Speaker 1: 0:00

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Speaker 1: 1:05

I'm Martha Jackson, and some of my best memories of living in the Park Cities are my early days when I was involved with the Preschool Association. Every elementary school has their own respective preschool association. I was involved with University Park UPPA and everyone does their own fundraiser to feed back into the elementary school and this Friday ABPA Armstrong Bradfield Preschool Association is hosting their 25th annual Homes for the Holidays home tour. Many years ago I used to go to this annually with a group of friends and we always had so much fun. It was like the perfect way to kick off the holiday season, get your friends together. Everyone in the community goes and every house that you visit you see tons of people you know and it's just the perfect girls' day. Go have lunch afterwards. It's just a perfect excuse to kind of take the day off and do your own thing. So to tell you all about the home tour tomorrow, I invited ABPA president Crystal Womackin about the home tour tomorrow.

Speaker 1: 2:06

I invited ABPA President Crystal Womackin to tell us all about it. She's going to tell you all about these amazing homes and what you can expect at each one of them. And if you're worried about parking, alto is offering a special tomorrow to take you from home to home to make parking a lot easier on you. Just check out the show notes for more details. So if you want to see some of the most beautiful homes in the park Cities, you're going to want to join us tomorrow and to tell us all about it. I welcome Crystal Walmick. Crystal, thank you for being here today, thank you for having me, Martha.

Speaker 1: 2:32

So the minute you move to the Park Cities, everyone tells you you need to join the Preschool Association and you just happen to be the president of Armstrong-Bradfield's Preschool Association. Tell us a little bit about why should people get involved?

Speaker 2: 2:46

Well, our main job is to connect parents of children attending Armstrong and Bradfield from birth through kindergarten, and personally, I joined when my twin girls, my oldest, were 10 months old and I met some of my lifelong friends and it was really cool when my girls started kindergarten. By that time they knew probably 80% of the kids in their class and, honestly, my husband and I knew all of those families, so, each of them walking into their classes the first day of kindergarten, they were so confident and we were too, and that is, I mean, in my view, the biggest selling point for why to join the preschool association meeting all of your neighbors. And it's so sweet. Just on our block we have five girls that are all in the same grade and it's just super charming.

Speaker 1: 3:31

It makes such a difference. I mean, I'm a lot further into the cycle than you are with a high schooler and a college student, but to this day, most of the people that I know in the neighborhood I met through the Preschool Association, so it definitely does its job of connecting you with all the people that you need to meet before school starts. Well, so let's talk about the home tour. You guys have the 25th annual coming up and this is your fundraiser for Armstrong Bradfield to feed back into the schools. How did you get involved with this?

Speaker 2: 4:03

Yes, so when I first joined I got on the family events committee and then just stayed on the board and really loved meeting all the people in the community and wanted to give back, especially once I learned about kind of the Robin Hood tax and that was our way to support the kindergarten and first grade classes at Armstrong and Bradfield. And we have four homeowners that for 25 years have graciously opened up their homes for free to do this to support our schools. And this is how we fundraise and so many community sponsors come around. So many of the sponsors are the builders, the architects, the designers, landscape and they're just, you know, so wonderful to support our cause and our mission.

Speaker 1: 4:47

Well, it is so important because, like you said, with the Robin Hood and the recapture, a very large part of our tax dollars get taken away and redistributed to other schools, so it leaves us with a pretty significant deficit poor child and school and so we've got to make up that deficit, and so this is a perfect way to do that, and you guys, in the 25 years you've done it, have raised over a million dollars, including last year, $175,000. That is amazing.

Speaker 2: 5:16

Yes, we have had some amazing chairs in the past and the chairs this year are so fantastic and we are on track to do the same, hopefully more Well. How do you decide what to do with the money? We actually let the schools decide that, so the principals of each school decide what is done. So the check is the $175,000 from last year is divvied up. Armstrong usually uses it towards a Spanish program and any enrichment at their school, and Bradfield utilizes those for teacher trainings and technology or anything the children and kinder and first grade may need. So it does differ year to year depending on those needs, but we try to bless those schools without saying you know requirements on what they do. It's kind of a need by need basis, right, just they are such good stewards of those funds.

