Trade Secrets Magazine - July 2015

To Prime?

Or Not To Prime?

How to Create Your Diet for Life

THE WHIMSICAL WORLD OF...

Mia Rocchio Foods that can

Italians

on the Road

SABOTAGE Your Six Pack

Anna Foster: JULY 2015

The Maven

FROM THE EDITOR

N

ow that summer is in full swing, I hope you are all finding creative ways to enjoy the heat!

For our July issue, we start you off with our Talent Talks feature – actress, Mia Rocchio. Being the youngest of five kids and since her other siblings were much older, she often had to find creative ways to entertain herself. She discovered her love for theatre at a very young age, and has been on a quest, ever since, to accomplish her dream. We get the chance to learn about her journey so far, and what’s next.

Want to get the appearance of smoother skin? Ever tried a primer? Olga Hawwa teaches us how to acquire that flawless finish.

To the rest of the world, Italian drivers are amongst the boldest on the road, but to the average Italian it’s just the way they drive. Cinzia talks about this intriguing mindset and the typical approach to navigating the Italian roads.

Ever hear the saying, “Abs are made in the kitchen?”

According to Nichole Rich, they can also disappear in the kitchen! Discover some foods that may be hindering your progress towards getting the results you want.

Last month, we had the pleasure of attending three fashion events this month, and we bring you the highlights from all three.

The annual Crosswalk Catwalk, a flash runway show, took over a segment of Providence’s Thayer Street last month, turning an ordinary Saturday afternoon into a fashion show right on the sidewalk. Valerie Langlais

gives us a quick review of the afternoon.

Also last month, we attended the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston’s “First Fridays” event. They were collaborating with Boston Caribbean Fashion Week (BCFW) to help promote the latter’s upcoming event in August, and it was a fun-filled night!

The third event we covered last month was Maria del Carmen Mercado’s “Hidden Emotions” fashion show at Providence’s Tantric Night Club. The venue featured some light fare donated by Edible Arrangements, Domino’s and Chipotle Grill, percussive performances as well as a beautiful array of MdCM originals Do you know why diets don’t work? Have you tried one, lost a bunch of weight, only to pack it on again?

Elizabeth Phinney talks about ways to effectively create a proper diet that is healthy and long term.

Lastly, we have a very enterprising Maven: Anna Foster. She tells us how she got started her lifestyle brand “A Maven’s World,” and her approach to life, family, and success.

Enjoy!

Y

HOLLA

From our June issue A Vision at the Castle “All pages are splendid. Such great material – models – art info!” – Martinha J., R.I.

Rachel Lessne; A Walking Contradiction “She is beautiful, of course; better than that she seems like an interesting and kind hearted person.” – Pamela S., F.L.

The Enigma of Madonna “Thanks…for the story on Madonna. She happens to be on my bucket list of favorite artists to see. I bet she can do up to 4hrs non-stop on stage with so many big hits.

Will see her soon someday.” – Michael E

THE CREW

YEMI SEKONI, editor-in-chief, is the owner and director of Donahue

Models & Talent - Rhode Island’s oldest model and talent agency. Her company books some of New England’s top professional models and talent to work with many corporate giants across the region.With over 35 years of experience in various areas of the acting and modeling industry, including theater, TV, film, print and runway, Yemi also holds a Bachelor of Arts in education, a post-graduate diploma in marketing and an MBA. TRADE SECRETS magazine is the culminating outlet for all of her passions – education, performing, marketing and creative writing. tradesecretsmag.com

VALENCIO, photography, chooses to remain an enigma. valenciofoto.com

JACLYN PELOPIDA, entertainment, graduated from Iona College in 2007

with a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication with a concentration in journalism and a minor in psychology. She was the arts and entertainment editor of her college newspaper, “The Ionian.” Throughout her college career, she was an editorial intern for “M Magazine,” a web editorial intern for “Seventeen” magazine, and a public relations intern for MTV Networks. She is in the midst of writing her first novel and currently resides in Cranston, Rhode Island. linkedin.com/pub/jaclyn-pelopida/33/155/54a

CINZIA ANTONELLI, international, resides with her husband, Gianfranco DiMarco, and their 14-year-old daughter, Enrica, in the little town of Cassino, Italy.

Inheriting her creative and artistic flair from her father, a painter, and her grandfather, a novelist, she grew up with a love for fashion, and a passion for creating costume jewelry. When she is not busy with her daughter or helping her husband with his business, she can be found designing and creating new lines of costume jewelry – inspired by the ancient royals of the world, primitive prints and nature. Through her craft, her goal is to express her unique personality, as she believes that creating an object for the body is also a universal form of communication and language. facebook.com/cinzia.antonelli.16

OLGA HAWWA, beauty writer, is licensed esthetician, and makeup artist offering facials, face/body waxing, eyebrow design, makeup artistry, and body treatments for women and men. She is located 1227 Main Street, West Warwick. Hours are by appointment: makeupandimage.com

