Halfstack Spring 2016 Survival Issue

SPRING 2016

survivor Issue THE

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TABLE OF CONTENTS-SPRING 2016

MUSIC MUSTS Music in the Digital Age

IN EVERY ISSUE Editors Letter

Top 10 Spring Concerts 56

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Top 10 Spring Albums

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THE SPOTLIGHT

Meet the Team

LOCAL OPTIONS

58

Graduating, Now What?

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Riccio Drake Jewelry

Spring Sports Spotlight

Impact Movement

Meet Reigning Rebel

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40

Rocksteady Boxing 47

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52

66

70

GROOMING/HEALTH Spring Must Haves 130

Kelly Teegarden

FASHION & LIFESTYLE

134

Meet Katsumi

Krochet Kids Intl.

136

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Amsterdam Fashion 76

WTF?! Stars Moda 92

FEATURES

LabellaMafia

Meet Karli Butler

Looks for Less

Anatomy of an ED

Spring Transition

Scared Girls Talk

Gudrun & Gudrun

The Fashion Revolution

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98

102

1000 Vil ages

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120 124

ART & CULTURE Halfstack Bookshelf 138

EDITORS LAST LOOK N’Spired Thoughts 144

Personal Growth 146

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Anything worth having in life never comes easy. It’s a mantra that I’ve stuck to throughout my years. It’s an idea that keeps me going when the days go long, my energy drops low at 3 AM and I’m still working – when it looks as if there is no view of success in sight. I keep going, even when the going gets tough. I had a troubled youth, but I don’t regret the hardships – they’re what helped mold me into the person that I am today. All the heartache, hardships and struggles have made me the strong per-

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

son I am today. It’s the hard part of my life that makes me grateful for each and every opportunity that comes my way as an adult. It’s those hardships that help me see the greatness in others, even when they are not quite ready to see the greatness in themselves just yet. It’s those hardships that keep me pursuing my dreams, my goals and following my heart – even when it seems as if the odds are stacked against me. It’s because of these experiences that I hold this issue near and dear to my heart readers.

I am so honored to present to you our annual anniversary issue. 4 years ago – we released Halfstack, without any idea of what the future was to hold, but with a vision. 4 years ago, we launched with a small team who had big dreams. Today – we release this issue with a larger team who still has the same visions as we continue to push for growth. This issue – we are focusing on the theme of Survival. Survival of heart ache, survival as it pertains to adaptation and most importantly – survival as it relates to overcoming. This issue I am proud to introduce a new

JENNIFER M. LEZAN-VEGUILLA EDITOR IN CHIEF & FOUNDER

writer – a hero – a mother – a woman who has overcome so much and still keeps going. She is our cover model: Karli Butler. After surviving a brutal acid attack 10 years ago – Karli is the epitome of a woman who never stops trying to better herself and the world around her. Her story is a true testament to survival, but what I find most

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profound is her ability to not allow her circumstances to

dictate her life story and journey. She is the

This issue is a culmination of all the hard work we have

maker of her destiny and her story is just

put into Halfstack for the last 4 years. I hope you all find

beginning.

it inspiring and even if it helps just one person continue on in their life journey despite obstacles, then all the

Each story in this issue highlights the theme

hard work we put into it is worth it. Thank you for walk-

of survival in a beautiful, educational and

ing alongside us on this creative journey. Without each

poetic way. We share stories of creatives who

of you readers, our team and the amazing creatives I

are surviving and overcoming even when the

get to work with every day, this wouldn’t be possible.

odds seem to be against them. We highlight brands that are working with the poor and

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

helping them break the cycle of poverty.

Jen Oquendo shares a list of amazing books all about survival and overcoming. She shares a review of the e-book “Scared Girls Talk” –

JENNIFER M. LEZAN - EDITOR IN CHIEF

featuring the story of a sexual assault survivor. Jen Gordon and Reynisha share beautiful sentiments on survival in the Editor’s Last Look. Thom highlights a local gym: Rocksteady Boxing that is helping people who are battling Parkinson’s. Although quite a few of our stories are heavy, we still have fun pieces that relate to beauty and grooming from Danielle and Fashion from Stella and our new Style Columnist: Emily Ehardt. We spotlight a new blog: Reigning Rebel and our Business Columnist: Peter shares his thoughts on the journey after college graduation. Louis shares his thoughts on how the music industry can survive the digital evolution.

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LAURA LOPEZ lead photographer

SHIRIN KORIL lead photographer

pickaposephotograpy.com

jennifer veguilla eic/creative director founder @halfstackmag

pickaposephotograpy.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Perry Fish lead photographer

pearl shin photojournalist

alluringchicago.com

HALFSTACK EDITORIAL

meet the

teresa cutrera fashion editor

team 6

& blogger

yaritza ramocki set stylist

carolyn portner west coast correspondant

jennie velasco set stylist/editor

thom olson blogger & online digital editor

STAFF WRITERS

& DESIGNERS KALI KOLLER

Creative & Graphics Designer

SAMMY SITHIPONG

Creative & Graphics Designer

ANNABEL CARRILLO

LAUREN PFEFFER

Creative & Graphics Designer

Creative & Graphics Designer

JAMIE L. BREEDEN

Creative & Graphics Designer

DANIELLE HAZEKAMP Sr. Beauty Editor

AIRA LHEIZ AQUINO

Creative & Graphics Intern

STELLA QUIMBY Sr. Fashion Editor

STAFF BLOGGERS IESHA CARTER Staff Blogger/Youtuber

DENISE GUEVARA Staff Blogger/Youtuber

REYNISHA LINDSAY Staff Writer

OLIVIA LEMLEY Staff Writer/Blogger

NICOLE STYLES Staff Blogger

TRACI CICARELLI Staff Blogger/Youtuber

ELAINE RAU

ROB SAMUELSON

TARIQ ALSAUD

Digital Blogger

Digital Blogger

Staff Writer/Blogger

Catie Coscino Staff Writer/Blogger

JENNIFER OQUENDO Staff Writer/Blogger

KANDACE MCVICKAR Staff Blogger

Andre Thompson Staff Blogger

KARLI BUTLER Staff Writer/Blogger

JENNIFER GORDON Staff Writer/Blogger

Louis Vasseur Staff Blogger

DWIGHT BEJEC Social Media Director

MICHELLE LANDRIAULT Staff Blogger/Youtuber

PETER JAMES Staff Blogger

AVANTE EDMONDS Staff Blogger

EMILY EHARDT Staff Blogger

OLGA IVANIDI Staff Blogger/Youtuber

HALEY NORDHUES Staff Blogger

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Life is a canvas … Paint your masterpiece!™ Jen Gordon is a life coach that can help you get a clear vision and repaint your life to be more desirable and satisfying.

It is never too early or too late to become the conscious creator of your life.

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for bookings visit us online: www.pickaposephotography.com

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OUTFIT: FERMENTED FRUIT MAKEUP: DANIELLE HAZEKAMP PHOTO: LAURA LOPEZ CREATIVE DIR: JEN LEZAN STYLISTS: JENNIE VELASCO YARITZA RAMOCKI MODEL: JENNA ROACH ACCESSORIES: TRUE PARTNERS IN CRAFT

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OUTFIT: FERMENTED FRUIT MAKEUP: DANIELLE HAZEKAMP PHOTO: LAURA LOPEZ CREATIVE DIR: JEN LEZAN STYLISTS: JENNIE VELASCO YARITZA RAMOCKI MODEL: PATRICE WALDEN HANDBAG: CAMBYCAM

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handcrafted leather LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

True Partners In Craft recycled bicycle jewelry & accessories

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• • • Written by: Jennifer Lezan Layout by: Annabel Carrillo

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-A Creative Reborn-

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ou hear the constant buzzing of your alarm clock as it attempts to lull you out of bed each morning. You might hit snooze a few times, but eventually you manage to wipe the sleep from your eyes and begrudgingly roll out of bed. You start your morning routine. Thoughts about your job, whether or not you want to go in and the stresses of the day may suffocate you before you even get out of the shower, let alone make it to the office. There are people out there who love their job and like what they do. Then there are people out there that see a job as a means to an end. Never fully realizing their potential or finding their passion, they just make it work day by day. There is sadness about the situation, but the reality is that people are never in a situation that they can’t change. Typically, what stops people from moving forward is fear - fear of the unknown, fear of financial instability, fear of failure and ridicule. Fear can create such a stronghold on people’s lives, making it nearly impossible to take a step forward. Yet, as Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

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As young people, so many millennials were told to get an education, find a good job and things would fall into place. Yet, the reality for many has not panned out according to that plan. Laden with student debt, many millennials are doing the best they can with what they have. Perhaps they have to take on jobs to just pay the bills, but there are some out there who don’t want to settle for less.

According to an article in Forbes Magazine, a survey released by Bentley University suggests that millennials may be the true entrepreneur generation. Fred Tuffile, director of Bentley’s Entrepreneurial Studies program, says that millennials are eager to make their own pathways because they suspect the traditional ones may lead nowhere. “Millennials see chaos, distrust of management, breaking of contracts and bad news associated with business,” he says.

“They’ve watched their relatives get fired and their peers sit in cubicles and they think, ‘There has to be a better way’.

Anthony Gonzalez, the designer behind the Chicago based jewelry brand: Riccio Drake knew in his heart that there was a better way. After years in the finance industry – he realized that life was more than work – pay bills and die. Life had become mundane and he decided to take a risk and pursue his dreams of launching his brand.

Suitably named: Rebirth- his debut collection is a testament to the journey he has experienced to find his creative calling and open himself up to the opportunity of allowing his dreams to become his reality. Anthony took some time to speak with us about this journey and what his goals are for the collection. Keep Reading for more Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your background and what led you to pursue your current career?

One day I was talking with my jeweler negotiating prices on a custom piece I wanted to make. At that point of buying jewelry, I had already seen so many of the same types of jewelry being sold. I wanted to buy something different, with a purpose. Jokingly my jeweler stated that if I wanted a cheaper price that maybe I could make it myself! That’s what sparked my interest in making jewelry.

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Can you tell us more about your brand, the idea behind it, the customer you cater to and the purpose driving it?

Riccio Drake evolved from my passion for art and creativity. I wanted my jewelry line to be a reflection of myself, to be genuine with integrity.

The “Rebirth” collection specifically spawned from a moment in my life where I gained clarity. That was the day the “rebirth” collection was born. The skulls represent a metaphorical death of ones old self and re-emerging anew. I want this line specifically to cater to the youth, to be affordable and stylish. As a kid growing up I always loved jewelry, but couldn’t afford it and I feel that would be the major consensus for most individuals as to why they don’t by more jewelry. So, I wanted to make a line that uses genuine material, but wouldn’t have to compromise style for the lower price tag. I feel most products sold at a low retail price typically have a “cheap look” for lack of better term, but I wanted all my products to have a high quality finish.

What led you to pursue launching your own jewelry line?

I have always had a knack for fashion, but aside from that I was disenchanted with my career in finance. Life had become mundane and the corporate lifestyle/politics was frustrating. So, I decided to take a leap and follow a dream. I started pursuing making my own jewelry line for a sense of freedom, freedom from the corporate lifestyle and freedom of expression. Often times I would make myself a piece of jewelry and people would ask where I got it from, when this happened enough times it gave me an idea that there would be people out there who would enjoy my jewelry.

Where do you get your creative inspiration and what does the design process look like when working on your products?

My inspiration comes from random thoughts.

Sometimes I think of a concept then draw it out to see if its actually functional. I try to stay away from using references to keep the ideas original.

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The process of making jewelry is an oxymoron, jewelry in its infant stages is rather unappealing, once its goes through all of its processes and becomes a finished piece is when you see its full potential.

Are there people, mentors or figures that have made an impact in your life and career? If so, how?

There are a few individuals that I give credit to for having an impact on me in life. The first has to be my mother, she has been a very big support system in my life, she has supported me 100% in everything I do. Also, she taught me courage this is something you must have to make it in any industry. I would also give credit to my partners at Jamex Jewelers. the owners Ron Daley and Ramiro Gonzalez had taken me into their shop several years ago and started to expand my knowledge base in the jewelry industry.

What are your goals for your brand in the next 2-5 years? How do you hope to be making an impact or what kind of growth are you looking forward to?

My goal with my brand is simple at the moment, I honestly just want to make a living doing what I love. It may sound cliché or even uninspired, but I’m just being honest. I’m not doing this to be rich, but if it happens in the process, I’m OK with that.

In the future I hope the success of the business

will allow me to talk to the youth about life and what I feel the true meaning is and to pass my ideas along to the next generation.

The fashion/product type industry seems to be going through an evolution, why do you think the industry is changing from it’s typical fast/cheap fashion format to something new?

Fast and cheap has never been my cup of tea.

So, I don’t have a problem with any industry changes I am seeing. If anything, I welcome it and I hope more companies take on that type of mentality. Where we are making the products with a purpose and making sure that we’re using the worlds resources responsibly.

How is your brand remaining innovative and what does it offer that is different than what most people can already buy?

I feel my sense of style is what sets my brand apart from the majority. I also try to remain innovative by continually watching the market and trends, and making sure I’m using the best materials available.

What kind of advice would you give to someone looking to launch his or her own brand?

My advice would be to remain patient, persistent and research anything you are going to do before making an investment.

Finally, where can we learn more about your brand?

Currently my jewelry is available at Sydel and Sydel on 222 W. Adams st Chicago, IL - Jamex Jewelers 5 S. Wabash Chicago, IL and online at etsy.com/shop/ricciodrake and eBay.com. I’ve been working with Brandless.io on creating my own website which will be coming soon simply titled ricciodrake.com

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IMPACT THE MOVEMENT Written by: Jennie Velasco

[IMPACT] MOVEMENT Seventeen years ago, I gave my life to a stage and bright lights. Dance was hardly on the surge that it’s currently on back then. Furthermore, hip-hop dance was still on an upward discovery. Movement and technicality was often based on legends like Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Madonna.

Inspiration always came from iconic or old figures like Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly. I look back on 1999 as a “sweet spot” to bring dance back. If you can recall, the nation was divided with Britney vs. Christina, meanwhile the Spice Girls were on the tail end of their career. The so-called “Latin invasion” erupted to the amazement of the gringos, all the original members of Destiny’s Child were still together, and both ‘NSync and Backstreet Boys were on a successful sophomore album.

People were certainly in the party mode with hits like “Back That Azz Up” and the famous summer anthem, “Thong Song.” (Thank you Sisqo)

and Breakin’. This is where the art of dance begins to go through a rebirth; a point where old meets new. The entertainment world presented us with America’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Best Dance crew, Step Up, You Got Served and the list goes on. The reality is that while we are all thankful for Beyonce; for a bunch of lost and hungry dancers with stars in their eyes, inspiration ends up coming from much different places.

I must have been in my early 20’s when I met Nicki Niemet. She was a very smart, young, blonde, fresh-faced, high school girl who had pretty much managed to walk into our dance company with a risky, but talented audition.

You could tell she was new to the game. She came with some breakdance moves, some experience in choreography, and additional swag. This was her first major audition, and although she was a new soul, there was without a doubt, a sense that she would fit Dancers were just getting into that early in well. Catching on is an understatement to sizzle with saucy pop hits, but it was hardly an what she would manage to do over the next ode to hip hop like Krush Groove, Wild Style, few years.

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Fast-forward to this moment where we managed to find a moment in her busy schedule and speak on her way of grasping the concept she calls Impact Movement.

This is something she has been feeding into the dance community. Its real impact was founded in her journey. This is where we begin to talk about her accomplishments, her goals, what brought her here, and what keeps her inspired.

I previously mentioned how inspiration for this generation of dancers would be plucked from a plethora of places. Certainly, the dance journey would have us meet a number of experienced choreographers and dancers that we would derive more interpretations of dance and hip-hop. Yet, where did WE originate? Where did the passion come from?

positive message and a good work ethic. I wanted to be that person for my students. I know how much it would mean to have that for them.” Following Hip Hop ConnXion, she went on to pursue hip-hop and other genres with several dance companies in Chicago.

It was in this time she spent her moments auditioning, choreographing for music videos, entertaining at weekend events and working with local artists.

It was during this part of her experience where she witnessed the attitudes that come along with criticism, defeat, and even success.

Although others were just as hungry as she was for the best opportunity, Nicki would hold on tightly to her past teachings to remain the dancer she wanted to be with precisely the heart for positivity she was given. She too would experience hard criticisms and lost “I grew up with several teachers that impacted auditions, but her journey would cease to me,” she continues, “it showed me how much bring an end. impact one person can have on someone’s life.” She recalls a specific teacher from her She settled into successful teaching jobs in middle school days, “Mr. Pouhy was just a dance that allowed her to plant the seeds of really cool teacher. We would talk about so her experience into a new generation of hungry much deep stuff. I was always excited to be on dancers. Nicki says, ”now that I’m older, I his team. He [sic] made middle school such know how to see myself in my students’ life. a good time for me.” More influential people I care about my students so much that I’m would come after having her first encounter trying to show them how to care about more with contemporary dance in high school, than just themselves.” She explains why this where she says, she solidified her aspirations is so important, “sometimes it scares me how - “that’s what I want to do.” lost dancers become. Not just in dance, but as an artist. I see talented people not know She started dancing at 15 when she joined how much more they can offer and how they her high school Orchesis. It was there where limit themselves. What else can you do? How she met Suavé, who asked her to audition for can you build on that than just be called out his dance company. Her involvement with Hip in class…how to deal with yourself when you Hop ConnXion was her next step in harnessing aren’t getting that gratification.” She goes what impact would mean to her. “We had back to clarify how her experiences define a purpose, we were always about having a this statement, “Someone’s approval should

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“I grew up with several teachers that impacted me it showed me how much impact one person can have on someone’s life.”

