Uploader Magazine May 2020 - Paul Walter Hauser

CONTENT BY CREATORS

MAY 2020

MAGAZINE

FASHION Supplement

how to

VIRTUAL DATE

JASON FEIFER on Journalism & Entrepreneurs

Glow-up on lockdown

Inspirational WOMEN

TECH TIPS

Paul Walter

HAUSER ACTOR

ISSUE 06

lighting

TALKS RICHARD JEWELL, DREAM ROLES,

AND STAYING IN CHARACTER

THE

CONTENT CREATORS

MAGAZINE

FEATURING

BLOGGERS | VLOGGERS YOUTUBERS PODCASTERS AUTHORS | WRITERS

ACTORS|ACTRESSES

PERFORMERS

AND MORE...

Contents MAY 2020

SOCIAL & TECH 26 32

Simple Lighting Techniques - Annie Morcos Wise Words - Stefan Rötzer

BUSINESS & INFLUENCE 36 48 56

Champion of Change - Jason Feifer Life & Business Coach - Andrew Carlson Dead Files Host - Stephan Di Schiavi

BEAUTY 67 72 75

Ultimate Lockdown Glow-Up - Alice Jackson Beauty Scope - Debbie Savage Andrea’s Angle - Andrea Rappaport

LIFESTYLE 85 89 93

Virtual Dating - Rebecca Schuster LOA (Ask Becca) - Rebecca Schuster Lifestyle Buzz - Naza Holliman

FASHION 78

See Fashion Supplement Special

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN 98 106 115

What You Don’t See - Ali Hemsley Waiting For The Applause - Sarah Schreiber Business Success - Helena Kaylin

EXTRAS 9 123

Letter from the Editor Horoscopes & Astrology - Kyle Thomas

Page12 Our Cover Star

PAUL WALTER HAUSER Talks Richard Jewell, dreams roles and staying in character.

Photography: Bjoern Kommerell

UPLOADER

MAGAZINE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHERYL DE MARCO @cherylandmore

ON THE COVER PAUL WALTER HAUSER

@pwhauser Photographer: Bjoern Kommerell @bkheadshots

CONTRIBUTORS AND FEATURES Ali Hemsley @alihemsley Alice Jackson @alicejackson Andrea Rappaport @theandrearappaport Andrew Carlson @shiftintoactionnow Annie Morcos @anniesartstudio Debbie Savage @debbiessavage Helena Kaylin @minddbra Jason Feifer @heyfeifer Kyle Thomas @mrkylethomas Naza Holliman @sweet.p.and.sky Rebecca Schuster @lovebecca26 Sarah Schreiber @sarahschreiber Stefan Rรถtzer @stefanroetzer Stephen Di Schiavi @stevedischiavi Tiffany Giannato @tiffyg77

PHOTOGRAPHY

Chad Dunbar Daniel Forero Frank J. Gallio @cherryblossomphoto Hannah Bodsworth Vanessa S. Torres Jessie Hearn Photography Merissa Conley Nigel Parry @timelesspresent Val Westover Photography

GET IN TOUCH

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

Publisher

Uploader Media Limited

Photography: Bjoern Kommerell

Photography: Hannah Bodsworth

letter

FROM THE

EDITOR A

nother month has passed, with more sadness, more deaths, and more uncertainty. It’s incredibly hard to look at the positives during this difficult moment, as the entire globe faces the same challenges. But, it has also forced us to stop, re-think, focus, and re-evaluate every aspect of our lives. Whilst the world is slowly recovering from the torment we as a race have put it through; families and friends are connecting more than ever, as a human race we are all coming together, and strangers are no longer strangers.

Whilst being forced to stay at home may be unpleasant, please remember that there are many that are unable to do so, and live in fear daily in order to protect us all.

May’s issue is a special one as we celebrate 6 months, and our 6th publication, and whilst I had hoped that the magazine would make it this far, it is still very strange to think that this was only an idea last April. I could not have made it this far without family, friends, all the amazing features, of which many have now become friends, photographers, and our resident columnists.

This month I am incredibly proud and honored to have Paul Walter Hauser grace our cover. His passion, drive, and determination towards everything he does is inspiring, and his performances on-screen are both powerful and mesmerizing. We also include the editor in chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, Jason Feifer, as he talks journalism, entrepreneurship, and how the pandemic is forcing a new way of working.

During this time of chaos and uncertainty, where we are all suffering, and our beautiful world is crumbling beneath us. We need to come together, be mindful of those around us. Show kindness and compassion towards others who are struggling.

Be thoughtful and caring, and together we will get through this. Once again, I want to thank everyone who is currently putting their life on the line to help save others during this difficult time.

o c r a M e D l y r Che

UPLOADER MAGAZINE 9

ON THE COVER PaulWalter Hauser

12 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

Photography: Bjoern Kommerell

ON THE COVER

ACTOR AND COMEDIC GENIUS 14 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

PaulWalter

Hauser

Photography: Bjoern Kommerell

ON THE COVER

Our Editor in Chief caught up with actor Paul Walter Hauser to talk about his breakout performance in Clint Eastwood’s film ‘Richard Jewell’, along with a few other burning questions.

Pauls performance is both powerful and mesmerizing, yet his talent doesn’t stop there. He is a comedic genius, and we can’t wait to see what is next for this incredible guy. @ pwhauser Edited by Cheryl De Marco

C: What inspired you to become an actor?

P: I think it was Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise in the movie ‘A Few Good Men’, at the end of the film, they kind of square off and there’s just such disdain between the two, and they’re kind of playing a game with their words. I watched it when I was a younger kid, maybe 11 or 12 years old, and after watching that movie I wanted to dive in, I wanted to understand what they were doing and learn from it.

C: You have played some incredible roles, with powerful performances, but you are also a comedic genius, do you still do stand up comedy?

P: I don’t really perform stand up comedy anymore. That was something I did for 13 years off and on. It was just sort of a good way of stretching myself creatively whilst also trying to find an avenue or way into Hollywood, because I didn’t know what it would take to break into this business. Whether it was comedy, writing, acting or filmmaking, I just kind of tried to do everything in the hope that I could break into the business.

C: You recently played Richard Jewell which was your lead breakthrough role, How did it differ from other roles that you’ve played in terms of ‘It’s all eyes on you’?

P: It’s a pretty daunting task, and it’s strange to go from doing seven or eight scenes in a movie, where I come in and I’m the comedic relief, or I give some information on the plot and the story, and then I leave. It’s very daunting to go from that, to being in 90% of the scenes, and being the focal point of the film. Thankfully, everyone involved in that movie, the producers and the crew; everybody was very welcoming and made me feel at ease as they sort of knew that I was secretly nervous and terrified; I was acting very confident, but the reality was, that I WAS terrified.

C: What was it like working alongside Kathy Bates and being directed

by Clint Eastwood?

P: Kathy Bates is the dream casting that you would do if you wanted someone to play your mom. There aren’t many people that can capture her warmth and reality, and bits of humor and her feistiness. She just really feels like someone’s mom, you know, she’s got that about her. It was a big deal to have her involved, It was really exciting for everyone because everyone’s a fan of her.

An then Clint Eastwood as a director is very hands-off. (continued on page 19) 16 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

Photography: Bjoern Kommerell

Photography: Bjoern Kommerell

“

ON THE COVER

On not breaking character - that is what Kathy Bates would refer to it as ‘keeping the pot on the stove’.

C: It must be quite nice as an actor to be given that free rein to improvise.

P: I started improvising scenes in film and television when I was younger in my career, and I figured you can either ask for permission to do improvisation, or you can just do it, and later on ask for forgiveness if people don’t like it; so I erred on the side of asking for forgiveness. I would just go in and either make up things that I prerehearsed, or if they don’t yell cut, you keep living in the scene and just keep

“

He wants you as the actor, to walk in and show him what you’re doing, and show him what you’ve rehearsed. He tells you why he’s making the film, but he doesn’t really tell you how. He tries to inspire you as reasoning for making the film, but then he wants you to interpret, and feel free to take on the character.

acting. So, I did that not knowing that it would be sort of the greatest tool in my tool belt as an actor. I’ve had directors, and I won’t say who, but I’ve had directors literally contact me and say, “Hey, there’s only 9 or 10 lines in this role. but I’d like you to come in and just write your own dialogue and make it your own”. It’s sort of become an internal calling card for me.

C: Sadly, Richard Jewell passed away before the movie was made, but you did get a chance to meet with his mom Barbara “Bobi” Jewell, what was that experience like?

P: Yeah, it’s a strange thing, you can’t really prepare yourself for that moment. You just have to hope that she’s on board with this team, making this movie about her son’s life, and thankfully, she was very receptive to everyone. She had a great sense of

tidbits and anecdotes of information that were useful. Then at the end, she seemed very happy. My greatest fear, I think, was that she would think that I didn’t capture Richard’s spirit and personality, and I was afraid that she might not like the movie. In the end, she and her family members said that watching the film, they felt like they had their son back. They felt like they had Richard back for two hours, and that was the greatest compliment I could ever receive. I don’t think an Academy Award, or any type of trophy would say what they said after they saw the film.

C: That’s incredible to hear and one of the highest forms of praise. I can only imagine it must have been an emotional conversation.

P: It was, it was very emotional.

C: You really immerse yourself in every role you play, do you ever break character between scenes?

P: I’m not very nested when it comes to my behavior on set. It depends on what scene it is. If I’m doing a really difficult scene and after they yell cut, I’ll go back to putting my headphones on, and I’ll listen to music and I’ll stay secluded from the rest of the cast and crew because I know that I have to stay in it.

That’s sort of what Kathy Bates refers to as ‘keeping the pot on the stove’. If you want to stay in that place and make sure that you’re ready for the next scene, I would sometimes do that, but more often than not, I was cracking jokes and having conversations with everyone between takes, because, it can be a long day. It can also be a tough environment, especially when you’re the lead of a film, you want to take on a leadership role quietly, as far as trying to know everyone’s name and make everyone feel at home and to keep the atmosphere positive. So I try to do that, but it’s easier to do on some projects, than others. I did a TV show called ‘Kingdom’, it was not a big hit, but the critics loved it, and in that show, I played a character who is on the autism spectrum, suffering from PTSD after seeing both his parents die. It was just a very heavy, heavy role, although it was comedic in nature too, because I added comedy, but it was an incredibly tough role to stay in. That was one of those times where on set, sometimes I’d have to act like the character and stand (continued on page 21) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 19

Photography: Bjoern Kommerell

ON THE COVER in a corner and not let anybody bother me, which I hate doing because it makes it look like one of those annoying actors that takes themselves too seriously. But, also sometimes it’s really tough and you have to. Even if we don’t look at the acting world, let’s imagine any job on Earth, there are some jobs that need to be secluded and need focus. So, I would say I’m not really a method actor, but I do have those moments of needing privacy for focus.

C: Do you have a dream role?

P: People liked what I did in ‘Richard Jewell’, and it has lead to more great opportunities. But for a dream role, I would love to do something in the ‘Marvel’ or ‘DC Universe’ at some point, and play either a really great hero or a really great villain. Either way, I’d love to do what Chris Pratt did, slim down and put on a bunch of muscle and play a character like he did in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ or I’d just be as content with throwing on some makeup and cool threads and doing what Heath Ledger did as the Joker. That’s the first thing that comes to mind, but that’s also probably me getting excited about being paid really well in a market. [laughter] I would say, from a craft standpoint of trying to be a really good actor, It’d be cool to play former President Teddy Roosevelt, or be a serial killer on a show like Netflix’s ‘Mindhunter’. It would be great to keep playing real people, because these seem to be the stories people want to see the most.

C: What are some of the challenges that you faced working in this industry, and how did you overcome them?

P: There are a lot of challenges when you’re first trying to break into this industry, like maintaining a job of some kind that pays your bills, whilst you’re trying to audition, write or be a play. Maintaining that balance becomes difficult and having the energy for it all can be really difficult.

But, once you break into the business it becomes largely about who you surround yourself with, and making sure that you have a team of people you can trust and who you can depend on, and then it’s about making good decisions.

I was once offered two different roles at the same time. One was to play Richard Jewell in a TV show, like a limited series, and the other was to play Richard Jewell in Clint Eastwood’s movie. So I was offered the same character in two

opposing projects, in April of last year.

One of them was a lot of money, which was the TV one, and then the other one, there was no guarantee that the movie would get made. I had four days to make a decision and I just chose Eastwood.

The other project kept going and they got another actor who’s tremendous. So decisions like that are tough because you have to make a decision at that moment, and you don’t have all the information, so you go off your instincts and your emotions.

C: What’s what’s next for you?

P: A movie called ‘Silk Road’ where I have a few scenes opposite Jason Clarke from ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, that was a treat to get to play opposite him. I did another movie ‘BlacKkKlansman’ with Spike Lee, and now I’m in a new Netflix movie called ‘Da Five Bloods’ and that’ll be out sometime this fall I believe. There is another big movie that I did called ‘Cruella’ for Disney, it’s the Cruella DeVille origin story, and I play one of the henchmen.

C: Last one, I wanted to end with a lighthearted question. If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?

P: I guess I would have the power to make people love each other. We live in a pretty divisive world that desperately needs love. Maybe that sounds cheesy to some people, but it will be really cool to get people who vote very differently, or live very differently in a room together and just play music, feed them all pizza and alcohol, and try to get them to become friends. You’re not allowed to talk about politics, and you’re not allowed to talk about how you vote. But, you can talk about family, movies, music, hopes, dreams or love. So I would love to be this person that makes people love each other.

Whether that’s a superhero, or there’s some practicality to that, but that would be my hope as a superhero.

C: No, I don’t think that’s cheesy at all, it would be a nice thing to achieve.

P: Did you think I was going to say invisibility, so I can go in women’s locker rooms... [Laughter] I’m a gentleman Cheryl, I would never. [laughter]. Flying would be cool too, but I think flying would get old because you would be doing it alone, and you’d want people with you.

C: Very True!

UPLOADER MAGAZINE 21

“

“

I figured you can either ask for permission to do improvisation, or you can just do it, and later on ask for forgiveness if people don’t like it.

So I erred on the side of asking for forgiveness.

TAG US ON INSTAGRAM AND WE WILL PICK OUR FAVORITES FOR A SHOUT OUT IN THE NEXT ISSUE

@uploadermagazine

SOCIAL & TECH Edited by Cheryl De Marco

SIMPLE LIGHTING TECHNIQUES In love with those stunning and eye-catching photos you see all over social media, well it’s easier to create them than you think, and without all the fancy equiptment, so let’s go get creative!

SOCIAL

IMPROVE YOUR TECHNIQUE GET BETTER RESULTS

Words by Annie Morcos Instagram @anniesartstudio TikTok @AnniesArtStudio

A

ny big social media account you look at has beautifully photographed images. Beautiful lighting and composition.

That’s what sells you on a product isn’t it? Well we asked our resident social guru to give us her tips, and they are worth a read. So go grab your camera, or smart phone, and try your hand at photography using Annie’s tips. Make sure to send us the pictures of your masterpieces, as we will be giving away a free years subscription of our digital edition to three people, and a feature in July’s publication to one.

Please send all your images and details to hello@uploadermagazine.com, don’t forget to follow Annie for more tips and make sure to follow us for the annoucement of winners; also let us know what you would like to cover if we featured you.

When purchasing an item or following a new account, won’t you pick the prettier items? We all would. It’s called smart marketing! Now, not everyone is a fancy photographer. Do you need fancy equipment and cameras to get similar images for your platforms? No. Even with the fanciest cameras, if you don’t know how to use lighting to your advantage, your images won’t look professional and trendy. Whether you are photographing your artwork, items you sell, the food you’ve created, or even taking a selfie, lighting is key.

26 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

SOCIAL

S

o how do you control your lighting without all the equipment? You can take the most beautiful pictures with just your cell phone if you understand how to control the light and use it to your advantage. I’ve learned so much over the past few years and I want to share with you a few tips and tricks. How I take beautiful photographs without spending and investing in fancy equipment. Would you believe me if I told you that my cell phone is about 5 years old and I still take amazing photos? It’s true! With just a few simple rules to remember, I promise you can be a fancy photographer.