Speaker 1: 6:06

Right, just kind of whatever. The hot topic is that you're in what they need help with the most Exactly. Well, I just think it's been a very long time since I've been to the home tour, but I think it's such a great community event because I just remember there was just droves and droves of people and you knew everybody kept passing, people that you knew, and I think it's such a perfect way to kick off the holidays and also just see everybody.

Speaker 2: 6:29

It really is. It is so fun. I mean, so many girls get dressed up, get with their girlfriends. They have lunch reservations, that's what I recommend. They tour in the morning, go to all these amazing homes and they are decked out for Christmas. These homes and we have all of our members are docents in these homes and so they donate their time to make sure these homes stay safe and that everyone has a lovely tour. So it really is the most fun way to kick off the holiday season. That's why we always do it at the beginning, the first Friday in December every year. Right, right.

Speaker 1: 6:59

I agree. Well, so how do you pick the homes? Because there is no shortage of amazing homes in this community.

Speaker 2: 7:05

Yes, Well, really, it's just through the connections of our chairs and who do you know? Who you know might be willing to open up their home for this cause, and typically it's a lot of former members of the ABPA we've had in the past and lots of people that have been involved in the community, and this is their way to give back and we are so, so grateful for them.

Speaker 1: 7:27

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Speaker 1: 8:07

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Speaker 2: 8:45

Yeah, so last year, actually at the Will Call House, laura Bush's people had called the week before and they came and she toured before opening and it was so funny because we have a very long line, I recommend to get there early. We had a very long line leaving the Shenandoah House last year and when Laura Bush and her people walked out it was just silence spread through the line. It was quite a moment, so that was kind of fun.

Speaker 1: 9:07

I cannot imagine seeing her walk by. That's so exciting that she knew about it and wanted to come out and support it. Yeah, it was really cool. Well, so anytime you do a big event like this, there's always some sort of challenges in the planning process. What are some of the biggest challenges that you guys face, Gosh?

Speaker 2: 9:23

I'm trying to think you know I really being president this year. Three years ago I was a home tour chair and then last year president-elect and this year president. So it was a real blessing for me to have done it three years ago and I really learned a lot and was able to put that into practice. But just there's so many moving parts behind the scenes and it really takes all hands on deck but I have six amazing chairs that have made this so seamless. We have been meeting the last 10 months every two weeks, planning this, talking to sponsors, getting signs as I'm sure you've seen the signs in the neighborhood and just all of these moving parts. So I think the fact that so many people have been in it for a couple of years and able to pass that knowledge down person to person has been really helpful, so we don't have too many challenges hopefully knock on wood yet this year.

Speaker 1: 10:14

Yeah well, you know I always say when women come together, they can do anything. And the women in this neighborhood, oh my gosh. They are just the most go-getting group of people I've ever seen, and no challenge is too big for them when it comes to raising money for a good cause.

Speaker 2: 10:30

they are there and they are ready to go 100%. I mean, three of my chairs have four children and they are. I know, I know, oh my gosh, and they just, you know, seem to do it all seamlessly. But it's been a really cohesive team and everyone's been so supportive.

Speaker 1: 10:43

Oh, that's so great. Well, Crystal, let's get into the details. Why should people come out tomorrow? Let's talk about the houses and what we can expect from them?

Speaker 2: 10:51

Yes, definitely. Well, first buy a ticket, and we have tickets available at Navy Blooms and on our website, armstrongbradfieldcom, to buy your ticket there. If you purchase your ticket online, you will show up at Will. Call to 3524, st John's. This is at Kate and Jack Laguerre's home and it is a gorgeous home. It was built in 1928. It's only had like two owners and a decade ago when they bought it, they, like you know, tore it back to the studs, redid it and then, two years ago, tore it back to the studs, redid it and then two years ago, tore it back to the studs again and redid it again. The Averea, ashley, averea, cathy of Averea and Company was the interior designer and it is just so beautifully and tastefully done. There's like hints of plum everywhere, which I think is so fun and textiles on textiles.

