Colorful Living Magazine

Colorful Living Fall 2018

New mag on the media block!

Social Media: Friend or Foe?

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October - December 2018

Magazine

AMY ROILAND COLORFUL LIFE TO MODEL

Colorful Living Magazine

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October - December 2018

Colorful Living Magazine

16 COVER Amy Roiland and her colorful life

By Charleen Earley

12 I don’t have kids and that’s okay

By Jessica Wendland

14 Social Media friend or foe?

By Karen Moss

Letter from the Publisher

Editor’s Note

irst of all, WELCOME to the first issue of Colorful Living Magazine!

So as you may know, it’s not easy picking a name for a new magazine, or just picking a name for anything for that matter. We’ve all been there, right? A baby’s name, pet’s name, heck some of us even name our vehicles, Brad. And once it’s picked, that’s it. No looking back. Terminé, oui? So the name had to be solid. It also had to be original, as in, no-oneowns-it-original. Then all of a sudden, it hit me one day.

Colorful Living!

Color encompasses every part of our lives - from our skin tones and personalities and Mother Nature’s colors outside to the colors on our plates at dinner. It’s also something that summed up my own personality, but broad enough to encompass all that I wanted to accomplish in this communication medium.

Colorful Living Magazine is a full-color, quarterly publication centered around all the colors of life. As media consumers, I want this publication to be bold enough to underscore diversity, ageism, homelessness and empowerment, but fun and rich enough to feature food and wines, fashion, profiles, beautiful destinations and lively entertainment – all on a local AND national level. If you’re looking for meaningful, engaging, educated content juxtaposed with fluff, you’ll enjoy reading Colorful Living Magazine cover to cover – because life is meant to be lived in full, living color.

join Publisher Charleen Earley in welcoming you to Colorful Living Magazine.

Whether you are a serious reader or someone looking for a break from the rushed pace of life in today’s world, there is something for you in our pages.

Students young and old have started back to school in the past few weeks, or will begin their school year soon. Walter Ruehlig addresses some concerns, deficiencies and strengths of education in the United States (pg 18).

A different approach to grading is discussed by Charleen Earley in her story of how one teacher made a profound impact on her life (pg 10).

Social media is a huge part of nearly everyone’s life. But how much is too much? Karen Moss contemplates the effects of social media and offers some ideas for our saturated world (pg 14).

Much of the emphasis in the world — whether it’s in backto-school ads, television programming, or product placement in stores — is on people with children. What about those who choose a different lifestyle than having and raising children?

Jessica Wendland offers a window into that viewpoint (pg 12).

Where do entrepreneurs get their spark? Check out the interview of Shark Tank veteran Amy Roiland for a glimpse into this fast-moving, rapid-fire world (pg 16).

And, for the escapists among us, how about a trip into the fantasy world of elves and fairies — right in Cynthia Ruehlig’s own backyard? (pg 20) Jump in and enjoy!

Charleen Earley

Jane Ramsey

Publisher

Editor-in-Chief

Mission Statement: Colorful Living Magazine is about all things colorful; life, skin tones, nature, personalities, even the foods we eat.

Our goal is to enlighten, educate, inspire, create dialog, motivate, persuade, spotlight, encourage and entertain

Colorful Living Magazine

those around us to become our best selves and to give a voice to those who want to be heard, but may not have the platform to do so. It is our belief that life is meant to be lived in full, living color.

October - December 2018

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Publisher | Charleen Earley Founder and publisher of Colorful Living Magazine, Charleen is an 18-year freelance writer for newspapers and magazines throughout the Bay Area, and currently teaching journalism/mass communication at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA. She’s also a stand-up comic, motivational speaker, wedding planner and most recently, proud grandmother to Andrew Elias Earley from her son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Natalie Earley. Reach her at charleenbearley@gmail.com.

Webmaster & Writer | Karen Moss Karen has been producing web sites since web sites have been produced, for Fortune 1000 companies and small businesses. Originally from Phoenix, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1987. From 1989 to 1994, she produced The Nooner, a local lifestyle publication for San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton and Danville area. Karen is the mother of a brilliant and beautiful teenage daughter, and is a pop culture trivia freak. Reach her at kmoss@mosswebpro.com.

