Uploader Magazine September 2020 - Chris LaVoie

MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

$250 250 CASH

GIVEAWAY

4

DAYS to CHANGE the WORLD

SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION

Chris LAVOIE

REBEL WITH A CAUSE

ISSUE 10

My Brush with DEATH Andrea Rappaport

VISIONARY, CREATOR & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TALKS STYLE, HIS NEW TV NETWORK & THE MOST IMPORTANT TV SERIES EVER CREATED

THE

CONTENT CREATORS

MAGAZINE

FEATURING

BLOGGERS | VLOGGERS YOUTUBERS PODCASTERS AUTHORS|MUSCIANS

ACTORS|ACTRESSES

PRODUCERS

AND MORE...

Contents SEPTEMBER 2020

SOCIAL & TECH 30 38

Social Addiction - Annie Morcos Instagram’s Banned Hashtags

BEAUTY 42 46

Beauty Scope - Debbie Savage Timeless Wedding Makeup - Alice Jackson

FASHION 52 64 72 80

Fall Trends - Nedwine Richman Fall Tips - Len Parent Style & Sass - Tiffany Giannato Editors Picks - Cheryl De Marco

88 96 98 102

Andrea’s Angle - Andrea Rappaport The Mindset Minute - Andrew Carlson Law Of Attraction - Rebecca Schuster Lifestyle Buzz - Naza Holliman

LIFESTYLE

FOOD & DRINK 122

Simple Delicious Recipes - Chrystin Nevarez

EXTRAS 9 62 130 132 142 145

Letter from the Editor Vegan Wristlets - 20% discount with code True Love (Spotlight) Daniela’s Diary Horoscopes & Astrology - Kyle Thomas Advertising Feature Crossword Competition

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OUR COVER STAR

Visionary, Creator, and Executive Producer

Chris LaVoie Talks Style, his new TV Network, and why ‘The Social Movement’ is the most important TV Series ever created

Page 104 Beecher Proch Fighting for a good cause

Page 110

Brianna Knickerbocker Voiceover Artist and Singer, Songwriter

UPLOADER

MAGAZINE

ON THE COVER CHRIS LAVOIE

@chris_lavoie_official EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHERYL DE MARCO

@cherylandmore

CONTRIBUTORS, FEATURES AND MENTIONS Alice Jackson @alicejackson Andrea Rappaport @theandrearappaport

Andrew Carlson @shiftintoactionnow Annie Morcos @anniesartstudio Beecher Proch @beecherproch Briana Knickerbocker @briannaknickerbocker Chrystin Nevarez @chrystincooks Daniela De Marco @d.danii._ Debbie Savage @debbiessavage Kyle Thomas @mrkylethomas Len Parent @thelenparentstyle Live in the Light @liveinthelight3 Naza Holliman @sweet.p.and.sky Nedwine Richman @livingrichman Rebecca Schuster @lovebecca26 Tiffany Giannato @tiffyg77

PHOTOGRAPHY

Amelia Gotham Ashton Charles @donqhannahphotography Frank J. Gallio @cherryblossomphoto Hannah Bodsworth Jonny Xiong Maria. Kristina Dela Pena Paguio Martha Abelson Photography Merissa Conley Michelle Cox Photography Phil Goldman Photography Vanessa Osoyos Garvin

GET IN TOUCH

hello@uploadermagazine.com www.uploadermagazine.com @uploadermagazine

Publisher

Uploader Media Limited

Photography: Hannah Bodsworth

letter

FROM THE

EDITOR

S

ummer has almost gone, and whilst I still stay positive and strong, uncertainty still lingers and it is something that we all face on a daily basis. Many of us are constantly thinking about the light at the end of the tunnel, when in fact, there is so much beauty to be seen if we just open our eyes. My heart hurts for people I know, for people I don’t know, and for our planet, and whilst I could just continue to wait in hope that things will soon pass and normality as we knew it, will return. I have taken a different route, adapting to a new normal, a road which although not straight by any means, is certainly colorful.

I personally have seen and witnessed incredible people and businesses coming together to change the way they work in order to create protective pieces, and not just for themselves, but for others around them. For strangers. For those in need. For frontline and essential workers, and whilst I constantly live in awe of all these incredible and selfless people, I wonder just how many others are going that extra step, that are going unnoticed.

For the months of April, May & June, I gave away our digital print edition for free, all proceeds from June and July’s printed and digital publication will be donated to Black Lives Matter, and this month I will be doing what I did last month. Every business, every person (no matter your age), if you are giving back, helping during this crisis, and going that extra step, please reach out to me and let me know what you are doing. I will send each and every one of you this months digital publication for free, with a mention in a future publication.

Make sure to email me at: hello@uploadermagazine.com Entrepreneur, creator, visionary, and executive producer Chris LaVoie graces our cover and opens up about ‘The Social Movement’ and why it is the most important TV series ever created. He talks passion for solving global social issues and how being generous with your genius not only helps you evolve, but also adds real value to society. With the creation of a new TV Network, 30 new TV shows airing in 2021, and solving global social issues, we are in complete awe of this incredible and inspirational guy.

Our columnist Andrea Rappaport talks about her recent brush with death, and Annie Morcos once again delivers an incredible piece on social media addiction. Since Fashion Week is currently still closed to the public, we asked a couple of your favorite fashion bloggers to share their tips and trends for Fall.

I would like to thank everyone again that are putting their lives on the line to help others, your work and dedication is not going unnoticed.

o c r a M e D l y Cher

UPLOADER MAGAZINE 9

ON THE COVER

ON

THE COVER Chris

LaVoie

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ON THE COVER - CHRIS LAVOIE

THE MAN BEHIND THE MOST IMPORTANT TV SERIES EVER CREATED Web: redknight.tv @socialmovementtv @chris_lavoie_official @rednightstudioscompany Edited by Cheryl De Marco

E

ntrepreneur, creator, visionary and executive producer Chris LaVoie talks The Social Movement, and why it is the most important TV series ever created. He opens up about his passion for solving global social issues and how being generous with your genius not only helps you evolve, but also adds real value to society. With the creation of a new TV Network, 30 new TV shows airing in 2021, and solving global social issues, we are in complete awe of this incredible and inspirational guy. And just when we didn’t think we could love him any more than we already do, he shares his love for his family, and the passion he has for giving back. Our editor-in-chief managed to spend a few moments with Chris to ask some burning questions, and we are glad she did. If this guy doesn’t blow you away, and change the way you approach life, then we don’t know what will.

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THE MOST IMPORTANT TV SERIES EVER CREATED

ON THE COVER - CHRIS LAVOIE Let’s start with your new TV docu-series ‘The Social Movement’, which is being hailed as the most important TV Series ever created. Although docu-series are on the rise, I imagine standing out from the rest can be challenging, but I have to say ‘4 Days to Change the World’ has my full attention. Can you tell us more about it, how did the idea of ’The Social Movement’ come about, what changes are you hoping to solve, and why 4 days?

I vividly remember the moment TSM vision came to me. My heart and mind raced as I typed notes on my MacBook.

Chris: The concept was first inspired by a collection of TV show production concept experiences and Elon Musk’s strategy with SpaceX (“We are going to Mars” announcement). After researching this modern-day hero, one thing stood out to me. Here’s a CEO who is not talking about his company. He’s talking about a cause that every human instantly relates to. This is why Elon stands out from the other entrepreneurs and executives. Think about it.

Most companies and their leaders talk about the brand. No one gives a shit about your brand. Elon knows this. Consumers -- our audience -- they care about a cause and a mission.

So, my mind is flooding with ideas and I’m typing and thinking: What if we engineer a playground (on set) and the CEOs who usually only talk about their brand and products instead join TSM to tap into their inner Elon Musk. They must be generous with their genius, dare to dream, and be extra ambitious in their thinking.

Usually, CEOs are pretty sophisticated in how they problem-solve.

That’s why CEOs are CEOs. Through TSM, we’re able to see what really makes them valuable inside the company, which is real-time problem-solving.

Then I’m thinking, “Let’s have these CEOs work with a group of strangers from across the globe to engineer a financially viable business to solve (not help) but solve a global social issue. What would happen to these minds? Would they evolve? Would these people become more valuable to society?” Then the most amazing moment occurred. I recalled Elon’s message regarding how education should gamify the process of learning. My son walked into my home studio and said, “Dad, times up. It’s time for my game.” Creative lightning struck. “These teams will race against the clock,” I thought. I considered the data and how the audience wants the impossible mission. That’s what captivates our minds.

I chose four days based on the fact that I know the right minds are incredibly busy with countless global ventures. I reviewed my thoughts on screen and knew I had just created the extraordinary.

The next step was to test this concept for Season 1, and guess what?

The extraordinary happened.

A few weeks after Season 1 production, I recruited a few key playmakers from across the globe that shared the same values to help carry this important work into the future. I adore these beautiful minds. The next step was to engineer a process where the businesses created on set could gain funding.

Instead of most hit TV series where people in the audience download the show’s app and vote for their favorite person (i.e. singer) to win while the others lose, in TSM, every business has the potential to gain funding. The power is with the people. The audience votes by investing for their favorite team and social issue business solutions. This is possible because we first leverage this TV series as an asset to gain the funding (known as TSM Global Innovation Fund) to help solve the world’s most pressing social issues. This is why TSM is the most important TV series ever created. (cont. on page 19) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 17

“

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ON THE COVER - CHRIS LAVOIE

Every production must impact me professionally and personally, or I won’t work on it.

You are known for producing entrepreneurial-based content, such as Top Recruiter which got a lot of praise and positive feedback, did you always know this was the direction you wanted to take in Docu-series?

Chris: Reality/Docu-Series have been the most successful format in mainstream programming over the past two decades. It’s a perfect hybrid between entertainment and insights.

If you’re engineering hit shows, you must design stories based on how the audience wants to consume them. My responsibility is to the audience. Always.

There are so many factors in shaping the success of a show. How do you go about creating a vision and then getting that idea to screen, which resonates with your audience?

Chris: As artists, writers, and directors, we’re really selfish. We want to work on what inspires us. The “greats” -- the brilliant minds -- they connect the story they’re seduced by and deliver it how the audience wants to consume it.

And there’s a blueprint. It incorporates empathy, surprise, and characters who overcome obstacles to achieve their dreams.

From all the shows you have produced, are there any in particular that stood out or affected you personally and professionally?

Although it may be difficult to answer since TSM season 1 has not yet aired, but will you be making any changes to future seasons, or will they all follow suit?

Chris: Consistency is important, but the audience loves surprises. We have a couple of surprises moving into season two. We’re bringing in some celebrity firepower that will elevate the game.

What qualities do you and your team look for in individuals when casting for TSM? Chris: They have the IQ; more importantly, they have EQ. They love problem-solving and are comfortable with being uncomfortable. They take accountability. There’s conviction in their voice. There’s little regard to

caution. No one needs to tell them how to extract value from this experience.

They already know because they have a critical trait: vision.

As well as your new TV Network, you will also be releasing 30 new shows next year, which is incredible, but I also imagine a little daunting.

How do you compartmentalize each production?

Chris: Come again. Did you say 30 TV shows and a TV Network? Whose bright idea was this? (Laughs). I’ll keep my answer simple. I categorize my productions into two departments.

There are the hits that scale globally, and then productions that entertain our core audience of 300MM entrepreneurs while helping them grow and improve their business.

Chris: Every production must impact me professionally and personally, or I won’t work on it. People are most important because we learn from each other. It’s amazing. You start a project with a certain perspective on what the value will be, but end it with a completely different perspective and then surprised by what the real value is.

As well as Docu-series, you are also in the process of producing a horror motion picture called ‘Helen’. Is this a new direction for you?

Chris: Yes. We will be raising $200M for this motion picture series. I invited my daughter and son, who are 11 years old, to be a part of the process.

I’m including my kids because time is currency. Everyone chases the financials.

I’ve realized that the real satisfaction is spending time with people you love.

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“

I’m including my kids because time is currency.

Everyone chases the financials.

I’ve realized that the real satisfaction is spending time with people you love.

“

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INSPIRATION & GIVING BACK

ON THE COVER - CHRIS LAVOIE

You have achieved what others can only dream of, who inspires you the most to continue moving forward and working towards your goals?

Chris: Currently, Elon Musk is the mind that I mostly relate to because of the way he operates daily, how he truly loves the discovery process, how bold he is, and what strength it takes to be this bold. His use of the private sector and leveraging this model to do what governments have failed to do is fascinating. He’s a futurist, and so am I. He’s a creator, and so am I. I highly recommend all of your readers to consume all things Elon. When they do, they too, will take their steps into their potential. And this way of living is extraordinary.

How do you achieve such ambitious accomplishments?

Chris: Dreams can be engineered into reality. Here’s how: mentorship. The decision humans have to make is to ignore the fear of failure. Stop giving a damn about what people think or say.

What matters is your human experience and what you want to do with your time on this planet. I am where I am because of two key points. First, I am accountable for positioning myself with some of the world’s brightest minds globally. I can learn from them and not feel fearful based on what I don’t know. Like Elon, I truly love the discovery process. Humans are the most powerful resource on the planet. Stay humble. Ask lots of questions. Provide value to other humans and make sure you share a few laughs along the way.

Secondly, always tackle challenges that ignite your heart and mind.

Doing this will attract your kind of people and culture.

Where do you pull your inspiration from?

Chris: Resistance. My parents said I would achieve whatever I wanted. I became angry when I realized they were speaking different philosophies than society. After becoming a father, I realized my parents were absolutely right. Do whatever you want, and don’t give a shit what anyone says. If you can live that way, that’s real freedom.

What others may not know about you, is that as well as an entrepreneur, business leader, and producer, you are also a humanitarian and deeply involved in philanthropy. I would love to know more about the causes you work with and what inspired you to give back?

Chris: My parents inspired me to give back and continue to inspire me every day. I caught the fever when I worked on my Eagle Scout project in Miami and gathered 200 volunteers for a weekend. We teamed up with forestry preservation to help reach 33,000 homes to raise capital and awareness needed to add green life all over the city.

After this experience, I knew what my purpose was.

Fast forward to today and we’re working on women’s empowerment, education, cyberbullying, racism, mental health, poverty, climate, and many more. If there is a social problem, regardless of what side you are on, I believe in seeing the problem objectively. (cont. on page 24) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 23

WE ASKED What was the first big lesson you learned in this industry?

Chris: Don’t read the comments. Operate from your heart because that’s when the magic happens. Don’t try to please everyone because it’s easy to censor yourself and play it safe; then you lose the madness, edge, and primal aspect of what people want to connect with. Follow the data, but always connect data to emotion. The more emotion, the better the story.

The Pandemic has affected the entertainment industry, as well as others around the globe. How are you coping personally and professionally?

