Catalina Foothills, AZ May 2026

Our Collective Better Halves

Borrowing the riff we sometimes hear about, "she's my better half." And that appreciative perspective matters a great deal to this guy. But taking a more expansive view, seeing so many of our friends and neighbors and moms and wives and daughters, it's a great time to meet and appreciate women who inspire.

In this May issue, we are inspired by a great singer from our very own Catalina Foothills. Check out jazz singer Liz Cracchiolo! So much talent and zest for life!

And then there's Angela Orlando, who nurtures storytelling at Odessey Storytelling, from campfires in the White Mountains to moveable feasts in Oaxaca; and next up is a group trek to Spain with note pads and quills.

Check out the latest insights about skin, sun, and aging from Christy Hall, one of Tucson's top estheticians.

And check in with Becky Hillyard, a mom of three and more than a few global fashion brands.

And, most of all, my beautiful wife and partner, Kate, and our three extraordinary daughters: Sarah, Grace, and Virginia.

We'd be remiss if we didn't celebrate our very own Sybil Velarde, the queen of cuisine and our food editor; Megan Ewing, our incredible wordsmith and editor; and Jess Bush, our social-media all-star!

Without women like these, well, none of this matters.

JEFF HERR, PUBLISHER

@CATALINAFOOTHILLSLIFESTYLE

May 2026

PUBLISHER

Jeff Herr | jeff.herr@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Megan Ewing | megan.ewing@citylifestyle.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Jessica Bush | jessica.bush@citylifestyle.com

STAFF WRITER

Skyler French | skyler.french@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Megan Ewing, Skyler French, Christy Hall, Kali Kasorzyk, Sybil Velarde

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Megan Ewing, Andrew Reiner, Emily Rodriguez

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas Learn

Scan to Schedule a Consultation Today.

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inside the issue

BECOME A MEMBER

LIZ CRACCHIOLO RISES

local

This Southern Arizona Muse is Also the Bombshell Next Door. And a Hoot!

ARTICLE BY SKYLER FRENCH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY RODRIGUEZ

For Liz Cracchiolo, creating a first album has not been something she has taken lightly. “It’s been something I’ve always wanted to do, but I didn’t feel ready. I don’t know if anybody’s ever ready. But with this transition into doing jazz 99 percent of the time, I really just feel like I found my voice, and I was just

"It's really always important for me to step into my confidence and to hopefully inspire other women to do the same."

really excited to share that.” That sense of self-discovery is at the heart of Liz’s debut album, Just a Girl I’m a Woman

The Catalina Foothills-based singer has been around the music scene for a while, first as a performer of musical theatre and cabaret, then as a regular face at local jazz performances. She earned a degree in musical theatre from the University of Arizona, honing her skills in productions such as “Les Misérables,” “The Producers,” “Mamma Mia!,” and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Her professional life eventually led her to New York City Cabaret, where she performed in productions such as “If Only I Were Taller” and “I Do Men.” Along her journey, jazz evolved from just a part of what she did into the very essence of her career.

Currently a regular performer in Tucson’s Century Room and a three-time nominee for “Best Jazz Artist” in the “Best of Tucson” awards, Liz said her decision to finally make a record came naturally. “I went to New York in October of 2024, and it just came out of my mouth. I said, ‘Let’s do a record.’ Sometimes I guess you just know when you know.”

The album was recorded in New York, something Liz still speaks about with a sense of dazed wonder. She recalled rehearsing with musicians she had always looked up to, then walking into Sear Sound and realizing she was making her own music in a place where so much history had been made. “It was an absolute dream,” she said. “It was like an out-ofbody experience.” She worked with engineer Dave Darlington, who had been involved in music she grew

CONTINUED >

up listening to. Seeing gold records on the wall and hearing his stories about artists who had recorded there made the experience feel even more surreal.

For Liz, however, the focus of this album was not just where it was made, but what it represented. “This project is me really just stepping into my power,” she said. “It’s like, I’m just a girl, and it’s like, no, I’m a woman.” As someone who has continued to grow and change as an artist over many years, this project feels like a moment of genuine self-confidence — knowing who she is and asserting that comfortably. “It’s really always important for me to step into my confidence and to hopefully inspire other women to do the same,” she said.