Photographer | Omayra Espino “Omy” I see beauty in small details and in every person I meet. I love to capture the essence of a person, their true self. I believe a photo session should be as unique as the person that I photograph, and of course, it should be fun! I am a portrait photographer and I specialize in newborns, glitter/confetti photo shoots, dancers and personal branding. Reach out to me at hello@spinophoto.com or 925.322.3522. Let’s capture your story.

Student Intern | Makayla Sornodo I’m a high school senior, still looking for what I want to do with my life. I’m a photographer, movie lover and total bookworm at heart, with a deep interest in writing.

I always try to have a positive outlook on life and find the best in everyone.

Editor-in-Chief | Jane Ramsey Jane is a registered nurse who also was a reporter for the Brentwood News, the Ledger Dispatch and the Contra Costa Times when those publications were part of Knight-Ridder Newspapers. She values the ability to write a simple, declarative sentence in English, and welcomes the opportunity to share that appreciation with others.

Photographer | Jody Hanson Jody’s from the small town of Telluride, Colorado, where she grew up skiing, horseback riding and loving the outdoors. She attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara and has been working in the field of photography for 15 years.

She now resides in Discovery Bay with her husband and new baby boy Van. She still loves the outdoors and spending time with her family and being a mom! She is a drone certified aerial photographer and absolutely loves what she does. Reach her at jvbphotography@gmail.com.

Columnist | Kristine Cataldo Kristine Cataldo, MSCIS, MAed - “The Lioness” is a woman’s transformation coach… body + mind + spirit. Her divinely-inspired transformation (100 lb weight loss) allows her to guide clients to lifelong simplicity + balance + joy. She founded “MyPride Sisterhood,” a global gathering for lion-hearted women to connect + celebrate in community. She has a strong spiritual practice, is a mama, Certified Primal Health Coach, a writer, speaker, professor and curriculum development leader. Kristine loves to hike, cycle, spend time with her children, friends and Australian Shepherds. Reach her at omnigal@gmail.com or www.kristinecataldo.net.

Ad Sales Rep | Kathryn Sibley Ad Sales & Writer | Jessica Wendland Jess, a Wisconsin native and mid-century addict, has been in sales for over half her life. Photography and design fanatic, she’s founder of Artful to Artsy Retro & Vintage Goods, and Wonders in Wire - Recycled Art, and has a fondness for proving that there is value in almost anything. She takes pride in talking to people, hearing their ideas, stories and plans, all while bringing a little Midwest hospitality to every conversation. Happily married, Jess lives with her husband and their four furry children. Reach her at wonders.in.wire@gmail.com.

All rights reserved. No part of any issue of Colorful Living Magazine, be it editorial content, photographs or advertising design, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic, mechanical, photocopy, or any other format, without the prior permission of the publisher. All facts, opinions and statements appearing within this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions, views or endorsements by the publisher of Colorful Living Magazine. Accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed. Due to uncertain nature of U.S. Postal Service and third party freight services, Colorful Living Magazine does not guarantee delivery of said publication by any specific date.

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Kathryn’s advertising adventures first began at Ogilvy & Mather and continued for more than 25 years at several Bay Area ad agencies. These rich experiences helped her launch her marketing consulting business, WordUp! Marketing. A professional copywriter and branding expert, Kathryn loves helping small businesses create memorable advertising campaigns. Her secret weapons: curiosity, creativity and customer service! Reach her at kbsibley@gmail.com.

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~ A DV E R TO R I A L ~

Cindy Kirk loses 65 pounds the right way

By Charleen Earley indy Kirk of Oakley ends every email with “Feel good, energetic, confident, healthy and happy,” and there’s good reason this single, administrative assistant does that – she’s lost 65 pounds through Delta Valley Health Club’s 20/30 Program. Initially, she lost 24 pounds in the 30-day program, and seven months after the program, she’s managed to lose an additional 41 pounds. Born in Concord, raised in Antioch, Kirk says she’s pretty much within her goal weight and just working on maintaining, toning and building muscle.