NICHOLE RICH, Ph.D, RYT200, health & wellness, is a Certified Personal

Trainer and Sports Nutrition Specialist. As a Fitness and Wellness Coach, she owns and operates Breathing Room, where she provides nutrition coach- ing and training for individuals. Additionally, she is a National Speaker for Summit Education and Li’l Dragons Karate Program Director at State of the Arts Karate and Wellness Center. breathingroomwellness.com

ELIZABETH PHINNEY, health and wellness, is a Certified Personal Trainer with the American Council on Exercise. She also holds a certificate with the American Senior Fitness Association and is an affiliate of The American College of Sports Medicine. She was named Top Female Executive with Worldwide Who’s Who and VIP of the year in Health and Fitness for 2013 and 2014. In 2013, she co-authored “The Expert Success Solution,” an Amazon #1 international bestseller. Elizabeth’s passion is Fitness after Forty-Five and her mission is to inspire people to plan their physical future. Her flagship product is BodSpir®, a meditative strength training technique she created and has taught thousands of times in her classes.

FitnessAfterFortyFive.com

LAURA ROSSI, lifestyle, loves accessorizing!

She regularly blogs for The Huffington Post Style section, SheKnows.com, and many other lifestyle sites. Laura is a published author, digital strategist, and runs her own public relations firm.

LauraRossiPublicRelations.com.

VALERIE LANGLAIS, events, hails from Oxford, Massachusetts and has an Associates Degree in Account- ing from Quinsigamond Community College, as well as a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Kennedy-Western University.

During the weekdays, she is a mild-mannered accountant with Charlton Furniture Co., Inc in Charlton, Mas- sachusetts. In the evenings and on weekends, the former model teaches the children’s program for Donahue Models in Cranston, RI; is on staff with the Boucher School of Dance in Oxford, MA and runs an online business selling vintage designer clothing.

THE COSMETIC COUNTER

to prime? or not to prime?

By Olga Hawwa

pplying a primer under your foundation is one of the secrets to an even complexion. Like priming a canvas before painting, these products prep the skin for a more flawless finish. A clear primer helps to fill in fine lines and pores giving the skin a smoother appearance.  Because natural primers are typically silicone-based, they are ideal for oily and acneprone skin.

a

Primers can also be used to neutralize the color in your skin.

The three popular shades of primer are mint, mauve, and yellow.

Mint neutralizes ruddiness and redness in the skin which is great for skin with rosacea. You can also dab a bit of mint primer over a pimple or red scar to minimize the redness.

Mauve is a great choice to liven up a sallow, yellow complexion.

Opt for yellow to camouflage blue/ black undertones in the skin before concealer or as a an alternative to the traditional concealer.

After completing your morning skin care routine, start with the areas in need of the most attention and apply primer in a thin layer all over the skin.. or in specific areas in need of color correction. Allow to set for a bit.  Then using a makeup sponge, “stippleâ€? your liquid or cream foundation all over the face and finish with powder to set.

Then apply the rest of your makeup.

Because primers tend to adhere to the skin, be sure to cleanse the skin twice to make sure you remove all of the product. Tone to remove any residue and complete your nighttime routine.

Adding a primer to your routine does take a bit of practice. But once you get the hang of it, you will love how your makeup looks!

Makeup & Image

by Olga Makeup artist Esthetician Fashion Stylist Image Consultant

1227 Main Street, Warwick, RI 02893 401 353 4656 www.makeupandimage.com www.facebook.com/makeupandimage

TALENT TALKS

The Whimsical World of

E

ven though Mia Rocchio is technically one of five children, she considers herself to be an only child. “I am my dad’s fifth child and my mom’s only child. Here’s what this means: My brothers and sisters are much older than me and were long out of the house by the time I came around.

So, for all intents and purposes, I was raised as an only child,” explained Rocchio.

f...

Mia Rocchio

...

By Jaclyn Pelopida Photography & video by Valencio Small Hair & makeup by Danielle Dube

“My favorite actress, growing up, was Audrey Hepburn. She’s perfect.”

“In school, my peers, and sometimes even my teachers, couldn’t really relate to or understand the mildly awkward/ head-in-clouds kid that I was.”

Originally, from Vermont, Rocchio, now at age 22, currently resides in Providence, Rhode Island. “I grew up in a tiny town called Windsor, Vermont near Dartmouth College. And by tiny I mean, more cows than people,” says Rocchio. She graduated from University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and a minor in Gender and Women’s studies. In the upcoming fall, she will be attending the University of Louisville, to pursue her Master of Fine Arts in Acting, as theatre is her biggest passion.

TS: “How would you describe yourself?”

MR: “I would say I’m someone who tries to approach life as optimistically as possible while knowing that you have to take everything with a grain of salt. I think that you have to have the grace to pretend that you take it all seriously, the spirit to know that you don’t, and the willpower to stay dedicated. I take it all 45 minutes at a time. Also, when in doubt, eat some chocolate.”

TS: “How would your parents to describe you?”