The music combines jazz standards and pop songs rearranged in a jazz style, something Liz has always loved. Part of the fun for her is watching people’s reactions as they realize they recognize a song, but it sounds completely different. “When you’re performing a song, and you’ve done it in a completely different way, and you just watch people’s faces go, ‘Wait a minute. I know this song. I’ve never heard it done like that before,’” she said.

One of the songs that helped establish the album’s direction is her jazz version of No Doubt’s “Just a Girl,” which she considers integral to the project. She also included songs that have evolved with her over time, such as a new rendition of “Mr. Brightside,” alongside jazz classics like “Fever” that have become staples of her live shows. The common thread is storytelling. Her background in theater and cabaret deeply influenced the album’s direction. “The thing that you learn in school with musical theatre is that it always starts with the acting,” she said. “Every song is a story.” For Liz, it’s not just about singing well — it’s about understanding what a song has to say and connecting people to it.

This is part of why recording felt so vulnerable. With live performances, there’s the energy of the room, but recording is different. “There’s always this moment where you say yes, and then you go, ‘Oh God, why did I do this to myself?’ And then you go, ‘Okay, now I know why I did it.’”

"When you're performing a song, and you've done it in a completely different way, and you just watch people's faces go, 'Wait a minute. I know this song. I've never heard it done like that before.'"

Top: She's also known for her sense of humor off and on the stage

Bottom: Setting the mood all around the world.

Despite opportunities that take her well beyond Tucson, Liz remains closely connected to Southern Arizona. She grew up in the Catalina Foothills and still lives there with her family. “I still live here, and I have a beautiful home and a beautiful family, and I get to do what I love. And I get to do it all over the world.”

As for what she hopes listeners take away, Liz doesn’t want to spell out meanings — she

simply wants her music to connect. “I hope I can provide a soundtrack to something amazing. I hope that I can provide some inspiration, some emotion that people maybe didn’t know they were going to feel.” For an artist who waited years for the right moment, Just a Girl I’m a Woman is more than a debut. It is a statement of where Liz Cracchiolo stands now — comfortable in her voice, rooted in her community, and ready for what’s to come.

Celebrate with Sunday Brunch

TREAT YOUR MOM THIS MOTHER'S DAY

ARTICLE BY SYBIL VELARDE, ATSYBILSKITCHEN.COM

There’s no better way to celebrate mom than with a delicious homemade brunch made with love. This Mother’s Day, skip the crowded restaurants and surprise her with a spread of sweet and savory delights. These carefully curated recipes will help you create a meal that is as special as she is. Grab your apron and let’s get cooking!

WHITE SANGRIA

Makes Eight Cups

ingredients

• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice

• 1 cup fresh orange juice

• 1 cup seltzer or club soda

• 1 1/2 cups ginger ale

• 1 bottle of dry white wine, chilled

• 1/2 cup Pimms Cup Liquer

• 1 navel orange, cut into wedges

• 1 lemon, cut into wedges

• 6 strawberries to garnish, and more if desired

directions

In a large pitcher, stir together the citrus juices, seltzer or club soda, ginger ale, wine, Pimm’s, and half of your orange and lemon wedges. Add ice cubes and serve your sangria with the remaining orange and lemon wedges and strawberries.

Makes Six Servings

ingredients

• 1 onion, finely chopped

CUMIN BLACK BEANS WITH MINT

• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic

• 1 1/4 teaspoons cumin seeds

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 14–16 ounce cans of black beans, rinsed and drained

• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice

• 1 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped

• salt, to taste

• pepper, to taste

directions

In a small saucepan, cook the onion, garlic, and cumin seeds in oil over moderate heat. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir until the onion is a pale golden color, about five minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the onion to cool completely. In a bowl, toss the onions with the beans and orange juice, adding salt and pepper to taste. Add in the mint, toss gently, and serve.

