LOCAL Houston | The City Guide July 2017 | Page 66

FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE THINGS I LOVE BY KELLI KICKERILLO CMO/Executive Vice President Kickerillo Companies Spaces for Fun and Family I love taking “adventures” with my husband and son. These adventures aren’t faraway trips to exotic locations or endurance sporting events. Ha! Our adventures often include a trip to the newest exhibit at the MFAH, a bike ride in Terry Hershey Park, a drive to the paddleboat dock at the Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve in northwest Houston or a movie at iPic (Run to see “Wonder Woman“ ASAP!). Every weekend you can visit a farmer’s market, a festival, a meet-up or see a new art show or band. We love all that Houston has to offer. Guest editor and native Houstonian Kelli Kickerillo knows all about home and design, seeing as how she’s the Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of the Kickerillo Companies, which has been building and developing in Houston and beyond for more than five decades. Family-Owned Businesses As a second-generation co-owner of a family-owned business, I love seeing other family-owned businesses thrive! Houston has so many successful legacies in real estate, retail and restaurants. One that I LOVE is Longoria Collection. Owned and operated by the gorgeous mom/daughter duo of Sylvia Dorsey and Elizabeth Fertitta, Longoria Collection is the place to go in Houston for beautiful home furnishings, accessories and linens. I adore their selection of coffee table books and candles. With brands such as Kelly Wearstler, Aerin and Alexandra Von Furstenberg, this store is truly the ultimate source for all things beautiful in Houston. My “Cafeterias” Houston undoubtedly has one of the most exciting culinary scenes in the country but I fall back on my favorite longtime Houston restaurants more often than I care to admit. They are consistent, delicious and a la “Cheers,” “everybody knows your name!” Café Annie, Relish, Carrabba’s, Island Grill (or Smoothie Island as I have it stored in my speed dial!) and DaMarco will always be my favorite cafeterias. Relish 66 LO C AL | july 17 Instagram I am unapol- ogetically in LOVE with Instagram. It keeps me up to speed on my local favorites, gives me design inspiration and connects me to friends and family who live on the other side of the world. And I know the best memes of the day! I never got into Facebook or Twitter, but I am guilty of #overgramming every single day. Beauty Potions That Work I am a sucker for beauty items! Only recently have I gotten into masks. They seem to be the craze of the beau- ty industry right now and there are dozens, both high and low end that work wonders, but I keep reaching for Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask. It does what it advertises, it provides an instant glow and I appreciate that all of her products are 100% natural and non-toxic. I use that mask as needed in the morning or in the evening before I put on my makeup but every single night my face is slathered with Avene’s Cicalfate Restorative Cream. This cream is a magical recommenda- tion from my dermatologist, Dr. Jennie Segal. It heals, moisturizes and calms my skin and I LOVE it! Workhorse AccessoriesI My accessories have to work and work hard! I go from preschool drop-off with my son Kick, to the sub- divisions walking homes under construction, to my parents’ home office for design and development meetings, and then back to onsite construction meetings most workdays, so I am in my car a lot. My iPhone ® is my lifeline; I panic when I see that battery icon get below 50%. When that happens my beloved Casetify case comes off, I pop on my Smart Battery Case from Apple and I am good to go. Two other accessories that don’t owe me a dime are my Ray-Ban ® Lightray Aviators and my Alexandra Knight Hunting Tote. These Ray-Bans are featherlight and I wear them 90% of the day. (Sunglasses hide a multitude of sins!) And full disclosure: My Alexandra Knight Hunting Tote is really my son’s. It was a gift from his grandmother but I have commandeered it! Alexandra Knight Hunting tote july 17 | L O C A L 67