MR: “Whimsical, hard-working, stubborn, loving, inquisitive, and adorable.”

TS: “And how about your friends?”

MR: “Well, I’m very passionate and I think they would agree that comes out in more ways than one.”

TS: “Who influenced you in pursuing your dreams?”

MR: “Number one my parents, number two Audrey Hepburn. Also, Tennessee Williams and my best friend Megan Fucci.”

TS: “Do you have a day job?”

MR: “This past year I have been teaching, directing and choreographing children’s theater. For a long time I was kind of against becoming a teacher, because I equated it to failing or at least settling. However, I now realize I can have both. Teaching is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I have realized that I’ve helped a lot of kids find a thing/activity/ passion that they really connect with. I needed that so much as a kid and being able to provide that for others brings it full circle. It is very challenging, grueling and draining work, but worth it.”

TS: “What has been your biggest challenge as a an actor?”

MR: “A lot of people reference the ‘acting wall’ or

‘block.’ For me, it really has just come down to believing in myself. As a kid, I had such a freedom when I performed. When I got older, I started dwelling on people’s perceptions of me while on stage; that’s detrimental. You’re never going to reach your full potential if you’re not able to let inhibitions go. Acting is about impulses, and inhibitions get in the way of impulses.”

TS: “Who was your favorite actor or actress growing up?”

MR: “My favorite actress growing up was Audrey Hepburn. She’s perfect.”

TS: “And who’s your favorite today?”

MR: “Amy Poehler. She has mastered the art of poignant comedy. She’s a strong, confident, beautiful woman and feminist who’s not afraid to state her opinion and love herself for it. She’s funnier than most and smarter too.”

TS: “Who is your biggest inspiration?”

MR: “My mom and dad. They keep my feet on the ground and my heart in the sky. They have taught me to love life and have always scared the monsters away.

I would be no where without the strength and wisdom of my two best friends.”

Growing up as an only child, by Rocchio’s definition, “I hung out with only adults and the imaginary friends in my head,” she says, “I would sing and dance around the neighborhood with my red, yellow and blue mini boom box blasting the greatest hits of the 60s and I wore my hair in a single braid that I could sit on.” She also found a passion for reading and getting lost in the stories and characters as a way of escaping into a fantasy world. “I spent so much time in the fictional, fantastical world; I was often a little out of touch with the physical, actual world around me. In school, my peers, and sometimes even my teachers, couldn’t really relate to, or understand the mildly awkward/headin-the-clouds kid that I was. It wasn’t until I found theatre that I felt as though I had stumbled upon a group of people who knew exactly what it felt like to live in a land of stories.”

TS: “What has been your most embarrassing modeling or acting moment?”

MR: “One time in acting class I was supposed to be off-book for a Shakespeare monologue; I called ‘line’ for every single line. At the end of the class, after

“India. The colors, the vibrancy of culture, food, spirituality and, of course, elephants. I love elephants.�

Click on the picture to go behind the scenes at Mia’s shoot

everyone had gone and proven that no one had come prepared that day, the teacher gave us feedback: ‘You all suck. Do your work.’”

TS: “If we bumped into you walking down the street on any given day, what would we traditionally see you wearing?”

MR: “Bangles. Eclectic shoes, heels probably suede.

Patterned tights. Maybe a hat. Maybe a crop top.

Definitely a vintage bag and some fabulous $3 antique shop earrings.”

TS: “Do you have any particular fashion trends that like or dislike the most?”

MR: “I like high-waisted bottoms with a crop top and I dislike North Face jackets with yoga pants and Uggs.”

TS: “What do you enjoy doing in your down time?”

MR: “Reading, singing (loudly, all the time, making up songs in the shower), skipping, picking flowers, looking up pictures of cats, daydreaming, finding fields and practicing yoga and/or meditating, reading NPR articles, eating Nutella out of the jar, planning adventures and then going on those adventures.”

TS: “What sports do you play?”

MR: “Competitive, team sports give me hives. However, I love to exercise and be outside in nature. I love hiking, exploring, running, skiing, yoga, swimming, biking, camping and general frolicking.”

TS: “What country are you eager to travel to?”

MR: “India. The colors, the vibrancy of culture, food, spirituality and, of course, elephants. I love elephants.”

TS: “Do you cook?”

MR: “I love food. I am Italian, so food is a lifestyle choice. My best friend and roommate, the fabulous Megan Fucci, and I take turns making each other dinner. We love vegetables, fruit, anything out of the ground; we’re both vegetarians so it makes it easy.

Our go-to-recipe is taking some beans, quinoa and veggies, putting it all in a bowl and making some exotic sauce to go on top.”

TS: “What’s your favorite type of music?”

MR: “Oh my goodness, I love music so much. I have a constant soundtrack to my life playing at all times. In college, my go-to procrastination activity was spend-

ing a straight seven hours on a variety of music blogs sites, magazines, etc. So here’s the sad thing, I am not musically gifted in any way. I’ve, kind of, learned to sing but even that’s a stretch most days. So all I can do is sit back, relax and listen. My favorite band is Vampire Weekend, my favorite singer/songwriter is Ingrid Michelson (who I adore in absolutely every way possible), and my favorite song is “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World. Also, my dad instilled in me a great love for classical music and the 1950s classics such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Billy Holiday, etc.”