Makes Six Servings

ingredients

• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced

• 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic

• 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, and more as needed

• 1 large green bell pepper, thinly sliced

• 1 large yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced

• 12 slices of firm white sandwich bread, thinly sliced, cut into 3/4-inch squares

• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• 4 large whole eggs

• 4 large egg whites

• 2 1/2 cups skim milk

• 1/2 cup packed fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped

• salt, to taste

• pepper, to taste

directions

In a large, non-stick skillet, cook the onion and 1 tablespoon of garlic in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until the onion is a pale golden color. Stir in bell peppers, salt, and black pepper to taste. Cover and cook over moderately low heat for five minutes, or until the peppers are just tender. Remove the lid and stir, continuing to cook the vegetables until any excess liquid is evaporated. Lightly spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread half of the bread squares evenly in a baking dish and top with half of the vegetables. Sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesan evenly over the vegetables and top with the remaining bread and vegetables.

In a bowl, mix the whole eggs, egg whites, milk, parsley, remaining garlic, salt, and pepper. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread and vegetables. Chill your strata, covered, for at least three hours and upwards of 12 hours. Preheat your oven to 375F and let the strata stand at room temperature for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan over the strata and bake in the middle of the oven for 45 to 55 minutes or until puffed and golden brown around the edges. Serve strata topped with fresh tomato salsa.

FRESH TOMATO SALSA

Makes Three Cups

ingredients

• 5 vine-ripened tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped

• 2 scallions, finely chopped

• 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

• 1/2 cup cilantro sprigs, finely chopped

• 1 tablespoon lime juice

• Tabasco sauce, to taste

directions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

ONION

AND BELL

PEPPER STRATA

WITH FRESH TOMATO SALSA

MAPLE MUSTARDGLAZED BACON

Makes Six Servings

ingredients

• 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

• 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup

• 18 slices bacon

• cayenne pepper, to taste

directions

Preheat broiler. In a small bowl, stir together mustard, syrup, and cayenne. Arrange bacon slices in one layer on the rack of a broiler pan and brush one side of each bacon slice generously with glaze. Broil bacon for approximately three minutes. Turn the bacon and broil until golden around the edges, between three and four minutes.

Makes Six Servings

ingredients

For syrup:

IN CARDAMOM LIME SYRUP WITH VANILLA CREAM

• 2/3 cup sugar

• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice

• 1/3 cup water

• zest of 2 limes, removed in strips with vegetable peeler

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

For Cream:

• 2/3 cup cottage cheese

• 3 tablespoons sour cream

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

• 2 honeydew melons

• pinch of salt

• freshly grated lime zest to garnish

directions

For syrup:

In a small saucepan, simmer your syrup ingredients. Stir until the sugar dissolves, about one minute. Remove your pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool completely. Discard the lime zest.

For Cream:

In a small food processor, blend your ingredients for one minute.

To serve:

Use a scoop to create your melon balls. In a medium bowl, combine your melon balls with the syrup, then divide the mixture among six bowls. Top each with a generous dollop of cream and garnish with the freshly grated lime zest.

Family Fun at Skyline Country Club

Just minutes from home, nestled behind the privacy and security of a gated entrance, Skyline offers championship golf, tennis, pickleball, a resort-style pool, state-of-the-art fitness facility, and exceptional dining—all set against breathtaking Catalina Mountain and Valley views.

Families are drawn to Skyline’s award-winning PGA Jr. Golf Program, where young players learn the game in a fun, supportive environment that builds confidence, sportsmanship, and lifelong skills—complemented by dynamic tennis programming that offers junior clinics, lessons, and competitive opportunities for players of all ages and abilities.

From active days on the course, tennis courts, and pickleball courts to relaxed poolside afternoons and memorable evenings with family and friends, Skyline brings generations together through experiences that feel both elevated and welcoming.

Come join the fun at Skyline! Schedule your private tour today at JoinSkylineCC.com or call (520) 299-1111.

Where Active Living Blooms

Tucson Community Empowers Seniors To Live Their Best

Springtime means embracing more opportunities to grow. It’s a season that calls you outside to bask in the sunshine, build new friendships, and discover new possibilities for enrichment.