Below is her story.

What was your powerful “why” to lose the weight?

I was feeling exhausted, sick and unhappy. I was having a lot of health issues: stomach always hurting, body hurting and inflammation in my body, always hungry but didn’t know what or how to eat. I wanted to exercise, but didn’t know what to do. I thought that there was no way to get it under control and felt like if this doesn’t work, I don’t know what to do. I thought, I guess it’s impossible and I will be overweight and sick for the rest of my life.

Have you always struggled with weight?

As a child and teen I was always thin and toned so I never worried about what I ate or exercising. I never learned how to cook, what to eat or how to exercise. I thought that people who exercised were a different kind of person than me. I thought they just naturally had energy and they were just obsessed with exercising and eating right. I always said I could never eat that way. I could never run or jog. I could never do that exercise class – not knowing that you struggle in the beginning and if you keep doing it, you build your ability to do these things.

As an adult I started working in an office. Sitting down all day really took its toll and then I would start to gain weight. The more weight I would gain, the more depressed I would become and the less active, more withdrawn, and more bad food I would eat. Then I would try to eat better (not really knowing what that meant), so I would be starving all day, unsatisfied, trying to eat these light, fat-free boxed or bagged items that are actually full of sugar, carbs, fat, and are not good for you

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October - December 2018

but are marketed as healthy or diet.

I would start eating a little better, start walking (the only exercise I felt I could do), and drinking more water and drop 20 pounds or so, but it would go up and down 20-30 pounds. At my most desperate time, when I thought I was going to be heavy for the rest of my life, I went on one of the weight loss programs where you eat their food and I lost 75 pounds in a year, spending over $600 a month to purchase their pre-packaged food, which I thought was great, because I didn’t know how to eat or cook. I was happy, but once I stopped eating their food, I gained it all back within a couple years.

What have you learned through this process?

I have learned how to exercise, how to cook for myself, what to eat and

Before

how much. I am excited about building up my endurance to exercise in ways I never thought I could and adding food prepping and going to the gym as a part of my regular necessary daily and weekly routine. I go to work, take care of my house, car, dogs, yard, bills, exercise and meal prep.

How did you hear about the 20/30 program?

A few of us girls at work were looking for ways to lose weight and feel better and healthier. We looked online and found the 20/30 program and Delta Valley Health Club. We liked the idea of balancing hormones, being taught how, what, and how much we should be eating along with learning what items affect you and how (through slowly adding foods back into your diet.) We also wanted to join

Photo provided by Cindy Kirk Colorful Living Magazine

a gym and exercise. There were three of us who sit right next to each other in cubicles doing the program together.

What was challenging for you and what was easy for you during this time?

In the beginning, it was surprisingly easy for me to eat right and exercise, because I was so desperate for it to work, otherwise I felt there was no hope. Also, since my two coworkers were doing it, we all were not snacking, eating at our work events, or having candy or snack in our front lobby. We would all bring our own food and eat what was on our plan.

Food prepping was amazing. It made life so much easier and only took a few hours on Sunday to not have to worry for the first four days of the week.

The challenges came when family and friends wanted to go out to eat or have drinks on the weekends. In the beginning, I would have to say no, but after a while I could go and make good decisions or, when closer to my goal, I could choose to have something I wanted, as long as I did everything in moderation, kept it under control, and stuck to the program most of the time.

How supportive were your family and friends throughout this experience?

My family and friends are not very active and like to eat out a lot for entertainment, so in the beginning I would just have to say no. I can’t go to the restaurant, I have to cook my own food at home and no, I can’t go here or there, I have to go to the gym. Over time, as you learn, you can continue to keep your exercise schedule, and eat right most of the time and then you can go out and make a good decision or eat anything you want every once in a while, as long as you don’t make it an everyday habit. Your family and friends also become accustomed to your new lifestyle and they know, oh yeah today is your gym day or oh yeah, you cook most your meals at home.