The first thing you always want to remember is that the light needs to face the object you are photographing. If you want a bright or sunlit image, the light has to be facing the object or person, and your lens facing the object as well, having the light behind you. If your lens is facing the light, you will have a backlit image and the object in focus will be very dark with a brighter light background. Now, this method is used to take some really amazing silhouette images, but let’s focus on more natural lighting scenarios. With the light facing your subject your photograph will be sharp and focused, your colors will be bright and natural. You do want to be careful of your surroundings as well.

If you’re photographing outside in the sunlight and you are against a white or very light background, you can have overexposure. Your images will be very blown out. Remember that white reflects light and there is already direct sunlight.

So this just takes a bit of composition choices.

Now what if you wanted your photograph to be bright and have even/ soft lighting without the strength of direct sunlight. These are my favorite kinds of images. They are bright and calm. Sometimes, direct sunlight can make your images a bit bolder. For softer imagery you need to photograph your subject in shadow parts of the day. My favorite spot is in my front yard once the sun has moved later on in the day to the backyard side of the house. This kind of lighting is the most even lighting you will find. You will have the least amount of shadows, and your subject will be overall highlighted the same. This also makes it easy to focus on an overall subject and see all the details. This kind of lighting is key with items that may have gloss or shine. In direct sunlight, a

28 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

reflective image will be very bright and all you will have in your photograph is a flare of light. So to capture details of reflective items, you definitely don’t want direct sunlight or even a ring light. Natural even shadow lighting is the way to go.

Alright, so we talked about direct sunlight and calm shadow sunlight.

But how about if you’re indoors. Well, it’s the same concept. I always tend to gravitate on photographing near a window because it is an even and natural source of light. We have to remember the same ideas we talked about before. Now if you want your subject to be more highlighted, you will want to have your subject facing the window and the light coming in through it. You can do the same with even lighting! Again, you have the subject facing the window, or near the window to get the brightness, however, this time there isn’t direct sunlight

shining through the window but there is still plenty of even lighting coming in. You can arrange a table or nice setting right in front of the window and it will be the perfect setting to capture the light for your photograph from indoors.

Now you’ve taken these amazing photographs, but maybe you want a little more oomph. I love my images to be a bit more saturated, more punch in the colors! Don’t be fooled, even the most beautiful pictures are photoshopped or enhanced with editing tools in apps. I love the Instagram tools of editing. You can play with brightness, saturation, warmth, sharpness and so much more. Besides the Instagram tools, I LOVE using the Lightroom app! It’s free and basically photoshop at your fingertips. Now I don’t suggest over editing at all. In fact, please don’t. It’s very obvious and completely takes (continued on page 30)

SOCIAL

“Generally speaking if you pick a neutral background that isn’t very busy and have nice direct lighting, you’re golden.” away from your image. I like to use these tools to push a bit of highlight and enhance the saturation a bit. What can I say... I like color! You can use these tools as you see fit to compliment your style best.

I know we said we were going to take photographs without equipment.

Let’s pretend we did for a bit and we have a great hang on things. What if you had a medium size, inexpensive ring light to help enhance your photos a bit? You would use this in shadow lighting and indoors, because in direct sunlight it would have no effect. You can find small/medium size basic ring lights for as low as $40 on Amazon. I definitely believe that if your business runs off social media and imagery, you eventually need a ring light. Just a little extra direct light that will face the subject the same as all the lighting we talked about before. The difference is you can manually control this lighting and have some highlights if you need them. This will be a small investment that will help some of your photography look a lot more professional.

I’ll leave you with this. None of this comes easy. This does take practice and time. These simple rules will guide you into your own style. My suggestion is always the same. Find social media accounts that have the same style you are going for. Study the image you want to mimic. Does it have direct sunlight? Is it in shadow lighting? Alright, you figured that out? Great. Now go practice and try setting up the same scene. By studying how you want your images to be you can set up your own. Also, remember this. Don’t steal ideas. Become inspired and recreate in your own style.

Happy photographing my fellow creators! Here’s to more beautiful photographs for our social platforms.

Annie Morcos 30 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

Stefan Rรถtzer

Words by Stefan Rötzer @stefanroetzer, edited by Cheryl De Marco

WISE WORDS

TECH

FILM & VIDEO PRODUCER

A

few months ago, did you ever imagine your year starting like this? A little while ago we were upset about going to the gym for a workout, we were annoyed waiting two days for an appointment at the barbershop, or we just didn’t want to go to work. Time changes and sometimes it changes drastically. In this difficult time we are currently living in, there are a few things that recently come to mind. It’s no secret that on one side of the coin there is fear, loss, and restrictions in various areas. People have reduced working hours, lost jobs, or unable to open their businesses. All those things are the reasons for heated discussions, but if you take a step back, try to realize that every coin has two sides. So it’s up to you on which side you lead your focus, so you start evolving.

In every crisis, there are lots of possibilities, and in our case now, we have a lot of time at home and probably more time for ourselves than ever before.

When you try to ignore fear and other negative concerns let things be as they are, because remember:

“Accept the things you can‘t change, and change the things you can change”.

For the first time ever since starting my own production company, I am living my days with no liabilities, no calls, no shoots, and also no weekenddinners with my mother-in-law which is quite acceptable. Just let me tell you that I do think about money and income, feeding my family and all that kind of stuff. Especially when the lockdown in our country was drastically fulfilled. For a lot of people, there is no possibility to earn money including myself. In this suspenseful time I was able to find solutions to earn money. I found niches that came into being during the crisis. I run a film production company, and I quickly figured out that live streams are becoming popular, so why not lend a “Professional Live-Stream Kit” for people who appreciate good quality? Let’s also focus on product films, which is a perfect time since local online shopping is in great demand. I also thought about building a COVID-friendly production studio. I am a firm believer in karma. Besides all that business-related stuff I think all relationships, all working conditions and the way we treat ourselves is in change. Sometimes change hurts, but whether you realize you are in a bad relationship or you start appreciating your partner even more - be happy you got the chance to find out now. Do you miss your job already? If so, great… you reached this perspective. I am no motivational writer but let me come to an end with a quote:

“

“

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

– Wayne Dyer –

UPLOADER MAGAZINE 33

JOIN THE TEAM would you like to do more than just read the magazine?

Uploader Magazine is looking for content creators and influencers that love trying products, voicing their opinions and sharing across various media platforms.

To apply, send an email with your details, please include your social accounts and a link to your blog/channel platform you create content for to:

hello@uploadermagazine.com

BUSINESS & INFLUENCE Edited by Cheryl De Marco

Photographer: Nigel Parry

THREE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES THREE PROBLEM SOLVERS

UPLOADER MAGAZINE 35

FEATURE

CHAMPION OF CHANGE

EDITOR IN CHIEF AT ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE, AND HOST OF THREE PODCASTS, JASON FEIFER TALKS ENTREPRENEURSHIP, HIS BOOK ‘MR. NICE GUY’, AND HOW CHANGE IS INEVITABLE. @heyfeifer Edited by Cheryl De Marco

36 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

Jason

Feifer

Photographer: Nigel Parry

Photographer: Nigel Parry

FEATURE

“In journalism, you are trained, that you’re not the story, to take yourself out of the story, and so that was my instinct.”

C: What inspired you to pursue a career as a journalist?

J: I’ve loved writing from at least middle school. I tried a lot of different kinds of writing, including fiction and screenwriting, and then I eventually realized that the thing that I was actually good at was talking to people, and getting a story out of it; and so I discovered that journalism was an amazing path into people’s lives. It gave you an opportunity to talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to, about things you wouldn’t normally talk about, that was exciting, so I started pursuing it. I took a bunch of small-town newspaper internships, and then once I finished college, I took a job at a small-town newspaper.

C: You have worked for some incredible publications, and still do, and so your career path is absolutely outstanding, one that many would dream of.

J: I’ve been lucky. I’ve taken a lot of risks and jumped around a lot, but I always kept focused on what’s next, really over whatever I am currently doing.

C: Now as the Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, would you say that the way you approach your work has changed throughout the years?

J: Yes, it changed quite a lot. The biggest change was in the last couple of years, once I became editor-in-chief, because I stopped thinking of myself as purely a reporter, and started thinking of myself as an active player. In journalism, you are trained, that you’re not the story, to take yourself out of the story, and so that was my instinct. Almost every opportunity that I had, I was behind the scenes, and then this job put me in the front of it, where people now want to know what I think. I don’t think that my readers really see me as a journalist, they see me as a spokesperson for entrepreneurship; that’s a completely different role, and it took some getting used. I needed to figure out what that role was, what my voice was, what people needed from me, and how I could serve them. But, once I figured it out, I wouldn’t go back. I’m kind of done being behind the scenes, and now everything that I do going forward from here will be very forward-facing. (continued on page 41) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 39

Photographer: Nigel Parry

FEATURE

“The brilliance of life is to follow an unpredictable path, and one of the greatest discoveries I think people make as they get older is that the path is uncontrollable, but that it takes you to places that were way better than you could have ever anticipated.”

C: You inspire people daily through your work, did you ever imagine that you would become a public figure, speaking on stage, and giving advice to entrepreneurs and business leaders?

J: No, not at all. Nobody imagines their exact path. The brilliance of life is to follow an unpredictable path, and one of the greatest discoveries I think people make as they get older is that the path is uncontrollable, but that it takes you to places that were way better than you could have ever anticipated. So, none of this was on my radar at all. I didn’t know a thing about entrepreneurship. I didn’t know a thing about business, and I would have never ever used the word entrepreneur to describe myself.

There were elements throughout my life that I’ve always enjoyed, like being on stage, but I never had a reason to be on stage. I’m not an actor, I can’t sing, and I can’t dance, and so in college, there would be occasional times where I was on stage, introducing somebody or something, and I always loved it, I got a real rush out of it. But I just thought, well, those will be fun little random times, because why on earth would anybody actually put me on a stage.

I remember sitting around with a friend of mine, who is in PR many years ago, when I was first becoming acclimated to this job at Entrepreneur, and he said, “you know, you could charge a lot of money, and speak on stage”.

It just hadn’t occurred to me that people would pay me to do that, but of course, that sounded great! I asked how much money should I charge, and he gave me a number which seemed absurd, so absurd in fact, that once I started actually offering the service, I couldn’t bring myself to say it. So then he was getting annoyed at me, and my wife was getting annoyed at me [laugh], and so eventually I came to understand that you have to value yourself and value yourself highly. That was a good learning experience, and now I’m not afraid of valuing myself highly.

So, I guess the answer to your question is, no. I’ve revised what it was, that I thought I was supposed to do, and what I wanted to do a million times. I thought I was going to be a newspaper columnist, a political reporter, one of those flowery feature writers, and a celebrity writer. I’ve revised it a million times and will continue to do so, I’m sure.

C: What does the term ‘entrepreneur’ mean to you, and would you say it has changed over the years?

J: Oh yeah, I would. Entrepreneur as a brand is just a little over 40 years old, I would think that most people didn’t know what the word meant. I think that they thought of it as a very specific kind of job. Maybe a small business person. But, that has radically changed, and I think probably coming out of the financial crisis of 2008, there was a reordering in people’s minds of how their personal economies worked, and they realized, especially young people, that you couldn’t go into a job and just expect to be there your whole career. The world was more unstable, and you had to take care of yourself, because nobody else was going to take care of you. So, I think that drew people to this word, this concept of entrepreneurship, which, got really very broadly defined. I think it’s stopped meaning any one particular kind of job, and it started meaning a kind of mindset, a take care of yourself mindset. So that’s how I define it. I defined it as the phrase I like to use as “an entrepreneur is someone who makes things happen for themselves”. That enables me to feel like I fit into this word, right. I haven’t started a business in any kind of traditional sense, and I’m not an entrepreneur in the traditional sense, so the word under some old definition wouldn’t really fit me; but I feel like I can fit inside of it quite nicely. So that’s how I define it really, as a mindset, and I found that many people do too.

C? What is the number 1 advice you would give to any new entrepreneur starting out?

J: Get out there early and learn. If you’re starting, then you need to know that nothing will launch perfectly, and you won’t know nearly the things that you’re supposed to know, until it’s actually out there in the world. I think that people are often afraid to launch because they think that it’s got to be perfect, or that they need to know much more than they do. The truth is, the only way to actually build something, is to put out a very imperfect product, and get people to engage with it, and then learn from what they say, revise and then repeat that over and over again. So, don’t sit on the sidelines, don’t be afraid. Put out what you know, and really embrace that. There is this business term, MVP, (minimum viable product), and I know that sounds wonky, but it’s actually a pretty amazing thing. MINIMUM VIABLE, what is the least amount of viability here? What is the smallest amount that you could put out, that makes some kind of sense? Just get it out? GET IT OUT. And then you’ll see how people are reacting to it. Be really open to feedback, be really open to criticism, track everything, and then take it from there.

“AN ENTREPRENEUR IS SOMEONE WHO MAKES THINGS HAPPEN FOR THEMSELVES”

C: How are you coping and managing ‘Entrepreneur Magazine’ during the pandemic lockdown, and has it revealed any changes in the way the magazine will be run going forward?

J: We’re fortunate in that we have a pretty clear purpose. I think that during this pandemic, you need to really hone in on your value to others. (continued on page 42)

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FEATURE Your business is only successful if you’re solving problems for people, but especially in times of crisis, people are laser-focused on needing solutions and pretty much nothing else. We scrapped a lot of our side projects, and things that we were exploring and we focused on our core value. We thought how are we able to connect with people and engage people, and then give them exactly what they need? So for example, we’ve always done webinars, but we have just recently poured everything into them, and I’m hosting them all the time now.

We completely scrapped our next issue and we’re rebuilding it entirely focused on Corona Virus, trying to figure out what people need, and when those needs are going to shift. Things are going to be different and more complex, and the thing that I’m especially excited about is getting past the point where it’s just shellshock for everybody, and to the place where people are now really innovating, they’re seeing what new opportunities have come from these massive shifts, and creating amazing things that are going to be useful in a non-pandemic world. Some companies have stepped up almost immediately, but I think that many more will follow, and we’ll want to evolve with them.

C: You also have a couple of podcasts, can you tell us a little about them?

J: Yeah, so I actually have three podcasts, Pessimists Archives, Problem Solvers, and Hush Money, and they’re all different in their format, in their production, and in their purpose, and they all come out on the same day. So briefly going into Pessimists Archive, it is a history show about why people are resisting things. Each episode looks at the moment when something new was introduced into the world, and we learn and explain why it freaked everyone out, because everything that is new, is scary. The things that you think of is the most innocent basic fabric of our lives, things like teddy bears and picking up products on a store shelf and bicycles and novels. All these things were when new, resistant and decried, and feared. So why does that happen? And why does it continue to happen? And what can we learn about today’s fears by looking back at yesterday’s fears, so that’s Pessimists Archive.

Problem Solvers is a show that I make for ‘Entrepreneur’. It’s a show about entrepreneurs solving problems 42 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

in their business. Each episode, in ‘normal times’ focuses on how an entrepreneur overcame a specific problem in their business, forcing them to rethink the business entirely. But, we’ve shifted all these podcasts to be Corona Virus focused now, so now I’m hearing from a lot of entrepreneurs who are seeing opportunity in this crisis. Last week I interviewed an entrepreneur who was running his company from bed, because he had caught the Corona Virus, so, we’ll see where that evolves.

Hush Money is a show that I do with a co-host whose name is Nicole Lapin, she is a best selling money expert and used to be an anchor on CNN and CNBC. We talk about how money makes life awkward, and the kind of funny money questions that people always face but don’t really have an answer to; things like who pays on the first date? Should you give your

friend a loan? But now, the Hush Money team are currently producing a brand new season that really focuses on answering people’s financial questions related to the crisis.

C: The book that you wrote with your wife “Mr. Nice Guy” was the product of an idea you had back in your 20’s.

Can you tell us a bit about your book, and the idea behind it?

J: The idea came out of an email exchange that I had in my 20’s with a sex columnist, who had reached out to me asking for some freelance writing advice. We were in touch professionally for a couple of months trading contacts, and during that time, I came up with this idea, which was, what would happen if two people, one of which I guess was the sex columnist, each week slept together and then critically reviewed (continued on page 44)

Photographer: Nigel Parry

FEATURE each other’s performance in a magazine. It just seemed like a funny premise, but I didn’t know how to write it. I’m not really good at fiction, I tried and tried, and eventually kind of gave up.