At The Hacienda at the Canyon, seniors welcome all that springtime has to offer with enriching programs, transformational wellness offerings, and resort-style amenities. Here, members enjoy experiences that allow them to stay active, engaged, and inspired. In this upscale community, it’s all about seizing each day rather than just passing the time.

A LIFESTYLE DESIGNED FOR MOVEMENT

Nestled in the heart of the Catalina Foothills, The Hacienda at the Canyon redefines what senior living can feel like. Seniors who choose to live in this community enjoy the freedom to pursue lifelong passions and discover new ones in a place where every aspect of their well-being is nourished.

The community’s prime location and holistic offerings empower seniors to lead an active and independent lifestyle. Members often begin their mornings hiking along scenic paths located a short distance from the community. Whether it’s a brisk walk with friends or a quiet stroll by themselves, movement plays an integral role in the rhythm of everyday life.

“I walk around The Hacienda three times every day and really enjoy the beautiful desert scene around me,” one member said. “My favorite place is this view with lots of hills and canyons. When the light changes, it shows the depth of these canyons.”

For members who prefer the water, the community offers a full calendar of water fitness classes in its on-site pool. And during the evening, Yoga Under the Stars is a beloved class that invites members to stretch and unwind under a breathtaking desert sky. All of these offerings aren’t just special amenities for members — they provide a unique way of life.

SOCIAL BY NATURE

Springtime at The Hacienda at the Canyon invites members to immerse themselves in a variety of social offerings designed to nourish the mind, energize the body, and uplift the soul.

For example, the community’s garden club brings novice gardeners and green thumbs together to cultivate beauty from the desert soil. Nearby dog parks spark new friendships between members and their beloved canine companions. At The Hacienda, all social gatherings and offerings are designed to create a deep sense of belonging that is essential to human vitality.

“I am happier here because I’m more active socially and physically than I was in my house,” a member explained. “I’m glad I’m here.”

WELLNESS, REIMAGINED

At the core of The Hacienda at the Canyon is 360Well®, a signature initiative that supports active living with enriching amenities and personalized programming. This holistic approach is rooted in the four key “circles” of wellness: mind, body, spirit, and community. While each serves an important role on its own, the circles are interconnected. Strengthening one dimension allows each individual to strengthen the others.

Through comprehensive health and wellness services, 360Well empowers members to thrive in all aspects of their physical, mental, and social wellness. From guided stretching classes to more

personalized instruction from expert trainers, members can stay at the center of their own health. With 360Well, everything comes full circle, and the result is a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIVING

The spring season carries a sense of renewal, growth, and moving forward. At The Hacienda at the Canyon, this same feeling translates into purpose-driven living. Members don’t “retire” from life here. They lean into it.

Whether volunteering, leading classes, or cultivating new passions, members lead lifestyles that speak to their unique interests. Through award-winning Watermark University classes and Extraordinary Outings, members spend more time outdoors while exploring something new and building meaningful, lasting connections.

“The thing that’s pleased me more than anything is that it’s given us the opportunity to grow,” explained one member about the community’s offerings. “You should never stop learning. Watermark has made that possible with Watermark University and a variety of educational programs. You don’t get that living at home.”

AN ELEVATED LIFESTYLE

Along with its diverse programming, what truly sets The Hacienda at the Canyon apart is its vibrant, welcoming setting. During the springtime months, members gather in the community’s outdoor spaces and patios, while refined residences offer stunning views of the desert landscape. Here, springtime is not something to be only watched through a window. It’s meant to be embraced, explored, and cherished.

“Living here, I feel like I’ve had a chance to bloom,” said one member. “This place has something for everybody. Anybody who comes here is going to find something. You really do thrive.”

This spring, choose a lifestyle defined by movement, connection, and elevated living. Call 520-649-8004 to explore our springtime offerings and schedule your personalized visit.