Speaker 2: 11:39

But you'll want to arrive early, get in line to get your tickets at Will Call to be able to walk through and see that home. It was a really cool story. And right in Kate's entryway she has art on the left side of all of these artifacts that they kind of found like that had fallen either behind mantles throughout the years or something like that. So it was like different, like prayers and just all of these really interesting facts. And the wonderful thing is is in each home our member docents have note cards of paint colors, carpets, textiles, the story of the home. They have all of these fun facts. So not only are you getting to like pull behind you know the veil and tour four amazing homes in Highland Park, and you're not just touring their kitchens, you're going to tour their bedrooms, their bathrooms, maybe take a peek into some of their closets. I mean it is really unprecedented that these homeowners are so gracious in opening up their homes and letting everyone take a peek.

Speaker 1: 12:36

Well, that was my favorite thing is just hearing from the docents of telling the stories, because I feel like personally, my house is not that interesting and I don't have that many stories that the things are in it. These homes, like every little detail, is something exciting and has a story behind it, so it's so fun to ask the questions and hear the stories.

Speaker 2: 12:55

Yeah, and especially in the LeGuerre's home in the kitchen area. She's one of the owners of the Mahjong line and so she always has Mahjong set up. She has a beautiful Mahjong table, but it's a really unique design where she has kind of two separate tables that she can push together. She wants to entertain one large table. And it's just one of those homes that you walk in and it doesn't feel like you can't touch anything, Like it's so comfortable. You would just feel like you could walk in and take a seat. So it's just super, super welcoming. And so that's one of that is our will call home where you would go to pick up your tickets if you haven't picked them up the day of. And our next home is Christy and Luke DeRamus. She is an ABA member and a dear friend. She has tastefully done her home, so she is not an interior designer by trade, but oh my goodness, this girl has the most amazing taste.

Speaker 1: 13:46

And she has found.

Speaker 2: 13:48

So much of her furniture is vintage and she pulls something. She has so many amazing stories from hers. You know art on this wall she had found, you know, at a market, maybe in Paris, that she pulled in and her taste is just spectacular. I just love her eclectic, classic, kind of traditional style that she has and, really fun fact about her house, she loves to collect little I guess animals of different unique things. So it might be, as you can see in this photo in the booklet, there's a wicker alligator and there might be a copper crab sitting on one of the tables and so it's really sweet. She has two little boys and whenever she has play dates she'll be like, okay, go count and see how many animals you can find in the house, and she is just so, so dear and so wonderful and we're so thankful to them for opening up their home.

Speaker 1: 14:42

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Speaker 2: 15:40

Okay, the third house on tour is Lori and John Altshuler. This house is on one of the two homes we have on Reims. This is 4565 Reims and it is this beautiful transitional home, so it's really unique. It's set on two lots, so their home is on one lot and they just have this most amazing you know, like short white picket fence on to the left of their house. That is their backyard and it is just so fun. So they have more of a transitional home and the light in their house and their windows. They have all the dozens. We'll have the story, but it is just so gorgeous.

Speaker 1: 16:16

She's showing me pictures right now. You guys, this is amazing.

Speaker 2: 16:21

So, yes, it is impeccably a tree chic with the work of tracy white designs. Um, and it says yeah, transport you from dallas to the most stylish streets of saint germain de bray oh yes, so it is just so wonderfully done all of these homes are so impeccable and leaves everyone with inspiration to go call their interior designer and redo their home.

Speaker 1: 16:43

Yes, I'm sure there's a lot of phone calls after this tour.

Speaker 2: 16:47

Okay, and our fourth home on tour is Caitlin and Brigham Wilson's home. So it is Caitlin Wilson's new home that she is debuting at our tour. We are so thankful they haven't even moved in and she is opening up her home to us for tour. The architect was Harris Briggs and the builder was Steve Greenwell. They did the remodel. So this is. You know, caitlin always likes to buy homes and redo them and she does it so so well. She has so many English inspirations and lots of like blues and like pinks, and I was there a couple of days ago to just do a quick rock through and it is phenomenal.

Speaker 1: 17:30

And in case you don't know who Caitlin Wilson is, she is one of the best designers in Dallas. She has an amazing home over on amazing store rather on Henderson and wow, I mean, she is an amazing lady, yeah.

