Happy New Year! Welcome 2011! This month’s issue marks my third year as Social Editor for The Woodlands Lifestyles and Homes Magazine. How time flies when you are having fun, meeting wonderful people and covering some truly amazing events. I am often told how cool my job is…and, I have to agree, it really is an awesome gig. Fort Bend Publishing’s The Woodlands Lifestyles and Homes is a wonderful magazine for our community, showcasing some of the most gorgeous, lived-in homes of the neighbors of this great town. More important than the homes within the pages of our magazine are the people who live in them, many of whom I have the pleasure of writing about and taking photos of on a monthly basis. You all are out there attending, planning and sponsoring these wonderful charitable events that are making huge differences in the lives of the people of our community. Our area is giving, kind and personifies the word philanthropy. I feel blessed to witness the sincere hearts of the people of this community and to have the opportunity to share those moments with you, our readers.

Speaking of hearts, one of the premier and largest events of our area, The Montgomery County Heart Ball, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 19, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. The “Bling for the Heart”-themed event will feature a “Diamond District” of carnival games and fabulous prizes. Carol Garner and Soly Lachterman will serve as co-chairmen for the gala, which will honor Judy and Glenn Smith. For more information about the Heart Ball, please contact Megan Crawford, AHA corporate market director, at 713-610-5021 or via e-mail at megan.crawford@heart.org.

The Woodlands South Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its 25th Annual Taste of The Town planned for Jan. 27 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott and Convention Center. Be ready to feast on some of the most delicious foods of our area and watch The Woodlands Idol crown its new champion at the Idol Finals. For more information and tickets to the event, see taste.woodlandschamber.net/tickets.

Want to see your event featured in an upcoming “Scene in The Woodands?”   Drop me a line with the details, or send me photos of recently past events at missyherndon@yahoo.com.

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Junior League’s Holiday Market Preview Party

Martinis and Mistletoe was the theme of this year’s Holiday Market Preview Party benefiting the Junior League of North Harris and South Montgomery Counties Inc. More than 600 supporters packed The Woodlands Waterway Marriot and Convention Center for an evening of shopping and charity including a luxury raffle, silent auction and live entertainment by Vertigo. In between shopping, guests enjoyed signature drinks at the “Martini” bar and delicious cupcakes from Frost. The annual event is always held the opening Thursday evening of the JL’s premier Holiday Market shopping experience, which boasts more than 100 unique vendors.  Proceeds from the event support volunteer training and the community programs of the Junior League of North Harris and South Montgomery Counties Inc. Mark your calendars for next year’s Junior League Holiday Market, taking place on Nov. 4 -6.

1)(L-R) Natalie Greene, Allison Buller and Jennifer Baker

2) JL Holiday Market chair Sarah Watson with JL past president Shannon Mills

3) (L-R) Amber Woffard, Dana Estes, Elvira Cautham, Terese Yates and Honey Tucker

5) (L-R) Scott Lee, Dr. Ryan Oakley and Kyle Watson

5) Yvette and Mike Williams

6) (L-R) Marissa Mettauer, Stacey Jeter, Cindy Heiser and Wendy Brandt

7) JLNHSMC president-elect Ali May (left) with JL Holiday Market chair Sarah Watson and JL finance VP, Jessica Guinn

8) Jeannie Rich Chandler, Junior League of Houston president, with friend Sherri Logan

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Donohos

Donohos Jewellers recently hosted a private cocktail party to kick off their Holiday Showcase of Jewels at their beautiful store on Six Pines Drive in The Woodlands. Guests were invited to shop an expanded collection of jewels from some of the biggest names in jewelry while enjoying live music, hors d’oeuvres, champagne and wine.

9) Donohos store director Richard Van der Dys (center) with Dr. Keith Johnson and wife Rebecca Johnson

10) Jim and Nelda Blair

11) Liliana and Justin Hemperley

12) Dr. Sakina and George Davis

13) Marselles Avery and Pat O’Malley

14) Allison Laslett and Nancy Santos

15) Barbara Alcamo and Greg Kohler

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Santa’s Gingerbread Workshop

The spirit of the season was alive in the Ballroom of The Woodlands Waterway Marriott as the Junior League of North Harris and South Montgomery Counties, Inc. hosted its annual Santa’s Gingerbread Workshop in conjunction with their Holiday Market fundraiser.  It was a winter wonderland full of red-apron clad kiddos as they made homes of gingerbread and gum drops, visited face painters and a balloon artist, and even got to share their own holiday wishes with Santa Claus himself.  Proceeds benefit the many community programs of the Junior League of North Harris and South Montgomery Counties.

16) JL Holiday Market chair Sarah Watson with the chair and committee overseeing the Gingerbread Workshop, Amber Oakley, Kim Lee and Alison Judge

17) Kelly Breland with her daughters

18) Sisters Abigail and Isabelle Guidry with friend Natalie Simpson

19) JLNHSMC president Jenni Skipper and husband Kendrick and their family

20) Face painter Jingles the Clown with guest, Rafe Nobles

21) Lisa Kelley with her son

22) JLNHSMC board member Bridget Buck and husband Dr. John Buck and their daughters

23) The Vando girls and friends

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Tiffany and Co. Grand Opening

It was red, green and blue — “Tiffany blue” to be exact — last month in Market Street as the much anticipated Tiffany and Co. store held its grand opening, just in time to welcome holiday shoppers.   Community leaders and shoppers packed the new retailer seeking gifts wrapped in the highly coveted signature blue “Tiffany and Co.” box. The new Woodlands store is only the second location in Houston and sixth in Texas.

24) Kerry O’Connor, store director, with Mike McClure, group director of the Houston Market, Tiffany & Co.

25) Edward Gerard, Tiffany Group vice president, with Cathy Elward, regional vice president, Tiffany & Co.

26) (L-R) Nina Marino, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce with Stacey Goertz and Dr. Ann Snyder, president and CEO, Interfaith of The Woodlands

27) Kathy Cramm, Rachel Fulton and Wendy Hoffart

28) Dominque Sullman and Jean Garcia

29) Veronica Munoz, Doug Kay and Bob Doto