Are you continuing to lose weight?

I am currently in my goal weight range and working on maintaining my weight, toning my muscles, and having the ability to do things I never thought I would be able to, like jogging. I would like to continue to see and feel progress with lifelong learning and making this part of my lifestyle.

What lifestyle changes have you made because of this program?

Sundays I meal prep for Monday through Thursday, and I go to the gym Monday through Thursday as part of my regular life schedule. This way I work the hardest in the beginning of the week and get to be a little more relaxed on the weekends, any active things I do then are just a bonus.

Did you suffer from any health issues before the weight loss?

Lots of stomach issues, always hurting, joints, inflammation problems, feet hurting, back and neck pain, tight muscles and muscle cramps. I would sweat a lot, creating anxiety or panic, which in turn would make me sweat more (vicious cycle). A lot of issues.

Photo by JVB Photography Colorful Living Magazine

After

What advice would you give to our readers regarding the program and

just changing their eating lifestyle in general?

If you follow the program, you will succeed. You will feel so amazing. Your confidence level will rise. Your energy level will rise. You will have less health problems. You will have less depression.

People around you will notice and react to your changes. In public and with friends and family, I get a lot of positive reactions because of my happiness, positivity and confidence.

What does your exercise program look like?

Right now I exercise four times a week, Monday through Thursday. It is a part of my daily routine just like going to work. Friday through Sunday I take off.

If I exercise or do active things on those days, it is extra. Two days a week I do a class called MX4 (high intensity interval training) and two days a week I have personal training. On those days, I have added a short jog. I know that personal training is expensive, but since I did not know how to exercise in the gym, I invested in three months of training to learn. I spend money on other things and this is in investment in me learning to be healthy.

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October - December 2018

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Mastery should measure success

By Charleen Earley still have my graded essay I wrote 38 years ago – not because of the letter grade I received on that paper – but because that grade was my final grade for the class.

The grade was an A and it represented my progression, not my overall, points-tallied performance for the class, which would have been a C-minus.

It was a course I took at Merritt College, located in the hills of Oakland, California. I was 16 years old at the time, but let me back up a little.

The year was 1980 and I was a junior at Fremont High School in Oakland. I was an A-B student with the occasional C or D if the subjects were geometry, chemistry or drafting – yeah drafting, because it sounded easier than chemistry – it wasn’t.

My counselor urged me to take the SAT exam my junior year to determine what subjects I would need to bone up on before my senior year of high school.

Knowing my scores, he said, would also determine what college I should attend.

The pressure was real.

My parents were not able to help me with my difficult subjects and there was no budget for tutoring for our family of five.

Low and behold, my lackluster SAT test scores highlighted the fact that I needed help in all subjects, so my counselor suggested I take what was then called “bonehead English.” The course title was Reading & Comprehension 1A & B. I registered for the evening course, and I was scared. Not one student was my age, only old people; people who had to be in their 30s and 40s. Funny how your perception of “old” changes with age.

Instructor Bascem Wallis handed back my first essay with a large F on top and lots of notes throughout, instructing me how to do better. Still, I was devastated and held back the tears until I was home and in bed.

My next paper was a D, but the pain stung less than the F. Wallis had more notes on how I could improve and gave me a wink and a thumbs up for encouragement.

By the end of the quarter, and after receiving every letter progressing upwards, my final paper, the one 10

October - December 2018

Colorful Living Magazine

Photo by Pixabay Colorful Living Magazine

I’ve treasured for the last 38 years, had an A on it with his final note.

“This is your best essay. Congratulations,” he wrote. “Good examples and details here.

Continue the good work. Best wishes, Bascem Wallis.”

The last day of class he informed all of us that our final graded paper determined the final grade in the class.

I was pleasantly shocked.

Up to this point in my life, none of my teachers – grades K through 11 – had ever administered this type of grading system. In adding up the grades on each of my essays in Wallis’ class, I should’ve received a C-minus.