Chris: How are the two different? During this pandemic, it’s evident that entertainment is a need. We’re ordered to stay home, so what do we do? We watch. I’m excited professionally

and personally to release ‘The Social Movement’ because it’s going to give a level of strength and power which people need right now. That means something to me.

Three people you would love to collaborate with on a project?

Chris: I like to work with people in the process of experiment.

Three people are Elon Musk because our values align; Rick Rubin, because of his attention to detail in producing, and Mr. Knight because he is the real Tony Stark.

What is next for you?

Chris: Over the next three years, there’s the creation of 50 television shows and scaling the studio to 1,000 producers, building it into the next major studio.

If you took center stage and had the undivided attention of millions of people for one minute, how would you spend that time, and what would you say?

Chris: You have the strength and power to create the life you want. Imagine the life you want for yourself and humanity, and start operating at a higher frequency to accomplish that dream. Take accountability for how you position yourself in life. Just imagine where society would be if we all did that.

What legacy do you aim to leave behind after every project?

Chris: Everyone has genius. Every ordinary person can be extraordinary. We admire made up heroes like Captain America and Superman. I want to engineer experiences, like The Social Movement, and show through my own story that the impossible is possible. We can be our own heroes.

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Be generous with your genius

SOCIAL & TECH Edited by Cheryl De Marco

SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION

SOCIAL ADDICTION

SOCIAL

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SOCIAL

STAYING MENTALLY HEALTHY ON SOCIAL MEDIA DURING LOCKDOWN Words by @anniesartstudio Edited by Cheryl De Marco

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SOCIAL

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ow many times a day do you check your social media apps during quarantine? Be honest now!

It’s been over six months, and we are all bored in the house, in the house bored.

Get it? You would if you had Tik Tok (insert clever #haha hashtag for joke).

I was talking to my best friend and asked what time of the day she goes on her socials more, morning, or evening time. She laughed. She was never on her socials often, and now she said she’s on Instagram 24/7! Mind you, she doesn’t have an online business or following.

That’s a crazy concept. She expressed that it didn’t matter when I posted because everyone was online all day long, and they would see my posts no matter what time it was. I couldn’t believe that, even if a lot of people are home in quarantine. That’s a lot of time online.

I decided to ask my audience the same question via a poll on my Instagram stories. The votes were all over. I got so many messages saying the same as my friend: they are online all day long. So maybe I should reword my question…

How many hours a day do you stay off your social media? Do you give yourself a limit to make sure you maintain your mental and physical health? How healthy is it really to be on social media all day long? It’s a bit of a scary thought to be honest. Let’s discuss and make sure that we use the time we spend online to be healthy and motivating in this crazy time.

We all use social media for many different reasons. Right now, however, the main reason we all use it is entertainment. In the beginning of quarantine, especially when we first had a lockdown, everyone was very proactive. We were all exercising, baking, cooking healthy meals, trying to stay active indoors, cleaning, decluttering, and organizing our homes. That seems like a lifetime ago now, and not at all like what life looks like today. That stage passed really quick. It was only supposed to be two weeks! Now six months later, we are addicted to our phone even more than we already were. As an artist whose business runs and depends on social

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media, I spend quite a lot of time on my apps. What I’ve noticed is that everyone’s presence on social media, all of a sudden became insanely more active. Even people who didn’t really have a habit of being online much, now are posting and spending time watching and sharing memes, updates, and the news! If you are on Tik Tok at all, you know this to be very true and see so many people actually building an audience over things they do at home daily! So many people started sharing their workouts, their cooking recipes, and funny, silly things they are doing to stay sane, funny moments with their friends and family. A lot of these things became trends, and everyone would copy, do the same, and share. It makes for such wonderful content online.

Seeing regular people, who don’t use fancy lighting or filming equipment go viral and start It makes for such wonderful content online. Seeing

regular people, who don’t use fancy lighting or filming equipment go viral and start of belonging. It is difficult to stay off social media all day when there isn’t much else to do. But I’ve found that communities have built up and people have come together!

You have to take what is given at the moment and make the best out of it.

So many people have lost their jobs and are struggling. Joining these trends on apps, in my opinion, really has been a joy. Remember last month when we had a scare that Tik Tok might go away? My main fear and worry was for this reason. So many people, young and old, all ethnicities, from all sorts of life, have come together to laugh, share, and support one another.

Now, all this is wonderful until you find yourself mindlessly scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, updating, and updating your feed for hours at a time! (cont. on page 34)

WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH?

SOCIAL

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s of right now, while i’m writing this article, my daily average time spent on Instagram is 4hours and 28mins.

I can’t imagine how much time I spent on Tik Tok, but I did just clear my cache, and it was at 500Million. That is just mind-blowing. If I’m awake about 14-16 hours a day, and I’m on social media about 8-10 hours! I don’t care how much of a community and fun there is online, that is not healthy. So let’s talk about some healthy ways to stay on social media and some things to do to stay off without losing our minds. Social media can become a drug, and you can honestly have withdrawals and feel so much FOMO. The fear of missing out on something that happens online, missing the hype, and the moment can weigh heavily on some of us, especially because sometimes we feel that’s all we have left right now. It’s the little bit of control that we have.

So, how much time should we spend on social media apps? This can never be an exact science. Every person’s perspective on the topic, along with the need to be online for work/research would be different. What if you’re an influencer, and your following and work depend on it? How should one control that? I don’t think it’s much different than anyone else. This is my take, and what I know I should do to better my time online and help my mental health.

I’m a big believer in not touching your phone once you wake up. The second I do, it’s over. I’m on it for hours. I will usually check if I missed any calls or have important texts, but that’s it. I think this is such an essential step in what we are trying to achieve. The morning is such a vital part of the day. The way you set your mind will usually direct your mood and enthusiasm for the rest of the day. For the past 2 months, I’ve had a pretty steady morning schedule.

I like waking up and making my cup of coffee or tea, then stepping out into my backyard, and breathing some fresh air. It’s very hot in Los Angeles right now, so I meditate and do a little Yoga inside. If you have the space to sit outside safely while distancing, I would highly suggest getting some Vitamin D outdoors while stretching and doing some Yoga or any exercise that you feel relaxes you. Nowadays, we tend to spend so much time indoors. Getting a bit of Vitamin D can change so much for your mental state. Setting my mind into a relaxed headspace first thing in the morning also helps me organize my day better. I feel that I breathe throughout the day while getting my daily work and errands done.

We now have our mind clear and ready for a productive day. So how much time do we spend online? I thought about this for a few days. Would I want to spend a full chunk of time online or check on the apps a few times a day?

I decided I would like the latter. It would make me feel as normal to what my social activity is now. It doesn’t matter, in my opinion, how you spend the time online as long as you limit yourself. For me, even though this would be so hard at first, I would give myself 20 minutes three times a day. Once midday, next evening, and last time before bed. I know many people say that being online right before bed is not the best for you. Your brain sees so much right before trying to shut off and just keeps processing that information. So if you can set your times in a way where the last time you check your socials is a few hours before bed, it would be best. But maybe you prefer to have a one time window of 2 hours. Not everyone is the same. Do what works best for you and your routine. You want this transition to be easy and smooth. Like I mentioned before, it’s not easy to stay away from something you are so used to being on for so many hours of the day. Remember, you’re not punishing yourself. You don’t want to give yourself a hard time transitioning into this. So maybe even cut down little by little. The goal is to help ourselves and have better mental health towards social media instead of the addiction it can become.

To just touch slightly on the subject, I wanted to also remind you all about something. Especially because we all spend so much time online right now, we compare ourselves to one another more than before. I want you to take my word for this. An online image is not what a person’s real-life is. Everyone is struggling right now. We don’t have the habit of showing the rough and tough sides of life online. We want to show people the happy and beautiful parts of our lives. If you don’t take anything else from this article, remember this. Don’t compare yourself to other peoples online image. It’s not real. I promise you. (cont. on page 36) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 35

SOCIAL

What do you watch and follow mostly online? Do you follow fashion designers, or chefs, artists, or sports news? We all have different interests and follow such different accounts. I follow a lot of artists and recently have been following a lot of chefs!

Who doesn’t like to eat and make new fun recipes? Social media nowadays has a way of making everything look so easy, bright, beautiful, and fun. Now I can’t tell you what interest to have and what accounts to follow, but here is some advice. No matter what kind of passions you have in life, we all have a few things in common that we need right now for mental health. Exercise, arts and crafts, healthy food, and mental clarity. There are so many incredible mental health coaches or influencers you talk about so many different difficult subjects and ways to help your depression and anxiety. Find a few that you feel you can connect to. Being part of a group, or following someone you can connect to that gives advice can be so helpful, especially because you feel like you’re not alone and you belong. Sometimes that’s all we need. Just knowing that others are going through the same thing as you makes things more tolerable. Eating healthier and exercising even a few short minutes a day also helps so much with depression and anxiety of quarantine. Same as I suggested, you find a few influencers to follow online for mental health and advice, the same goes for cooking and exercise! I feel like during this time the amount of people teaching you healthy snacks and meals / short and fun at home exercises have grown so much.

Instead of mindlessly scrolling and updating the apps feed over and over again, we should use the time to find these accounts and go through videos that will actually help us. Save the ones that work for you and start using

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them. Again, this isn’t something you can change in a day, but small steps! A few short exercise videos for the week, a couple of simple DIY projects, start with some healthy snacks, and keep going from there. I’ve found that over the course of a few weeks, my daily routine has changed for the better and healthier. I wake up, and without thinking about it, walk past my phone, I have a few videos saved that I do daily and I don’t even need to look up a few healthy recipes that I like to meal prep. It’s all about training your mind and body into a healthier lifestyle. Once you feel how positive these changes are in your life, they become a daily routine, and you will never want to stop doing what you’re doing.

Last topic I wanted to touch upon is a little trick for tracking your social media usage. Most apps have a feature to track your daily usage and will notify you once that time is up. This is an excellent tool so that you don’t have to keep an exact track of minutes as you scroll. Let the app do the work for you and have it help keep your healthy scrolling habits. If you feel you will get notifications and be tempted to go back online, you could also sign out of the apps until the next day. These are just a few little things that will help you along your social media health.

The most important thing to remember is that we’re all in this together. Be a positive influence online, be kind to others both in life and online, and remember that social media and the online world is just that. Online. Make yourself a priority in real life. Be healthy, both physically and mentally, in the real world. The online world could be there one day and gone the next. It will not change your real life. So make sure you take care of yourself in both.

As always, I love you all. Be safe out there.

Xo. Annie

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SOCIAL

BANNED

INSTAGRAM’S LIST OF BANNED #HASHTAGS If you know Instagram well, then you’ll know that there is in fact, a list of banned hashtags. Any post that has a banned hashtag, will be hidden from your audience, and that causes havoc with your account, not to mention all your hard work in posting goes out the window. They don’t show the list, so we searched the net and did the hard work so you don’t have to. Instagram updates the banned hashtags often, so if we have missed anything, please do let us know so we can add/remove them.

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abdl, addmysc, adulting, alone, always, armparty, asiangirl, ass, assday beautyblogger, besties, bikinibody, boho, brain costumes, curvygirls date, dating, desk, direct, dm, drugs edm, eggplant, elevator fuck girlsonly, gloves, graffitiigers

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happythanksgiving, hardworkpaysoff, hotweather, hawks, humpday, hustler

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ice, instababy, instasport, iphonegraphy, italiano

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killingit, kansas, kissing, kickoff leaves, loseweight, lulu master, mileycyrus, milf, mirrorphoto, models, mustfollow nasty, newyearsday, nudity overnight

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parties, petite, pornfood, prettygirl, pushups

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rate, ravens

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saltwater, samelove, selfharm, shit, shower, single, singlelife, skateboarding, skype, snap, snapchat, snowstorm, sopretty, stranger, streetphoto, sunbathing, swole tag4like, tagsforlikes, tanlines, teen, teens, thought, todayimwearing undies valentinesday

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workflow

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UPLOADER MAGAZINE 39

BEAUTY Edited by Cheryl De Marco

THE INCREDIBLE POWERS OF ACTIVATED CHARCOAL

Beauty scope

By Debbie Savage @debbiessavage tothineownstylebetrue.com

About the Author...

THE INCREDIBLE POWERS OF ACTIVATED CHARCOAL

Debbie Savage is a Cambodian-American who resides in Orange County, CA. She is an editor for her own lifestyle blog To Thine Own Style Be True. Her passions are her family and helping women honor their inner beauty by sharing tips and tricks from the trade.

Toothpaste, deodorant, face masks, shampoo, and even juices: it seems like activated charcoal is everywhere!

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he charcoal used in these products is made of carbonrich matter such as wood, coconut shells, or peat that is burned to obtain the black porous powder that we call activated charcoal.

Because activated charcoal is so porous, it has an excellent absorption capacity; it acts like a magnet or a sponge, whether it be used to lift impurities from the skin or to neutralize bad smells. Activated charcoal can be a great ingredient to incorporate into your beauty routine if you have oily or acne-prone skin! But it has many other uses...

BEAUTY

HAIR

The detoxifying and absorbent properties of charcoal make it a key ingredient in haircare products, especially dry shampoo, as it lifts oil from your hair and eliminates odours.

IGK’s First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo is amazing to space out your washes and keep your hair feeling fresh after a workout.

SKIN

Activated charcoal is used in skincare, particularly facial products, to absorb impurities such as dirt, environmental toxins, or too much sebum. It can be as efficient as chemicals to deal with acne and blackheads, which is great if you’re looking to make the switch to green cosmetics.

Exuviance’s Detox Mud Mask has Japanese Binchoatan charcoal as its magic ingredient; mixed with french clay and neoglucosamine, this is a great mask to use once or twice a week to deep cleanse and decongest your skin.

Charcoal has amazing purifying properties when used in combination with tea tree oil. Briogeo’s Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment is a game-changer if you are suffering from dandruff as its ingredients include both, in addition to biotin to support hair growth as well as witch hazel to manage oil production. It uses Binchotan charcoal, which is derived from a Japanese oak of the same name and has a higher carbon content, making it the crème de la crème of charcoals and the key to removing buildup on your scalp.

MAKEUP

When used in makeup products, activated charcoal can help smooth out and mattify your skin. This Blackdrop Charcoal Brightening Primer by Smith & Cult uses bamboo charcoal powder to absorb excess oil on the skin, giving you a great base on which to apply your foundation and concealer. What I love about this primer is that it works well with all skin tones; the primer becomes invisible once blotted onto the skin.

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BEAUTY

TEETH WHITENING

Using activated charcoal may help to get rid of surface stains on your teeth, such as the ones that you get from drinking too much wine or coffee. It’s an interesting all-natural alternative to other chemical teeth whitening products but can be messy to use on its own. That’s why I like Cali White’s Activated Charcoal & Organic Coconut Oil Teeth Whitening Toothpaste Toothpaste. It combines the powers of baking soda, activated charcoal and coconut oil to remove plaque and doesn’t taste too bad thanks to the peppermint oil!

