Summer 2016: The Beauty Issue | Chispa Magazine

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Li v e.Beauty.Ful l Surv i v or Heroes, Tandy i n Brazi l

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I N THI S I SSUE Editor's Letter 06 Your St rat egy Professional 08 Mompreneur 18 Windy Artist 14 SENIORita 22

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Rel at ionships Kinds of Friends That Every Woman Needs 26 Conversat ions Beauty From Ashes 30 She's Got Chispa Jena Murray 34

Feat ures Beauty Expert Dishes on Age-Old Trick for Perfect Skin 38 Stick to Your Diet, Lose the Weight, and Improve Your Health 40 The Beauty of Kiddie Knowledge 42 We're Ejecting Beauty Myths 44 Meet Pevonia's Live.Beauty.Full Survivor Heroes 46 Cover St ory The Ruins Tell All 60 Cover Photo by Matt Baxter

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A Bet t er You Fashion + Style 68 Health + Beauty | Annual Chispa Beauty Awards: 140 Best Beauty Products 92 Smart + Homey 106 Travel + Culture 110 Through The Lens 114 Bookworm 138 Must Haves 142 Mi Chispa 145

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Edit or-in-Chief Mavian Arocha-Rowe

Lif est yl e Direct or Romina Nabhen

Execut ive Edit or Mia Guerra

Managing Edit ors Paola Ramirez and Milo SenallĂŠ

Associat e Edit or Lucia Rodriguez

Social Media Manager Lauri Bonilla

Creat ive Direct or Christian Ruben

Direct or of Sal es Scott Rowe

Writ ers Cena Block Brett Danielsen Dr. Sanam Hafeez Daniel Henderson Doug Lemov Chris McMahan Maggie Sabatier-Smith Steve Siebold Dr. Shoba Sreenivasan Karissa Thacker Karin Tierney Dr. Linda E. Weinberger

Advisory Board

Advisory Board

Johnny Arocha Pam Black Mario Luis

Paola Ramirez Vivian Reina Maggie Sabatier-Smith

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Editorial questions, submissions, and/ or pitches, email editor@chispamagazine.com.

Vol. 2, Issue 4 Š Chispa Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Photo credits are not given to improperly identified photos.

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EDITOR'S LETTER

Ti me mtboe r Re me

As I was cleaning out the basement this past weekend I found my only copy of Vallarta Today Daily Newspaper from April 19, 2004. On page seven, the writer included a quote from a previous editor?s letter from 2004. And then she wrote the following, ?It?s an amazing journey in a magazine, it?s written by an enlightened alien, who has landed here to take everyone to the place where freedom and creativity and being exactly how you want to be is how you should be and it?s a fabulous world.?

This newspaper article was published right after finishing the first issue for a famed Miami publication. But, let me take you a step further: The morning after ?literally? finishing the issue, I was on my way to work, driving north on the Turnpike when I was hit by a drunk driver and rolled over three lanes with my then Ford Sport Explorer. This accident came during at time when I began to question my purpose at this magazine, which of course, let me to question my purpose for my life. Many in my position would have enjoyed the nightlife and all its tantalizing spirits; however, something inside of me rebuked it.

Should I have been insulted that I was identified as an alien? Actually? it was a praise and I got the answer to my questions. It was a confirmation on my purpose. You see, as a lover of Christ, I somewhat feel out of place in this world. The Psalmist said, "I am a stranger on earth" (Psalm 119:19a). The phrase, "wherever I lodge," in verse 54, literally means: "in my temporary house." According to Hebrews 11, the "heroes of the faith" "admitted they were aliens and strangers on earth" (verse 13). Fast forward to yesterday. My best friend called to encourage me. She knows my parents, who are very close to my heart, just moved 12 hours away. She knows that my son underwent two surgeries four days ago. Because of these life trials, I have procrastinated, one more time with another Chispa app edition. And, here she was reminding me that each app edition comes with a life trial. Wowzers I thought. She was right. But, why?

Going back through my editor?s letters I came across a journey of seasons: fear, worry, stress, death of a child, anxiety, depression, and now I am trying to be still; trying to

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remember how many times and in how many trials my Heavenly Father has come through. Going back one more time, Facebook just reminded me that in 2011 I wrote the following in my status: ?Jesus portrayed struggle as the entry point into the Christian life, stressing that it would be a daily reality of our faith...? Is this just a coincidence or fuel to spark my current season of remembrance?

Today, Vallarta Today sits on top of my desk as a reminder. Today, I recur the words my best friend said before we hung up: A calling doesn?t make you happy, it?s meant to make you holy. C

Editor's Letter 7

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Becomi ng

M ore

A uth enti c Your Strategy | Professional 9

Becoming more authentic may be a key to reaching your external dreams and achieving internal well-being. People who have something unique to say and are willing to step up and say it are increasingly finding success. Many would not have predicted the election of Barack Obama in 2008. Obama used his personal story and his life story in an inspired, authentic manner. The electorate responded. Obama?s message of personal authenticity resonated deeply with the younger demographic. Regardless of your opinion regarding Obama?s results as president, his story is indicative of someone who led himself and chose his own path.

Choosing your own path with an understanding of external forces is at the heart of psychological authenticity. The vast majority of people may never choose to lead themselves and be authentic but a percentage of people in every generation do choose the path.

Authenticity is not a new idea. Historically, being authentic generally meant being true to yourself. Being genuine or real. It has generally been accepted across philosophical traditions and cultures to be a state to which one aspires. It is assumed that being authentic is a good thing. It?s likely that when you describe someone as ?authentic,? you admire them.

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The drive toward being genuine or real also appears to be innate. We first experience the awareness that we are being real or being fake in early adolescence. Research by developmental psychologist Susan Harter clarifies that adolescents report negative psychological states associated with being fake and prefer to be themselves.

You are more likely to be successful in the world of work and leadership by being authentic than by blending in and going along with the crowd. The drive toward authenticity requires you? like Mozart, Da Vinci, and Napoleon? to think for yourself. It requires you to do the hard work of figuring out what you really, really want to do. You must dig in and notice your passions, your strengths, your shortcomings, and relentlessly pursue opportunities.

Success will go to the people who know how to work with other people in order to get difficult and important things done. The level of psychological sophistication and depth required to connect, relate, and achieve in partnership with others has escalated in the last 15 years. Due to flatter organizations, we no longer have role authority to rely on? role authority meaning the assumption that people will just do what we say. Having or nurturing new ideas, collaborating to win, and figuring out how to do what no one else has

figured out how to do yet are the winning strategies in this new world. Cultivating authenticity and tuning into yourself in your world at a deeper level are required to accomplish such lofty goals on a daily basis.

thereof. When was the last time you heard someone admit they behaved like a fake to get something they wanted? Have you ever heard an adult say ?I?m struggling to be more authentic?? It doesn?t happen often.

Cultivating authenticity is the key to flourishing in our current era of freedom and fear. The authentic are brave enough to be themselves despite all of the fear within as well as all of the fear in the atmosphere.

What exactly does it mean to be authentic in psychological terms? What have we learned in the last 15 years? Far from letting it all hang out and just being yourself, the notion of being authentic that is becoming clearer consists of at least four interrelated variables: ?selves? awareness, unbiased processing, appropriate transparency, and concordance between behavior and values.

To be sure, being authentic sounds really trite as an answer to the compelling workplace dilemmas of today. Just be yourself. Know yourself. Haven?t we all heard this before in one form or another? But what if truly being yourself is much easier to say than to actually do? What if truly being yourself requires particular focused work, unusual idiosyncratic discipline, and keen powers of self-observation? What if authenticity is the key to flourishing in this digital era of freedom and fear?

In the modern workplace and in casual conversations, we are much more comfortable discussing the person who?s perceived as a fake. Listen carefully to conversations and you will notice the notion of authenticity mostly discussed in the context of who lacks it.

What you probably haven?t heard is someone pondering their own authenticity ? or lack

Each of the big four skills requires a depth of understanding about the environment, or as we psychologists like to say, the context.

Warren Bennis defined leaders as people who master the context as opposed to being mastered by their context. Understanding and feeling the pressure of a situation is a fact of life, but allowing the situation to determine who you are and how you will respond is a choice. Strong situational pressures are always present, and leaders find ways to use the strong forces of their particular time and situation. C This excerpt is adapted from THE ART OF AUTHENTICITY: Tools To Become An Authentic Leader And Your Best Self (Wiley / 2016).

Text by Gina Folk Photo by Samuel Zeller

Your Strategy | Professional 11

How To Ch ar geW h at r u o y w or t h

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Many of my best life?s lessons I learned from my parents: Do unto others as you would have done to you. The customer is always right.

With all things: Integrity first! No matter how costly it is to fix a mistake, doing the right thing will always pay off in the long run.

My mom and dad always believed, those people behind you on the road to life, were those that needed your help most. In my family helping another person was not just a virtue, it was next to ?Godliness?and there weremany examplesof how it showed up in their actions. Whether it wasoffering someone a ride to churchon Sundays, or inviting someonefor a home cooked meal who had been down on their luck, my parents always taught us to give generously and freely, and I still believe it?s the right way to live.

And then, I left my corporate job (and paycheck) and launched my own business.

And, some of those generosity-based values were just that? values. And though values are an important part of running an aligned business, being generous is much easier when you?re making enough money topay your bills.

I?m a business-life-balance coach specializing in moms in business, which basically means?

I ?help?people. This is what I do for a living, and help is my product. Instead of selling

widgets or commodities, I help my clientsfigure out how to be more effective with their time, set up repeatable processes to work more efficiently, and help them focus their services and products to be most profitable in the time they wish to devote to work. To win at this game of entrepreneurship, I had to figure out this value-based charging for my own business first. Being of service vs. selling products meant I had to shift my own helping paradigm to a profitable helping business model.

And, I can tell you, this was a long and arduous process which ended up nearly bankrupting my business. Although I strongly believe in the value of unconditional help, I do have an obligation to keep the doors of my business open and the lights on. So, Ihad to grow from the inside to realize the value of the help I provided for others first, and then attach a price that was equal to the value I provide, and the money I save others in the long run who invest in my services.

Everyone loves a deal, but no one likes to feel as though they?re taking advantage of another person. So, it?s incumbent upon you to figure out how to charge for yourself, your business, and your clients. And you might be surprised, the suggestions I have are less about mathematics and accounting, and much more about the softer under-side of what makes

Your Strategy | Mompreneur 13

your business work, how it started, what it?s meant to do, and who it?s meant to serve.

Al ign Yoursel f and Your Services One of the best ways to value your services and products for what they?re worth is to get into a deep sense of alignment. Coming into alignment means working from the inside out.

Uncovering and clearly defining your core values and needs, discovering your passions, and the purpose for being in business; and then, defining the values and needs of your business are good places to begin.

When you work from the inside out? you?ll begin lining all the pieces up into your uniquely-defined business-life-balance. This is an effective way to work toward enhancing the value of your services and overcoming the guilt of charging what you?re worth.

Hel p Those Who Most Desire Your Services One of the most important things to do in business is truly understand who your ideal clients are and how you are best suited to help them. This is why your abundance is uniquely connected to the abundance of the others you help? However, it?s important to keep this in perspective.

For a long time, people would invite me out for coffee to pick my brain, and for a while, I agreed to do this. In my mind, I was showing up for a potential client? in their mind, they were simply learning more about what I did

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and getting questions answered. However, as my business grew and I became busier, mytime became more precious, and I soon felt taken advantage of by those brain pickers, especially because those are the very people who never wanted to hire me to begin with; they just wanted free advice and I was the sucker who said yes. The simple fact they consider business advice and counsel only worthy of a cup of coffee should have been myfirst indicator they werenot that interested in investing in myknowledge, consult or expertise. I learned, but only after dozens of meetings like this. When I finally drew the line in the sand, I realized it wasn?t really their fault. Most were newbies in business like myself and didn?t really understand the value in investing. And, I truly realizedwhere the responsibility started and stopped? with me, and my boundaries (another tough lesson to learn).

