Hope Spring with Octavia Spencer

Spring clean your fridge and your diet at the same time

5 Octavia WAYS TO KICK YOUR WORK WARDROBE UP A NOTCH

SIX CHARACTER TRAITS YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU

Renew your inside, outside and all around to start living YOUR DREAM

SPENCER BRINGS GOD TO THE BIG SCREEN IN A WHOLE NEW WAY IN HER LATEST MOVIE, “THE SHACK.”

SPRING 2017

Embracing the Gift of the Unexpected

Join The Lucky Few Today! macymakesmyday

TheLuckyFewBook.com

Available everywhere books are sold.

“ QUOTE

OCTAVIA SPENCER

There have been instances where I’ve lost faith in myself, and the thing that brings you back to yourself is your faith in God. - OCTAVIA SPENCER

IN THIS ISSUE FEATURES 32 Your Chance to Press the Reset Button!

Reset Your Life

BY D R . NI CO L E L A B E AC H

22 Get Yourself Together, Girl!

3 Areas You Must Renew in Order to Achieve Your Dreams

BY K ATH L EEN E L LI S

10 It’s Time to Get Planning 6 Planners to Keep you Organized

28

OCTAVIA SPENCER

Bringing God to the Big Screen B Y AN G ELI A WH I TE

Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer embraced her role as God in “The Shack” released in March

BY CH A ND R A S PA R K S S P LO N D

8 How You Feel is Not Who You Are Jennifer Rothschild’s book, Invisible, is helping women claim their identity in God instead of how they feel.

BY STACE Y A . S H A N N O N

BEAUTY 13 ReNew You! 4 products for a fabulous you

BY H O L L I E H .

FASHION 16 5 Ways to Kick

Your Work Wardrobe Up a Notch Easy tips to get you out of your work fashion rut B Y M YAAN N PAYN E

IN EVERY ISSUE 5 Angie’s Editor’s Page Ready. Reset.

BY A NG EL I A W H I T E

MONEY 24 6 Key Character Traits of People Who Win With Money

BY R ACH EL CRU Z E

DELIGHTFUL FOOD 40 Spring Clean Your Fridge Tips and recipes to keep you on track for eating well B Y AN N ESSA CH UM B LE Y

42 Living Gluten Free

A trend for some is a medical necessity for others B Y CH R I S BAVEN D ER

CAREER 26 Reset, Refocus and Recommit 3 Tips to achieve your career goals!

BY NI CKQ U O L E T T E BA R R E T T

RELATIONSHIPS 101 33 The Privilege of My Attention There’s a price attached to my attention

BY V ET TA C A S H

34 Have a New Sex Life by Friday Someone’s in the bed with you

BY D R . KE V I N L E MA N

ENTERTAINMENT 36 10 Social Media Influencers to Follow

BY C A R L I SC A LF

FITNESS 44 A Family Fitness Affair Dare to be healthier this year than last year B Y SELEN A M OOR EH EAD

HOME 46 Tips on Spring Cleaning Use spring cleaning energy to create a home you love B Y D AN A K . WH I TE

47 Your Personality Out Loud Your décor is a reflection of you B Y M AUR I TA SUT TON B R OWN

TRAVEL 48 Oh(io) Those Summer Nights

Three cities in the Buckeye state are perfect for weekend getaways B Y SAR AH FOSTER

SPRING 2017

Reset Your Life!

VOL. 9 NO. 10 PUBLISHER & FOUNDER ANGELIA L. WHITE ART DIRECTOR / GRAPHIC DESIGNER SARAH THOMPSON CONTRIBUTORS NICKQUOLETTE BARRETT, CHRIS BAVENDER, SARAH BLACKMAN, MAURITA SUTTON BROWN, VETTA CASH, ANNESSA CHUMBLEY, KATHLEEN ELLIS, HOLLIE H., EVA HEADLEY, DR. NICOLE LABEACH, CHARMAINE MARSHALL, SELENA MOOREHEAD, NATALEIGH MOSLEY, MYAANN PAYNE, CARLI SCALF, CHANDRA SPARKS SPLOND SPECIAL GUEST CONTRIBUTORS RACHEL CRUZE , DR. KEVIN LEMAN , DANA K. WHITE COPY EDITOR STACEY A. SHANNON EDITORIAL ASSISTANT NATALEIGH MOSLEY SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR LEAH HUNT

MARKETING & PR Ball State University Cardinal Communications Muncie, Indiana 47307

HOPE FOR WOMEN MAGAZINE LLC P.O. Box 3241, Muncie, Indiana 47307

www.hopeforwomenmag.com HOPE FOR WOMEN IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OWNED

BY HOPE FOR WOMEN MAGAZINE LLC COPYRIGHT 2017 4  HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

EDITOR’S PAGE

LIVE. DREAM. INSPIRE.

HELLO, Gorgeous

EMBRACE LIFE’S CHANGES Changing seasons in life can be challenging but also incredibly rewarding Just like the weather changes from season to season, our lives change as well. We go through

seasons of good times, hard times and in between times.

We go through seasons of great change and seasons of steadiness. My life has been in a season of change lately.

This spring brings more than a change in the weather for me. My daughter is getting ready to graduate from college. I’m excited to see her tackle the world, but it’s bittersweet for me as I realize my baby girl is now an adult. My years of involved, hands-on parenting of her are now more memory than reality. But, I will adjust and go with this change, as I have so many other changes throughout my life.

Life is all about how we react to the changes and difficulties we face. Fortunately, no matter how shifty the sands get, God is ever faithful and always the same.

And sometimes God uses seasons of change to push us in a new direction. While it may hurt at first, that new direction can be just what we need and perhaps even a dream come true. We just have to be willing to go with the change instead of resist it.

You will find these pages filled with women who embraced changes in their lives and who kept moving forward into new territory, even when it was scary.

Octavia Spencer, for example, found success in her acting career a little later in life because she refused to give up. She’s recently received accolades and awards for her skills because she kept going. You can read more about her story on page 28.

Jennifer Rothschild is another woman who embraced challenges and changes in her life when she went blind as a teenager. On page 8, she shares some lessons she’s learned along the way and how she encourages women to know that how they feel does not make them who they are. We all have a greater purpose in life.

You also won’t want to miss our beauty tips on page 13 and five ways to kick up your wardrobe on page 16. How you look impacts how you feel. Sometimes the best way to start making a life change is to start with something new in your beauty routine or wardrobe. We’ve also got some great ideas for you to eat healthy by spring cleaning your fridge on page 40, ideas on how to incorporate fitness into your entire family on page 44 and suggestions for a weekend getaway to rejuvenate yourself on page 48.

What changes have you been through? How have you overcome them? Drop us a line at hope@hopeforwomenmag.com. We always love to hear from you!

In Hope, Angelia White Hope for Women CEO SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 5

LIVE. WORK WARDROBE WOES | AWESOME ACCESSORIES | PRETTY PLANNERS

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SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM  7

FEATURE JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD

HOW YOU feel IS NOT WHO YOU are

Jennifer Rothschild’s book, Invisible, is helping women claim their identity in Christ instead of how they feel.

B Y S TAC E Y A. S HAN N O N

Author and speaker Jennifer Rothschild’s latest book, Invisible, is geared toward reminding women of their true identity in Christ. Rothschild, an author of 11 books who has been blind since age 15, recently sat down with Hope to share some of her own path of finding her identity in Christ and not being perfect.

Hope for Women: Why was writing a book like Invisible so important? Who are you hoping to reach with your book?