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT Activated charcoal lemonade is all the rage in Hollywood; if you want the same benefits without actually having to drink it, supplements are handy. Many people claim that it helps them with bloating and digestion, as it soaks up the toxins from your stomach.

These high-potency, vegan Organic Activated Charcoal Capsules by NaturaLife Labs contain activated charcoal that is derived from coconut shells.

(Note that you should always check with your doctor before adding new supplements to your diet, especially if you are taking any medication.)

Cali White Whitening Toothpaste caliwhite.com: $9.99 (On Sale)

BEAUTY Briogeo Scalp Revival Shampoo briogeohair.com: $42.00

MUST TRY

PRODUCTS Blackdrop Face Primer smithandcult.com: $32.00

Detox Mud Mask exuviance.com: $45.00

Organic Activated Charcoal Capsules naturalifelabs.net: $13.49

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Alice

Jackson

BEAUTY

THE TIMELESS BRIDAL LOOK Instagram @alicejackson Edited By Cheryl De Marco

I

remember the first-ever wedding I was booked for as a professional makeup artist. To this day, it remains one of the most exciting and surreal opportunities I have had in my career. There are days where I have to pinch myself ! How have so many women chosen me to do their makeup on their wedding day! It’s the biggest privilege, and a task I will never take lightly.

Bridal makeup, to me, is the epitome of natural and effortless beauty.

It’s the ‘naturally glamorous’ type of makeup look that every bride wants.

The type of makeup look that enhances natural beauty, allowing you to feel like the absolute best version of yourself. When creating looks like this, the one element I always keep in mind is ‘less is more’. I can’t emphasize how true that is! A touch of this and a hint of that can make a monumental difference without having to go over the top.

To help you create your own timeless look, I have created a quick and easy step by step guide to the perfect English Rose bridal makeup look.

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BEAUTY

DIY timeless BRIDAL LOOK 1. Apply color to the crease of the eye

Apply Nars ‘Laguna’ bronzer to the crease of the eye to add a little definition and a soft smokey effect.

2. Apply shimmer to the lid

Pack a gold shimmery eyeshadow onto the lid. The one I’m using here is ‘Moonstone’ by Bobbi Brown. To intensify the shimmer, simply wet your brush before application.

3. Apply Eye Liner

Apply a thin line of liquid eyeliner to the lash line. I’m using the Huda Beauty Life Liner to create a more feline shape to the eye.

BEAUTY

4. Apply lashes & Mascara

Finish off the eyes with the JLG Cosmetics lashes in ‘Dolly’ and a little mascara.

5. Lip Liner Apply the NYX lip liner in the shade ‘Nude Pink’. To create a fuller lip look, apply the liner slightly over your natural lip line.

6. Lipstick

Finish off the look with Charlotte Tilbury’s K.I.S.S.I.N.G lip color in the shade ‘The Duchess’.

7. Complete your look

Adding soft waves to frame face, creates a simple but elegant finish.

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BEAUTY

THE shopping LIST Lashed by JLG Cosmetics ‘Dolly’ £9.95 Charlotte Tilbury ‘Star Brow’ Brow Gel $22.50

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow ‘Moonstone’$38.00

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.19

Huda Beauty Life Liner $25

MAC Extra Dimension SkinFinish (Oh Darling!) $36

NYX SLim Lip Pencil ‘Nude Pink’ $4

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish $35 Charlotte Tilbury Lip and Cheek Glow in ‘Color of Dreams’ $40 L’Oreal True Match Foundation £9.99

NARS Bronzer ‘Laguna’ $38

Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick (The Duchess) $34.00

FASHION

FASHION TIPS & TRENDS FOR FALL Edited by Cheryl De Marco

Nedwine Richman

FASHION

FASHION CLASS AND ELEGANCE Instagram @livingrichman Edited By Cheryl De Marco

F

ashion, Class, and Elegance are just a few words that describe Nedwine Richman. Living Richman was created as a great online destination and resource for all things classy, elegant, and fashion related. Wife and soon to be a mom, Nedwine is a Registered nurse, but also a successful fashion blogger, and while she does place a great deal of importance on health and wellness, her true passion has always been in the field of fashion. Aside from her fashion pursuits, Nedwine is also inspired by interior design and home decorating. While some of her decor inspirations are borrowed elements from fashion, we wanted to know what inspires the other... “ I’m equally intrigued by both” she explained.

She pulls inspiration from various things and places - a song, a bible verse, traveling, her Haitian culture, or something as simple as spending her free time winding down at her beautiful home in West Chester, PA with her husband and their furry baby Greyson (a fun and unique Dalmatian) whom she features in some of her blog posts.

Her sense of style comes from within and is more a reflection of her personality than her clothing. “I like to dress up not so much to impress others but for my own comfort and confidence. That said, I don’t dress up for anyone but - me”. While she enjoys introducing different styles, designers, colors and patterns in her wardrobe, her goal is always to achieve a timeless, elegant, and sophisticated look ...but with a dash of DARING!!

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NEDWINE’S FASHION TIPS

FASHION

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FASHION

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all is my favorite season. The weather is not too hot or too cold, the colors of the leaves changing help me keep fall colors in mind while inspiring my choice of style. Just like the multicolored leaves, fall fashion comes with a variety of textures, colors and layering opportunities — It’s a great time to bring out your creative style. Even during the winter, who says it has to be dark and gray. I love wearing colors and prints during all seasons. Let them invade your space, your wardrobe style, and even some decor accents around your home.

Fashion is expandable, it’s all around us. It is not just how we dress but also how and where we live.

I like to include prints such as vintage/delicate florals, gingham, plaids, animal prints such as the leopard and it doesn’t get any more sophisticated than the polka dot prints. Colors such as olive tones, and gray and orange mixed with a neutral palette are perfect. The colors and patterns are so versatile that you can balance out your feminine touch by dressing up or down. If you’re going for bigger prints, mixing them with neutral colors will help soften them. All of these options combined, easily get me in the fall spirit.

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COATS

FASHION

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FASHION

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hen the chill starts to slowly kick in, you can never go wrong with a neutral color trench coat (camel or beige). The light neutral color works perfectly for fall and is a great match with almost everything already in your closet. The trench coat is such a timeless staple piece and the ultimate between seasons.

I especially love a duster coat during the fall because it’s not too heavy and it flows nicely with whatever you pair it with. You can later opt for a larger, thicker, and more suited coat for colder days during the winter.

I love wearing different sweater styles during the fall/ winter season, but the off-the-shoulder style is my go-to during the fall. I get to show off a little collar bone while still staying warm and cozy. I then transition to a turtle neck or oversized sweater during the winter. There’s no better garment to cuddle up in than an oversized sweater. However, my trick is pairing it with jeggings, a pair of sexy leather jeans or a skater skirt to accentuate my shape so that I don’t look wrapped into a blanket.

If you’re a fan of the poncho look, you can wear it over your turtle neck sweater too. Pair both with whatever pant style and accessories of your choice to complete the look. I personally love pairing mine with skinny jeans and knee-high boots. I then complete the look with long black leather gloves under my poncho and a great pair of sunglasses. Another favorite of mine is the denim on denim fall look. I normally opt for two different shades of denim (light mixed with a darker wash) and whichever shade you wear on top or bottom is your choice, you can’t go wrong with either.

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LAYERS

FASHION

I also like wearing a longline wool coat layered over a pretty floral dress or casual white t-shirt paired with leather pants underneath. A cute mini or dreamy floral maxi dress will pair nicely with lace-up ankle or knee-high boots. Jean fabrics are also perfect to make a flower print look cooler ...the end result is autumnal and effortless. How about a sleek and chic leather or moto jacket paired with a graphic t-shirt and distressed jeans? That will definitely add an edge and is perfect for fall. Whatever the style, you can mix and match and build your entire fall/ winter look around them.

When it comes to texture, suede is the “it fabric” for me during the fall season; it goes effortlessly well with fall floral dresses. You can layer your suede jacket over anything. We’ve all heard that dressing up for fall/winter season is all about adding layers.. layers and yes... more layers!! With all the layering going on, make sure you don’t look too bulky. That’s where the skinny jeans, or form-fitted sweater dresses come into play. They’re simple and help achieve that nice flattering, figure-hugging finish.

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ACCESSORIES

FASHION

Always remember to add a little flair with some fun accessories, because the little details matter. My go-to fall accessories are a stylish pair of sunglasses, a cute bag, and a light scarf tied around the back of my head, and neck.

This makes me feel like driving around in a convertible with the smell of the fall leaves and breeze gently blowing on my face. Jewelry personalizes the look, so I always keep them to a minimal —it’s so much classier that way. Cute wool hats are also a great add-on to a fall outfit, they’ll make any outfit more autumnal. Don’t forget the heels, they instantly improve your body posture and certainly take your femininity to the next level.

Add a stylish face mask while you at it. The pandemic is not over... so spread your fashion statement like a wild virus.

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“

You don’t need to be rich to be stylish.

Your self-confidence, creativity and elegance are all the riches you need - Nedwine Richman -

“

My best advice is to make sure you know what style and color best compliments your skin tone, body type, and shape. If the fit is right, your confidence will be bright, and your elegance will show. Overall, don’t be too obsessed with fashion trends, be comfortable and confident in yourself and with your own style.

FASHION

UPLOADER MAGAZINE 61

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Len Parent

FASHION

LEN’S 9 TOP TIPS AND TRENDS THIS W FALL Instagram @thelenparentstyle Edited By Cheryl De Marco

e look forward to summer as a way to embrace the breezy, naturally languid ease of the season. But with fall approaching, we can’t help but get excited for the new crop of outfit ideas and layering opportunities the new season brings. From oversized blazers and modernized outerwear trends, to cozy knits and sweater dresses, there is much to play with. Here are my 9 top tips and tricks. And seriously, stay warm out there.

Photography: Maria Kristina Dela Pena Paguio

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LAYERING

FASHION

Tip 1. Become a Layering Pro There is a reason layering is always on-trend in the winter: It’s a massively practical way to dress when it’s really cold. So don’t be afraid to pile on the layers. A turtleneck, under a sweater, under a jacket, under a coat, for instance, will definitely keep you warm. So will a dress or skirt over a pair of pants (much warmer than a pair of tights).

Tip 2. Buy Only What You Love Only try out the ones you really love. Don’t just buy something because all the other girls are wearing it. Does it fit your style? Careful consideration of what you need beforehand will prevent impulse buys and overspending.

You should love everything you buy, and each piece should compliment your style and the rest of your wardrobe. Winter clothes can be more expensive, so you want them to be able to be carried through to next year.

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Photography: Maria Kristina Dela Pena Paguio

SUIT POWER

FASHION

Tip 3. The Power of the Suit You can never go wrong with a well-tailored suiting option; whether you mix and match the blazer with your favorite pair of trousers, keep the look effortless by utilizing a slouchy white tucked-in tee beneath.

Photography: Vanessa Osoyos Garvin

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BOOTS & BLANKETS

FASHION

Tip 4. Bring Your Blanket One of our favorite parts of the cold-weather season is the copious amounts of coat options.

When the chill starts to kick in, the larger, the better. Opt for an over-sized teddy and a hue that will match everything already in your closet.

Tip 5. Let Your Boots Steal the Show Great winter style really boils down to a great pair of boots. Got a great pair of over-the-knee boots? Show them off, pairing them with a short dress. Have killer ankle boots you want to make sure the world gets to see? Pair them with cuffed jeans or a dress. And if it’s snowing and you are forced to wear less than fashionable snow boots?

Use them as a jumping-off point to put together a great new inventive outfit, rather than just throwing them on with just anything.

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Photography: Vanessa Osoyos Garvin

WARM HUGS

FASHION

Tip 6. Play with Patterns You’ve seen this retro look come back for fall in earthy browns and oranges, but for winter 2020, you can choose whatever colors you want. Tops and bottoms come in plaids, classic checker patterns, and houndstooth. You’ll find plaid prints in smaller forms and subdued colors as well as bold blocks of bright hues. Pair up a checkered skirt or pants with a leather jacket.

And for a bit of a daring look, choose a short skirt that reveals a little skin when you wear your favorite boots.

Tip 7. Flatter Your Form There are many choices this winter on how you can achieve a flattering form that fits your curves. Form-fitting zipper dresses, shirts, and jumpsuits are back in style, as well as wraparound dresses, tops, and skirts. You can feel free to add on sweaters, jackets, scarves, capes, or back shrugs as desired.

Photography: Vanessa Osoyos Garvin

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FUR & SCARVES

FASHION

Tip 8. Say it With Fur Fur is back! You can choose eco-friendly faux fur, or you can treat yourself and buy the real thing.

You’ll see fur everywhere — in capes, collars, shoulder wraps, and elegant back shrugs for cocktail dresses or gowns. And of course, you’ll see plenty of luxurious-looking fur coats which take us back to the golden days of Hollywood.

Sheepskin is also making a comeback, so you can have fun coordinating sheepskin outerwear and boots with flannel shirts, sweaters, and jeans.

Tip 9. Autumn Scarf with Style Scarves are one of the easiest ways to add panache and color to your outfit at any time of the year, but particularly when you’re between seasons and often don’t know what to wear! Add a scarf and transform a simple dress or separates into an outfit with a confident flair. A scarf can frame your face with softness and instantly create a chic statement adding sophistication to the young and a flattering delicacy to the more mature. Every woman needs scarves, and a small selection of sizes and colors will give you great accessorizing opportunities from the warmest weather through to the depths of winter.

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Photography: Maria Kristina Dela Pena Paguio

STYLE AND SASS Tiffany Giannato @tiffyg77 Photographer: Merissa Conley

FALL ACCESSORY TRENDS

Ahhhh the Fall season….air gets cooler….the world turns colorful….and apples and pumpkins surround us. When September rolls around, I want to just shop ‘til I drop and get all new clothes. Unfortunately, 2020 is not the year to do this due to the horrible pandemic that has come upon us. Many people cannot afford to purchase new Fall clothes, and others are working from home and can dress in athleisure wear most of the day. Accessories are a wonderful way to refresh your wardrobe. They can get you out of a rut and add a little spice to both your casual and dressy outfits. The accessories that are trending this season are fun and funky. There is nothing boring or plain about them, and they are also inexpensive and affordable. All of the accessories shown in this article are less than $100.

OVERSIZED SOFT CLUTCH

STYLE & SASS

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O

STYLE & SASS

versized, soft clutch: This clutch is known as the ultimate bag of Fall 2020. It is plush like a soft pillow, which makes it comfortable to tuck under your arm, and it is extremely roomy to fit all of your belongings. It also transitions well from day to night.