But I always had the idea, and when I told people the idea I had for a novel, they would say it was funny, and I should do it, but I just didn’t know how. Then I met and ultimately married my wife, she is a novelist, and had written a couple of books prior.

Then after selling her most recent novel Prior to Mr. Nice Guy, she was trying to figure out what to do next. So I suggested she wrote my book, because we both liked the premise and I was never going to do it. She said “well, why don’t we do it together?”, so that’s what we did. It took about three years, and, we divided labor, she did the bulk of the actual book writing, but we divided up parts that would be for me, and for her, we edited each other’s work, we plotted the whole thing out together. It was a lot of fun. It was also random, because we started working on it when I was just a journalist, and by the time it came out, I had this kind of public role with entrepreneurship, and this had absolutely nothing to do with it. So it was a little weird to try to share this with my entrepreneurship audience, but people did buy it, and they did like it, and we optioned it for television, so we’re excited to see where that goes.

C: What is next for you?

J: I think what’s next is building upon the core identity and purpose found here, which, through Entrepreneur and in particular Pessimists Archive, is to become some kind of spokesperson and an advocate of change. There are lots of different ways to do that, I’ll do a book on it at some point, and there are interesting conversations happening about whether Pessimists Archive can become a TV show. I know that focusing on building skill sets and build an audience will pay off in ways that I can’t anticipate, so I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about the specifics of the direction that I go in. Instead, I spent a lot more time just focused on building the foundation and building the foundational tools. I’m always focused on what comes next in a very abstract way. So that means, podcasts, speaking, writing as much as I can, building a social following, being as engaged with the Entrepreneur Magazine audience as possible, and then see what opportunities come out of that.

C: I know you are an extremely busy guy, but what does a day in your life look like?

J: Obviously I’m not going anywhere. So it’s just handling a million different tasks, some long, and some short for the podcast and the magazine. But in normal times, which hopefully we’ll return to soon enough, every day is a little different. I try to block out times for focusing on longer projects, where I can really deeply think through a challenge, and a piece of writing.

Then there are other times where I just try to squeeze as many little things as I can into 30 or 60 minutes. I get interviewed a lot, which is fun, and I interview other people. I take a lot of meetings, although a lot fewer these days, and it’s not because of the Corona Virus; I just get too busy to take meetings unless they seem really critical. I do a fair amount of traveling, not now, but usually. To be honest, it wouldn’t look very exciting if you had a camera on me all day. It would just look like me sitting at a desk, pacing around the office, and then occasionally running out to get a salad. But, what I’m doing during that time is juggling a million things, and trying to touch base with as many people as possible.

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Photographer: Nigel Parry

C: What 3 words would your colleagues use to describe you, what 3 words would your friends use to describe you, and then what 3 words would you choose to describe yourself?

J: Three words my colleagues would use to describe me... focused, fast, as I try to move through things quickly; and ambitious.

My friends [laughing] probably... really hard to reach (if we can count that as one). Because especially between work and kids, I don’t get to see my friends nearly as often as I do. I guess also supportive, I would hope, because we’re all trying to help each other out, and maybe inquisitive.

Then to describe myself... curious, ambitious, and high energy. I try to stay pretty high energy on everything because it’s my persona, and I am able to go for sustained periods of time without really needing to take a break. One of my favorite things to do is to just drill into something for hours at a time, which is frustrating because I often don’t have the opportunity to do that these days, but I can’t wait to get back to it.

C: I saw this on ‘Fast Company’ [wink] If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

“Well, I guess... who doesn’t want to fly? But then, you don’t want to be flying and attacked whilst flying, so if I can logic my way into this one; I think I would go with Albatross, because they can cruise for an exceptional period of time. Yep, Albatross.”

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SOCIAL DISTANCING SAVES LIFES

LIFE AND BUSINESS COACH

FEATURE

Reducing stress and anxiety during times of uncertainty

Andrew Carlson life and business coach to celebrities and influencers, gives a detailed step by step guide on how to manage stress and anxiety words by Andrew Carlson, edited by Cheryl De Marco www.shiftintoactionnow.com @shiftintoactionnow

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ife is a rollercoaster of emotions. There are days when we are on cloud nine and there are other days when we are struggling to get out of bed in the morning. When we needed to, we were able to go down the street to a local pub and grab a drink with some friends. We were able to take out aggression at the gym. We were able to go to the store without questioning whether or not they would have toilet paper. But then the world changed.

Day by day, things were getting more and more. It started with social distancing which people didn’t really take seriously. Then, little by little, we were quarantined into our homes until further notice. The things we took for granted on a day to day basis became luxuries. Running to the store for a few things ended up becoming trips to stockpile on a month’s worth of food. Getting together with family or friends for the holidays became Zoom get-togethers. Businesses that weren’t essential had to either adapt to working from home or cease operations immediately. Everything in life became uncertain, challenging, and scary. People were struggling with stress and anxiety when we were dealing with what life was before the quarantine happened. But now, everything is amplified.

If you currently feel anxious, scared, or even stressed out about this whole situation, you’re not alone. As a life & business coach who has studied how the mind processes information for the last decade, there are certain things that we can do to reduce the stress, fear, & anxiousness that we’re feeling. (continued on page 50)

Val Westover Photography

Andrew Carlson

FEATURE

HOW THE MIND WORKS The core purpose of our mind is to protect us and keep us safe. When we experience fear, our mind is wired to filter through the instincts of “fight, flight, or freeze”. This is why some of us are able to push through the fear and do something terrifying while others stop in their tracks or run away from the situation altogether.

The first step before we can make any change in life… mental, physical, or emotional... is to simply be aware of where we are in our current state of mind.

Because if we don’t know where we are, how could we ever know where we want to go? Take a pilot for instance. If a pilot didn’t know where they were, how would they be able to map out a flight path to their final destination? Would you stay on the plane if the pilot came on the intercom and said, “Thank you for boarding flight #302 to Denver. I don’t know where we are and I don’t know how we’re going to get there, but what I can tell you is that it’s going to be an experience…” I know I would run off that flight as fast as I could.

But we do this with life every single day. We don’t take the time to understand where we are or how we’re feeling – we just become overwhelmed with emotions and it becomes uncontrollable.

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FEATURE

Now that we know how the mind works… here’s how we can reduce stress and anxious feelings during times of uncertainty.

1. Be Aware of Your Emotions & Have Compassion Whenever you feel stress or anxious emotions, your adrenaline starts pumping through your system. Your heart rate speeds up, your blood pressure increases, and your body temperature starts to get higher. This cycle continues to build on itself and can become overwhelming. This often triggers what people call “panic attacks”.

In order to reduce feelings of stress or anxious feelings, we must break the cycle or interrupt our emotional patterns.

Before we can interrupt our emotional patterns, you must take a moment and sit in the present. Be aware of how your body mentally and physically reacts to stress & anxious feelings.

Once you’re aware of how your body reacts to these stressors, then you’re able to work on controlling your response to it.

Remember, take it day by day, moment by moment. Be compassionate if it doesn’t work right away. You are working against your instinctual programming so it may take a few attempts to get it right but this is one of the most powerful things you can do.

2. Close Your Eyes and Take Deep Breaths The next step is to take deep breaths. Whenever we’re experiencing stress or anxious feelings, we tense up. All of the weight feels like it’s in our chest and hanging out on our shoulders. We end up taking short, shallow breaths which restricts the amount of oxygen that you have going to your brain. This creates the reality in our mind that we are in danger so everything floods our system all at once. So in order to stop this cycle, we have to interrupt the process.

Closing our eyes allows us to turn off one sense so we can focus on controlling the others. When you close your eyes, I want you to focus on breathing deeply for 3-5 seconds.

Inhale for 3-5 seconds, hold it for 3-5 seconds, and exhale for 3-5 seconds. Focus on slowing down your heart rate. This will reduce the adrenaline pumping through your body and increase the oxygen flowing to your brain. Breathing deeply actually stimulates our lymphatic system which detoxifies our bodies. The more you can focus on breathing deeply, you’ll be able to reduce the noise in your mind about everything that’s stressing you out. (continued on page 52)

Val Westover Photography

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FEATURE 3. You Get What You Focus On… Our focus creates our own reality. This is because your mind has something called a reticular activator. This part of our mind creates a filter in which we process everything through. So, when you focus on the stress or anxious feelings, you are training your mind to look for more of that. The big thing that I have people do, once they have reduced the feelings of stress or anxiousness, is to focus on how they want to feel instead.

Do you want to feel calm? Happy? Determined? Content?

All of our emotions are stored in our bodies & in our memories.

We can recall a moment in our life when we felt a certain way and tap back into those emotions. But if we spend all our time feeling stressed and anxious, you are creating neurological connections to feel that way. That becomes your new normal. So take a moment, while your eyes are closed and you’re breathing deeply, to focus on how you’d rather feel. Go back to a time when you felt that emotion you want to feel and allow yourself to relive that moment. This will bring back those feelings and you can start re-connecting those neurological connections to that emotion.

4. Other Activities to Reduce Stress & Anxious Feelings There are many activities that we can do to reduce stress or anxious feelings. Here’s a short but mighty list that will also help.

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Go on a walk (outside if possible – just make sure to use social distancing rules & wear a mask).

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Listen to some upbeat music and dance it out (this will trigger endorphins to flow through your mind and you’ll start to feel better).

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Exercise (if you have equipment at home or are able to find a workout routine that doesn’t use equipment).

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Watch a comedy! (If you’re struggling to feel good, the best remedy is to find something that makes you laugh. Watch a show, movie, or even a comedian who can make you laugh).

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Call a trusted friend (It’s not the same when you can’t hang out with them but a trusted friend who is there for you is sometimes the best medicine).

At the end of the day, we are the only ones who can be in control of our emotions and how we respond to any situation that happens to us. These are the moments who define who we are, that challenge us, and force us to grow.

Take this time of isolation to focus on your inner strength because this won’t last forever. But how you respond to stress and feelings of anxiousness will always be there. The more you can work on coping with it during circumstances that you can’t control, you’ll be so much stronger when there are moments that we can control. When in doubt… just know that you are so much stronger than you think. You’ve endured so much just to be who you are today. When you don’t have the strength to do it alone, just know that I am always here for you.

Keep in touch.

I’d love to hear how this helped you!

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You get what you focus on so focus on what you want – Steve Mehr –

FEATURE

OUTSPOKEN AND BRUTALLY HONEST

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ACTOR CO-HOST USMC VETERAN RETIRED NYPD HOMICIDE DETECTIVE

by Cheryl De Marco @stevedischiavi

rom the United States Marine Corps, to homicide detective and now co-host of the popular Paranormal show “The Dead Files” which has just recently aired its 12th season finale, Stephen Di Schiavi took the time to answer a couple of questions, and we are glad he did. There is a lot more to Stephen than just co-hosting “The Dead Files”, and our Editor-in-Chief Cheryl De Marco wanted to find out more.

Stephen’s public life is just that, public! However, we wanted to learn about the side we don’t see. We get to learn how he really feels about the paranormal, just how accurate his cohost Amy really is, and also what he does to unwind outside of filming the show.

With almost 22 years working in law enforcement, Brooklyn born and raised, Stephen has witnessed and experienced more than most, so it is not surprising to learn that he has amassed

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great respect and loyalty from many people throughout his life, both work and private.

If you really want to learn more about Stephen outside of the extremely popular paranormal show, we suggest after reading this interview, to check out all of the other work he has done, especially the NYPD documentary we briefly touched on which really gives you a true and eye-opening glimpse of his life as a homicide detective.

Whilst it may not surprise you that Stephen is a hardworking guy, we were surprised to learn just how much it takes to research and create just one episode of “The Dead Files” show.

Trust us, you will be surprised to learn just how much work goes into 45 minutes of watch time.

Now residing in Florida, this Italian/American is outspoken and brutally honest with a flare of laugh out loud humor which you will notice if you follow him on any of his social media accounts; it is refreshing and we love it!

Stephen

Di Schiavi

& QA C: You refer to “The Dead Files” show as a Docudrama rather than a Paranormal Show, which I completely understand since only half of the show actually covers possible paranormal occurrences. I really like that the show has incorporated history and research on every case, which is a specialty of yours; do you feel that this has opened the show up to a wider audience?

S: I really do believe our show has a much wider range of viewers than most other paranormal shows. I’ve been approached by all types of people on the street who recognize me and tell me why they love the show. I’ve had doctors, airline pilots, chefs, etc., all kinds of people. A lot say they can watch the show with their husbands or wives who do NOT believe in the paranormal, but watch it for the history and pragmatic investigative side of the show.

C: Many people believe that since you co-host “The Dead Files” with Amy, that you both spend an incredible amount of time together, which isn’t really true. How often do you actually see each other?

S: To be perfectly honest, it’s rare if I see her outside the reveal table. We are co-workers but do not mingle socially.

C: Amy certainly shows amazing talent and I can imagine working alongside her must be fascinating, do you ever find yourself questioning the paranormal.

S: As the eternal detective [laugh] it’s hard for me not to question EVERYTHING. That being said, I’ve always had a belief that there might be something going on other than our reality. As I listen to Amy, it’s sometimes hard to swallow what she is saying, however,

FEATURE

it is also hard to doubt her when she is so accurate, when it comes to what she sees and my background research. Whilst I will always have questions regarding all aspects of life, I will equally always question the paranormal.

C: I imagine the process for each “Dead Files” case is lengthy, how long do you spend investigating and researching each one?

S: On average it is about a 4-5 week process which does not include the filming of the show. We film about 80 hours of footage for each show, of which I film 65-70 hours, and then it is edited down to 42-44 minutes of footage for the viewing audience.

C: Once back from traveling for the show, how do you unwind?

S: [LAUGH] That’s a process of putting my luggage down, take my clothes off and take a nice shower, then I’ll just chill on the couch and catch up on shows that taped while I was gone.

Unfortunately living alone means I have to be an adult the next day, which sucks [laugh], and go through the mail and do house stuff that needs attention. After that though, I’ll meet my buddies at our local cigar bar for fun, I’ll fish in my backyard, kayak, golf, and play drums daily for 1-2 hours. (continued on page 61)

FEATURE C: After High school you served 3 years in the USMC (United States Marine Corps), which after honorable discharge led you to joining the NYPD, spending almost 22 years and retiring from the Manhattan North Homicide Squad. This in itself is an incredible and honorable achievement. Was this the path you originally expected to take, or did you have other career ideas?

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S: Honestly, I always thought about the military, my father along with his 4 brothers all served in combat in WWII, so it was embedded in me. As far as being a cop, well that was the furthest thing from my mind growing up, cops weren’t exactly liked in my neighborhood in Brooklyn [laugh], and I wasn’t exactly the most lawabiding citizen in those days [laugh]. The USMC changed my attitude towards life and put me on a good path, I did however have a strict upbringing and was raised by decent hard-working parents, but after I lost my dad at the age of 17 I kinda went a little crazy on the street [laugh]. My sister filed me for the police test while I was in the Marines, and I took the test while I was home on leave, and 16 days after I was discharged, I was in the NYPD police academy. So as afar as having other career ideas, not so much, I was thrown out of high school in 10th grade and worked the streets for a living. The US Marine Corps saved my life in many ways.

Growing up as an American with Italian old school values, was the best upbringing a kid could have, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

C: I have just watched the Emmy winning ABC’s “NYPD 24/7” in which you were the featured detective in the 1st episode. How did that come about, and would you say it gives a true depiction in the life of an NYPD detective?

S: Wow, I had no idea you saw that. Well for starters we were forced by the Police Commissioner at the time to cooperate with ABC news. As you probably know, most police have no use for the media, so working with them hand in hand was not easy lol. However, they did film us for 18 months and we did learn to trust them, they did a great job and did convey through that documentary a true depiction of life as a street cop in NYC. C: You made your debut film appearance as a detective in the crime drama “Pride & Glory” which was directed

by Gavin O’Connor featuring Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, and Noah Emmerich; and also starred in the short alongside Chris Orbach, directed by Lynda Balsama, “Stake Out: My Dad’s Rolex”, would you consider doing more roles like that? BTW, I love the humor in “Stake Out: My Dad’s Rolex”.