Jennifer Rothschild: I serve women in ministry with writing books and speaking with them, and I have recognized that how I feel is how many women feel. I titled it Invisible, because we often feel invisible. Sometimes we feel invisible, but that’s not based on facts or on truth. A women’s value does not come from someone else’s opinion of her. A woman’s identity is rooted and grounded in the truth that she is created by and loved by God. 8 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

“

“

FEATURE JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD

My affirmation does not need to come from my performance or by others’ opinions, it comes from who God says I am.

HFW: How were you first inspired by the Biblical story of Gomer and Hosea? How is their story relevant to modern women?

JR: When I was a little girl, my dad was a great storyteller.

One of the Bible stories he told me that I loved the most was that often overlooked Scripture of Gomer and Hosea.

My dad just wove it together with his southern charm.

As an adult woman, when I began to feel my sense of self getting so confused, I thought of Gomer. I was surprised because she is known as a woman of promiscuity, and that is not something I have struggled with. But as I studied her story, I realized the reason for Gomer’s promiscuity was just a result of her lack of understanding of who she was. She lived her whole life known as a woman of promiscuity. Then this prophet of God marries her and her whole identity changes. But instead of embracing the truth of who she is, she wanders off from him. When she’s at her lowest moment and being sold into slavery, Hosea comes and buys her back.

And he says, “Come home and be my wife again.”

In my mid-40s I kind of wandered off from God. I didn’t stop loving Him. I didn’t stop going to church, but I stopped really applying all the truths of what He said about me to who I was. And consequently, I lost my sense of self, and that’s what Gomer did. I came to love her and understand her because I began to identify with her. The beautiful end of her story is that she was redeemed and restored to her true identity. That’s how all of us are when we shift from seeking our identity in the wrong places and go back to our source of truth, which is God. Our identity becomes redeemed.

HFW: How can we overcome feeling invisible?

JR: The way we do that is we begin to really be governed by truth that God’s voice is the loudest one we hear. I want women to be able to say about themselves: “I am loved. I am accepted. I am complete. I lack nothing.” My affirmation does not need to come from my performance or by others’ opinions, it comes from who God says I am. What I recommend for other women is that we constantly stay in the truth of what God says about it and then the other voices just don’t scream as loudly in our head.

HFW: Why do women struggle with how God views them?

How can we learn to embrace how much we’re loved?

JR: For whatever reason, culturally and perhaps even more in the church, there is this pressure for girls to be perfect and to perform well. What happens with women is we grow up with this thought process, and we begin to associate our value with our performance. If we’re not perfect, then we’re not good enough. We live with this not-good-enough mentality thinking we’ve got to be perfect to be accepted.

Women need to first recognize that lie and then refute that lie with the truth and then constantly rehearse the truth.

Once our mind is renewed, then we begin to be this creation that God created us to be.

HFW: How do you keep yourself in line and from repeating the past time and again?

JR: First, I’m in the Word of God every day. I use my Bible app. I do a reading plan and read a couple of verses a day.

No matter what, the truth I’m reading that day applies to who God is and who I am. Secondly, I have accountability.

I have a couple of friends who I talk with weekly. These are honest relationships, and women need honest relationships without judgment where we can be truthful with each other. And third, I have found that being others-centered is a very healthy way to keep my identity intact. When I am seeking to minister to others, my needs suddenly don’t seem as obvious to me. When I’m looking into others’ lives and how I can help them, then I don’t notice that people aren’t helping me.

HFW: How has your blindness helped you in your ministry?

JR: I think blindness for me has been this classroom where I learn so many truths in a very personal, practical way. In the same way, it’s also become a platform for me where I can say, “This is true. I didn’t just read about this, I’ve lived it.

This has given me hope.” And if God can give me hope in blindness, if God’s Word can be light in my blindness then no matter what darkness any woman is going through, I can guarantee with credibility, compassion and empathy that God’s light is going guide them through their darkness.

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 9

FEATURE IT’S TIME TO GET PLANNING

IT’S TIME TO GET

planning 6 Planners to Keep You Organized

10 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

B Y C HAN DR A S PARK S S P LO N D

Spring is the perfect time to start planning ahead. Hope for Women wants to help you have an awesome year, so we’ve checked out the latest planners for you.

Agendio

Agendio allows you to customize your planner layout and content, so each assembled planner is truly personalized.

In addition to creating the interior planner of your dreams, you can add activities to your pages for reminders to take medication, give your dog a flea pill or for annual doctor’s appointments. Add extra pages with lines, dots, grids or blank pages to keep track of what’s important to you. You can pick a wirebound hard wrap cover or spiral soft cover to get through the year in style. The planners come in three sizes—large, medium and journal—and Agendio also offers refills for Filofax, Franklin Covey and Daytime lovers.

Horacio Printing

If you need a reminder that the best is yet to come, check out the 2017 collection from Horacio Printing. In addition to its three monthly/weekly planner versions—Classic, Lovely and Heavenly—emblazoned with The Best Is Yet to Come and including scripture on every page, the company also offers kits that include a planner, collectible box, a bookmark with gold foil accents, sticker pad, daily notepad, encouragement notepad, a 2017 Bible verse print and a linen printed bag to keep your planner clean if you are carrying it in a purse or backpack.

Karma Paper Co.

Karma Paper Co. lives up to its tagline of pretty paper goods with bold designs and high-quality touches like real gold foil on the cover and gold monthly tabs as well as gold wire-o binding with a lay-flat design. Layouts include a year at a glance for 2017 and 2018 and monthly page spreads as well as a monthly/notebook combo. If you’d prefer more space, Karma also offers several other options, including planners with daily pages that have a January start date and include monthly dated pages, goal planning and monthly bills/expense tracking pages as well as a light version with undated pages. The planners measure 7.25x9.25 inches with the exception of the light planners, which are 5.5x8.5. There are tons of cover designs, all of which are waterproof, bend and tear resistant and can be personalized with your name.

Kit Life

If you’re looking for something portable, practical and affordable, check out the newly redesigned Kit Life planner. The company offers Classic, Festival and Crown editions that include daily and weekend pages, as well as monthly page spreads. In addition, there’s a nutrition and fitness tracker and pages for quarterly check-ins, a holiday planner, doodles and an overview of 2017/2018.

The movable planner dashboard helps you to mark your pages in style and serves as a catch-all for stamps and other small, flat supplies. You can somewhat customize the planner by adding in note, graph, budget, direct sales or teacher pages. There are also stickers and planner pads for to-do lists, meals, goals, weekly game plans and direct sales. In addition, the company offers notebooks and postcards.

Personal Planner

Based in Sweden, Personal Planner offers fully customizable planners ranging from the mini all the way up to the big A4. You can truly make this planner your own by designing your cover and interior pages. You have the option to add a coloring book, Sudoku and sheets of music as well as personal dates to include birthdays, anniversaries and recurring events. If that’s not enough, you can also add details like the weather, work and workout. Each planner comes with a clear ruler, white elastic closure, plastic sleeve and stickers. Personal Planner also carries notebooks, 12x12-inch wall planners and accessories like pens and leather covers.

Purple Trail

Purple Trail offers fully customizable planners. You pick the start month and whether you want a daily, weekly or monthly spread. They also offer add-ins like sticker and folder packs, notes, puzzles, games, a baby tracker and one of their customizable cover designs or design your own. You also have the option of choosing hardcover, soft cover or a binder in 6x8 or 8.5x11 inch. In addition to planners, you can use Purple Trail for most of your design needs, including invitations and cards, wedding stationery, business stationery, gifts like personalized mugs, wall art and T-shirts.

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 11

ReNew You! BEAUTY RENEW YOU

4 Products for a Fabulous You

Eyes

BY HO LLI E K .

Spring tends to put us in the mood for cleaning, organizing and changing. This is true even for beauty products. This is a perfect time to shake up or add something to your routine and elevate your beauty confidence.

Check out these four items that can have you feeling refreshed and ready for whatever comes your way this season!

