Russell Lewis, Broker,CLHMS,GRI

“If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?” - Anonymous

It happens all year round but especially at Valentine’s Day when the chubby winged dude with the bow & Arrow is on the loose. Something frilly…maybe sexy, certainly different from the usual type of nightwear begins to enter the minds of not only men but women too. As a man, no matter who you are, this can also present something of a dilemma. Awhile back I wrote about having fun at the expense of a hapless guy I know who is also a local Realtor. The Incident at Victoria’s Secret occurred when I saw him guiltily lurching around a local Victoria’s Secret just trying to make a purchase. I embarrassed him in a humorous way but it illustrated the quandary faced by many men when they venture out to buy any sort of clothing for their sweethearts, especially something as intimate as lingerie. There is a lot more to the process than picking the first thing that catches your eye. I have not always been so comfortable with buying or even talking about lingerie but I was fortunate that years ago a woman who was a good friend gave me some excellent advice. As art director for a prominent fashion publication she knew what she was talking about so with her help along with plenty of exoert coaching from my wife here is my “Layman’s Guide to Valentine’s Day Lingerie!”

First off, all women are beautiful and want to feel beautiful too! As my friend explained, “All women want to look and feel beautiful and once in awhile they like to adorn themselves with something special” .” And you have to remember that often when women are dressed for business, they want to feel good beneath their clothes. Ask a nurse, lawyer, grocery clerk. police officer or any woman in any field and you will probably be surprised at the answer. When a man goes about purchasing lingerie in the right way and with the right intentions and gives her something she really likes, the lingerie becomes a gift for both. Here are some essential things you need to know as you begin your shopping escapade. Yes, this is an adventure…have some fun! Oh…and don’t be shy…really, the sales person WANTS to help you and deal with self-conscious men all time unless of course, you are drooling uncontrollably… Seriously, if you have any misgivings at all, just walk right up to a sales person and announce that you are there to buy something pretty for your partner. They know exactly what to do and will take it from there!

1. Know your partner – Learn her likes and dislikes, don’t pick out something just because YOU are wowed by leather while she likes floral prints. If you have no idea, look in her lingerie drawer. NOTE: I am assuming you either live with this person or have a very serious relationship BEFORE doing this!

2. Choose the Correct Size - There are many items that tout “One Size Fits All” NOT TRUE! Again, look at the tags on her clothing. Or do like me; my wife gave me a small card which I keep in my billfold that has every size and measurement I might need. Saves a lot of time and grief!

3. Style - Yes, again, check first! Don’t go wandering around the vinyl aisle when your partner is a frills or lace type. Trust me designers make very alluring items in any color, print or fabric a woman could want. And while I am on the subject, age is of no concern either, did you ever see the movie, Cocoon? IAge does not matter all that much! Warning: If you don’t get this right, it will stay in her drawer and eventually be tossed or worse, returned…for a pair of drab (but oh so comfortable) sweat pants!

4. Body Type - Ask at the store or look at the FAQ online! Everyone is different and there is something that is flattering for all shapes and sizes. Whether you are in a store or online, there are answers for you but you have to ask! I have actually had sales person pick out an associate who resembled my wife’s figure and that was helpful when shopping.

5. Price - You are going to be spending some money and NO, though we certainly owe some thanks to Fredrick’s of Hollywood, it’s better to shop at a local upper end department store or boutique. If you are comfortable, an upper end online boutique is also a good choice but you better know what you are doing. Don’t be shocked by the price tag the price tag. Measured by the square inch, high quality lingerie is probably more expensive than Lake Austin Waterfront Property. (There I did make this post about Austin Luxury Real Estate). No woman wants rough, cheap or flimsy materials against their skin. Lingerie has to look good AND feel good so don’t cut corners.