This teacher had actually graded me on my progression and not my past. Sounds like a character lesson too!

It was the one and only time in my educational career that I’ve ever encountered this type of grading system, and it’s too bad too – not for me, since I recently received my Masters Degree in journalism and communications from San Jose State with a 3.933 GPA – but for all students out there who are graded on a summation of their total scores, rather than their final score.

Evaluating student growth based on the development of skills, rather than the tabulation of points or standardized test scores, should be mandatory.

Catlin Tucker is a teacher, international trainer, speaker and bestselling author. Her most recent books are “Blended Learning in Action” and “Creatively Teach the Common Core Literacy Standards with Technology”.

Writing in February 2018 for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Tucker addresses transitioning from an accumulated points system to a standards-based grading system. She highlights the benefits of subject mastery, rather than points, as the reward for students.

“This approach values the development of skills over the accumulation of points and seeks to measure mastery of those skills,” she says.

In making the switch, Tucker says she realized three things – students need different amounts of practice to master a skill, grades should be an accurate reflection of a student’s current ability and learning is ongoing.

The confidence I received from that first “bonehead English” course at a community college at age 16 was priceless. But, beyond the confidence, it taught me the value of my progression.

It’s time we deconstruct the grade book that’s tethered to accumulation of points rather than mastery of the subject.

October - December 2018 11

I don’t have kids and that’s okay

By Jessica Wendland | Photo by JVB Photography

“You’re in your mid 30s and you don’t have kids?!”

“You’ve been with your husband THAT long and don’t want any babies?!”

“You’ll never understand REAL love until you have a child.”

“That’s so selfish of you.”

I tell people I’m choosing not to have any kids, because I don’t like the fact that there are so many children in foster care who don’t have parents or a home. I wouldn’t deny that child a chance at a decent life because Photo by JVB Photography of Van Matthew Hanson, age 5 mos.

o answer these questions and statement: no, no and I guess not.

I don’t hate kids. I don’t force my own opinions on people with kids. I don’t mind most kids at all. I do understand what it feels like to love someone else

unconditionally with my whole heart (that’s why I married him). I do understand that having children could be the most fulfilling thing my husband and I could ever do for ourselves, but I would rather explore the countless other options life presents me.

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October - December 2018

I chose to have a child with my DNA instead. This isn’t what people want to hear, but they can usually accept my humility and leave the subject alone.

Really, the thought of being pregnant just doesn’t appeal to me. I am not hardwired with the desire to be a mother.

I’m nowhere close to being independently wealthy, and kids are a HUGE financial obligation. Living in one of the most expensive areas in the country, I enjoy traveling and having the financial freedom to go without anything holding me back.

This was a well thought out decision my husband and I discussed a long time ago. Maybe we are selfish. We aren’t done devoting our time and energy to each other yet. We realize the relationships we make are “family” to us and it doesn’t have to be the ones we’re born with.

“First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage.”

I’ve had many conversations with young women who are excited to get married and have babies, to live in their houses in the suburbs with white picket fences. The American Dream, right?

Are we hanging on to the notion that if you do things in this order, life will be perfect? Maybe in post-war 1950 this was the case, but it’s now 2018 and life can be a bit more complicated.

I think everyone wants to leave a lasting contribution to society and, for most that means children. I want to contribute more. I have the ability to do what I love because of my choice to be childfree.

I’m not advocating for or against children; I just don’t have – or want – any of my own.

Some of us struggle with infertility, some have health issues that we don’t want to pass on, and some of us might not like kids at all.

Whatever the reason, please leave the judgment behind. There’s nothing wrong with us. We are people, with feelings. We don’t have kids, and it’s okay.

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Photo by Pixabay

Is social media the symptom or the problem?

By Karen Moss t seems like every other day, there’s yet another article about a study that proves social media leads to depression, especially among teens.

Chicken, meet egg. Which came first: The depression that leads to social media addiction, or does social media addiction lead to depression?