Everyday is a new chance for you to shine, so don’t forget to embrace every chance you get to show the world how phenomenal you look and feel.

Scent

Chanel N°5 L’EAU Chanel N°5 L’EAU is the N°5 of today. This modern, fresh and vibrant scent is perfect for the season.

Maybelline Volum’ Express the Colossal Big Shot Mascara The collagen formula and wavy bristles will give you bold volume with just one application.

Such an easy way to make your eyes pop.

Lips Covergirl Outlast All Day Custom Reds Lip Color Nothing says change more than red lips, but it’s important to find the red that works best for you. I was so excited to see that Covergirl created a long-lasting lipstick that has shades to complement every skin tone.

The best part is it’s not only long lasting but moisturizing.

Smile

Crest 3D White Whitestrips with Whitening Light The whitening light makes the strips more effective and provides better results compared to when they are used alone.

Crest’s newest way to whiten teeth will have your smile selfie ready.

FALL 20 SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 13

14  HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

we

empower

women every day Thirty-One Gifts was founded in 2003 with one simple goal in

mind – to impact women by giving them the opportunity to run their own successful business. That goal remains our #1 priority today.

Not only do our fashionable, functional products make life easier – they also help independent business owners across the country support their families and reach their dreams.

And we are committed to donating approximately 5% of net sales this year in product and cash to organizations that share our mission to empower women.

So when you shop with Thirty-One, you’re not just getting a bag – you’re giving back so much more.

mythirtyone.com

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 15

5 WAYS to Kick

FASHION

5 WAYS TO KICK YOUR WORKWEEK LOOK UP A NOTCH

YOUR WORK WARDROBE UP A NOTCH B Y MYAAN N PAY N E

Five days, eight hours – the good ol’ 9 to 5. A lot of us are in the routine and have been for years. Though your routine may be humdrum, that doesn’t mean your clothes have to be! Get out of that work wear rut, girlfriend! Here are five easy ways to kick up your workweek look:

16 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

FASHION

5 WAYS TO KICK YOUR WORKWEEK LOOK UP A NOTCH

COLOR BLOCK Don’t be afraid of color. Pair together bright trousers with a bright top. Add neutral accessories and keep your makeup and hair simple. The bright colors are an instant mood booster!

COLOR WASH You CAN rock all one color from top to bottom, I promise! Start with a safer, easy-to-wear color like blue. Keep adornments neutral and rock it.

Easy tips to get you out of your work fashion rut SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 17

FASHION

5 WAYS TO KICK YOUR WORKWEEK LOOK UP A NOTCH

BRING THE NIGHT

Let your favorite pair of satin pumps, a sparkly top or fabulous night-out necklace see some sunshine, sister!

Pair these items with slightly dressier pieces for the daytime and prepare for many compliments.

18 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

Though your routine may be humdrum, that doesn’t mean your clothes have to be! Get out of that work wear rut, girlfriend!

FASHION

5 WAYS TO KICK YOUR WORKWEEK LOOK UP A NOTCH

KEEP IT COMFY I’m sure you’ve seen it everywhere.

The athleisure trend isn’t going anywhere and I’m SO happy! Pair some comfy joggers (if they’re from the pj section, we won’t tell!) with a loose button-down and flowing cardigan or give it some structure with a blazer. Pair this look with heels if you’ve got some meetings or with flats for a casual, cute and comfy day.

RETHINK YOUR BLOUSE AND LAYER Spring-time is about the right layers. A cardigan is cute, but how about wearing a button-down tunic with cropped trousers and a skinny belt? Throw a long vest over that. Try buttoning your collared blouse all the way and tucking it into a high-waist skirt. Pop a statement necklace under the collar for instant chic.

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 19

DREAM. SIZZLING SOCIAL MEDIA | RESET REALITY | MONEY MAGIC

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SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 21

FEATURE GET YOURSELF TOGETHER, GIRL!

Get Yourself TOGETHER,

GIRL!

22 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

FEATURE GET YOURSELF TOGETHER, GIRL!

Three areas you must renew in order to achieve your dreams

BY K AT H LE E N E LLI S

Whether you set resolutions back in January or just have goals in mind you’d like to achieve, now is the time to make sure you’re working toward them. Sadly, statistics say the majority of people never reach their dreams and goals. One of the biggest reasons is people don’t change what isn’t working. You can’t keep doing things the same way and expect different results.

Renewing or changing in just three areas can help you avoid being part of the statistics and actually achieve your dreams and goals.

1 INSIDE: RENEW YOUR MIND Your thoughts and words must line up with the vision you have for your future and your dreams. Get rid of any negative, self-defeating mind chatter and replace it with positive, uplifting, dream-supporting self-talk. Then go a step further and begin speaking those thoughts out loud over and over, every day! You will be amazed at how your life will change as you renew and reprogram your mind with words for success.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) 2 OUTSIDE: RENEW YOUR IMAGE In order to achieve your dreams, you must have energy and health to pursue them. A healthy diet, some exercise,

adequate rest and self-care should be an integral part of your dream plan.

You also want to look the part. Put yourself together and dress as if you have already achieved your dreams.

Dress for where you are going, not where you’ve been.

3 ALL AROUND: RENEW YOUR SURROUNDINGS Take a look at your surroundings, your home and office. Do they reflect and support your dreams and the vision you have for your future?

Where you live and work can either support or hinder your journey forward. How can you possibly see yourself achieving your dreams if all you see around you is a hot mess?!

Get rid of clutter and chaos in your home and office. A certain amount of order and beauty in your surroundings is essential to supporting you and your dreams.

When you take the time to renew the inside, the outside and all around to support yourself on the journey of achieving your dreams, you will be able to accomplish far more than you ever imagined. You will be setting yourself up for success! Above all else, seek God and He will show you what you need to do!

Where you live and work can either support or hinder your journey forward.

How can you possibly see yourself achieving your dreams if all you see around you is a hot mess?!

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Psalms 32:8 (NKJV) SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 23

FINANCE 6 KEY CHARACTER TRAITS OF PEOPLE WHO WIN WITH MONEY

character 6 KEY TRAITS of People Who Win With Money 24 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

B Y R AC H E L C RUZ E

Meet the Smith family.

Both parents work, and they make good money. From the outside, life looks good—a new Tahoe, a big house and private schools for the kids. But in reality, the Smiths are barely scraping by. With the help of credit cards and car loans, they spend more money than they make, and they’re just one financial emergency away from being in serious trouble.

Then there’s the Williams family.

One parent works and makes decent money, while the other stays at home and takes care of the kids. The Williams family lives on a tight budget—and even though they still have a lot of student loan debt, they’ve cut the balance in half during the last two years.

They have a small emergency fund saved and

FINANCE 6 KEY CHARACTER TRAITS OF PEOPLE WHO WIN WITH MONEY

When you’re in control of your money, you’re confident. You also don’t care when other people look down their noses at you because you’re cutting back on lifestyle costs. expect to be out of debt completely in two more years.

So what do you think is the difference between the Smiths and the Williamses? Why is one family able to pay off thousands of dollars in debt on a tight budget, while another family barely gets by week after week? Why does one person succeed with money while another person struggles?

There are dozens of factors, but many times it comes down to several key characteristics.

They’re patient. People who win with money are patient.

They can delay a short-term pleasure for a long-term gain.

In other words, they can walk right by the shoe section without blinking, because they know the $100 shoes would be nice, but they have bigger priorities. They understand the bigger picture. It’s about retirement and college funds and that beach vacation you’ve been wanting to go on for years now. Believe me, I love the shoe section. But when I stop and pick up a pair of designer shoes in a store, I have to ask myself: Have we budgeted for this, and will buying this pair of shoes affect any of our other priorities?