I suggest getting one that has a print or pop of color to add to your closet basics for a fresh, new style.

(Look by Lit Boutique)

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ROPES & CHAINS, METAL EARRINGS, & OVERSIZED SUNGLASSES Ropes and Chains: The 1980s and early 1990s have resurrected themselves. You will see ropes and chains on numerous shoes, necklaces, bracelets, and bags.

Definitely adds an edge to your outfit and looks chic with leather pants and a rocker t-shirt.

(Look by Scout & Molly and Heart & Sole of Boston)

Over-sized Sunglasses: Larger sized sunglasses have been on trend since the 1960s. They remain a classic, and they suit all face shapes.

This style has always been my favorite.

Looks by Scout and Molly and Madison Ave. of Melrose “Metal� Earrings: Big and bright tassel earrings were here to stay during the Spring and Summer seasons, but for the upcoming Fall and Winter you will notice that jewelry consists more of mixed metals and pearls vs. bright colors. You will also see hoops in a variety of sizes.

Jewelry available at Scout and Molly

EMBELLISHMENT

STYLE & SASS

Embellished Handbags: The more ornate the better is the motto for Fall 2020. Plain, neutral-colored bags are taking the back seat to bold and bright.

I love how a blinged-out bag looks against a white blouse and jeans.

(Look by Scout & Molly) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 77

As summer collapses into Fall, I wish you and your loved ones a healthy September and remember that Fall is never complete without boots, but we will save that for another article.

Please reach out to me with any questions, comments, and feedback you may have at tiffyg77@yahoo.com and make sure to follow me on Instagram @tiffyg77

EDITORS PICKS

EDITORS PICKS

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EDITORS PICKS

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along with many others, honestly believed that the pandemic would somehow start to calm by summer, but as we approach Fall, we are still seeing an incredible increase in numbers across the globe daily, and unless we all stand together and protect each other by wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing, and being mindful of others, we ALL will continue to live in uncertainty until a vaccine has been found. This isn’t about our rights, it’s about existence, and protecting humankind across the globe.

With that in mind, I personally have seen and witnessed incredible people and businesses coming together to change the way they work in order to create protective pieces, and not just for themselves, but for others around them, for strangers, for those in need, for frontline and essential workers; and whilst I constantly live in awe of all these incredible and selfless people, I wonder just how many others are going that extra step, that are going unnoticed.

For the months of April, May & June, I gave away our digital print edition for free, all proceeds from June and July’s printed and digital publication will be donated to Black Lives Matter, and just like last month I will be doing more. Every business, person (no matter your age), if you are giving back, helping

during this crisis, and going that extra step, please reach out to me and let me know what you are doing.

I will send each and every one of you this months digital publication for free. Make sure to email me at: hello@uploadermagazine.com There are plenty of places to purchase facemasks if you are looking for a particular style in mind. On that note, I thought I would include a few picks that will keep your entire outfit on-trend. (Please note these are solely based on style and fashion trends rather than surgical needs or requirements.)

If you are looking to make your own mask, it is fairly easy to do and there are so many tutorials floating around. So if you are not looking to buy, go through your closets and recycle those pieces you no longer wear.

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ike many clothing stores, Topshop has joined the mask train, but what I love about these is that not only are they super affordable at only ÂŁ6.99, but 100% of profits from the sale of the mask are donated to NHS Charities. These masks are also available for purchase online.

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Made in Germany, these colorful and patterned masks add just enough jazz to any outfit, and all at only £25

EDITORS PICKS

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EDITORS PICKS

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hese sporty quick-drying face masks from Falke, are incredibly comfortable and breathable. Although simple to the eye, these masks are have been made using moisture-absorbing material, making them perfect for sporty occasions where masks are to worn. They have also been designed for people that wear glasses. ÂŁ15

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EDITORS PICKS

Although these masks are on the expensive side, there is a reason. They are made with Antimicrobial Aerosilver™ fabric that keeps your face fresh, clean and free from bacteria. The mask itself also comes with a pouch also made of Aerosilver™ to insure your mask stays clean and sanitized. The hypoallergenic quick-drying inner layer keeps the mask dry and prevents breakouts, and also provides UV protection. To top it off they are sustainable! £40 - £60

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LIFESTYLE Edited by Cheryl De Marco

MY BRUSH WITH DEATH Photography: Phil Goldman Photography

Photography: Martha Abelson Photography

ANDREA’S ANGLE

A BRUSH WITH DEATH Words by Andrea Rappaport @theandrearappaport Edited by Cheryl De Marco

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ANDREA’S ANGLE

A

few weeks ago, my life almost came to a crashing (pun intended) halt. I was standing on the side of the street when an out of control car almost hit my good friend and me.

We were getting ready for a photoshoot when we noticed a truck driving erratically down the street. This truck sideswiped three parked cars, taking off their side-view mirrors, before crashing into a parked car that was directly in front of us. The car in front of us was hit so hard that it spun around in a full circle and stopped about 12 inches from the right side of my body. The truck had swerved to the side and crashed into a tree several feet from my left. As I watched the car spin around and the truck barrel towards me, I was frozen. I was paralyzed by my processing of what was happening. I was completely stuck in thought. For those few seconds, when I could have been running to save my life, I just stood there, watching these cars come towards me, thinking, “Wow. Am I really about to die right now?”

Note to self: I might not be the girl to save you from a burning building.

The first responders were quickly on the scene, and it all started to feel very real.

A police officer interviewed my friend and me. While shaking his head, he said that had either car hit us, we would have likely been killed. He said that we were very lucky that someone must have been watching over us, protecting us. We nodded and said, “thank you,” because that seemed like the thing to do, even though we were emotionally and mentally numb and weren’t exactly processing what he was saying.

It took me a few hours to get my proverbial sh%t together. Once I did, I got in my car to drive home. Naturally, I started to cry. Hard. Besides the fact that the shock had worn off, I cried because the only thing I wanted to do was hug my boys. The one thing I couldn’t do, since it was their father’s parenting evening. The more I tried to not think about it, the more I cried. It was also the first major crisis, besides COVID, since my separation. By crisis, I mean one of those times when something major 90 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

happens, and you immediately pick up your phone to call your family. I didn’t have a “family” to call. At that moment, I was consumed with the thought that I didn’t have a husband/father of my children to call, to let him know that I had come the closest I had ever come to death, and that I couldn’t wait to get home and wrap my arms around my children. It was in those moments, driving in my car, that I felt so alone.

I was emotionally paralyzed for a few minutes. Unable to recognize that I actually was not alone. In reality, I am incredibly lucky to be in a loving relationship with someone whom I did call and notify about the accident. And whereas I wasn’t able to wrap my arms around my kids that night, he wrapped his arms around me, and I felt loved.

Later that night, I was thinking about what the officer on the scene said

to me about someone watching over and protecting me. I instantly thought of my Papa, my dad’s father, with whom I had a close relationship. My Papa was very protective of me. When I was a teenager, I remember him telling my first boyfriend, “Where I come from, we break legs.” in an attempt to let him know that I was not to be messed with. It brought me a sense of comfort to think that this actually was “a thing,” someone looking over me and protecting me. It’s funny, because I normally would roll my eyes at this sort of “woo woo” idea. But here I was, mid divorce, mid pandemic, mid “I’m about to lose my mind,” and I’m embracing this idea of my deceased grandfather protecting me from above.

I felt connected to him... or maybe I was just yearning for that feeling of connection. (cont. on page 93)

Photography: Michelle Cox Photography

ANDREA’S ANGLE

Two days later, my boyfriend, Steve, and I were at a family gathering. Towards the end of the evening, the song, “I just called to say ‘I love you’” by Stevie Wonder played. My eyes widened, my jaw dropped, and tears dripped off my face. It was my Papa’s song. His favorite song. I used to call and sing him this song on his birthday. I sang this song to him right before he lost consciousness and later played this song at his funeral.

Every time I heard the song after his death, I felt like it was a way for him to connect with me... or at least that’s what I told myself. I sat there, listened to the song play, and I cried. I cried because it was such a powerful reminder that I am not alone. Divorce is isolating. This pandemic has been isolating. There have been so many times when I have felt so utterly gutted and alone that even my tears do not seem to do my pain justice. And here I was, sitting next to Steve, whom I adore, and in the presence of his family, who has welcomed me with open arms and hearts. I was not alone. I haven’t been alone. I had my good friend with me the night of the accident, and I have been supported by many friends and family members during the last several months of chaos. And whether my Papa had something to do with me not being smashed by a car or not, it was a really important reminder to take stock in who I actually DO have, loving and supporting me in my life.

As Stevie Wonder says:

“I just called to say, ‘I love you’ I just called to say how much I care I just called to say ‘I love you’ And I mean it from the bottom of my heart”

The day after the family gathering, I smiled when I thought about my Papa. I smiled, thinking about how I heard his song the night before, how he was always very protective of me, how he would be proud of the life that I am creating for myself and my children. How I am finally in a relationship with a man who has the ability to love me from the bottom of his heart, and how his name is Steve, and I call him Stevie.

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PURPOSE

LIFESTYLE

96 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

LIFESTYLE MENTAL HEALTH

The Mindset Minute

What is Purpose, and Why is Everyone Looking for it?

Have you ever asked yourself, ”What is my purpose in life?!” It’s one of the most common questions that people ask themselves. The truth is many people spend their lives reacting to situations instead of being proactive and figuring out the needs and values that dive them. Want to know the worst part about it? A lot of people think they know what their purpose is, but they often mistake it with a short-term goal, so once that’s achieved… They go through this question again and again, ultimately wondering why they don’t know what their purpose is in this life. The other group of people who ask this question are truly seeking to find the meaning, but they have no idea how to find purpose in life.

So, What Is Purpose Anyway? Purpose is simply the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. It’s the thing that motivates us towards a satisfying future. When we lose our sense of purpose… we lose that drive. We lose that very reason to look forward to tomorrow.

This is the very reason why everyone is looking for it! It can be massively disorientating to feel lost in life or just going through life every single day without a sense of purpose. You may even feel frustrated with yourself and your lack of direction. The first thing that I can tell you is to give yourself some grace.

Everyone who has ever asked themselves this question has come from a place of uncertainty. It’s from this uncertainty that you can truly discover to dig deeper and find greater meaning in life. Because most people are looking outside of them for their sense of purpose. The key to discovering your sense of purpose is to look within.

Here are 4 ways to start to discover your sense of purpose.

1. Search Inward: one of the key questions to ask yourself is, “how can I be happy?” because it’s in our moments of joy where we can find exactly what we need to be happy and fulfilled in that present moment. It’s upon discovering what you need to be fulfilled where you can start putting together the pieces of the puzzle.

2. Take Ownership of Your Life: this is one of the most difficult and most effective things we can do as humans. It doesn’t matter how we arrived at our destination of today. What matters is that we take ownership that we created this and are taking back control so we can create a better future for ourselves.

When you take ownership, you are drawing a line in the sand that says, “I will no longer accept this in my life, and this needs to change”. You don’t just randomly discover your purpose. Your purpose comes into your awareness the minute you start taking responsibility for your life.

3. Discover New Hobbies: one of the things that I realized when it came to my purpose was that it was found through my hobbies. It wasn’t the hobby itself that was my purpose. It was the feeling that I felt while doing the hobby with people who also enjoyed it.

4. Find Your Tribe & Your Voice: it was that sense of community - that common thread that tied it together, where I discovered my true purpose. It was through the conversations that were had with those people where I started discovering my true purpose. The basic human needs that we desire in this life is our purpose. To keep those fulfilled. Everything else simply becomes secondary. But it’s in the moments when we don’t have one of those needs met where we lose our sense of purpose.

In order to re-discover your purpose is to discover the need that’s not being met and find a way to take back your power and fill that need. It’s all an internal game.

I’m here to help! Reach out to me on IG if you’re needing assistance with this because everyone deserves to know their purpose in life. @shiftintoactionnow UPLOADER MAGAZINE 97

LAW OF ATTRACTION

LIFESTYLE

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LIFESTYLE

Ask Becca

By Rebecca Schuster lovebecca.com @lovebecca26

Your Questions Answered

Why is that when I start manifesting things into my life, it suddenly stops happening for me?

By Ava M

A. It doesn’t stop happening for you. You either stop feeling the vibrational alignment or don’t trust the good that is happening in your life. If you were able to manifest, to begin with, getting back will be easier for you then it would be for someone who doesn’t believe in the magic of manifesting.

What you are feeling happens to everyone. Even the savviest conscious creators get too comfortable when everything is flowing for them from time to time. The thing about manifesting is that you get so used to it that when it doesn’t happen, it just becomes a quick reminder that there is no taking long breaks from our feelings or vibrational alignment. Otherwise, the universe will quickly remind us.

Ask yourself these questions. When did things stop flowing for me? How am I feeling? Do I think I deserve all this happiness?

Often, we sabotage our joys and successes simply because we do not believe we deserve them or are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Remember, what you focus on you create. So if things are going well but you are still waiting for something terrible to happen, guess what, the bad thing is going to happen. By answering the three questions I mentioned, you will be able to determine if you stopped being in vibrational alignment or are having trouble accepting and trusting joy.

Many people are brought up with the idea that life isn’t supposed to be easy and that you have to work hard to attain anything worth having. Still, nothing can be further from the truth. We all have the power to create our happiness and keep it going throughout our lives. Does that mean nothing sad will ever happen? No, but when you discover the power of vibrational alignment, you learn to recognize when things aren’t going your way and how to get back quickly. (cont. on page 101) Frank J. Gallio @ Cherry Blossom Photo

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“ “

You are a living magnet. What you attract into your life is in harmony with your dominant thoughts - Brian Tracy -

LIFESTYLE

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LIFESTYLE ... Another way to describe it is when you hear the phrase, “like attracts like.” The same goes for anything in life. Happiness attracts more happiness. Love attracts more love. Good health attracts more good health. Hate attracts more hate. Sadness attracts more sadness. Fear attracts more fear. It’s a habit pattern that people build. So the question then becomes, what pattern do you want to create in your life. It sounds like you are on the right path, with all the things you have manifested so far, so now you have to stay on that path.

Recognize that life gets easier and happier when we are in alignment with what we want and how we want to feel. Life starts opening up new doors and opportunities. We attract helpful people, become more creative, we feel better, and smile more.

About the Author...

Becca has many years experience as a certified Feng Shui consultant. Throughout her career, and being a single parent, she discovered the importance of living a happy and wellbalanced life. “I believe you have to treat your mind, body, and soul with love to obtain true happiness.

I love helping people discover the magic of manifesting through the Law of Attraction. If you have a question, in any area of your life, you can send it to hello@uploadermagazine.com, and I will respond in an upcoming issue.

Happy Manifesting!