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Where Art, Adventure & Spring Begin

Just three hours from Tucson, discover a place where spring wakes up in technicolor. Sitting at the edge of the Gila Wilderness, Silver City, New Mexico, comes alive with vibrant culture. Hike wildflower-lined trails, explore ancient Mogollon cliff dwellings, or ramble along scenic byways revealing wide-open skies and soul-charging landscapes. Whether you crave a weekend of mountainfresh air or relaxing natural hot springs, Silver City offers the perfect getaway, refreshingly close and unexpected. Plan your escape at VisitSilverCity.org

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Confidence in Every Chapter

HOW MODERN AESTHETICS ARE EMPOWERING WOMEN IN TUCSON

ARTICLE BY CHRISTY HALL

Skincare is increasingly viewed as part of overall wellness. Just as women prioritize nutrition, exercise, and mental health, caring for the skin is another form of self-respect. In a desert climate like Tucson’s, this requires special attention — sun exposure, dry air, and environmental stressors can accelerate aging and affect skin quality. Many aesthetic practices now emphasize education and individualized treatment plans over quick fixes, empowering women with knowledge to make informed decisions that align with their values and lifestyle.

AGING AS EVOLUTION, NOT DECLINE

Perhaps the most inspiring change in aesthetics is the cultural shift around aging. For decades, aging was framed as something women needed to “fight.” Today, many women are rejecting that narrative entirely. Aging is being reframed as a process of evolution — one that reflects experience, wisdom, and strength.

Aesthetic treatments are no longer about trying to look twenty forever. They’re about helping women look vibrant, rested, and confident at every stage of life. This mindset aligns perfectly with the women who inspire us most: those who continue to grow, lead, and make an impact well into their later decades. Confidence, after all, has no age limit.

TUCSON’S COMMUNITY OF EMPOWERED WOMEN

Tucson has always been a city shaped by strong, independent women. From small business owners revitalizing neighborhoods to community advocates improving local healthcare and education, the city is filled with women who uplift others. Aesthetics is simply one small piece of a much larger picture — one that celebrates self-confidence, personal choice, and empowerment.

When women invest in themselves, whether through education, wellness, leadership, or skincare, it sends a powerful message: self-care is not selfish.

It’s foundational. And when women feel confident, they often inspire others to do the same.

BEAUTY THAT REFLECTS STRENGTH

Ultimately, the most compelling aesthetic trend isn’t a specific treatment or technology — it’s a mindset. Women today are redefining beauty on their own terms, choosing treatments thoughtfully, embracing authenticity, and focusing on confidence rather than perfection. In Tucson, that spirit is particularly strong. The women who inspire us most aren’t chasing an ideal. They are living boldly, leading with purpose, and showing that true beauty is about strength, vitality, and the confidence to keep evolving.

We are proud to be part of this movement. Our philosophy has always centered on helping women feel confident, informed, and empowered in their own skin. Through personalized skincare guidance, thoughtful aesthetic treatments, and a commitment to natural, healthy results, we strive to create an environment where women feel supported at every stage of life.

Every woman’s story is different, and we believe aesthetic care should reflect that individuality — whether someone is beginning their skincare journey, navigating the changes that come with motherhood or career demands, or investing in long-term skin health. Our goal is to partner with women in a way that respects their vision for themselves.

When women feel confident in how they present themselves to the world, that confidence often extends far beyond the mirror. It influences how they lead, how they show up for their families and communities, and how they inspire others. And sometimes, feeling radiant in your own skin is simply one more way to celebrate the remarkable woman you already are.

Christy Hall, the Author of this Story is the owner of Skin Appeal in Tucson.

Aesthetic treatments are no longer about trying to look twenty forever. They're about helping women look vibrant, rested, and confident at every stage of life.

Women who inspire us most aren't chasing an ideal. They are living boldly, leading with purpose, and showing that true beauty is about strength, vitality, and the confidence to keep evolving.

“It’s

“Amazing

Karen

CONNECTING THROUGH STORYTELLING

CREATING SPACE FOR STORIES ACROSS TUCSON AND ABROAD

For Angela Orlando, storytelling has never been simply performance—it is a way of understanding people, building empathy and creating connection across cultures.