Well, that about covers it, so to speak The last thing to remember and this is very important, is some excellent advice from a well known authority on lingerie:

“I love to wear lingerie. The problem is that men always rip it off too quickly. When women are dolled up in lingerie they feel sexy. So let us wear it for five minutes.” Karen McDougal – Playmate of the Year 1998

If for some reason you are unable to get it together and make this happen, you can always buy her a gift certificate. Shopping for lingerie together would make a really cool Valentine’s Date! Either way, just remember to make it fun so that you can do it again next year or even next week! Happy Valentine’s Day from Deep in the Heart of Texas!

ONE LAST NOTE: This post was written with the approval of my wife, who also mentioned that Jewelry would be an even better subject next time

My name is Russell Lewis, I have twenty one years experience assisting buyers and sellers in Austin’s finest neighborhoods. I am not all things to all people and concentrate the majority of my business in Central, West and Southwest Austin and the Westlake/Eanes School District.If you or anyone you know is anticipating purchasing or selling real estate and would like to learn more about living The Good Life in Austin Texas I would be happy to be of assistance.Email or call my mobile number for a private consultation at your convenience!

Originally Posted at: The Good Life in Austin Texas

Fireworks FINALLY return to Austin, Texas

It happened is a flash…literally…I heard the explosion and stared at my hand, shocked out of my eleven-year-old mind. I had just touched the smoldering punk to the end of the fuse before tossing the firecracker away, but…instead of the familiar sizzle as the sparks made their way to the gunpowder packed cylinder, it immediately exploded... Zip---BOOM! I was frightened as my hand began to go numb while still throbbing in pain. Checking first to make sure I still had all my fingers, I then quickly looked around to see if anyone had noticed the mishap. My Dad was in our station wagon, going over some some paperwork and my brother was busily setting off fireworks in a large red ant bed nearby. It took everything I could muster to keep from bursting into tears from both the shock and the rapidly mounting pain. Here’s the deal, there was no way I was going to tell anyone about the accident because I figured it would mean instant banishment from setting off any more fireworks…probably until I was at least 35 year old. Whether that was a realistic fear or not, I wasn’t about to take any chances! In fact, think I was around thirty-five years of age before I finally told him about it and he was not the least bit surprised!

My brother, Mark Lewis and I have had a life long attachment to fireworks (some would call it an obsession) and to building fires in general. It’s probably some sort of primal throwback and I have observed the same fascination in the most unassuming men and sometimes, even some women pyrotechnic types. Though truthfully blowing stuff up is still primarily a boys pastime and no matter what age, that part of the “boy” is probably with men forever, along with a plethora of other maddening behaviors that keep our better halves constantly wondering when the heck we are actually going to grow up! At one time my brother and I seriously explored investing in a chain of fireworks stands but our father, who obviously knew much better told us it would be like having a couple of winos open a liquor store. Fortunately, his wisdom prevailed but we are still extremely serious fans in the amateur sense! And, I can verify that we both are known to spend our extra birthday and/or Christmas cash on a trip to a local fireworks emporium!

Unfortunately for all fans of fireworks, during 2011, almost all of Texas has suffered through a long and incredibly serious drought resulting in massive crop, stock and wildlife losses along with the worst wild fires in the recent history of the state. This past summer we were especially hard hit with the loss of over 1,300 homes in areas near and around Austin, primarily Bastrop. Of course this also resulted in the cancellation of many July 4th fireworks shows along with the banning of all sales of fireworks in many counties throughout Texas. However this December, I have GREAT NEWS. Central has been blessed with a large amount of rainfall in the last month so Austin's 2011 New Year's Event at Auditorium Shores is ON! Click the link for all the info! Also, fireworks stands are open all over and sales are reported to be brisk. I was driving to Houston yesterday and the irony was not lost on me when I even spotted a number of Fireworks Stands around Bastrop with the burned out acreage looming in the background…So, for those of you interested here is a map Austin locations where you can buy fireworks! That said, I am also including a link to The National Council on Fireworks Safety because no one wants the buzz-kill of some ridiculous fireworks mishaps!

PLEASE REMEMBER to use and detonate you fireworks RESPONSIBLY and SAFELY!

So that we can do it all again, NEXT YEAR!