Speaker 2: 17:44

And every corner of this house is thoughtfully designed with luxurious textiles and European influences weaving seamlessly throughout the space. It really is. She really went, for she has tons of vintage artifacts and old world treasures. She was saying how she and Brigham last year went on a trip to Paris just to buy a lot of stuff for the house and she just all of her. You know, pieces of furniture in the house like each have a story and so many of the docents will have that, in addition to all the things that most people want to know on tour.

Speaker 1: 18:11

Pink colors where is this?

Speaker 2: 18:14

fabric from? Where is this art from? So she will have all of that to her day. So if you are curious to see these homes or answer any of your questions, the docents will have those and Caitlin, specifically, will also have her staff on site to answer any of those additional questions as well. So we are just so excited and, yeah, it'll leave everyone going home to, like I said, redo their house, redo their Christmas trees and realize that their homes aren't quite as snazzy as these right here.

Speaker 1: 18:41

But yeah, you definitely convinced me. I can't wait to grab a friend and come up there. Like I said, it's been so long since I've been to and it's changed quite a bit. It sounds like you're going to have a holiday market at one of the houses.

Speaker 2: 18:54

Okay, our holiday market this year will be at the Alt Shuler Home on Reams, that is 4565 Reams Place in their beautiful backyard. The vendors will be clinic concierge giving out a little B12 shots, because everyone needs a little boost. All of us moms need some energy. I love those ladies at Clinic Concierge. And Dear John Paper Company will be there, as well as Don DeLow and Julie Meyer, who is a writer, has our long-expected gift. Purveyors of Fragrance is a candle company. She will be there in the Spark Collection doing permanent jewelry, and some others, oh, wow. So lots of grab-and-go stuff that you can get to take to your holiday parties as hostess gifts.

Speaker 1: 19:35

That's it, perfect. Well, it looks like the weather is going to be pretty good A little chilly, like around 54 degrees, small chance of rain, but we're going to do a rain dance and keep that away. Exactly, yes, a rain dance and keep that away.

Speaker 2: 19:47

Exactly, yes, we are definitely going to plan to come bundled, come early. I recommend getting in line about nine and, if you can, we open up Will Call Ticket Pickup at 9 am. So if you want to drive to St John's, pick up your tickets and then maybe go to one of the other homes, usually Will Call is hit hard the first hour and we are also, for those who want to skip the line, selling skip the line tickets. So go up to one of your chairs. They'll be at a table with all of the booklets and you can always, for an upcharge, you know, for skip the line ticket trade in your regular ticket if you see the line is too long. We're only selling 50 of those, so and we're expecting lots of people, thousands of people. So definitely get your skip the line ticket if you do not want to wait in line.

Speaker 1: 20:33

Okay, well, real quick, let's cover what to wear. You said that people tend to dress very festive, but, if memory serves, you are going up and down quite a few stairs, so maybe not the stilettos?

Speaker 2: 20:44

Yes, that is a wonderful question. So typically people do dress festive. I see lots of fun sweaters because you want to dress warm. But, yes, we all will wear booties in the house, so there'll be chairs for you to sit on and put booties on before entering the home. There's no food or drinks in any of these homes, obviously, and then you'll return the booties when you exit, before you go to the next home. So I would definitely recommend flats or some comfortable shoes for standing and grab a coat Additionally for those that have littles. It is not a children event to attend.

Speaker 1: 21:18

Good to know Good to know. So what about pictures and videos? Do they allow those? Yes, isn't that so wonderful? Back in my day they didn't, but that is how long I haven't been there. Is social media really wasn't what it is now. Yes, isn't that so wonderful? Back in my day they didn't, but that's just how long I haven't been there. Is social media really wasn't what it is now.

Speaker 2: 21:33

Yes, yeah, we love it Definitely. Go give us a follow at abpa underscore home tour and you can see all of the fun sneak peeks we have running. Yes, you can take pictures of stuff in the past. Some of our attendees even take pictures of the note cards so that they don't forget, you know, whatever paint color or some fun story that they wanted to share with their friends. Because we also have these beautiful booklets that you can take home to reflect on the tour or look up any of the designers or anyone who worked on the homes, because I keep these on my shelves and can reflect like oh, that person had good landscaping, I want to call their architect. So it's a great resource as well.