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“Be Impactful vs. Impressive.”

“It started a few years ago with some of my original students with just a simple message that I shared with them; to always lead with purpose instead of ego.” -Nicki

not be the end all and be all of someone’s career. I didn’t allow people to tell me who I was. It will eventually get there, whether they see it or not. This day and age, kids are killing it on YouTube. Some 16 year olds are not on that level. I’m a believer in heart and in fighters. Being talented is important, but it is not the sole factor in what is going to make it last if this is what you want to do.”

This is how Impact Movement came to be.

It was created as a link to connect Nicki to her students. It is shared with the motto “Be Impactful vs. Impressive.” “It started a few years ago with some of my original students with just a simple message that I shared with them; to always lead with purpose instead of ego.” Nicki has managed to combine her shared successes with her knowledge into this simple teaching. Impact Movement is something she carries with her to her various classes and workshops in the area while absorbing motivation to keep the motto true.

More simply, teaching them to not become a product of their environment. “The message is something that all people can relate to and receive.

The T-shirts are simple because the message is simple. They were made for the students as reminders to themselves and for them to wear it for themselves. Whether they’re working consistently with me or off in the world on their own they are family and all I hope, if anything, that this is the message I leave with them.” Nicki created a small line of Impact Movement merchandise to keep the message spreading. With the help of social media, she utilizes the brand in hopes to make it a global entity. “ I only hope to make an Impact on all my students and peers lives and in return hope they do the same for someone else one day. The movement is used to help spread the message, build community & give me an outlet to promote the awesome talent I have been blessed to work with, foster and help build throughout the years.”

Keeping herself inspired happens organically.

Though there is dance and classes, she mentions meditation and even fighting with her cat. But when I asked her if there was a specific person or music that keeps her inspired she mentions a treasured student.

“One of my students that has been with me

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since my first year of teaching has really grown Impact Movement. as a dancer. She is one of the only ones that Photos courtesy of Ryan Shi Photography & has taken my advice and is currently taking EDDO Photography classes in the city. She is recognized in the (dance) community and is always assisting my classes. I also brought former students of mine to teach a masterclass. Their approach on teaching was so wholesome and focused on the individual and made the dancers feel important and purposeful. I love how selfaware they made me feel.�

I think its safe to say that although many elements contribute to the love of dance, movement, and art itself; living a life as a student for the students is what makes the

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IN THIS CORNER...

HOPE I

t’s 1:00 on a snowy afternoon. It’s icy and cold. A group of men and women are shuffling into a health club for a work

out. Most are older in their late fifties, sixties or seventies. Yet, a few are in the late forties. Then, an 80+ year old comes trooping into the locker room with his boots. This isn’t a regular fitness group for seniors. This is a boxing class. Men and women using boxing to push off one of the more debilitating dis-

BOXING COMBAT TO

PARKINSON’S

Written by

Thom Olson

eases that hits many older people — Parkinson’s. A neurological disease that affects about 5 million people worldwide.

60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the US. There is no cure for Parkinson’s at this time. The Center for Disease United States.

WHAT IS IT? Essentially, Parkinson’s is when a person’s brains stops producing the neuro-transmitter called dopamine. This chemical is released by the neurons or nerve cells to signal other nerves.

The brain has several distinct pathways for dopamine. When

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Control as listed it has the 14th leading cause of death in the

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

planes of motion by jumping and punching and the increase of movement that has all the muscles firing at once. When stacked against other sports, the demands of boxing make it one of the toughest workouts a person can do. It is harder than football, baseball, hockey or cycling. Studies show that boxing, when compared to 60 other sports across a continuum of 10 categories (including endurance, agility, hand-eye coordination, analytic aptitude, drive and flexibility), boxing is the toughest sport around.

The value of the exercise has been corroborated by several studies by many large and international universities. Studies show that the affects of the disease can be slowed, stopped, put into remission and in some cases, started the promotion of 60 to 80% of the dopamine-producing cells are damaged and do not produce enough dopamine, the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s appear. Parkinson’s disease generally shows itself with the beginning of tremors or motor imbalance. Usually it starts with changes in posture, walking difficulties or facial expression that begin to get blank. As the disease progresses, the symptoms become worse. There may be the start of tremors or a rigidity that begins affect or take over a limb or the body. Walking becomes a problem as well as day-to-day tasks becoming much more difficult. The turning point for many who are able to cope with the disease is hitting what is called stage three Parkinson’s. This involves the loss of balance that affects the ability to live alone or impairs normal daily living activities such as dressing or eating.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND ROCKSTEADY.

Not like a typical workout, this exercise emphasizes gross motor skills, movement, balance, rhythm and eye-hand coordination that impacts motion, flexibility, gait as well as other activities necessary for daily living. neuro-restoration. It is a therapy that is gaining lots of traction and growing. Because of the very promising results that have been seen, many organizations are opting to partner in with the research, to be part of the study or start a rigorous exercise program. Chicago’s Edgewater Fitness is the Chicago area for RockSteady Boxing.

NON-CONTACT BOXING

Let’s be clear — this is non-contact boxing. This is safe. No one gets hurt or punched, but the workout is rigorous. No one gets So, how can boxing affect Parkinson’s? As early as the 1980’s hit. It stresses coordination and looks to build endurance. The and 90s, various studies showed that rigorous exercise — exerprogram works for many for a number of reasons. First, there cise that emphasized gross motor skills or larger movement/ is science behind it but there is also the community. People in coordination skills that involved arms, legs or the entire body program feel safe. They are able to participate in all aspects. favorably impacted range of motion, flexibility, posture and They are looking to see results. This is not a program that one core strength helped to improve symptoms. Most recently, just checks into. It is work and people get invested into it. The studies in a Cleveland clinic zeroed in on the concept of inpeople are encouraging and positive — while not a traditional tense “forced’ exercise — exercise that induces neuro-protecexercise program, the activities encompassed instill a sense of tion in the brain so there is an actual slowing or progression of the disease. In 2006, an Indianapolis-based non-profit gym started a program that addressed and supported the rigorous exercise routines.

Not like a typical workout, this exercise emphasizes gross motor skills, movement, balance, rhythm and eye-hand coordination that impacts motion, flexibility, gait as well as other activities for daily living. Boxing takes all that into account and seems to provide a framework for neuro-protection and possibly growth. Boxing entails endurance, strength, power and agility as well as training for eye-hand coordination and the ability to react appropriately to strategic situations. Boxing improves balance by forcing a reaction to stimuli. Boxing improves balance and stability by forcing movements on all

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drive into the participants. The program works on quality of life issues. Many who participate in the program see results and feel that the program helps them to maintain a better quality of life. For many, Parkinson patients see their life becoming smaller and invisible. While in the program, they may have Parkinson’s but they are still a fighter. The training gets one to push harder, to be tougher than they would imagine and perhaps that is the secret of it’s success. When people step into the class, they are yelled at by a coach. They are no longer a person with Parkinson’s or made to feel like they have Parkinson’s. They are or become a boxer in training — they are a fighter. This is boxing. They get pumped up and they begin to push back against the disease.

They work with others who also have the disease and there is a camaraderie built among people who have the disease. This makes the program different from other senior exercise programs.

The community and the coaches really become invested into seeing results.

The coaches are trained specifically

in dealing with the many aspects of Parkinson’s and adjust the workouts to work on specifics of the disease. The program works to give the participant their mental and physical courage back. There is stretching for stiffness, footwork for balance and punching to steady the tremors. This is not a quiet class like yoga. There is shouting to combat the “soft-voice” syndrome and sparing to work on coordination.

GET INVOLVED, GET ACTIVE. Currently, Chicago has two outlets for RockSteady Boxing classes. The first is RockSteady Windy City which has locations at the Edgewater Fitness at 1106 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue in Chicago and also at Ravenswood Fitness Center at 1958 W. Montrose Ave. Classes are held at a number of times during the week. These locations were founded by Jim Kroeger the owner of both gym facilities. Kroeger himself was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013 and is very active in the classes.

Coach Eric Johnson, who runs the program, is an exercise specialist who

specializes in working with people who have chronic diseases. He has developed exercise programs for people with Parkinson’s for over six year. Together with coaches John Magallanex and John Winogrocki, the four form the nucleus for the city’s RockSteady Boxing program in the city. More information can be found at their website at www.rocksteadyboxingwindycity. com or at 312.465.3921 On the North Shore, Rocksteady Boxing is held at the Falcon Boxing Gym at 3090 North Lake Terrace Road in Glenview. Daniel Falcon is the owner of the facility. Their phone number is (847) 998-1760. For more information about RockSteady on the North Shore, go to http://www.falconboxinggym.com/page/fbg-home In the western suburbs, RockSteady Boxing can be found at HealthTrack, 875 Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn and is run by Susan Eichensehr & Mark Andersen. Their phone is 630.205.0137. More information about their program can be found at http://www.rsbchicago.com

Find the RockSteady location near you!

In Chicago Edgewater Fitness 1106 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue www.rocksteadyboxingwindycity.com Call 773.728.2660 Ravenswood Fitness Center 1958 W. Montrose Avenue www.rocksteadyboxingwindycity.com Call 312.465.3921 & also at 773.784.0732

In the western suburbs HealthTrack 875 Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn 630.205.0137 http://www.rsbchicago.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS

On the North Shore Falcon Boxing Gym 3090 North Lake Terrace Road in Glenview. http://www.falconboxinggym.com/page/fbg-home (847) 998-1760

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Digital Age Presents New Challenges for Artists and the Music Industry W

Written by: Louis Vasseur Layout by: Annabel Carrilo

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e have all heard about the new digital age. Constantly improving technology has impacted most industries, including the music business. As recently as ten years ago, the “Holy Grail” for most artists was to land a record deal or publishing contract.

Today, savvy artists avoid these deals at all costs. Technology has leveled the playing field.

An indie artist can record his/her music at home with technologies and capabilities better than a professional recording studio could do a mere decade ago. Global digital distribution for music is simple to achieve, allowing an artist to sell millions of “records” to fans throughout the world.

More opportunities than ever before exist to get your music played, including new streaming services, and these are no longer exclusive to the major labels. The traditional gatekeepers of the music industry are no longer as relevant as they

once were. We have entered into a new world where the artists, and their fans, are in charge.

So this is all great news for artists and music lovers everywhere, right? Well, maybe. The playing field has been leveled, allowing greater access for an artist to promote their music.

The good news is that everyone has access to promote their music to the world. The new challenge is that everyone has access to promote their music to the world, regardless of talent.

How, then, does an artist stand out and get his/ her voice heard among the increased noise?

The entertainment industry is in a state of flux.

For several years now, CD sales continue to diminish. Digital downloads are static at best as fans move to digital streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora for their music needs. The

traditional revenue model of the record labels has been stood on its head. Many industry people agree digital streaming will be the distribution model of the future. However, few agree how artists can best monetize this model. The challenge for the artist is how best to utilize this new digital technology to promote their music and develop meaningful connections with their fans.

Certain things in the music industry have not changed. The artist is still required to create great music and treat his/her musical endeavor like a business. However, many of the tools have changed. Emily Smith is the founder/owner of Whitesmith Entertainment, Inc. a full-service talent management firm based in Los Angeles and New York City, spanning the music, comedy, film, TV, literary, and sports industries. Emily served as Tour Manger for the Dresden Dolls

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“Your email list is your most valuable asset as a band outside of your music,” says Ariel.

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and Imogene Heap and is featured on industry panels at conferences throughout the world.

She uses social media to promote her artists as well as gather data which can be used to help develop and enhance her artists’ careers. “In the artist’s world, despite the click bait of doom and gloom in the streaming universe, it is of course nothing but a format change and a space deriving significant income to boot. It is a space where we currently have artists thriving, but it is just a part of the pie and social media and email address collection is still a huge driver for our artists. But as technology evolves, there continues to be more options and opportunities for artists. It’s very exciting! The most important thing is to remember who creates the art in the first place and giving as much data to artists as possible.”

Many artists are using technology’s new pathway around the traditional industry gatekeeper to pursue their dreams. Bree Noble, founder/owner of Women of Substance Radio & Podcast (www.

WOSRadio.com), has taken advantage of the new digital technology to achieve her dream to provide a platform to promote talented female artists of all genres. As a performing singer/ songwriter, Bree shared the stage with many talented artists. She felt that many of these artists were better than what she heard on the radio. She wondered why these artists weren’t getting the recognition they deserved. In 2007, Bree put together her own internet radio station, featuring music that she liked, so she had something to listen to while at work.

Soon, she realized others were listening to “her station” and they liked it. With a little research and a lot of hard work, she developed Women of Substance Radio & Podcast into one of the top outlets for female musicians. “The development of technology made it possible for me to start and build Women of Substance. New digital technology allowed me to put together a station and compete with larger, more established networks.” In less than a decade, Women of Substance Radio & Podcast has grown into a 24/7 online radio station that has become a highly respected and sought after source of promotion for female artists pursued by PR agents and record labels. More recently, Bree has added a podcast program, with five podcast shows per week, each featuring songs from 5-7 female artists. In 2015, Women of Substance was awarded the Podcaster’s Paradise Award for Most Creative Podcast.

Like it or not, social media numbers are being used to support decisions in the entertainment industry. For example, if two artists are vying for the last performance slot at a festival, bookers will often offer the slot to the artists with the higher social media numbers, figuring they will be the better draw. However, one should look at the quality of the social media numbers and not simply the quantity. For example, if Band A has 1,000 likes on their band Facebook page, most of which are local, and Band B has 10,000 likes

on their band Facebook page but the majority of these are overseas while the festival is in Ohio, Band A may actually be the better draw.

Few people have spent more time on the frontlines of the digital revolution than Ariel Hyatt.

The founder of Cyber PR, for the past 18 years Ariel has made it her mission to educate artists on how to take advantage of the new digital world. She feels strongly about the importance of building a solid email list. “Your email list is your most valuable asset as a band outside of your music,” says Ariel. “Your likes on Facebook or connections on LinkedIn are their property while your email list is something that you actually own.

When Facebook changes its parameters, and they will, your email list will still be yours.” Ariel and her staff work to get their clients to better understand the big picture of social media. Who are your fans? What is the best way to reach them and develop a meaningful relationship with them? If an artist wants to survive in this new digital environment, it is up to them to learn how.

“Unlike a God-given talent such as the ability to create great music or play a guitar, taking full advantage of social media to advance your career is something that can be learned. It is your duty as an artist to learn this and figure it out.”

The entertainment industry has faced many challenges over the years. The challenges that are posed by the new and constantly changing technology is just the latest. Unfortunately, there are no simple answers as the industry struggles to adapt to the needs and expectations of artists and fans. Successful artists learn to adapt to not only survive, but also grow. People will always want music. Creatives will learn to adapt to the new technology and use it to promote themselves and grow their art.

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UPCOMING CONCERTS José González March 21, 2016 – Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, University of Chicago Swedish singer-songwriter, José González, is performing at University of Chicago’s Rockefeller memorial Chapel. Join him on March 21st to experience his ethereal voice and music firsthand!

Run River North March 31, 2016 – Lincoln Hall The Californian indie-pop ensemble Run River North will be coming to Chicago in just a few weeks. The band, who released their newest album “Drinking From a Salt Pond” last month, will be performing at Lincoln Hall on March 31st. Be sure to check them out when they’re in town!

Lucius March 24, 2016 – Metro Chicago The five-piece Brooklyn band, Lucius, recently released their newest album titled “Good Grief”. The indie-pop band will be performing in Chicago in support of their latest album. Check out the band on March 24th at the Metro Chicago!

Ezra Furman March 26, 2016 – Lincoln Hall The Chicago native is coming back home to perform this month! The indie-rocker will be performing a show on March 26th at Lincoln Hall.

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A Great Big World April 3, 2016 – Lincoln Hall The “Say Something” stars are performing at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall on April 3rd. Join them for an intimate evening of music with your friends and loved ones.

UPCOMING CONCERTS Ra Ra Riot April 8 and 9, 2016 – Lincoln Hall Indie-rock darlings Ra Ra Riot recently released their newest album “Need Your Light”. As a part of their latest album tour, the band will be having two shows in Chicago. Join the band on April 8th, April 9th, or both dates at Lincoln Hall!

Santigold April 17, 2016 – Concord Music Hall If you’re looking for a fun and uplifting concert this spring, Santigold is the perfect artist for you. Join the electro-pop singer Santigold at Concord Music Hall on April 17th!

Father John Misty April 14 and 15, 2016 – Riviera Theatre Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joshua Tillman, also known as Father John Misty, will be performing in Chicago for two nights! Join the singer on April 14th and 15th at the Riviera Theatre to hear his insightful and soothing tunes live!

Rihanna April 15, 2016 – United Center The queen of hip-hop and R&B, Rihanna, is returning to the Windy City. Be sure to check out her concert at the United Center on April 15th!

Justin Bieber This singer has come a long way since his “Baby” days. His album “Purpose”, which was released last year, showed his growth as a singer and performer with hits like “Sorry” and “What Do You Mean”.

Check out Justin Bieber’s concert at Allstate Arena on April 22nd!