S: [LAUGH], yeah that stakeout stuff was all ad-libbed too, and lots of fun. I was originally there to consult, and when they couldn’t get what I was saying, Linda asked me to jump in. Ya know, all the things I’ve been on when it comes to TV, was all generated from producers seeing me on “NYPD 24/7”. I had no ambitions to be on TV or act. I think once “The Dead Files” ends, I’d more than likely go back to being a normal guy again and lead a simpler life, I HATE all the traveling and crappy hotels involved with filming the show. However, if there was something I can do for TV that was not so physically draining, I would consider it.

C: You were born to 1st generation Italian parents in Brooklyn, NY. How important is your Italian heritage and can you speak Italian?

S: I spoke Italian as a child but lost it when I went to school for some reason. As far as my Italian heritage goes, it’s who I am as a person, we are very passionate loving people, and we hold no punches, which most people, can’t take [laugh]. We are brutally honest and say what’s on our minds, which is the TOTAL opposite of this business (Hollywood) that I’m in at the moment.

Growing up as an American with Italian old school values, was the best upbringing a kid could have, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

C: What’s next for you?

S: That’s a good question, my thoughts are that once Hollywood is done with me, I’ll be back to the civilian way of life. I do NOT consider myself a celebrity by any stretch, so I probably will look for a job where I can utilize my investigative skills and see where that leads me.

C: During these uncertain times whilst the world is on lockdown, how are you coping?

S: Well for me, my home is my sanctuary and I’ve got many projects I have been putting off, and this gives the opportunity to do that; I’ve also been catching up with friends and family I haven’t spoken to in a while, so that’s good. I’m fortunate enough to live in a very large body of waterways and kayak often, as well as do some fishing off my dock. Oh yeah, then there’s drinking [laugh].

C: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

S: Oooh, hard question! For me, it would probably be something like a superman character.Fighting for the weak and injustices, sounds corny, but that’s me deep down inside always trying to help people. Public service is all I know.

It’s such an incredible honor to talk and interview you, and I along with many others thank you for your service both past and present, and I look forward to further success in your career.

S: Thank you so very much, I really appreciate you saying that. I wish you all the best as well.

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Whilst I will always have questions regarding all aspects of life, I will equally always question the paranormal.

BEAUTY Edited by Cheryl De Marco

GLOW-UP DURING LOCKDOWN Whilst the world is on lockdown, we explore beauty at home, and how to create the ultimate lockdown glow-up.

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BEAUTY

THE ULTIMATE LOCKDOWN GLOW-UP

Looks and Step by Step Guide by ALICE JACKSON @alicejackson Alice Jackson on YouTube

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efore the world was turned upside down, and our homes became schools, offices and studios; we met with magazine and wedding makeup artist Alice Jackson. We asked her to create a step by step guide for the ultimate yet simple glow-up look that we can all practice during lockdown. Grab your makeup bag, get your brushes and give it a go. Make sure to send us the images of your finished look, as we will be giving away a free years subscription of our digital edition to three people, and a feature in July’s publication to one. Make sure you send all your images and details to hello@uploadermagazine.com and let us know what you would like to cover if we featured you.

Lockdown doesn’t have to mean pajamas, box sets, and boredom (although I’d be lying if I said that hadn’t been 90% of how I’ve been spending my time). Lockdown gives us the one thing we all continuously ask for, more time! Through my YouTube channel, I have been encouraging viewers to use this time to really indulge in yourself and delve into self-care whole heartily. Now is the perfect time to practice your makeup looks ready for when lockdown is over! Not only will it act as the perfect pick-me-up during these unprecedented times, but it also allows you to practice that smokey eye, or false lash application you’ve been putting off ! To help you get started, here are a few simple steps to create your very own lockdown glow up!

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BEAUTY

GET that GLOW-UP Alice’s step by step guide on how to create a simple yet stunning smokey eye for that isolation pick-me-up, or that first night out once lockdown has been unlocked and we are dressed to impress

1. Apply color to the crease of the eye

I used the Charlotte Tilbury Easy Eye Palette ‘Charlotte Darling’ for this look. Take shade 3 from the palette and apply to the crease of the eye with a fluffy blending brush. Make sure to use ‘window wiper’ motions to create the perfect blend.

2. Apply color to the outer part of the eye

Using the same color palette, take shade 6 and apply the eyeshadow to the outer part of the eyelid. Try to create a winged out ‘V’ shape that will give you a more feline look.

3. Add shimmer to the eye to make it pop

Using the same palette, take shade 2 with a flat shader brush and pack onto the lid. For more impact, spritz your brush with a setting spray, such as the Mario Badescu Rosewater before loading your brush with shadow.

This will create a more intense shimmer on the eye.

BEAUTY

4. Apply false lashes

Apply your favorite false lashes.

I am using ‘Dolly’ by JLG cosmetics. They create the perfect winged look that will enhance the shape of the eye.

5. Smudge color to under the lower lash line Taking shades 3 and 6 (again from the same palette) on a small smudging brush, and finish the look by applying both shades together under the eye. Applying under your lower lash line helps to give that smokey and sultry look. Perfect for a night out!

6. Complete your look

To complete the look, apply your favorite foundation, blush, contour and lipstick. For something a little extra, you can always add a little highlighter for the perfect glow up addition, I used MAC Cosmetics ‘Oh Darling’. To complete my look, I used NYX lip liner in Nude Truffle , MAC lipstick in ‘Cherish’, Makeup Revolution lipgloss in ‘Piece of Cake’, contour is NARS bronzer in ‘Laguna’, and blush is Estée Lauder pure color blush in ‘Pink Ingenue’ The products I used to complete my look are shown on the next page...

BEAUTY

THE shopping LIST Lashed by JLG Cosmetics ‘Dolly’ £9.95 Mario Badescu (Facial Spray with Aloe Herbs and Rosewater) $7

Estée Lauder pure color blush in ‘Pink Ingenue’ $36.50

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.19

Revolution Sheer Lip Gloss ‘Piece of Cake’ $4

MAC Extra Dimension SkinFinish (Oh Darling!) $36

NYX SLim Lip Pencil ‘Nude Truffl e’ $4

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish $35 Charlotte Tilbury Easy Eye Palette ‘Charlotte Darling’ $45 L’Oreal True Match Foundation £9.99

NARS Bronzer ‘Laguna’ $38

MAC Satin Lipstick (Cherish) $19

BEAUTY

PERFECT those CURLS Once you have that smokey eye, follow the guides below to crerate curls that perfectly frame your face giving you that gorgeous Hollywood glamour look

1. Curls your hair

Curl your hair with your favorite curling tool. Here I’m using the Cloud 9 hair straighteners. When curling, make sure to curl your hair away from your face. This allows the hair to frame your face perfectly!

2. Brush them out

Once the curls have cooled, gently brush them out using a soft bristle brush to create a classic Hollywood glamour look.

3. Add sparkle to your style

Apply multiple hair clips to one side of your head and secure firmly. I finished my look off with these beautiful diamantĂŠ hair clips I picked up from Primark.

3. Tame those flyaways

Finally, apply the Moroccan Oil treatment from the mid-lengths to the ends to help define the curls and tame flyaways.

Beauty scope

By Debbie Savage @debbiessavage tothineownstylebetrue.com

About the Author...

HOW TO REMOVE ACRYLIC NAILS AT HOME

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.

2. Trim your nails to your desired length

If you’ve had acrylic on your nails for a few weeks they are no doubt longer than they should be. Your acrylic nails probably feel really strong and thick but don’t worry, you will have no problem trimming them using a good nail clipper such as these

Zoostliss Professional Acrylic Nail Clipper, $8

L

ike many of you, I’ve had to learn a few new skills while in quarantine, one of which is how to remove acrylic nails easily but safely at home. Here are the steps that I followed along with some tips and tricks as well as my favorite products to remove your acrylics safely and without damaging your natural nails.

1. Start by protecting your work surface

This sounds basic but, trust me, you’ll be glad you did as you’re about to use strong products that could permanently damage clothing or furniture. You can use an old towel or newspaper to cover your work surface. I would also suggest wearing old clothes in case of acetone splatters; better safe than sorry!

72 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

JAPONESQUE Pro Performance Nail Clipper Duo, $6

BEAUTY

3. File down your nails

Using a 100-180 grit nail file, buff the nail surface enough to allow the acetone nail polish remover to do its work. You can of course use any nail file that you have on hand, but choosing a high-quality product made specifically for faux nails will make the whole process much faster and less frustrating as these premium nail files are coarser than your usual drugstore pick.

This is my favorite nail file:

7� (100/180 grit) Duraboard Nail File by Flowery for heavy-duty filing of thick natural or gel-polished nails, and acrylics, $2

4. Soak your nails

You will need a 100% acetone professional-strength nail polish remover and a small round glass dish.

This one works like a charm:

Onyx Professional 100% Acetone Nail Polish Remover 16 Ounces, Removes All Nail Polishes, Faux Nails & More, $21

Soak your nails from 30 to 45 minutes (you can use a timer or stopwatch) in pure acetone solution to remove the acrylic layer and lift your artificial nails. This is actually a kitchen timer that I use when I decide to take on a beauty procedure myself:

Lavatools KT3 Kitchen Timer & Stopwatch, $8

5. Push back the acrylic layer

Using a dual-ended cuticle pusher, gently remove the leftover acrylic layer on your nails. Be patient so as not to harm your natural nail bed; I find it very helpful to use my timer to check on my nails every 10 minutes during the soaking process and remove any loose acrylic layer. Be careful not to scrape too hard as the skin around your nail will be especially sensitive after soaking in acetone for that long. This cuticle pusher is a great one

Cuticle Pusher and Spoon Nail Cleaner by Utopia Care, $12

6. Make your natural nails shine

There is no doubt that having regular manicures using gel or acrylic damages your natural nails and can make them disappointedly soft and brittle. IIn order to make my nails more presentable, I trim them using my nail clipper, file them shorter in a rounded-shape, then buff and polish them using a buffing tool, which restores my nails’ natural shine, makes them look healthier and removes any pesky acrylic residue.

Tropical Shine 4-Way Nail Buffer Block, 2 pcs, $13

This inexpensive Sally Beauty Manicure Bowl features contoured palm and finger grooves allowing for a comfortable fit for either hand, $2

I hope that I have empowered you to take matters in your own hands when it comes to removing acrylic nails from home.

Photography: Jessie Hearn Photography

BEAUTY

Andrea’s Angle

BEAUTY LOCKDOWN

Hair, Eyebrows, Nails

By Andrea Rappaport www.theandrearappaport.com @theandrearappaport

First of all, how’s everyone holding up out there?

We are all profoundly grateful for those on the frontlines of this crisis. We are also incredibly appreciative of grocery store employees, restaurant employees, delivery service runners, and everyone else who helps us to maintain some sense of normal life.

But there are some people, (besides our friends and family), who we are not able to see right now and I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to those whom I miss dearly and promise to never take for granted in the future…

LONG LIVE THE HAIR COLORISTS, STYLISTS, AESTHETICIANS, WAXERS, AND NAIL TECHNICIANS. My god, we miss you. And we are embarrassed to admit, (although we know you won’t be shocked), that we have tried to maintain our beauty selfcare without you and things have gone HORRIBLY wrong.

Let’s start with hair: Hang on, I’m starting to feel emotional…(deep breaths) I will NEVER be late for a hair appointment EVER again. When I am finally reunited with Autumn, my hair fairy godmother, (who colors, cuts, and does my extensions), I will shower her with love and adoration, and most likely, weep in her chair while we talk about relationships and reality TV. Confession to Autumn: I have (gasp) attempted to cover my gray roots at home (don’t hate me, I’m 90% gray!!). My first go-round didn’t go well, I looked like something out of an all brown and gray “paint by number” coloring book. Also, my extensions are falling out (well, and my kids have pulled some out, ouch). It’s a real problem and it makes social distancing NO PROBLEM because I’m starting to look less like J-Lo and more like Joe Exotic.

Let’s move on to eyebrows: Admittedly, prior to the world shutting down, I had been bad about keeping up with my brow guru, Albena. I was foolish in thinking that the 25min drive to her was “too far” for me to make on a regular basis...OH HOW WRONG I WAS. If I could, I would rev up my engine, blast some 90’s pop and gladly drive for 25 minutes to have my brows properly groomed.

As for now, I’m plucking. I am exercising great restraint so that my taste in music will be the only thing that reminds us of the 90’s. (Not a great era for brows). I will tell you that I did have one mishap and took off part of my left eyebrow with a razor while I was attempting to dermaplane with it in the shower...but that’s a story for another time. (continued on page 76)

Photography: Jessie Hearn Photography

We are living in a truly surreal time. Most of us have been ordered to stay in our homes for the foreseeable future, and our “new normal” consists of helping our kids with their e-learning, watching Netflix until we’ve burned brain cells, trying out every at-home workout routine ever designed, and ordering take out.

About the Author...

Andrea Rappaport is a professional funny girl, TV and social media personality, podcaster, beauty guru, small business owner, content creator, and mother to 47 little boys. (Really, 2, but it feels like more). Known for her candor and tag line,“nailing imperfection”, Andrea speaks openly about her roller coaster ride with anxiety, the importance of comedy in her life, and her deep love for

“Why strive for perfection when you can be NAILING IMPERFECTION.” Andrea UPLOADER MAGAZINE 75

ANDREA’S ANGLE And finally, nails: I shudder to think how crowded my nail spot, Silver Nails, is going to be when the world reopens. I miss the massage chairs, I miss watching a muted version of “Friends”, “Gilmore Girls”, and random cooking shows, on the giant flat screen that hangs over the sign that says, “gratuity in cash is appreciated”. Oh don’t you worry, I’ll have plenty of cash for you. At home pedicures are a joke, an insult to actual pedicures. Sitting on the ledge of my kids’ bathtub, while I dangle my banged up toes in lukewarm bathwater doesn’t really do it for me. And adding a few pumps of my kids’ “fragrance-free for sensitive skin” shower gel just adds insult to injury. And don’t even get me started on the massage. My 3-year-old son does a terrible job and complains the entire time. My cuticles on my hands are bleeding from being butchered by my “I got this” attitude and my polish looks like I took a tequila shot and was then dared to hold the polish brush between my teeth. Don’t worry, you’ll get your tip in cash and I’ll probably hug you, which will be awkward for the both of us.

Now is probably the best time to tell you all that I’m actually in the beauty industry. Yep, it’s true. Besides being a mom, international sex symbol, comedian, and social media personality, I’m also a small business owner. I coown a beauty services business, where we provide makeup and hair services for special events. So these mishaps are ESPECIALLY embarrassing for me.

But, we are all just doing the best we can, right?

To Autum Albena, and Silver Nails: I love you. I miss you.

And I apologize in advance for these wrongs that you will attempt to make right.

And Autumn, (who really hates it when I sing pop songs with my “theatre voice” while she does my color), get ready for me. I’ve got this version of Usher’s “Love in this Club” that I’ve worked out in four-part harmony….

76 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

FASHION SUPPLEMENT

MAY 2020

MAGAZINE

FASHION INSPIRATION

from Bloggers

Guzel & Tiffany

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Q&A with

ONLINE SHOPPING Buy and Try From Home

TIFFANY

Giannato ISSUE 06

FASHION Edited by Cheryl De Marco

FASHION SUPPLEMENT SPECIAL Inspiration from Fashion Bloggers Guzel & Tiffany.

Editors picks, and online shopping - buy and try from home in seperate Fashion supplement

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LIFESTYLE Edited by Cheryl De Marco

KEEPING UP WITH CHANGE Our way of life, the way we think and our everyday activities have drastically changed over the last couple of months , creating a new normal.

Frank J. Gallio @ Cherry Blossom Photo

Frank J. Gallio @ Cherry Blossom Photo

DATING & RELATIONSHIPS

IS VIRTUAL DATING THE NEW NORMAL Words by Rebecca Schuster Edited by Cheryl De Marco

What happens when a pandemic strikes, forcing people to stay in their homes, avoiding interaction with anyone outside their household? They figure out how to get inventive with their time. Friends, co-workers, and boyfriends-girlfriends turn to virtual happy hour to adhere to social distancing rules as the world sits in quarantine. But what happens to single people, and the world of online dating, famous for ghosting people right before they meet in person? Virtual dates happen.

The question is...

Is virtual dating better?

