< Previous30 COASTMONTHLY.COM / May 2016Mighty MomsAge: 23Children: alejandra Gabriela De La Fuente, 3Occupation: as of Janu-ary 2015, my family and I decided I’d quit my job so I could dedicate myself to be a full-time boxer and mixed martial arts fighter.City: La MarqueKarla Hernandezanother little life before ours.What have you gained from being a mom? I’ve gained a maturity and happi-ness that I’m aware I wouldn’t have if I wouldn’t have become a mother. I’ve learned to enjoy every little detail of life because life keeps its route and doesn’t slow down for anyone. One day, you’re walking out of the hospital with your newborn, and the next you’re enrolling them in school.How do you find balance in your life? I have been blessed with an amazing family that is the greatest support sys-tem I could’ve ever had. God and my family is where I find my balance.What’s your health and fitness routine? aside from two weeks after competition, I’m always in competition mode. I workout three times a day, six days a week, which includes weight-training, boxing and jiu-jitsu. The months before com-petition, my eating habits are strict, for I’ve learned firsthand that in fitness, 80 percent of the progress is in the kitchen.What’s your guilty plea-sure? Movies. I love watching movies with my family. and as weird as it may sound, salted crackers and tacos are my biggest weakness by far.What would you tell a new mother? Being a mother is about learning about What is the mightiest thing you’ve ever done? The mightiest thing would be letting God pick me up after I had touched rock bottom in ev-ery aspect of my life. I reached 170 pounds and was facing some family difficulties, but God blessed me with an amazing family that was able to help me rebuild myself stronger than before.How do you define strength? Strength to me is not defined by how much I squat or bench, but the ability to wake up at 3 a.m. to feed your baby when you just went to bed at 2 a.m. It’s being able to wake up at 5 a.m. to pack lunch for your husband when you were on baby watch all night. This is a rare strength not many crave but I’ve seen that strength in my own mom. Seeing how strong she was for all of us inspired me to want to have that strength to balance my own family.What have you sacrificed as a mom? I’ve learned to sacrifice my selfish way of thinking. We never realize how self-centered our thinking is until we have to start thinking of strength you didn’t know you had and dealing with fears you didn’t know existed. Being a mom is a blessing and if God chose you to be a mom, then there’s a reason why. you may not understand it now, and the idea of becoming a mother might be a little frightening, but once you see those little eyes staring back at you, you’ll understand about 50 percent of the questions you had. The other 50 percent, you’ll figure out as time goes by. Nobody is perfect, and no one is truly ready to be a mom. There’s just no such thing. But if you were lucky enough to become a mother, then that means God thought you were ready, and in the end, that’s all the approval you need.Karla Hernandez plays in the sand with her daughter, Gabriela De La Fuente, 3. Hernandez credits her mother for inspiring her to be a strong parent. Hernandez’s makeup by Michelly Villalpando and hair by Rebecca Rivera.9815 Tulum Court $339,9004/2.5901 11th $299,0001914 Avenue M $779,0002402 Avenue L $475,0001815 Sealy $495,0001818 35th $285,000TWO WITH A WATER VIEWHISTORIC CHARM1828 Avenue K $299,0006 Park Lane $349,0004/32807 Izamal Court $329,0002/22100 Post O ce #3 $380,000St Germain Condo2307 Avenue P $135,000Lot2924 Avenue R $329,000New Price2207 Post O ce #309 $365,000214 25th $274,9007109 Broadway $499,0007109 BroadwaySATURDAY JUNE 4THPRESENTED BY THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN GALVESTON PARTNERSHIPAPR 30 & MAY 1MAY 7 & MAY 8New PriceJust ListedJust Listed32 COASTMONTHLY.COM / May 2016Mighty MomsAge: 34Children: Josiah, 7 monthsOccupation: Police officerCity: GalvestonJoneka LoydWhat’s your health and fitness rou-tine? My fitness routine has changed since I had my son. Instead of walking/running in the park, fitness now doubles into the cleaning routine, instead of saying “I don’t have time!” and guess what? Chasing a toddler around isn’t that much easier than chasing a criminal.What’s your guilty pleasure? My guilty pleasure is social media. I can have some adult time without leaving home.What would you tell a new mother? I would tell her that she will receive a lot of advice. Most will be unsolicited, but to take it all in. Ultimately, do what is right for you and your baby. There is no “catch-all” advice; what works for one child might not work for another. But there just might be something that you hadn’t thought of or what is considered an old remedy that might get you through that 3 a.m. screamfest.What’s the mightiest thing you’ve ever done? I swam to save someone who fell asleep on a float and woke up to find that they were too far out in the ship channel.How