BY: PEARL SHIN

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UPCOMING ALBUMS SIMPLE PLAN “Taking One For The Team” – February 19, 2016 Talk about nostalgia! The pop-punk band Simple Plan is back with their newest album following a three-year break. Check out the band’s new album titled “Taking One For The Team”, out now!

DEAD STARS “Bright Colors” – March 4, 2016 The band Dead Stars recently released their newest album titled “Bright Colors”! Check out their fun and colorful tunes now!

Animal Collective “Painting With: – February 19, 2016 The exhilarating experimental pop band released “Painting With” just last month. Similar to their previous albums, the band continuously pushes musical boundaries with their unique psychedelic sound.

Check out their latest release today!

THE 1975 “I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It” – February 26, 2016 The 1975 has had many successes since releasing their self-titled debut album in 2014. Check out their newest album, which includes their singles “Somebody Else”, “The Sound”, “Love Me”, and more!

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BY: PEARL SHIN

M. WARD “More Rain” – March 4, 2016 You might know him from his collaborative work with Zooey Deschanel called She & Him, but M. Ward is also an artist in his own right. The singer-songwriter and guitarist proves this again in his newest album titled “More Rain” which is out now.

UPCOMING ALBUMS Gwen Stefani “This Is What The Truth Feels Like” – March 18, 2016 Following her separation from ex-husband Gavin Rossdale, the No Doubt frontwoman is back with a new album. “This Is What The Truth Feels Like” is her latest solo project following her 2006 hit “The Sweet Escape”. This album is sure to be full of her signature powerhouse pop tracks. Be sure to check it out on

The Lumineers “Cleopatra” – April 8, 2016 The Lumineers became everyone’s favorite band when they released their self-titled debut album, which included the song “Ho Hey”. Now, the band is back with their sophomore album, which includes their charming single “Ophelia”. Their album “Cleopatra” is definitely one to keep an eye out for!

Andrew Bird “Are You Serious” – April 1, 2016 The Chicago native, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist is soon releasing his newest album titled “Are You Serious”. The album title fits perfectly with its April Fools album release date. Look out for his album on April 1st!

Weezer “The White Album” – April 1, 2016 Alt-rock band Weezer is making a comeback with their fourth self-titled release. This album will be the band’s tenth studio album. Look out for “The White Album” on April 1st and be sure to catch them on tour with Panic! At The Disco this summer!

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros “PersonA “– April 15, 2016 Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is coming back with a new album just in time for the warm season. Their calm and soothing tunes, like their singles “Free Stuff” and “No Love Like Yours”, are sure to keep you cool before the summer heat hits! Be sure to look out for PersonA on April 15th!

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March Madness

is upon us!

And oh yeah, you are graduating in less than two months.

You have no interviews or job prospects set up. You haven’t even thought about them because you have just been too “busy”. But time waits for no one and in the blink of an eye, you’ll be accepting the infamous diploma; you and hundreds of thousands of your peers.

This will be the setting in May of 2016 for many students faced with a college degree and no prospects. You and I will read some headlines about how college graduates today have a tough road ahead of them with limited opportunities. And we

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will shake our collective heads, feel sorry about the situation and move on with our lives. We might think about someone in our family (maybe extended family) getting ready to graduate, but mostly we will move on.

But whose fault is this? Is it the responsibility of the school or the student? Or is it the responsibility of parents to facilitate this process?

It’s Graduation Season

Let me start out by stating that there are good jobs out there.

Don’t fall into the media trap of believing that the business world is coming to an end and that none of us will make it. The

The jobs are out there, ready for those with the skills and relationships to offer. Oftentimes, these jobs are not posted on every day job boards (Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed). They are not advertised, therefore word of mouth and who you know takes over. And don’t get mad about the “who you know” transaction either. (Because most of you got your job based on knowing a friend-of-a-friend or an acquaintance.) However, for the next few months, you will read a lot of headlines. Let me prepare you for them:

• More than 80% of college seniors graduate without a job (AfterCollege).

• Only 36% of graduates are employed in full-time and permanent position (CareerBuilder).

• Approximately 44% of graduates will have to settle for working in jobs that do not require a college degree.

Unemployment statistics always paint a grim picture for those individuals who just graduated from college. Should we, however, pay attention to them?

Or should we ignore them and think to ourselves, “This is just the normal progression of life” and there is nothing that can be done about this.

You've just spent 4 or more years in higher education This is going to be hard pill to swallow for most who read this.

But higher education does not guarantee success. And I have to admit that traditional higher education is becoming more and more precarious as it relates to predicting employment or financial success. It actually leads to more debt and stress, if anything. It is barely worth it.

And this is coming from a college professor who has taught in higher education for over 8 years.

I purposefully tell almost every class that I teach that this degree that you are going into debt for does not guarantee a job (or a career).

There is more to it - way more to it. Traditional higher education (at its best) is great because of the exposure it provides due to the diverse learning and social experience.

I advise any and all parents who will listen, “do not go broke (or into debt) to send your son or daughter to college.” There are too many options out there that will provide the same (or better) outcomes.

In addition, too many college graduates make the decision to immediately go back to get their Master’s degree thinking that this course of action will provide the job that was not promised after their Bachelors. This is more of a lure by the colleges and universities in order to

secure the loyal customer. But I often have to wonder if the return on investment (ROI) is worth it (both for graduate and undergraduate) for this education. Especially when many people I know are paying off their student loan debts well into their 30s. And let’s not even mention those MDs.

Younger or older, it doesn't matter Newsweek published an article recently that states that millennial are the first generation that “needs to have a college degree and experience to compete, before they even enter the workforce.” Is there truth in this statement? Only time will tell.

However, getting stuck after graduation should not be some

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Simply applying for the gig like hundreds of other graduates will not guarantee you any job.

Is it just a numbers game? I don’t think so. As I advise so many others, it is more of a “differentiate and market yourself” game. Those who canfigure out how to master those two areas of their career much earlier have a clear advantage.

Relax, you will survive thing that we all get used to -millennial or not.

So, you may even be the adult student who has returned to school to get that elusive degree.

I am sorry my friend - the prospects are not much better. Nine times out of 10, you are returning to school to “help” yourself get out of or move on from your current situation. And again, this does not guarantee success.

The employment game is historically more challenging for recent college graduates. The main reason is that they spend the majority of their time focusing on their education and not the employment search (grind) itself. The students who can masterfully navigate them both have the upper hand.

Take heart in knowing research has been done on this topic and the pattern suggests it is the young college graduates who have higher unemployment rates (on average). These eventually decline as they move through their careers.

The data shows that, historically, new college graduates

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typically take some time to transition into the labor force.

Oftentimes, they do not find jobs particularly in their “field”.

And this is where many of those crazy headlines and statistics come from.

What employers are looking for If you are getting your degree in May and have not done much to prepare for your career, you are a bit behind the curve. Yes, you can still be successful, but it is important to not let time get away from you. Most of the employers you want to work for still desire someone who has a college degree. And it will be this way for sometime because that’s how things have always been done. This is slowly but surely shifting, however.

As mentioned earlier, statistics show that a degree still matters, especially for millennial. It will all iron itself out over time. In the meantime, you have to hustle, you have to research and you have to differentiate yourself.

Easy for me to say, right? But over time, college graduates continue to outperform those who do not have a degree. It will, however, be important for you to have some sort of plan.

You can’t make any major move in life (travel, relocation, career change, marriage) without the semblance of one. This career thing is no different. Jot these next few items down in order to get the ball rolling:

1.Identify a solid career mentor on or off campus.

Now is not the time to be bashful. Identify that career professional, professor, friend of a parent, or peer who has it toget typically take some time to transition into the labor force. Oftentimes, they do not find jobs particularly in their “field”. And this is where many of those crazy headlines and statistics her or someone who is ready and willing to provide support and assistance. Any of these individuals should be able to give some great insight.

2. Choose a career path to follow in the short term.

Figure out a direction in which you want to follow. If you have passions or interests - head that way. Oh yeah, it’s OK to change your mind down the road. Most of us have.

3. Perfect your resume(s).

Yup, this is still a must. And you should have more than one. I actually don’t think the resume of the future will be on paper.

So don’t stop there. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms also need to become a part of your self-promotion beginning now.

And all of these items need to be continuously updated. Yes, this can get tiring, but trust me, it will serve you well.

4. Avoid just posting on job boards or websites.

You and everyone in the world are attaching their resume and cover letter to these postings.

What differentiates you is building the network and having face-to-face interaction. You need to have a smooth elevator pitch down too. Notice that I stated “smooth” and not robotic.

Become extremely comfortable with it.

5. Lastly, you have got to become not only a salesperson, but also an entrepreneur for yourself.

You know that speech class you took. Now is the time to start putting those techniques to good use. Begin rehearsing what you will tell others about yourself. The Gallup Business

Journal states that employers both now and into the future will be looking for individuals who possess the qualities of resourcefulness, teamwork, creativity, relationship-building and resilience - all characteristics that you will need to traverse the transition from college to career, as well.

We could debate that colleges and universities are the problem here. Maybe they are not preparing our future graduates well enough for the workforce. Maybe they are just too interested in enrollment and not focused enough on outcomes. For-profit colleges have already We could debate that colleges and universities are the problem here. Maybe they are not preparing our future graduates well enough for the workforce.

Maybe they are just too interested in enrollment and not focused enough on outcomes.

For-profit colleges have already gotten that bad rap, but should it just stop there? The future is not bleak, however. But the game has to be changed a bit. I would like to challenge colleges and

universities to partner further with businesses (in all fields) in order to help provide those outcomes that are so desperately needed. And I know first-hand that this type of education is on our doorsteps.

Ultimately, what they will say about the Class of 2016 will not matter in the least. (And trust me, the statistics will be out shortly.) This topic will rage on and yes, you will undoubtedly see articles and posts about how unemployment is high for recent graduates or that there are no jobs to be had. As I often convey to students and clients alike, the job/career pursuit is somewhat of a job in and of itself. It is a mindset that you have to embrace and conquer for the rest of your career. The 30-year career (at the same place of employment) is a remnant of the past. But the responsibility does not initially fall on any one individual’s shoulders. The institution, the student and the parent need to all work together in order to plan and prepare for life after college; and, in order to ultimately avoid the madness.

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More than 80% of college seniors graduate without a job.

(AfterCollege) 64

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Survival of the Fittest Keys for survival are hidden within team nicknames Written by: Michael Shayler Layout by: Annabel Carrillo Breathe. This one is for the fans. Take a deep breath and hang in there with this team.

We know a team like the Bulls should not be sitting in 7th place (As of 2/14) in the lackluster Eastern Conference. We know Tom Thibedeau should not have been relieved of his duties as head coach following last season. We also know that this team has overcome things in the past and has seen success. We need to stand behind this team through this rough patch of a season in hopes of better things coming in the off-season.

Utilize the roster. Fred Hoiberg was not a fit for this roster from the very beginning. His hiring was the team needing to make a splash after the culmination of the feud between former coach Thibedeau and General Manager Gar Forman.

Hoiberg’s offensive philosophy does not mesh well with the roster he inherited. Hoiberg needs to adapt to his environment and allow the team to play a style more accustomed to their abilities.

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Live through the injuries. Things are not working system wise nor health wise for the Bulls. The team as a whole has a combined 117 total missed games. Joakim Noah is already out for the year, Derrick Rose misses his share of games here and there, Nikola Mirotic recently went through two surgeries, an appendectomy and one for hemoglobin removal and to top it off All-Star and team leader Jimmy Butler is out three to four weeks with a sprained knee.

The oldest player on the roster, Pau Gasol, has been one of the few reliable night in, night out performers and now the weight of this team is truly on his shoulders. Getting Mike Dunleavy back after missing the first games of the season recovering from knee surgery does help the cause, but this team is far from complete.

Linger. With the decline the Bulls are currently displaying (injuries aside), it’s not crazy to say that the playoffs are no guarantee. This team will have to grind out the rest of regular season if they

are to not only make the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season, but to also avoid finishing in the eight seed and having to watch LeBron knock them out of the playoffs yet again.

Surmount the odds. The Bulls are not a bad team and Fred Hoiberg is not a bad coach. The reality is that they are just not made for each other. The Bulls will be a forgotten team once the playoffs start (if they make it). Let’s hope the underdog role turns into a positive motivation for this team. Coach Fred Hoiberg and his philosophy has not been the greatest fit for the team.

Hold one‘ss own. Each player has their own role within the team dynamic. When you are apart of the Chicago Blackhawks, your personal stats are put aside in relation to the bigger team picture.

Even the young new players seemed to give into the culture of the organization right away.

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Advance development of young players.

Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin have had everything they needed when it comes to the leadership around for success and it is showing.

Joel Quinnville and his coaching staff are top of the line when it comes to preparation. Captain Jonathon Toews, as always, makes sure things get done on the ice the right away. Patrick Kane has been the perfect mentor to Panarin due to the fact that skill set and style of play between the two players is eerily similar. Anisimov has also shared his time on the ice with Kane and Panarin as the three of them actually man the second line quite often together. Keeping these young studs involved in the game will only better the Hawks’ outlook heading into another deep playoff run.

Wrestling moves in tact. The Hawks are by far the most targeted team in the NHL, but that is nothing new considering the high amount of success they have achieved over the past several seasons. It is a known fact that one of the

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best ways to get the Hawks off their games is to rough them up a bit. A lot of the teams seem to play with a little more aggression when matched up against the Hawks. Most of the team is accustomed to that pressure and teams gunning for them. The young guys on the roster seem to already carry themselves with good composure.

So, it could prove to be a smooth transition in dealing with physical play.

Keep the ball rollin’. Patrick Kane is on the verge of becoming the first American born player in NHL history to win the scoring title. As of February 15th, he tops the league with 78 points (33 goals and 45 assists). Kane could very well be on his way to winning his first career Art Ross Trophy as the league’s MVP, but is Kane even the MVP of his own team? Corey Crawford is having a career season of his own. Crawford sports 31 wins, .931 save %, 2.19 Goals Against Avg (and has also faced more shots than any other goalie). His seven shutouts lead all goalies

and he is doing all of this with not the greatest of defense in front of him. If Kane and Crawford can keep this up, the rest of the Western Conference stands no chance.

Sustain momentum. The Hawks need to change nothing. Everything is working in the Hawks favor. Every season no matter the circumstances this team never gives in and nothing seems any different this season. Expectations can remain high. The Hawks will only be adding to an already historic dynasty come season end. Patrick Kane is on his way towards becoming the first American born player to win a scoring title. *Off-season in Chicago* The Cubs have become a top favorite to represent the National League in the World Series following the signings of Outfielder Jason Heyward and Super Utility player Ben Zobrist. The team also traded Starlin Castro to the New York Yankees in exchange for the 27-year-old starting pitcher: Adam Warren. After winning 96 games in 2015 and reaching the NLCS, the Cubs are only going to get better.

The Cubs have made the right moves and are deservedly being called the best team in baseball.

The White Sox are flying under the radar as spring training approaches. Filling major needs at third base (Todd Fraizer) and second base (Brett Lawrie) along with adding a right handed power arm to join the starting rotation (Mat Latos). All of these additions have put the team in a position to be a sleeper, not only in the American League Central, but possibly the entire American League.

Todd Fraizer was a huge addition to play third base and protect Jose Abreu in the lineup.

The NFL off-season is yet to pick up, but the Bears have already made a drastic move.

Running Back and fan favorite Matt Forte has already been informed that he will not be resigned by the team. With both Quarterback Jay Cutler s and Wide Receiver Alshon Jeffrey’s future with the team questionable, the organization might be putting focus into the defensive side of the ball for the time being. If the three key pieces to the offense are not to return, it would be difficult to imagine the Bears making the moves that would make this offense any better. General Manager Ryan Pace made some solid moves during his first off-season running the team so let’s see what moves he has up his sleeves this time around.

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Reigning Rebel is an up and coming vlog that will soon be released this spring. This isn’t just your ordinary vlog. The main focus will be on topics that many people in generation-y are scared to speak about. The Editor and Chief, Andre Pierre was inspired to start this vlog from the issues that had been going on with injustice and police brutality in society; specifically the Mike Brown and Ferguson incident.

Also, with his own personal experiences being stereotyped, he was always rebellious to living within those stereotypes that have been placed on him. It all started with a photoshoot based on enslavement but it ended up being more.

He has had much support in regards to the topics that will be talked about. Individuals are able to tell their stories based on the labels that have been placed upon them rather it is from their profession, race, sexual preference, and how they have become successful. In this day and age, everyone is interested in the glitter and gold of people’s lives when that is not reality.

He has been inspired to show the beauty and authenticity of everyone’s stories. It is all about removing the judgement factor and the stereotypes and understand the individual’s walk to growth and evolution. Andre

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Pierre believes that there is a silver lining in most situations no matter how hard it may be, it is for a purpose and we endure these experiences to inspire others in hopes to overcoming any challenges as well rather it be growth, success, or advice!

Photographer: Virginia Hodges

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Krochet Kids International – Finding Happiness in the World Written By: Olivia Lemley

Happiness is something found all around the world.

Whether it is brought out from love, work, family, nature, art or something as simple as your favorite breakfast spot, it’s nothing to take for granted. What if I told you life changing, profound happiness could be the result of a clothing brand? Would you believe it? Yes, it’s true. This is a type of happiness that also decreases physical abuse by 40%, increases gender equality by 25%, and helps families be 5 times as likely to be healthy.