Love, Becca Frank J. Gallio @ Cherry Blossom Photo

UPLOADER MAGAZINE 101

Words by Naza Holliman @sweet.p.and.sky Edited by Cheryl De Marco

LIFE LATELY

LIFESTYLE BUZZ

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LIFESTYLE BUZZ

2020

Pandemic Life has been interesting, to say the least. We, along with the rest of the world, have gone through “stay at home” orders, government shutdowns, and ultimately quarantine, for lack of a better word. We experienced being cooped up by ourselves or with our families for what felt like years. We worked from home, worked out at home, became our children’s inadequate teachers for a semester. We dawned masks, gloves, and doused ourselves in hand sanitizer for grocery shopping that felt more like zombie apocalypse supply runs than simple grocery trips. We went for long drives in traffic-free streets, had socially distant lunch with friends, parked at fast-food parking lots, trying to yell conversation from our respective cars. We had romantic picnics in our living rooms, and virtual happy hours on Zoom…

Then summer came, and everything started opening. As clothing stores and restaurants, nails boutiques, hair salons and barbershops reopened, some of us ran to get some semblance of normalcy back, while others still cowered in the safety of our homes, afraid to let the light of day in. As the country opened, my husband and I were careful to continue all social distancing protocols. And when my Birthday came in June, we agreed to go away for a weekend, with our closest friends and family. People who we knew were staying safe and isolating the way we were. That weekend was the beginning of a very different, but very wonderful summer. As a family, we took several road trips, stayed in a few AirBNB’s and hotels, who’s safety protocols were perfected as summer progressed.

We, along with the rest of the country, became pros at working from home, staying safe and enjoying life in our little bubbles. We adjusted! Of course, for those of us who are parents, that all came to a very rapid and stressful halt. As parts of the world, including our country, have allowed school children to return to campus with safety procedures in place, others, including our school district, decided against opening our school campuses. Enter Distance Learning part two.

We thought we had in bad last semester. Our schedule was two, one hour, Zoom lessons a week, with a rather large weekly homework packet. It was misery!

Boy, do I wish to have THAT misery back! THIS semester, we are in true virtual class 9am to about 1:20pm, five days a week. And those of us with small kids, have to sit by our little ones the entire time to make sure they know what they are doing, making sure the technology is complying, to make sure our kids are paying attention and even to help the teacher get the tech right on their end. For some parents, who have gone back to work away from home, this is an almost impossible task. For others, it is half a day spent in an elementary school class, while trying desperately to complete their own work.

This brings me to my life lately and how I manage to juggle.

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Wake up early. While I cannot pretend that this happens daily, I will say that I try to wake up at least an hour before anyone else, several times a week.

Simply having a quiet cup of coffee and allowing yourself the time to think about the day ahead, without the frantic energy of getting the kids fed and dressed, is a huge help in tackling the day. I like to take the time to exercise or even take a little walk before the weather no longer permits it. It also provides adequate time to get yourself showered and dressed, which brings me to my next big hack.

Get Dressed. The world shut down months ago, and we all did the PJ’s all-day thing. It was glorious. Then it wasn’t. Work-from-home pros suggest that treating the day as you would a regular workday, taking a shower, getting dressed, doing your hair, puts one in the proper mental space to take on the day.

Designated workspace. Each of my family members, including the kids, have designated workspaces. My oldest and I are side by side at our dining table. My youngest is nearby at his tiny desk, while my husband is upstairs at the office. These designated spaces help us switch right into work mode.

Well, some of us need a little more coercing than others. But it truly helps.

Take brakes away from home. Going for a walk or even sitting in the car for a few minutes gives a great change of scenery and can provide a bit of relief.

This is life lately. We are thrown constant curveballs, but we adjust.

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Beecher Proch

FEATURE

FIGHTING FOR A GOOD CAUSE Instagram @beecherproch @beecherprochlifestyle Edited by Cheryl De Marco

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M

y entire family is entrepreneurial. From the age of 5, I’ve had my own business pursuits, starting with selling Beanie Babies to friends at a table in my front yard (remember the little stuffed animals that were all the rage in the ‘90s?). At 14, I began making and selling women’s accessories. This was my first exposure to handmade fashion, and I loved that I could sell it in a boutique in my little hometown in Texas, and women would buy it to accessorize their outfits.

Fast forward a few years to when I began performing and touring with the band Willow City, an alt-pop act. I realized that regular jeans and a T-shirt wouldn’t cut it on stage, so I picked out a pair of my regular jeans and turned them into a canvas, bleaching, patching, and painting them. Audience members started to ask where my jeans were from... which led to the idea that perhaps I had a marketable product on my hands.

I believe that we’ve been put on the earth as stewards (simply a person who takes care of someone else’s property). With that thought bouncing around inside my mind, I began to wonder how and who I could help through this denim line. Two answers hit me.

F

irst, I’m passionate about fighting human trafficking. It brings in more revenue every year than the NFL, MBA, and NBA... combined. There are millions of children used for trafficking every year, and that’s including kids in the USA. It’s a sickening trade. While I can’t eliminate it, a portion of all our denim sales go to fight trafficking - if we can help rescue even just one child or adult, I believe it’s worth it.

Second, our planet is an incredible place. As a Christian, I not only love and care for every person who lives here, but I also want to make it better for future generations. Often our mindset is so temporary when it comes to fashion (“fast fashion” they call it). Buy something, wear it for a year or two (we’re lucky if it’s that long), and then toss it. Every second, the equivalent of a dump truckload of clothing is put in the landfill. That’s ridiculous. Our business model is built around redemption, if you will - we find denim that is ready to be thrown out and viewed as no good, and we purchase it to recreate something for our customers’ wardrobe.

It’s been such a privilege to work with the brand Free People (I have no background whatsoever in fashion. So this fact alone - that we are able to work with one of the brands at the forefront of creative fashion - boggles my mind) along with the boutiques that carry the collections. We have a small pop-up ourselves based in Fredericksburg, Texas, and being able to meet, connect, and share our passion and vision with customers has been such a rewarding experience. We still have so far to go, yet I’m so grateful for how far we’ve come.

FEATURE

SINGER SONGWRITER AND VOICE ACTOR Edited by Cheryl De Marco Instagram @briannaknickerbocker Twitch @briannaknickerbocker Twitter @briannanoellek www.starlessmusic.com

B

rianna Knickerbocker is a voice actress based in Los Angeles, known for her work in popular animes like ‘Re:ZERO’ (Rem), ‘Carole and Tuesday’ (Tuesday), ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ (Elaine) and video games like ‘Catherine Full Body’ (Rin), ‘Fire Emblem Heroes’ (Sakura, Charlotte, Ninian, Est), ‘Astral Chain’ (Akira). She is also known as her electronic pop music alias Starless. She began her foray into the music world almost two years ago and now has 13 songs released on all major platforms and 3 music videos produced and released. Starless’s music reflects the night, where love, heartbreak, and all kinds of mistakes happen in the dark.

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Photography: Ashton Charles

Brianna Knickerbocker

FEATURE

Photography: Jonny Xiong

OVERCOMING FEAR TO LIVE MY DREAM

I just released ‘Blindly’ on all major platforms, held a release party on Twitch, and premiered the music video I filmed by myself at home during quarantine. Wait...1, 2, 5... wow that’s my twelfth track?! Does that mean it’s official? I’m not just an actress. I think I am a real singer/songwriter! I can’t help but laugh, thinking back to when I was six, putting on “rock shows” in my kitchen.

There were storybooks strewn about on the tiled floor and I’d jump from book to book. (I guess the books were rocks?)

And I’d sing my surprisingly moody and poppy songs I had made up on the spot.

I think my first real stand out hit in my household was titled “Beautiful Girl”, the live performances including lots of slow-motion headbangs, hands through the hair, furrowed brow and shut eyes—I loved putting on a show, just get that camera on me and let me know when you’re recording.

Besides “rock shows” and writing songs and singing, I was writing and putting on plays, writing short stories (the majority about black cats, who knows why), drawing, designing and styling my everyday outfits in the most unorthodox of ways, like insisting on wearing my socks inside out, wearing swimsuits as an outfit or even over the shoulder (yes, a swimsuit, hanging over my shoulder...). My mom always had the camera pointed on me and my sisters. Oh and the movies, I just adored acting. They were 100% improvised, co-starring my sisters; my biggest production was The Boys We Missed In Hawaii. The epic location changes, from the bedroom (our house)—to the living room (Hawaii), it was a wild shoot. I just loved playing pretend and creating and performing in so many ways. (cont. on page 114) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 113

FEATURE

It was a long journey getting here,

twelfth track, music videos, a total dream. How I got here...

that’s a great question..

I originally went to LA to try a fashion job, thinking fashion design was what I was going to do, and my first day I was crying in my car at lunch. That was a huge gut check. Nope—not for me.

So I quit. Next on the list of things to do was to cry in my apartment, watch a lot of anime, then cry some more, then go on Craigslist, search through the gigs section, and try to figure out what the heck I was supposed to do. I saw some acting gigs. Acting! It’s like I had forgotten acting existed, or didn’t really absorb that it could be a job I could go and try to do before. I booked my first acting jobs, like an independent feature and a short film; I loved it, so I kept going. Then I found a voiceover job and applied and booked it and it kind of took off all of a sudden. I did lots of random jobs at first, including things like a Random House audiobook and my first lead role in a videogame.

Videogames—that was a huge yes, I got to sink my teeth in and act in these dramatic fantasy worlds. But...there was another medium I was aching to act in besides videogames. Anime. — But no, not me, I can’t do that! I heard from a few different people in LA that it’s a closed-off niche of actors that do it and it’s impossible to get into. So no—there was no way I could do it...

A couple years passed of acting on camera, in a SAG national commercial, web series, a couple of indie features, and in voiceover, videogames. All of a sudden, I saw a workshop with a renowned anime casting director. It was a storm inside of me. Wanting to voice anime, that dream, finally became bigger than the fear, the self-limiting beliefs, the words of others. I signed up. It all happened so fast; I did the workshop, and within a few days got my first anime audition from that casting director. I was in the studio auditioning within a week and a week later got the email, I booked one of the lead roles. It was a dream. And I was doing it, I was living my dream.

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Since the beginning, I’ve voiced some incredible roles, that first one being Chisaki in ‘A Lull in the Sea’. I voiced Elaine in ‘Seven Deadly Sins’, Tuesday in Watanabe’s (Cowboy Bebop) new show ‘Carole and Tuesday’ and probably my most well-known role in anime, Rem in ‘RE:Zero’. Videogames were equally fulfilling and exciting, I had the privilege of voicing Akira in ‘Astral Chain’, Sakura and others in the ‘Fire Emblem’ series, and Rin from the remake of the cult classic ‘Catherine Full Body’. And on the on-camera acting side, I finally filmed my first horror short I wrote. It’s been such a thrilling ride. But all along...dare I admit...I had this other itch. Music.

It had been lingering deep in me for years, and at first, I was able to stuff it down, hide from it. The “not me” voice kept me from letting myself even dream of it, even fathom. But in 2018, it had grown significantly louder and harder to ignore. This internal prodding, my inner voice telling me ‘this’ and that self-limiting voice saying ‘but’ Me? Pursue music? What was I going to do--write songs from scratch like some kind of real songwriter and yeah—I’d just release whatever music I magically came up with, make music videos and just follow my dreams with absolute freedom and permission?!? It was too big, bigger than me...at least it had been. (cont. on page 116)

Photography: Ashton Charles

FEATURE

But in 2018. On some random day. My dream of writing music, singing, performing music, making music videos all those dreams, wanting it, was finally bigger than the fear of doing it. And I dove in and never looked back.

What’s the connective tissue between acting and music—why these two things? I’m not sure. I know I deeply crave having cathartic experiences and giving that to others, telling stories, and making up stories. I guess with acting I get to share others stories and with music, I get to write my own. I feel more fulfilled putting my art, in whatever form, out into the world and sharing it with others. Giving others experiences, and knowing I made them feel something. If its something that would sit on a shelf somewhere and never be seen by someone else, that doesn’t totally spark my interest.

I had released a couple songs before realizing Brianna Knickerbocker had a super iconic, and this historic Americana feel to it, but maybe didn’t have the sleek, cool, artsy vibe that I’d want for my evocative and intense songs. I came up with Starless relatively quickly. I decided on this name because it felt moody and dark and thought-provoking, an energy I wanted reflected in the stories of my songs. After those couple original tracks were out, I wrote song after song, contacted producer after producer, researched everything about music and writing and marketing, every odd and end, found a distributor and built from the ground up, on my own. It was a tad big, yeah, but I had built my entire acting career on my own from the ground up...so in a way, I felt strong and sure of myself and figured I’d just apply the same principles of hard work and tenacity and innovation to my music career.

Fast forward to 2020, months of quarantining, I felt more grateful than ever to use my voice for my job. Working on videogames and anime during stay at home orders from my home studio. When I’m not working writing songs, emailing, producing, creating album art, editing promo videos for my new tracks...there are still endless things for me to do.

I kept building, evolving my music; always exploring, inventing, and experimenting with new ideas for my Stargazers, my listeners. I decided to take things to the next level. Stir crazy and restless while stuck at home alone, I overcame another hurdle of ‘no-way-I-can’t’ mindset, this time with music videos. If I could be brave and follow my dream of voicing anime, if I could be brave and follow my dream of making music, what was stopping me from creating anything? I just went for it. I filmed my first three music videos at home, during stay at home orders, by myself.

Edited them myself. And I’ve been holding these ridiculously fun release parties on twitch too. Art has been the most healing light and escape for me during quarantine. Being able to still record on games and anime from my home studio, emailing my producers, and still making tracks and putting them out into the world, connecting with people on twitch, has been the biggest blessing.

Looking forward, I have bigger and wilder dreams. Because why not? You only live once, and I’m getting the hang of this new ‘why not’ mindset. I want to film more horror shorts—a feature film, a horror musical featuring my music...and voice act in many more animes and videogames of course; endless more music to write/stories to create and sing, an album where each track leads into the other creating a whole short story, with a short story-music video to go along, release parties and bigger music videos with more than just my one-woman-crew during quarantine. And my first ever live performance once it’s finally safe. Dare I even dream it.

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Photography: Amelia Gotham

FEATURE

My hope in sharing my journey, is that it could possibly inspire someone or multiple people to be brave--to shake off those self-limiting beliefs, to feel the fear and do it anyway, to listen to that inner voice dreaming this biggerthan-life dream for you. It’s a muscle you have to use to get better at. I’m telling ya. Yeah, it might be really painful at first. There will be an inner fight, a pullback from that thing saying ‘no I can’t’ or ‘me??’, ‘that’s something for someone else’ or whatever that thing is telling you, keeping you from becoming, building, growing, dreaming. But if your gut, your heart, underneath it all, and that is the thing you’ve always wanted. If it’s that thing that lights you up and electrifies you. Then you’ve gotta go for it. Don’t you think? I certainly do.