TS: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

MR: “Well, in five years I will have my MFA (or at least that’s the plan). Ideally, I would be a member of the Actor’s Equity Association and working pretty consistently as a professional actor. One of my main goals as a performing artist is to influence the social/ global world around me through theatre. I was a Gender and Women’s studies minor in college and have a great passion for asking questions that challenge general public perceptions and perspectives.”

“You’re never going to reach your full potential if you’re not able to let inhibitions go”

Feathered coat (an original design) by David T. Howard, Costume Designer Courtesy of University of Rhode Island Theatre Costume Shop

“It wasn’t until I found theatre that I felt as though I had stumbled upon a group of people who knew exactly what it felt like to live in a land of stories.”

Live tree performer: Tara Smith, from TEN31 Productions Tree and Alice in Wonderland costumes courtesy of TEN31 Productions/ WeMakePretend, Living Art Studio

PURSUITS

Anna Foster

The Mav

“P

rofessionally, I am a visionary, analyst and astute businessperson,” she offers, when asked to describe herself. “Personally, I am a glass half- full kind of person!” she continues, “I always find the silver-lining in life and situations. This has helped me tremendously and allowed me to help others.”

Anna Foster grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, but spent a lot of time in Marblehead, where she attended school. With a Bachelor Arts from Suffolk University and a Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School, this self-described Maven has mastered the art of calling all the shots.

B

ven

By Yemi Sekoni

TS: How did you get started?

AF: I have a business background, so I combined it with my love for fashion and events around 2010. I’m a true entrepreneur and I needed to create a business, which allowed me to control it, instead of it controlling me. It was well accepted from the beginning, because the hard work and quality was evident. I started organically with other business owners, close friends and family supporting my vision and it continued to grow from there.

TS: How did “A Maven’s World” (AMW) come about?

AF: In October, 2014, A Maven’s World Lifestyle Brand was launched. Although, we had previously been operating under two separate businesses (Fleur De Lis Fashion and WWMI Events since 2010), we needed a more global brand, so A Maven’s World was perfect! The definition of a “Maven” is a person in the know! A lot of time you hear the term “fashion maven” or “brand maven”. Because of my educational background and experiences, the name truly spoke to me and to those that support our brand. Additionally, it allows the brand to operate fluidly. This is what we want to transcend in our message. We do a myriad of different things we offer, however; whenever and wherever you see us, you know 1.) it’s going to be a positive movement, 2.) you are going to have a great experience and 3.) it’s going to be top-notch. A Maven’s World is a feeling that you get, not just a product, event or service. This is really what we offer!

TS: Give us a cliff notes version of the scope of what AMW does AF: A Maven’s World is an Experience, figuratively speaking!

Technically speaking, it is a Lifestyle Brand! So, long story short, our brand transcends into everyone’s life, in some form or fashion.

We focus on Events, Business Consulting and Branding, Fashion Beauty and Home Products and Lifestyle! However, the reason it is successful, is not because of the products we offer or the events we manage and produce, BUT the feeling and emotion that they evoke from our supporters!

TS: How many AMW Business Affiliates do you currently have?

AF: Our Affiliate Program started in October, 2014. Affiliates are businesses that we work closely with and we can “certify” that they provide great service or products (through our own personal use and referrals). We normally carry anywhere between 15-20 Affiliates

really serves as a win-win for our Affiliates, as they receive ongoing consultations, business workshops, networking events, social media mentions and website presence on our site. So far, our Affiliate Businesses continue to do well and that makes us extremely happy!

Scroll through her Facebook page, and you can’t help but notice the positive quotes that fill her timeline, and a healthy following that draw inspiration from them, or just simply acknowledge the truth behind each statement. One such example is her often use of the #hashtag #LoveIsLove. We had to learn the story behind it.

TS: How did your catch phrase #loveislove come about?

AF: Aw... thanks for noticing. I am of the mindset, if you offer “love” in your business or personal, you should receive it! Everything we do at A Maven’s World is with our customers/supporters in mind, first and foremost, and that’s the experience we want them to feel when doing business with us.

TS: How do you procure the pieces that are featured in your trunk shows?

AF: We love doing Trunk Shows! It allows us to personally connect with our customers and hopefully gain new ones in the process. Nothing like the personal experience, which is the foundation of our business and it’s growth.

The launch party at Liquid Art House. Photo D. Irvin

and we are looking to grow our Affiliate relationhips over the year. It really is an awesome service for those businesses that have registered.

TS: And how does the business affiliation work? Do you find them or they find you?

AF: Affiliates usually find us. A lot of times, it is because they see how we handle our own brand and the support we receive.