So today, I say that it?s best to begin from a place of your passion, identify your core ideal niche, and uncover the pain points that your services can be asolution to. Crystallize your marketing message around your ideal clients, and then work to solve their unique problems with your services.

My passion is healthy families and smart, savvy, powerful, fully-whole, creative, and passionate moms. I believe they?re the key to

a healthy world. As a result of these exercises in alignment for my business, I?ve designed services and programs to support them to create anawesome business in the time they have, focus on their sweet spot, and then free their time for a passionate and amazinglife that fits.

Those who most desire what you have to offer will happily invest in you because they?ll understand that you alsohave a family to feed, billsto pay, and deadlines to meet.

Then, thenext time you?re approached to offer your servicesfor free, you?ll be able to respectfully decline with a totally aligned message, and redirect your people to something you?ve created (think resources, pdf?s, downloads or recordings) that is completely free and offers them some answers they seek.

So what happens when things move forward and you?re asked to speak for free, or offer a free workshop? This is another gross assumption the world makes about your expertise: you?re so good, you?ll speak for free with the promise of getting business leads. And, in essence this does sometimes happen as long as a few conditions are met.

First, you need to only say yes to those engagements that gather your ideal clients.

Speaking to people who are not aligned with your message can actually be bad for your

business. I?ve actually had someone come to me after a misaligned speaking audience and say ?You were great! I loved your presentation? I?ll never hire you, but thanks for the free presentation!? ? talk about a sock in the gut! The hours of phone calls, planning, creating my talking points and presentation, traveling there? yadda yadda? I?m sure you know the drill by now. Totally deflated and derailed? and when I gave it enough time for perspective to show up? I was angry. First at that person, and then at myself.

In hindsight though? I realize that this was probably just the message I had to hear to get clear. What have I learned? If you?re asked to speak for free, figure out a few things first.

Are your ideal clients gathered for you already? If so, how many people will be gathered for you? What would the equivalent exposure to this group actually cost you if you were paying to advertise to them? What type of access will you get to them/ they to you?

Can you deepen their engagement in any way? Will you be allowed togather their emails, send them something, sell them something (products/ widgets) or make an offer as a part of your presentation? What are the particular terms?

When working with groups and non-profit associations, they often don?t have big budgets but you can try to negotiate the best

Your Strategy | Mompreneur 15

deal you can for both you and your business.

If they cannot afford to pay you a fee, perhaps youcould jointheir Expo witha complimentaryboothto promote your business or provide you with tickets to attend the conference. It?s important for you to negotiate this because the more exposure people have to you, the higher your perceived expertise will be, and the more likely you are to be remembered.

Bel ieve in Abundance: Let Go and Receive Sometimes people who struggle with charging what they?re worth experience guilt.

One of the most important ways to overcome the feeling of guilt connected with charging for services is to shift your perspective. If you grew up ina ?Scarcity Mindset?family system (the feeling that there just is never enough), you may still carry that feeling into your business.

I grew up with a scarcity mentality. While my mom taught me amazing lessons? she was born in 1929 after all, and as such lived her formative years through theGreat Depression? on a farm, in the Midwest, with seven siblings and a widowed mother; it was tough. There really wasn?t much extra at all.

And, some sadness and pain from those years still linger even 87 years later. And, her experience as a child of course colored many aspects of my childhood, and influenced my

thoughts and beliefs around a never enough mindset. After all, where do you think mindset patterns are born? That is why it?s important to seek perspective in everything we do.

Since I don?t like to judge the past, nor believe in good and bad when looking back, I try to use my past as navigational cues for myself to deepen my own awareness. I?ve learned so much and I am thankful for those lessons and the perspectives I?ve gained because it?s truly helped me to shift, and I believe that?s been one of the cornerstones and turning points in my own business.

Shifting from a scarcity to abundance mindset is one of the most powerful steps toward becoming profitable in business. Be willing to stand in abundance helps you realize when there is not a good fit between you and a potential client. If there is not a fit,it?s really important to let thoseopportunities go to otherswhose products and services better meet their needs. After all, abundance is a universal law.

Mindset is one of t he most crit ical aspect s t o consider t o overcome your hesit at ion t ocharge what you?re wort h. When you shift your mindset to one of abundance, you?re not doing anything wrong. You?re taking steps in the right direction toward more prosperity when you clarify your ideal client and craft your services around their direct needs. C Text by Cena Block Photos by Yaoqi LAI

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?No m or e effor t is r equir ed to aim high in life, to dem and abundance and pr osper ity, than is r equir ed to accept m iser y and pover ty,? says Napoleon Hill in Think & Grow Rich.

Your Strategy | Mompreneur 17

PRIORITYof a PLEASURABLE PURITY

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Years ago, while working as Associate Pastor and Personal Assistant to Dr. John MacArthur, I was tasked with coordinating the yearly donor cruises sponsored by John?s radio ministry, Grace to You. At one of the ports-of-call, I took advantage of an excursion to enjoy some deep sea diving in the pristine waters of St. Thomas. Accompanied by a few buddies, I descended under the watchful eye of our instructor. After learning the mechanics I found myself enthralled with the crystal clear luminosity of the blue Caribbean paradise. The brilliant colors of the tropical fish, the varieties of shells, and the clarity of it all left me in awe. It was like discovering a whole new world of dazzling brilliance with an awakened set of eyes.

Contrast that amazement to a snorkeling attempt I pursued in high school in the lake where our family lived in southern New Mexico. The lake was fed by the muddy Rio Grande River. Swimming near the inlet, I made numerous attempts to see something other than my hand right in front of my face.

Post haste, I conceded the effort, realizing that the water was simply too dirty to enjoy any kind of aquatic sightseeing. Just as navigating in a body of water is more enjoyable in pristine and unobstructed surroundings, so should it be with life. Yet, this ideal has been lost in today?s culture.

Sel ect ive Pursuit s of Purit y We still love purity, at least selectively.

Americans are obsessed with pure water, evidenced by the astonishing sales of bottled H2 O and in-home filtering systems. We know that impure water can result in intestinal sickness short-term and endangered health long-term.

The major nations of the world convene to address the dangers of polluted air.

Contaminated food can tank a food-supply company or restaurant almost overnight when E-coli or some other food-borne illnesses are discovered. Yes, we value purity when it comes to the health of our bodies.

But, when it comes to the health of our souls and relationships, purity seems a passĂŠ and discarded commodity. Our culture has pursued values and behaviors that have polluted and corrupted our relationships. As a result, marriages, families, friendships, and churches have suffered. God?s ideal for us includes pure, clean, clear, harmonious, and ultimately enjoyable relationships. Sadly, we have muddied the waters with all sorts of foolery based on the lesser and life-robbing values of this world.

Pure Wisdom So, it is no surprise that the writer James begins to unpack his inspired description of New Testament wisdom by saying, ?The

Your Strategy | Windy Artist 19

wisdom from above is first pure? (James 3:16). Wisdom is pure and purity is wise.

The purity of wisdom is listed first for good reason. Purity is preeminent in a wise life.

The word pure (hagnos in Greek) refers to innocence and moral blamelessness. This word refers to something free of contamination or defilement (just like we want our water, air, and food). In the New Testament hagnos is most often translated holy.

Purity is the fundamental essence of all Gospel wisdom and must be at the core of the other virtues, like those listed by James in the following verses (3:17-18). Remember, this wisdom is from above. God, who reigns above, is first holy. As you are reading this page something truly awesome is concurrently happening ?above? that must capture our hearts. The heavenly creatures are surrounding the throne of God in the midst of ?flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder? (Revelation 4:5). ?Day and night they never cease to say, ?Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!?? (Revelation 4:8) In this imagery we see both the priority and power of purity. In the apocryphal book, The Wisdom of Solomon, it says that wisdom is ?the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the

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Almighty? (7:25) and, ?O send her from thy holy heavens from the throne of thy glory?

(9:4). Jewish writers agreed that true wisdom came from above, specifically from the glorious throne of a holy God. Hol y Heal ing Back on Earth, we grovel along in this sin-sick and relationally broken world. How can we possibly experience and exhibit that kind of wisdom? So pure. So holy. Throughout human history mankind has recognized the gulf between sinful man and pure deity. Even among the Greeks this was illustrated. The mythical god, Aesculapius, was the god of healing. Inscribed at the temple dedicated to him in the 4 th century BC in the city of Epidaurus, these words appeared: ?He who would enter the divine temple must be pure; and purity is to have a mind which thinks holy thoughts.? [i] Holiness preceded healing.

The true holiness leading to healing has became our reality in Christ. First Peter 2:24 says of Christ, ?He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.? Hebrews 10:10 underscores this, ?And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all? (NIV). A few verses later the writer of Hebrews says, ?For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those

who are being made holy? (10:14). The Apostle Paul also writes, ?For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God? (2 Corinthians 5:21). Pure. Holy. Right before God. Healed. All because of the work of Jesus on the cross.

A Core Response In his letter James contrasts this purity with the fruits of earthly wisdom that are anything but holy. He says, ?If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.? He then says worldly wisdom produces ?disorder and every vile practice? (3:14 & 16). Since we are bombarded every day with this evil ?wisdom? via the media and by unregenerate people in every segment of society, how should we respond?

Possibl e, Promised Purit y For those who have been transformed by the Gospel, the reality of a pure life before God is possible. The reality of a pure God manifested in our life is promised. First Corinthians 1:30 assures us, ?And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.? Notice the life of Jesus?wisdom in combination with His righteousness, sanctification, and redemption? all ours in the fullest? as He lives through us. We could say that Christ?s pure life in us is the source of a truly wise and winsome life where the waters are clear and the journey is truly rewarding. C Text by Daniel Henderson Photo by Julian Svoboda

James admonishes, ?do not boast? (take pride in) this way of living. Rather we should repent before God and humbly acknowledge our sin and His holiness. James also instructs us, ?do not be false to the truth.? We must embrace the truth of God?s word in our minds, our emotions, and the depths of our souls so that we will not be conformed to the corrupt wisdom of the day, but transformed by the transforming word and wisdom of God (Romans 12:1-2).

Your Strategy | Windy Artist 21

DOYOUTHINK I AMBEAUTIFUL? Chispa Magazine

I'm not sure at what age little girls begin to doubt their beauty. My six year old granddaughter is still at the confident stage.

"Look at me Mima!" she says. Whether it's taekwondo or just running around the farm, she often turns to make sure I'm watching.

Sammi is our princess, and she knows it. A 50s child, I was that little girl that believed in fairy tales; longing for Prince Charming to be captivated by my beauty so that we would live happily ever after. I was in love with the idea of dressing up and elegantly walking down a marble staircase. At the foot of the stairs, admiring eyes would watch my descent.

change and we expand our definition of beauty to include more than the outward appearance. Purpose and significance show up. We ask the question ?Do I matter??

Ent er t he Thought Bul l y. At some point many of us begin to doubt our natural beauty and start comparing ourselves to others. Our little girl may compare herself to the current look-du-jour promoted by the fashion world.

Whether intimidated or frustrated at the impossibility she may move from gladly posing for pictures to wanting to hide from the camera. Our definition of beauty adapts to meet the needs of the people in our lives.

After all, isn?t beauty in the eyes of the beholder?

Be who you say you are. But, who do I say that I am?

Seasons Come and Go. Our bodies age. We gain weight. We lose weight. Curl our hair.

Straighten our hair. Mini or midi skirts? We fall in love. We fall out of love. Our roles

Be Your Own Kind of Beaut if ul . With eyes to the past I notice that my woman in the mirror is looking for so much more than feeling pretty. This SENIORita has discovered that ?unique? is in. ?Normal? changes based on someone else?s definition. Who we are at the core is what really defines us. On a personal development journey I?ve challenged myself over the years with the following: What do I believe?

What matters most?

How will your life matter?

Own the uniqueness of your calling.

Legacy? what will mine be?

Be your own kind of beautiful.

Show up as you!

Do You See What I See? Psalm 45:11 reads, ?The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your lord.? I?ve come full circle? back to the beginning. In the beginning: God. He created me. He thought me up! Psalm 139:14 says that I?m marvelous!