I really hope you do.

Follow Brianna on Instagram @briannaknickerbocker Twitch @briannaknickerbocker Twitter @briannanoellek www.starlessmusic.com - for music

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“

That dream, finally became bigger than the fear, the self-limiting beliefs, and the words of others.

“

Photography: Ashton Charles

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

FOOD & DRINK Edited by Cheryl De Marco

SIMPLE YET DELICIOUS RECIPES

Chrystin Nevarez

FEATURE

FOODIE AND ADVOCATE FOR BETTER BEAUTY LAWS Instagram @chrystincooks Website chrystincooks.com Edited by Cheryl De Marco

Chrystin Nevarez, 30, is a wife and boymom based in Orange County, California.

Working as a digital marketer in the food industry inspired the start of her journey documenting every day, at-home recipe photos through her Instagram page. This simple love of taking pictures of food blossomed into a full-fledged recipe blog - “Chrystin Cooks�. With a focus on the use of whole ingredients and label-reading, Chrystin also uses her platform to advocate for better personal care laws and regulations in the US, as an independent consultant for Beautycounter. Chrystin shares a couple of simple but delicious recipes especially if you are tight on time.

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FOOD & DRINK SIMPLE RECIPES

Stone Fruit Caprese with Balsamic Reduction

Caprese is my favorite salad because it is mostly cheese – ha! Though I love this with vine-ripe tomatoes, changing it up with sweet + tart stone fruit has made for one of my favorite summer salads. Combine with salty prosciutto, spicy arugula, and balsamic reduction for the perfect balance of savory and sweet. Peaches and plums will be around a little longer, but keep Brie, pear, and figs on the brain for fall!

HOW-TO

INGREDIENTS

Slice mozzarella cheese (about 5-6 slices - you can also find pre-sliced blocks), peaches, and plums. Add ½ cup balsamic vinegar to a small saucepan, bringing it to a low boil. Lower the heat to a simmer, then reduce for 15 minutes, until it reaches a syrupy consistency (1 cup will reduce to about ¼ cup). Arrange cheese, fruit, arugula, and prosciutto slices on a serving plate. Drizzle salad with desired amount of balsamic reduction and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

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16 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese 1 cup balsamic vinegar 5-6 prosciutto slices 5-6 fresh arugula leaves 1 peach 1 plum Coarse sea salt

FOOD & DRINK SIMPLE RECIPES

Easy Creamy Parmesan Orzo

Orzo is one of my absolute favorite dishes to make. It is often mistaken as rice, but it is indeed a pasta! My favorite thing about this dish is it has total risotto vibes going on, but is much easier to prepare. I hope you enjoy!

HOW-TO

INGREDIENTS

In a 12-inch frying pan or cast-iron skillet, melt butter over medium heat, add minced garlic, and sauté until translucent (careful not to burn). Add broth, milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Let it come to a slight boil. Add orzo and allow to bring back to a boil for about 10 minutes, occasionally stirring, until orzo is creamy and the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, then stir in Parmesan cheese.

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*To make this a heartier main, load up a pan of your favorite veggies (like asparagus as you see here), drizzle with about a tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste. Roast in a 425-degree oven for about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare your favorite protein. (grilled shrimp is my favorite!) Stir grilled vegetables into pan of orzo. Plate and top with protein.

This serves 4 as a side or 2 as a main dish.

1 cup dried orzo 2 cups broth (chicken or veggie works) 1 cup milk 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon garlic powder 2 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper to taste

FOOD & DRINK SIMPLE RECIPES

Dumpling Ramen This is a quick weekday meal, perfect for back-to-school! A comforting dish that’s packed with flavor, using easy shortcuts like frozen dumplings so you can focus on juggling work, distance learning, and all that jazz!

HOW-TO

INGREDIENTS

Add vegetable broth, chopped carrots, minced garlic, ginger, and all dry spices to a saucepot. Bring everything to a boil.

Cook until carrots are just tender (about 15 minutes). Add broccoli and continue to boil for just a few minutes more.

Both the dumplings and noodles are very quick-cooking: dumplings take about 6 minutes from frozen, and the noodles cook up in about the same amount of time. Add dumplings first, stirring them down, then the noodles. Throw in the spinach and chives, just as the noodles and dumplings are finishing up. Garnish with chopped chives and sriracha. Throw in the spinach and chives, just as the noodles and dumplings are finishing up. Garnish with more chopped chives and sriracha.

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1 package frozen Chicken & Vegetable Gyoza (or something similar - a package of 8-10 dumplings) 8 oz. package dry Chuka Soba (or any Ramen noodles) 2 quarts vegetable broth of choice 1 cup fresh spinach 1 cup broccoli florets 2 carrots, chopped (or 8-10 baby carrots, chopped) 1 garlic clove, minced Fresh ginger, minced (a piece equivalent to about 2 tablespoons) Fresh chives, chopped (about 2 tablespoons for the soup, and 2 more for garnish) 1 tablespoon turmeric 1 tablespoon thyme 1 tablespoon oregano 1 tablespoon garlic powder A dash of paprika Salt & pepper to taste

FOOD & DRINK SIMPLE RECIPES

Garlicky Truffle-Parmesan Tater Tots

For all the parents who need to spruce up children’s food to make it “adult edible” – these are for YOU! I am not the biggest fan of tater tots, but I’m a big fan of these. Kiddos love them, too!

HOW-TO

INGREDIENTS

Add tater tots to a sheet pan, and top with truffle salt and pepper. Bake according to the package instructions. About 5 minutes before they’re done, add minced garlic. Once done completely, remove from the oven, and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and basil. Serve with ketchup or TRUFFLE KETCHUP (found at Trader Joe’s).

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Frozen tater tots of choice (about half the bag) 1 minced garlic clove or teaspoon garlic powder 2 teaspoons truffle salt (I love McCormick’s) 1 teaspoon black pepper ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese 3-4 fresh basil leaves, julienned

COCKTAIL

Quick Gin Spritz Quick cocktails are my JAM. Most of the time, your favorite hard liquor, mixer of choice, and a squeeze of fresh citrus is all you need: Pour one shot of gin into a champagne flute and add the juice of a lemon wedge. Then fill the rest of the way with your favorite sparking water or juice! (I love San Pellegrino Sparkling Momenti - this is lemon + raspberry.) Garnish with lemon and orange zest, if desired. That’s it! A quick, refreshing concoction for any day of the week.

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FOOD & DRINK COCKTAIL

Drunken Root Beer Float There’s something about a classic Root Beer Float, but have you ever thought of turning this novelty into a cocktail? It is easy – start with the usual ingredients: one can or bottle of your favorite root beer (I love Hansen’s), and a scoop of your favorite vanilla. Then, simply float one shot of vodka on that float! The smooth, creamy vanilla ice cream and booze are a surprisingly fun pair and take it even FURTHER with a root beer or whipped cream flavored vodka (try the brand Pinnacle!) Drink responsibly and enjoy!

UPLOADER MAGAZINE 129

TRUE LOVE

SPOTLIGHT

Being a teenager I know that we often keep things to ourselves rather than talk about them openly, which can cause more heartache and pain. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity that Cheryl has given me to discuss and express myself as a teenager, which I hope will also lend itself as support for others during their adolescent years. I know that writing down and then sharing your thoughts can make you feel better, so I think it could be comforting to know that others are going through the same things as you. This is my point of view, along with some solutions to teenagers’ problems. Welcome to Daniela’s Diary!

Words by Daniela De Marco @d.danii._

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SPOTLIGHT

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ow many times do teenagers dream about finding the right person to have a relationship with? I can’t answer that for sure, but for most people, it happens a lot. I mean, who isn’t wishing to live a real romance? The type that we see in all romantic movies on Netflix. In my personal opinion, I really would like to experience love. But as we all know, especially teenagers, love isn’t all peaches and dandelions. Love can hurt, especially when you really like someone who doesn’t like you back. I know how you feel on that occasion. You feel like everything is collapsing around you. I get it.

I’ve also heard that during the teenage years, we feel it more so. So when we’re happy, we feel amazing. But when we’re sad, we perceive grief and pain a lot more than adults. Maybe it’s due to lack of experience; either way, it doesn’t change the fact that love can be hurtful.

I want to ask everyone reading this: what does love mean to you?

You don’t have to answer immediately, but I think it may help you to reflect upon your thoughts. Daniela’s diary is based on a teenagers’ point of view told by a teenager. That’s why I am always going to pull from personal experience and give my opinion. To be honest, this isn’t the easiest topic to talk about. However, knowing that my story could help other teenagers not to feel like they’re alone in this, gives me the strength to share.

I‘ve never been in a real relationship yet. Why? I don’t know precisely, but I have some ideas. On the one side, as I said before, I really would enjoy a partner’s company. On the other side, I don’t.

It’s confusing, right? I know, don’t worry. I’m going to explain everything. I would like to be in a relationship as I’m a very romantic person. I love romance, and I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to be a part of it if it was similar to the romance we see in films. Unfortunately or luckily (it depends on opinions), life isn’t a movie. I’m on the “lucky” side, and here’s why. If it wasn’t for pain, we wouldn’t change at all over the years. We do remember our most joyous moments, and they’re crucial for us, of course. But with just the joyous moments, life wouldn’t be life. Meaning, we learn from mistakes, ache, and tears. We don’t learn with just happiness.

But let’s go back to our subject: true love. The reason why I wouldn’t be comfortable in a relationship is that I suffered a lot in the past, and I don’t want to experience more suffering. It may sound cowardly, but I assure you I’m not that kind of person. I prefer to call it self protection from more useless pain. Like that, you don’t suffer, but you don’t risk either. In most situations, I don’t even think. I just follow my instinct. If you want my advice, take the painful route.

These are the most carefree years of all life: don’t live them with too many worries. Have fun, but be responsible, and if something in love goes wrong, remember you did your part. You couldn’t have done more, so don’t get too frustrated about the result. You should focus more on the fact that if you hadn’t been so brave, you wouldn’t have experienced anything at all. When you experience the good and bad, you’ll see life from a different perspective, and you possibly won’t hate love that much.

Now, let’s analyze the pros of love. When you fall in love with someone, you don’t lose time asking yourself if what you’re doing is correct. You just feel like everything is right with the right person.

You haven’t just found company, you have found another like you.

Someone who appreciates all of you, from your values to your weaknesses. Someone who loves you even before loving themselves.

Someone who makes you feel strong, because you’re sure that no matter how tough life can be, you’re not alone. You have your soulmate there for you, always. And I think there’s nothing better than that. You can reach the impossible, and you feel unbeatable.

That’s the power of love. And no pain can change that.

A big hug to everyone and take care. Daniela

Frank J. Gallio @ Cherry Blossom Photo

UPLOADER MAGAZINE 131

ASTROLOGY

Kyle Thomas

Kyle Thomas is a globally recognized pop culture astrologer who has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine, Bustle, Elite Daily, House Beautiful, Marie Claire, YahooNews, MSN, and more. He is also one of the official astrologers for both Astrology.com and Horoscope.com. He is known for his cosmic guidance for celebrities, business executives, and prominent influencers.

His work harnesses the power of the stars in regards to entertainment lifestyle and trends affecting people worldwide.

His writing and horoscopes have been translated into multiple languages. Kyle has been astrologically gifted naturally from a very young age and teaches how to use the Universe to manifest the life you’ve always dreamt of. With over a decade of professional experience and clients all over the world, he currently resides in Los Angeles where he works as a professional astrologer, celebrity life coach, and author. Currently, he is the official astrologer for @Horoscopes + @Horo.ScopesDaily (4.5 million followers). Kyle received two Bachelor of Arts for Psychology and English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and integrates these degrees into his growing research of psychology, personality, and the human condition.

HOROSCOPES SEPTEMBER 2020

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@MrKyleThomas Photography: @DonQHannahPhotography Styling: @JRScalzitti Make-Up: @Lizzy_Lawless Hair: @HairByAlexTan Fitness: Body by @FitnessDust Custom Luxury Design: @FadedIntoTheLight @MimiRanft

VIRGO AUGUST 23RD - SEPTEMBER 22ND

irthday season has arrived and you are as radiant as the Sun! This is the time when you are able to establish important patterns that you would like to see grow for the entire year ahead. Birthday season brings your Solar Return—when the Sun literally crosses the exact same place it had been in the sky as when you were born. That moment is what predicts how your year ahead will likely evolve—so make sure that your special day is as beautiful as possible! Pack it with blessings and make it a celebration of you! Your cosmic gift from the Universe will arrive this month in the form of a New Moon, though, which takes place in your Sun Sign on September 17th. In the seven to ten days that follow this lunation, put your personal plans front-and-center. Take action to build the life you want. New Moons are like a door that is opening to you—and it highlights what lies within your heart. Do not settle now. Be courageous and be strong as you move forward. However, beyond the major focus on YOU this month, there will also be a great deal happening in regards to relationships. A Full Moon in your partnership sector will light up the night on the 1st. However, you will start to feel the energy toward the very end of August. A Full Moon in this zone always causes a turning point in regards to one of your unions—whether it is business or personal. Sometimes this can signify a choice you must make, such as if you should stay or leave; or else it is an opportunity to grow closer, such as move-in, get engaged, or get married. Just make sure you make it official prior to September 9th when Mars goes retrograde. Intimacy has been important to you in recent months. If you’ve had fears regarding relationships or noticed your unions are not giving you what you deserve, as Mars falls asleep this month, you will realize that you have had enough. Finding the perfect union, especially one that truly fulfills you on all levels, is going to be something you address in months to come.

Also, joyous news arrives as Jupiter, the giver of miracles, will wake up in your sector of love, passion, and creativity on the 12th. You may suddenly hear significant news around a matter close to your heart near this time.

It is likely something has been “on hold” for you here since May of this year. Know that no matter what happens, Jupiter will protect you and bring you better horizons in these areas until mid-December of this year.

It is of utmost importance that if you are single and looking for love, you use this time now to put yourself in front of new options. Do not wait for it to come to you—especially in the middle of a pandemic. Make safe dating a top priority because you could very well cross paths with a soul mate. If instead you have been focusing on “giving birth”—such as looking for that creative inspiration or else literal pregnancy—you again have luck on your side. The Universe is sure to bless one of these areas.

Your finances, too, appear to be on your mind quite a bit in September, as Mercury will be dancing happily along through this sphere for most of the month. However, your moneymaking potential is sure to increase once the Sun adds power here from the 22nd onward. Be ready to welcome in more abundance in the weeks ahead.

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HOROSCOPES SEPTEMBER 2020

HOROSCOPES CONTINUED ARIES

attraction—grace relationship zones. Mercury will help you find accord with current partners by openly communicating.