They’re confident. When you’re in control of your money, you’re confident. You also don’t care when other people look down their noses at you because you’re cutting back on lifestyle costs. And keeping up with the Joneses? Forget about the Joneses! One of the easy mistakes people make here is to fall into the social media comparison game.

You pull up Instagram and see beautiful photos from your friend Sarah’s Caribbean cruise. And, meanwhile, you haven’t been on vacation in a year because you’re working so hard to get out of debt. But confident people stay focused on their goals and understand that sacrifices are temporary. They know they’ll be able to take that Caribbean cruise soon enough.

They’re goal-oriented. People who win with money approach goals with incredible passion. Save $1,000?

Check. Get out of debt? Check. Build a full emergency fund? Check. For them, setting goals is fun. This isn’t some special skill you’re born with. Anyone can develop the habit of goal-setting. Here are a few basic tips.

1) Write them down and put them in a visible spot. Seeing

your goals written out every day will keep them top of mind.

2) Be specific. Exactly how much debt do you want to pay off each month? How much weight do you want to lose?

3) Set a time limit. Where’s your finish line? And, remember, be realistic. You’ll probably need more than a month to get out of debt!

They’re responsible. They get it. They understand that in order to get to where they want to be financially, they might have to take a year off from vacation, skip dining out for a few months or cut back on grocery spending. And, honestly, couldn’t we all cut back on grocery spending?

When I talk with people about their budgets, food is one of the main areas where people overspend—either at the grocery store or dining out. Responsible people are willing to look at their money situation and make smart choices.

I know sometimes “adulting” isn’t fun. But those smaller “boring” decisions, like budgeting and staying on top of your account balance, can put you in a place to have a lot more fun later. That’s becoming a theme here, isn’t it?

They aren’t materialistic. They understand you can have a bunch of stuff without being wealthy, and you can be wealthy without owning a bunch of stuff. Big houses, nice cars and fancy vacations are perfectly fine, but someone who wins with money understands that all those things by themselves don’t bring happiness. They live their life with that in mind. That doesn’t mean they’re against owning stuff or that they think wealthy people are somehow evil, they just get the fact that money isn’t everything.

They’re willing to sacrifice. They understand budget cuts are just temporary. Five years from now, once they’re out of debt and winning with money, they’ll look back on these sacrifices with a smile. This is a big one, and it works closely with patience and responsibility. Sacrifice can’t happen if you aren’t patient or responsible simply because you can’t get past the immediate rush of having something or doing something right now. When it comes to sacrificing with money, you have to look past today.

The great thing about these characteristics is you can develop them. Even if you aren’t naturally patient or you aren’t a big goal setter, you can develop these character traits by simply creating new habits in your life.

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 25

CAREER

RESET, REFOCUS AND RECOMMIT

Reset, Refocus & Recommit 3 Tips to achieve your career goals Just like going to the doctor for annual checkups, occasionally I need a personal checkup to think through my professional, career and personal goals and intentionally implement some new challenges. My secret is to challenge myself with what I refer to as “R3.”

The R3 Challenge is a method to Reset, Refocus and Recommit to my existing and newfound goals. Or in other words, it’s a more methodical way for me to say to myself, “Let’s do this!”

I developed this challenge as a way to motivate myself to think differently about how I wanted to achieve my goals.

My aim in 2017 has been to reflect on just how I can go about identifying my professional and personal pursuits in a different way and to more deeply examine my goals. Examine where you are on your career path by using the 26 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

R3 Challenge.

RESET. The meaning of this word is simply to start again and to do something differently. Revisit your goals and pursue them in a fresh and exciting way. Part of the planning process includes the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-based) method to setting and achieving goals. Using the SMART method will allow you to think specifically about each goal and set a realistic timeline to complete them. I believe in this method and encourage my clients to use it as well.

REFOCUS. Once the SMART method is in place, the next step is to re-focus on your goal(s) or career by establishing a strategy. The strategy must include the specific steps needed to achieve the goal. Start by conducting a brainstorming session to break down the anticipated steps needed to achieve

B Y N I C KQ UO L E T TE BAR R ET T

each of your goals separately. During this step, you will also need to identify key people and resources with whom you can partner in accomplishing your goals. Your goals are more attainable when you recruit human support and identify key resources needed for the achievement of those goals.

The execution of your strategy immediately after it’s created is vital to your success. No goal is achievable without timely execution. Don’t allow time to zap your focus. If you don’t implement the strategies right away, you lose the focus and clarity of the goal as it just floats around in your head.

RECOMMIT. Lastly, recommit to your goals and your pursuits, whether that is career, business, health or a combination. Own your goals and see them through to completion. You owe this to yourself. You are worth it!

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM  27

FEATURE

OCTAVIA SPENCER

Bringing God

TO THE BIG SCREEN B Y AN GE L I A L . W H I TE

28  HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

FEATURE

OCTAVIA SPENCER

AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS OCTAVIA SPENCER EMBRACED HER ROLE AS GOD IN “THE SHACK” RELEASED IN MARCH Octavia Spencer is no novice to Hollywood. She’s been on screen in numerous roles since 1996. Her first big breakthrough role came in 2011 when she played Minny Jackson in “The Help” and received numerous awards, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Most recently she’s been seen on the big screen first in “Hidden Figures,” for which she has nominations for an Academy Award, Golden Globe and SAG awards, and then in “The Shack.”

As one of seven children raised in the Bible Belt, Spencer is no stranger to religion. She grew up with a strong background in the church where she was very active. Her faith has continued to be important to her and shape her decisions throughout her career. But Spencer never imagined herself playing the role of God until she was introduced to “The Shack”

and knew it was a role she couldn’t turn down. The movie, based on the 2007 novel by William P. Young, was released in March and explores the relationship of the Holy Trinity and the power of God’s love.

HFW: Can you share your personal

Spencer recently sat down with Hope for Women to explain what drew her to the role in spite of controversy about whether it’s Biblically sound.

faith journey?

OS: You can’t be from Montgomery, Ala., and not have a background in the church. It’s at the core of who we are as a people. Saturday was rehearsal for whatever program was being presented on Sundays. Where I’m from you learned about God before you learned to read and write. Our faith is what grounds us.

Hope for Women: You play God; can

HFW: “The Shack” symbolizes

you tell me how this all came about and your decision to take on the role?

Octavia Spencer: The book was given to me as a gift by a dear friend who knew I loved thrillers. I had no idea it was faith-based, but thought it lent itself to this genre in such a unique way. I was deeply moved because it felt organic. The questions asked of God somehow felt like every man’s journey, including my own.

returning to the darkest places in our life to find true healing. Have you found that to be true in life?

OS: My faith is tested daily. The way the narrative is presented in this story made me truly understand forgiveness and how the lack of it can impact a life.

The movie definitely drew me closer to God and the true sense of how to connect with Him.

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 29

OCTAVIA SPENCER

(CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE)

HFW: There has been much

controversy surrounding the book and the role of God, which you play.

What can you say to those who are concerned?

OS: I love the way the Holy Trinity is presented in “The Shack.” It represents a very diverse group of people, which is what the world is. So it’s quite refreshing that the Holy Spirit is this beautiful Asian woman, who feels like a breath of fresh air in real life. And Jesus is an amazing Israeli actor. And then you have myself as God, and what I like about that presentation is it sort of dispenses with the conventional images of God and what we have in our minds as God.

HFW: Will you do more faith-based projects in the future?

OS: My faith informs my career in Hollywood and it admittedly adds a unique experience in both literature and cinema and directs my choices for roles. I accepted the role because I simply loved God being introduced

30 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

this way. To explore the idea that the Almighty presents Himself as lessons and blessings is in line with how I always perceived Him.