He says you are marvelous! ?? I am fearfully

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and wonderfully made; Marvel ous are Your works.? He knew I would age? all part of His plan. The beauty of our youth fades. Our hearts; however, speak for us until the end. ?Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.?

Proverbs 4:23 Life and Death are in God?s Hands. We not only get to choose how we live out our journey but what legacy we leave behind. Our Sammi was born on June 9, 2009. When I held her in my arms I couldn?t help but say ?she?s absolutely beautiful.? Three days later I was witness to my mom?s peaceful passing and as she whispered her last breath the word that came to my lips was beautiful. Now my question to you: Do you think you are beautiful? You are, you know. God said so. C Text by Maggie Sabatier-Smith Photos by Agberto Guimaraes

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Your Strategy | SENIORita 25

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k i nds of f ri ends th at ev ery w oman needs .

Relationships 23

One of the most important and yet least understood areas of psychology is the role of friends in our lives. Most of the research on friendship focuses on children and adolescents. Rarely do researchers seriously address friendships over the majority of our lifespan. It?s not just having friends that play a critical role in our lives but the types of friends we choose. The Gallup Organization?s director, Tom Rath believes that we are all aware of the value of friendship especially during difficult times. In his book,?Vital Friends: The People You Can?t Afford To Live Without,? Rath asserts that if you ask people why they became homeless, why their marriage failed or why they overeat, they often say it is because of the poor quality, or nonexistence, of friendships. Clearly having friends is important; let?s breaks down the ?friend personality types? that can enhance our psychological well-being.

No. 1 The Conf idant . This is the friend who understands and values discretion. You know when you tell her something three other friends won't find out. What you tell her stays with her. Trust is your bond.

No. 2 The Fun One. This is the friend who takes your mind off your problems and redirects you toward a positive headspace.

She's the friend who always is up for meeting for a drink, a movie, a spontaneous bite, a

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party or concert. She puts you in a great mood.

No. 3 The List ener. This is the friend who doesn't judge, doesn't give unsolicited advice but just lets you vent, makes you tea and sits with you. In times of crisis she's a shoulder to cry on.

No. 4 The Mot ivat or. This is the friend who sees your potential and inspires you to write that book, take that class, and lose those 20 pounds. She believes you truly can be, do and have anything you imagine and seems to know the right things to say to get you fired up about doing more with your life.

No. 5 The Ol der One. This is the friend who is older than you. She has experience and offers wisdom. She's nurturing but without the judgement of a family member. Her life experience affords her an ease and flow that calms you down and reminds you that life is a journey and every moment, even the ones that seem tough are perfect.

No. 6 The Pl at onic Man Friend. This is the guy who offers you a male perspective and sets you straight when you're being illogical. He simplifies things. He respects you and has your back like a sister. There's absolutely no sexual tension between you but there's a genuine caring friendship. There's a give and take in this friendship. You're both there for breakups and business wins and losses and

when neither one of you has anything to do you can count on one another to check out a movie or a museum.

No. 7 The Happil y Married One. It is so important to have a real view of what marriage truly is. This is the friend who has the perfect caring husband, the kids who do well in school and always greet you with a hug, even their dog is sweet. They live in a great house and you're welcome anytime.

They also have great dinner parties and always seem to know the perfect people for you to meet. Because this friend is married, there is no jealousy factor when you meet the guy of your dreams.

No. 8 The Chil dhood Friend. This is a friend who you have history with. She knew your dog that died 10 years ago, your family, your stint in rehab and other significant life events.

There is no need to explain significant life events to her- she likely lived them with you.

This bond provides security and someone who knows where you came from and what shapes you today.

Friends have a strong positive effect in your life. For example, research shows that having a bunch of good friends increases longevity even more than connecting with relatives and family. Deeply connecting with others actually reduces blood pressure and cholesterol levels. C Text by Dr. Sanam Hafeez Photo by Seth Doyle

Your Strategy | Relationships 25

Beaut y Fr om Ashes

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The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord?s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion? to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. ? Isaiah 61:1-3 I found a beautiful heart shaped leaf on the ground as I walked the other day. At first it seemed out of place, lying gingerly atop the muck by the roadside, soft and shapely next to rocks and mud. And then I realized that the leaf owed its beauty to the unsightly ground it lay on. Without the benefit of the rocks and mud, the tree from which it had fallen would never have been able to take root. It struck me as a perfect illustration of God?s plan to bring beauty from ashes in our lives. The beauty of God?s grace and love in our lives frequently grows out of the rocky terrain of trials and the mud of suffering. When placed against a backdrop that is darkened by suffering and trials, the brilliant beauty of God?s work in our life is accentuated. We all

have a past. We all have suffering in our past.

Some of that suffering was self-inflicted through poor decisions and rebellion against God. Some of it was inflicted by the abuse and rebellion of other people. Some of it came into our lives through our circumstances. But, whatever venue your life may reflect, suffering has found a place in all of our pasts and will likely make an appearance in our futures as well.

You may look back at your life and see decades of poor decisions, a complete rebellion against the One to whom you yearn to surrender. It is a natural thing to wonder what your life would be like if you hadn?t made the bad choices, if your circumstances had been different, if your abusers had been absent. It?s a natural thing to wish to redeem those years.

But take heart, Jesus is our Redeemer. And, it isn?t just our current and future lives that He redeems for eternity, but also our past that He redeems. What can seem like time lost, by the miraculous grace of Christ, can actually be time redeemed for His glory. Our testimonies, our past failures can be turned to salvation, can be converted into an instrument in the Redeemer?s Hands. God?s grace helps our testimonies take root in the soil of suffering to bear fruit for His Kingdom.

Once we are redeemed, our past should not

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be a source of shame that keeps us from moving into the future, but rather a testimony of God?s goodness and mercy that we use to bring others along with us deeper into the Kingdom of God. It?s a sacrifice to use our suffering for others. Christ left us that example of suffering and sacrifice on the cross. Many times we come to the cross to receive; but after we have received forgiveness from Christ, we still try to hold onto the shame, anger or pain from our past.

Will you follow Christ?s example? Are you willing to use your suffering for the glory of God and for the benefit of others? What has God redeemed you from? I can tell you something for sure? He has redeemed you not only from the sins of your past, but He has most certainly redeemed you for Himself.

When God saves us from our sins, He saves us for His purposes. He desires for us to be overcomers. Scripture tells us how that becomes a reality in our life: Revelation 12:11 says, ?They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.? It may or may not come as a surprise that there is power to overcome in the blood of Christ; but this verse also reveals the reality of our overcoming will be achieved as we share the testimonies of our life that were made real by that blood. God has the power to use our sins, turn them into salvation, and transform each of us individually. But, He also desires for us

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then to take that testimony and use it for the benefit of others. Suffering is not to be hidden or disguised as shame and tucked away. Don?t live in the regret of your past. Let it be transformed into a glorious future of eternal life. From the muck of life, God births beautiful testimonies of His love. He takes our ashes and brings forth beauty. C Interview by Chris McMahan Photos by Chris McMahan + Pascal Frei

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Chispa Magazine

Fashion m eets rianism a t i n a m u H Meet Jena Murray, an entrepreneur, designer, and humanitarian whose line of tween clothing has an amazing social enterprise at its heart. Amidst the many eco-brands gaining fast popularity, the VEENA brand stands out as something truly special with more than just a fashion statement. Murray is determined to make a positive impact on both the apparel industry and girls everywhere.

VEENA is a sustainable brand that is teaching girls to love and value themselves while staying stylish and having fun. Named after Murray?s grandmother, VEENA is about helping young girls build confidence and self esteem. Through their VEENA WARRIORS project they are able to reach out to girls globally and help them grow emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The project focuses on supporting young women in becoming more self-aware through art therapy based

sessions. Girls have the opportunity to express themselves by creating jewelry, crafts, drawings, and paintings. Murray believes it?s important for girls to build self-esteem through creative outlets in a supportive environment. Each design she creates is named in honor of a child who has touched her life through the program, as she works one-on-one with the girls and is inspired by their spirit and resilience. She incorporates bright colors and eye-catching patterns into designs that are just as unique as the girls who wear them. VEENA doesn?t just focus on improving the lives of girls, they?re also committed to the good of the planet. All of their bottoms, dresses, outerwear, and accessories are certified fair trade, carbon neutral, and organic, using eco-friendly dyes and fabrics that are sourced responsibly. Murray is currently working with young girls in Canada, as well as India, and hopes to be able to connect with more girls in around the world. C

She's Got Chispa | Jena Murray 35

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Beauty Ex pert Di sh es on age-old Tri ck f or perfect skin Chispa Magazine

routine. Made with ingredients that you can find in your own kitchen? Rawal?s secret recipe is super easy for anyone to try.

To begin, start with the following: 1 tablespoon rice flour + 1/ 8th teaspoon turmeric powder + 8 drops fresh lemon juice + 10 drops fresh potato juice.

Beauty Expert and Skincare Specialist Sheetal Rawal has numerous, all-natural beauty tips that are not only effective, but more affordable and healthier than most cosmetic industry solutions. "Growing up in India,I was surrounded by the wisdom of Ayurveda, which is based on an ancient system for health and wellbeing,? she says. ?My mother and grandmother always relied on Ayurveda remedies, and are big fans of this skincare routinethat isused to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and/ or discoloration of skin due to sun damage, etc.

This trick is truly effective and has better results than most high-end cosmetic products that claim to do the same thing,? says Rawal.

Mix well into a smooth paste. Add some warm water to thin it out. Apply on your skin and let it stiffen up for about 12 minutes. Then, wet the mask with warm water and massage in with circular, upward strokes for about 2 minutes. It is essential to apply your serumandlotionfor right after to prevent any dryness? and voila, your skin will be more radiant, soft, and even toned.

Rawal notes, ?Turmeric is an awesome antioxidant and has been known for its color balancing properties. Lemon juice is a rich source of citric acid, which is an alpha hydroxy acid (great to speed up the exfoliation of the discolored layers of skin); and potato juice is highly recommended in Ayurveda for pigmented/ discolored skin renewal.? C Text by Romina Nabhen Photo by Lauren Mancke

Unlike most cosmetic products, Rawal's beauty trick uses all-natural ingredients that are free of harsh chemicals? making it truly the healthiest option for your skincare

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st ic k t o y o u r d iet l o se t h e w eig h t im pr o v e y o u r h ea t h The official start of summer is here, but maybe you?re not ready to hit the pool or beach because you?re embarrassed by those few extra pounds. Please don?t be embarrassed; instead, let?s make a difference in our health, together.

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1. It ?s an al l or not hing approach: 99 percent compliance is failure when dieting. Sounds harsh, but in order to break old habits, you can?t let them in the door for even a second.

You wouldn?t cheat on your spouse in a committed relationship, so don?t cheat on something as important as your diet. 2. Get brut al l y honest wit h yoursel f : Take off all your clothes and stand in front of a mirror. If you don?t like what you see, it?s time to do something about it. This is called operating from objective reality and avoiding delusion.

3. Adopt t he mant ra of I am responsible: Understand that the hero on the white horse isn?t going to come riding in to save you from obesity. Only you can save yourself by growing up emotionally and making the decision to get healthy once and for all.

4. Seeing is bel ieving: Create a vision board filled with lean and healthy people and hang it in a very visible location. Whenever you feel discouraged, motivate yourself by looking at the vision board. You can even add places you want to visit or hike, but due to your weight, you can?t, yet. 5. Use past f ail ures as f uel : Don?t wallow in your present day weight problem as this keeps you from tapping into your emotional motivation. Get grounded in the present, but focused on the future. Use failures of the past to propel you forward. 6. St op st art ing over: Stop letting yourself off the hook. Stop starting over and

telling yourself you?ll do it next time. There is no next time, only this time right now. You said next time, last time, and allowing yourself the luxury of continually quitting is a deadly habit. 7. Eat f or heal t h: Stop seeing food and meal times as a pleasurable activity.