Krochet Kids does all of the above. This is a non-profit company that is committed to impacting the lives of highly vulnerable women who live in poverty stricken regions all around the world.

These empowered women are able to be independent and rise above poverty to take on a better life for themselves and their families. Sitting on our laptops, reading magazine columns while drinking our $5 cups of coffee, we don’t always realize that the rest of the world may not have these luxuries that seem so simple to us in the moment.

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The three men who launched Krochet Kids were originally just young college students with driven hearts. The founders, Kohl Crecelius, Stewart Ramsey, and Travis Hartanov, had been crocheting since high school, but found their purpose after Ramsey returned from his summer spent in Uganda. After witnessing, first hand, generations of people who experienced nothing more than life in government camps, relying on aid for everything, he was inspired. It was at this moment that the founders realized their purpose: breaking the cycle of poverty.

The beauty of crocheting lies in its simplicity. The Krochet Kids brand quickly swelled beyond the three founders; close friends who shared this desire to see Northern Uganda transformed by hook and yarn were incorporated into the project. The following summer, they found themselves in Uganda teaching women to crochet in a simple hut with just hooks and a bag full of yarn. As these ladies mastered the art of crocheting, the founders saw their vision becoming a reality.

“Today, over 150 people in Uganda and Peru are working, receiving education and being mentored toward a brighter future in creating gifts that give back. The products created abroad have been well received here at home and the collaboration of our staff and beneficiaries around the globe has created a sustainable cycle of employment and empowerment.”

-Kohl Crecelius, CEO & Co-founder With a full team behind them, Krochet Kids has a full line collection ranging from: headwear, tanks, tees, hoodies to bags, scarves and gloves. All are up for grabs at krotchetkids.org.

Of course, this is a company that keeps everyone’s well being in mind—there is even a children’s line full of adorable accessories and clothing. To coincide with their transparency and sustainability goals, each piece made has a tag that is signed by the woman who made it. Each and every time you wear a Krochet Kids product; you’ll be reminded of the movement you are helping push forward.

A STORY TO KEEP IN MIND: Akot Beatrice is a Ugandan woman who’s life has changed because of Krochet Kids. Since she took a job within the company, she has become driven,

What if I told you life changing, profound happiness could be the result of a clothing brand?

Images Courtesy of Krochet Kids Intl.

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self-reliant, hopeful and a confident leader. She now has a motorbike and bicycle, clothing for her and her children, goats, shelters, and a produce farm. Her life was changed for the best from the idea that sprung up after years of three young men crocheting. Without this opportunity, the Beatrice family would have continued to be malnourished and under-resourced.

Since working in Uganda, Krochet Kids Intl. has now ventured off into Peru.

Enabling Peruvians to take a path towards independence, the company is helping 38 women and their families. This meaningful project is located just out-

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side of the capital, Lima.

Working with churches and other organizations, Krochet Kids is able to find the most needy candidates desperate for jobs. As a company that dedicates time to ensure their cause stays strong and impacts those most at risk, there isn’t a doubt as to why they’ve such become a success.

With an assortment of unique styles, patterns and designs, you are bound to find something that catches your eye. Another perk about Krochet Kids is that the international aspect of the company truly shows in its clothing and accessories. You can see beautiful cultural influences in the

Love Africa Tee, the various scarves representing different cities around the world, and the prints and colors of the bags.

In today’s fast fashion world, it isn’t as easy to find brands that put effort into and pay attention to intricate details of their products. With Krochet Kids, you know each product you buy is handmade and for a great cause. Not to mention you look awesome wearing them!

“We live in exciting and unprecedented times when it comes to creating social impact. Consumers are more aware of the impact they can have, which is

encouraging companies to re-think their value proposition in an authentic way and this is forcing how funders and investors and evaluating companies. The confluence of all these efforts make me believe our generation is primed to create significant impact in our world. We at KK intl. are proud to play a part in this movement!”

-Kohl Crecelius, CEO & Co-founder Today’s society is an exciting, ever evolving one. It is filled with people passionate about being green, who root for peace, care for the future and are more than willing to look out for one another. As many millennials reach adulthood, they will be offered opportunities to make a difference; need I cross my fingers in the hopes that they’ll continue down a similar path to Kohl Crecelius, Stewart Ramsey, and Travis Hartanov? I don’t think it will be necessary.

We’re ready for some more powerful and meaningful companies to pop up— just like Krochet Kids. Get ready for the largest era of [fashionable] helping hands.

Even the simplest of the simple things can make a difference.

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DUTCH E L Y ST

a runway rundown of

amsterdam fashion week

written-photographed by avante edmonds

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Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Amsterdam is the next fashion utopia.

This annual showcase took place just minutes from Amsterdam’s town centerJanuary8-18.Itwassponsored

by Mercedes-Benz (of course) and yet another big fashion name- Marie Claire.

When one thinks of Amsterdam, canals, sex tourism, and Mary Jane come to mind. Fair and true, but don’t forget to add fashion to the list.

Even before we give you the rundown of which shows rocked, we must talk street style.

The runway is essential, but how the locals interpret those trends is the true test of style. Trendy isn’t always a bad thing. The general style is commutable, yet always refined. Their attire is always biking ready.

Forget the idea of a scruffy stoner look- that is not Amsterdam. Holland’s capital city is all about minimalist basics accented with accessories that craft individual style. It does not hurt that the bodies underneath those clothes are toned to the T due to biking all around the city.

Though fashion clout is still developing in Amsterdam, we are not bored while we wait.

Oh, and the only clogs seen were the ones in gift shops- forget that stereotype as well.

Jef Montes

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Jef Montes welcomed us to fashion week with an artistic show left to the viewers’ creative interpretation. Opening the show was a gorgeous pregnant woman. Each model entering the runway would

come out in a pewter gown and then be doused in water by another model. Almost instantaneously, the fabric of the gown would disintegrate in front of the audience.

The original silver garments melted slowly from the models’ bodies, revealing the black weft yarns reminiscent of web like textures.

After having a bowl of water thrown on them by a fellow model, the young women would make the slippery strut back down the runway. The models also carried a transparent balloon filled with water that popped after they began walking.

This was a rebuttal to the constant statements of “Fashion is Dying,” or “Fashion is Stagnant.” Montes developed an in water-soluble fabric constructed from polyvinyl alcohol in collaboration with the Textiel Museum Tilburg. He also created a complementary fabric of black and white yarns, which starred in his new collection RESOLVER. In an exclusive interview with Estonian designer Lilli Jahilo, she shared her thoughts about the Jef Montes show and a possible fashion week appearance in the future.

“I believe it was a birth of new ideas,” said Lilli Jahilo about Jef Montes’s creative direction. “I am waiting for the right time to [reveal] my collection…I think Paris Fashion Week is a good place for the Lilli Jahilo aesthetic,” Jahilo said.

Lilli Jahilo has been nominated for the Designer of the Year Award The Golden Needle - for outstanding collections in 2015. The winner will be revealed during Tallinn

Fashion Week on October 19th, The diverse ages of her models 2016. showcased how the pieces are timeless and transferable from a young adult to mature years.

Monique Collignon The models power walked to Monique Collignon was the sec- female empowerment anthems ond stop on our fashion tour. like Robin’s “You Got to Show Me Love.”

The 70s are still in full swing at Comments from spectators Monique Collignon. Monique looked to pussy bows, flare were favorable. “I love that all legs, and structured silhouettes age groups were included,” notto complete this collection. Jew- ed one woman. Monique made el tones added a final touch of a deliberate stance on ageism effortless sophistication. in the fashion industry. The

model’s ages ranged from the early 20s to gorgeous middle aged women.

Recently, however, Monique Collignon has been working on humanitarian projects that incorporate her fashion expertise.

Monique Collignon’s latest collaboration is with children.

The brand is designing clothes for the health care workers of Princess Maxima Center of pediatric oncology. The Children’s

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Lilli Jahilo

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Advisory Board and children in treatment at the Princess Maxima Center collaborated on this wonderful opportunity with Collignon.

The ultimate goal is that doctors, nurses and all supporters will soon wear clothing that fit better.

The Center considers it important that Collignon keeps in mind sustainability within the designs along with the principle of ‘cradle to grave’.

During the creative session led by Monique, children let their ideas run free and they came up with all kinds of suggestions on what they think the dress should look like.

With that input, Monique goes to work to arrive at a final design.

“Children are the future and in this case, the child is central. I think it’s more than inspiring to experience their vision and input and bring it into my designs,” Monique Collignon said after the session.

Monique was 9 years old when she knew exactly what she wanted to be: a fashion designer.

Monique is one of the most successful Dutch fashion designers.

Her clothing is incredibly feminine and sometimes a bit brash. In addition, she is also a designer turned businesswoman focusing on entrepreneurship.

In addition, to the Haute Couture collection, Monique also has a clothing collection, “Collignon Couture Light ‘ Get ready to Google this girl. Her name is Fabienne van den Kieboom represented by Mix Models in Netherlands and Vision Models Los Angeles. Vision Models is also home to other modeling heavyweights like Lindsey Wixson and Jessica White.

A princess in the best ways, she certainly rocked the runway at Monique Collignon. She even opened the show. Her walk is strong and flirty with piercing brown eyes to seal the deal. At 16, she was signed to Elite Model Management. This Dutch model is also a singer in her free time. She has a healthy physique reminiscent to the supermodels of the 80s before heroin chic took over.

Her head is full of curls, but versatile enough that she is oozing amazing with a cropped bob.

Duran Lantink We headed to the castle to end this fashion week experience.

‘Sistaaz of the Castle’ was designed by Duran Lantink.

Inspired by the beautiful South African transgenders who are roaming the streets of Cape Town, fashion designer Duran Lantink and photographer: Jan Hoek joined forces on the project ‘Sistaaz of the Castle’. Both the designer and photographer attended the Gerrit Rietveld Academie, which is a Dutch academy for fine arts and design in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

while including a unified ‘We All In This Together”, “Love Yourself” theme.

This collection gave me an Alexander McQueen meets Harlem appeal. It was street.

It was high fashion, but most importantly it was real. The soundtrack to this collection had a haunting chant of the sex worker’s aspirations. “I want to be like Cleopatra...I already feel more beautiful than Cleopatra.

I want to sell drugs so I can make a lot of money and buy a small house or a mansion.” The track went on to list the various drugs they would sell “cocaine, meth, etc.” It expressed an incredibly desensitized reality that these trans-women live in. The hypothetical glamour of their lifestyle is shown through over the top garb and violent props.

The “Sistaaz” in this show wore a 3D juxtaposition of elegant ball gowns while holding assault rifles.

This fashion week was the perfect combination of art and wearable clothing. I can’t wait for the next show.

They met twenty girls who they narrowed down to five to present this collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Amsterdam.

Lantink uses gaudy design techniques and recycled fabrics to symbolize how fashion is used as a veil against the harsh realities that his amateur models face on a daily basis in this city. Shot under a bridge beside the capital’s castle – this is home for most of the girls.

Hoek’s photographs showcased the realities of the models lives

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WTF?!?

An Examination of Star’s Modas

By: Stella Quimby Layout: Kali Koller

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First Victim (A.K.A Star): Vampire Lestat A.K.A Tove Lo

The Grammy’s is a prestigious event right? Then, why would anyone crawl out of the grave and attend in the clothing they were buried in - Tove Lo apparently? Is she a newly made vampire out to turn our eyes inside out? Or did someone pull her out with her bull nose ring? Either way, bury her back! Maybe add some nails to the coffin this time!

Photo Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

3rd Star: Lisa Lampanelli (??????)

2nd Star: (or is it Pac Man in disguise?)

Whoa, when did Pac Man start to wear a suit? Black is usually a flattering color! Therefore, this suit should be flattering; correct? WRONG. The bulky fabric makes DJ Khaled look a minimum of 20 lbs. heavier than his normal size. Plus, it is way too loose; so we cannot see his silhouette. He honestly looks like Pac Man. If Pac Man had the Grammy’s to go to, this would be him.

Lose the entire outfit, I mean at this point even jeans and a white shirt would make him look better! When in doubt, don’t wear something 5 xs’s too big!

Another HUGE shocker here. First, this comedian LOST tons of weight PLUS she got a makeover. Yet, this is a makeover for the worse. What happened to her shoulder length blonde hair? Or the fact that she was funny NOT looked funnier than she is? Blue? That shade is so out, at least try staying in Kylie Jenner’s hair coloring timeline! Is she doing a Caitlin Jenner and switching over to the other side? Sure looks like it from over here. No judging, at least look like a handsome fellow! Caitlin Jenner got it right!

Photo credit: John Shearer/WireImage

Photo Credit: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images

WTF?!?!

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4th Star: Johnny Depp

5th Star: Dencia

Who let my dad backstage at the Grammy’s? Scary freaking pic of Johnny; he looks exactly like my dad with that long hair, weird style and all. Creepy.

Also, did Johnny come in a pair with Tove Lo? Are they going to feed on some peep’s necks after the show?

Even his necklace brings the whole “vampire out of coffin for a night out” look. Similar to DJ Khaled, Johnny has the bulky fabric that adds weight, making the super slim star look like a vampire that just fed. The once hunkiest man on earth is starting to look like a netherworld-looking thing. Somebody please, give him a stylist…pronto!

WTF?! When did onsies’s with bedazzling become something to have people actually see you in? Not to mention MILLIONS of people. The bedazzling isn’t the least of it, there are also Hello Kitty’s safety pinned on too! Plus, in order to keep the onsie look totally ratchet; why not wear cheetah print wedges? To top it off, Miss Denica added 2 giant balls around her neck? Is that supposed to be sexy? I have lost some of my IQ points and vision seeing her prance around in horrifying Wal-Mart PJ’s. She should do us all a favor and burn this look. Maybe then she’ll wear something less crazy next time.

Photo Credit: Lester Cohen/WireImage

Photo Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

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!?

Come on the journey to find the new faces of the Chicago Fashion Industry...the “next� fashion designers, stylists, make-up artists, and much more will be featured along with events, and even the new fashions on the streets!! In Estrella Modas, we keep an eye out for the stars of fashion of tomorrow!

READ THE LATEST > 85

labella mafia

adding the badass to fitness Written by: Catie Coscino Having a little trouble sticking to your New Year’s Resolution? I know; 2016 was finally the year you were going to get fit, and one innocent dinner with the girls abruptly diminished what you thought was your last bit of willpower.

You aren’t the first to slip up, and you certainly won’t be the last. This is where Labellamafia steps in- working as your one stop shop for amazing workout gear, motivational tips, realistic lifestyle and fitness tricks.

The Brazilian brand opened up shop in South Beach, Miami in 2013, and has been making a name for itself ever since. Alice Matos: IFBB Bikini athlete, journalist, and fitness guru started Labellamafia, with the mission to inspire and motivate everyone to live an active lifestyle. With a major focus on comfort, function and fashion, the brand has exceeded the expectation for active wear. While the brick and mortar storefront has been successful, Labellamafia is making a major impression online with over one million Facebook “Likes” and making it onto The Hot 100 E-Commerce apparel sites in 2014.

The Hard Core Ladies, the brand’s blog, was the next natural step in creating the lifestyle concept and celebrating its online presence. The Hard Core Ladies offer realistic tips on lifestyle, diet and fashion to get readers up and moving. Under the #HardCoreLadies,

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fans of the brand can post before, during, and after pictures of their workouts featuring Labellamafia styles.

Road to Redemption, the newest collection, features vibrant patterned leggings. Atomic modeling is used in the design process to ensure an amazing fit without limiting motion so that the wearer can get the most out of their workout. In addition to the new collection, Labellamafia has introduced their menswear line: Lamafia. The collection features modern, edgy tees, joggers, snap-backs and sneakers that can easily go from the gym to the street. The models are all physically fit, muscular, and aspirational, cementing the lifestyle brand’s credibility when it comes to its dedication to fitness.

Meeting between quality and affordability, Labellamafia clothing ranges in price from $30 USD to $99 USD. You can shop the collection at their storefront location: 231A 8th Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139 or online via www.labellamafiaclothing.com.

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LOOKS FOR LESS SPRING 2016

By: Teresa Cutrera, Fashion & Style Editor

Gucci Spring 2016 RTW

Masterful METALLIC Skirts are an awesome way to play with color and texture. This spring the hottest skirt of the season is the metallic pleated skirt. There’s something so whimsical and lady like about this trend that translates to so many different ages. If you’re looking for something a little flirtier and fun go for a shorter hem. On the opposite end opt for a midi-length for daytime.

Express Metallic Pleated High Waisted Skirt $69.60

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Topshop Brocade Pleat Midi Skirt $125.00

Topshop Foil Pleated Midi Skirt $115.00

Zara Accordion Pleat Skirt $39.90

For the first time, in a long time, the winter season seems to have taken it easy on us and allowed us to embrace the spring just a little bit sooner than usual! As the gloomy days make way to longer days and the cold weather starts to dissipate for the season, out comes the spring wardrobe! While some of the trends from past seasons will look familiar others are making a new and welcome appearance. Metallics aren’t just for the holidays anymore as they’ve popped up all over the runways in the form of the pleated skirt. Casual cool is still going strong with ribbed dresses and separates as well as the flair of 70’s era suede. The guys have some of the coolest pieces I’ve seen in the last couple of years with a huge push towarads monochromatic palettes and earth tones. There’s a heavy emphasis on the structure and form of menswear right now and these spring trends are definitely musts! If you’re looking for a standout piece that’s going to make a statement this spring, just take your pick from my looks for less.

