About

Welcome to our little village called Austin! Are you wondering who the awesome people are at LiveMom? We are a local bunch of mamas who have come together, mostly sane, to bring you many resources that will build a better village. Meet the faces behind the voices of LiveMom.com.

You can read more about us on Free Fun in Austin,  the Austin American-Statesman, and Austin Monthly’s May 2011 issue!

Catherine Prystup

Founder

Catherine Prystup has lived in Austin for fourteen years. In her downtime, she enjoys reading, hanging out at coffee shops, people watching, eating dessert, cooking, planning and going on long vacations, and singing really loudly (and badly) to 80′s tunes while driving around aimlessly in her car. She’s also a big fan of red wine and has been known to rant about how it’s a great form of therapy. She has a background in advertising sales and management. She’s mom to three human kids: a thirteen year old boy, a five year old girl, and a new little baby boy and to four furry animal kids: two dogs and two cats.

Shannon Oelrich

Food Editor

Shannon Oelrich is a freelance writer/editor and a stay-at-home mom. Originally from San Antonio, she moved to Austin in 1998 to pursue her master’s degree in English. She was the food editor for Texas Co-op Power magazine for five years, and while there, compiled and edited two archival cookbooks.

Nicole Basham

Contributing Writer

Nicole is a native Austinite (yes, you read that right!) who lived in Virginia for 8 years but was drawn back home by the allure of Kerbey queso, real barbeque and endless summers. A recovering workaholic, Nicole worked at an international conservation organization and returned to Austin to manage a peer mentoring program for teen girls. Now she is a stay-at-home mama to a hilarious, high-energy preschooler with an active imagination. Although some days are admittedly tough, Nicole feels lucky to have the chance to revisit her favorite childhood hangouts with her son in tow. In addition to that full-time position, she also enjoys playing soccer, listening to live music, volunteering, eating, cooking, dancing, singing in the car and learning new things.

Christine Sinatra

Mommy Mob Contributing Writer

Christine Sinatra first came to Austin for college from her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Like a lot of University of Texas graduates, she got advice to go try living somewhere else for a while and tried to, but it didn’t take. Christine is the communications director for Texans Care for Children and mom to a kindergartener. Her past experience includes working as a reporter for the Austin American-Statesman and the Oakland Tribune company, being a Peace Corps volunteer for high school girls in Africa, and being pregnant while enrolled at UT’s LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Lori Anderson

Contributing Writer/ Tech Helper

Lori Anderson is a SAHM to a five-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy.  Originally from the San Antonio area, Lori moved to Austin in 1999 and lived in the Austin area until early this year when she and her family relocated to Hong Kong to pursue a job opportunity for her husband, Josh.  Currently, Lori is getting acquainted with her new locale and missing her friends and family back home.  Lori will be contributing regular features about learning to navigate her new surroundings while also quelling some homesickness for family, friends, and Tex-Mex cuisine.

 Melanie Haupt

Contributing Writer

Melanie Haupt is a wife, mom, cook, writer, teacher, and friend. She has lived in the Austin area (off and on) since 1988 and did both her Bachelor’s and her PhD at UT-Austin. She is a sometimes-runner, local food junkie, and knits dishcloths to keep her hands busy.

Lauren Walz
Contributing Writer