Fit people always ask the question: ?How is this meal going to affect my health?? Be smart and make conscious decisions that will keep you fit and healthy. 8. Get around f it peopl e: You are who you associate with. If you spend time around couch potatoes who want to do nothing but lounge around all day, that?s going to hold you back. Get around fit people who will inspire you to eat right and workout.

9. Get a support person: A workout buddy is a good idea, but an even better way to go is to find someone to coach you who has already accomplished what you?re after, and to make sure they push you to reach your goals. Don?t find someone who will be nice. Find someone who will help you get results. 10. Know t hat many diet s work perf ect l y wel l : People have a difficult time accepting their own behavior so they blame their diet. That?s no different than a college graduate begging for money on the street and then blaming the school for his failure to succeed. Grow up emotionally and develop the mental toughness to stick to a diet once and for all. Many diets work perfectly well. C Text by Steve Siebold Photo by Scott Webb

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f o y t u a e e g B d e Thddie Knowle Ki

Fi ve Ti ps on How t o Su ccessf u l l y Read t o You r Ch i l d

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No. 1 GET COMFORTABLE. Stories have been told and read for me immemorial because they are pleasurable and because sharing them draws people together. This is not necessarily obvious to children. At home, it?s good to mix reading with warmth and affection. I try to express that in the way I sit.

We tuck in on the couch or in a comfy chair. I try to snuggle with my little one, and even with my older ones, ages 13 and 11. Or, we lie on the living room floor, all of us, while I read aloud. Even if your child is behind in reading and there?s pressure to make progress, try to make reading time feel comfortable and caring.

No. 2 READ SLOWLY. I like to stop for a couple of seconds about every half page or so when I?m reading, especially to my youngest. The words and the story are more complex than she is used to. I want to give her me to absorb it. Sometimes I stop and look at her and smile when we?re reading. Sometimes she doesn?t say anything to me when I smile, and that?s fine. Sometimes she smiles back. And, sometimes she makes a little comment. ?Mrs. Frisby is afraid, I think,? she?ll say. I don?t have to do much to show her she?s doing well when she does that. Sometimes I?ll just nod and smile or kiss the top of her head.

And then I keep reading. I read slowly too.

Nice and steady to let the words sink in.

There?s no rush.

No. 3 GIVE THEM A FEW WORDS TOO. My kids love it when I say, ?And, the next chapter is called...? and they get to read the title of the chapter to me. Look for little moments when your child can help you read a more advanced book and see that it?s within his or her range someday. Even if it?s just reading the word ?I? or ?and,?it helps. ?See, you?re on your way!? is a powerful message.

No. 4. EXPRESS YOURSELF [as much as you can]. The power and beauty of reading aloud for kids is in developing their ear for language, for what words sound like and how sentences work. Capturing that is key and it?s simpler than it might sound. You don?t have to act out the roles and make it theater, you just have to capture the sound of language and the cadence of words? which ones run together, which ones get a bit of emphasis.

No 5. DON?T FREAK OUT. Maybe you?re great at reading aloud, but maybe you?re not.

Maybe you fear it. Is it okay if you?re not confident in your own reading? The night before you read to your child, take the book to bed and read the part you?ll read the next night. If you?ve read it through beforehand, you?ll remember even if you don?t realize it.

Please know that I do this all the time, even though I am a former English teacher and principal. I like to know where the book is going and to be ready for tough spots. C Text by Doug Lemov Photo by Samantha Sophia

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We're Ej ecti ng Beauty M yth s For women, whether we admit it or not, two potent mythical figures that course through our psychology, that of the maiden (or, in modern terms, the sexy chick) and the crone (or, the old lady). We know the maiden well: she?s the beautiful young princess. But who is a crone?

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A crone is typically an older woman, and in some folklore she is evil (e.g., the witch). Or, at the benign level, she is grandmotherly and asexual. Certainly, she?s not a sexy chick.

This destructive image, in turn, unconsciously affects a woman?s perception of her attractiveness as she grows older. Beyond the psychological forces, these elements continue and further promote this negative viewpoint: The image is furthered by women?s willingness to accept as a biological fact that a woman becomes less alluring as she ages. Older men don?t seem to have this problem; think of thedistinguished man.

Socio-cultural influences often make it unseemly for older women to dress or act in a way that highlights their sexuality. Sexy older chicks don?t exist for the ordinary woman? that?s for celebrities who have the money needed for the high maintenance it requires for an older woman to look young.

Indeed, women across a wide age range? sometimes even beginning as early as their mid-thirties? become prisoners of the crone psychological myth.

One poisonous offshoot of the crone psychology is, as women age they may start to feel like sidebars; not the main event.

We become peripheral figures. As a result of this type of thinking, one?s sense of sexuality is diminished. Thus, we may feel

somewhat invisible to others.

These thoughts and feelings that we have accepted and consumed, lead to the idea that older women are ?expired products.? The crone psychology is powerful; it is insidious; it is destructive to enjoying life. How do you know if you have swallowed the perception that you are beyond your shelf-life? First , you need t o assess your ?crone quot ient .? Has there been a slow loosening of concern over how you look: not styling your hair, wearing ill-fitting clothes, not maintaining good physical health? Do you reject certain styles because, ?they?re for young women.? Do you dismiss yourself as ?old? in a joking way? Do you reject engaging in new ventures?

Second, you need t o press t he EJECT but t on on t he crone image if any of t he above appl y.

Pay attention to your skin, your hair, your body and keeping it in shape is healthy narcissism; making this the only focus is pathological narcissism. Focus on your appearance? make sure you wear a style that suits you, colors that enliven you; that?s not being superficial, it?s taking care of yourself.

Be energetic and enthusiastic, look to learn new things.

The crone psychology is insidious and poisonous to living a joyful life. Reject it soundly. You are not a sidebar, you are the main event. Now, it?s time to believe it. C Text by Dr. Shoba Sreenivasan + Dr. Linda E. Weinberger Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel Features 45

M e e t P e v o n i a 's

L i v e .B e a u t y .F u l l Su r v i v o r H e r o e s El i zabet h Car swel l

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Judi t h Ann Rober t son Kat hi e Tar asevi ci us

Dar ci a Bar one

Car ol Reynol ds

Moni ca Mar gr i f

Tr i ci a Ki r kendal l

Joey Car nes

JoAnn Yost

Jacquel i ne Tot h

Donna Manchest er

Mar i a El ena Ramos

Cynt hi a Jenki ns

Di ane Ful mer

Ar l ene Schr ammel

Ci ndy Hei nzki ckl i ght er

Rut h Pr i ce

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Apr i l St ut zman

Al l en Hugh Towns

Bever l y Br unet

Car men Donnel l y Features 47

I n r ecogni t i on of Nat i onal Cancer Sur vi vor s Day on June 5t h, we t eamed up wi t h our f r i ends at Pevoni a and asked t hei r Facebook f ol l ower s t o t el l us about t hei r Sur vi vor Her oes. I n l ess t han a t wo- week t i me- f r ame, we r ecei ved dozens of nomi nat i ons and r ead many i ncr edi bl e st or i es about st r ong women and men who def eat ed t he odds and ear ned t he t i t l e, Sur vi vor Her o t o many who knew and l oved t hem.

Unf or t unat el y, we l ost one of t hese her oes dur i ng t hi s campai gn.

Rut h Pr i ce passed away on May 16, 2016, l eavi ng behi nd her bel oved daught er , Kar en Pear man. ?Wat chi ng her go t hr ough what she went t hr ough br ought t he t wo of us cl oser t o one anot her and t o God. As she t ol d ever yone when t hey coul dn' t bel i eve what she was l i vi ng, "Al l t hi ngs ar e

Pam Mar t i nez

Shawna Mat heny

Robi n Basham

Moni ca Sant amar i a

possi bl e when you t r ust and bel i eve i n God. " Because of her I know t hat ' s t r ue. She was my mom. She wi l l f or ever be my her o, " says Pear man.

Al t hough ever y nomi nat i on we r ecei ved was ver y speci al , we chose 25 Sur vi vor Her o st or i es t o shar e wi t h t he wor l d. We hope t hese st or i es t ouch ever yone?s hear t s as t hey have our s and spr ead hope t o t hose who ar e f i ght i ng si mi l ar bat t l es.

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The Lat e Rut h Pr i ce Features 49

j o u r n ey in g W It h H e r o e s

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C a r o l Re y n o l d s , B r e a s t C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y G r a n d d a u g h t e r K i m b e r l y B r o o k s ?My grandmother said that as a survivor she is more aware of her surroundings and lives one day at a time her mission is to help other survivor's and others going through cancer and also to enjoy her retirement,? says Brooks.

Ja c q u e l i n e T o t h , St a g e 4 M e t a s t a t i c L u n g t o C o l o n C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y C o u s i n Ja n i c e B e n o i t ?Being so blessed to be a survivor of such a rare and deadly cancer, I find I have to pick up the pieces of the life I once had. But I can?t, because I am not the same. No one passes this journey without becoming a changed person. You live more, love more, every day is a grateful day, family and friends are kept close and the trivial things in life have no meaning.

I have been given a second chance at life and I'm going to make it a good one. I have a mission: To educate and counsel cancer patients in my hometown, as well through online forums. Giving my time to a local Cancer Charity is a given. I'm right there for events, fashion shows, and judging contests to raise money. I feel my Journey is one that needs to be shared so that other cancer patients will know what to expect and to keep that positive attitude for that is what will save you. I have always been a successful business woman who sadly lost it all! But, it's okay! I?m getting back up and soon will open a new store: A Pawn Shop, Collectables and Antiques. A new me and a new passion,? says Toth.

Pa m M a r t i n e z , N o m i n a t e d b y Cy n t h i a Kn i s e l y ?Her new mission is to live each day to the fullest and always help others in need,? says Knisely.

Da r c ia Ba r o n e , W if e f o r 28 Y e a r s +M o t h e r , Ut e r in e C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y D a u g h t e r , M a r y b e t h S t e f a n i ?As a survivor, many things have changed about how I live. I live for the moment and take nothing for granted. Tomorrow is never promised. I tell my loved ones I love them each and every day, and I live life to its fullest. While being diagnosed with uterine cancer, the same year I lost my middle son in a car accident. It was a very tough year for my whole family. My new mission in life is to motivate people to never give up. While cancer can be a hard thing to overcome, it can happen. Be brave and be strong. Fight! I'm a survivor of cancer for 20 years now,? says Barone.

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Ju d i t h A n n Ro b e r t s o n , M o t h e r +Gr a n d m o t h e r , C a n c e r + H e a r t A t t a c k Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y D a u g h t e r A n d r e a W e a v e r ?She's survived cancer and a heart attack and never complains! She even said she's never really had a bad day. Even if she has a bad day no one would know it! She's all love and compassion and thrives mostly on helping others,? says Weaver.

T r i c i a A n n e t t e K i r k e n d a l l , M o t h e r o f Si x , B r e a s t C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y D a u g h t e r C a r o l B u r g e s s ?I live life to the fullest every day. I never put off anything that I can do today. My mission is to tell people how important it is to get mammograms and yearly checkups,? says Kirkendall.

Do n n a M a n c h e s t e r , W if e +M o t h e r , Ov a r ia n Ca n c e r + B r e a s t C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y G r a n d d a u g h t e r B r i t t a n y M a r i e T h o m p s o n ?Donna is from West Union, Ohio, has seven children and four grandchildren, she is happily married to Bill Manchester. As a survivor she now lives life by giving back every chance she gets, at the ripe age of 68 she volunteers at the local veteran's home and helps organize many food drives each year for the less fortunate. Her mission is to make the world a better place for future generations,? says Thompson.

Be v e r l y Br u n e t , M o t h e r , Co l o n +L u n g Ca n c e r S u r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y K a r e n B r u n e t M o o r e ?Beverly Brunet has had three children,? says Karen Brunet Moore who nominated Brunet. ?I am her oldest, age 47, she lost her only son Rodney Jr. to Renal Cell Carcinoma a few years ago, and her baby girl Dawn Marie to Meningitis at the age of seven months.? Beverly Brunet says: ?I see each and every day clearly. I do not take life for granted. I now tell the people in my life how much they mean time on a daily basis because no one knows what tomorrow holds. I am a fighter and will continue to fight for this beautiful thing we call life.?