Jason WuSpring 2016 RTW

RIBBED This trend went straight from the runway to stores because of its wearability and versatility. The texture works so well for both casual and more sophisticated looks.

The best part is it makes either look ultra chic and polished. I am in love with my ribbed mock neck midi dress and it may be one of the best staple pieces you’ll have in your closet this spring.

Zara Ribbed Dress $35.90

Topshop Ribbed Tube Skirt $38.00

Topshop Wide Rib Roll Neck Top $28.00

Zara Ribbed Trousers $19.90

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LOOKS FOR LES

70s

Balmain Spring 2016 RTW

SUEDE

The 70’s era is having a monumental moment in fashion right now. Old is New! The 70’s still have a heavy hand in fashion for spring with flares going strong and great textures such as suede. Everything from suede vests to shorts and even leggings.

My choice suede piece for spring is the suede button up skirt.

Lulus.com Suede My Day Tan Suede Skirt $49.00

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Topshop Premium Fringe Suede Cardigan $140.00

Zara Faux Suede Culottes $25.90

ASOS.com ASOS Tall Suede Dress With Lace Up Detail $145.41

SS SPRING 2016

Rag & Bone Spring 2016 RTW

BOMB

BOMBERS

Bomber Jackets are one of my ultimate indulgences aside from shoes. They never go out of style and there are always an endless amount of styles and prints. Have your choice with the classic military green or go rogue with a fun floral print. Wear your bomber jacket with a basic midi body con dress and some killer booties for the best impact.

ASOS.com Clean Bomber Jacket $76.89

Topshop Mango Premium Zip Front Long Bomber Jacket $153.95

Zara Printed Bomber Jacket $69.90

Zara Quilted Bomber $69.90

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LOOKS FOR LES

Reem Acra Spring 2016 RTW

MULE KICKS What would any trend round up be without a shoe report in there? Mules are the shoes to wear this spring. An easy, no fuss shoe, the mule adds some serious effortless style to any outfit. There are tons of options out there for mules right now but these are my favorites of the moment.

ASOS.com ASOS PETRA Pointed Muled Heels $71.85

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Topshop Daisy Street Peep Toe Mule Slingback Heeled Sandals $59.86

Nordstrom Kendall + Kylie ‘Essie’ Mule $149.95

Nordstrom Steve Madden ‘Nola’ Mule $109.95

SS SPRING 2016

Salvatore Ferragamo Spring 2016 Menswear

BOLD BOMBERS Bomber jackets aren’t just big on the women’s end this spring. The guys have a heavy dose of this trend as well. From long line bomber jackets to suede bomber jackets, there’s an option for just about every guy. But don’t forget, at the end of the day, you can never go wrong with a classic. Just be mindful, your girlfriend may need to borrow this ultra cool jacket from time to time!

Zara ASOS Jersey Bomber Jacket in Beige $34.21

ASOS.com Superdry Classic Bomber Jacket $196.73

Zara Bomber Jacket in Navy $79.90

Zara Peccary Bomber Jacket $199.00

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LOOKS FOR LES

3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2016 Menswear

NAUTICAL

NATURE

Stripes are always a classic print in menswear. So, it’s no surprise that time after time this trend always pops up. This spring, stripes are bold and in full focus for menswear. If you want to go bold try out this striped coat from Zara.

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ASOS.com Pull & Bear Breton Striped Knit Jumper $44.46

Zara Striped Pique Polo Shirt $19.90

Zara Striped Shawl Collar Sweater $59.90

Zara Three Quarter Striped Trench Coat $149.00

SS SPRING 2016 Calvin Klein Collection Spring 2016 Menswear

WHITE OUT There’s nothing more crisp and polished than white. Hard to maintain and clean, maybe, but the minimalism of all white is something to really envy. Don’t feel like you have to stick to true white from head to toe. If you want to add some dimension to your outfit try layering different shades of whites and off whites.

ASOS.com ASOS Bomber Jacket in Jersey $34.21

Zara Cotton Shirt $39.90

Zara Premium Jeans in Off White $79.90

Zara White comfort blazer $169.00

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LOOKS FOR LES

Public School Spring 2016 Menswear

BLACK & Black and white combos are going strong in menswear. Public school has had not only collections based around the black and white combination, but has truly based their entire design aesthetic around it. The most basic of all palettes actually makes the boldest and most graphic impact of all. Pair black and white together in all different ways from head to toe and there’s really no way of going wrong with this trend.

ASOS.com Adidas Originals Superstar Trainers $114.62

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ASOS.com ASOS Longline Muscle T-shirt $27.37

Zara Diagonal Hem T-shirt $29.90

Zara Hooded Sweatshirt $89.90

SS SPRING 2016 Calvin Klein Collection Spring 2016 Menswear

This season, in menswear, saw a focus on color palette trends. Most importantly going back to the basics of color in order to really focus on the design and shape of the clothes themselves. Earth tones such as beige, khakis, greens and tans can be combined to really achieve this trend. There are times where some color palettes just do not translate easily from the sophisticated end to the street wear end, but earth tones do it with no problem at all.

ASOS.com ASOS Longline Sleeve T-shirt $27.37

ASOS.com Nicce-London Sweatshirt $76.98

Topman Mustard Double Pocket Twill Long Sleeve Casual Shirt $55.00

Zara Chinos in Light Khaki $39.90

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Surviving the Spring Transition WRITTEN BY: EMILY EHARDT

Spring marks the season of breaking out the white jeans, floral prints, and bright colors. However, it can sometimes be hard to make the transition from winter’s bleak black and grey tones to spring’s sunny hues. Do not fret, though, as I am here to give you tips on how you can survive the spring wardrobe transition.

Starting off, let’s look at the trends for spring 2016, which were quite a variety.

Of course many garments had the typical frilly and floral details, but there were other trends that you can incorporate into your look if that is not your style. For example, fringe is still going strong from previous seasons. So, try pairing fringe booties with anything from a pair of denim shorts to bohemian dresses.

In addition, fringe is being sewn onto the hems of everything from vests to skirts, so adding one of these pieces to your look is sure to kick your style up a notch.

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A trend that goes hand in hand with fringe is suede, as both exude bohemian vibes.

Try pairing a suede skirt with a basic t-shirt and statement necklace for a look that is put together. Don’t be afraid to incorporate fringe and suede together. You can find pieces that include both style elements for a fun eye catching look, such as a great suede fringe skirt.

Also, shine was seen all across the runways. That means incorporating a sequin top into your look for day or night. Shimmer can even be worn for the workplace if paired with classic and more toned down pieces. If sequins are not your thing, try a piece that has a metallic finish, such as a skirt or even pair of pants in silver or gold.

One more trend that is notable for the spring is lingerie inspired garments. Some take this trend to the extreme and wear their literal lingerie out in public, but being less racy is absolutely possible.

Wearing a sheer bodysuit over a basic camisole is one way to still be sexy, but not indecent. Sheer cutouts are great for just adding a hint of

the lingerie inspired trend to your look. It’s a great option to pair this trend with tough contrasting pieces, such as leather jackets and denim to offset the softness of the slinky materials.

With all of these trends in mind, let’s discuss what you already have in your closet that you can integrate and style with these springtime trends. White jeans are a classic springtime garment that almost every woman has in her closet and are so simple to style. Pairing white denim with a fringe vest and floral top creates an impeccably stylish look. Just as well, you could easily toss on a gorgeous, beaded top with a pair of metallic heels for a night out.

Another piece many women have in their wardrobes is a leather jacket. A leather jacket is my go-to cover up for those chilly spring days, since it adds a touch of edge to any look. Adding this piece over lingerie inspired dress works well to transition from day to night. All you need to do is change up your shoes and accessories and you’re ready to go. Even if you do embrace spring’s feminine trends, you can

Try fringe shoes to give your look a boho-chic vibe.

Suede and fringe work beautifully when integrated together into a skirt.

For those chilly days, tuck a sweater into a metallic skirt to still be springtime ready.

easily toss a leather jacket over these floral prints and/or lacey garments to make them more interesting and create a strong statement.

Sheer bodysuits can be classy when paired with a black camisole and midi skirt.

White jeans look fresh when paired with fringe accessories and bold colors.

Whether it’s transitioning from winter to spring or any season in between, I promise that you will survive the transitions. Embrace change and take this time to change up what you already own with the trendier items that are featured for the season.

Take all of this information and pictures as outfit inspiration. Have fun with your look and always make it uniquely yours.

For weekly outfit inspiration and even more styling advice, visit emilyehardt.com and as always‌

! y s s a l C Stay y Ehardt Lace looks great when contrasted with leather, whether it be leather pants or a jacket.

-E mil

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IMAGES 102 COURTESY OF GUDRUN & GUDRUN

A NEW APPROACH TO FASHION PRODUCTION – MOVING BEYOND FAST FASHION featuring - gudrun & gudrun WRITTEN BY: JENNIFER LEZAN-VEGUILLA

The fashion industry is going through a massive evolution that is quite evident in how designers, retailers and brands are creating garments. Over the past 15 years there was a surge in fast fashion. Retailers were working hard to move designs from catwalk to stores in record times as short as 5 weeks. If you’re not aware of how production works, the idea of releasing a collection from concept, prototype, samples, and production to distribution requires a large amount of effort and time.

When collections are released in a matter of weeks, in order to meet time constraints, corners are cut and production is often rushed. Optimizing certain aspects of the supply chain has allowed products to be manufactured quickly and inexpensively allowing brands to offer styles at incredibly low prices.

For many years, consumers weren’t aware of the true costs associated with buying cheap clothing. Yet, as the digital age

continues to thrive and grow, transparency and social consciousness in brands have become pivotal expectations for consumers. In the last 5 years customers eyes have been opened to the realities of what goes into fast fashion. From the overworked, underpaid factory workers in third world countries, to the worldwide consumers who view cheap apparel as disposable, well into the after effects of pollution in developing countries from deplorable manufacturing conditions.

Customers learned that cheap, fast fashion came at a much higher price than they expected as human rights violations were being made left and right in manufacturing facilities worldwide. As these travesties have been continuously brought to light, many brands have been making a conscious effort to refocus their business strategies into building sustainable brands. There are many new brands popping up that are focusing on a slower model of

design, releasing fewer collections and focusing on how their production affects society and the world as a whole. While some brands are playing catch up with a focus on the rights of their workers and making sure the factories they work with meet health and worker safety guidelines, others have been looking at the societal impact they are making on the world.

Adding charitable marketing programs to their focus as brands, has been one simple way companies are looking at how they impact the world. Yet, it is important to note that many of these strategies are just that, marketing strategies – ways to make a dollar and don’t always have the impact that consumers think they do.

Customers genuinely buy into the idea that shopping with a purpose can make a difference in the world. There is nothing wrong with this idea, but it is important to shop brands that are genuinely making a difference and not just saying they

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do. Many brands that practice the buy-one-give-one model are seeing tremendous profits, meanwhile they are not making as large as an impact as they say they do. When these models are explored at a much deeper level, the true impact falls flat. They are designed to create social capital for shoppers rather than make a truly positive global impact.

It is so important to look at the bigger picture from a global perspective. When companies simply provide something to those less fortunate – they are missing out on the chance to provide a transformative opportunity. They continue to develop the have and the have-nots in the world. The brands that practice the buy one - give one model aren’t making the impact that they could because they continue to work within the realms of the cycle of poverty.

The true social innovators are the brands that look at their place in the global workforce and decide to push for true equal opportunity. They are not playing the sympathy card to get your money; rather they are looking to empower people of the world to take charge of their own destiny. Yes, they are looking to grow in profit, but they understand that as they grow they can continue to help others grow as well.

Rather than just addressing the issues, they are providing ways to solve the problems and alter the systems that are forcing individuals into poverty. Many of

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those changes include ensuring that they work with factories that are safe and pay workers living wages. Other ways include working with communities to create co-ops, working with artisans in fair trade opportunities and even teaching skills to workers that empower them to begin to build their wealth and break free of poverty.

One organization that is going above and beyond the call of duty is Gudrun & Gudrun. The brand was launched in 2002 by fashion designer, Gudrun Ludvig, and project maker, Gudrun Rógvadóttir. The brand focuses on handmade knitwear that is mobilizing a women’s empowerment network. At the heart of their business is the desire to make a difference. Their goal is to make clothes that meet the standards of conscious customers that do care about each other, the environment, our common natural resources and that still want to be stylish.

Faroese, Jordanian and Peruvian women working to break the cycle of poverty, jointly produce the handmade collection. The founders believe that woman empowerment all starts with the opportunity to earn your own money. Halfstack had the opportunity to catch up with Gudrun & Gudrun to talk about the growth of their collection and journey as a brand – keep reading for the full interview.

1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your background and what led you to

pursue launching Gudrun & Gudrun?

We are two women that grew up on the Faroe Islands – situated in the North Atlantic and home to 48,000 people and 70,000 sheep. With a background in Design and Political Science our common goal was to use the natural resources on the islands to launch a business. At the time the brand was established both the wool and the skins of the sheep were hardly used or treasured. We wanted to change this.

2. Can you tell us more about your brand, the idea behind it, the customer you cater to and the purpose and mission driving it?

We wanted to establish an international brand with deep roots in the heritage of the Faroe Islands. The company is still based on the islands and the design process is closely linked to the isolation of the place. We create clothes for women, men and kids of all ages. We want to create timeless pieces in a quality that can last for years.

3. What led you to focus on working with indigenous people of the Faroe Islands and really pushing for a sustainable movement in the industry?

Our niche is hand-knit and there is a long tradition for knitting on the islands. It was natural to place the production

at home as we had loads of good knitters at hand. When we needed more work power we chose to make a difference for women in Jordan and Peru that had difficulties finding normal jobs as they had the responsibility for the kids and the elderly. As a knitter they have an opportunity to stay home and still earn their own money.

Which in our view is the most important factor for empowering people.

4. Where do you get your creative inspiration and what does the design process look like when working on each collection?

The inspiration comes from everything but fashion. A design can be inspired by the sky on an early winter morning while walking to the office or by

the odd colour combination of a vase in an old lady’s house.

The design process starts with the materials and the knitting needles in hand. As a designer you can have an idea when starting, but often the material is taking over. It’s as if it has it’s own life and can seduce you to end with a completely different design than you first had imagined. Playing and struggling with different yarns counts, colours and patterns is the first step in designing every single style. The expert knitter will take over at a point and make the finish trial sample. Most often this process is repeated many times by unraveling the garment and redoing it until the designer accepts the piece as a Gudrun & Gudrun piece. It can easily take a week before the process is finished.

5. Are there people, mentors or figures that have made an impact in your life and career? If so, how?

Designer Gudrun Ludvig worked with designer Sabine Poupinel in Copenhagen for some years. She is her mentor and great inspiration. At an age of 65 she still has the creative mind of a young woman and is able to think in new and modern ways.

6. What are your goals for your brand in the next 2-5 years? How do you hope to be making an impact or what kind of growth are you looking forward to?

Our goal is to grow our international appearance and to open more own flagship stores.

Currently we have shops on

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WE WANT SUSTAINABILITY NOT ONLY TO BE THE ICING OF THE CAKE, BUT THE CAKE ITSELF. THIS IS WHAT WE STAND FOR AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT MORE AND MORE END CONSUMERS AGREE WITH US.

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the Faroe Islands, London and Geilo in Norway. We hope to make clothing for conscious consumers that care for each other, the environment and yet want to be stylish 7. The fashion/product type industry seems to be going through an evolution, why do you think the industry is changing from its typical fast/cheap fashion format to something new? How do you think this evolution will affect your brand?

The crisis has changed the mindset of consumers that seem more aware that common sense is needed in terms of taking care of the scarce resources and thinking of how we consume. We want sustainability not only to be the icing of the cake, but the cake itself.

This is what we stand for and we do believe that more and more end consumers agree with us.

8. How is your brand remaining innovative and what does it offer that is different than what most people can already buy?

Creative people like Gudrun are talented. She could be locked in a black box and her mind would still create beautiful things. Creative thinking happens around the clock and what we can offer is a piece that can follow you for years rather than a fashion piece for

the season. Hand-knitted pieces are one of a kind and are full of stories and thoughts of the knitter that has to spend days on your piece.

11.What kind of advice would you give to someone looking to launch his or her own brand?

9. What kind of obstacles do you see women facing in the other countries that your brand works with? How are they overcoming & how are you as a brand helping them to establish changes in their communities?

Be patient – and stubborn.

Don’t take a no for a no, but be humble. Be eager to learn from the fashion people that have been out there for centuries. And be true to yourself and your original idea. Stay focused.

Women empowerment all starts with the opportunity to earn your own money. This is key for any change they can make in their life as well for their communities. We tell our story to motivate them choosing their own way of life.

You can learn more about Gudrun & Gudrun at: www.gudrungudrun.com

10. Can you share a success story showcasing survival of an artisan or skilled worker that your brand has directly impacted?

We do know that the Jordanians pray to Allah and the Peruvians pray to Maria for us being able to continue to create jobs for them. We have Syrian refugees as a part of our project in Jordan and we have a wonderful lady in Peru that we visit and she has been showing us what improvements in her house we have made possible for her. Growing the business has a deeper meaning – its just not a question of us earning a living – we feel responsible for the knitters that work for us as well.

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cultured spotlight by: Stella Estrella-Quimby

We have all heard about Free Trade.