In my opinion, social media and our society’s obsession with it arose from something that had been brewing long before social media became ubiquitous. I noticed it around the late 80s, early 90s. I’d go out with my friends and it was like a contest to see who could out-busy whom. Being “busy” gives people the illusion of importance.

Then the 90s saw folks in start-up mode, ready to be the Next Big Thing in i-This or e-That. Or if you were at an already established company, you were scrambling to catch up, or frantically prepping for Y2K. After 9/11, our already busy world became even more convoluted with bureaucratic red tape due to increased 14

October - December 2018

security, and people started cocooning more. And why not? You never had to leave your house thanks to webbased services like Webvan (R.I.P.) and that new online store, Amazon.

By the mid-2000s, enter smartphones and social media.

These days, so many of our interactions are through screens. Is it any wonder we are addicted to the thrill of getting likes, comments and followers? It’s not the same as real friendships, but better than nothing.

Social media addiction is a vicious cycle. You find yourself isolated because everyone in real life (IRL) seems too busy. So you turn to social media.

You post and people respond. Maybe even a lot of people. For a brief shining moment, you are a rock star. But even a post that goes viral only does so for so long. And then depression sets in.

Fortunately, there is a cure. Take your conversations offline. Start with direct messages. Then pick up the phone or, if possible, make arrangements to meet in person.

I find that teenagers, the most ac-

cused of being smartphone-zombies, are primarily the ones who make the effort to interact and see their friends IRL. (Note to parents: Make sure when your kids make these plans, that they are with people they already know, and they’re not being catfished by some online creep.)

Parents shouldn’t pass the “busy” down to kids to the point where they have no other alternative than to stay up late Snapchatting, Skyping or FaceTiming.

For adults, make plans to get lunch or coffee. At work, get up from behind your screen and walk over to someone instead of messaging them. Hearing a human voice and having real-time conversations can make a difference in your quality of life and your self-esteem. And those anonymous trolls and bullies will seem less important.

Escaping the safe cocoon of hiding behind screens is risky. But many things that are rewarding start that way. What it all comes down to is this: social media can help open doors or close them. It’s our choice.

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The colorful world of Amy Roiland

By Charleen Earley | Photo by Amy Roiland my Roiland first graced the July, 2016 cover of my prior magazine, and now she’s gracing the cover of my new publication, Colorful Living Magazine. When I think colorful, my mind immediately goes to Amy, simply because her creative Instagram posts are insanely colorful – not only with her clothes, accessories and her travel spots, but also in her personality and character. It was a no-brainer to ask her if she’d be our “cover-girl” for this inaugural issue, and I was honored she said yes. I first saw Amy on ABC’s Shark Tank, where the Stockton-born, 31-year-old (at the time) was seeking investors for her Fashion Tap App. Catching up with her today, this young entrepreneur, who just got married, continues to follow her business sense.

You’re still living in LA, right?

Yes, I am in Los Angeles, The Valley to be precise.

What projects are you working on now?

I am designing eyewear for Betty and Veronica and doing all of their content for their social media outlets and website. I am also in the beginning stages of designing my very own line.

What age are you now?

OLD for the fashion world. :) You just got married, so how does it feel?

YES! It feels incredible to be married.

I feel so much more love than I have ever felt before. We are so happy.

and he was helping the puppeteers with the chicken puppets. I started to flirt with him and found out his full name and got his number off of his Facebook page, HA! Did he have an amazing proposal?

Yes, he asked me in the middle of Shibuya Crosswalk in Japan, the busiest crosswalk in the world because our lives were so busy at that time.

Since Shark Tank, what are you doing with your Fashion Tap App? It is currently on hold. Need to find a partner who cares as much as I do, I guess.

With your new projects going on, do you plan to take it to the “tank” to fish for investors?

I do have an amazing eyewear company idea that would kill it on Shark Tank; we will see how far I can get it before I go on the show.

What do you love about modeling?

I love expressing myself with fashion and I absolutely love accessories and how they make every outfit incredible.

What are some misconceptions people have about models?

That we are just one note, but we do so much more than model, we really sell the clothing. Models are very important in fashion.