ARTICLE BY MEGAN EWING

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGELA ORLANDO

A cultural anthropologist by training, Orlando holds a doctorate in anthropology and has taught at the University of Arizona, UCLA, Pima Community College and other institutions before pivoting into work that blends education, writing and live storytelling. Along the way, she also worked as a subcontractor for Google, applying anthropology in the tech world, but says her true passion ultimately emerged elsewhere: helping people tell their own stories.

That passion now drives two distinct but deeply connected ventures—her leadership of Odyssey Storytelling in Tucson and her international Wandering Writers Workshops.

As executive producer of Odyssey Storytelling for the past two years, Orlando oversees the long-running monthly live storytelling series, now celebrating 22 years in Tucson. Held on the first Thursday of each month at the University of Arizona’s Student Union Kiva Room, the program invites community members to share true, personal stories built around a central theme.

“We believe that getting to know one another through story helps strengthen Tucson,” Orlando says.

Under her leadership, Odyssey has experienced significant growth. The organization now has a permanent, ADA-accessible venue and has intentionally expanded both its stage and audience to better reflect Tucson’s diversity.

“Having more diverse storytellers creates a more diverse audience,” she says. “People bring their friends, and that expands the circle.”

Each event features carefully coached storytellers rather than open-mic spontaneity. Participants pitch stories, rehearse with support and ultimately deliver polished narratives before what Orlando describes as an especially generous audience—one eager to listen rather than judge.

For Orlando, that listening is what gives live storytelling its power.

“To be heard and to be witnessed bolsters community,” she says. “And to hold space for someone else’s truth is equally important.”

That same philosophy extends into her second venture, Wandering Writers Workshops, which she founded in 2017. The small-group travel workshops combine writing instruction with immersive cultural experiences in destinations chosen to match each workshop’s theme.

Past programs have included food writing in Oaxaca, songwriting in Nashville, memoir writing in Sedona and campfire storytelling in northern Arizona. This September, Orlando will lead a travel-writing workshop in Granada, Spain.

The Granada workshop will host just eight participants, allowing for close instruction and personal attention. Mornings are devoted to craft sessions and writing lectures; afternoons feature excursions to sites such as the Alhambra; evenings are reserved for drafting stories inspired by the day’s experiences.

Participants leave not only with memories, Orlando says, but with a finished story.

“It’s traveling with a purpose,” she says. “You come home with a story, a new skill and new friends.”

Each workshop also begins with one of Orlando’s anthropological lectures, offering participants historical and cultural context before they begin writing.

“I don’t just drop people into a place,” she says. “I want them to understand where they are.”

Looking ahead, Orlando hopes to expand the workshops seasonally—one remarkable destination each quarter—while continuing to grow Odyssey through collaboration, accessibility and new voices. At the center of both efforts is one belief: stories help people recognize one another’s humanity.

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©2022:Encompass Health Corporation:MyTurn

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We are excited to welcome you to our institute and introduce our tradition of excellence in neurological and pain management service, but foremost in optimizing brain health and therefore optimizing your Quality of Life.

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ARTICLE BY KALI KASORZYK

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

BECKY HILLYARD

From Side Hustle to Style Empire

The power of taste, trust, and the courage to “just start.”

She didn’t have a business plan, a media budget, or even a name anyone could pronounce. What Becky Hillyard had was taste, a young family, and the instinct to just start. Today, her lifestyle brand Cella Jane commands an audience the size of Vogue’s , she’s nine collections strong with Splendid, and she’s built it all while raising three kids — refusing to sacrifice one for the other. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Becky shares what it really takes to build a brand, a career, and a life you love. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full conversation.

Q: WHEN DID YOU KNOW CELLA JANE WAS MORE THAN A HOBBY?

A: Two moments. Women started emailing me saying they bought something I recommended and felt amazing — asking me to help them find a dress for a wedding. That felt incredible. Then I looked at my affiliate numbers for one month and realized I could cover our mortgage. I thought, I can actually do this. I never set out to build a business. I started it because I genuinely loved it.

Q: WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK WITH THE BRAND?