M o n ic a M a r g r if , M o t h e r o f Fo u r , Ov a r ia n Ca n c e r S u r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y D a u g h t e r N i c o l e M a r g r i f ?As a survivor, I try to live my life to the fullest and take every day as a blessing from God. My

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mission is to teach others how to take care of themselves and to listen to your body,? says Monica Margrif.

Ka t h ie T a r a s e v ic iu s , W if e +M o t h e r , Br e a s t Ca n c e r S u r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y D a u g h t e r K i m m y R i p l e y ?As a survivor of breast cancer I have chosen to live life as if each day was my last. I do things a lot differently now. I totally enjoy the little things that I overlooked before cancer. Before cancer I was a cleaning fanatic. Now the dust can wait! I don't refuse offers to go places. You only live once and I'm living life to the fullest,? says Tarasevicius.

Jo e y C a r n e s , W i f e + M o t h e r , T h y r o i d C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y S i s t e r S t e p h a n i e V o l l o w i t z L i g h t ?When you have something serious happen, cancer included, something interesting happens, people retreat. Oftentimes, they don't know what to say or do, or they are already too busy with their own lives, and fear they will feel obligated to do something if they engage. It can be lonely. But, if you open your eyes, you will usually see a very strong core of people who stayed by your side? people who are strong and courageous? people who are truly there.

The strong ones in my life, my heroes, taught me about the importance of giving back. Now, I make time to BE one of the heroes when I know someone has been diagnosed. I offer support, rides, shopping trips, an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on? because I know how life-changing it can be to have an extra hand. The person who nominated me, Stephanie Vollowitz, is also a cancer survivor who went through the same type of cancer I did. She is a survivor, and she was one of my heroes. I am too late to nominate her back, unfortunately, but she deserves a heartfelt nomination, and a thank you,? says Carnes.

Cy n t h i a Je n k i n s , W i f e +M o t h e r , Do u b l e B r e a s t C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y D a u g h t e r M e r e d i t h Je n k i n s "As a two time breast cancer survivor at age 42, my life has changed so much. My mother was taken from me, so young; when I got diagnosed at age 38, I was determined to live and not let cancer win. I treasure each day, each minute, each moment, and celebrate life. It is important that I take care of myself and my body so I can watch my children grow. My new mission is to live each day with gratitude and remember it truly is the little things in life that have the biggest impact. Live without regrets and always be kind; I am so very

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blessed,? says Jenkins.

C a r m e n D o n n e l l y , W i f e , B r e a s t C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y F r i e n d A m a n d a R i v e r a ?I feel like I live life fuller now, without fear and reservations. I have let go of the small things, and focus more on the wholeness of life. I embrace my life now, and love with all of my heart and laugh with all of my soul,? says Donnelly. She adds, "Dance as though no one is watching, love as though you've never been hurt, sing as though no one can hear you, live as though heaven is on Earth. I strive now to better myself and the lives of those around me, and to help heal those who are hurting.?

M o n i c a Sa n t a m a r i a , W i f e + M o t h e r , B r e a s t C a n c e r S u r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y F r i e n d D e b r a B l a c k ?As a survivor my life has changed drastically. Cancer was devastating and at the same time a huge blessing. I experienced God's power like I never imagined I would. Therefore I have a much stronger relationship with Him. The power of prayer and the power of physical and emotional healing were the most significant things I had the honor to experience. As a result, I have peace that is so amazing; it can only come from God. My new mission is to share my experience with anybody that will listen. I want to share how God performed miracles in my life and I also want to share about the nutrition aspect of my treatment and healing, as well. Now I try to keep everything me and my family consume organic. I try to let food be my medicine as much as I can,? says Santamaria.

Jo A n n Pa t r i c i a Y o s t , Sp e c i a l F o r c e s W i d o w + M o t h e r , B r e a s t C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y F r i e n d St a c i L y n n C h i o m e n t o ?As a survivor of a Special Forces Soldier and of Stage 2a Breast Cancer, I try to live my life to the fullest and surround myself with my family and friends as often as possible. I don't waste a day or an opportunity to experience everything life offers me. When I became a widow, I had to fight for my future and for the future of my children. I felt the pressure of being a single parent and how I would provide for my family.

It was my job to be the sole caregiver and the responsibilities of daily life sat heavily on my shoulders. Failure was not an option. When I received the diagnosis of Stage 2a Breast Cancer, I felt not only the pressure of continuing as the caregiver and sole parent, I feared my own mortality and worried about my children. I worried what would happen if I didn't

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fight and survive my treatments and beat this cancer that invaded my body. I could not leave my children without a parent. I had to fight and I and to win this fight. Again, failure was not an option,? says Yost. ?I have a new mission to give back. I had been contemplating what I would do as my children aged out and left the nest. I wasn't sure what that was until I experienced the horrible side of cancer and chemo and what that does to ones identity. I know I want to open a wig boutique and give back to the community. I want to put smiles on the faces of those fighting, those that have fought or for those in the community that just want to feel beautiful. I want to provide comfort with a hug and a smile and let them know they are not alone. I want to take one patient each month and give them a wig and a makeover on me. As a survivor, I know what a difference a smile, a hug, and compassion can do to the heart and soul. Even if it's just for a little while, I hope I am able to brighten their day. It's the simple things in life that we all take for granted that can be huge to a survivor. I want them to look at me and say: I can do it, too! This is my mission and with much determination and God by my side, it will be my reality,? she adds.

D i a n e F u l m e r , W i d o w + M o t h e r , St a g e 3 M u l t i p l e M y e l o m a Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y D a u g h t e r Er i n o D e l p i n o ?Live life to the fullest and never take it for granted. My mission is to teach my children to be strong and know that whatever life gives, you don't give up,? says Fulmer.

El i z a b e t h C a r s w e l l , M o t h e r , L e u k e m i a Su r v i v o r W h i l e Pr e g n a n t W i t h So n , N o m i n a t e d b y F r i e n d S u z a n n e C a n f i e l d ?One of the main things that changed for me as I fought to survive, was a new outlook on humanity. My faith in it was restored. The compassion, hope, encouragement, support, faith, generosity, and pure kindness I received from other people is one of the major things that got me through all of this. Sometimes it can take a tragedy to bring out the best in people, but knowing that most people at their core are good, was one the most refreshing things I learned. When I was told there was no hope in saving me, a small part of me wasn?t afraid to leave my precious new baby in a world without me. The instant I gave birth in the middle of the fight for my own life, my life became about him.

What would he do without me? What would happen to him? Somewhere deep down I knew he would be okay. He would be surrounded by the amazing people that fought beside me

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and held my hand throughout all of this. My family, my friends, their friends, even complete strangers who just came across my story were all my backbone; they helped me stand up tall against this disease, and kept my head on straight when disappointment reared its ugly head again and again. Thousands of people that didn?t care if they knew me were sending thoughts and prayers for my health and recovery. Humanity, at least what I was seeing of it, had chosen love and kindness. My new mission in life is simple: Love all others without judgment or stipulation. I will live my blessed life with an open mind and an open heart.

People.are.good,? says Carswell.

R u t h P r i c e , P a s s e d A w a y D u r i n g P e v o n i a ?s L i v e .B e a u t y .F u l l C a m p a i g n : 0 9 .2 3 .3 9 ?0 5 .1 6 .1 6 , N o m i n a t e d b y D a u g h t e r K a r e n P e a r m a n ?My mother, Ruth Price, was my hero and inspiration. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1982 when I was eight years old. I can remember helping her wash her incision and watching her scar heal. She was then diagnosed with cervical cancer when I was 10 and began radiation and chemotherapy. My father left us a few months after that. He was our breadwinner. With everything that my mother was already going through imagine having to help your daughter understand why her father left.

She was a trooper. I was an only child, but making ends meet wasn't easy for the two of us on her disability check. Bills had to be paid, but she also had a daughter to raise. I can't tell you how many times I watched my mom do without just so I could have what I needed. She relied on friends to get her to the doctor. I remember going with her to chemotherapy appointments and she would be so sick on the ride home. She couldn't afford to pay her doctor a penny, and she worried that she wouldn't be able to get the medicine she needed.

But, her doctor told her not to worry about it because it was taken care of. She still worried because she never wanted to burden anyone. She tried hard not to show her pain or emotions. Finally she was cancer free when I was 15. What a joy that was. For a lady that was told she would never pick up anything heavier than a broom again, she sure did defy the odds.

Then, in 1992, she became sick again. After a visit to the doctor she was told that she had bone cancer and would need surgery. The tumor was on the inside and outside of her spine.

This required a 13-hour surgery. The doctors were unable to remove the tumor from the

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inside of her spine because there was a risk of permanently paralyzing her so they removed what they could and then inserted metal rods into her spine to help reduce the tumor growing. I didn't think she would survive. She was sent to a rehabilitation center and then to a nursing home because she was unable to care for herself. Then, she had to go through a drug rehab program because she had become addicted to the pain meds.

She never gave up! She fought the fight and she won the race. After four years she was able to walk on her own again, she got her license and began driving again, and she lived life to the fullest. I hope to be half the woman that my mom was. She taught me to NEVER give up!

And, to always hold your head up high and keep reaching for the stars because miracles do happen. Watching her go through what she went through brought the two of us closer to one another, and to God. As she told everyone when they couldn't believe what she was living, "All things are possible when you trust and believe in God." Because of her I know that's true. She was my mom. She will forever be my hero,? says Karen Pearman.

A p r i l St u t z m a n , M o t h e r , B r e a s t C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y F r i e n d M i c h e l l e V a n d e r L a a n ?As a survivor what has changed most about how I live life is learning how to live life after cancer. You have to find a new balance. You go to the doctor every three months and the day before the nerves start; and it doesn't go away until you get the news that all is clear. Then you get a three month break until it comes around again. You count the years down wanting to get to that five year mark, because if the cancer hasn't come back your chances of staying cancer free have just greatly increased. You don't dwell on it, but it?s in your mind every time you get sick or you have an ache or pain.

There is always that fear and I have had to learn to not let it consume me. You have to learn not worry until there is something to worry about. It?s like learning to live a different way.

Nothing is the same as before. My new mission in life is to not take things so seriously, don't sweat the small stuff. I now realize there are so many big things that could affect you and to keep yourself upset about things that are small is a waste of precious time that could be enjoyed doing things you love and being happy. Life is too short to let little things bother you. No one is promised tomorrow so don't waste today being upset or bothered by something small,? says Stutzman.

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Sh a w n a M a t h e n y , W i f e + M o t h e r , St a g e 4 C o l o n C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y F r i e n d A m b e r C h a n d l e r ?October 1, 2015 is a day I will never forget. Waking up from my first colonoscopy and hearing the words cancerous tumor is not something I ever expected to hear. I was going over treatment plans for my new diagnosis of Stage 4 Colon Cancer at 39 years of age. Talk about a whirlwind of emotions! So my new journey began with surgery of my colon and liver along with 12 chemo treatments. I then felt a moment of relief; I had a plan and I was good with that. With support and prayers from so many friends and family, along with my will to survive, I am finally approaching my last treatment! During the past eight months, I have taken things day by day, enjoying my life. People are amazed at what I have been through these past few months. No one believes I am sick, because I have tried to keep a positive attitude and smiling face throughout this whole process. I have learned that attitude is everything when it comes to illness and recovery. I feel I have touched so many lives with my faith through this journey and I strongly feel this is God?s purpose. It has been a long road, and although I don't know what the future holds, I continue to believe. My motto now in life is: Stop and enjoy the little things, appreciate each day, and never stop fighting,? says Matheny.

A r l e n e Sc h r a m m e l , M o t h e r o f Si x , B r e a s t C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y Gr a n d d a u g h t e r St e p h a n i e M a c d o n a l d "My mission in life is to spread joy; to remind people that even at what may seem to be the darkest time, there is always a window to open so you can let the light inside. That window is called gratitude. As long as you are truly grateful for every moment you are given, even the uncomfortable ones, you will always be able to smile and keep moving forward. We all need to smile more, both to ourselves and to one another.