What do you do to stay in shape?

I run every single day at the gym and try to do cycling classes twice a week. I also do sit-ups every single night with an app called Workit. I use the free version and it’s changed my

What charities do you support and why?

I support bestfriends.org. I love them, because they’re amazing and save so many animals and do so much for animals. I love animals so much. We also rescued all of our kitties that live at my parent’s barn.

What’s his name and what does he do?

Ben Bayouth @Benbayouth – he creates puppets and animatronics. He created a crazy puppet show called Blark and Son that is currently airing on Go 90, Verizon platform.

How did you two meet?

We met on the set of a Foster Farms commercial, I was playing a club-goer in the scene 16

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Colorful Living Magazine

What’s your size, if you care to share with the world? And height too?

I am a size 2, 34C, 26-inch waist, 32inch hips 5 feet 7 1/2 inches and 112 pounds.

I see on IG, that you’re designing eyeglass wear, clothes and shoes!

Do you have a company you’re working with or do you do the actual designing yourself? How does all that work?

I design eyewear for Betty and Veronica (www.bettyandveronica.com), I design shoes and clothes for myself. I have a seamstress who makes my designs. I don’t sell them; I just make stuff I love.

This makes me very happy. I am partnering up with some brands soon to design and sell my ideas, we shall see.

My brother is Justin Roiland, creator of the hit TV show Rick and Morty.

This is my only sibling. He is killing it – his show just got picked up for seven more seasons.

ideas that would change the world with money, I have design ideas, I have company ideas, etc. I would try to revolutionize the eyewear industry hands down.

Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?

Being a full time mom and designing more eyewear and mom blogging with my babies. HAHA.

You’re from Stockton – do your parents still live there, and how often do you visit them?

Yes I am. Yes, my parents still live there on the farm. I feel so happy that they still live there because I am able to drive up there and relax on the farm and eat super healthy fruits and veggies.

If money were not an issue, what would you do and why?

WOW, I have way too many ideas for this question. I have crazy tech

Photo by Ben Bayouth

stomach in just a matter of two months.

Do you have items for sale and if so, how can our readers purchase them?

Yes, I sell a lot of my clothing from my blog on Depop. Depop is an app and I am username @afashionnerd.

What’s your website? www.afashionnerd.com Where do you get your inspiration from - with fashion and designing?

The 1960s inspire me a lot. I love the muted tones and colors. I also love the eyewear during that era and the hairstyles. French style is very inspiring to me as well. I also get a lot of inspo from Gucci and Wes Anderson.

What is the most important thing in life to you?

My husband of course and my dog @nooniethedog and cat @davosgucci.

What kinds of pets do you have?

My baby (cat) is Sir Davos Gucci Bayroi The First, and is one year old.

He is a British Shorthair. @davosgucci.

He is almost at 5,000 fans on IG. He is unreal, he is so loving and such a great model. My dog is a long hair Chihuahua and his IG name is @ nooniethedog.

Do you have any brothers and sisters - and are they following in your footsteps?

Colorful Living Magazine

October - December 2018

17

Pass or fail of our educational system

By Walter Ruehlig n 50 years of teaching, I habitually have been asked, “Are today’s kids smarter or dumber than previous generations?”

It’s a complex question.

We’ll start by acknowledging that our current national angst over issues like global competitiveness is nothing new under the sun. In the 1980s, the mantra was “Why can’t Johnny read?”

In 2001, we ushered in No Child Left Behind to address the achievement gap. Today we champion Common Core as the hopeful silver bullet.

Let’s examine the data.

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE

We begin with a bright spot as James Flynn, Ph.D. researcher at the University of Otago in New Zealand documents a rise of nearly 30 points in I.Q. during the period from 1900 to 2012. This means that in 2012, the average person had higher brainpower than 95 percent of the population of 1900. Inarguably, we live in an information age that challenges the brain’s elasticity.

DOMESTIC TEST SCORES

Not such good news here as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAED) reports that national reading and math scores have flatlined for 17-year-olds since the 1970s.