For those of you who are not familiar with online dating because you are married (even though married men do seem to creep on the dating sites), in a relationship or just have given up on dating, let me give you a rundown on how it works. First, you ask all your friends on dating apps which one they like because who has time to fill out all those online profiles. After choosing an app, you upload photos and answer what seems to be endless and sometimes useless questions. Once done, you start swiping left and right, hoping to find a match. Sounds simple right? (continued on page 86) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 85

DATING & RELATIONSHIPS It is, until you match with someone, and the truth about online dating roars its ugly head. For instance, after several messages and possibly talking on the phone, you decide to meet in person only to find the person you’ve been talking to looks 10 years older than their profile pictures. That goes for both men and women. Or you set up a date, and the guy (it’s mostly men) doesn’t show up, cancels last minute (even when they knew you had to get a babysitter because you’re a single mom), or simple ghost you as if they never existed. Poof ! They are gone. You never hear from them again.

Do I sound frustrated? If I do, it is because I miss the time when dating wasn’t a game.

So when the opportunity came for me to write an article on virtual dating during quarantine, I was delighted. Why? Because virtual dating can actually be a good thing for singles right now. People married or in a relationship are less likely to go on dating apps right now with their significant other at home. This makes it more likely you will be talking to someone who is actually available. It allows you to see your date, so you know what they look like, and if they lied to you by posting fake or old photos. Yes, this happens way too often in the online dating world. While I realize that looks should not be the deciding factor, the date is completely ruined because you feel tricked. Nothing like starting a new relationship on false pretense. This process weeds out the phonies and saves you from having to make arrangements to then have the other person cancel on you. It also creates a portal that opens up the opportunity to get to know someone on a whole different level and build on an emotional connection first.

While you are limited to what you can do on a virtual date, the following are some ideas to get you started: • I would say the first date will most likely be a virtual meet for coffee or happy hour. The appealing thing about it is you don’t have to give out your phone number. If it doesn’t work out, you can each go your separate ways without having given out any personal information.

• A dinner date while you video chat is perfect, especially if you decide to have 86 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

it while you each cook in the kitchen.

You can create your specialty dish or try a new recipe. And if the person doesn’t know how to cook, you can always order food and have it delivered.

• While I don’t recommend this as your first date, you can watch a movie together while you video chat about it.

The nice thing about it is you can get to know the other person by the type of films or TV shows they like to watch.

If you’re not sure what to watch, try seeing “Love is Blind” on Netflix. It’s a dating show that focuses on getting to know the person as they sit in separate rooms without seeing each other. It takes dating to a whole different level, especially when some of them get engaged without having met in person.

The show is definitely worth watching as you will root for particular couples and cringe with others.

• There are many virtual tours of museums, aquariums, and music performances that I’m sure you can find one that you both are interested in.

• Try playing some games. So many of them can be played online, and others can be played with a shared screen.

There are a ton of apps, downloads, board games, and card games that work well on Zoom or FaceTime.

• Depending on where you live, your virtual date doesn’t have to stay indoors.

If you have a deck or garden, take it outside and enjoy the fresh air.

These are just a few ideas to get you

Frank J. Gallio @ Cherry Blossom Photo started. Don’t forget that even though you aren’t meeting in person, it’s still a date. Make sure you dress up, brush your hair and teeth, and pick some proper lighting so the other person can see you clearly. Did you know if use Zoom you can change up your background? It can be a good icebreaker and makes for good conversation.

A few things to remember...While virtual dating may sound like fun, do not assume that you are the only person they are chatting with. I promise you they are talking to several people, but that’s okay because you should be too. And don’t forget, you can still be ghosted. It might sting a little more as they don’t have the excuse that they are too busy. Even with all this, I do not want to discourage you since I think the pros outweigh the cons.

My last advice is this...Take it slow.

Once the quarantine is over, dating will go back to normal. You will no longer be isolated. Bonding with a person that sometimes makes you feel like the two of you are in your own little bubble enjoying each other’s company will end.

You will have all the outside influences to deal with. So while virtual dating may seem enjoyable, remember to not look at the relationship through rosecolored glasses, and wait to see how you two connect in the outside world before committing to anything serious.

When it comes to dating you have two choices: Take a chance or stay alone.

I say take a chance because you never know how perfect someone might turn out to be.

SOCIAL DISTANCING SAVES LIFES

ASK BECCA

Ask Becca

LAW OF ATTRACTION

Your Questions Answered

Frank J. Gallio @ Cherry Blossom Photo

By Rebecca Schuster lovebecca.com @lovebecca26 Q. How long does it take for affirmations to work? By Karen

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 well-balanced life. “I believe you have to treat your mind, body, and soul with love to obtain true happiness.

“What you seek is seeking you.”

- Rumi 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

A. Affirmations can work as quickly as hours or days, but most of them take a lot more time. It all depends on the person’s mindset that is saying them. The problem with affirmations is people think they can repeat a sentence over and over again and it’s going to happen magically. The Law of Attraction only works that way if you have everything else in alignment, and that’s why they work for some people and not others.

Affirmations only work if you believe in the statement. For example, you might have one that says, “I am healthy and fit.” Just saying these words doesn’t make it happen, you still have to put in the work and truly see yourself healthy and fit. You have to experience how it would feel by holding a vision of what you believe to be true. If you think it is true, then you already know how it feels. Once you are in the feeling mode, the universe does everything to help you and will start to bring things into your life that will help you accomplish your goal.

When you repeat affirmations over and over, whether you are saying, writing, or hearing them, they get embedded into your subconscious mind. After all the repetition, the subconscious mind goes into overdrive to help it come true because it does not know the difference between reality and dreaming. It will believe anything you tell it. This is why words are the most powerful tool in the universe, and once you realize that and learn how to use words and thoughts correctly, you can change your life.

One must also remember that affirmations have to be affirmed, preferably with an “I AM” statement. For example, “I am financially abundant” vs. “I am no longer financially struggling” or “I am no longer broke.” You need to make sure it is phrased in a way that serves you.

So how long does it take for affirmations to work? It depends on three factors: mindset, repetition, and feelings. Some people say it takes 21 days to change a habit or create change, but I believe it takes longer, so I would do it for at least a month. Also, it needs to be consistent. So if you start, and then two weeks later you don’t do it for a few days, you need to start back at day 1. Here is a trick I use for it to become a habit.

Pick a time each day to say them and stick to it, make it part of your daily routine. I believe the first thing in the morning or before you go to bed is the best time. Otherwise, life has a way of finding something to distract you. Try to stay consistent, and it will make it much easier for you. Remember, all you need is one minute a day. So it’s not that you don’t have the time, it’s that you don’t make the time.

If you decide to take the time to create your new reality, here are eight affirmations to get you started. Make sure you personalize them so that they have feeling behind them.

• I am a money magnet • I am healthy • I am loved • I am happy • I am successful • I am wealth • I am creative • I am grateful for the good in my life One more thing, affirmations can be said verbally, listened to, or you can write them down in a journal. I write mine down daily in my journal, and I also listen to a 15-minute loop recording of my affirmations before I fall asleep. Use the process that works best for you and remember to stay consistent.

UPLOADER MAGAZINE 89

ASK BECCA

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MINDSET 90 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

ASK BECCA Q. I’m nervous about the possibility of a global recession. How do I change my mindset? By Toby A. Changing your mindset is the same no matter the circumstances, even during a pandemic, so I’m glad you asked this question. We, as human beings, want to feel safe and know that we have some sense of control of our life. It works until we allow fear to enter our minds. Fear is the enemy and can quickly lead to stress and anxiety when dealing with uncertainty. Worrying offers no benefit and gives you false hope of thinking the more you worry, the better chance you will come up with a solution. But instead, fear, stress, anxiety, and worry deplete you of your joy and energy.

While you cannot predict the future, you can have some control over it by changing your mindset. The very first thing I tell a person, even though they don’t want to hear it, is they must practice gratitude. Gratitude is one of the most potent tools, and yet so many people don’t use it. I think it’s because it’s so simple to do, that people don’t believe it holds any power, but nothing can be further than the truth. Practicing daily gratitude lets the universe know that you appreciate the little things. The more you appreciate, the more the universe wants to reward you with bigger and better outcomes.

Start by writing down nine things that you are grateful for in a notebook or on your phone. Your list can be anything from being thankful for your morning hot cup of tea that nourishes your body and soul, finding the perfect parking spot, finding something you’ve been looking for, talking to a friend, a new job, found money in your pant pocket, the ability to move your legs and walk, a peaceful morning, or finding the perfect shoes to go with your new dress. It’s that simple. Do this every day for at least a month. You will notice a shift in your mindset. That the smallest things make you happy now, finding yourself saying thank you throughout the day, and seeing small miracles in your life.

Second, practice mindfulness. How do you do that? By focusing on the present, the here and now, because that is the one thing you can control. The future might be out of your grasp, but learning to focus on the present moment makes you appreciate what you have right now. Mindfulness helps calm your mind and reduces stress because it allows you to take a break from negative situations.

You become aware that you have a choice by being present in the moment instead of focusing on things that are out of your control.

It challenges your need for certainty and allows you to focus on the good and the lessons you have learned. For there cannot be any happiness without first experiencing challenges and it is in overcoming that you experience joy.

Gratitude and mindfulness are the starting points for changing your mindset because they both keep you focused in the present moment. Now, this does not mean that your mind will never worry again, but it will make you aware and help redirect your attention.

The more you practice, the better you will get at creating a life that appreciates and lives in the present moment, instead of being fearful of the future. This quote sums it up

“

“

The present moment is filled with joy and happiness.

If you are attentive, you will see it.

– Thich Nhat Hanh –

Frank J. Gallio @ Cherry Blossom Photo Frank J. Gallio @ Cherry Blossom Photo

UPLOADER MAGAZINE 91

LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE

Life Style Buzz

Thriving Marriage During Quarantine

By Naza Holliman www.sweetpandsky.com @sweet.p.and.sky

What day is it? A question I ask myself several times each day.

Sometimes out loud. A question my husband Craig always answers with a laugh. The days get away from me. They pass like liquid through my fingers and I just can’t seem to grasp them. But it’s nice to see his smiling face making light of my incessant confusion.

We move through the week, entertaining the kids, crisis schooling them at home to the best of our ability. We hand out snacks and feed them meals. We give baths and argue with the kids about their everchanging bedtimes. Having children at a time like this leaves little time for ones-self, let alone your partner. But I thank my lucky stars that Craig is a business owner who, for the most part, works from home.

I am not alone. Ever, actually. But that’s another story.

The point is, his presence makes life easier. We each have our strengths in parenthood, and his make it easier for me to do my part.

Like all couples, we’ve had our bumps in the road. Marriage is never simple.

I hear a lot of people complain about how difficult it is to be quarantined with their significant other. And I must say, had it been a different time in the course of our marriage, I might have been pulling my hair at the thought of it. Not necessarily because of my husband, more so because of all of our growing responsibilities.

But things often happen in just the right sequence, and for us, quarantine could not have come at a better time.

For us, it came at a time in our marriage when we more openly embraced each other’s struggles, and gave each other our understanding. And while we were in a wonderful place in our marriage prior to quarantine, I feel like the time together has brought us to new heights.

Yes, we have argued. One of us may have even tried to sleep on the couch, while the other stubbornly refused the notion. Why do we refuse to let arguments get bigger? Because we are trying to make life easier for ourselves. Turning arguments into big fights is not conducive to anyone’s mental health at a time like this. So, we are taking it easy on each other, more so than ever before. We are showing each other kindness and understanding, in a way that was simply not necessary prior to social distancing.

We have stopped taking ourselves so seriously and have started having fun. We have picnics in our living room while watching movies, we have time to have deeper more meaningful conversations, we get to be silly and make each other laugh. And while this time of quarantine is often difficult, especially for an extrovert like me, we are grateful for the time we have to simply love each other.

About the Author...

Naza Holliman is a blogger, influencer and Founder of The Mommy Blogger Tribe (Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Columbia, South Carolina She is the creative force behind the Sweet P and Sky blog, a lifestyle blog about, family, adventures, travel, style, unbiased reviews, and beautiful features, helping her audience connect with brands.

Naza is founder of all four Mommy Blogger Tribes, which are comprised of four incredible communities. From California to South Carolina, these Tribes consist of confident, open-minded, powerhouse Blogger Moms, entrepreneurs, who gather monthly for some of the hottest events in their towns. It is a space where bloggers can be seen and connected with brands, while creating real life friendships with likeminded women.

Most of all, Naza is mother to two little boys, a wife to a loving husband, a world traveler, foodie, and a stylish an adventurer.

Naza UPLOADER MAGAZINE 93

Photographer: Vanessa S. Torres

Photographer: Vanessa S. Torres Be Kind: This is an uncertain time. Many of us are screaming to get out one minute, and are grateful to be home the next.

The economy, employment status, crisis schooling, and all of the things that come with Covid-19 and social distancing take a toll on the psyche. Be kind to those you love, as they are experiencing so much uncertainty.

One thing my husband does when I’m feeling out of sorts is, he completely changes the pace of the day just for me. If I’m feeling cooped up, he takes me for a drive. When I need space, he hands me a book or sends me to my spin bike. When I’m sad he makes me laugh and when I’m feeling silly, he matches my funny.

Be In Tune With Your Partner’s Emotional State: When left unchecked, a sad thought can avalanche into a serious depression. Check in. A hug, a touch, and a simple “how are you feeling?”, can make the difference.

Cut Each Other Some Slack: Do not get hung up on little things. Try to point out your frustrations as soon as possible and move on. Do not dwell, do not allow yourselves to build resentments. Put it out into the open and move on.

Date: I realize there are not many places you can go. This does not mean that you have to stop dating.

Make a fun playlist of music you want your significant other to hear and take them for a drive. Park somewhere beautiful and eat lunch in your car. Bring a laptop and a movie, and voila! You have yourself a drive-in. Do put in the time.

Show Affection: You would be surprised how far an affectionate touch from a loved one can go. It’s reassuring and comforting, and it is a way for you to show your love throughout the day.

Naza

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UPLOADER MAGAZINE 97

FEATURE

AN INSPIRING WOMAN FOR MODERN TIMES

FASHION, FITNESS & LIFESTYLE BLOGGER ALI HEMSLEY TALKS OPENLY ABOUT DISABILITY, FOCUSING ON SELF ACCEPTANCE, AND HOW ‘SPOON THEORY’ HELPED HER WORK WITH HER BODY UNSTEAD OF AGAINST IT words by Ali Hemsley @alihemsley, edited by Cheryl De Marco

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Ali Hemsley

CHRONIC ILLNESS WARRIOR

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WHAT YOU SEE, WHAT YOU DON’T SEE SE

What comes to mind when you think of disability? Is it the stereotypical disabled sign - of a non-gendered figure in a wheelchair? What if I told you that I was disabled? Take a look at my photos, can you tell? Do I fit into your perception of a disabled person looks like?

As a child and early teen, I was athletic - I loved any sport with a ball… Football (or soccer!), tennis, rounders. At the time that I became ill, I was walking miles and miles every day delivering leaflets. I was 17, a devoted student preparing to head into my final year of exams which would determine which University I would attend.

But, very suddenly, everything changed.

What seemed like a virus at first, gradually morphed into the symptoms that I now face on a daily basis - pain, fatigue (worsened with exertion), headaches and migraines, a brain fog that left me unable to concentrate and struggle to recall important facts. I was overwhelmed by the simplest of tasks and didn’t know how to cope with the emotional toll too. Summer passed and I was struggled to physically attend college. As all of my friends started to learn to drive, I spent my days housebound, sleeping, or resting for long periods. I felt alone.

I remember the first time that I spoke to my doctor about my decreasing mental wellbeing. “Of course you’re depressed, you’re in pain all the time,” he said candidly. It was obvious really. I look back at those days with a sadness, and wish that I could give my 17-year-old self a cuddle and a pep talk. “It’s going to be okay”, I’d tell her. “You’re going to learn to cope with this. You may not just get better, but you will get better at managing it.”

Those first few years, I did my best to ignore my diagnosis. Feeling like I’d already missed out on too much, I pushed myself to be social during my time at University, often to the detriment of my health - both mental and physical. I masked my pain with alcohol and the outgoing,confident,and care-free persona that I had created. Somehow, I muddled through. (continued on page 103)

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It wasn’t until 3 years ago, at the age of 22, that I started trying to truly work

with my body rather than against it. I stripped everything back to basics. No work. No studying. No stress. I focused on self-acceptance and trying to master the art of pacing.