Remember there is no greater gift you will receive than this present moment. Until you're actually dead, things could always be worse, so ENJOY YOURSELF, missing breasts or not,? says Schrammel.

A l l e n H u g h T o w n s , H u s b a n d + F a t h e r o f Se v e n , K i d n e y C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y W i f e M a r y K a t h e r i n e T o w n s ?As a cancer survivor my focus in life has become more directed toward family

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and assuring my work and personal time is dedicated to positive and value-added activities.

My mission in life is to make the world ecologically sound and a safer place for my posterity,? says Towns.

C i n d y H e i n z k i c k l i g h t e r , M o t h e r , St a g e 4 C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , C u r r e n t l y i n T r e a t m e n t , N o m i n a t e d b y F r i e n d D e n i s e S a r n o ?Presently Cindy is in remission. This time a new location. Cindy is my hero because of her loving and positive nature who continues to fight while being a single mom and running her Primerica business. My hero is a natural cancer survivor sharing truth and started an educational website ckgreenforlife.com. I believe Cindy's mission is to share her journey and what she learned about cancer to her family, friends, and even her own doctors. Her faith is stronger than any cancer treatment, and God is her Great Healer. Cindy is also in the process of writing a book about Divine Praying. I pray she will beat this again! Cindy will always be my hero,? says Sarno.

Ei l e e n Si m o n e , B r e a s t C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y N i e c e H e a t h e r S i m o n e ?My Aunt, Eileen Simone, is a breast cancer survivor.

She has scoliosis and her back was so crooked her organs were not situated correctly. This caused her extreme pain. She opted to get back surgery and steel rods put in her back.

While getting a checkup on the surgery they found she had breast cancer. She went through many treatments, but they eventually had to remove the breast. It was a challenge as she hoped the back surgery would relieve her pain and improve her life, which it did help, but the cancer diagnosis was a surprise. She is better now and cancer free, but still has pain.

Even with the pain she keeps a positive outlook and is very supportive to all of us. I can?t imagine the pain she feels every day. She is an inspiration to us all. Never stop fighting,? says Heather Simone.

Ro b i n Ba s h a m , W i f e +M o t h e r , T r i p l e N e g a t i v e Br e a s t C a n c e r Su r v i v o r , N o m i n a t e d b y Si s t e r - i n - L a w St a c y G i b b s ?My sister-in-law has survived Triple Negative Breast Cancer and is still beautiful!

She is a hero because during her weakest moments she was still there for other cancer patients in our family, encouraging them, and helping them in any way she could. She continues to be a source of strength to our family and I am proud to call her my sister-in-law,? says Gibbs. C

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Th e Rui ns Tel l A ll Photos by M att Baxter

There are certain times in life that we were never meant to experience alone. There are pains and losses the human heart can endure only in the presence of something or someone else, walking alongside us, carrying us when our feet fail, assuring our heart that it doesn?t have to muster the strength of the next beat on its own. This is the wasteland.

These are the ruins? and it is here that the

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music of The Ruins resonates. But, it?s here too that the music of The Ruins strays from other such cleverly-written, emotive-alt/ pop anthems. These songs meet the listener wherever they are? in despair or disillusion? but in despair, they refuse to linger. Reflecting the souls of the creative minds behind the music, The Ruins songs are arresting, comforting, challenging, and

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provocative. Comprised of Debra Black and Victor Gonzalez, The Ruins is a duo of dynamic passion, musical excellence and unparalleled creativity. Perhaps what distinguishes them most; however, is their unrelenting desire and penchant for empathy.

The first and foremost goal in life and in music is to meet others wherever they may be? without judgment or pretense. ?I?ve always been very empathetic,? says Black. ?I have this heart and desire to see and speak truth and for others to see and understand truth. I want to see with His eyes.? It?s this vantage point from which the duo?s EP was born. Before there was music, there was a journey to the birthplace of the group. For several years, Black had been leading worship, writing worship songs, and had even put out a worship album. During this time, she and Gonzalez developed a friendship and a positive creative, collaborative relationship.

So when she began questioning her own musical direction, naturally, her thoughts turned to him. ?I had released a worship album a year and a half ago and had led worship in the church for years, but I kept feeling a tug in my heart to go the pop route. I wanted to sing what I love to hear,? she says. ?It was a really big and difficult decision, but it was crazy how God would just reach down and give me little nudges from heaven. I heard a message on fear and then my mom

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called and shared a devotional about what fear does to you and I realized I had been hesitating going the pop route because it was unknown to me. I knew worship. Worship is safe for me. But, God was calling me to do new things.?

As Debra came to terms with her own reticence and opened her heart to new possibilities, it became clear that this was not a journey she was to take on her own. ?Victor and I had been talking about writing possibilities, but was about to leave the country for a three month missions trip in a closed country,? she recalls. ?As he left, though, I just had the sense that God was aligning us for music. I prayed that if He wanted us to do music He would have to create an opportunity for something fresh.?

Halfway around the world, opportunity began knocking. While Debra was laying bare her heart before God, halfway around the world, Gonzalez was doing the same. ?During my missions trip, at one point we went to see these ancient ruins,? he shares. ?We climbed to the top of this precipice and could see these ruins for miles in every directions. I was so struck that people were just flocking to these broken down, decaying remains, seeing them as beautiful. At one point, these buildings were created for a specific purpose, but over time had been destroyed. Now, while

they are crumbling and dying, they represent something beautiful and appealing. It opened my eyes to the reality of God in my own life in a way unlike I had experienced before. I have tons of issues and baggage, but God looks down on me and doesn?t see ugliness. He doesn?t see something ruined. He sees something? someone? redeemed.?

When he returned home, they started writing.

The resultant EP resonates with their soul-stirring revelation of grace and redemption; their razor-sharp pop sensibilities and the generosity of two artists who know how to ebb and flow, give and take, while balancing reality with hope. The debut single, Deliverance is a pop-alternative gem that captures the essence of the duo? sonically and philosophically. ?We want music to be the catalyst for our journey and story,? says Victor. ?Deliverance allowed for us to do this. It has a ton of imagery that paints a picture for the listener of being trapped by depression, anxiety, addiction? and realizing that the time has come to break out, stand up, walk out, run out, come out, and find life again.?

Like brushstrokes on a canvas, each subsequent song on the EP adds nuance and depth. The ruins in life? it?s here where we meet our need. It?s here where we grow faith.

It?s here where we encounter deliverance.

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He Says...

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In December 2014 my mom passed away.

Since then, I?ve learned that grieving is not a two-day process and it comes in waves and in seasons. I know that I can never get my mom back and I know that I will never stop missing her. Grief; however is definitely something that lingers on and when I don?t process through my grief or deal with it, it can definitely bring me to some dark places. I believe that one day I will be delivered from my grief. Until that day comes I will choose to fight and not let my grief hold me down or paralyze me.

When we wrote Deliverance we originally were going to call it Break Out. The more we talked about the song and related it to our lives, the more we realized that anyone could break away from something or break out. For me, there are days I can break away from my grief, but as time passes I can easily end right back up at grief?s doorstep. Deliverance though had such a deeper meaning. To actually be delivered from something is to be free from it. The word deliverance literally means to be rescued or set free. Our reasoning for choosing the word deliverance was to empower and encourage people to be bold and honest, to stand up, fight, and not let anything or anyone hold you down.

As time passes we grow, we change and we heal. We have to choose to fight for our

Deliverance because as hard as people try to fight for us they can?t accept our freedom for us. Everyone was made with a purpose and everyone has baggage. The moment we stand up for ourselves and own our baggage realizing that we are broken and desperate, that?s the moment we can find hope and receive freedom. From there, our purpose is so much clearer and we can become these beautiful ruins for the world to see. I believe I can stand as monument for people to witness deliverance from grief just as others can stand as witnesses from their deliverance.

Tal k A b out Fav s V I CTOR. On The Road Snack: Ritz Cheese Crackers Jam Out Song: The Great Escape by Boys Like Girls Color: Red, at least right now anyways?

Rom-com: Something Borrowed Word to Describe The Other: Diva

DEBRA .

On The Road Snack: Pistachios Jam Out Song: Heartbreaker by Mariah Carey Color: Fuchsia; my friends would say black...

Rom-Com: Something Borrowed Word to Describe The Other: Diva

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Sh e Says...

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So often we get bogged down by life; certain outside factors that affect our personhood.

It?s normal. Life comes with ?the good, the bad and the ugly.? What I wasn?t prepared for was the depression.

As a little girl, I would see those commercials with the cloud looming over the person?s head walking around trying to live their life. I had no idea that one of those clouds would loom over my head, one day. I have had the most amazing life. Some incredible parents and a brother. The ideal family situation. From the outside looking in, all was great. I would deal with the normal highs and lows; the norms that come with joys and disappointments. It wasn?t until a few years ago, that the low, just seemed to get lower, and lower, heavier and heavier, until I couldn?t recognize myself anymore. I would look in the mirror and say ?Where did you go, because I don?t know who YOU are.? The things that used to bring me so much happiness, made me want to run and hide. I have always loved people, people fueled me, but I found myself being reclusive in my house for days at a time. The thought of having to be any place else, would just bring me to a state of panic and anxiety. Everything seemed dark and hopeless and I knew I needed a rescuer. I begged God. I pleaded with Him to just make it go away. I did everything in my power to try and help

myself. I started to recognize this wasn?t going away pretending like it didn?t exist and knew at the same time I had a part to play in my battle.

I started going to counseling, seeing a doctor who actually gave me a diagnosis, realizing I did have severe depression, based upon a hormonal imbalance. I started taking B Vitamins, sitting in the sun, running, and now have started to talk about it. This has actually helped because I don?t feel so alone anymore.

For some reason I thought I had to hide it, only recognizing now, this is part of the trap.

My rescuer is found in the Lord. But at the same time, my part is to get up, and FIGHT. I have a responsibility to take the first step toward the ?Deliverance? that is offered. It starts with showing up with your sword and your shield and stepping toward the battle line. I had to break out, even though at times it was tortuous to even move.

I still struggle. But, know who my ?Deliverer? is, and He is the ultimate Savior.

Whatever you might need to be rescued from, know that it starts with you admitting you need to be rescued. You might have to shout, plead, and beg, but you have to move in order to be able to receive the freedom we all have been offered. This freedom, this true deliverance, is found through the hope of the world, and His name is Jesus. C

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A S O S for

All Chispa Magazine

Priced under $400, whether for the bride or bridesmaids, ASOS beautiful collection features a dress for every girl and every venue. The Capsule Collection looks back to the 30s inspired slip dresses in an array of pearly tones in satin fabrics. Structure creates a demure vision in tulle and puddle train skirts are paired with lace tops. Cape detailed jumpsuits create an alternative for wedding dressing whilst 3D ivory lace adorns classic dresses to be worn by every girl to every venue. ?We decided to think about what our 20-something girl really wants for her wedding, whether it?s as a bride or bridesmaid.

Vintage, micro, classic, church, stately home, low key or something more alternative, there's something for everyone, ?says Leandra O?Sullivan, Head of Design, Womenswear at ASOS. ?We?re loving the idea of bridal jumpsuits for that cooler girl to pretty girly lace-waisted midis and 3D ivory lace fishtail for a decadent vibe. A co-ord is a great alternative to a wedding dress, it can be young fun and girly with a tulle skirt mixed back with an embellished top or it can be more demur and sophisticated with a puddle train skirt and a lace top,? she continues.

The one stop shop for millennials globally, and as Business of Fashion reported, the trend for affordable bridal for a younger generation is growing, ASOS is firmly positioned to lead this charge. C

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Pool 's OPEN

Photos by M ar celo Quar antotto

Rather than visions of pr ovocative w om en and unw anted tem ptations, w e?r e honor ing the love of sum m er and innocence of fun by show casing r eal-life w ater pr oof fashion and style in action.