HFW: How do you stay grounded in

“

your faith amidst the busyness of life and your career?

OS: There’s never been anything that has made me lose my faith in God. I’m very grateful for that. But I have experienced loss in my life. Now there have been instances where I’ve lost faith in myself, and the thing that brings you back to yourself is your faith in God.

HFW: You’ve talked about how your

success in Hollywood came a little bit later after years of working at it.

What kept you motivated and going to keep working toward to your dreams? What would you go back and say to yourself 20 years ago?

OS: I have been on a journey with this [movie]. But it’s one that I am glad that I am able to accept and take at

“

FEATURE

THE MOVIE DEFINITELY DREW ME CLOSER TO GOD AND THE TRUE SENSE OF HOW TO CONNECT WITH HIM. this stage of my life. The lesson would not have been as profound for me if I would have been playing God at 20. I don’t know that I would have had the knowledge to accept the story at that stage of my life. But I’m excited about it. I think people will be very excited about the message, the imagery, the wisdom and the love that this film is going to put out into the world.

WHEN SHE IS RESCUED WE ARE THERE TO

HELP

Me & The Girls Hope Bag Mission BENEFITS SURVIVORS RESCUED FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Ask how you can help us fill 1,000 emergency personal care bags for our girls.

Contact us at HOPE@MEANDTHEGIRLS.COM

“Every woman and girl deserves to feel safe, valuable and beautiful.”

Sharon Hackney-Robinson, CEO & Founder Me & The Girls Alternative Skin Care, LLC Hope, Heart and Beauty / Hope Bag Mission, Director www.meandthegirls.com

RELATIONSHIPS YOUR CHANCE TO PRESS RESET

YOUR CHANCE TO PRESS RESET

BY DR. N I COLE L ABE AC H

Look around. What do you see? Do you like the view? If not, why not? If not, how long has that been your reality? In the midst of our to-do lists, expectations and responsibilities, we don’t often take time to open our eyes and assess the life we’re living. In the midst of life’s busyness, we can easily forget our personal responsibility to stop, open our eyes and take note of where we are. And we really need to.

Two simplicities occur when we live with eyes wide open: we get to practice appreciation for the things we like and ponder change for those we don’t. For our likes, we enjoy the view with hope, gratitude, inspiration, presence and contentment. For the flip of the coin, we can be proactive and actively make decisions and problem-solve or just look on with denial, regret and even unhappiness.

Whether the view is pleasant, unpleasant or somewhere in the middle, we can’t live a life that matters with closed eyes. Serving in and on purpose require that we accept the ultimate gifts 32 32 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

4 WAYS TO START LIVING THE LIFE YOU WANT

of sight: choice and chance. We have the choice to change and the chance to do so. Living with eyes wide open gives us our best chance to be light and give it away.

Don’t wait for a crisis to force your hand on taking an inventory of where you are. Instead, identify areas that need a new direction then press the reset button to activate the needed shift. With ownership of where you are and where you want to be, these five considerations are sure to change the landscape and manifest your desired results.

1

Perspective is key. When we embrace an empowered perspective we accept we have everything we need, and we’re the right woman for the change.

In that stance we only need to accept perspectives that promote the ability to change our circumstance. As the saying goes, the woman who thinks she can and the one who thinks she can’t are both right for the same reason: their perspective fuels their reality.

Accountability is a difference maker. The best of intentions risk

2

falling short when you have no accountability. Your goals deserve the best strategic approach and accountability is sure to maximize achievement. Empower one or two people to hold you accountable to the change you’ve declared and the actions they require. Remember, advocacy + action = results.

Process is inevitable. In most cases, change requires some level of process.

Accepting process as the inevitable journey, you can successfully manage yourself and your expectations.

Embracing versus fighting against the process will help to best leverage your time, energy and resources toward the outcome.

3

You’re worthy to receive. Why not you? You’re valuable, deserving and a true representation of God’s best. You deserve the change you desire. And when you know you’re worth it, you give yourself permission to use healthy boundaries, expect integrity and attract greatness wrapped in blessings along the way.

4

RELATIONSHIPS THE PRIVILEGE OF MY ATTENTION

The Privilege of My Attention

BY VET TA C ASH

Truth: You are possibly spending too much time on people who haven’t earned the privilege of your attention, and you will always have the wrong people in your circle until you learn this lesson. Your attention is costly and you must require people to pay full price for it.

Are these words music to your ears or nails on a chalkboard? Either way, they are the truth highly successful women know. Every time you give your attention to the wrong person, you pay a huge price for it in the form of emotional drainage, social baggage and wasted intellectual property.

Having the wrong people around you tremendously impedes the arrival time to your dreams and goals. It’s time to add up the cost of where you pay attention.

First and foremost, you must learn the value of your attention. Maybe you’ve

been in some sort of relationship for a while now and are ready to move on, but you just need someone to give you permission. Maybe you’re ready drop anything from your life that is stopping you from receiving everything God has for you. Or maybe you’re tentatively dipping a toe into learning how not to be a people pleaser and need ideas on how to assess your relationships.

The best place to start, as usual, is the Bible. Proverbs 27:17 describes good relationships as iron sharpening iron or, in other words, both parties make each other better. The people who have earned your attention are those who know that being around you makes them better, and they are committed to making you better in return. This includes people who are make you better by being living proof of the effectiveness of your instruction. It is a mutual respect, a mutual sharing and a mutual responsibility for one another’s

There’s a price attached to my attention well-being. Anyone who doesn’t meet this requirement should not get large chunks of your personal undivided attention.

Everyone deserves your respect, but not everyone has earned the privilege of time. Learn to value the worth and power of your attention (and all that comes with it). You must, in turn, require the people closest to you to do the same. Make a commitment today to only give your attention to the people who have earned it.

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 33

RELATIONSHIPS HAVE A NEW SEX LIFE BY FRIDAY

Have a

NEW SEX LIFE byFriday 34 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

B Y DR. K E VI N L E MAN

Let’s take a look at the entries your parents have made in your rulebook. As you grew up, you also developed a life perspective—the way you view yourself, others and life happenings—as a result of the following experiences.

The kind of relationship you had with your parents has everything to do with how you expect to be treated by your spouse. Which of the following do you most closely identify with?

The princess syndrome

Did everything revolve around you as you grew up? Did you get what you wanted when you wanted it? If so, you’ll naturally assume that the same techniques will work in your marriage—crying, faking illnesses, throwing tantrums or giving the silent treatment. However, your spouse was raised in a different home and naturally assumes that things will work differently—the same way they did in his or her home.

No wonder there’s friction between you.

RELATIONSHIPS HAVE A NEW SEX LIFE BY FRIDAY

Why Mama and Papa Still Control Your Sex Life The secure, balanced one

Did both of your parents treat you with respect? Ask your opinion about family outings—but not always follow your wishes? Children who grow up in a home where there is a healthy balance of parental authority, discipline, responsibility and love tend to emerge as strong individuals who want to give back to the world around them. They also assume that other children grew up the same way, so they have high expectations that their spouse will be just like Mom or Dad.

The unnoticed one

Did you grow up in a home where you could have been missing from the dinner table and no one would have noticed? A lot of middle children feel this way. With a “star” firstborn who got a lot of parental attention because he was a super achiever and an entertaining baby of the family who was always up to something, a middle child often feels left in the dust.

If you’re a middle child, you learned to be more secretive and cautious with family relationships. You didn’t say things that would raise a ruckus at home; you settled for the seas of life being smooth. As a result, you may have difficulty expressing your needs and wants in marriage. You find yourself simply going with the flow.

The inferior/criticized one

Did you grow up thinking you could never please your mother or father?