We are going to have a GREAT life together! -Margaret McNally, May, 1986

Backed up in the inevitable traffic that clogs every parking lot at Christmas, I watch as two people go at it over an empty parking space. Though my windows are up, I can still make out the heated exchange that ends with one of the individuals screaming Happy %#?+* ing...Holidays!!! So much for Peace on Earth, Good will toward men. Though not involved in the ruckus my attitude is almost as dreary. It's been a challenging year and I have a number of things I could gripe about without any encouragement at all. Thirty minutes later I am in the checkout line at my favorite Austin Whole Foods Store and confronted with the most cheerful checkout person on the planet. As I stand there, we get caught up in some funny banter about how much fun it really is during the holidays and my mood completely changes. As the woman finishes bagging my items, she says," The only thing I really have control over is my attitude and I am very happy in spite of things to the contrary in my life". At this point, two of her co-workers laugh and only half jokingly agree that she is often so happy, it can sometimes be irritating to everyone around! I really start laughing at this point because I have had the same effect on co-workers too!

Driving home, stuck in the barely crawling traffic on Barton Springs Rd. I have a chance to enjoy the view of the Zilker Park Christmas Tree. About that time, Hayes Carll's bitter sweet song Grateful for Christmas, about the holiday and family antics starts playing on the radio and I slowly begin to realize just how grateful I am, not only for Christmas but an abundance of good things in my life. As I type this I am cognizant of the fact that there are times when I really don't want to hear a bunch of positive malarkey so...if you are not really in the mood, you better stop reading now. They say that attitude is an inside job and I know for a fact that the checkout lady at the store was absolutely right. No matter what goes on in the world, I have the ability to either get wound up in negativity or choose a different path. I've known it for years but need a gentle reminder now and then.

This year also marks the 25th Christmas I've shared with my wife; we also celebrated our 25th anniversary this past May, 25th. It's something that I can't quite explain but I have to say that of all the gifts I've received over the years, Margaret is the best thing that ever happened to me. The quote at the beginning of this post is something she told me the day before we got married and in the long run, she was absolutely correct. Though she is a very private person, I decided to make this blog post, my Christmas card to her this year and hopefully she will like it. She recently told me that K.T. Oslin's, Hold me is one of her favorite songs about marriage and like many relationships and families, we have faced all kinds of challenges and somehow managed to survive together and prosper. Of course, in The Book of Love perspective changes daily and in all relationships it varies from day to day. Ask her about how long we've been married and the answer will range for 25 years to twenty five THOUSAND years...depending on the circumstances! So...my wish for you this Christmas is that, no matter what is going on in your world (and yes, there is plenty to be seriously concerned about) you take a few moments and make a mental gratitude list about what is actually good in your life. It's gift you give yourself and you might be surprised at your outlook, even for a short time. Because after all...Love actually is...all around!

Happy Holidays, You are now free to return to any previously scheduled stress levels, if you so choose!

Austin's 5 Star Trailer, The Mighty Cone, makes it's Small Screen Debut!

I've written aboutThe Mighty Cone before in a post describing the incredible rise of Austin's most famous Food Trailer The quintessential food of the ACL music festival and Austin's finest trailer . Well, the Mighty Cone has continued to be an extremely popular destination for Trailer food featuring the cones for which they have become so popular. As a matter of fact at this year's ACL Music Festival they broke the previous record of cones sold by selling an incredible 30,000 cones over the three day event. Astounding when you realize that it adds up to around 1,000 cones per hour. If you were there, you know what I am talking about; four continuously moving lines and never waiting more than 15 minutes. What makes this more interesting is that quality did not suffer at all!

Earlier this year, The Mighty Cone was featured on Eat Street the highly popular series on The Cooking Channel that spotlights popular food trailers and stands all across the nation. For your enjoyment, I've included the video below so that you can truly appreciate the wonder of The Mighty Cone. Recipes are shared, staff and participants are interviewed including a prominent Austin Real Estate Broker on the subject of what makes The Mighty Cone...So DELICIOUS! If you get the chance stop by the trailer located at 1600 S. Congress Ave, at the corner of Congress and Monroe and have fun choosing your own favorite cone!