But Jesus said, ?Let the childr en com e to m e. Don?t stop them ! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those w ho ar e like these childr en.? ? M atthew 19:14 C Chispa Magazine

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Wanna be a

r o-sham -bo baby?

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Most parents say that sunscreen is a must for their kids when it comes to playing outdoors; but did you know that sunglasses are just as important? Pediatric optometrists are warning that lifetime UV damage starts in early childhood, with retinal damage from the sun having its greatest impact in kids less than 10 years old. Good News: Parents can protect those delicate eyes with the coolest Italian-made baby and children?s sunglasses by family owned and operated ro-sham-bo baby.

Designed specifically for babies and children?s use, for the love of putting things in their mouths, ro-sham-bo baby sunglasses are so durable they can be bent, stretched, pulled, stepped on (they have even been run over and survived), and bounce right back to shape; even a thirty year old man can?t break them. Celebrities like Jamie King and Reese Witherspoon are fans of these high quality sunglasses for little people. Shades come in baby, junior, and adult sizes and prices start at $20 a pair. Fun designs are adorably named after 90s icons; there?s even a Kelly Kapowski Pink and a Zack Morris Blue. C

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A Shoe-High Indeed Bold lace-ups, fun palm pr ints, and essential nudes ar e som e of the tr ends to look for w ar d to this sum m er. Oh yes, and all under $40; available at shoedazzle.com .

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Best

Beauty

Products Ch is p a !

Beauty A w ards Chispa Magazine

Base

After reviewing countless beauty products, their ingredients, plus uncovering their formulating techniques, our editors Paola Ramirez + Lucia Rodriguez made their decision and rounded up the BEST in Class.

Get ready to meet The Beauty Wonders: The 2016 Chispa Beauty Award Winners are?

Primer

Givenchy Mister Mat Mattifying Foundation

Foundation | Light Coverage

Sisley Tinted Moisturizer with Botanical Extracts

Foundation | Medium Coverage

Urban Decay NAKED Skin Ultra Definition

Foundation | Medium to Full Coverage

Nars Radiant Cream Compact Foundation

Foundation | Full Coverage

Laura Mercier Silk Crème Moisturizing Photo

Foundation | Oily/ Acne-Prone

Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder

Foundation | Mineral

Advanced Mineral Makeup Liquid Foundation

Foundation | Tinted Moisturizer

L'OrĂŠal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

Powder

Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Mineral

Concealer for Under Eye Circles

Cle de Peau Beaute Concelaler

Concealer | Blemishes

Tom Ford Concealing Pen

Facial Self-Tanner

St. Tropez Gradual Tan Plus Anti-Aging

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Moisturizing Body Wash

Bod Y Dove Body Wash

Acne-Fighting Body Wash

Murad Acne Body Wash

Body Scrub

Frank Body Coconut Body Scrub

Body Bronzer for Legs

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

Body Bronzer | Traditional Self-Tanner

Kate Sommerville 360°Tanning Towelettes

Body Bronzer | Gradual Self-Tanner

La Mer The Face and Body Gradual Tan

Body Bronzer | Bronze

Xen-Tan Weekly Medium Self Tanner

Body Lotion | Light

Kiehl's Creme de Corps

Body Lotion | Rich

Nivea Essentially Enriched Lotion Dry to Very

Body Lotion | BB

Jergens BB Protect Perfecting Body Cream

Body Oil + Corrector

Oils of Aloha Kukui Oil

Bath Product

Bath & Body Work's Aromatherapy Stress Relief

Deodorant

The Honest Co. Honest Deoderant

Hand Cream

L'OCCITANE Shea Butter Hand Cream

Sunscreen

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion

Shaving Razor

Schick Intuition Naturals Sensitive Care Razor

Shaving Cream

Kiehl's "Close-Shavers" Squadron Ultimate

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Ch is p a !

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Cheeks Blush Powder

Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color

Blush Cream

Benefit Cosmetics Fine-One-One Sheer

Highlighter

Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Touche Eclat Radiant

Bronzer for Cheeks

Chanel Le Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour

New

Scents Miu Miu MIU MIU

Classic

Chanel COCO MADEMOISELLE

Spicy

Clive Christian "X"

Floral

Byredo Flowerhead

Citrus

Byredo Flowerhead

Sexy

Balenciaga B Skin

Green

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin

Fruity

Creed Royal Princess Oud

Candle

Nest Fragrances Bamboo Candle

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EYes

Eye Shadow | Black Cream

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Tuxedo

Eye Shadow | Black Powder

NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Sycorax

Eye Shadow | Beige Cream

Tom Ford Limited Edition Runway, Eyes in

Eye Shadow | Beige Powder

Nars Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Topless

Eye Shadow | Brown Cream

TOM FORD Cream Color For Eye in Spice

Eye Shadow | Brown Powder

KAT Von D Metal Crush Eyeshadow in Metallic

Eye Shadow | Grey Cream

Bobbi Brown Cream Stick in Smokey Blue Grey

Eye Shadow | Grey Powder

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Warm Pale Grey

Eye Shadow | Color Cream

Marc Jacobs Beauty Twinkle Stick On The Verge

Eye Shadow | Color Powder

Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Last Dance

Eye Shadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Pallette

Eyeliner | Black

Trish McEvoy Eye Definer in Black

Eyeliner | Brown

Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Kôhl Liner

Eyeliner | Color

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Jade

Eyeliner | Liquid

Kat Von D Ink Liner in Nerdrum

Eyeliner | Gel/ Cream

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

Eyeliner | Waterproof

Essence Gel Eye Pencil Waterproof

Eye Cream

La Prairie Essence of Skin Caviar Eye Complex

Mascara | Everyday

Clinique Natural Glossy Mascara

Mascara | Lengthening

Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Lengthening

Mascara | Dramatic

Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara

Mascara |Waterproof

MAC Haute & Naughty Waterproof Lash 2-in-1

Brows | Filer

Anastasia Beverly Hills Poder Duo

Makeup Remover

Pevonia Eye Make-Up Remover

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Shampoo and Conditioner | Normal Hair

Kiehl's Amino Acid Shampoo and Conditioner

Shampoo and Conditioner | Fine Hair

Redken Retaliate

Shampoo and Conditioner | Dry Hair

Keranique Scalp Stimulating Shampoo

Shampoo and Conditioner | Color-Treated Hair

John Frieda

Shampoo and Conditioner | Frizzy Hair

Hairgurt Curl Smoothing Yogurt Shampoo &

Shampoo and Conditioner | Curly Hair

Carol's Daughter Almond Milk Sulfate-Free

Shampoo and Conditioner | Coarse

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Deep

Shampoo and Conditioner | Damaged Hair

Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore

Treatment | Mask

NAAT Cream Olive Oil & Shea Butter

Treatment | Oil

Alterna Bamboo Smooth Kendi Hair Treatment

Anti-Frizz Serum

Philip B. Botanicals Anti-frizz formula 57

Styling Product | Volumizer

L?Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Boost It

Styling Product | Defrizzer, Coarse

Mixed Chicks Leave in Conditioner

Styling Product | Defrizzer, Fine Hair

R+CO Park Avenue Jackpot Styling Cream

Styling Product | Curl Definer, Fine Hair

Living Proof Curl Enhancing Styling Mousse

Styling Product | Wave Enhancer

TRESemme Make Waves Shaping Gel

Styling Product | Straightener

R+CO Jackpot Styling Cream

Styling Product | Heat-Protecting Spray

L'OREAL Paris Advanced Hairstyle BLOW DRY IT

Styling Product | Shine Booster

Schwarzkopf styliste ULTÎME Crystal Shine/ Hold

Styling Product | Pomade

Redken Move Ability 05 Lightweight Defining

Styling Product | Dry Shampoo

Dove Refresh+Care Dry Shampoo

Home Color | Single Process

eSalon

Home Color | Highlighting Kit

L?Oréal Paris Superior Preference Glam Lights

Home Color | Root Coverage

Color Wow Root Cover Up

Home Color | Glaze

Schwarzkopf color ULTÎME

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Hair

Ch is p a !

Beauty A w ards A Better You | Health + Beauty 101

Lipstick | Red Lipstick | Pink

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Li Ps Chanel ROUGE COCO in Gabrielle

Yves Saint Laurent in Rose in Wood

Lipstick | Nude

Laura Mercier Colourbalm in Amaretto Swirl

Lipstick | Coral

Estée Lauder Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Daring

Lipstick | Sheer

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Color in Passion Fruit

Lipstick | Bright

TOM FORD Beauty Tom Ford Finish Lip in Erotic

Lip Gloss

Clinique Superbalm Gloss in Black Honey

Lip Stain

Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain in India

Long-Wearing Lipstick

Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick in Matte Bright

Lip Pencil

Chantecaille Lip Definer in Natural

Lip Balm

FRESH Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment

Lip Treatment

Pevonia LipRenew Plump & De-Age Treatment

Nails Nail Polish | Red

Christian Louboutin Beaute Rouge Louboutin

Nail Polish | Nude

Dolce & Gabbana The Nail Lacquer in 105

Nail Polish | Bright

OPI Nail Polish in No Room for the Blues

Nail Polish | Dark

Zoya Nail Polish in Hunter

Nail Polish | Blue

Smith & Cult Kings & Thieves Nail Polish

Nail Polish | Glitter

Deborah Lippmann Good Girls Gone Bad Nail

Nail Polish | Pastel

Dior Vernis Couture Color, Gel Shine & Long

Home Gel Kit

Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish Starter Kit

Nail Art

NCLA Designer Nail Wraps

Cuticle Oil + Rescue

Oils of Aloha Kukui Oil

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Face Ch is p a !

Beauty A w ards Chispa Magazine

Cleanser | Normal Skin

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Daily Foaming Wash

Cleanser | Dry Skin

Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil

Cleanser | Oily Skin

Kiss My Face Olive & Green Tea Bar Soap

Cleanser | Anti-Aging

Omorovicza Cleansing Milk

Cleanser | Acne

LUSH Grease Lightning

Exfoliant

Pevonia Exfoliating Cleanser

Toner

Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean Multi-Action

Facial Moisturizer | Normal Skin

Pericone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer

Facial Moisturizer | Dry Skin

La Mer Crème de la Mer

Facial Moisturizer | Oily Skin

LUSH Enzymion Facial Moisturizer

Facial Moisturizer | Face Oil

Oil Essentials

Facial Moisturizer | Color Correcting

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer

Anti-Aging | Antioxidant

Azzfast Green Tea Gel

Anti-Aging | Wrinkles

Omorovicza Gold Flash Firming Serum

Anti-Aging | Discoloration

Sisley Paris Intensive Dark Spot Corrector

Eye Cream | Depuffing

Amore Pacific TIME RESPONSE Eye Renewal

Eye Cream | Dark Circles/ Anti-Wrinkle

Cle de Peau Intensive Eye Countour Cream

Eye Cream | Moisturizing

La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Lift Cream

Facial | Sunscreen

Chantecaille Ultra Sun Protection Sunscreen

Scrub

Origins Refreshing Scrub Cleanser

Peel

Omorovicza Blue Diamond Resurfacing Peel

Mask | Oily Skin

Origins Out of Trouble Mask

Mask | Dry Skin

Fresh Rose Face Mask

Mask | Damaged Skin

Sisley-Paris Black Rose Cream Mask

Acne Treatment

Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

Setting Spray

Bobbi Brown Face Mist

Serum

La Mer Genaissance de La Mer Serum

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FI V E Si mpl e WA YS r p ool p ar t y t o t a k e y ou l ev el t o t h e n ex t

Chispa Magazine Chispa Magazine

Pool parties are one of the best parts of the summer. Casual backyard shindigs are always a hit, but why not make yours stand out from the crowd by adding a touch of glamour? It?s a lot easier than you may think. Just a few thoughtful details will transform your next gathering into an affair to remember. Try these tips to make your summer soirĂŠe an enchanted evening for you and your guests: 1. Light Up t he Night . With the warmer temperatures lasting well into the evening, there?s no reason the party has to start before 5 p.m. Your guests won?t have to mingle in the dark, because there are so many interesting pool light options to choose from these days. If your pool doesn?t have built-in lights, place flameless candles around the edges, hang lanterns in the gardens, or string globe lights between trees. And check the forecast.