We have all heard the terms handmade.

We have all heard about the one for one programs that are said to help those in need through consumer purchases. So many brands are utilizing charitable marketing as a way to sell the product. Yet, many of those very same brands touting sustainable and socially conscious agendas are doing more harm than good. This is where brands that work within the Free Trade arena are making the difference. They are putting their money where their mouth is and going beyond marketing and actually tackling issues such as poverty through their programs in third world countries. The benefits of working with artisans being paid a living wage in third world countries are bountiful.

What if there was an online store that only sold items that were Free Trade?

What if that very same online store also offered the uniqueness of only handmade products? There is such a store, and it is called Ten Thousand Villages.

Founded over 60 years ago, Ten Thousand Villages was created by pioneer businesswoman Edna Ruth Byler. She was moved by the extreme poverty during a visit to Puerto Rico in 1946 and decided to make a difference. Ten Thousand Villages was born.

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By creating Ten Thousand Villages, Byler believed that she could provide sustainable economic opportunities for artisans in developing countries by creating a viable marketplace for their products in North America. This was a way to eliminate that extreme poverty she witnessed. Then Byler began a grassroots campaign among her family and friends in the United States by selling handcrafted products out of the trunk of her car. Her innovative and nimble tactics allowed her to get marketing through the word of mouth despite her limited funds. Byler did more than just sell her items, though; she made a concerted effort to educate her community about the lives of artisans around the world.

Beautiful handmade Necklace available There is a saying that, “if you give a man a fish, he eats for a day; but if you teach him to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.” Byler decided to fully embrace that teaching and worked hard to encourage those in countries with limited opportunities to create their own income. For the next 30 years, Byler worked tirelessly to connect individual entrepreneurs in developing countries with market opportunities in North America. Sold in stores and online, there are many platforms for one to help this organization spread the word and help others. From their humble beginnings, Ten Thousand Villages has grown to a global network of social entrepreneurs working to empower and provide economic opportunities to artisans in developing countries.

A Coin purse handmade in India The company offers many different products which include the jewelry (all different types), scarfs, purses, kitchen & Dining, baskets, wall décor, home accents, outdoor, spa & skincare, candles, holiday and many more. Plus you are able to obtain products from all around the world, not limited to India, Ecuador, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Bolivia, Peru, Ghana, Kenya and beyond. All of these countries have networks of artisans/ entrepreneurs trying to make a living.

Therefore, each purchase you make with Ten Thousand Villages helps them to not live in extreme poverty.

Not only can you support with purchases online from their website: tenthousandvillages.com but you can also find them at various locations near you.

For example there is a Ten Thousand Villages in Glen Ellyn IL, located at 503 Pennsylvania Ave. There are more in Oak Park, Evanston and there is also one located in Chicago, on 840 W Armitage! So, no excuses! Check out Ten Thousand Villages and help those in need stand on their own two feet!

Hopefully with more companies like this, poverty will be a thing in the past!

Some of the many things available for purchase.

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The Art of Healing: Getting your life back after trauma

Written by: Karli Butler Photography & Creative Direction: Laura Lopez Layout by: Annabel Carrillo

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n March 15, 2006, I was brutally beaten by three men in a surprise attack in my building’s parking garage.

I was punched, pulled, dropped, and stuffed into the trunk of my car. After jumping out of the trunk to escape, I wasn’t sure how or why I did it. I just knew that I wanted to live. I lost my words, peace of mind, and my ability to see goodness in the world. Yet, that was only the beginning. Less than two months later on May 25, 2006, I’d be attacked again. Only this time, I’d look down the barrel of a gun before being doused in sulfuric acid. Needless to say, there was no peace and no comfortable way for me to continue on living as I’d done previously. The physical pain was almost as bad as the emotional and psychological torment. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or function normally. I simply existed. I did what was needed to survive, but I wasn’t doing much living.

If you told me 9 years ago, I’d be a functioning, self-sufficient adult, who encourages and uplifts women going through difficult times, I would’ve laughed in your face or scoffed at you for tormenting me. It was such a dark time in my life that I couldn’t see past what was in front of me.

I was literally in survival mode. After suffering 3rd degree full-thickness burns over 30 % of my body and a six and a half week stay in the burn unit, my life had been turned upside down. I’d wonder, “How often do you hear of acid attacks in the United States? And how in the heck did I become the victim of one?” I was trying to manage my pain with prescribed methadone and make it through my days without breaking down in tears.

On some days, just getting out of bed was an accomplishment. I look back now and it’s truly by the grace of God that I made it. I fell apart.

I lost my identity, lost my sense of security and peace, and was stuck in my own head for years.

Clarity came slowly as did peace of mind and confidence, but the road to healing was a rocky one.

What makes it possible for one person to survive and thrive after trauma while another will not?

How do you push past your pain, fear, doubts, and inability to see any goodness in your future?

Is there a formula for success after trauma?

There are no set answers to these questions.

There is no formula or blue print. There are only stories. And I will share mine.

As a survivor, I know all too well that the road to recovery and healing is rocky and unpredictable, making everyone’s experience unique. So, I don’t speak on behalf of all survivors. I only speak my own truths. I am aware that some people don’t make it. Some people are not able to push past survival mode. Some are not able to move beyond victimhood. And some are not willing or able to forgive. And that’s okay. I respect everyone’s journey towards healing and wholeness. I acknowledge that what I experience may be very different from someone else. I am, however, thankful for every part of my journey and wouldn’t change a thing. So, when I reflect on how I was able to move forward in my life, these are the things that helped me the most.

I grieved . . . a lot. And for a long time. I cried, wallowed in bed, lashed out at my loved ones, formulated all kinds of theories . . . But mostly, I felt very deeply. Most times when we experience something traumatic or life changing, we experience some kind of loss. It could be the loss of a loved one, loss of a personal item, loss of dignity or peace, or in my case, a big loss for me was my identity.

Give yourself time to grieve the loss. It can take days, months or even years. There is no time limit on grieving. Feel it all, the anger, the sadness, the rage. Grief comes in many forms and won’t always look the way it feels. There’s a hodge-podge of emotions we experience as humans and there’s no way to predict what form they’ll take or when they’ll hit you. They range from shock, disbelief, anger, denial, sadness, despair, withdrawal, anxiousness and physical illness. It’s natural to want to numb yourself to avoid feeling it, but it’s a vital part of growing through what you’re going through. The change in my appearance was so drastic that it was shocking to me. I did not know who I was or who I would become and that was terrifying to me. I associated so much of my worth to my physical

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appearance that I did know how I would make it in the world. I would wonder: how will I work?

How will I go in public? Who will date me? How will I make sense of my purpose if I don’t feel like I belonged here anymore? But grieving the loss of who I WAS was an indispensable part of discovering who I’d become.

allowing into my inner circle. It helped me gain perspective on what I really wanted for my life and how I was going to attain it. And more importantly, it shook me to the core and alerted me to my own mortality. I knew that I needed to make some changes if I wanted to truly live my best life, and I did.

I relied heavily on my support system even when I had too much pride to ask for help. That includes asking for professional help to support you on your journey. Fortunately, I was able to receive mental health services in the form of a therapist to talk to and a social worker to facilitate my care in the hospital and my transition home. However, I recognize mental health services are not always available because of financial constraints or fear of opening up to someone. Either way, surround yourself with loving and supportive family and friends who can offer you encouragement, care, and accountability. I do not know where I’d be without my family. I was fortunate to never spend a night alone in the hospital, and I continue to receive support.

I added my experience to my personal narrative, but I don’t let it define me.

While my scars are a permanent accessory, I have chosen to use them as a tool to teach.

They represent a snapshot of my 30-some years on this Earth, so I am very purposeful in how I address them. I don’t like for people to judge my entire existence based on that one chapter.

So yes, t’s okay to incorporate your trauma into your life. It’s okay to talk about it. But own your narrative and share it as you see fit. Don’t let someone else define you based on your experiences.

I was grateful for everything and fell madly in love with my life. Love every second of it. Be thankful for where you are no matter how far you feel you have to go. Think about how far you’ve come. One of the things that helped me tremendously while I was at home healing was watching the evening news.

There was always a story about someone who didn’t survive, and that was enough for me to be grateful for my experiences no matter how terrible they were. I found that the more thankful I was for what I had, the more I attracted to my life. And the more my life improved, the more I fell in love with my opportunity to be alive.

I made my survival experience a pivotal moment. You can make your experience a pivotal moment for change, growth, or whatever it is that will set you on course to living your best life. You can choose to let it consume you or you can choose to view your experience as circumstantial or temporary. It’s all about perspective. My experience helped me to gain perspective on who I was associating with and

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I got in touch with my spirituality and with God. My faith was really tested through my trials, but ultimately it was strengthened.

And despite all that I lost, I gained more than I could’ve imagined. I have never felt closer to God and more aware of my purpose. Believe me when I tell you the “white light” is real. And seeing it scared the heck out of me. When you think you’re dying, you will question the value of your life and your choices. I was scared and disappointed that I hadn’t done more with my life.

I had some real come to Jesus moments that made me realize that life is short and I needed to get closer to God. So, I encourage you to get in touch with your spirituality (creator, higher power, higher self) or whatever it is that you believe in so that you can really live well.

I was proactive about my healing process and I was patient with myself.

Considering I’d never spent a night in the hospital before being attacked, and I would end up staying for more than 6 weeks, I became frustrated with how much my life changed. I felt weak, helpless, and stuck, and sometimes I expected more from myself. When my PT would come to my bedside early in the morning, I would dread seeing her face. I wasn’t just frustrated

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with her for pushing me to work past my limits, but I was frustrated with myself for not being as physically able as I once was. The little things that I took for granted became difficult like having to practice walking again and having to ask for help to get to the bathroom. Those were things that I was anxious to do on my own. So, I worked my tail off to get well enough to do them.

While time heals wounds, it also requires lots of nurturing and care. Expecting to get well without taking care of yourself is unrealistic. There were times when I stopped doing my physical therapy and didn’t rest as much as I should have or flaked on my therapist, and I suffered because of it. I learned quickly that if I was not proactive about healing physically, mentally, and emotionally, I would never get better.

I set goals (sometimes extreme ones) and expected to meet them. When you set goals for yourself, you accomplish two things.

You have something to focus on and something to look forward to. It allows you to look forward to the future and temporarily escape your present, as well as imagine a future you’d like for yourself.

This helped me tremendously while recovering, only I set extreme goals. My methods weren’t the healthiest, but that’s how I coped at the time, and it worked for me. After the tragic loss of my mother, I decided that I wanted to go to graduate school, but I had to do the dual program while working a full-time and part-time job. I needed to be occupied all the time. And when I wanted to physically challenge myself to quit my pain meds and build stamina, I set out to train for a marathon in 2007. And more recently, as I reconnect with myself, I have been celibate for 1000 plus days. The challenges and the journey towards achieving my goals have helped me to grow in unimaginable ways and bring new and exciting things into my life. I tie my happiness to goals, not people or things, and it’s worked for me.

I forgave. I forgave my ex-boyfriend. I forgave the people who attacked me. And I forgave myself for the choices I made and the guilt that I carried. That in itself was incredibly freeing. I began to think less about what it would feel like to get an apology and more about building a life

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of love, integrity, and happiness. I also let go. I let go of who I used to be and began embracing who I am. That meant letting go of the life I’d imagined and creating something new.

I accepted the fact that life happens and it will continue to “just happen”.

I had to learn to be okay with adversity and change. More importantly, I had to learn some healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with the realities of loss, pain, unexpected change, and sadness. When something bad happens, we often think, “Why me?” But there isn’t always an answer. It is up to us to make meaning out of our experiences. Once I accepted that fact that bad things happen to good people every day and I just happened to be one of them, my whole attitude shifted. I did not deserve what happened to me nor did I provoke it, but I can’t change it. And even if it were an option, I wouldn’t change a thing. These photos represent hope and possibility. When I was in survival mode, I couldn’t see the beauty in my life. It was only after I pushed past that wall that I began to see beauty in myself and my surroundings.

Sometimes I can’t believe how far I’ve come, but I’m proud of my journey and I hope this helps someone. I see my scars as much more than blemishes or a representation of my trauma. I reimagine them as art and the beauty that has come from so much pain and chaos. It’s ironic that the very people who tried to hurt me, actually helped elevate me. It is only because of my experiences that I have this platform.

“They tried to burn me not knowing I was a flame.”

Books that helped me on my journey: Jeanne Bishop “Change of Heart” https://www.facebook.com/Change-ofHeart-641325422652089/ Rhonda Byrne The Magic-28 days of gratitude In the fall of 2015 I attended a community event where I got my face painted by an incredible artist. After briefly flipping through her portfolio of designs, I knew I wanted her to create something especially for me, but I didn’t know exactly what.

Shortly thereafter I emailed her with an idea. I wanted her to paint me. I wanted her to use my body and my scars as her canvas and highlight

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what I like to call “God’s art work.” After weeks of trying to coordinate our schedules and come up with ideas, we finally met. It was a long day, but it was an unforgettable experience.

Rosa Flor Face & Body Art Designs https://www. facebook.com/search/top/?q=rosa%20flor%20 face%20%26%20body%20art%20designs The Art of Healing https://www.facebook.com/ The-Art-Of-Healing-1290323214317928/?fref=ts Rosa Cline is a professional makeup artist who is passionate about face and body art. Her latest project, The Art of Healing, is about sharing peoples’ triumphs over abuse, suffering, and discrimination through art. Her primary goal is to share those experiences with the world, and with other survivors, and by showing that it is possible to heal from trauma, to overcome adversity, to choose love over hate, peace over war, and compassion over pity all through art.

“Art is a wound turned into light.”

Georges Braque “It is through art, and through art only, that we can realise our perfection.”

Oscar Wilde “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”

Maya Angelou

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the anatomy of an eating disorder INTERVIEW BY: JENNIFER LEZAN-VEGUILLA

The world, in which young men and women are growing up today, is high in expectations for brains, beauty and brawn. Perfection is non-existent, yet so many people attempt to attain it. In a world where people share their lives so readily via social media and where the number of likes, for some, equates to their self worth, it’s not surprising that nearly 24 million people in the world are facing issues such as eating disorders and depression. It’s been speculated that eating disorders are a direct reflection of the cultural and societal pressures being placed on young people.

In a world where the cult of appearance, weight control and thinness is put on a pedestal, it can be hard to ignore the suggestions that the prettier and skinnier you are, the farther you will get in life. Adding to that, the ideals perfect grades, the perfect style and saying the right thing at the right time, living up to insurmountable standards can be crushing.

It only takes a few moments each day, perusing social media to have all of your insecurities validated. The perfect lives, the perfect image and the perfect bodies all within the perfect little squares stare back causing you to question why you don’t fit in that mold. Many experts within

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the medical and nutritional field have suggested that social media may be triggering more than just jealousy – it could be inadvertently triggering people who suffer with body issues and eating disorders.

The reality is that despite the fact that so much of what is shared on social media is in fact staged, offering an incredibly unrealistic image of what life really is; people get caught up in the madness. Who can forget the “thigh-gap” or the “thinspo” memes that have flooded Instagram and facebook pages? The images showcasing a thin body vs. a cake and pushing the ideal that being thin tastes so much better than that piece of cake? People often look to social media for peer acceptance thus further generating the detrimental self-comparisons.

In 2011, a study from the University of Haifa of 248 girls ages 12 to 19 found that the “more time girls spend on Facebook, the more they suffered conditions of bulimia, anorexia, physical dissatisfaction, negative physical self-image, negative approach to eating and more of an urge to be on a weight-loss diet.”

While it is ok and normal to seek a healthy lifestyle and to find inspiration, when does too much become too much? When does a diet go beyond just being a diet?

When does “inspo” become “thinspo”? When does a healthy focus become an obsession? Harriett Beitscher Campbell, LCSW – Eating Disorder Specialist of Ocean Breeze Recovery took some time to talk with the Halfstack team and offer insight to Eating Disorders, how society plays into the current issues and programs that are available to help patients overcome and survive these debilitating illnesses.

1. Can you please tell us what risk factors play into a person who has developed an eating disorder? Are there hereditary, social or environmental factors that play into the development of this illness?

The risks factors that appear can be severe. A female can loose their menstrual cycle, when at a low weight (which is common amongst adolescence cheerleaders, especially flyers and models).

When someone is acting out with Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa, at a low weight and or purging (self induced vomiting, laxative abuse, diuretic abuse and over exercising) they can have low potassium and electrolyte levels to the point that it can cause fainting and or getting hypoglycemic symptoms resulting in hypoglycemia.

Bulimics that self induce vomit can

vomit blood (either from throat strain or torn esophagus). It is common to have dental issues (cavities) since the acid from the stomach can take off enamel of teeth while vomiting. Blood vessels can pop in eyes or on face due to the pressure of using fingers or instruments to make them self induce vomit. Having chest pains and heart attacks can occur due to purging by means of vomiting. This is all causing strain on their organs and the heart, which could even lead to irregular heartbeats.

Laxative abuse can create diarrhea, dehydration resulting in kidney issues and constipation when laxatives are stopped. Laxative abuse detox can take up to six months with a Protocol of tapering off per an MD. Diuretics (water pills) abuse can confuse the body causing edema throughout the body due to fluid intake or lack of. Anorexia symptoms usually include hair falling out

and not eating enough fats causes poor concentration.