A common analogy used in the chronic illness community is ‘Spoon Theory’ - imagine that every morning you are given a set number of spoons, for each activity you want to do you must trade a spoon. If an activity is particularly strenuous, it might take two or three spoons. Deduct spoon also for a bad night’s sleep, an unexpected emotional stress, or changes in weather. This theory quickly helps you realize that it’s unlikely you’ll be able to complete every task, so you start to prioritize and pace yourself.

As my knowledge of my body and how to manage my condition increased, so did my ‘safe’ level of exertion before crashing. I found that, with some modifications, I was able to start exercising some days. I strongly believe that the acceptance and love I gave myself, minimized additional flare-ups due to stress or poor self-care. Although I struggled with post-exertion fatigue, the mental health benefits were incredible, and as my muscles redeveloped after years spent mainly horizontal, I found that tasks that took three or four ‘spoons’ started to only take one or two. It was at this time that I started sharing my journey online, using Instagram. I would share daily posts of my workout outfits, meal ideas, and sassy quotes - but I still wasn’t being completely true to myself. I wouldn’t post photos of myself using my walking stick during flare-ups of pain. I didn’t talk about my diagnosis and how it was still affecting me each and every day. After a year of posting and building my following, I decided it was time to take the plunge. I posted two pictures of myself side by side one of me in a typical fitness pose, looking happy and healthy, and the other of me (same outfit, same day, same place) with my walking stick with the tagline “What You See, What You Don’t See”. As the comments and likes came flooding in, I realized something - I could be the person that I needed when I was first diagnosed.

When I was 17, I felt alone and I didn’t see how things would get better. I didn’t have anyone to talk to who could truly relate. Now, I spend my time sharing content which, although still curated and aesthetic, is more relatable and honest. I feel so humbled to receive messages every day from people who are living with chronic illnesses too, and I’m so touched by the wonderful, positive community we’ve created together.

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As my knowledge of my body and how to manage my condition increased, so did my ‘safe’ level of exertion before crashing

FEATURE

WAITING FOR THE APPLAUSE WWE CORRESPONDANT, HSN GUEST HOST, AND ACTRESS SARAH SCHREIBER SHARES HER LOVE FOR PERFORMING, THE IMPORTANCE OF AN AUDIENCE AND HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY words by Sarah Schreiber @sarahschreiber, edited by Cheryl De Marco

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Sarah Schreiber Photography: Daniel Forero

Photography: Daniel Forero

FEATURE

WHAT WILL BE THE NEW NORMAL

My love & now career has been in front of an audience. It all began when I was 5 years old the first time I performed on stage. The curtain rose, the music played and I entered. I remember, even at five, hearing the reaction of the audience. It elevated me to a place that is beyond this world. The feeling of excitement is enthralling and takes over your being from the moment you step out there. I knew then that that reception, encouragement, and live, mutual elation would be something I yearned for my entire life.

Since then I have sang on the stage of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, even the acclaimed stage of the mouse, Disney World. I was on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ at the Ed Sullivan whereby the end of the bit he kicked me off the stage. Don’t worry, it was scripted and the audience burst out in laughter! I have performed in little black box theaters in LA where I swear I may have given my best performance to an audience of less than 10 people. For the last 2 years I’ve worked for ‘World Wrestling Entertainment’. With ‘WWE’, I have performed in shows all around the world with crowds as large as 1,000 to even 80,000 people. But, since March we are living in a time like no other. Nothing we ever expected or saw coming.

Things we took for granted, now have been stopped or shut down. For me, work has slowed, like many others. Life as we know it has been changed. We have been told to isolate. Stay inside. Concerts, sporting events, theater has gone dark. Well, now what? Will we ever go back to cheering in unison for the same team or singing together to the chorus of our favorite songs, or sitting in absolute awe of a powerful performance by a single actor whose words can bring us to tears? In the climate we are in now, the question we are wondering is, “what will be the new normal?”. I have heard numerous grumbling that live events as we know them will never be the same. For me, I refuse to believe it & I’m sure so many of you out there feel the same. (continued on page 110) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 109

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Photography: Chad Dunbar

I was captivated at an early age by performing and I’ve worked in many facets of the entertainment industry.

From NYC to LA, I pursued and worked in theater, tv, film, news.

Then in 2016 I was relocated to Florida to be a television host on two different home shopping networks.

This was quite a unique experience & taught me a lot about the power of storytelling. I’ll never forget the first time I worked on ‘HSN’. I was hosting a segment on jewelry and after the show the producer came up to me and said congratulations, great job, we made fantastic sales. At that moment, I thought, “well did the viewers enjoy it? Did they laugh?” I guess that comes from someone who looks at the success of the performance by the reaction of the crowd. That may have come out of habit because well, as my brother would say it, “you’re a theater girl.” That reaffirmed to me that there is nothing like doing a show with a live audience. You get the opportunity to hear the response immediately, loud and clear, and share a moment simultaneously.

The audience is what makes it magical. We all come together in this one place, at the same time, with this specific group of people, that can never be replicated. Just here and now.

Working in the theater is an extraordinary experience. The cast, production, director, stagehands, and costumes collaborating together, building a world for the audience and crew alike to escape the monotony of their daily lives.

You would rehearse for a month; learning dances, memorizing lines, building sets, making props, building a new reality. Until it was time. The final piece to the puzzle, opening night, the moment came….THE AUDIENCE! That’s what changes everything. When you are on stage, the audience can affect how the show plays out. The audience is the final touch. The last character. You have put on the show in rehearsals before, however it changes with a live audience. There becomes an electricity in the room, an intangible energy. Sometimes a packed house could be filled with thunderous laughter or brought to a complete silence. But there is nothing like the breath and then… applause.

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With live performance it’s not always perfection, but that is also what makes it so thrilling. No matter how many dedicated, arduous rehearsals you have, there are times you can never prepare for. Now one that I can think of in my career was on stage in Ft. Worth, Texas in ‘Annie Get Your Gun’. My dance partner and I were in the middle of a scene, a huge, colorful, musical number with the entire chorus. He and I were at the central point in the staging and we performed our exciting lift as planned, just like we have rehearsed. Now we have done this choreography day in and day out, however, this time did not go as expected. We turned from one another to exit the stage and well….we were attached. His tuxedo button hooked on to my lace cover costume and it just would not let go. What now? Well the show must go on and we smiled & then continue to dance, just connected, right off the stage. Never missing a beat. Now we couldn’t say CUT! Let’s do it again. It doesn’t work like that. That’s the beauty and reality of doing it live. We could never recreate that night, because it happened in that instant. What’s amazing to me is the hilarity of that memory will stay with us forever.

Now with the circumstances with Covid 19, all around the world so many shows have closed. But theater certainly is not the only industry affected by this worldaltering virus. Sporting events, rock concerts, festivals have been postponed or canceled altogether.

There are many events that are just not the same without a crowd.

Think about a stand-up comedian.

If he/she is on the stage, doing their act with thunderous laughter accompanying every joke, it’s a high like no other. Now imagine them being on stage telling jokes with no one…just an empty room; void of sound, energy, anything. What about a concert? I’ll never forget my last concert, The Rolling Stones, singing along with Mick Jagger to the encore, Give Me Shelter, in the pouring rain, at the top of my lungs!

Ask any musician if the interaction with the crowd inspires them to put on a better show. For me going to concerts is like my church. I throw my hands up and sing to the high heavens.

Photography: Daniel Forero

FEATURE A mass amount of onlookers praising up to the rock god. It sounds like a divine experience to me. How about sports teams and their fans? Fans get to games sometimes hours before, dressed in coordinated colors, amping one another up to take home the win!

That is certainly like a religion to them. Don’t you think the athletes perform better when they have the crowd behind them? There is an intangible energy from the fans that fuels even athletes. Crowd noise absolutely affects the psychology of the players. The power to perform is still constant in their psyche.

Now most recently I have worked in WWE. I believe that WWE is a perfect combination of both theater & sports.

I always thought it reminded me of Shakespeare & gladiators in one! Both having such passionate, excitable crowds who root on the storylines with loud love for the good guy and disdain for the bad.

The most outstanding observation I made when starting the job was exactly that, the power of our fans. They are always essential characters in our shows. The success of the matches and stories were determined by the reaction that they gave. It could be at times a “YES!� chant or an entire arena screaming boos towards the ring. But, what I found so interesting and awesome was that that participation & reaction is exactly what WWE is hoping for. The superstars feed off it, the show is better because of it, & the audience knows how important they are. Since this pandemic, WWE has continued to broadcast live shows without a crowd. I appreciate the determination of the company to continue to entertain their fans. But for some, they truly believe it is not the same and well, that can only be because one certain truth, there is no audience.

I believe this forced moment

is the time to stop, observe, and reflect I wrote this article because I was continually disappointed to speak with distressed colleagues, nervous about their jobs when we come out of this. People believe live events may not come out of this quarantine.

A friend said that its time to reinvent ourselves and I believe this forced moment is the time to stop, observe, and reflect on so much. The reassuring evidence is that live performance has found ways to continue. The NFL draft was broadcasted, SNL returned to our televisions, and so many artists are utilizing social media as they continue to motivate us all through this time. That is what theater, sports, concerts do for us. (continued on page 112) Photography: Chad Dunbar

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FEATURE It’s something that gets us all through. It may not be deemed essential, but it’s an escape from whatever reality we are living in at that time. I spoke with theater friends who hope that Broadway will raise the curtain again soon. They are hopeful for the fall & assume that for now the audience may be in masks, but they believe the show will go on.

There is still an applause surrounding us currently and we hear it ringing loud and clear each and every day. The loving cheers are for the doctors, the nurses, the grocery store employees, and the essential workers who are keeping us safe, and it could not be more deserved.

In the same way, they are bringing people together. Every night all around the world from New York City, to Chicago, to Milan people sing and cheer and make noise to show appreciation for the sacrifice they have made for us during this time. The one common and irreplaceable thing that we need in our lives is the human connection. It’s healing and visceral and unequivocally essential. We need to take care of one another. I want to give thanks for their dedication, including my brother who works in the emergency department in Jacksonville, Fl. They are essential not only today but all the time.

To them, I give you all a standing ovation!!

So alas, I do not know what the future holds, but my wish is that we go back to a normal that we have embraced for so long.

Like when I was a kid sitting in a Broadway theater, the lights shining down as the audience erupted with joy or as a teenager cheering on the Women’s World Cup at Giant Stadium as a GOOOOOAL brought us all to our feet, or a moment a few months ago, when I got a huge high five from a young fan in Germany. We didn’t even speak the same language but we both knew that the show we put on that night, we were all a part of it and there will never be a night just like that. That is what makes live events so spectacular. The energy of so many, living as one. Wishing everyone good health, and good wishes; I cannot wait to be cheering side by side & voices loud again…together!

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And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life.

But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.

- Dead Poet’s Society -

Photography: Daniel Forero

FEATURE

Helena Kaylin Entrepreneur, CEO & Founder of MINDD

Starting any new company can be diďŹƒcult and overwhelming, but launching one at the start of a Pandemic adds extra complications and causes for concern, at least you would expect that to be the case.

Edited by Cheryl De Marco www.minddbra.com @minddbra

Helena Kaylin launched The MINDD Bra Company on the 19th February 2020, and the response has been incredible, with sales increasing and items selling out as soon as they hit the store, this certainly can be seen as a successful launch, and Helena is here to share her story.

Founder and CEO of MINDD, Helena is all hands-on-deck with her company and passionate about providing a bra that you’ll want to wear 24/7. She spends her days meeting with customers, working with product innovators, and innovating partnerships with the global leading manufacturers in intimate and athletic apparel.

Out of the office, you will find her most mornings hiking Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles with her husband Scott and dog Hunter.

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MINDD is a personal mantra, a reminder, to be in the moment and pay closer attention to what is Most Important Now (MIN) and Double Down (DD) on it.

In bra terms, it is a simple philosophy that if your bra is on your mind (MINDD) it is probably not working for you.

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imply put - bras are my business, and they have been for almost 20 years. My career has taken me all over the globe, working for some of the most iconic players in the intimates industry, keeping me at the cutting edge of bra design and manufacturing. I wake up genuinely excited about how I can make innovative bras that are both comfortable and beautiful. Sometimes I can’t believe I got this lucky – getting to do what I love every single day.

Interestingly enough, my first role out of University was with the Canadian Railroad, supporting customers with their freight logistics across North America. Eventually, I graduated to supporting the end-to-end rail logistics for Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors. I became well-versed in the importance of creating efficiencies and running a supply chain, which is valuable experience I carried with me throughout the rest of my career.

One day, I was introduced to an executive from Victoria’s Secret, who sought me out for a role within their research and development team, that had been created by the president of the company.

Victoria’s Secret wanted someone to lead the Strategic Road Map and Innovation projects, forecasting industry trends and shifts as far as 10 years into the future – a project they called “Best at Bras”. Their goal was to become the most innovative bra company on the planet.

My time at Victoria’s Secret took me to places I could have only dreamed of. I was on the front lines of bra innovation, working hand in hand with the most creative minds in our industry and watching firsthand as never before seen bra designs and styles were produced at factories across the globe. I learned almost everything there is to know about how to make a bra. I was the hub between the merchants and designers, and therefore learned the importance of partnership and hand-in-hand collaboration between design and merchandising.

My next career move brought me to the iconic brand of Calvin Klein, specifically working on underwear with a focus on reimagining their merchandise overall. I grew immensely in this role and felt so fortunate to be part of a company that was working globally to reinvigorate and streamline their image.

My work at Calvin Klein caught the eye of the leadership team at Under Armour, a brand that was well respected particularly in men’s sports apparel. Their executives saw an opportunity to continue to grow men’s underwear while also focusing on building out women’s wear. During my time here, I worked on the development of the iconic Armour bra, as well as the very first pair of performance underwear for women, that ended up being one of the top-selling units for the brand – representing a huge milestone in my career overall.

Next, I joined the team at Lululemon, which as a Canadian, as well as an apparel expert enamored with brands that prioritized innovation and quality, was an incredible opportunity for me personally. As the Global VP of Merchandising and Design, I was given the chance to laser focus on creating products that incorporated the most cutting-edge performance fabrics and materials on the market. (continued on page 119)

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And finally, I moved to Los Angeles to join Carbon38, one of the most sought-after, e-commerce companies of the moment, with a particular focus on athleisure and women’s performance apparel. In my role as Chief Merchandising Officer, I was able to gain first-hand experience surrounding a direct-to-consumer model, during a time where online shopping was surging among consumers.

When I stepped back and looked at the incredible path I’d taken, while I was overcome by how fortunate I’d been in the bra and intimates industry, I also couldn’t help but feel like there was much more to be done. Despite being at the forefront of bra innovation and having a seat at the table amongst some of the most renowned bra designers and manufacturers in the world, I felt like my voice as a consumer hadn’t being heard. I’m a 36DD, and I never found a bra that truly felt like it met

my needs. The bras available to me, and other D+ women like me, typically tended to lack in a key component.

It seemed our options existed only on one of two ends of the spectrum.

Traditional D+ bra options were considered “pretty” or “sexy”, but they were almost always uncomfortable, riddled with a multitude of components or materials that created pain points for the wearer, including an underwire. On the other end of the spectrum, you had what was essentially equivalent to a shapeless sports bra, which could provide support, but lacked in shape, lift, or style.

Despite being under-served, with exceptionally limited options, the D+ consumer actually makes up about 2/3 of the female shopping demographic today. I’d experienced the pain points of being a D+ shopper for a majority of my life, and even after almost two decades working for the most

recognizable bra makers in the world, I found myself frustrated by the fact that most of these retailers were not creating products designed for the women that made up a majority of their customer demographic.

With everything I knew about bra design, production and manufacturing, after working for some of the most iconic brands in the world, I asked myself - could I take this knowledge and apply it to creating my own product, engineering it for a group of women near and dear to my heart (literally) – the D+ consumer?

Of course, I worried about the risks. What if it didn’t work? What if the consumer I wanted to reach wasn’t interested? How would I possibly do this on my own, especially after spending my career at massive, global companies surrounded by thousands of colleagues?

But one morning I woke up, and I knew – if not now, then when? And if not me, then who? Women like me had struggled long enough trying to find a bra that truly suited them, and I had the experience, know-how and the passion to make that bra a reality. I felt a commitment and a responsibility to change the way the industry created products for the D+ woman, and at that moment, the concept of MINDD was born.