do you define strength? I define strength as resilience. To never give up and to keep going. To find a way and fig-ure it out. We must have that inner fire that drives us to continue. It might not always burn at 100 percent, but we can never let it burn out.What have you sacrificed as a mom? I took a year off from college. I graduated in the summer of 2014. University of Houston- Clear Lake did not have commencement until December 2014. I found out I was pregnant four days before graduation, and I walked across the stage carrying the most import-ant little person in my life. I am returning in august to the master’s program.What have you gained from being a mom? I feel I have gained patience. Everything in life can’t be fast-paced. Would it be faster and less messy for me to feed him during dinner? yes, but when he feeds himself, he gets to practice independence. He feels so accomplished when some of it actually makes it in his mouth.How do you find balance in your life? I achieve balance by being organized. I dislike being rushed or having the feeling of being off-kilter. Everything has a time and place. The more I plan and organize in ad-vance, the less hectic I feel and the smoother my day goes.Galveston police officer Joneka Loyd, pictured with her son, Josiah, who is 7 months old, said chasing a toddler around isn’t that much easier than chasing a criminal. 34 COASTMONTHLY.COM / May 2016Mighty MomsAge: 40Children: Paloma Walker, 18; Sage Walker, 16Partner: Brian PeperOccupation: Owner of The Body Space; Pilates and yoga teacherCity: GalvestonCourtney Paige WalkerSeeing life from a child’s eyes, learning how to laugh at myself and life and try not to take life so seriously. I learned about what unconditional love feels like and that my mom was right when I was growing up and I should’ve listened more to her advice. Parenting is lifelong.How do you find balance in your life? Balance is never cording to my body’s needs and what I have time for.What’s your guilty plea-sure? My guilty pleasure is having time doing nothing and not feeling guilty about it.What would you tell a new mother? In the begin-ning, slow way down. Take long walks with your baby to clear your mind. Remember to take deep breaths and know “this, too, shall pass.” Take time out for yourself and keep work-ing on developing who you are and what makes you happy. ask for help, and remember your support system reaches far beyond you and your spouse. I am so grateful for all of my family, friends and my children’s friends’ parents who helped to raise my children. I couldn’t have done it alone. What’s the mightiest thing you’ve ever done? Having and raising two children as a single mom. Starting my own business, The Body Space, on Galveston Island.How do you define strength? 1. Strength is be-lieving in yourself. 2. Strength is getting back up when you have “failed.” 3. The ultimate strength is forgiveness — for-giving yourself and forgiving others.What have you sacri-ficed as a mom? When you become a mom, you learn very quickly that you must sacrifice to raise children. However, the re-wards are worth the sacrifices. Specific things I have sacrificed besides my sanity (joking), is that I sacrificed my time I once had for myself and other rela-tionships. you put your time and creativity into your children that could’ve been used growing a career or other ambition.What have you gained from being a mom? Most of all, I gained new perspective. Courtney Walker tosses a beach ball to her son, Sage, 16. Walker said the rewards of being a mother are worth the sacrifices. Walker’s hair by Michelly Villalpando and makeup by Rebecca Rivera.really ever achieved. But to center myself, I love going to the beach to clear my mind, surround myself with loved ones and be at home and in my garden.What’s your health and fitness routine? I believe in the power and effectiveness of yoga, Pilates mat and Reformer. I really enjoy barre and cardio classes — I blend them all ac-MUDBUGMADNESSTUESDAYS2502 Seawall Blvd. • 409.762.8545 • FishTalesGalveston.comJOIN US EASTER & ALL SPRING BREAKPier 21’s Best Dining & ViewsHappy Hour Mon - Fri 11am - 7pmLunch & Dinner Daily2100 Harborside Drive | 409.762.3030 | WillieGs.com2200 Harborside Drive • 409.765.5708 • FishermansWharfGalveston.comWATERFRONT DININGPRIVATE EVENT SPACEHAPPY HOUR SPECIALS 6502 Stewart Rd. Galveston, Texas 77551 T: 409.744.7000 ChunkyFunkyMonkey.com Exceptional Window Fashions & Design Custom Shutters, Blinds, Draperies & Fine Flooring Quality Upholstery Exclusive Wallpaper & Fabrics Turn-Key Prices on Stanley Furniture Skilled Design Services Home Renovation & RemodelsHunter Douglas Priority Dealer marthaturner.com | 713.520.1981Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.CLEAR LAKE SHORES Cove Park | $2.9mil 3/3.5 - ±4,722 sf extraordinary Mid-Century lakefront estate Jim Rosenfeld | 713.854.1303FREEPORT County Road 723 | $2.1mil ±48 acres beachfront property on Bryan Beach D. Leigh Martin, IV | 713.835.9839CLEAR LAKE Nasa Parkway | $630s 2/2.5+ - ±1,650 sf 2 car garage | panoramic views | 24 hr concierge Peggie Pentecost | 713.705.3700LEAGUE CITY Jag Hollow | $520s 4/3.5 - ±4,797 sf Trendmaker home in Victory Lakes Pamela Mouton Butler | 281.386.6699FRIENDSWOOD Garden Drive | $410s 3/2 - ±2,096 sf build a dream home on ±1.7 acres Donna Bigby | 713.805.6633GALVESTON Island Passage | $350s 3/2.5 - ±2,077 sf stellar golf course vistas | gourmet kitchen Jim Rosenfeld | 713.854.1303GALVESTON Island Passage | $330s 3/2.5 - ±2,072 sf luxurious master down | like-new construction Jim Rosenfeld | 713.854.1303GALVESTON West De Vaca Lane | $180s ±15,764 sf lot outstanding beachside custom homesite Jim Rosenfeld | 713.854.1303GALVESTON Compass Circle | $110s ±4,839 sf lot marvelous custom homesite | lake vistas Jim Rosenfeld | 713.854.130338 COASTMONTHLY.COM / May 2016FeaturesStory by Stevy Curbow Photos by Jennifer ReynoldsVintage beauty, coastal back-drops and seaside fashion set the stage for the eighth annual Galveston Island Beach Revue at Beach Central May 20-21.The festivities include a beer tasting, parasol decorating, a classic car show and vendor shopping. But the highlight of the event has always been the Bathing Beauties Contest, in which 40 women from all over gather to strut their stuff in vintage-inspired swimsuits.Islander By Choice, which produces the revue, and Galveston-based Fluid Swimwear are teaming up for the third year. Each year, Fluid Swimwear creates a Galveston Island Beach Revue bathing suit for display and sale at the Hotel Galvez & Spa. This year, Fluid Swimwear is offering contestants a custom-fit, vintage-inspired swimsuit for the competition to either borrow or buy at steep discounts.Jordan Cunningham, a Tiki Island resident and University of Houston-Clear Lake stu-dent, was the first to be fitted for her custom competition swimsuit.Cunningham decided to be more than a spectator of the competition after she watched the contestants last year. Cunning-ham used this year’s competition as a goal to spur her on in her new health journey, which she began last summer.“I recently lost 40 pounds,” Cunningham said. “I thought this would be a great way to top off my college graduation and celebrate my weight-loss journey. I am really excited about my swimsuit and getting all dolled up for the competition.”Cunningham will walk the runway in her custom suit designed by Megan Turnbow, owner and designer of Fluid Swimwear, at the revue’s Bathing Beauties Contest begin-ning 5 p.m. May 21 at Beach Central, 2102 Seawall Blvd., in Galveston.Turnbow’s relationship with the event runs deeper than sponsorships.Perfect fitBeach Revue teams up with isle swimsuit designer(From top) Megan Turnbow, owner of Fluid Swim-wear, talks about how she started making handcraft-ed swimsuits. Colorful fabric swatches for custom swimsuits are displayed in Turnbow’s studio in Gal-veston. (Right) Jordan Cunningham, left, a contestant in this year’s Galveston Island Beach Revue, meets with Turnbow about a custom suit for the competition. COASTMONTHLY.COM / May 2016 39Megan Turnbow takes measurements during a fitting with Jordan Cunningham at her island studio. Turnbow is creating a vintage-styled suit for Cunningham, who is a contestant in the annual Galveston Island Beach Revue.The company, which was born out of the need to find clothing that fit well, began when the Ann Arbor, Mich., native sought warmth in sunny island life in Galveston. Her specialty is creating custom suits that contour the body.“Bathing suits are the most intimate piece of public clothing we wear; they should look good on you,” Turnbow said.The Galveston Island Beach Revue, which serves as the island’s official kick-off to summer, was resurrected in 2009 by Islander By Choice and draws inspiration from two of Galveston’s former seasonal pasttimes, the Pageant of Pulchritude and Splash Day.“Every May, we get to celebrate a very special piece of Galveston’s incredible history with our Beach Revue guests,” Will Wright, of Islander By Choice, said. “We love hosting the event and letting people interact with this historic event in a present-day setting. We’ve got a full Friday and Saturday planned for everyone this year focusing on vintage Galveston fun.” GALVESTON ISLAND BEACH REVUEBeach Central, 2102 Seawall Blvd., free admissionMay 206 p.m. Craft beer taps open6:45 p.m. Contestant introductions7:30 p.m. Harbors over Highways takes the main stage8 p.m. Best Vintage Dressed awardsMay 21Noon Vintage vendor shop opensNoon Parasol decorating contestNoon Opening ceremoniesNoon Craft beer tents openNoon Classic Car and Vintage Trailer Show1 p.m. Beer tasting3 p.m. Beer tasting4:30 p.m. Dandy Wellington and His Band take the main stage5 p.m. Bathing Beauties Contest7 p.m. Dandy Wellington and His Band“I believe in businesses having deep ties to their community,” she said. “Being a part of the Galveston Island Beach Revue is a perfect fit for us, but also is a way to be-come a part of Galveston and its deep-root-ed history.”Next >