Based on my experience in business and branding, it Our product line (“Maven”) is curated through trade shows and expos. Additionally, we also work with designers that speak to our market and what’s trending.

Our fashion, home and beauty line is private label.

TS: What obstacles have you had to overcome in order to become successful?

AF: There will always be obstacles, especially for the entrepreneur, but like I said I’m a half-full kind of person. So, I have to say I have been extremely blessed, with regards to being embraced in the industry. However, time management is always an obstacle! I’m a mom to two children and a wife! So, as much as I would like to attend every “fabulous event” and travel more for business, sometimes it just can’t be done.

TS: You have a very unique sense of style. In your own words, how would you descirbe your sense of style and what it says about you?

AF: Generally, I always describe my style as casuallychic! I love to be comfortable and still fashionably suited. Most of my day is spent in meetings or attending events, which means I’m working! I love to dress the part and I always incorporate at least one staple piece in the look!

TS: Do you have a favorite clothing designer and why?

AF: For high end designers, I love the designs of Alexander McQueen and Balmain, because they structurally make a statement. Avant Garde styles speak to

me. I love pieces that stand out. Doesn’t have to be “in your face”, but something that people will notice. On a more local level, I love the collection of Iam Kreyol and was just recently introduced to the collection of House of Cach at StyleWeek.

TS: You also coordinate an annual women’s event. Tell us about that. What motivated you to do that?

AF: The true essence of our business is the empowerment of others, through a social environment. For the last several years, I’ve organized and produced an Annual Women’s New Year Brunch! We break bread, hear from speakers, share some laughs, shed some tears, lift each other up, network and leave feeling refreshed and ready to start the New Year strong! Luckily, we are able to do this through the platform we’ve created and every year we see new and familiar faces at the Annual Women’s Brunch, so that’s exciting.

TS: Who is the target audience at these events?

AF: The majority of women that attend our New Year’s Brunch are entrepreneurs or high level executives ... however; all are welcome.

Women share so many commonalities and that transcends to a bond, on many levels.

The Event is usually the first Sunday of every New Year and the link to registration can be found on our website www.amavensworld.com (under events) or posted on our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/amavensworld, usually around November.

TS: You recently announced your affiliation with Dirty WaterTV. Congratulations! Tell us about what you will be doing there and what you hope to accomplish.

AF: I am totally excited about this opportunity! I will be the co-host, alongside Sterling Golden (of 320 Entertainment) and Lisa Batista (Miss Brazil Massachusetts), of the segment “Boston VIPS”. Our goal with “Boston VIPS” is to present a fun, engaging viewing experience, where we discuss what’s trending and exciting in the areas of arts, fashion, entertainment and lifestyle in Boston and its surrounding areas. It will air every weekend on dirtywaternews.com

Foster’s goal, as she explains it, is to continue building her organization - ‘A Maven’s World Lifestyle Brand,’ and to always stay connected to their brand supporters. She wants to continue to provide support to other businesses and brands in the process. “The sky is the limit,” she says, “and I’m always open to new opportunities.”

TS: How do you plan to meet your goals?

AF: By continuing to provide a great service, through our events, Affiliate Program and by providing the best products for our customers.

TS: What’s the biggest piece of advice you have for other up and coming entrepreneurs out there?

AF: Never become complacent and comfortable in your business. Continue to learn from every experiene and person that you encounter. You are never too established to learn more. Sometimes you will be the teacher, but most of the time in life, you will be the student and that’s okay!

Women shopping the Maven Collection at a Trunk Show in Boston Photo by D. Irvin

ON THE TOWN

Celebr

Red,

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gold

and

Green

By Yemi Sekoni | Photography by Dimonka Bray

A

lthough it was a rather cool spring evening on the harbor, at the Instutitue of Contemporary Art/Boston, it was definitely Island Time at their June “First Fridays” event. Collaborating with Boston Caribbean Fashion Week (BCFW) to help promote the latter’s upcoming event in August, the venue was filled with members and non-members alike, to enjoy an assortment of proceedings that included music, dancing, tours, zumba and a carnival showcase.

Starting off the evening, the Pan Loco Steel band entertained the guests with many great Caribbean tunes like Arrow’s “Hot Hot Hot” and Bob Marley’s “Jammin.’”

The night ended with DJ Mikey D turning up the volume and giving the guests a chance to dance the night away. It was a high-octane night with no shortage of fun elements to talk about for days to come.

Sipping on specialty cocktails and sampling island Creek Oysters from the Pop Up Raw Bar served harborside, the audience were also treated to a fashion installation previewing what was to come in August. It featured pieces by the designs of Santamaria by Marleny, Devikar Styles by Rhea Nannan, Kinda Touma Fashion by Kinda Touma and some jewelry pieces by Inga Puzikov.

If this is any indication of what BCFW might look like, then we can’t wait for what’s in store!