Speaker 1: 22:11

It's a beautiful program. I mean it has a lot in it. I love that. It was a labor of love. I can imagine that's a lot of work. Well, these events are never successful without a huge team coming together and everyone doing their part. Is there anyone you'd like to thank?

Speaker 2: 22:25

A hundred percent these events. Knowing I was going to be president a couple years ago, I literally pulled every friend card I had and was like, hey, will you be my chair? And I'm so blessed. They all said yes and they have worked tirelessly for 10 months. So I would love to thank my co-chairs Laura Price, sarah Thicke, lizzie Brower, landon Tillery, lotta Francis, meredith Connelly, kelly Little, cindy Reval and Catherine Rutherford Truly, this event would not happen without them and our house captains, Lauren Kleiss, jackie Coker, amanda Toussaint, allie Williford, are so many other women that are involved as docents. But these specific women have dedicated the last 10 months to this tour and to make it what it is, the seamless event that it will be tomorrow. So I am beyond grateful that they said yes to me and agreed, probably not even fully knowing what all they were agreeing to, but I am so forever grateful for that.

Speaker 1: 23:28

Well, you seem like you'd be a hard person to say no to Crystal. You have kind of a funny story about the first time that you went on the ABPA home tour. Can you share that with?

Speaker 2: 23:38

us? Yes, so seven years ago I was an all-in member, so when you're an all-in member for the ABPA you don't have to docent. So I just got to attend and go see these houses and I took a friend of mine and we had our tickets and we're walking in and it was right off of Turtle Creek, I believe. Get to the front door and I'm looking at the address and there's so many cars so I wasn't sure if I was at the right home. I could see there were people inside so I assumed I literally almost opened the door.

Speaker 2: 24:06

It was not a home tour, home friend, okay, not at all. That was someone's personal holiday party that I was standing at the front door with my friend. Luckily, I noticed that before. But this year there will be no confusion. We have huge signs in front of each home that is actually on tour, and you're probably much better at geography than I am. I'm sure all of you who purchased tickets are. That is not my strength, but yes, so just so you know there's a huge sign in front of the house so you don't walk into the wrong house like I did. But that was so, so funny Look for that big sign.

Speaker 1: 24:42

I am sure that would have been so embarrassing to walk in. Oh my God, we're ready to tour.

Speaker 2: 24:47

Exactly, exactly, oh my God. We're ready to tour. Exactly, exactly, oh my gosh. But we are just so excited. Everyone is prepared and ready for all of you to come. Additionally, one more thing Although we're seeing behind the scenes and it is such a fun day it really does go back to the kids. Your ticket purchase, all of those sales go straight to the schools, so I really encourage you to buy a ticket. We keep our costs so low I mean, it's less than like 10% of anything we bring in. So, as an organization, which I think is really meaningful, when you're purchasing a ticket or donating money, knowing that your funds are going directly to children and who, if you're going to donate $35 for a ticket, why not go see some pretty homes?

Speaker 1: 25:31

Might as well have some fun with your friends right and kick off the holidays.

Speaker 2: 25:34

Also, I recommend getting them buying your tickets today, because Friday, December 6th, your ticket price will go up to $50 instead of $35. So buy your ticket in advance is my advice.

Speaker 1: 25:46

Okay, and remind us how we can buy our tickets.

Speaker 2: 25:49

We can go to armstrongbradfieldcom and you will see buy home tour ticket, a big click link, and it will take you to PayPal as the way to pay through. So if you do not want to purchase through PayPal, you may go to Navy Blooms in person and you can purchase it with a credit card at their register through the end of Thursday, December 5th.

Speaker 1: 26:12

Perfect. Well see you all there. Thank you so much for joining me today. This has been so fun just to catch up and hear about all the changes that have happened, and I can't wait to go on Friday.

Speaker 2: 26:24

Well, thank you so much for having me. This is so meaningful to all of our team and the community-wide, so thank you so much, of course. Well, thank you so much for having me. This is so meaningful to all of our team and the community wide, so thank you so much Of course.

Speaker 1: 26:31

Well, that's been another episode of the Bubble Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson and I'll see you next week.