Whether single or attached, you’ll be thinking about love and partnerships a lot! Single Aries have a remarkable moment from the 6thonward to find a new spark while committed Aries can use this energy to find more blessings with the one they have. If looking to conceive, this may also be a fertile time! Watch for important career news near the 12th, as Jupiter in your sector of achievements will wake up and begin to once again bring his blessings to you. Since May, you’ve been revising your plans professionally and it appears many milestones still lie ahead for you this year. A project you may have thought stalled could now regain speed. The greatest career success you are to see this year will likely come now until December. Keep your eyes on the prize! The New Moon this month arrives on the 17th and will help you take on more work with your employer, switch to a new job, or else gain more freelance clients. Be on the lookout at this time. On the 22nd, the powerful Sun will storm on into your partnership sector and bring important relationships even further before you. In the coming month, while it isn’t favored to begin new relationships officially, you can continue to grow closer with new ones or form deeper unions with the ones that you have.

MARCH 21ST - APRIL 19TH

You have spent months moving toward your goals— personally and professionally. This is certain with so much planetary power behind you, giving you an opportunity to truly make your mark upon the world. However, September will make you slow down significantly—something you often have trouble with. You like to chase your plans, impulsively lead with your heart, and conquer the world around you. This is because the mighty planet of strength, Mars, rules you. Mars gives you immense ambition and has been feeding you firepower since it entered your zodiac sign in June of this year. However, in August it began to slow down, so you likely started to feel a bit exhausted and noticed some obstacles pop up. On September 9th, Mars will freeze within the sky and turn backward until November 14th. This means that for months ahead, you will see obstacles and hurdles pop up—and some of these may even enrage you. Being told to be patient and wait is not your strong suit, which is why you so often live such a fast-paced life. Yet, Mars Retrograde will encourage you to surrender to the flow of the Universe, rest, and recharge. Welcome the changes that come to you now as an opportunity to improve your strategy.

While it is likely you are going to want to launch a project during this time, it is best if you can wait until late November at the earliest. Anything that “begins” or “launches” during Mars Retrograde will likely fizzle out or fail later on. Single Aries will still have an opportunity to find love in the months ahead; just don’t become “official” with anyone, as your sexual rapport will dissipate like rain on a scalding hot day. Another reason this month is telling you to pull back is because it begins with a Full Moon in your sector of rest on September 1st, as well. Use the beginning week to get in touch with your spiritual side and lie low. If you don’t, you could burn out.

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TAURUS APRIL 20TH - MAY 20TH Slow down and learn to rest and recharge, Taurus. The Universe knows how passionately you work toward what you set your mind upon and this has been especially true since Mars entered your sector of behind-the-scenes projects in June. This may be focusing you upon a project that has been in development that you’ve been rushing forth—trying to get it done—or else patiently realizing that it may still take more time for it to come into fruition. It is likely that you will continue to work for the rest of the year on fine-tuning these projects. However, this may have manifested in other ways: that you have been battling exhaustion, illness, or factors beyond your control since June that have felt quite overwhelming. In September, Mars will turn retrograde—meaning that from now until mid-November, you must do everything possible to put your physical and mental health first. While this may mean visiting doctors, therapists, or healers, the Universe is making this a very “you” moment so that you can set your path onto brighter horizons. Take care of yourself, dear Taurus.

There is nothing more important than your own health, sanity, and hope. You will get through this—I promise you. At the very beginning of September, though, it appears you will be connected to a community who loves and cherishes you. Many Taurus will be lifted up due to the Full Moon on the 1st, and some may even see a heartfelt hope or dream now within reach.

Consider how you can become a part of a group that you care about—whether it’s a charity, spiritual community, or even an online gamers group! Throughout the month, though, one

HOROSCOPES SEPTEMBER 2020 of the most predominant themes will be love, passion, and creativity. With the Sun heating up this very fertile sector of your life, it will be a saving grace to get you through the day.

Focus on expressing yourself through art or being inspired by media, books, or even nature. If single, be sure to connect with romantic options and take it slowly. Starting a “new” official relationship during Mars Retrograde is never favored, as this planet rules sex. Trust me—you don’t want to lose that spark!

There is a slim possibility that you could reconnect with a lover from the past in the months ahead—but I would warn you to be very careful, as it appears this person carries some karmic entanglement with you. On one hand, they could return with ulterior motives and deceive you of their true reason—perhaps even an enemy smiling just to hurt you one last time. Yes, there is a possibility that they could return to resolve a past conflict that did not have peace and wish to rebuild a connection going forward, or at the very least, just set it to rest once and for all. I urge you to be cautious at this time—particularly until January.

October and November will see a Mercury Retrograde in your partnership sector, too, so do not be surprised if the past does return, even if it’s just the feelings of nostalgia. The New Moon on the 17th opens a door in your romantic sector, so no matter what you decide to do—use the following days after this to open your heart deeply to the one you choose or someone new.

However, professional matters will also be on your mind this month with planetary luck gifting you opportunities. Watch for news surrounding the 12th, as Jupiter, bestower of miracles, wakes up in your sector of expansion. For some Taurus, this could signal that a major victory in media, television, or publishing arrives in the months ahead. Others could finally see progress in regards to academics. If you’ve been hoping to immigrate, this wouldn’t necessarily be professional—but would push you to new horizons. Last to note is that when the Sun moves on the 22nd into your employment sector, expect that your job will hold your focus in the month ahead. Some Taurus could become busier—particularly with new projects and responsibilities. But again, do your best not to push yourself too hard now or your health may pay the price.

GEMINI MAY 21ST - JUNE 20TH

Geminis have been seeing a very active social life in recent months, but it does appear that it may suddenly hit a standstill—or certainly slow significantly down—in the months ahead. Mars, the mighty planet of energy, has been roaring through your friendship sector and likely showing you that you are indeed quite popular. However, in September, Mars turns backward until mid-November, meaning that in the time ahead, you may realize that you and a friend are not on the exact same page. Conflicts are possible, unfortunately, especially if something has been building for quite some time. A falling out may occur in the months ahead if you don’t handle the situation delicately. Speaking of intimacy and vulnerability in relationships, September will bring you

gems, too. Mercury, your ruler and planet of the mind, brings laughter within your sector of romance from the 5th onward.

During this time, you will likely be swapping scintillating texts and conversation with a love interest and feeling like you’re obsessing over a crush. Committed Geminis could use this to bring sexy seduction back on the radar with their partner. Also, Jupiter, giver of luck, will wake up on the 12th. Now and in the months ahead you will be able to heal trust issues and establish stronger unions. The Sun will march on into your passion sector beginning on the 22nd, so rest assured that plenty of magic awaits you in the month ahead. However, September will also bring you two other major themes: your career and your domestic life. The Full Moon on the 1st highlights your achievements and will bring a resounding victory to you in the days that follow. This will likely be the most important week for success this year. A promotion, favorable press, or public recognition could be yours—but this will be tied to how hard you have been working in the past six months or longer. New contracts could also come your way this month, especially after Venus enters your communications sector and makes you especially charming and persuasive from the 6thonward.

In regards to your domestic life and family, though, with the great Sun powering up this zone for the first few weeks, expect changes and shifts to occur. You may be fixing up your living space or choosing to move. When the New Moon arrives on the 17th, you may find that perfect place, begin a renovation, see a situation with a roommate appear, or else just decide to grow closer with your soul family.

CANCER JUNE 21ST - JULY 22ND You have been an unstoppable force in your career and professional life for many months already, Cancer. It is quite possible you had many new opportunities on your horizon that you could barely keep up! You are known for your persistence and are willing to put in the work—so rest assured that some of your greatest milestones are still ahead. However, in September, your career may begin to hit obstacles, hurdles, or stagnation as Mars—the reason for your professional victories—suddenly falls asleep! You will likely feel as if the wind has been suddenly sucked out of you and are you gasping for breath. Just as you were about to reach that new height, the Universe wants to dangle that career victory further and further out of reach. However, know that from now until midNovember it is likely you will rework your professional plans in order to see better rewards once you enact them later in the year. While the urge to still launch prior to mid-November will be seething within your soul—I pray you do not. With Mars Retrograde occurring, you could be devastated as all your hard work goes for nothing and your endeavor ultimately backfires and fails. Learn greater patience now and the Universe will show you later that you were happy that you did. Venus, planet of attraction, will be making you absolutely magnetic for the first week of the month—so be certain to (Cont. on page 136) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 135

HOROSCOPES SEPTEMBER 2020 connect with potential options if single or use the time for extra sensuality with your partner then. However, on the 6th, it enters your income sector for the rest of the month so it looks like you could see yourself a bit in the money! Gifts or income may increase, so enjoy this happy victory. Also, this month your mind is especially active and could be spinning around communications-related projects: perhaps writing or speaking, contracts, or even moving forward with an advertising plan.

The New Moon on the 17th will open a door up to you here, and as mentioned before, it is quite likely you will be required to negotiate or sign something of importance in the week that follows. However, another focus this month will be upon your domestic and family life. Mercury, planet of the mind, shows that you are considering either fixing up your space from the 5th onward or that you are deeply engaged in family discussions. When the Sun roars on into this same zone on the 22nd, you will see new developments regarding these same themes for the month ahead. Last to note in an already jam-packed month is your romantic life and relationships.

One of the most significant blessings possible has arrived: with the majestic planet Jupiter waking up on the 12th in your partnership sector. It is likely since May you have been revising your needs in relationships—whether personal or professional—and will see happier developments there in the many months to come. If single, you are especially favored to find someone with long-term or forever potential—someone who could very well be a soul mate connection. If already together, you may decide to grow even closer and become engaged or wed. However, do not do so until after Mars Retrograde ends on November 14th! Also, when Mercury speeds on into your romance sector on the 27thfor weeks ahead, your mind will be on creativity, romance, or children.

Communicate your thoughts and build a plan to bring more happiness into your life in the months ahead.

LEO JULY 23RD - AUGUST 22ND September will bring some sugar and spice to you, Leo. This is because you are in a unique turning point as some planets are waking up, while others are beginning to fall asleep! The way this affects will obviously depend on where they are in the sky now, which I will happily fill you in on! In recent months, it is likely you have been hungering for new horizons—and you definitely need them now. You have been feeling frustrated by being in a cage and know it’s your time to shine. Oftentimes when mighty Mars fires up this sector, one becomes highly focused on traveling and experiencing new cultures. Immigration can also be hinted at normally. Yet another way it could manifest is through academic endeavors and putting everything you have there. Last, it may also show that some Leos have been highly focused on a media, television, or publishing endeavor. You’ve been anxious to see your plans launch forward—however, there will be a devastating pitfall ahead. Mars will fall asleep in September 136 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

and not reawaken until mid-November. Because of this, you will see obstacles, hurdles, or stagnation until then. If for some reason you push too hard and try to still make it happen, you’d be launching against the wind with no air in your sails. This means you will be unhappy with the results and have to fight tooth and nail to make it manifest like you’d hoped for—and to be honest, it is a waste of energy at this time. I do believe you can pick up the pieces when Mars is stronger but that will not be until the end of November. Rest assured, we are all dealing with this energy in some way or form, so go easy on yourself at this time. September brings a few other themes, though, and certainly opportunities for happiness. The Full Moon on the 1st highlights your intimacy sector and allows you to rebalance an important relationship in business or love. Sometimes a large check or payout arrives—such as one from a divorce settlement. If for some reason you have been feeling a union has outlived its purpose, you could now decide to part ways and separate. This is okay—as you have so many opportunities for love ahead! Venus, planet of radiance and attraction, will grace you with her goddess divinity from the 6th onward. This is one of the most spectacular times to update your look or buy new clothing. Indulge in you! Also, with your light brighter than normal, new romantic options are coming out of the woodwork to get closer to you! If single, you must absolutely be dating up a storm now. If committed, though, use this time to bring more pleasure and sweetness into your established partnership. Another area of interest this month is your finances. The Sun will heat up this sector throughout much of the month, showing that you are likely spending more money and focusing on how to make more. Financial management will be major at this time, but with the dawning of the New Moon on the 17th—expect that opportunities to increase your cash flow will arrive. This may appear in the form of a raise, new clients if freelance, or else another job. Don’t just wait for it to come to you, though: hustle! While the Sun will parade on into your communications sector on the 22nd, you will feel quite mentally persuasive and highly chatty for the month ahead. You will likely sign important documents or use your words to deliver important messages. Last to note, though, is that the majestic planet of miracles, Jupiter, will wake up on the 12th—so watch for important news regarding either your employment or health at this time. It appears something has been on hold for you between one of these areas since May of this year and you felt you had been making progress, but then it started to slip away. Rest assured your greatest growth will occur now until the very end of the year!

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23RD - OCTOBER 22ND The Universe is being a feisty one, Libra, and you will be handling quite a bit in September. However, let’s start with the main theme initially: partnerships. You are known for being so perfect in partnerships. In fact, you thrive better in them.

Whether it’s in a romantic union or collaborating with the

HOROSCOPES SEPTEMBER 2020 perfect business associate, you know how to take the team mentality further so you achieve so much more as a unit. Since the end of June, mighty Mars has been bringing intense focus to this area of your life. On one hand, it may have propelled you to find the perfect partner no matter the cost, as if your life and happiness have depended on it! Obviously, in a personal sense, this may have been you hoping to find that perfect soul mate. However, oppositely, frustrations between you and a lover could have been festering since about that time. In a professional sense, this significant partner could be a collaborator, assistant, manager, agent, attorney, accountant, therapist, or beyond! While you likely have made a lot of progress, it is possible that in September something suddenly spirals off the rails and you feel at complete odds with one another. Mars rules passion, sex, and energy—so when he is happy, you can work so well in unison. However, when he is asleep, frustrations, conflicts, and fury are all quite possible.

Some Libras may even face enemies during this time—or open competitors who are determined to bring you down.