Boston Carribean Fashion Week will be held on August 11 – 15, 2015. Most events will be in the Dorchester area, and there will be a fashion show on closing night – August 15 at 7:00 pm at Boston Teasher’s Union, 180 Mt Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA. For more informaiton, visit www.BostonCFW.com

At 7:30, Soca-Zumba Instructor, Natalie Gill, took over the dance area and held a zumba class that brought many to the floor to particpate, both men and women, while many chose to observe and enjoy the antics of the group.

As the sun began to set behind the Boston skyline, BCFW founder and coordinator, Althea Blackford, took a few minutes to thank all for coming and urged the guests to make way for what was next to come.

She introduced the final segment – a carnival parade showcase of six bikini-clad dancers from the groups - Soca & Associates and Mirage Mas. Resplendent in large plums of feathers and jewelry, they entertained the guests with high energy dancing to loud cheers and huge applause.

“...the final segment – a carnival parade showcase of six bikini-clad dancers from the groups - Soca & Associates and Mirage Mas.”

Click on the picture to view the promotional video

ON THE TOWN

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t was a beautiful summer day on Thayer Street in Providence; sunny and 81 degrees without too much humidity. The charming college community was a “people watcher’s” paradise: skateboarders buzzed past while shoppers strolled along carrying there finds.

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The lunch crowd vied for coveted al fresco seating and various small dogs led their owners along the sidewalks. At about 2:15, a loud whistle blew and models turned the sidewalk into the catwalk. Designs by Mode Merr, Luis, Claudia DoRego , NNY Jewels, Iris, and Clothes Horse Clothing , made their way through the crowds, periodically stopping to pose for photographers.

Featured looks ranged from urban to avante garde to vintage. High-waisted trousers with a cropped button down walked along side pretty, floral dresses and a sunny, yellow strapless mini dress featuring a fun anchor applique. Whimsical cat prints, delicate chain detailing and black lace illustrated the melting pot that is Thayer Street.

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The Providentians stepped aside to watch the models pass. Shopkeepers, wait staff and cooks stood in their respective business doorways to enjoy the show. For that short time, Providence, RI was in a New York state of mind.

ON THE TOWN

A Night of Hidden Emotions

I

By Yemi Sekoni | Photos by Mark Ouellett

t was a night of “Hidden Emotions” at the runway show, put on by local designer, Maria del Carmen Mercado, one Friday night in June. Held at Providence’s Tantric Night Club on North Main Street, the venue featured some light fare donated by Edible Arrangements, Domino’s and Chipotle Grill

As guests arrived, a drum ensemble provided background percussion setting the tone for the evening ahead.

Just before the runway show started, Master of Ceremonies, Lauren Clemente welcomed the guests and gave a brief introduction of the collection.

The show opened with a green evening gown that was quickly followed by a mix of swimwear and beach over ups. Mercado also incorporated a splash of bright neon colored pieces, flowy skirts, which were fun elegant and playful.

During the intermission, the guests were treated to a rousing performance by another percussion group from the coast of Puerto Rico – Lydia, Dorothy & Yidell - a motherdaughter trio – call PRIAA Yoruba2.

It was a high energy, intense performance that included audience participation with a chanted chorus. The mother, Lydia, leads the troup and is the founder of PRIAA – a local nonprofit organization that advocates for Latino artists with a particular focus on Puerto Ricans.

The second part of the fashion show started with an all-white one piece swin suit and matching sheer cover up, quickly moving to long flowing dresses that billowed as they walked, looking ethereal yet whinsical.

The lineup ranged from a black multi layered lace dress, to a green floor length skirt, to an emerald green floor length one shoulder dress embellished with rhinestones at the shoulder and around the waist.

Overall, it was a beautiful collection, elegant, feminine, bold and daring.

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Foods that can

SABOTAGE Your Six Pack

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By Nichole Rich, PhD.

ou’ve probably heard the saying “Abs are made in the kitchen” and I like to add on to that by saying that abs can disappear in the kitchen too! If you’re like most people who work out, you might spend endless hours at the gym taking classes, ramping up your cardio sessions and still feeling like that six-pack just won’t pop through. Here you will discover some foods that may be hindering your progress towards getting the results you want.

1. Alcohol In any amount, alcohol can cause a big halt in your progress. Not only is alcohol full of empty calories, it is filled with carbohydrates and sugar. Towards the end of this article I will explain why some athletes need carbohydrates in the form of sugar for endurance activities. But it holds true that even for endurance athletes, alcohol is not the best option.

On most occasions, alcohol is also served when there are unhealthy food choices around. You would be more likely to also select one of those unhealthy foods when you have some alcohol in your system.

2. Salt A lot of diet foods on the market contain massive amounts of sodium to help them taste better. Salt causes water retention and while it doesn’t interfere with fat loss it can interfere with weight and the appearance of your muscles. If you want a really healthy option for flavoring your foods, try Himalayan Salt.

The larger crystals will help you consume less while

still giving you a flavorful taste.

3. Beans While beans are healthy they can also lead to bloating.

The effect on your body is similar to lactose intolerance because of the undigested carbohydrates. Keep your bean intake to a minimum and choose only fresh beans as processed beans have a high salt and sugar content.