Research has shown that Eating Disorders has a genetic component and also can be biochemical (in the brain – The Reward Deficiency Syndrome) stemming from being depleted in L-Tryptophan (amino acid).

Social perception plays a huge role in this illness. During the 60s when Twiggy changed the world with her “Never too thin” mantra and later she was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, the body image issues emerged. Social Media is constructing a web of destruction with television shows, models, celebrities and competition with other females – pushing this idea that being the thinnest means “I am the most special” in the world. We are seeing this in the classroom in middle, high school and colleges and definitely in families with female siblings.

2. What are some of the common myths surrounding eating disorders that people would be surprised to learn?

People think Eating Disorders are all about body, weight and food and that’s just not the case. This is truly a thinking disease. I see clients who weigh 65-70 lbs. and they THINK they are fat. Therefore, it is not about weight. They are a prisoner of the mind; thinking one is fat when they are thin. They have a preoccupation with food, wondering what is my next meal, or having an increasing fear of food. Using food as comfort vs. people, are people going to think I am “fat” – are all very comment and external based thoughts. The body image distortion, which is where the diagnosis of Body Dysmorphic emerged, has been around forever.

In order to have a diagnosis of an Eating Disorder, one has to have

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body image distortion. It is common for people, including clinicians, to think that if one has a body image issue, it is commonly interpreted that everyone sees himself or herself as “fat”. This is a myth. Depending on the onset of the Eating Disorder, it constitutes how a person sees himself or herself. Childhood Onset, for example, meaning being a “chubby” as a child and being teased or bullied and then growing up and as an adult being an appropriate weight – and someone controlling your weight or you are stressed, can lead to someone seeing themselves as “fat”. If it is Adult Onset, meaning one was thin or appropriate weight as a child and as an Adult gets to be obese, on a day of stress, they will see themselves as thinner. Also body image can swing, one moment the person sees himself or herself in accurate perception, 10 minutes later they see themselves as “fat”.

Another common myth is that all Eating Disorders are about control.

All addictions have a controlling component, however, in my experience, I believe “fat” is rage, and bulimia is rage and shame. Anorexia is usually about sexuality and not wanting to grow up. This is typically more complex and prognosis is more severe. There is such an emotional dynamic between the patient and these illnesses. When

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you say to someone that has Anorexia or Bulimia, “Oh you look healthy,” they often hear that you are calling them fat. This is where the impairment of the body image is, as well. Lastly, people think it’s about willpower, some people have sugar and flour sensitivity and usually abuse trauma is a huge factor.

Usually, there is evidence two years prior of onset of symptoms.

3. What do the stats look like in terms of Americans, in particular youth between 18-25 years of age that struggle with eating disorders?

According to the National Eating Disorders Association there are 10 million people with Eating Disorders.

The onset age averages 22 years old with Bulimia. Due to the fact that youth have access to Social Media is 24/7 and are so externally influenced by musicians, models, words of songs, etc. celebs and magazines, there is a large percentage in this age range. There is also a growing percentage at that developmental stage of young adulthood. When one is beginning a career, there is a large percentage increase due to these twenty-somethings going through the transition of their life. This is especially so, if they are not sure what career they will have. Obesity is also a top health issue in American,

however over the age of onset is over 25.

4. What, if any, role do you think social media and the current obsession with being connected or sharing life online plays into the lives of those living with disordered eating?

The Internet and social media play a tremendous role in these illnesses. We have access to the Media 24/7. You can find You Tube videos on how to actually create an Eating Disorder; every topic can be found online to learn about bulimia and dieting. At the click of a button or a search on Google – you can find millions of hits on “How to lose weight”. You can even ask Siri on your iPhone.

5. What other types of illness fall into disordered eating outside of Anorexia and bulimia and are there any newer illnesses that the public should be aware of that have developed over the years?

Sleep Apnea, Diabetes Type 2, Hypoglycemia, Heart Disease, Pica, Binge Eating Disorders, Night Eating Syndrome, Body Dysmorphic, Eating other objects than food, Kidney failure, Immune Deficiencies, etc. all play a factor.

6. What are some of the available programs and rehabilitation centers that help people who are dealing with eating disorders – are they affordable, available to those with or without insurance and are there any programs or organizations that can offer help to those who many not have insurance?

There are numerous Eating Disorders Treatment Centers. Most of the Eating Disorders Program can cost between $40,000 - $50,000 monthly with a minimum of 2-3 month stay. William Rader founded Rader Institute out of California in the 1980s. I co-created a 12 Step Food Addiction Facility in Cooper City, Florida. The best I have seen in terms of success is Laureate in New Orleans, Castlewood in Missouri (they focus more on trauma, since ED is trauma based).

There are several programs out in Sierra Tucson, Rogers Memorial in New York, and Cornell Eating Disorders in New York. To find resources there is an excellent website called: EDreferral.com. Lastly, if there is a financial issue, payment plans can be made and scholarships can be available at some facilities.

7. What red flags should people be aware of that can trigger when dieting is going from being healthy to becoming an illness?

When a young woman loses her menstrual cycle is a major trigger.

So, Pediatricians appointments are critical for adolescence. When someone is going to restroom after meals consistently, many dental issues (cavities), wrappers are found in bedrooms (under bed), even people going as far as putting their vomit into baggies to hide them in their bedroom are all things to be on the look out for. When people

skip meals, are obsessed with their body or are going to gym 7 days a week for hours are all signs that they are beyond just attempting to be healthy. Social isolation, not wanting to go to restaurants (since they don’t trust what is in the food), wanting to cook and then not eat, cutting their meals into little pieces are additional signs to look for when it comes to disordered eating.

When an individual is obsessing about how they look and being cold all the time (that is underweight) are critical factors that they are facing an eating disorder.

8. What are the statistics on overcoming this illness and what are best practices when it comes to ensuring proper diagnosis and treatment?

The statistics truly depend on the duration and frequency of the Eating Disorder. A Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and or Medical Doctor or Nurse that has a specialty and knowledge of Eating Disorders and Food Addiction can only make a proper diagnosis. When it comes to determining treatment, again it depend on the individual and what disorder the client has.

Most clinics or treatment centers utilize the Medical Model approach, which is appropriate for Anorexia Nervosa. Binge eaters and most Bulimic benefit from the Food

Addiction Model or in some situations I may even combine the two. Prognosis, usually, for Compulsive Eaters (Binge Eating) is Good, Bulimia is Average (since the denial is thicker) and Anorexia Nervosa depends on what stage the Anorexic is in early stages vs. hair loss (which is late stage) could be poor since it is more Psychiatric vs. an Addiction.

Social perception plays a huge role in this illness.

9. What treatments are showing the most promising statistics when it comes to overcoming eating disorders?

It depends on how long someone has been in the eating disorder. I have seen 13 – 14 year olds dealing with an Eating Disorder for 6 months and they can be stabilized within 3-6 sessions. Someone that has been dealing with his or her eating disorder for 20 years will take longer and more work to overcome. This is very individualized due to the fact that you have to deal with thought process, trauma, and essentially food is like a legal drug for these clients.

10. What are some resources that people can view online or phone numbers people can call to get help if they or a family member is facing an eating disorder?

EDreferral.com, International Association of Eating Disorders can provide experts or resources, National Eating Disorders Association, and the programs I run can be found at:

HarrietBeitscherCampbell.com.

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SCARED GIRLS TALK:

STRIPPED OF MY INNOCENCE

BY DEANNE FOSTER

WRITTEN BY: JENNIFER OQUENDO

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illions of young people all around the world face domestic abused at the hands of the very people that are supposed to protect them. These young people fall victim and prey to those people that are supposed to be closest to them such as: fathers, mothers and other family relatives. It’s a frightening situation to learn that many people don’t know about these situations because they are swept under the rug. Fear of speaking out can ultimately hinder victims and encourage predators to continue to wreak havoc. Domestic violence includes many things such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and economical abuse.

Deanne Foster, once a victim of sexual abuse, has used her journey to do something that many people don’t do. She decided to talk about it. Rather than hiding in a shell of humiliation, pain and confusion, she spoke up and gave a voice to victims worldwide.

She recently wrote a book with the hopes of helping someone that may have experienced domestic

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violence, is experiencing it or even knows someone that may be dealing with it. In an excerpt she explains that, “there is an estimated 40 million people that are survivors of sexual abuse in America.” So many victims chose to not talk about their experiences, due to the debilitating memories that often bring back the pain and suffering. Yet, the reality is that here needs to be more voices out there speaking out about this topic. 40 million people is a number much too large. “I was a happy, well-adjusted little girl. I was living in a fairy-book reality until the day I was snatched. I found my dream world being shattered when I was awakened and grabbed by a man I didn’t know,” she says. Deanne Foster’s book, Scared Girls Talk, is a free eBook available online at ScaredGirlsTalk.com.

The book itself is fast to read through and very vivid. It highlights the main events that occurred to the author beginning at the tender age of six. The book takes you along the rollercoaster of struggles and personal thoughts that Deanne endured. As a

six-year-old girl who was exposed to sex and being mistreated, it was hard for her not to hate the world around her. Those that were the closest to her were the abusers. She was scarred at such a young age and felt like that was the end of her short life. Her life would end up being a repetition of different forms of abuse.

As many people do, Deanne grew quiet and trapped within her own thoughts. Initially, she attempted to tell others about what was happening, but no one would listen. This drove her to silence. Victims of abuse question so much within their lives. They wonder: Who am I? Who is God and how could he cause this suffering? These types of questions lingered and seemed to haunt Deanne throughout the book.

“Abusers of these children come from all walks of life. They are adults of all ages, all backgrounds, all incomes and all stations in life. Those, whom you trust the most, can often be the offenders. Child care providers, clergy, older teens, the elderly, men, women, coaches, teachers––no group has been found exempt from the pathology. Molesters will operate with impunity for years, destroying on average up to 120 souls, before being caught or never being caught all.

Rapists proliferate and thrive in the silence of their victims. And because of the silence of these victims, and others, they go on to create more victims and therefore more future predators.

Many of you, reading this very article, may be or are these victims.

Many of you are these perpetrators. This book is written to prevent you from becoming either.

Predators are often previous victims who never sought

psychological help. Often predators are those who have become deranged by their pains. If societies refuse to admit this societal plague exists, the plague will spread and proliferate, destroying the general mental and emotional health of a nation and world.

Bringing this horrendous disease into the light of day is the only way to stop its spread. Bringing it into the light of day, is the only way to begin the healing––for new victims and old. If not, these walking dead will strike, to create yet another eaten soul––your soul, or the soul of someone you love and cherish. For this reason, this book is written.

Please. Do something,” she states in a foreword to her book.

No matter the situation, there is always someone that will listen and who can help. Don’t give up! If you or someone you know may be experiencing any form of domestic violence or sexual abuse there are many programs and organizations that can help you cope and get you through the healing process. If you are interested in reading Deanne’s book, you can go to her website at scaredgirlstalk. com to download the free eBook.

“Abusers of these children come from adults of all ages, all backgrounds, all incomes and all stations in life. Those, whom you trust the most, will be the offenders.”

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If I were to ask you where your jacket was made, could you tell me?

Okay, so maybe not that, but what about that ultimate favorite dress in your closet? No, probably not? I suppose the better question to ask is why you didn’t bother to check? The unfortunate truth is that most people either do not care to check or it just does not cross their mind. Okay, so maybe we don’t check to see where our clothing is made, but we can probably guess right? Maybe China, Taiwan, or how about Bangladesh?

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April 24th 2013 would mark the date of the worst industrial tragedy in Bangladesh history. This historic disaster occurred in a building that housed many businesses, but the most important to the case were garment factories.

The Rana Plaza complex collapse KILLED 1,134 people and INJURED over 2,500.

clothes�? As consumers we have the power to create real change in the industry by being informed and asking the right questions.

Fashion Revolution asks that companies be informed as well. Had the companies who had clothing made in the Rana Plaza factory been aware of the working conditions, there may have been a way to prevent this tragedy from happening.

A recent report by Behind the Barcode found that out of the 219 biggest fashion brands, only about HALF knew where their products were made.

Astoundingly, even fewer were aware of where notions such as zippers and What brought the most attention to buttons from their products were this case were the facts that came out made. The biggest issue in the garment shortly after the tragedy. Owners industry lies in the fact that clothing is of the garment factories being pushed to be made quicker and were aware of the dangerous quicker, and even cheaper and cheaper. structural condition of the building Thus companies elect a garment manufacturer who fits those criteria in which they housed workers in and while avoiding the issue of worker safety had been previously warned not to and even fair wages. allow workers to enter. The warnings were ignored and a day after that, this Transparency is the first step and most disaster occurred. important step to preventing poor After the collapse the Fashion Revolution organization was born.

Fashion Revolution believes in transparency in the garment industry.

The first step to change is for the consumer to ask, “Who made my

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working conditions and disastrous events such as those in Rana Plaza from happening ever again. Companies must be informed about where their products are made and more importantly what the conditions are for workers. Once this is done, Fashion Revolution believes

companies can and should have this information made public for consumers.

Fashion Revolution is standing up for the rights of not only consumers, but also the rights of workers. If you want to learn more about what Fashion Revolution has going on in the community or want to educate yourself visit: Fashionrevolution.org.

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BEAUTY TOP PICKS FOR HER By: Danielle Hazekamp

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer: When I saw one of my favorite beauty vloggers mention this was the best foundation she has tried, I knew I had to get my hands on it. After trying this foundation, I will have to say it is the best liquid formulations that I have used thus far. What makes this so great is how it evens out your skin tone including covering any redness you may have.

Even though it is considered a natural matte finish, it does leave the skin looking hydrated and not dried out like some other matte finish foundations will do. www.sephora.com // $27

Holiday Nail Art: 24 Design Projects- With the popularity of the nail art trend looking like it isn’t going anywhere, this book is perfect for beginners looking to experiment with nail art.

There are plenty of nail art how to’s for every holiday and season plus helpful hints on application. www.schifferbooks.com // $9.99

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Mirakle Cream: The name says it all with this cream. It truly is a miracle cream. I waited to apply and test this cream at a point when my skin was extremely dry. The goal behind this was to review in extreme conditions so I could give it a better review. The moment I applied the cream to my skin, there was a transformation. I went from dry and flaky to beautifully hydrated. It even helped my makeup look fresh and stay on all day. Another great thing about this cream is that it contains natural ingredients such as beeswax, coconut oil, aloe and soothing algae to help with skin rejuvenation. www.thebetterskinco.com // $34 Boots No7 Dramatic Lift Mascara: When it comes to my lashes, I am completely obsessed.

I will wear 3 mascaras at a time to achieve the look that I want. The first thing I noticed when it comes to this mascara is its wand. The wand on this mascara is slightly curved with tiny brushes, perfect for defining and lifting your lashes. This mascara is perfect for defining, however if you want a ton volume, I would recommend using this mascara and then your favorite volumizing mascara. www.target.com // $9.99

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water: I am completely head over heels when it comes to this product. It is by far one of my favorite cleansers and because I love using it so much I actually am able to keep up with my skincare regimen! In return my skin is looking amazing. I have tried prestige cosmetic brand’s cleansing waters and though they may be from a more expensive brand I still choose this one over them any day. This product removed all of my stubborn eyeliner and mascara right off without leaving an oily residue as many makeup removers do. www.target.com // $6.99

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TOP PICKS FOR HIM By: Danielle Hazekamp

VaniCream: This cream is a miracle worker.

No, seriously it is! If you have any sort of dry skin or eczema, this cream will help get rid of it. I noticed that I was starting to get some eczema irritation and I applied this cream. By the end of the week, the irritation was completely gone. Another great thing about this cream is that it doesn’t contain dyes, parabens, formaldehyde and fragrance. www.walgreens.com // $14.99

Gillette Fusion ProShield Razor: I feel like Gillette can never go wrong when it releases a new razor collection. They are expanding on the latest and greatest features for razors.

They didn’t spare any details with this one.

The Fusion ProSheild Razor contains their signature flexball which allows the razor to pivot and glide with the curvature of your face.

Like most Gillette razors this one has a 5-blade razor, however it does include a precision trimmer on the back for edging. www.target.com // $13.29

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Mason Pearson Pocket Comb: This is the comb of all combs. Mason Pearson a luxury hair brush company out of England that has been around since the 1800’s. The brushes are still made the same way they were made back then today. This comb fits perfectly into your pocket and even has two different teeth widths to achieve the hairstyle you want. www.amazon.com // $21.00

Anthony Glycolic Exfoliating & Resurfacing Wipes: Perfect for the guy on the go or for the guy who likes an easy routine. Plus, they are easy throw in your gym bag or when you want to travel light. These wipes contain glycolic acid, which acts as an exfoliator, and it can also help with discoloration. Therefore, these wipes will exfoliate dead skin and even out your skin tone. www.ulta.com // $18.00

Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment: You can never go wrong with any of the Aquaphor. All of the products in this line are designed to provide the most moisture and heal any chapped, dry skin. This lip balm is no different. The best way to get rid of really dry lips is to slather this on at night and in the morning take a warm wet wash cloth and rub off the excess lip ointment. By doing this, it will absolutely make your lips soft and plumper looking. www.target.com // $3.99

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KELLY TEEGARDEN ORGANICS A Journey of Healthier Living

Do you ever take the time to actually read the labels on your makeup and skincare products? Most of the time people don’t bother. Did you know that some ingredients that are in our beauty products are actually harmful? Due to the transparency issues and potential health risks associated with some beauty products she was noticing in the beauty industry, Kelly Teegarden was inspired to develop her namesake line: Kelly Teegarden Organics. Kelly’s journey began during her battle with cancer and now continues as a cancer survivor. During her battle and leading into her current career direction, she wanted to know why.