I knew that the company I built would be significantly informed by feedback from D+ women, so I set out to meet with as many of these women as possible, face to face. I asked them a million questions to guide the process and inform my research, in order to understand the ins and outs of their experience, as well as where a solution may exist. Two consistent pieces of feedback kept coming through - #1, the underwire is a pain point, BUT #2, a traditional bralette isn’t built for women with larger breasts. So, my challenge was clear – create a bra that still provided the lift and support that a wire provided in a traditional bra, just without the wire.

As I set out to design the MINDD bra, I also looked to real-life materials that served different functions and assess how I could incorporate these types of fabrics in our prototype. For example, I looked to my favorite shapewear to help the band on our MINDD bras, with the aim of creating structure and support in this area. I looked to fishnet as a material to consider when building the cup of a MINDD bra, as I knew it allowed for stretch and (continued on page 120) UPLOADER MAGAZINE 119

FEATURE breathability, while also providing a beautiful aesthetic.

Knowing that our bodies and our cup sizes change on a day to day basis, given a number of factors (weight, diet, travel, etc.), it was important to create a bra that could shift with our own fluctuation.

I worked with top manufacturers and design experts to create the MINDD bra, ultimately building an innovative, patent-pending technology that would be applied to each of our products.

I thought long and hard about why I wanted to take the leap from the traditional, corporate retail industry, and dive headfirst into entrepreneurism and creating my very own direct to consumer start-up. First and foremost, I knew I wanted to make a difference to the lives of women who, like me, had struggled for so long to find a bra that made them feel both beautiful AND supported. A bra that gave them lift without the discomfort of an underwire. I wanted to ensure these women felt heard, and so I knew it would always be important to continue gathering and incorporating realtime feedback from my customers, in order to make the best possible product for their needs.

I didn’t just want to create a new product – I wanted to create a new kind of company where we could tap into expertise and experiences from so many other business owners and female entrepreneurs. I believe there is so much opportunity to test new ideas and be really connected to consumers in a new way, and as women, we owe it to one another to be supportive and supported. I also wanted to take everything I have learned in terms of design, materials, and production in order to create bras that were not only high quality but also environmentally friendly, in order to contribute to the practice of more sustainable bra manufacturing overall.

I’m proud to say, we launched MINDD on February 19, 2020, and it’s been the most exciting, challenging and fulfilling experience of my life. Every day, I learn something new, I encounter a new challenge that ultimately increases my knowledge of this industry. I love connecting with my customers and incorporating their feedback into how we run our business and the products we will continue to create. I can’t wait to continue to grow this company, and continue to serve the D+ women who deserve the absolute best.

So, what advice would I give to others out there who are hoping to start their own venture? First, rust your gut and your abilities. Second, use your voice to speak up.

Third, time is a non-renewable resource.

Be in THIS moment. And finally, and possibly most importantly – be a nice person. You won’t regret it.

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FEATURE ON LAUNCHING AT THE START OF A PANDEMIC...

After months of perfecting the product, I set out to pick the ideal launch date. My team and I finally landed on Wednesday, February 19th, 2020.

Of course none of us could have ever predicted what followed shortly thereafter. The world fell into a pandemic. Everything we once considered “normal” changed in an instant. We experienced a collective sense of anxiety, uncertainty, loneliness and solitude associated with the sudden absence of traditional human connection, which we’d once considered a given.

My immediate reaction was to frustration. But then I reminded myself why I created MINDD in the first place – to get to know and understand my customer, creating a brand that supports women unconditionally.

I realized that in the circumstances brought on by COVID, my plight seemed more important than ever.

I decided to create an even more engaged dialogue with my customers, treating them as I would my own friends or family. I began reaching out to see check in on them – asking how they’re coping, while swapping stories and sharing words of hope and compassion. My goal was to give the MINDD community an additional and relatable voice to hear from, and an outlet to share their own feelings in these trying times, if they needed one.

I do not want to be the brand that relies on peppering my customer’s email inbox on a daily basis with tone deaf, sales-heavy language – I don’t think anyone needs that right now, and as brands, we have a responsibility to offer more, and to be better to our shoppers. I knew I would pivot most of my focus on the customer, ensuring the experience is the best it could be for her - from ordering to shipping. I aim to create a truly authentic connection by regularly checking in on my customer, asking how she’s doing, and offering words of support.

One of the most moving conversations I’ve had in the past month was with two nurses, who’d each purchased a MINDD bra to wear during their grueling shifts at a local hospital. While initially surprised by my email, they ultimately shared stories that overwhelmed me with both hope and gratitude. It reminded me of how important it is to drive human connection, even when it’s not convenient, and especially when it’s so easy to feel alone.

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.

Photography: @TimelessPresent Styling: @JRScalzitti Make-Up: @Lizzy_Lawless Hair: @HairByAlexTan Fitness: Body by @FitnessDust

HOROSCOPES

HOROSCOPES As the world continues to face the ramifications of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the structures of our lives are shifting. Not only will our global economies be changing over the coming years, as well as political institutions, but our lives on a very personal level are evolving now and will continue to as the decade carries on. The grip of terror that this pandemic has had upon the world will begin to ease—at least momentarily—due to the retrogrades of Pluto (April 25th), Saturn (May 11th), and Jupiter (May 14th). The summer months should bring a reprieve, but we are not out of the storm yet. In fact, other storms are coming and we will be thrust into the next chapter of 2020 before we’re able to catch our breath. We are in a living epic of history, so of course the Universe wants to make sure it’s memorable.

TAURUS

APRIL 20TH - MAY 20TH

Birthday season is always one of your favorite times of the year, Taurus, because it is important for you to begin the patterns that will echo on during your next journey around the Sun. You’re certainly seeing your old life fade into the past as nearly everything around you is evolving at light speed. This is because the liberating and electric planet of Uranus is moving through your Sun Sign. This began in 2018 and will continue on until 2026. Over the coming years, if you haven’t already, you will learn to embrace your individuality and stand further apart from the crowd. You have the spark that everyone wants now, so consider how you can channel your “lightning in a bottle” to bring magic and glory to your life. Many Taurus over the coming years ahead will become the most famous and sought-after people in the world for their visionary spirit and brilliant talents.

Join that movement now by breaking the cage. Do not stand in line where they hand out limits. Grab your wings instead.

Throughout the first two weeks of the month, Mars, planet of drive, will be lighting up your career and achievements sector, so this will be a magnificent time for you to rise rapidly higher in your industry. However, when it moves into your social sector on the 12th for many weeks to come, you could notice that you are surrounded by a multitude of people who rally beside you and believe in your cause.

Many Taurus have an excellent opportunity now to expand their networks, both personally and professionally, so do so however you can - social distancing, permitting. It is likely that over the weeks ahead you could see that at least one of your hopes and dreams is now within reach. Another fated cycle begins for you this month, too, as Venus, your planetary ruler, will go retrograde beginning on the 13th. However, you have likely felt her starting to slow down as early as mid-April. Over the coming weeks ahead, you could cross paths with old friends or lovers. This could be a fated time to reunite and give it another go or finally achieve the closure that your heart so deeply craves. The end of the month will turn your attention toward your financial life. A New Moon on the 22nd opens a door to bring more prosperity into your life, so request a raise or look for a higher paying job then.

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HOROSCOPES MAY 2020

ARIES MARCH 21ST - APRIL 19TH The month of May always turns your thoughts toward your financial life, Aries, and this is exactly where your attention will be focused now. This is because you have likely had an opportunity to take on more work, get a raise, or start a new job in recent weeks. Throughout 2020 you are one of the few zodiac signs with the most shining potential in your career, so even if you have had to leave a position because of the global pandemic, shining opportunities still lie ahead. All Aries will see growth in their careers and achievements this year, so keep working hard and reach for the stars. Mars, your planetary ruler, will be skyrocketing through your social sector throughout the first half of the month, so you have plenty of opportunity to expand your professional circle during that time.

Your friends are likely missing you now, so you could find that you are more engaged in catching up with them over digital means if you are practicing social distancing during these weeks, as well. May 7th will bring a Full Moon that triggers closer union in your partnerships - or pushes you further apart.

Some Aries could find they are able to express their intimate needs more authentically because of this Full Moon, or if your connection has outlived its purpose, end it once and for all.

If you’ve been looking for venture capital, a scholarship, or a bonus payout, this large sum of money could appear near this time. In regards to your relationships, with Venus Retrograde beginning on the 13th, you will certainly hear from people of the past - possibly exes or old friends - in weeks to come. The mighty Sun moves into your communications sector on the 20th and will usher in a New Moon on the 22nd, encouraging you to be proactive. This is an excellent time to be engaged with any verbal or written work, such as advertising or building a campaign. Find ways to start a podcast or be featured on one if you can. It appears you have an important message you want to spread, so do so now.

GEMINI MAY 21ST - JUNE 20TH May 2020 will surely be a turning point for you, Gemini, as the world is not exactly what it seems. With the most private and healing sector of your chart activated during the first three weeks of the month, you are likely seeking solitude, rest, or a reprieve. Many Geminis will be contemplating where they are, what they need to release, and where they want to go in the year ahead. However, with Venus Retrograde taking place 124 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

in your zodiac sign in 2020, you are at the center of a cosmic cyclone. While you will have the luck of experiencing her grace and beauty, bringing extra sparkle and magnetism to you from April until August, from May 13th until June 25th she will be spinning backward in your Sun Sign. This means you will have stepped into a vortex of the past where you could be suddenly intensely nostalgic or craving connection with those from your past. On the other hand, those who you have a history with may now hope to reconnect with you. Exes, karmic connections, and old friends often come to us during these periods, and you are likely to cross paths with at least one significant one who had a powerful impact on your life.

The blessing within this, though, is that you can reminisce and rekindle the connection if you so wish. If not, you can seek closure and let it go. This will echo on until the end of July, so be prepared. A Full Moon on May 7th will make you very busy, though, so keep your schedule light so you can focus on an important business or work matter. If looking for a job, this Full Moon could drop it in your lap. This Full Moon could also trigger a health-related situation for you, so if needing surgery or a doctor’s check-up, follow medical professionals’ guidance closely. However, when Mars, the planet of energy, roars into your career sector on the 12th for many weeks ahead, you could see yourself making rapid progress toward bigger achievements.

Use everything you have to tackle your greatest ambitions at this time and you will make a newfound mark on the world around you. Take charge. Use your power. The world will notice and support your efforts if you are aggressive now. When the Sun moves into your zodiac sign on the 20th, though, your energy should feel even more renewed for the month ahead.

The New Moon, too, supports you as it falls within your zodiac sign. It dawns on the 22nd, opening a door to one of your most heartfelt hopes and dreams. Know what you want your life to look like in the coming year and begin building it.

CANCER JUNE 21ST - JULY 22ND As the Sun lights up your social sector throughout most of May, the Universe is showing that you are an irreplaceable force at the heart of a passionate community. You believe so strongly within the causes at the roots of your soul, and you will fight vehemently for them when you need to. Know that you are surrounded by support at this time - both personally and professionally. The Full Moon on the 7th will draw your attention to a matter of love, creativity, or fertility for you.

Single Cancers could feel they’ve found the one and truly fall in love, so if looking, do not miss this gorgeous week to be connecting with new options. While you could be social distancing at this time - for the protection and health of those more vulnerable than you - dating apps have advanced over the years and may bring great matches to you if you’re willing to invest effort. Committed Cancers may feel the passion reigniting within their relationships, so use this magic to light the candle of love. However, still, this may manifest as a

HOROSCOPES MAY 2020 culmination in regards to your creative life if you are an artist or carry the news of a surprise pregnancy or birth. Again, remember that a loving Universe that always wants the best for you surrounds you. Venus Retrograde begins on the 13th this year, gracing your sector of privacy for the weeks ahead. This means that you could suddenly see relationships from your past emerge - for better or for worse. This could be a lovely time to reignite a connection with an old friend or lover, but don’t be tempted to repeat the same mistake if they haven’t grown.

Some Cancers could be tempted into clandestine affairs now with people from the past - so don’t welcome skeletons out of the closet unless you’re ready to truly accept what they bring.

Find closure in the weeks ahead if you need to. It appears you could be healing in regards to past intimate matters. Another way to look at this is that if you are healing now, love is the best way to mend any wounds on the soul. When the Sun powers into this same sector at the 20th, and the New Moon on the 22nd dawns, you are clearly ready to lie low and relax.

It is much deserved, as you’ve had an eventful year already.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Release.

LEO JULY 23RD - AUGUST 22ND Your ambitions are on your mind in May, Leo, and you are likely taking mighty steps toward them. Some Leos could be seeing more acclaim and recognition to their name or accepting a promotion in their line of work. You’ve been considering breaking out of the mold in relation to your work certainly since 2018, and this trend will continue on into 2026. Shatter the mold and take chances more than you ever have before. However, your attention turns to your home and family when the Full Moon peaks near May 7th.

This is a wonderful time to get closer with your kindred and enjoy your domestic sphere. Some Leos could be moving or fixing up their space near this time, as well. Throughout recent weeks, Mars, planet of passion, has been across the sky from you in your commitment sector showing you that if you work as a team with someone, you can make a tremendous amount of progress now. Sometimes when Mars flies here, he causes conflicts in relationships to occur - that is, if they were already boiling underneath the surface. If this is the case, find a way to hear each other out and release the negativity. Single Leos could also use this fiery energy toward finding an ideal long-term partner, so be sure you know what you’re looking for. “Seeking marriage in a pandemic?” you ask. “How is that possible?!” Well, if you are first able to utilize digital means of courtship - getting to know someone online or through FaceTime - you can start to find out if your interests align and if you have similar values. Next to note this month is that Venus Retrograde begins on the 13th, and over weeks ahead, you will certainly cross paths with people from the past. The stars seem to show that you will reconnect with at least two friends who held a very special place in your heart. If you’d like to rekindle the connection, do so in the weeks ahead.

When the Sun and New Moon also parade on into your social sector in the last week of the month, you’re likely to see more lively communications in your social life. If practicing social distancing still at this time, connect over Zoom or the group chat, or even consider signing up for important communities you believe in online. You’ll enjoy the camaraderie.

VIRGO AUGUST 23RD - SEPTEMBER 22ND

As we launch into May, you are likely very busy, Virgo. This is because there is so much focus on your professional life.

Mars, planet of energy, will be moving as rapidly as a freight train in your employment and productivity sector until the 12th. You are assured to make a great deal of progress - or if looking for a new job, you must use this firepower now. Also, you are quite lucky because Venus, planet of pleasure, will be gliding through your career and ambitions sector until August!

Wow! This is truly a blessing for you, so you should certainly be attracting applause and recognition for your hard work during this time. However, be aware that she will be spinning backward from May 13th until June 25th, so you may hit a few snags then. This could also mean that you’re interested in going back to an old project that you can dust off to make shiny and new - or that you will reconnect with past bosses. If wanting to resume employment with them, you could be in luck and bring back the dream team. Whenever Venus goes retrograde, we may also cross paths with exes or old friends, so this is also quite possible for you during this time, as well. The Sun will be powering up your expansion zone throughout much of the month, so you are likely eager to learn more and see more of the world. During this time of the year, you may be more focused on academic matters. Some Virgos could be engaged with immigration concerns or dealing with people overseas due to personal or professional reasons. Still, other Virgos could be focused upon a publishing or media endeavor, which could be the crown jewel to your name at this time. It appears you could be breaking boundaries or taking creative risks in those fields, too. The Full Moon on the 7th will see you working upon a communications project - whether that be a marketing initiative, submitting a proposal, or possibly speaking on a podcast. Next to note this month, though, is that Mars will be igniting your commitment sector beginning the 12th for many weeks to come. This shows that you will make a great deal of progress by working one-on-one with someone. Find the perfect partner, create a plan, and then execute. This also could bring a renewed passion into your established romantic relationship or cause single Virgos to be eager to find their twin flame. If you set your focus on the kind of person you want, you can attract them much more magnetically. Finally, when the Sun and Moon meet on the 22nd, a New Moon in your career sector will awaken. Take steps toward your most important career goals in the days following it. Have your resume ready, launch an exciting initiative, or look for a job with increased responsibility and power. Fame and influence could also be calling your name.