4. Dairy Even if you choose low fat dairy products, there is still the possibility that you will be consuming a product that includes antibiotics or hormones. These can change your body’s chemistry and cause you to store more fat. Some good alternatives to try include rice milk, rice cheese, almond milk or veggie cheese.

5. Nut Butters Nuts and nut butters contain essential good fats for losing weight, gaining lean muscle, and overall health.

However, many commercial peanut butters may be

high in saturated fat due to the oils and other ingredients that are included to give it that delicious taste.

Avoid any nut butters that use palm oil as an ingredient and go for nut butters that are limited to nuts and sea salt as the ingredients. Some healthy options to try include Teddie’s Organic Natural Peanut Butter, Justin’s Almond Butter, or Nuts ‘n More. Also be sure to keep the intake of your nut butter to a minimum.

One to two tablespoons per day is considered to be a good serving.

6. Sugar Sugar can result in fat accumulation because it causes an immediate spike in sugar levels in your blood. In this process, your liver will turn sugar into fat for storage. Unless you are an endurance athlete or extreme athlete you can just rely on the naturally occurring sugars that you get from fruits.

There is a lot of question surrounding the sports drinks that are on the market and the sugar content in them.

There has been research regarding sports drinks and the sugar content surrounding them. Sugar is a carbohydrate and the body needs carbohydrates to replenish glycogen stores in the muscles. If you are an athlete who works out for an hour or more you will need to replenish your glycogen by getting a combination of simple sugars such as fructose and glucose. But, the general rule of thumb for those not participating in any intense workouts, you can forego those sports drinks and increase your chance of seeing those six pack abs.

A WINK FROM‌Italy

Italians on the Road

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By Cinzia Antonelli

ith art, history, fashion, secular traditions, the cult of food and joy of living, for us Italians, another great passion is the world of motors. We are well known around the world, for founding some of the most prestigious car manufactures; Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Fiat (today FCA) and Ducati.

We are also know for the historic “Mille Miglia” (thousand mile race); the race that the great Enzo Ferrari, the mythical founder of Ferrari, called “the most beautiful in the world,” the last edition of which took place in May and went from Brescia, to Rome, and back to Brescia again. It began as a long-distance run, carried out on Italian roads, and took place for the first time in Italy in 1927 and lasted for 24 consecutive years, until 1957. Later on, until 1961, there were an additional three seasons, with long journeys that were interspersed with brief bursts of speed, generally uphill. Since 1977, until the present-day, “Mille Miglia” is commemorated yearly, as a race of vintage cars, featuring only automobiles produced before 1957, in other wrds, only those who had participated in the original race.

Also, of global significance, is the town of Monza, with its international racing circuit, where the racetrack holds one of the stages of the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the World Championship MotoGP. I can safely say that since driving is our passion, as Italians, it should come as no surprise that we like squeezing a little more of our foot on the accelerator, and not only when it’s allowed, but also when it could just be a possibility of getting away with it.

For us, the car, the

motorcycle or even just a bicycle, it’s not only a common means of transportion for get from one point to the next in pursuit of our everyday goals, but it’s also the ultimate expression of freedom of our autonomous mobility, and every vehicle owner feels that they really own the road.

We have a great wealth of culture and traditions, which have been nurtured into a personal trait that is both passionate and sentimental. And we face our daily lives, not automatically like robots, but with our emotions deeply expressed with heart and soul at the center of all our daily actions.

Whether we are addressing a tasty dish of pasta, savouring a cup of hot coffee that warms the soul, or admiring a lovely landscape, we are moved; and almost everything becomes a ritual! Simply put, we are very creative, and our approach to dealing with any situation stems fro that creativity. Even when we are driving, our behavior is never monotonous, we don’t focus exclusively on the task; instead we surrender to our whims and we fly with our imagination. I do not mean to imply that we don’t respect our strict traffic rules, we just follow the rules in a little differently.

Our roads are practically, a jungle of signs and road bans, and this may be why we’re a bit reticent about complying with the so-called swiss precision. So, if in the eyes of many

foreign tourists, we are found to be a little too fast and inattentive while driving, it’s because we believe that the speed limits are too low.

Having such great automotive tradition in our DNA, as evidenced by our various car manufacturers and our ability to expertly manouvre our large cars, we are, without a doubt, proud of our ability to navigate and unravel the complex grid of Italian roads, some of which are not so uniform. Despite our renowned creative or inventive driving, the number of road accidents that occur on our roads is still in line with those of other European countries; in fact, we are even known for being a little more disciplined.