When you did something wrong, no

one needed to clobber you on the head, because you did a good enough job berating yourself. Now you bend over backwards trying to please your spouse. You’re afraid to say what you enjoy doing, because no one cared what you thought when you were growing up. You have a low self-worth, so it’s no wonder you’re uncomfortable telling your spouse what he or she could do to make you happy.

or you may not have been raised with parents. You didn’t have the understanding, caring role models you dreamed of. Instead, the adults in your life were emotionally or physically distant or were verbally or physically abusive. You may have tried to be perfect to please that adult . . . and still failed. Likely, you exited your home with a lot of frustration toward family relationships in general.

Or, because you had a critical parent, you may have gone the other direction, saying rebelliously, “Who cares? I’ll never be good enough for them, so why should I try?” Because of your insecurity, you’re critical and controlling in your marriage. If I’m in the driver’s seat, you reason, I’ll always go the direction I want to go. Often people who grow up with critical parents end up becoming flaw pickers themselves.

If you’re a female, you have difficulty trusting men—and that includes the man you married, no matter how wonderful he might be. Often girls who hunger for a daddy’s love but don’t receive it are catapulted toward any kind of male attention. They spend a lifetime looking for their daddy’s affirmation, presence and acceptance.

If he wasn’t healthy or available, then he can’t be the role model she needs to show her how men should treat a lady.

She’ll put up with behavior she doesn’t deserve because she thinks she’s not worthy of being treated right. If this is you, it’s not surprising if you’ve gone through an ex, or a series of exes, to get to the husband you have now—the one with whom you’re working to develop healthy marital intimacy. If you’re aware of why you hunger for male attention and the trust issues you have, and you share those with your spouse, you can work together to find solutions.

If you want to shut off marital intimacy quickly, criticize your spouse. After all, what woman in her right mind would risk wearing something slinky for a husband who eyes her and says, “Well, looks like you’ve got at least 15 pounds left to lose after having the baby, huh?”

Or what husband would risk telling his wife, “I’d really like to try . . .” only to get a dour scowl and a vehement “Don’t even think about asking for that!”?

The rock-strewn path

Some of you experienced a tumultuous relationship with one or both parents,

Each spouse needs to know, without a shadow of doubt, that he or she has equal value in the marriage and deserves security, love and trust.

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 35

TOP TEN Social Media ENTERTAINMENT TOP TEN SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS

Influencers to follow

B Y C ARL I S C AL F

GLOZELL GREEN @GLOZELL Quick Bio: Glozell, dubbed the “Queen of YouTube,” is a comedian famous for her viral videos. She has appeared in films and television shows, and her book “Is You Ok?” came out in 2016.

Why You Should Follow: Glozell’s social media content provides the same lighthearted comedy found in her videos and book. She also sets a great example for female entrepreneurship as she builds a national fan-base through the power of the internet. Her accounts are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

GLENNON DOYLE MELTON

@MOMASTERY @GLENNONDOYLEMELTON Quick Bio: Glennon Doyle Melton is an inspirational blogger and author. She runs the website “Momastery,” has written successful books like “Love Warrior” and has appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday series. Her focus is on recovery, love, support and motherhood.

Why You Should Follow: Doyle Melton has a unique but strong faith and shares it with love in her social media posts. Her accounts offer hopeful advice and a reminder to slow down and live in the present moment as women, mothers and people of the world.

36 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

JOANNA GAINES @JOANNAGAINES Quick Bio: Joanna Gaines is one half of the remodeling duo on HGTV’s “Fixer Upper.” Joanna owns Magnolia Market with her husband, Chip, and their design and construction work is featured on their show. The couple have also written a book, “The Magnolia Story.”

Why You Should Follow: If you’re a fan of “Fixer Upper” or HGTV in general, Joanna’s Instagram and Facebook will provide the perfect mix of sneak peeks, home inspiration and personal snapshots of her life with Chip. Stay up to date on the latest episodes, and take a little bit of the magic of Magnolia Market into your own life!

CHARELL STAR @CHARELLSTAR Quick Bio: Charell Star is a fashion, lifestyle, business and tech blogger. She runs the lifestyle blog “Not Just A Girl in a Dress” and was named a “2015 Follow-Worthy Blogger” by Black Enterprise Magazine. Her following on social media is growing, and she is also a style ambassador for brands like Macy’s, Target, WeTV and BET. Why You Should Follow: Star’s message of female empowerment and entrepreneurship inspires her followers to think big about their dreams and personal lives. With fun blog entries about everything from Oprah to staying positive to Google and affordable style, Star’s brand has something to inspire everyone.

CANDACE MOORE

GG RENEE HILL

@YOGABYCANDACE

@GGRENEEWRITES

Quick Bio: Candace is a popular YouTuber with a channel about yoga. She runs “Yoga by Candace,” which includes YouTube videos, a blog, DVDs, retreats and events, online classes and a book called “Namaslay.”

Why You Should Follow: Candace makes yoga fun, easy and accessible for all of her followers.

She also shares great health tips, recipes and encouraging words. She is another great example of an empowered female entrepreneur who has brought more positivity to the world by following her dreams.

REE DRUMMOND @THEPIONEERWOMAN

Quick Bio: GG Renee Hill is a writer and coach who “helps women embrace their layers and write from the heart.” She has books, workshops and courses centered around this message. She also runs a successful blog, “All the Many Layers.”

Why You Should Follow: Hill offers a fresh voice on taking small steps every day to live your truth. Her content is full of calming, inspirational quotes and advice on self-love and living an authentic life. For women who need a little more encouragement in their lives, Hill is the place to turn.

CHANDLER NEHRT @CANDIDLYCHAN

Quick Bio: Ree Drummond is also known as “The Pioneer Woman.” She has a popular Food Network TV show of the same name and a line of successful cookbooks. She moved from California to Oklahoma with her husband and lives on a ranch where she built her food empire through an online food blog.

Quick Bio: Chandler Nehrt, a recent graduate from Purdue University, runs the popular style blog www.candidlychan. com. She is an up-and-coming voice in the style industry and has partnerships with many different brands.

Why You Should Follow: The Pioneer Woman has a great mix of comfort and healthy foods for families of all kinds. Her social media extend her brand by sharing recipes, personal pictures, thoughts and inspiration from Drummond’s own life. Her social media remind followers to treat themselves to good food and a positive day.

Why You Should Follow: Though Nehrt is young, her style is timeless and can inspire anyone to do a closet overhaul and love the clothes they live in. Now a resident of Atlanta, Nehrt’s positive Midwestern roots still shine through in her blog and Instagram posts.

JOEL OSTEEN KATELYN CHEEK

@JOELOSTEEN

@KATALINA_GIRL Quick Bio: Katelyn Cheek is a Midwest native with a successful blog about shopping smart. She has had partnerships with large companies, including Target, Old Navy, Verizon and Henri Bendel. She designs custom homes with her husband Brandon.

Why You Should Follow: It can be hard to find a style account with relatable (and affordable) outfits, so Cheek’s brand is a refreshing breath of air!

Follow her for affordable style tips about clothing and interior design.

Quick Bio: Joel Osteen is an American preacher and televangelist. His church is based in Texas, but his televised sermons

are seen by more than 7 million people each week. He has several faith-based books that have become bestsellers, and his following is far and wide-reaching.

Why You Should Follow: Osteen’s social media continue the positivity and faith messages of his sermons in digestible, everyday pieces. It can be easy to get caught up in politics or worries when scrolling through Twitter or Instagram, so Osteen’s posts offer followers an encouraging thought for the day.