My name is Russell Lewis, I have twenty one years experience assisting buyers and sellers in Austin's finest neighborhoods. I am not all things to all people and concentrate the majority of my business in Central, West and Southwest Austin and the Westlake/Eanes School District. If you or anyone you know is anticipating purchasing or selling real estate and would like to learn more about living The Good Life in Austin Texas I would be happy to be of assistance. Email or call my mobile listed below for a private consultation at your convenience!

As if suffering through the hottest summer on record here in Austin, Texas was not enough, Sunday marks the 21st annual 'The Austin Chronicle' Hot Sauce Festival! Now don't get me wrong, I love this festival and truly it is the largest and most important hot sauce celebration and contest in the world. I just think it is ironic that there is going to be extreme heat on all levels this coming Sunday. Like the hundreds of people who will enter the different categories and thousands who will show up to sample the myriad of hot sauces, I LOVE all kinds of hot sauce but as I've said before I firmly believe believe that pain is not a flavor! However, I do understand that there are varying degrees of the "pleasure spiked with pain" concept. Over the years I know that I have developed a "tolerance" for heat that has raised my personal level of acceptable heat far above many but I am sure still below that of some of the more notorious chili heads.

I've entered the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival nearly every year since 1991 when the event first started. Over the years I have entered multiple versions of hot sauce/salsa in all categories with very little success but always having a LOT of fun! For years I entered my favorite home version that I make every Christmas, the aptly named "Santa Salsa" which is a hit every year at home, my office and with numerous recipients who are on the Christmas list! It's HOT, SWEET & RIGHTEOUS but is hard to define because one of the ingredients is Piloncillo, Mexican brown sugar and it also contains tomatoes so it does not fit in either the "RED" or "SPECIAL VARIETY" categories and though delicious has never found a following at the competition. The funny thing about this particular salsa is that it does pack a slow developing heat but just before it reaches pain is not a flavor stage...it stops!

In 2007, my daughter Mattie and I decided to try something different and because late season, Texas peaches are so popular around our house, they became the basis for something new. Our first year, we received an honorable mention for the Peach/Red Pepper Salsa (for some reason they no longer give out any awards other than 1,2,3). 2008 saw an improvement when the fresh peach salsa improved to 2nd place. The judges at the 2009 festival did not seem to be impressed with any of the fruit versions and consequently we did not make any showing at all. Last year Mattie left for college and I was on my own and tweaked the recipe and to our complete surprise, 2010 was the year we finally hit the jackpot and landed in 1st place for individual special variety. Though Mattie is again away at school this year, the Peach/Red Pepper salsa will always be "ours" as she helped with the original idea.

This year as always, The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival will be presented FREE to the public (with a donation of three healthy, non-perishable food items or a cash donation to the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas), and will take place on Sunday, August 28th at Waterloo Park from 11:00am – 5:30pm. at Waterloo Park. There will be the same levels of competition: individuals (homemade), restaurants, and commercial bottlers. And yes, I will be entering two hot sauces in the special category (Peach/Red pepper and one with watermelon...yeah I know but this IS Austin and we love keeping it weird) and another attempt at the Red category. Honestly, I have a lot of fun in the kitchen doing this every year and have no idea how the hot sauces will fare in the competition. After all, nearly 400 entries are expected and tastes change every year and that kind of involvement is what makes it so much fun (not to mention the adventure of trying all those new hot sauces). Just remember to stay hydrated, try and get a whiff of the salsa before consuming and if it does develop in to some sort of agonizingly painful experience...it will pass...eventually! Come on out, help a good cause, have an exceedingly HOT time and above all, REMEMBER:

UPDATE: Click on the link for results of of my effort in this years competition! http://russelllewis.posterous.com/twice-is-nice-at-the-austinchronicle-hot-sauc