Letter from the editor

by Beverly Purcell-Guerra

It’s hard to imagine the holidays without also thinking of food. From turkey and dressing at Thanksgiving to potato latkes at Hanukkah to eggnog, tamales and even the much-maligned fruitcake at Christmas, these special days are associated with tastes we have enjoyed since childhood.

It wasn’t too much of a stretch, then, to feature women who are intimately connected with food in this issue of SAN ANTONIO WOMAN. Our Profile subject, Caryn Hasslocher, has built a successful catering business, Fresh Horizons, from the bottom up. Her company handles some 900 events annually, and, naturally, the holidays are the busiest time of the year.

Approaching food from many angles — as growers, restaurateurs, pastry chefs, cooking school teachers, food writers and more — are the 51 members of the San Antonio chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, whose professional skills extend widely into the community. Read about these energetic, imaginative women in Up Front.

And as you plan your holiday gatherings, look to Focus on Food for delicious drinks to serve. From eggnog with a Mexican accent to champagne with candied jalapeno, here are libations as festive as the season.

Since none of us want to start the New Year with extra pounds, Health Matters offers practical suggestions for controlling holiday weight gain. Beauty and Fitness summarizes trends in hairstyles, makeup and clothing so you’ll be au courant for the season’s parties and other events.

Fashion dramatizes romantic looks for evening. There is apparel appropriate for formal affairs as well as more casual nights.

Our featured home is a Terrell Hills New England saltbox, unusual in the Southwest. Ask Priscilla answers your decorating questions and passes on suggestions for trimming your Christmas tree a la 2009.

Couples who have built successful businesses working together are interviewed in Women in Business. Here you’ll meet Loretta and Jim Leonard of Greenboro Homes, Marilyn and Bob Ahrens of Park Place Recreation Design, Mary and Frank Garza of Garza Masonry Stone and Nancy and Jeff Victor of Help Me! Tech Team.

Mommy Matters stresses the importance of building strong holiday traditions; Dining visits Il Sogno Osteria, Andrew Weissman’s new Italian restaurant at the Pearl; and Artbeat introduces Lesta Frank, whose watercolors often portray mythical women. She also painted the blossoms that adorn the invitation to the Friends of Hospice’s Poinsettia Ball this year.

Our Role Model is Sharon Cox, the first female military instructor at TMI — the Episcopal School of Texas, in its 116 years. This pioneer was also one of the earliest women graduates of West Point.

Dollars & Sense offers detailed suggestions about what to do in the first six days after you lose your job. Arts and Culture has an overview of events you’ll want to attend from now until the end of the year, while Scene Around Town reminisces about several of fall’s best parties and fund-raisers.

Before you embark on holiday shopping, read the suggestions in our special section, Shop SA. You’ll find several ideas for turning a chore into a pleasurable outing.

As we celebrate the seventh anniversary of SAN ANTONIO WOMAN, we wish you a happy and blessed holiday season.

Beverly Purcell-Guerra

Editor, San Antonio Woman

Click here to read more