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 37

INSPIRE FAMILY FITNESS | TRAVEL TIME | CLEAN CUISINE

38  HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SUMMER 2017

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM  39

DELIGHTFUL FOOD

SPRING

SPRING CLEAN YOUR NUTRITION

CLEAN

YOUR

nutrition

B Y AN N E S S A C H UMB L E Y, RD

Spring is a great time to weed out some old habits and foods that might not be serving you well and replace them with life-giving habits and foods that bring energy. A simple system in your refrigerator

Tips and recipes to keep you on track for eating well

is a good starting point. I like to focus on having at least two veggies and two fruits on hand, and then I keep them in the part of the refrigerator where I see them immediately every time I open the door.

Putting them in the “produce graveyard” at the bottom will mean waste for your wallet and for your health! Clean them and keep them ready to eat for the week, so that good food is made convenient.

Here are a few things I keep stocked: Butter lettuce and Napa cabbage: Use these in place of processed carbs to fill with delicious, tasty proteins.

Asparagus, sugar snap peas, snow peas: Use these to dip or in a stir fry. They add texture and crunch to meals, whether raw or roasted. When roasting them, use them in place of fries with a yummy dip.

Strawberries, raspberries, pineapple: use these in smoothies, in fruit salads and to make refreshing wellness water.

Lemons: Use tons of lemon zest and juice in recipes and in water. It is refreshing, curbs your taste buds for health and helps cleanse your liver.

40 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

DELIGHTFUL FOOD

SPRING CLEAN YOUR NUTRITION

ER SMOOTHIE SPRING CLEAN POW

AVOCADO EGG SALA D

1/2 to 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (from a carton) 1 or 2 handfuls fresh baby spinach 1 mildly freckly banana, frozen 1/2 cup of fresh sweet pineapple, cut into chunks and frozen 1 tablespoon of creamy ripe avocado 2 tablespoons ground golden flaxseed Add coconut milk and spinach to the blender, blending on high until as smooth as possible (this helps remove the green bits, but I enjoy a little speckle of bright green).

Add the rest of ingredients go into a high powered blender – scoop the avocado straight in – and blend until the spinach is fully smooth and the drink is a bright, pretty green.

LEMON RASPBERRY

3 large eggs, hard boiled and roughly chopped 1 medium ripe avocado 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1/4 cup celery, diced (about 1 stalk) 1/4 cup petite baby carrots, cut into 1/4-inch pieces 1 green onion, sliced 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

CREAM OATS

Servings: 1 1/4 cup whole rolled oats 1/3 cup coconut milk (from a carton) 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1/2 cup fresh raspberries

In a medium mixing bowl, mash avocado with a fork. Add remaining ingredients and mix until fully incorporated. Serve on lettuce leaf or a hearty slice of whole grain bread. Garnish with radish slices to add a nice crunch to this salad.

Serving Size: 2/3 cup Nutrition information per serving: 275 calories, 21.4 g total fat, 4.3 g saturated fat, 2.7 g polyunsaturated fat, 11.5 g monounsaturated fat, 279 mg cholesterol, 365.3 mg sodium, 656.7 mg potassium, 11.5 g total carbohydrates, 7 g fiber, 2.1 g sugar, 11.6 g protein

Slightly mash 1/3 cup of the raspberries with a fork at the bottom of a small jar. In a separate cup, whisk coconut milk, Greek yogurt, lemon zest and oats together. Pour the lemon mixture into the mason jar. Top with a slice of lemon, fresh raspberries and a little more lemon zest.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Nutrition information per serving: 209 calories, 3.3 g total fat, 1.3 g saturated fat, 0.7 g polyunsaturated fat, 0.5 g monounsaturated fat, 2.5 mg cholesterol, 27.6 mg sodium, 109.8 mg potassium, 34 g total carbohydrate, 7.2 g fiber, 10.5 g sugar, 13.1 g protein SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 41

DELIGHTFUL FOOD LIVING GLUTEN FREE

LIVING GLUTEN FREE A trend for some is a medical necessity for others

B Y C HRI S BAVEN DER

42  HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

A trip to the emergency room and an overnight stay in the cardiac unit almost five years ago led to my celiac diagnosis.

What I thought was a heart attack (a pain unlike any I’d ever experienced) turned out to be the first clue that my lifelong battle with irritable bowel syndrome was really something more. I was diagnosed through a biopsy done during an endoscopy, which is considered the gold standard of testing, according to registered dietician Lori Petrie.

“When it comes to screening, a blood test can be about 90 percent accurate, but if you haven’t eaten gluten before the test it won’t show,” said Petrie, who is also a board member and advisor for the Gluten Free Indy Support Group in Indianapolis. “But with a biopsy they test six to eight areas in the small intestine, because damage is done in patchy areas.”

Petrie said celiac and gluten sensitivity/intolerance have more than 300 symptoms, which can range from extreme fatigue to bloating to mood disorders to migraines to intestinal issues. Diane Hosek understands those symptoms all too well. The founder of Gluten Free Indy suffers nerve pain and numbness from gluten as well as pancreatitis.

“I knew that I felt bad after eating cereal,” she said. “That was my main clue. I was quite sick at the time and thought perhaps I was diabetic. I was tested for diabetes and my blood sugar was normal so it crossed my mind I might be allergic to wheat. I had never heard of gluten and celiac disease at that time.”

A chapter on celiac disease in the Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health book led to Hosek’s “eureka” moment.

“It was as if that chapter were written for me,” she said, but her doctor wasn’t convinced and refused to test her. “Weeks later I asked another doctor to test me. He did and my tTG blood test was strongly positive. In the intervening weeks I had a major attack of nerve symptoms and was put on high doses of steroids which made my biopsy negative. After my diagnosis, my mother, daughter, sister and niece were all diagnosed and are all ‘antibody-positive, biopsy proven.’”

Valerie Polley, owner of Blue Tree Nutrition in Indianapolis, started experiencing symptoms five years ago and said she felt awful.

“I was in my late 30s, but felt sick every day,” Polley said.

“My complaints were joint pain, muscle aches, extreme fatigue and overall feeling like I had a fever all of the time.

I also had constant tingling in my feet and, at one point, it hurt to walk on them. My primary care doctor sent me to a rheumatologist where I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and put on some medications for it.”

HELPFUL WEBSITES Beyond Celiac: beyondceliac.org

Celiac Disease Foundation: celiac.org University of Chicago Medicine Celiac Disease Research Center: cureceliacdisease.org

But Polley didn’t want to stay on medicine. In the back of her mind she knew some people felt like she did because of gluten and decided to be tested. After more than one test came back negative for celiac disease her doctor still recommended she go gluten free.

“I have been gluten free for a little over a year now and all of my symptoms are gone,” Polley said. “I no longer lay in bed at night thinking when is this aching all over my body going to go away. And I can walk without my feet hurting.”

All three women agree that for some going gluten free can be a trendy fad, but for them it’s a necessity for their quality of life. Thankfully, over the years the range of gluten-free products has improved along with the taste.

“The biggest issue was always the lack of good sandwich bread, and bread now is much better than it was in 2002,” Hosek said. “When I had my first bite of gluten free bread back then I laughed because it was SO bad. The next difficulty was pizza and beer, but those have been taken care of quite nicely. The range of products has increased dramatically.”

For those new to a celiac disease or gluten sensitivity/ intolerance diagnosis, Polley recommends seeing a dietician.

“People feel they are fine just reading labels and navigating it on their own,” she said. “But there is a lot of fine-tuning a dietician can help with and tips for label reading.”

Petrie recommends support groups, such as Gluten Free Indy, as well as doing plenty of research. She said the bottom line is to remember diet is the key to treating celiac disease.

“There is no medicine for my disease except my diet,” she said. “This is my medicine. I am in control. Don’t be bored with it; get addicted to it.”