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HOROSCOPES MAY 2020

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23RD - OCTOBER 22ND Relationships will be a major focus for you in May - and in the coming months - for a few different reasons, Libra. You are a true romantic at heart and thrive so well having someone at your side. The Sun will be gliding through your intimacy sector, assuring that you’re debating your needs in a relationship whether single or attached. Mars, planet of passion, will also be igniting your romantic sector until the 12th. Use this time to bring the spark back into your connection or go after new options - while respecting social distancing, of course. There are still ways for you to meet people, especially with the explosion of dating apps in recent years. Some Libras could be focused on their children especially during this time or their children are requiring more of a focus - possibly even acting up! If you are involved in a creative profession, you’re especially lucky to channel the muse now. Get fired up and create something!

The Full Moon on the 7th brings your attention to a financial matter in the days near it. You could be offered a new job, get a raise, or pay off a debt. Your work life appears to be picking up from the 13th onward for many weeks, too, so get ready to be busy. However, when your ruler, the lovely Venus, begins turning backward in the sky also on the 13th until the end of June, you will feel as if it is much harder to reach your goals. Be sure that you are working smarter, not just harder.

Venus Retrogrades always affect you quite intensely and you may feel as if you are being transported back to the past. It is likely you will reunite with at least one person - platonic or romantic - from your past who held a special place in your heart in the month to come. Yet, as the month draws to a close, your attention shifts to expansion. Some Libras could now be working very hard on studying or academics, especially in regards to advancing their professional goals. Other Libras could become engaged with an immigration or overseas matter.

Still, others may now see success in a media or publishingrelated endeavor. No matter how it falls for you, you’ll certainly be ready for new horizons.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23RD - NOVEMBER 21ST As the month dawns, you are focusing intensely on your partnerships, Scorpio. This is a fortunate time to grow closer with someone in business, collaboration, or love. Some of you may have noticed that your established partner has been acting up recently, needing more freedom or going off in new 126 UPLOADER MAGAZINE

directions that surprise you. Follow their lead, as they could bring you to exciting new horizons together. Other Scorpios may realize that partners who are different than their usual type intrigue them. Go for it! Step out of that comfort zone.

You’ll never know until you try. Your home life appears to be quite important at the beginning of the month, too, so some Scorpios may be moving or have moved in past weeks. This could also signify that you’ve had more activity going on in your home, as well. However, your attention turns to your personal power and standing front-and-center when the Full Moon on May 7th roars within the night. This is the most important week of the year for you and you will likely see an important heartfelt goal or wish manifest before your eyes.

The world can be yours if you take steps forward now. Exciting news for your relationships also begins on the 12th, when Mars, planet of sex and passion, ignites your sector of romance.

Your love life is about to be on fire! This is an excellent signal for single Scorpios to search for new conquests who sing to your heart in just the right way. Committed Scorpios can utilize this magic to bring fire and adrenaline into their connection - perfect to get hot and heavy together! Fertility will also be favored for some of you, so if you’ve been waiting for the right time, it could finally be here. Last, if an artist, expect some of your most exhilarating work to begin in the weeks ahead. Don’t sit back and wait for the muse to strike.

Immerse yourself in beauty that inspires you. Also on the 13th, Venus Retrograde will begin in your intimacy sector. Over the coming weeks, you will be reassessing and readdressing the balance in your relationships, as well as your past scars and traumas regarding love. This would be an excellent time to bring grace and vulnerability to your partnerships in order to help them grow. Exes, old flames, or even past friends could be reappearing, too. However, when the Sun and Moon move on into your intimacy sector in the end of the month, you’ll be feeling even more focused on union than before. Be sure that you’re able to communicate your needs openly and honestly.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22ND - DECEMBER 21ST Productivity and mental activity are written in the stars for you, Sagittarius. With the Sun bringing energy to your work sector, it is likely you are very busy with projects at this time. While many people will have difficulty because of social distancing and the global pandemic, it appears you’re more favored than they are! If out of work and looking, you could find the right job if you apply yourself now. Also, Mars, planet of fuel, will be powering up your communications sector, so you could find that you are deeply involved in a writing, speaking, marketing, or digital project in the first two weeks of the month. Seize progress while you can! The Full Moon on the 7th will highlight your most private and healing sector of your chart, likely calling you to rest and recharge at this time. If you’d like to improve your health in any way - such as through a fitness regimen or diet - get on track then. If any illness pops

HOROSCOPES MAY 2020 be sure to jump on it quickly and see a medical professional to find the best course of action. Yet, the next major theme of the month takes greater prominence due to Venus, the Sun, and the Moon all bringing focus to your committed partnerships.

Venus, planet of love and beauty, will turn backward in the sky on the 13th for many weeks, helping you to shift the balance in your relationships - in business and in love. You could realize you are not on the same page or that you need to be more vulnerable with one another. However, another way this could manifest is that you are suddenly feeling extremely nostalgic for the past and wish to reconnect with exes, old flames, or lost friendships. Whether or not you desire to rekindle something, some of them might miss you! If you hear from them, reminisce on the good times or finalize the closure you need so that you can truly move on. The New Moon on the 22nd opens a door in your partnerships to stronger connections - so know your worth, what you deserve, and be sure you are aware of your boundaries. June will be an extremely important month for you, so lie low while you can.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22ND - JANUARY 19TH With the Sun igniting your sector of romance, creativity, and fertility, you likely feel as if your life is in bloom, Capricorn.

Of course you certainly have had an interesting year - several years, actually - because so many of the planets have been teaching you important lessons. Saturn has been bringing you hard life lessons in recent years, but forging you into steel.

Pluto has been causing you to burn away versions of yourself that no longer serve you so you can be reborn - sometimes several times, until you find the right “you” that sticks. And now Jupiter, planet of miracles, has been dancing within your Sun Sign to bring you new opportunities. With Jupiter giving you luck, it is as if you have a powerful guardian angel holding your hand as you step through the rubble that this global pandemic has already created. Know that no matter what happens, even if you’ve lost some things due to the political and economic shifts, you are actually going to emerge stronger and better off than most of the other zodiac signs. You’re going to thrive despite the challenges because you are a survivor and know how to play the long game. As for May, allow your heart to blossom with the one you are with or if single, be sure to spend time connecting with potential options on social media or dating apps. May 7th will be a Full Moon in your social sector, revealing that many friends will want your attention or you could be eager to reconnect with your Tribe. If still social distancing, grow closer with friends through digital means or even schedule a delightful Zoom session. Know that this is a fantastic moment to expand your network, whether that be socially or professionally. Venus, planet of love and beauty, will be bringing happiness to your work life, showing that some singe Capricorns could become enchanted by a work crush.

However, when this planet turns backward in the sky on the 13th, expect that more changes are underway. In the weeks

ahead, you could cross paths with many people from your past that held a special place in your heart - perhaps old coworkers, but most certainly old friends and old lovers. During this period, you can reflect on the good times and if you both have grown, you can unite once again and bring one another into each other’s present and future. However, if you - or they would like closure instead, be sure to respect what was and set it to rest peacefully once and for all. This energy will linger on into June, so prepare for the trend to continue. The end of the month will see that you are very busy with work, though. The New Moon on the 22nd opens a door to you to take on more projects, get a new job, or sign more clients. The summer will be highly eventful and a turning point in your relationships, so work hard now while you can.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20TH - FEBRUARY 18TH May is here and you are on fire, Aquarius! This began at the end of March when Mars, planet of passion and drive, entered your zodiac sign for the first time in nearly two years. This has assured that in recent weeks you’ve been able to go after what you want more easily as soon as you take initiative. You certainly feel more energized. Continue to utilize this rare fuel until the 12th. Hopefully you have harnessed every ounce of this firepower and shifted life in your favor. While you will surely enjoy 2021 more than 2020, this is still a great time to work your magic. The Sun moving through your home and domestic sector for most of the month will have you cozying up. Some Aquarians may have moved recently or have decided to fix up their space. However, your attention turns to your career and achievements near the Full Moon on May 7th. The week surrounding this will surely put you in the spotlight, and an award, promotion, or favorable applause could be coming your way. If hungry to rise in your industry, have your resume at the ready. Love and romance will surely be a major theme for you - and has been since early April. This is because Venus, the planet of attraction and pleasure, has been gracing your passion sector and will continue to until nearly mid-August!

Wow! This bodes so well for single Aquarius who are looking to find someone special. Committed Aquarius can also grow closer in love. However, on the 13th, our planet of pleasure will turn backward in your sector of romance, creating a few different possible patterns. First, some committed Aquarius could feel that their relationship has gotten colder and lost its glitter - usually because you’re pulled apart due to work or responsibilities. Others could feel they are suddenly nostalgic for old lovers or connections and wish to rekindle their rapport.

It is highly likely you will cross paths with people from the past in the weeks ahead. Use this time to synchronize or let one another go forever. The choice is yours. Your romantic life will become even more of a focus when the Sun and Moon dance on into this sector, sparking a New Moon on the 22nd.

Certainly be doing everything you open your heart and the Universe will reward you plentifully.

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HOROSCOPES MAY 2020

PISCES FEBRUARY 19TH - MARCH 20TH Welcome to May, Pisces, as you have exciting news ahead. The Sun will be lighting up your communications sector, assuring that you are exploring many new thoughts and ideas. You could be highly invested in a writing, speaking, or marketing endeavor at this time, or fine-tuning some skills. A Full Moon on the 7th will light up your expansion zone, pushing you to embrace even bigger ideas. This bodes well for any academics you may be immersed within, such as submitting a thesis or receiving high marks. Another way this could manifest is the debut of a media or publishing-related endeavor. Last, some Pisces could receive news about an immigration or overseas matter than requires their attention. However, the best news of the month is that Mars, planet of passion and energy, will move into your zodiac sign for the first time in two years on the 12th. This will give you renewed vigor, magnetism, and influence. You can utilize this fuel to dominate everything around you and forge a path rapidly toward your most heartfelt plans or goals. People everywhere will find you strong at this time, sexual and alluring, as well as rally behind you and your ideas. Do not let this energy go to waste because it will last until the end of June but will not return for two years thereafter. Another point of interest this month is Venus Retrograde, which begins on the 13th. Our beloved planet of pleasure and attraction has been residing within your sector of home and family since the beginning of April and will continue until August. This means that many Pisces will have opportunities to bring more happiness and radiance into their homes or find the perfect décor items to make their sanctuary feel more refined.

With Venus backpedaling in this zone, though, you may find items on sale that make the perfect addition to your home - especially if they’re “older” and perhaps from a bargain shop. You may stumble upon a priceless, rare, or extremely valuable item that the previous owners didn’t realize was such a catch.

Snatch it up as soon as you can! Also, you could be returning to places from your past or even connecting with childhood friends, and this will certainly bring you tremendous euphoria to laugh at how much has changed. When the Sun and Moon meet on the 22nd in this same arena, you will feel a breath of fresh air enter your life. Enjoy this peaceful and lovely vibration before a whirlwind summer begins.

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Photography: @TimelessPresent Styling: @JRScalzitti Make-Up: @Lizzy_Lawless Hair: @HairByAlexTan Fitness: Body by @FitnessDust

The Do’s & Don’ts of VENUS

Retrograde Written by: Kyle Thomas @mrkylethomas Edited by: Cheryl De Marco

The goddess planet of love and beauty, Venus, holds dominion over our relationships and influences interactions worldwide. While she normally brings peace and harmony to our lives, she at times will feel her power turned against her - causing a hurricane of emotion to rage and crash down upon us. The great storm known as “Venus Retrograde” not only causes ghosts from the past to rise again, but also forces us to enter her chaos willingly in order to capture her wisdom within our hearts. From May 13th until June 25th, she will be bringing a hurricane to our emotions and lives, as we become lost among nostalgia. However, we felt the approaching storm as early as mid-April, and it will echo on until the end of July.

A retrograde occurs when a planet seems to be moving backward in the sky from our vantage point on Earth. Planets don’t actually move backward, but this optical illusion does have mysterious and powerful effects upon us. Venus Retrograde causes our emotional and romantic perception to become hypersensitive. We do not realize that we are becoming enchanted and consumed by all of the things that

Venus rules - hungry to satiate these desires at the expense of common sense.

Venus holds a powerful sway over all human relationships and interaction. With an obvious tie to human intimacy and union - platonic and romantic - she rules one’s love language and ability to connect well with others. She obviously holds dominion over marriage, courtship, and dating, with ties to the sensual and romantic sides of sex and sexuality (as opposed to the more primal urges). Venus also has rulership over all beauty, art, and pleasure. This can be connected to the physical kinds of beauty - one’s appearance, fashion, style, as well as interior design, painting, and aesthetics. However, she also has ties to music, dance, film, and beyond. Wine, food, and pleasures live within Venus’s territory.

Finally, because Venus also rules money, she oversees profit, investments, and business, as well. When Venus Retrograde occurs, our perception of all of these matters is not clear.

With this handy guide, you will be able to more easily navigate the Venus Retrograde storm.

THE GHOSTS OF THE PAST ARE CALLING TO YOU

ASTROLOGY

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ASTROLOGY

the

DO’S AND DON’TS DO

REVIEW YOUR RELATIONSHIPS & INTIMATE/ EMOTIONAL NEEDS Be sure to assess where you are at emotionally and if your intimate needs are being met. Now is a good time to discuss how you feel from an authentic and grounded place. Do not make final decisions no matter what, though. Listen to your heart, as it will be giving you strong messages at this time.

GET RID OF OLD CLOTHES & BELONGINGS YOU DO NOT LOVE If you have had a stack of clothing and belongings that you have long meant to get rid of, this could be a time when you are able to shed them and feel lighter because of it. Just make sure you’re not going to regret it later.

RECONNECT WITH PEOPLE FROM YOUR PAST TO REUNITE OR FIND CLOSURE Nostalgia will be affecting you intensely at this time. This would be an okay time to reminisce and catch up and possibly restart your friendship or romantic connection. However, if instead you’d like to finally move on but need closure, you can do that during this time, as well. This will help you find peace.

BARGAIN SHOP You may actually stumble upon a prize item worth a great deal that its previous owner didn’t realize was so valuable. You could also find pieces that have some history to them that may bring more character to your home.

RETURN TO PLEASURES YOU ENJOYED IN THE PAST If you enjoyed certain hobbies or recreational activities in the past and haven’t been able to focus on them for some time, picking them up again during Venus Retrograde could reignite your enjoyment of them.

REASSESS, REDESIGN, READDRESS, REPEAT, REDO, REPAIR Returning to the past is favored during all retrogrades, so as long as you are using the time to fine-tune your thoughts and projects, you should be in luck.

FIND BALANCE, JOURNAL, & MEDITATE Reflection, healing, and grounding are always wonderful things to do during a retrograde. Now would be a lovely time to journal and ponder your relationships and the lessons they have taught.

This way you can always build healthier ones in the present and

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DON’T

GET MARRIED OR GO “OFFICIAL” WITH SOMEONE Now is not the best time to break up with someone or officially start a relationship, as you will not be thinking clearly. If for some reason you already have scheduled your wedding during this time and cannot change it, sign the legal paperwork for the marriage before or after Venus Retrograde—as that will be the official “anniversary” date.

Also, do not buy your rings, pick out your wardrobe, take engagement photos, or finalize décor for the wedding.

MAKE ANY UNNECESSARY FINANCIAL PURCHASES As Venus rules money, this is not the greatest time to make unneeded purchases or large investment decisions. You can, however, review your finances and perhaps balance them better. This is also not a time to buy a home or real estate.

GET PLASTIC SURGERY OR CHANGE YOUR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE All beauty decisions are off-limits when Venus is retrograde.

There are no exceptions. The procedure could be one that you later regret.

REDECORATE YOUR HOME As Venus also holds dominion over décor, you should not change the look of your home significantly. This even includes something as small as buying new sheets for bedding or painting your walls. You will not be happy with your aesthetic decisions down the road.

OPEN A BUSINESS OR LAUNCH AN ARTISTIC/ CREATIVE ENDEAVOR As Venus has ties to all money and profit, absolutely do not start a business or launch it when she is not at her full strength. Also, do not release an artistic or creative venture (such as a film, gallery, and beyond) because the reception of it will not be as favorable. You also risk the business or project becoming a money pit, rather than a profitable endeavor.

OVERINDULGE Venus rules pleasure and one may have the tendency to overindulge at this time - to unhappy or disastrous results.

Harness your practical and grounded side at this time.

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