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COMMON CORE

Two solid years of testing are in and though long-term trends are still inconclusive, scores are decidedly improving.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Though we have been somewhat spinning our wheels, much of the world has been moving past us. On the 2015 Program for International Assessment, which is the global gold standard for competitive ranking, the U.S. scored 40th out of 70 in math scores for 15-year-olds, 25th in science and 24th in reading.

High achievers were Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Canada and Estonia. Finland led Western Europe and though a strict comparison of the United States with a far smaller and more homogeneous population is unfair, nevertheless reviewing their practices is thought provoking.

Finland

• Starts formal education at age seven.

• Does not give grades until high school and even then does not rank.

• Offers no gifted classes.

• Enjoys a 97 percent rate of enrollment in pre-school, where the emphasis is on self-reflection and socializing, not academics.

• Gives scant homework and little standardized testing.

• Requires teachers to have Masters Degrees and rewards them with high status.

• Qualifies only 10 percent of college graduates for teaching programs.

• Stresses diagnostic testing and intensive interventions.

• Tracks high school into vocational and academic.

• Funds highest at middle school.

• Engages group observations of peer classrooms and allows one afternoon weekly for professional development.

This is food for thought as we adapt our schools to the 21st century and support our hard-working teachers, who fight an uphill battle. They need resources and administrative and parental support if we are to escape the “picture of educational stagnation” former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan described.

The promising news is that the decided trend is that our younger students are making competitive advances. It’s also heartening that the World Economic Forum, looking at a range of indices, still ranks the U.S. workers as No.1 in global competiveness.

It’s not, then, all bleak news. But as educators and parents, we have our work cut out for us.

Colorful Living Magazine

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A new hobby fit only for the silly Story and photos by Cynthia Ruehlig any times before, I’d heard the suspicious rustling noise, but could not believe it when there, before my eyes, was proof of the freeloading gnome living in my back yard.

I brushed aside parched needles fallen from the giant cedar tree – thick debris from past winters – to uncover a shining silver mailbox. Written in beautiful Gaelic script was the culprit’s name – Horace.

My husband Walter and I go on weekend adventures to peel off the stress of daily life. During one jaunt, we found ourselves in an antique garden in Sutter Creek, probing the curious display of metal chairs the size of a matchbox. The encounter inspired a

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October - December 2018

new hobby fit only for the silly – miniature gardening.

In pursuit of this absolutely useless endeavor, I scoured nurseries for dwarfed-leaf plants that stay small; gently scraped mosses from cracks and crevices; and endlessly shopped online for whimsical garden furniture and accessories. In my garden, I created a refuge for mythical creatures.

If you build it, they will come. Inside an heirloom birdcage, I pictured nymphs dining on fanciful white bistro bedecked with a silver teapot on a tray sheltered by Boston ferns, baby tears and succulents.

Tiny earthen footprints lead to where imagined fairies rest on a bench watching splatters from a bird-

bath, or ride a bike whilst savoring wee vegetables grown in a fenced plot guarded by a thumb-sized copper wire scarecrow dressed in overalls, straw hat and green rubber boots.

I pondered my dilemma, finding solace in the slow-dripping sound of water from a nearby fountain. Should I evict my uninvited guest? Horace seems settled in his humble abode.

Colorful mushrooms shroud the mossy path that meanders amidst frogs and snails before fading behind a keyed red door perched on the gnarled roots of a mature redwood.

A tire swing hints of youngsters in his household.

Sigh, I’ll just take it easy on the pixie dust.

Colorful Living Magazine

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It is with heartfelt emotions that our family moves into the next chapter of our lives, our business New2You Label Xchange is for sale. The last six years have been a complex blend of joy and celebrations along with crazy challenges that any business owner lives through and grows from. This business is our family and we raised it with love, determination and countless hours of work, to bring it to the successful, turnkey, high-end community consignment store that it has become. We welcome all sales offers. Contact us in person at 50 Sand Creek Road, Brentwood, CA 94513 or by email at new2youlx@comcast.net.

October - December 2018

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