A: Designing my own collection. It’s easy to point at items on a website and say I love these. But to create something from scratch, put your name on it, and wait to see if people connect with it — that’s terrifying. I had an incredible partner in Splendid, and women loved the pieces. It was the biggest risk and the biggest accomplishment.

Q: HOW HAS INFLUENCER MARKETING CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?

A: When I started, brands didn’t know whether to take it seriously. Now it’s a legitimate line item in their marketing budgets — sometimes bigger than TV. Because what we’ve built is trust. People trust a real recommendation from someone they follow far more than a commercial. There’s no question about it now.

Q: YOU’RE A MOM OF THREE RUNNING A FULL BRAND. WHAT DOES YOUR DAY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

A: I try to get up at five and not hit snooze — that first hour before the house wakes up is the most productive, most peaceful hour of my day. Then it’s all hands on deck with the kids and school drop-off. After that I work — planning content, connecting with my team, editing. After pickup, the day shifts completely and it’s all about them. I’ve learned to protect both halves fiercely, because both matter.

Q: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING OF THEIR OWN BUT KEEPS WAITING?

A: Don’t wait. Don’t wait for the perfect camera, the right strategy, or enough followers. We find every excuse to stay comfortable. Just start, be consistent, and be authentically yourself. The right people will find you — and they’ll stay.

This conversation is just the beginning. Becky goes deeper on the risks that almost stopped her, the design process behind her latest Splendid collection, and what she’d tell her 2012 self today. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.

“Trust is the only metric that actually compounds.”

— Becky Hillyard

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MAY 1ST

2026 Tucson International Mariachi Conference

Tucson Convention Center | 10:00 AM

A mariachi band should be seen and heard live to be fully appreciated! Tucson’s mariachi conference includes a music festival with three public concerts that cap a week of rigorous student workshops led by masters of mariachi music and folkloric dance. On Sunday morning, a traditional mariachi Mass featuring live music and dance is open to all. Through May 3.

MAY 1ST

Native Voices: 1950 - 2025

Maynard Dixon and Native American Art Museum — 6866 E. Sunrise Drive, Suite 150. | 11:00 AM Native Voices is a unique exploration of Native American art spanning the last 75 years with a focus on contemporary works, including paintings, pottery, textiles, sculpture, carvings, and jewelry. A catalog with a foreword by Dr. Mark Sublette will be available for purchase.  Tuesdays through Saturdays until October 10.

MAY 2ND

Tucson Arizona Boys Pops Concert: Pacific Pops

Catalina Foothills High School — 4300 East Sunrise Drive | 3:00 PM

Come enjoy the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus as they whisk you away on an island adventure! Featuring the music of Queen Liliʻuokalani, The Beach Boys, and Disney’s Lilo and Stitch, we’ll help get you ready for some summer fun!

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MAY 3RD

BOUNDLESS: Sounds of Spring -

Tucson Girls Chorus

Centennial Hall — 1020 E. University Blvd | 4:00 PM

The TGC’s 40th Anniversary Season culminates in a powerful celebration of our limitless future!  Join us in celebrating the wondrous gifts we all have to share.  Like trees deeply rooted in the desert soil, we flourish through connection, care, and creativity, and we hope you’ll join us in celebrating our journey.

MAY 16TH

Indigo Girls, LIVE!

Fox Tucson Theatre — 17 W Congress St | 7:30 PM

Over a 35-year career that began in clubs around their native Atlanta, the Grammy-winning duo of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray has recorded 16 studio albums (7 gold, 4 platinum, 1 double platinum), sold over 15 million records, and built a dedicated, enduring following. Don’t miss this fine folk duo.

JUNE 2ND

Rare Works on View: Limited-Time Exhibits

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum — 6300 N Swan

More than a dozen rarely seen paintings by Ted DeGrazia will be exhibited until Sept. 2, including DeGrazia Paints the Seri Indians. Explore paintings and more from DeGrazia’s time with the Comcaac (Seri) people in coastal Sonora. These drawings, watercolors, and oil paintings offer an intimate look at a culture the artist sought to record and honor.

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