2. Wear Whit e. Take an example from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards and her husband, luxury real estate agent Mauricio Umansky, whose annual white party is a can?t-miss event. It sounds so simple, but asking your guests to dress in white from head to toe makes for a stunning effect that sets the tone for a festive evening. Further accentuate the monochromatic theme by putting out white flowers and favors, lights and candles, dishware and hors d?oeuvres.

3. Pil e on t he Pool Props. Beach balls are not only super fun for impromptu games of volleyball or water polo, but they also make for great dĂŠcor. Stick with solid white or glow-in-the-dark balls to maintain your party?s sophisticated feel. Or lay out a couple of rafts and inflatable pool floats so your friends can lie back and drift the night away.

4. St yl e Your Seat ing. If you want your guests to stick around, then you should provide them with somewhere to sit when they?re not in the pool. Spruce up eclectic seating with outdoor throw pillows and blankets in on-trend fabrics, such as metallics or Moroccan prints, or by outfitting your lounges and cushions in chic solid-colored slipcovers. As a bonus, layers of blankets and throws will mean that no one will mind if the temperatures dip after the sun sets.

5. Make t he Bar DIY. A cocktail adds a little flair to a party, but you don?t want to spend the whole night playing bartender. You can solve that problem easily by building a make-your-own margarita bar. Set up a table with a few bottles of tequila and triple sec, lime and other juices, plenty of ice, and an array of sliced fruit. Don?t like tequila? Swap it out for some Champagne, and make it a mimosa bar. Once the party is underway, just relax, circulate, and have fun. C Text by Karin Tierney Photo by Pineapple

Features 77 A Better You | Smart + Homey 107

going

Natur al

Neutral color schemes are such a timeless and versatile interior design trend and they've been increasing in popularity. By keeping a neutral base with a few soft browns, creams and whites, transform any room to suit your personal style with just a few key pieces. Keep the room interesting by adding touches of texture: grained woods and carved furniture; knitted textiles and textured fabrics like canvas, velvet or embroidery; mixed metals, fabric curtains, and wicker pieces. And for a summery touch, add a splash of color and some bright accessories with some interesting details like pompoms which we've spotted everywhere these past few weeks. C

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Gi r l s Just

Wa n n a Ha v e Fun

Fi ve r easons why t he Hi l t on Bent l ey Pent house Sout h Beach l ends i t sel f as t he gi r l f r i end weekend r et r eat .

1. Too many gi r l s f or one hot el r oom? No pr obl em. Thei r 3, 000 sq. f oot pent house pr ovi des pl ent y of space f or your ent i r e par t y wi t h t wo mast er bedr ooms and t hr ee f ul l bat hr ooms.

2. Wi t h compl et e wr ap- ar ound vi ews of t he ocean, you can r est assur ed t hat ever y sel f i e woul d be compl et e wi t h t he pi ct ur e per f ect backdr op.

Chispa Magazine

3. I magi ne r ej uvenat i on by not havi ng t o t ake a st ep out of bed.

Cont r ol your Dol by sur r ound sound syst em t hr oughout t he ent i r e sui t e by your phone or i n- sui t e i Pad. A Better You | Travel + Culture 111

4. Do we need t o ment i on per f ect t an? Your ver y own pr i vat e r oof t op pool , Jacuzzi , and spaci ous decks at your door st ep on Sout h Beach.

Chispa Magazine

5. Ri ght on Ocean Dr i ve i n t he hear t of Mi ami Beach, f ood gal or e and ocean br eeze awai t t o be di scover ed. C A Better You | Travel + Culture 111

&

ENERGY SERENITY Photos and Text by Brett Danielsen

Chispa Magazine

The great ocean road is home to the kind of stuff you see in Google images and always wish you could visit. Twelve Apostles, Koalas, Kangaroos, surf towns, Bells Beach, and Point Break; cowabunga Keanu. Living so close to such a beautiful area, most weekends regardless of the season I a usually having a drive down the coast to grab a few shots, as there is much to explore and this place rarely takes a bad photo.

The idea behind this project was to do what I love: grab my camera, some friends, and go explore. I rented a VW Kombi for the weekend and the only thing on my itinerary was to enjoy the time, keep shooting, and try to show off the laid back Australian summer lifestyle. Here?s to you. C

Through the Lens | Energy & Synergy 115

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Tim Grandstaff and Daughter Cyndell?

Chispa Magazine

trav el i ng w i th tandy

?M y w i f e h as a gi f t! Sh e pi ck ed up a camera ov er 10 years ago and WOW! Sh e h as al w ays been creati v e, seen someth i ng most nev er see, and f i nds th at speci al ex tra someth i ng th at mak es pi ctures tel l a th ousand stori es. Sh e h as nev er been taugh t or tak en l essons and h as b l essed many peopl e w i th memori es to ch eri sh f orev er. I h av e w atch ed f rom af ar as some h av e emul ated h er, many tri ed to copy some of h er i deas, but i t's nev er th e same as th e ori gi nal . I am proud of h er and th e w ay sh e h as used a natural and uni q ue gi f t to l ov e on so many w i th . Th i s year i n [ our mi ssi on tri p to SĂŁo Paulo,] Brazi l sh e captured ev eryth i ng,? says Ti m Grandstaf f , Lead Pastor of Genesi s Ch urch , Orl ando.

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Chispa Magazine

?Wh en I am ask ed: I sn't i t h ard to go to anoth er country and do al l th at you do, i t seems ex h austi ng; I see th ese ph otos and I k now w h y.

Cayden [ my ol dest daugh ter] may be th e onl y person th at w i l l w rap h er arms around some of th ese k i ds and LI V E w h o Jesus i s. Not by l anguage, but by acti ons. Some of th ese k i ds h av e l ost th ei r mom or dad or both (as i n th e case of one young man w h o w as th ere ev ery day). Yes, i t's ex h austi ng and someti mes i t's a l i ttl e nerv e w rack i ng j ust l etti ng my ch i l dren get di rty and germy (or j ump i n a bal l pi t), but i f ev er anyth i ng i s sai d about us Grandstaffs I h ope peopl e k now w e l ov ed w el l (or at l east tri ed). M ay th ese peopl e of Brazi l remember th e w eek th at th ose crazy A meri cans v i si ted; Jesus w as th ere, and no matter w h at, Jesus will be there. THA T i s w h y w e rai se support and th at i s w h y I w i l l al w ays l et my k i ds go on mi ssi on tri ps, w i th or w i th out me,? says ph otograh er Tandy Grandstaf f . C

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Get it

done five

in

Henry Ford had every right to maintain the 10-16 hour workday that was common over 100 years ago, and pocket the financial gains of a new productivity called the ?assembly line.? But where other capitalists saw a path to greater profits, Ford had a much grander vision. Ford took a gamble that would change the world as we know it: he doubled his workers' wages, and more importantly, he gave them their time back. He reduced the workday to eight hours, and shared the fruits of this new productivity, in both money and time.

Chispa Magazine

Fast-forward a century. The eight-hour workday is now outdated and irrelevant.

Today's knowledge workers have the power to be massively more productive, but also to waste an extraordinary amount of time. The reality is these workers are only doing 2-3 hours of real work a day, yet clock 9.4 on average. Widely available productivity tools are not being used. Switching to a five-hour workday empowers and incentivizes employees to use these tools and work at a more intense pace.

The Five-Hour Workday: Live Differently, Unlock Productivity, and Find Happiness by Stephan Aarstol is about one company that simply asked why. A company that had the courage to try an experiment, toward re-inventing a more sensible, productive, and healthy workday for the knowledge workers of today.

A company that switched to a five-hour workday, from 8 a.m.to1 p.m., and found that it changed everything for the better.

As a result, that company? Tower Paddle Boards? is now one of the fastest-growing companies in the nation and is backed by billionaire entrepreneur, Mark Cuban, who initially invested in Tower during Aarstol?s now infamous appearance on ABC?s Shark Tank.

In The Five-Hour Workday, Aarstol, company founder and CEO, explains how his company's experiment has changed both his business and his workers' lives for the better, and why it has the potential to do so for our entire society. ?With our five-hour workday, we've created a workweek better than most people's vacation weeks,? says Aarstol. ?It improves work/ life balance not just incrementally, but by ten-fold. Imagine 8-10 hours of free time every weekday. Time for kids, friends, family, and pursuing passions. It's game changing.

The five-hour workday betters the life of myself, and my staff,? adds Aarstol. ?If I show the world, through this book, what my company is doing, it's possible we can positively affect the quality of life of thousands, or hundreds of thousands, or even millions of people. It is possible to completely rethink how we work.? C

Bookworm || Sharif Stephan Aarstol 139 Bookworm K. Rasheed 99

Dear Journal.

H ello Readers.

Chispa Magazine

It?s been said that we?re never given more than we can carry. For Elizabeth Jordan, the weight almost became too much, leading to attempted suicide and alcohol abuse before she was able to make it back from the depths of hell to find a sliver of light.

She says this is the most common question she?s asked by readers. ?It?s the result of several different things. People I?ve met.

Strangers. Journaling. Determination,? Jordan says. ?Little things along the way helped pull me out of the darkness.?

After Jordan lost both a boyfriend and fiancĂŠ in separate accidents, she crawled into a bottle of vodka to cope, only to emerge a year later to become the victim of a botched surgery. As she struggled to recover? at many times in so much pain that she couldn?t stand? she cared for her aging parents. Her father, suffering from Alzheimer?s, often didn?t recognize her and claimed that she was an intruder. Weeks later, her mother was put on life support, creating a schism between Jordan and her sister that continues to exist. Jordan shares her story in her new book,The Darkness of My Shattered Heart, a heartbreaking and uplifting memoir pulled from her journal and diary entries.

According to Jordan, all of us grieve in different ways, and that?s one of the most important themes of the book. She says one thing she?s learned through the years is that no one truly understands what you?re going through, even if they?ve had a similar experience? grief is a unique challenge for everyone.

The Darkness of My Shattered Heart is an inspirational and emotional memoir about how one woman overcame incredible loss and pulled herself out of the darkness and into the light. C

The Darkness of My Shattered Heart speaks honestly and openly on many levels: Jordan?s struggles with her aging parents; the reality of signing a DNR to take her mother off life support; the unexpected loss of people she loved; and the anguish of dealing with a mishandled hysterectomy.

Jordan has shouldered enough tragedy for several lifetimes? so how is she still smiling?

Bookworm | Elizabeth Jordan 141 Sharif K. Rasheed 99

M UST HA V ES, ETC.

t e e B . r D

Studies have recently shown that beet juice is the new it drink for anyone that likes to increase their heart rate, whether you?re into lifting or training to be an Olympic athlete, beet juice has been shown to improve overall muscle performance by allowing the body to exhibit almost twice as much energy out as the oxygen taken in.

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What?s cool? Biotta Juices, a USDA Organic and Non-GMO verified juice company, offers 10 different juices, six of the juices which are vegetable and the other four which are fruit juices. Each juice provides functional health and wellness benefits, as well as providing a delicious source of vegetables and fruits.

M UST HA V ES, ETC. Rising temps have probably left you feeling less inclined to skip the gym, in an effort to eliminate those love handles in time for swimsuit season. But, working out is only half the battle? eating right is key. And while this part can leave you feeling deprived of your favorite foods and snacks, it doesn?t have to.

Being mindful of your portion sizes is a long term solution that allows you to eat what you

like, but in moderation. Livliga, a leader in the portion control category, takes any guesswork out of the process with its newest collection, Celebrate.

Celebrate?s porcelain set features sleek black and white designs, along with etched illustrations of healthy foods and phrases that motivate users to ?celebrate? a healthy lifestyle.Also using Livliga?s visual illusions concept, Celebrate plates feature built-in markers to encourage ?right-sized eating? with each recommended food group. C Must Haves 143

IN GOD WE SHOULD TRUST Mi Chispa 145