Whatever you do, promise me that you won’t go into open war with anyone, as whoever throws the first attack now is likely to fail. Any fights now will likely leave both parties severely wounded. Instead, take a step back and realize that you may have to lie down your ego for a bit. Obviously with Mars Retrograde taking place, starting any new “official” relationship will not work out in the end—so wait for all new official relationship endeavors after mid-November. Of course you can still continue to casually date or maintain the flow you were partaking within romantically prior to this—just try not to push into “what are we” conversations. Also, with Mercury, planet of the mind, in your zodiac sign from the 5th until the 27th, it shows that you will be focusing intensely upon your needs, wants, and desires—and will be better at articulating them, too. Use this time to improve communication with everyone around you. Venus, planet of fun, will be prancing through your social sector from the 6th onward, so you could let off some steam with friends during that team—or even make new friends, as well! Sometimes new love can spark through your social network when this occurs, so if ready to mingle, consider new options that way. When the Sun moves into your Sun Sign on the 22nd, get ready to ring in birthday season! This is the most important time of the year for you to start new patterns that you’d like to create for the future ahead. Over the coming month, be sure to put your personal hopes and plans front-and-center. While the first weeks of September—and the New Moon on the 17th—are pushing you to lie low, relax, and recharge, the reinvigorating power of the Sun with you from the 22nd onward will bring more light back into your life.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23RD - NOVEMBER 21ST Love and career are hot topics for you in September,

Scorpio. At the onset of the month, a Full Moon will ignite your passion and fertility sector on the 1st. This will be one of the most romantic moments of the year for you—so do not sit back and let it go to waste! You are giving birth at this time— to a new love or deeper love—or even to a creative project or receiving news regarding a child. Some Scorpios that have been trying for pregnancy may finally have their lucky break! Single Scorpios must absolutely use this first week to reach out to new options and schedule dates. Don’t let the Universe just give you one possible heartthrob, be sure you’re putting your feelers out to find the perfect match. Committed Scorpios should also indulge in the fun and plan a memorable or breathtaking experience with their significant other in the days near this.

Also, with the mighty Sun blazing a trail through your sector of fulfillment and friendships, your social life looks quite active.

You may hear from many friends this month or will be asked to join some festive events. Obviously, if you are doing so and the area that you live is still gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic, please wear a mask and practice social distancing. Online gatherings could also be quite enjoyable at this time and if you’d like to expand your personal or professional network, do so this month. All of these beautiful blessings will continue to fill your heart even after the New Moon on the 17th. Yet, your career will also be heavy on your mind this month with Mars heating up your work life. Since June, you have been either very busy in your employment—or deeply passionate about finding the right job for you. However, with Mars falling asleep this month, you may suddenly watch as your responsibilities lighten or else you find your job has become stagnant. Worse yet, many Scorpios will be laid off now or until mid-November. Even if you maintain your job during these turbulent times, others could find themselves immersed in a battle for employment or with coworkers on the job. It is best to lie low as much as you can in months ahead and pick your battles wisely. If for some reason Mars is not triggering any of these examples, it could instead be drawing attention to your physical health, diet, and fitness. You may have been highly focused on that but are noticing exhaustion and burn out creep in. It is important to put your health as a top priority in the immediate weeks ahead as some Scorpios will find that their immunity has fallen and they become wrapped in a battle against a disease or virus. I do not say these things to frighten you, just tell you the truth.

You must take every precaution now and in the coming future to stay strong because Mars Retrograde is not messing around.

Back to good news, though: the blessed goddess planet, Venus, will be shining down upon you from her perch in your sector of achievements from the 6th onward. This means that you could see praise, awards, or happy professional news in the weeks ahead. Interestingly, if you’re single and looking to date someone a bit more “successful” or “famous” than you—you’re in luck to catch their eye and see where it goes. Use your special charm to weave a web of seduction and you could find that you’re on your way to being in a power couple! Last this month to note is that the fantastic planet, Jupiter, will wake up in your sector of communications on the 12th so watch the days near then. It appears you’ve been working on an important communications-related project in the last year—whether that is a writing, speaking, or advertising endeavor. Sometimes this is a proposal or contract you’ve been pushing—or even updating your website or launching a podcast. No matter what, though, it is guaranteed that your words can make you a great deal of money and influence for the rest of the year if you choose to use this power wisely. (Cont. on page 138) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 137

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SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22ND - DECEMBER 21ST

Home, career, and love are shifting right before your eyes, Sagittarius, so buckle up for a very intense month! First to note is that you will begin September with a Full Moon on the 1st that highlights your domestic sector. Some Sagittarius may move near this time or else be fixing up their living space.

Others could be attending to an important family-related situation. It is likely you are feeling quite emotional at this time and even possibly debating how stable and secure your life is.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, a great deal of attention is going into your professional success at this time—and it shows that there may even be a push-pull dynamic occurring between your home-work life. With the Sun lighting up your ambitions throughout the month until the 22nd, you are in a rare position to make a great deal of progress very quickly. The New Moon on the 17th could open a door to you to take on more prestigious projects, connect with powerful people, or even welcome in applause. Do everything possible in the week following this lunation to set yourself up for greater success in the year ahead. If you work effectively, it appears you will be standing in victory early next year, near the end of February.

Also, with guardian angel planet, Jupiter, sparkling within your income sector for the rest of the year—and finally “waking up” on the 12th, you can expect a more improved flow with your finances. For some Sagittarius, your prosperity or income has looked a bit rocky and uncertain. You had hope that it was improving and could certainly see it doing so, but then since May, you’ve been wondering if that was just false hope. Rest assured, you will make more money in the months ahead and build a more secure lifestyle for years to come. Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto—very powerful planets—have been giving you many lessons about how to manage your money effectively and to make a little go so much further than ever before. If you have been hoping for more luck with a media, television, or large-network endeavor, you could also see luck with Venus attracting happiness throughout much of September. The same would hold true if you’ve been hoping to return to school for further studies or already using academics to improve your professional goals. However, the other major theme to pay attention to this month is romance and passion. Since the end of June, the mighty planet of sex and drive, Mars, has been heating up your sector of love and fertility. This means that you have likely been putting this before you as a top priority.

On one hand, this could be that you are dating up a storm looking for the hottest catch you can find or even using it to increase the spark between you and your serious partner. Other Sagittarius may have used it to heat up their creative energy and have been absolutely radiating the artistic muse. However, in September, Mars will fall asleep and strip away all of the excitement you had been feeling. Unfortunately, this may mean that life seems a bit more gray in months to come or that you don’t have as much time—or energy—for love and sex as 138 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

before. Others could feel that the divine inspiration they had been channeling has been ripped right out from beneath them and they can’t even focus! Don’t worry—you will get through this. If you are a parent, your children could be acting up in months to come, so listen to them rather than trying to punish.

You could also very possibly hear from old flames—whether lovers of hookups—from the past in months ahead, too. This may be a time when you face karmic lessons related to love and realize you must face the heavier realities of relationships, rather than running away to that next green pasture. Last to note is that the Sun will race on into your social sector on the 22nd, promising that your friends will have many opinions in the weeks ahead. Do your best to bounce your thoughts off them before engaging impulsively elsewhere.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22ND - JANUARY 19TH An extremely important month in your 2020 storybook has come. You have been undergoing tremendous shifts for many years, and it is likely that since 2017 it may have felt like a dark cloud has been hanging over you that you can’t quite escape. Sometimes this manifests as a depression, ill health, or else increased responsibilities. You have certainly been bearing the weight of the world and this is because—predominantly— the taskmaster planet, Saturn. As much as he can make your life feel more somber, he is actually teaching you to become stronger than ever before. Steel is forged through fire, which is what is happening to you. Also, in one way or another, Saturn is telling you it is time to “grow up” and leave behind negative traits or patterns that no longer serve you. Sometimes this forces you to feel like you are more alone, but that is because again, you must know your own strength in order to bring value to others. This month on the 28th, Saturn will wake up from his dormancy and regain momentum once again. Yet, toward the end of Saturn’s tutelage, he often leaves a reward in his wake. This is all dependent on how hard you have been working in recent years. Saturn will leave your zodiac sign midDecember and you will not have to face his lessons in this way for nearly thirty years. If you have been working hard to grow and reach greater personal integrity, I predict you will have a much easier road ahead in 2020. Another major turning point occurs this month because Jupiter, the giver of life’s greatest blessings, will also awaken from his slumber. This happens on the 12th of September. In December of 2019, Jupiter joined your zodiac sign and has been pushing you toward new beginnings in every way. When Jupiter is in your sign, this is called a “Diamond Year” whereby you will set down upon many new open roads toward a new destiny. Since May of this year, you have been evaluating your heart’s hopes and dreams. It likely felt you had many new blessings dangle before you this year, yet they were just at the tips of your fingers—just out of reach. The tide has turned and I do believe that you will finally be able to grasp those new things now and in the months to come. However, I want to reiterate that this is a time of new

HOROSCOPES SEPTEMBER 2020 beginnings, births, and rebirths—this is not necessarily a time of “great culmination.” Many Capricorns I have done readings for have confused this cosmic blessing from Jupiter as being the time when they “hit the jackpot” in every area of life. No, that is not what I am saying. This is the time when you begin the path to your greatest fulfillment and plant the seeds that will grow for the entire decade ahead. Your “jackpots” in love will likely come in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. Your victories in money and success will likely come in 2021, 2028, and 2029. Of course, there will be opportunities for growth every year—but not quite as you may have originally expected.

Don’t worry, though, you are becoming the star you were meant to be. Returning back to this month, though, I see that you have a tremendous amount of activity going on within communications-related sectors. The Full Moon on the 1st brings a significant writing, speaking, or contractual matter to completion. This may be that you finally sign an important document with long-term ramifications or else are debuting a proposal or podcast. With the Sun lighting up your sector of expansion throughout most of the month, though, you could be highly invested within an academics endeavor or media or publishing pursuit. The New Moon on the 17th could open a door to one of these areas for you. If looking to immigrate or travel overseas, this could also align at this time. However, it is clear your mind is highly focused on your career throughout most of the month as Mercury, our cosmic messenger planet, has you exchanging important messages about your work from the 5th onward. Also, when the fiery Sun ignites your ambitions from the 22nd onward, expect important career developments to come in the weeks ahead. The last major factor to bring to your attention this month is that Mars, which has been bringing a great deal of activity within your domestic sector since the end of June, will be falling fast asleep this month. On one hand, this may have shown that you moved in recent months or else still may have to in the months ahead—quite possibly even toward the end of September.

Home renovations or difficulties may crop up now and in the weeks to come—or if you choose to move, it could cause some problems or damage to your items. With this fiery energy causing a ruckus in your home space, it shows that something is amiss and you will have to attend to it. While it may provoke you to anger, it is best to try to breathe out and find solutions.

Watch over your family during this time, too, as tensions may also be high with them now and until December.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20TH - FEBRUARY 18TH

In recent years, it appears you have been highly focused on closing chapters and ways you can face your past in order to plan a brighter future. Sometimes this takes the form of finding peace with others or even focusing on healing— whether it is psychologically or physically. Finally, with the great giver of blessings, Jupiter, waking up in September, you

will once again see so much progress and growth. You’ve been contemplating what you envision for yourself going forward, and since May, you’ve realized you need to find a better plan to make that happen. Now until Jupiter enters your zodiac sign in mid-December you are setting the stage to finally start fresh.

Do everything you can to release what holds you down and be strategic on your steps to be reborn. This month also brings a great deal of attention to your income and relationships, too. A Full Moon on the 1st lights up your income sector and shows that you will be spending and gaining money now.

Some Aquarians may receive a large check, job offer, or raise, too. Prosperity can definitely be yours, so look for new ways to monetize or find better employment if you feel you aren’t growing effectively. There is a slight possibility an income source could end, but if so, you are simply being redirected to another opening down the line. Throughout most of the month, the mighty Sun will be sizzling through your intimacy zone. This shows that you are trying to navigate the give-andtake in your relationships and wondering if your needs are truly being fulfilled. The New Moon on the 17th will open a door for you to clear the air and bring forth a better union.

However, if you feel like it is past the point of return, some of you will walk away. Yet, my instinct says that your relationships will be seeing growth rather than fading right now because Venus, the planet of harmony and pleasure, will be singing a love song in your sector of relationships throughout the entire month after the 6th. This means that no matter what, you can find agreement as long as you are looking to come from a place of grace. Single Aquarians can use this time to find a special someone—and with the mix of love and attraction spicing it up here, it looks like this person could bring both emotional and sexual fulfillment! Committed Aquarians must take advantage of this sparkle to do something sweet together so that they feel centered with their partner. Yet, the last thing to note this month is that the mighty planet, Mars, has been heating up your mind since June. It is likely you’ve been feeling more aggressive with your words, ready to split anyone in half who crosses you. You’ve also been strategically making plans on how you can swiftly move all matters in your favor, and this may occur through writing, speaking, or contractual negotiations.

Unfortunately, this month Mars will be falling asleep until mid-November, so this will not be the time to lash out, as your words will be held against you. Also, while Mars Retrograde doesn’t typically affect contracts, this falls in your sector of agreements and shows you shouldn’t sign anything important if you can avoid it now, too. Turn within in the months ahead to plan rather than making big moves now.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19TH - MARCH 20TH One of the most important months of the year has come for you, Pisces. This is because there will be so much focus on you and your most heartfelt hopes and dreams. (Cont. on page 140) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 139

HOROSCOPES SEPTEMBER 2020 To begin the month, a gorgeous Full Moon in your zodiac sign lights up the night on the 1st. The days before and after this will be the most important in 2020 for you, as you are stepping center stage and could see a very important personal goal debuting before the world. You are showing everyone who you are and what you’ve been up to, and this will be a fantastic time because everyone’s eyes will be on you! Important partnerships are also significantly on your mind in September, as the fiery Sun will be in this zone throughout most of it. This shows that you are likely dancing with significant partners in business or love and you realize that together your dynamic is instrumental in living the life you desire.

This is an excellent time for single Pisces to find long-term potential mates or business advocates to connect with the right matches who steer you forward. It does appear you could be negotiating things or else strategizing together. If for some reason you are not with the right partner, some Pisces could choose to part this month. All of this will become extremely clear in the days following the New Moon on the 17th. If single, don’t sit solo. Outreach to as many potential options as you can. While this would normally be a magnificent time for moving in, getting engaged, or married, I ask you to hold back temporarily. Mars will be retrograde at this time showing that the sex, chemistry, or devotion between you will fade if you promise forever now.

Hold off until the end of the year for a stronger agreement. Another exciting alignment this month is that the powerful guardian angel planet, Jupiter, will be waking up on the 12th. Since May of this year, you’ve been daydreaming about all of the important hopes and dreams within your heart—and debating which ones will truly fulfill you. This will differ depending on who you are: but some examples could be that you wish to debut the perfect project that will reach countless people worldwide or that you wish to finally live your fantasy life with the white picket fence. No matter what, now that Jupiter has awoken, you will likely see greater levels of happiness and blessings rain down upon you for the rest of the year. Last to note this month, though, is that I can see you have likely been spending a great deal of money since the end of June. Mighty Mars has been heating up your finances—giving you opportunities to make more but also bring in more, too. However, from September until mid-November, Mars will fall fast asleep, likely causing stagnation in your income.

This may mean that many huge expenses arise or that your money streams start to dry. While there is a possibility some Pisces may lose a job during this time and become unemployed, this would be the Universe’s way of telling you that you must change direction to truly reach a better place that enriches you both financially and spiritually.

Kyle Thomas Astrology www.kylethomasastrology.com @mrkylethomas

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