sculptures. Children will especially appreciate the larger-than-life sculptures that depict emerging butterflies, birds, grazing deer and blooming flowers – all of which celebrate the process of plant pollination, an educational concept we highlight on our campus Pollinator Pathway and in our family education courses.

In addition, we are delighted that the launch of this origami-themed art exhibit coincides with the 50th anniversary of FWBG’s iconic Japanese Garden, a place beloved by generations in the Fort Worth community. The 7.5-acre Japanese Garden opened in March 1973, and thrills guests with cherry trees, Japanese maples, bamboo bridges, water features and koi-filled ponds. Many of the plants and construction materials for this garden were donated by Fort Worth’s sister city, Nagaoka, Japan.

What unusual critters can be found lurking on the grounds?

As with any outdoor ecosystem, the Garden is home to many different creatures. Our beautiful blooms attract bees, butterflies, birds, pollinators, squirrels and more. Depictions of some of these garden residents are featured in the FLORIGAMIINTHEGARDEN exhibit!

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Describe the “Scents of Gratitude” that visitors will enjoy.

“Scents of Gratitude” (2022) KevinBoxStudio, Jennifer Box, Beth Johnson, Michael G. LaFosse, and Robert J. Lang.

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Botanic Garden

The purest expression of gratitude may be a simple bouquet of flowers: a sincere gesture of appreciation. Scents of Gratitude incorporates 77 origami-inspired flower components: a blue hydrangea with 37 blossoms, daisies with double rows of petals and lilies in five stages of opening, from bud to full bloom. Most of the flowers are kinetic, gently turning with the breeze, and amidst the profusion sit a butterfly and a crane.

How have your team (and the garden) adapted to the summer heat?

Since we live in Texas, summer heat is inevitable, and safety is a priority. We prepare our staff by having several comfort and safety measures in place:

• Flexible hours that allow earlier starts, when possible
• Cool off cart that provides water, electrolytes, and popsicles
• Cooling towels
• Mandatory breaks every 45 minutes when the heat index exceeds 105 degrees

As for guests, we offer:

• The Beauty Bus, the Garden’s new free air-conditioned shuttle service that runs every half hour from 11 a.m. to close on all days the Garden is open. The bus route travels from the Garden Center to the main Japanese Garden entrance and the Shelter House at the top of the Rose Ramp. Guests can board or depart at any of these stops.
• Misting stations placed strategically throughout the Garden
• Early entrance hours starting at 7 a.m. for members and 8 a.m. for the general public

The post These Flowers Don’t Wilt in the Heat first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

But if you live under a rock like I do, the odds are good that you have only just learned about mahjong. Perhaps you recently watched “Crazy Rich Asians” on a long-distance flight, or maybe you took note of the game after living and breathing “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Since the early 2020s, mahjong seems to be everywhere in Fort Worth. From embroidered tea towels at charming Camp Bowie boutiques to hearing about a coworker’s weekly “mahj” group, this tile-based parlor game has hooked yet another generation, over 7,000 miles away from where the tiles first click-click-clicked.

Before you jump in, however, there are a few things worth noting. Consider this your unofficial guide to taking a seat at the table.

History faster than you can yell, “MAHJ!”

What began as a game of strategy and luck born in cosmopolitan China in the 1800s eventually became the “it” game in American culture during the Roaring Twenties (the 1920s, that is). The game has an interesting and not-always-pleasant history in the States, as its popularity soared during a dark period where Asian peoples were persecuted by social and political forces. At its best, though, mahjong was a game that brought people together. Its prominence in Jewish American and Asian American cultures remained long after the initial craze died down. Fast forward to today, and the cyclical nature of trends combined with the power of the internet has mahjong back in vogue.

Is it mah-jongg or mahjong?  

Both are correct, with the former being the more traditional spelling. There are two versions of mahjong, Chinese and American, and each varies in tile count, allowed hands, and the exchange of tiles at the start of the game, among other distinctions. While you might assume Chinese mah-jongg is not as common in the States as American mahjong, it will hardly be difficult to find a group that plays in the conventional style. The game uses tiles like dominos and involves the drawing and discarding of those tiles in a manner similar to rummy games, although rummy uses cards.

The minimal line set from The Mahjong Line, photo courtesy of Hannah Bush

Shop for a set.

It won’t come as a surprise, but one needs the proper equipment. But you won’t always use your set. Each game, which involves four players, requires one set. How a group determines which set to use is unique to that group.

A basic set includes tiles and racks, and the list of optional accessories (like dice, table mats and pushers) is endless. Depending on your budget, you can find a set for as little as $50 on Amazon or as much as $500. With mahjong on the rise again, high-end brands like The Mahjong Line have emerged, targeting a younger demographic and creating quite a stir in the playing community. If you wish to avoid any unnecessary gossip, Where the Wind Blows is a tried-and-true, middle-of-the-road brand.

Get carded.

The National Mah Jongg League is the governing body of American mahjong and has remained so since the 1930s. Every spring, the League issues a new card to its members which features that year’s winning hand combinations. Unlike Chinese mah-jongg, this changes annually. Cards are available in standard ($14) and large ($15) sizes.

Rules are rules.

Remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets frustrated because they don’t fully understand the rules and the next thing you know, tiles are flying and friends aren’t speaking. My advice? Don’t wing it. Learn how to play. The internet is filled with tutorials, but the best way to learn is through playing. If you don’t know anyone who plays, there is hope. A great way to learn while giving back is through Tarrant Area Food Bank’s Mahj4Meals. Led by a volunteer committee, Mahj4Meals offers inexpensive lessons and hosts tournaments with all proceeds donated to the TAFB.

Know thyself and find your people.

Before you join a group, take a beat to consider who you are as a player. Is this a casual and fun way to exercise your brain and social skills or is this the Olympics? Chances are you will not enjoy this game to the fullest if you find yourself at a table with competitors of the opposite ilk. Once that introspection is complete, recruit three of your favorite friends or take to the internet to find a local group, and go get your mahj on.

The post Get Your Mahj On first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.