Why did she develop cancer in the first place?

In her research, she found that people face chronic exposure to cancer causing chemicals in skincare and cosmetics on a daily basis. Kelly Teegarden cosmetics is one of the only brands on the market that is formulated with no known cancer causing or endocrine disrupting ingredients. It is the first brand in the USA to be scientifically proven to have no endocrine disruptors and also fills the void in the skincare industry by catering to the discriminating cancer prevention consumer looking for a natural, non toxic way to enhance their beauty.

Aside from not containing cancer causing ingredients this line also doesn’t contain soy, is gluten free, PETA certified, Leaping Bunny certified and is manufactured in the US. If you are serious about using organic skin care the KTO product line is for you. I’ve rounded up some of my favorites from the collection.

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KTO Products TheSecret:Anti-AgingFacialCleanser-Firstoff,this smells amazing and I love how this is an oil-based product that can actually suds up nicely. My skin feels so refreshed after using. Unlike some cleansers, this one leaves your skin feeling soft and supple instead of tight and dry. One tip that I have to offer is if you are wearing heavy makeup, be sure to wash your face twice to fully remove your makeup.

All Natural Deodorant That Works- I am one of those people that has to use the clinical strength deodorant! So, I was a little skeptical when I gave this try. My initial reaction was that it smelled wonderful and the experience went better than I expected! The product seemed to remind me of the crystal like deodorants you see in Natural Shops.

I was blown away by how well this actually worked for me. However, in my case I would need to reapply to my underarms at least once later in the day as I did wake up the next morning with a slight odor.

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3 4 Rejuvenate: Anti-Aging Night Cream/Hydration Mask- I adore a product that has multiple uses.

When I first tried this, I used it only at night. Just after once use, it helped alleviate my dry skin. I absolutely love the balm like consistency of the product. It almost feels like it is creating a moisture barrier on the skin. I then tried it is as a mask. In this process, you apply it to your skin leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse off. My initial thought was how smooth, soft and plumped my skin felt.

However, when I looked at my face in the mirror, my skin had a slight reaction and was very red.

I would recommend that if you have sensitive skin, put it on for only 5-10 minutes and don’t leave the product on while in the shower. I believe that I might have left it on too long. I don’t

think it helped I had it on while I was showering which opened my pores due to the steam leaving my skin exposed. I would definitely try this again as I did like the way it felt! I just won’t be wearing it for the full 20 minutes or in the shower!

Natural Lip Gloss- It’s so exciting that the brand offers such a wide range of colors in their lip collection! When I first applied this gloss to my lips I couldn’t help but fall in love with the mint flavor and how unlike most lip-glosses, this one isn’t sticky! Also my lips were pretty chapped when I applied the lip-gloss and it actually helped nourish my lips. Rather than just being sticky stuff you slather on, KTO did amazing job ensuring they created glosses that are functional and fashionable. You can’t go wrong with this.

By: Danielle Hazenkamp

Written By: Danielle Hazekamp

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I don’t know about you, but I am obsessed with hair! Whether I am watching how- to’s on YouTube about trending hair styles, or flipping through glossies admiring the hottest styles, hair absolutely excites me! I also always look forward to getting my hair done; it just makes me feel renewed. Due to my love for hair, I am always searching out the best ways to care for my hair.

This issue, thanks to Katsumi Kasai, internationally acclaimed celebrity hair stylist and owner of Kasai Hair, we all will have a better idea on the best ways to care for our hair as well as what is hot in hair this spring! Keep reading for the full interview!

What do you think is the biggest mistake that people are making when it comes to taking care of their hair?

There are a few mistakes that people tend to make when it comes to hair-care. One of those mistakes is using a metal brush to blow dry your hair. Over time this will fry your hair much quicker than a natural haired brush. Continuously visiting blow-dry bars is another fast way to damage your hair due to the constant heat penetrating the hair follicle. The final mistake I witness is using box color at home. As much as this saves a pretty penny this type of process is so damaging. A hair professional should only handle the process of hair coloring as the regular consumer can easily misunderstand box dye instructions.

Interview With

KASAI KATSUMI

Internationally Acclaimed Celebrity Stylist

What are your best tips when it comes to taking care of your hair?

You have to analyze your hair type and get professional advice; after your hair has been reviewed you then can be directed on what to choose in terms of shampoo and treatment. You do not just want to choose products merely off the counter or based on an advertisement. Rather, you have to select products based on what your current hair care needs.

when it comes to styling your hair?

When it comes to products it is best to use conditioning products, which are designed to support your hair texture, which ultimately makes it easier to universally style.

What hair trends are you seeing for Spring for women? For men?

The technique of highlighting has been improving a lot over the past few years. So many looks are possible now! An all over bronze look is an up and coming trend being requested and worn by many. I am also noticing that stylists are using pastels to mimic cartoon inspired hair.

What are the best products to use

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Written By: Danielle Hazekamp

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IMAGE: Howtomakeyourhairgrowfaster.com

HALFSTACK Bookshelf

Written by Jennifer Oquendo

We all need a little motivation and encouragement to help us try to overcome any obstacles that we face. There are days where we feel in the dumps and it’s hard to get through whatever it is that we are dealing with. I’ve come up with a list of some great inspirational books about survival and overcoming obstacles. These stories will ensure you that you can and you will be able to overcome your issues!

A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer

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“A Child Called “it” is the first book of a trilogy and it’s one of the hardest books that I’ve read. It’s one of those books where you want to look away, but can’t. The horrific scenes and descriptions truly can make you cringe. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who as a young boy, is abused and starved by his alcoholic mother. She did not consider him a son; instead, she called him “it.” Dave’s journey is definitely one of a kind and it’s a hard one to follow.

The story makes you appreciate your life and those around you. It makes you see beyond only your world and acknowledge the life of young people that get abused and need to overcome the struggles of a life they didn’t choose.

The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer “The Lost Boy” is the second book of the trilogy, which continues the story of Dave Pelzer. In this book, Dave is filled with rejection, isolation and anger. He becomes a foster child, but is faced with the struggles of not having a place to call home. He tries to understand the idea behind love and true love, but being raised with an alcoholic mother, he was never able to experience true love. This is the perfect transition from the first book because we go from living with an abusive mother, to being rescued and sent to foster care. Yet, he is now trying to put the puzzle together and make some sort of sense of a terrible life. The book prepares us for part three as we witness his struggles with what a family truly is and what the role everyone plays.

We experience tears and laughter as we see young Dave try to find love in a family.

A man named dave by dave pelzer “A Man Named Dave” is the third book of a trilogy which follows the life of Dave Pelzer as an adult. It is an amazing conclusion to the trilogy that ties everything together.

We experience Dave going through a forgiveness journey where he turned his rejection into acceptance.

“All those years you tried your best to break me, and I’m still here. One day you’ll see, I’m going to make something of myself,” were his words regarding his mother. It was his good farewell from all of the darkness that seemed to always linger around him. It was a farewell to a mistreated life that he didn’t choose to experience. It was a farewell to brokenness and un-forgiveness. It was mainly for himself.

In this book we see the journey he went through and his recovery and the hope he leaves behind for others.

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Nine Lives: A Story of Survival and Hope: Overcoming Obstacles, Labels and Beating the Odds

by Dr. Paul Nemiroff and Brian Solon

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“Nine Lives” is an inspirational and encouraging book about a man who overcame childhood labels and surpassed the expectations of many by becoming an amazing surgeon. The book is about Paul Nemiroff and his life full of ups and downs. Paul wanted to be a doctor at a young age, but many didn’t think it would be possible. He was labeled as “slow” but proved everyone wrong when he graduated from college with honors and received his PhD and medical degrees. Soon after he became a surgeon he unfortunately also received negative news. He became sick and was told that he had only 2 years left to live. His world started crashing down around him and everything that he worked for seemed a waste. He did his own research and experimented with a treatment that he believes has saved his life.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson “Speak� is an excellent book about the power of your voice and overcoming the difficulties of speaking out and being heard. The book describes a young girl named Melinda and her high school struggles. High school is definitely a challenge because you have to consider peer-pressure, insecurity, self-esteem issues, trying to fit in, immaturity all while trying to act like an adult. What if something in high school scared you from speaking? What if you lost your voice in the midst of trying to find yourself? Melinda was humiliated and bullied that lead to her silence. As the readers, we are placed in her shoes and experience being rejected alongside her.

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I Survived! You can too!: Overcoming Obstacles in Your Life By Channelle Lewis “I Survived! You can too!” is such an encouraging book.

Imagine struggling most of your life and having to face situations that seem almost impossible to get through.

Channelle Lewis speaks about her experiences as a foster child and a domestic violence survivor. She describes situations that are both heart breaking and unfortunate. She faced many challenges and needed to look fear in the face and remind herself that she could overcome anything when she puts her mind to it. This book is meant to bring things back into perspective. Situations that we may think are so big are actually small when you read this book. It helps you embrace the struggles you may be going through and it allows you to see everything around you in a positive light.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman “If I Stay” is such a moving book which has been made into a movie. It is gripping, confusing and sad all at the same time. You experience what was to happen if everything changed in a moment. If there was no warning and no clue, yet instantly life changed. Mia and her family were involved in a car accident and with no memory she is situated in an uncomfortable place where some of her family members involved in the accident have passed away. Should she stay or should she go?

What’s the point of living when those you love are gone?

How are you going to cope? Throughout the book we see Mia’s thought process concerning a decision she feels she needs to make, but is frightened to make it.

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The Power of Positive Thinking

by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale “The Power of Positive Thinking� has been an influential book for many people all over the world. 7 million copies of the book have been sold and it has been translated in 15 languages. It has helped, encouraged, motivated and enlightened many people to be able to move forward in their life when hard times keep them from doing so. While reading the book we learn how to handle stress and how to eliminate it. We are equipped to handle worry, resentment and many more everyday struggles that everyone faces. We learn how to look beyond the problems we face and visualize our situations through an overview perspective. This book comes with plenty of tips, tricks and suggestions to help you overcome daily struggles. It has been a life changing book for many people.

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ARE YOU A SURVIVOR? WRITTEN BY: REYNISHA LINDSAY When I hear the word “Survivor’” my first thought is usually the song “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child. I think the first couple of lines in the first verse truly embody what it means to be a survivor: “Now that you’re out of my life, I’m so much better You thought that I’d be weak without you, but I’m stronger -You thought that I’d be broke without you, but I’m richer - You thought that I’d be sad without you, I laugh harder - Thought I wouldn’t grow without you, now I’m wiser - Thought that I’d be helpless without you, but I’m smarter” If you have gone through any kind of struggle - whether it’s emotional, physical or mental - you understand that these words are more than just words. They embody power.

Each line can pertain to numerous situations. I know this song has inspired someone who was told they could not do it, someone who was told I do not love you, or someone who was told you are not going to make it.

However, just like Destiny’s Child, they did not let someone else define them by words.

They were able to look beyond their circumstances and speak life into the future. In order to

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survive, you must start with the correct state of mind. By speaking positivity into your life, you are giving yourself hope and encouragement. If you say it enough, your mind and body will respond accordingly and you will begin to thrive.

Therefore, use your words wisely and speak things into being that are positive. Realize the power that you have – the authority you have just by speaking your truth.

If you look at the word “survive” you will notice it has several meanings – to go on, to endure, to continue to exist, to live to tell a tale. I like the latter meaning the best. If you live to tell a tale then your story can inspire others who are going through a similar circumstance.

I think you should consider yourself blessed if you have risen above a situation and have come out better on the other side. You may have some battle scars from the fight, but those are your reminders of where you have been, but not of where you are going. Now, do not think these scars can only be physical. They can be mental or emotional as well.

Therefore, don’t think you are not carrying any scars because you or anybody else cannot see them. We all have been through something – illness, break-up, depression, loss of a loved one, loss of a job – and that something made us

different. I know in church people like to say, “I’m not where I need to be, but thank God I’m not where I use to be”. I take that to mean – I’ve been through something and survived and now I am working on the new me.

See, once you get through the hardship, you realize how incredibly strong you are as a person. I know when you are going through your mess, you cannot see the end. Trust me, I know. There was a time in my life where I thought there would never be an end to an illness I had. I went through 4 surgeries in the span of 7 years.

In addition, I had 2 children during this time. Finally, after seeing a specialist and having a different type of surgery, my issue was resolved. Just like that. All the pain and suffering, prodding and poking and not being able to eat was over. No more tubes down my throat into my stomach for days at a time. I tell everyone that I would rather give birth than to go through having a tube put down my throat into my stomach. (I’m not joking.)

In my opinion, it is the worst thing imaginable. Yet, I survived having that awful tube put down my throat more than once.

However, at the time, I did not know how I was going to make it through. I found my mind wandering and filling with depressing thoughts. I went through a gamut of emotions as I spent days and weeks in the hospital. Nonetheless, I was able to redirect my

thoughts and focus on the blessings I had in my life – my family and friends. I had so much to be happy about in my life. Therefore, I wanted to do everything I could to get better as soon as I could. I made up my mind to focus on my recovery and on the positive. With the God’s help, I recovered and am all the wiser for having gone through the ordeal. It humbled me and made me very appreciative of what I have in my life. I was very thankful to have visitors in the hospital as they lifted my spirits and encouraged me.

It is important to remember that whatever you are going through, you have people who love and care about you. Do not shut them out. Allow them to support and encourage you. Sometimes it is impossible to make it on your own. And that is okay. The key is that you recognize you need help and that you get it. Moreover, do

not let yourself believe that no one will help you or understand what you are going through. Somebody has been through what you are going through. There are support groups for just about everything these days. If you pray, find a prayer partner. If you enjoy reading, read positive meditations.

Do whatever it is you need to do in order to be in the right frame of mind. Do not lose yourself in the fight. Remember things of this world are only temporal. Whatever you may be going through will not last forever. The sun is going to shine. It rises everyday to start anew – as should you.

So, as you may have concluded, being a survivor is more than just the mere definition. It is a state of mind and a result of persistence.

It is doing the “extra” when you cannot do anymore. It is who you long to be while you are on

the battlefield. A survivor may have many definitions, yet it has a universal meaning we all can understand.

I know the song “Survivor” was Destiny’s Child’s way of freeing themselves of the “haters” and moving on.

This song not only empowered them, but it also propelled them to super stardom. They believed in themselves despite losing members of the group. They told their story not only for their benefit but to inspire and encourage others. Thus, you can do the same.

Let your story be an inspiration to someone. Let your story save someone. Let your story remind you of where you have been. Let your story remind you of how far you have come. Let your story tell others you are a Survivor!

See, once you get through the hardship, you realize how incredibly strong you are as a person.

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The Path to Personal Growth And Pivoting Out of Pain Written By: Jennifer Gordon Layout by: Kali Koller

B

eing born isn’t the easiest thing to wrap our heads around. Outside of the fundamental question of where we came from, we are also all placed into circumstances that seem way beyond our control. I once heard a client of mine say, “I didn’t ask for this life!”

In our humanness, in one way shape or form life can be painful, we are faced with our own set of challenges. There is no one exempt from life learning, overcoming, and growing in understanding and consciousness. No matter how your childhood took shape.

However, it is completely within our free will how we choose to respond to the challenges we are presented and the path to personal growth.

No matter how tough your path has been until this point, no matter how down or bruised you may have been or are; we can all use our current situation to pivot our circumstances into what we do want rather than what we don’t want. You truly are never stuck.

Even if you currently may feel you are a prisoner of your circumstances.

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By: Jen Gordon & Kali Koller

The path towards healing and living in our full power can come in many different forms and many different packages. All of which can take various levels of commitment and time to approach.

In my lifetime, I have gone through various types of counseling, self-help, religious based and community based programs to help me heal from the past, become happy and live my best life. I have also been on the other side as a social worker, a counselor and a community advocate. Now, as a life coach.

What I have learned is very astounding, but also very simple. No amount of therapy digging through your past is going to heal the current situation. No amount of talking about your problems is going to heal you either. Both of those techniques can bring awareness, but cannot solve the problem at its core.

What I want you to realize and understand is that healing must come from within. And it must come from focusing on what you do want and what is positive, rather than focusing on the problem. Focusing on the problem just magnifies the issue. The reality is that

Photo: pixabay.com

whatever you focus on grows.

My sound advice for you to recover from any of your life’s pain and challenges is to not focus on the past and focus on what you want now. You can’t change people, you can’t change events. You can let your past go, though, and this will bring you freedom.

Dwelling on your brokenness only keeps you in a holding pattern, focusing on what this person did to you, focusing on what that person did to you. This mindset only keeps you in line of the energy of what you don’t want.

Ignoring the pain and brokenness from the past isn’t an option either, then it will hold you prisoner in fear of acknowledging your experience.

What I would like to impart to you as the best way to rise above the bruises from the past is to accept and honor them as your experiences and then take those experiences and use them to create what you do want rather than what you don’t want.

You don’t need to be a prisoner of your circumstances, you are free to look within and discover that when you accept and decide what you do want and choose it for yourself, that you can pivot out of any situation.

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even in its darkest passages, the heart is unconquerable. It is important that the body survives, but it is more meaningful that the human spirit prevails.”

Dave Pelzer, A Child Called “It” 148

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