For many tourists, who travel our roads, driving here may seem like a living hell, but I assure you, they all come out safely! Because we hate monotony, we always strive to be real creative artists, and maybe, this makes us a little more careless than others, but while on vacation in Italy, you might happen to experience a nice episode that reveals our typical behavior in traffic. For example, if you are in the center of Rome, while you’re driving along the boulevard that runs alongside the Coliseum, you might happen to see the driver in the car next to you, with one hand on

the steering wheel and the other holding their mobile phone. On the other side, you may notice that the car in front of you, which was only seconds before, in the left lane, just became aware of being in the fast lane, moves quickly to the right, accelerates and then returns to the left; you’ve just met the typical undecided Italian! Then you might spot the typical motorist who can’t find a parking space, panics and starts to argue with his wife, sitting right next to him! Do you want to know what he does next? He parks quietly in two rows, also making a note of turning on his indicators.

At the red lights, next to you, is the usual neurotic and impatient motorist, who just sees the pedestrian light on red, and as it is about to turn green, the car preceding him is driven by an old man who doesn’t move immediately, and that’s part of a deafening beeeeep, making everyone jolt. And how about the smart cars, scooters, bicycles and motorcycle rider, who feel that their small size gives them the right to zig zag between cars, managing to get into any chink.

But, don’t worry! For us Italians, it is relative, and as a beautiful song says: “All Depends On How You Look At The World!” (https://youtu.be/2pNH_Wkr_QA) Ciao from Italy…

PRIME CUT

Create Your Diet for How to

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Life

By Elizabeth Phinney

am sure by this point you have either learned from personal experience or read somewhere that diets simply don‘t work. But, do you know why they don’t work?

You go on a diet, whatever diet, you lose the weight (or not) only to gain it back again, usually more than you lost.

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There are several reasons diets don’t work: The calorie intake is often too restrictive, the body thinks it is starving so it holds onto the fat!

The restrictive food allowed is boring.

Sugar is rarely a part of any good diet and as mentioned in last month’s article, “Ways To Eat Smarter,” http://issuu.com/donahuemodels/docs/vol_3_iss_2__jun_2015/111?e=0 sugar is eight times more addictive than cocaine!!

Diets are temporary. They are not part of your lifestyle.

So, how do you create your own diet? Accepting that you are about to change the way you choose the food that you buy and put into your body, you need to find out what foods ac tually work best for your body.

We all assume that our body can accept any kind of food. Those with food allergies know better.

Many of us, however, have food sensitivities and don’t even know it.

The biggest culprit that has turned into a diet craze and a food industry coupe is the “gluten free” diet. The only reason to go gluten-free is if, in fact, your gut is sensitive to gluten. Gluten is the protein of gluten food products, mainly wheat, that helps the grain to keep its shape. Some people are sensitive to these proteins and get discomfort in their gut when they eat them. The only way to truly find out if you cannot tolerate gluten is to go without it for about 4 weeks. Then, introduce one gluten product. After 30 – 60 minutes plus, see how you feel. If you physically have no reaction, then you have no problem with gluten. After a day or two, try another gluten product, and see what happens with that one. Continue this trial and error method of consumption and you will then know, for certain, how YOUR body reacts to all gluten foods.

This trial and error method is actually the best way to determine your sensitivity to any food. But, not just to identify food allergies or sensitivities. You can use this method for more difficult foods to quit. For instance, I LOVE ice cream. When I gave up dairy to see if I was sensitive to it, ice cream was the toughest part of that (well, cheese was a bit tough, too!) I quit for a month, and then slowly re-introduced vari-

ous dairy products back into my life. My first dish of ice cream tasted incredible. About an hour later, I felt HORRIBLE, like a very bad hangover. And that was that – my body was speaking to me and telling me that I really shouldn’t be eating the ice cream. Same showed true as I slowly re-introduced each dairy product – my body does not like dairy, plain and simple.

So, I don’t eat it.

By depriving yourself of certain foods to determine your sensitivity, over time you can learn the best foods for YOUR body. This program can literally take years. But, when you spread it out over a longer period of time, the deprivation isn’t so bad and you are actually creating an amazing bond with your body.

You are listening to your body and respecting the communication that your body is giving you. What better way to grow old together than that!!

So, make up a list of all the foods you know you shouldn’t be eating, and some you might not think of like dairy and meat. Then one at a time, give them up for a couple of weeks to a month. Then, re-introduce

it and see how you feel. If you feel discomfort, it is your body telling you no. The best thing you can do for yourself is to stop eating that food. If you have no reaction or sensitivity to the food you re-introduce, then feel free to eat it. If it is empty calories or “junk” food, then control the quantity. And, if you are overweight and you have been able to give it up for a month, perhaps you should give it up all together until you get to a healthier weight.

The bottom line is that food is fuel and you truly are what you eat. How you age and whatever aging issues happen to you are directly related to what you put in your mouth NOW. That list includes cancer, Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, dementia, arthritis, high blood pressure and heart disease. Learn to respect your body and eat the foods that are most compatible with it. That way, you and your body can be much healthier as the decades go by.

Planning your fiscal retirement?

Are you also planning your physical retirement?

Aging doesn’t have to be scary when YOU take control!

www.fitnessafterfortyfive.com Helping people choose a life of healthy and energetic aging through workshops, consulting, video and speaking.

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older!”

- Tom Stoppard