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 43

FITNESS A FAMILY FITNESS AFFAIR

A FAMILY FITNESS AFFAIR Dare to be healthier this year than last year

BY SE LE N A M OOR E H E A D

According to the 2016 Participation Report (The Physical Activity Council’s annual study tracking sports, fitness and recreation participation in the United States), overall inactivity levels decreased marginally in the last 12 months from 28.3 percent of Americans age 6 and older in 2014 to 27.7 percent in 2015. Basically, 81.6 million Americans are inactive. This alone is all the more reason to make fitness a family affair. Why not make the decision to get fit and bring your family along for the ride?

bonds and create family traditions. Children will perform better academically, learn how to reduce stress and burn off the extra calories and energy they have. Just by making a few lifestyle changes, we can help our children lead healthier lives, according to the Let’s Move! initiative (www.letsmove. gov) launched by former First Lady, Michelle Obama. Let’s Move! is dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation so children born today will grow up healthier and be able to pursue their dreams. Its goal includes helping children become more physically active.

Encouraging family fitness and healthy habits gradually will help your family reach their overall health and fitness goals. You hear it all of the time: exercise has benefits such as weight loss, increased muscle mass, stronger heart, better circulation and healthy brain. We must instill the habit of exercise into our children so they can grow into healthfocused individuals. Our kids will more than likely do what we do more so than what we say, especially when it comes to exercise. Kids just want to have fun. By making exercise fun, you can get the whole family involved and increase family time along the way.

If you’ve only been focused on individual fitness up until now, getting the rest of your family involved will open the doors for other ways to get fit. Consider these family activities:

Making fitness a family affair has other benefits as well.

Parents who eat healthily and exercise with their children on a regular basis teach many valuable lessons, reinforce family

Maintaining consistency in such activities will encourage and motivate children to make it part of their everyday lifestyles and pass on to generations to come.

44 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

Biking or hiking during a camping trip Pre/post dinner walk Mad dash in household chores Gardening or yardwork Family gym days or picking up a family sport Walking the dog

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HOME 3 SPRING CLEANING GOALS FOR REAL LIFE

3 Spring Cleaning Goals FOR REAL LIFE B Y DAN A K . W H I TE

Springtime naturally produces cleaning energy. Something about bright sun and warm weather after months of cozy shadows opens my eyes to cobwebs and inspires me to clean.

I dream of blocking off an entire week to clean it all (and clean it perfectly, of course), but the responsibilities of real life won’t let that happen. I have to focus on why I’m cleaning. As long as I keep my goals in mind, the effort I give will produce the results I want.

GOAL 1: GIVE MY FAMILY A PLACE TO BE When I feel frazzled or overwhelmed, I remind myself of this goal. My family needs a place to be. When my kids were little, they needed open spaces to create Barbie villages and Hot Wheel mazes.

Now that they’re older, they need a soft couch and a clear table where they can relax, do homework and feel the freedom to be themselves.

When I remind myself that “a place to be” is my goal, I focus on clearing 46 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

spaces that will allow me to achieve my purpose. The sock drawer needs sorting (it always needs sorting), but since my time is limited I’m not going to start with socks. I’m going to start in the spaces where we live.

GOAL 2: MAKE OUR LIVES EASIER Have you felt it? Those periods of life when every little task seems so difficult?

I’ve felt it, too. And when I feel that frustration in my home, it’s usually because I suddenly realize my home is cluttered and messy. I call this phenomenon Slob Vision. Messes tend to be invisible to me until they’re completely out of control.

So when spring cleaning energy hits, I focus on doing what needs to be done to make our lives easier. If busy mornings are made frantic because we can never find the shoes we need, I know it’s time to focus on purging outgrown pairs and the ones we avoid because they squeeze at the toes. Fewer

shoes make less mess. Less mess means fewer lost shoes. Fewer lost shoes makes our mornings easier.

If I’m frustrated every time I cook, I focus on purging and deep cleaning the kitchen. If closets and kids’ rooms are constantly getting out of control, I use this out-of-the-ordinary energy to purge clutter from those areas so we can find and use things when we need them.

GOAL 3: MAKE MY HOME EASIER TO MAINTAIN The worst thing about everyday cleaning is that it doesn’t last. A clean bathtub is only sparkly until someone takes a bath. But if I focus my spring cleaning energy on decluttering, I can see lasting impact from my efforts.

Things that aren’t in my home can’t contribute to the mess. Sure, more clutter will appear, but as long as I’ve removed things completely from my home, I’ve made progress. Progress is good.

HOME YOUR PERSONALITY OUT LOUD

YOUR PERSONALITY

OUT LOUD Your Décor is a Reflection of You B Y MAURI TA S UT TO N B R O W N

When I begin working with new clients, the first thing I do is ask questions to find out who they are and what they like. I want to choose décor items to reflect their personality and make the rooms a replica of their vision using their background,

history, desires, interests and hobbies. My goal is for my clients to “live out loud” in their homes.

Here are ideas to create your “live out loud” space or spaces in your home:

KITCHEN: • An oversized farmhouse table (or table of your choice) with painted chairs in mismatched styles • Wall hangings of your children’s art framed to match décor • A display of collectibles from your travels • Your family’s beautiful china used for girlfriend gatherings

BEDROOM:

• A fluffy comforter from your favorite home décor store • A mirror you found at a yard sale • A chandelier in the center of your bed • Candles and/or string lights

FAMILY ROOM:

• A collage of your family’s vacation photos • Words of empowerment on your walls • Sayings on large canvas wall hangings (i.e. “You are Beautiful!”)

• Throws and pillows you adore

GUEST BATHROOM:

• A striking textured wallpaper that will create a conversation for everyone who enters • An unusual sink that resembles a piece of art for each bathroom • Tiles that will keep your guests wondering where you found such a beautiful style • Soft, thick hand towels and nice pleasant smelling soaps from Europe or Asia • Place your deodorizer in an unusual looking decorative artifact When reflecting your own personality, it is ok to incorporate your emotional décor items into your interior designer’s theme. You can always design and decorate “out loud” on your own time. It will be amazing!

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 47

TRAVEL

OHIO

OH(IO)

THOSE SUMMER NIGHTS B Y S AR AH F O S TE R

Three cities in the Buckeye state are perfect for weekend getaways

48 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM SPRING 2017

As the days get warmer and summer edges closer, now is the perfect time to plan a vacation – and you don’t have to travel far to make an awesome weekend happen. Ohio has rich history and a bundle of activities. Whether vacationing with your family, spouse or friends, you can find the perfect weekend getaway in Ohio.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati is the perfect city to start your summer.

Fountain Square, in the center of the city, is always thriving with music, movies or special events. The Carew Tower Observation Deck offers a 360-degree view of “The Queen City.” Take a stroll through Washington Park to admire the interactive fountains and Music Hall. Make sure to check out Cincinnati’s trendy district, Over the Rhine (OTR).

This renovated district has a ton of gift shops, bars and restaurants. End the night by taking the streetcar to Findlay Market for food and fun.

Check out Cincinnati’s visitor bureau for more information.

TRAVEL

OHIO

Ohio has rich history and a bundle of activities.

Columbus

July is a popular time in Ohio’s capital. Near the end of the month, The Ohio State Fair brings in about a million people for 4-H competitions, various concerts and more. This year Grammy-award-winning acapella group Pentatonix will be the main act. Organizers have planned a multitude of events for the 12-day celebration. Join the festivities July 26 through Aug. 6. For more info, visit the website.

About 10 minutes from The Ohio State Fair is German Village. Take a break from the large crowds and explore this authentic German strip thriving with various restaurants such as Schmidt’s Sausage Haus for a good German meal.

Enjoy the brick and cobblestone streets with stunning German homes. In addition, tours of the area are available.

Take the kids and head to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to check out its more than 10,000 animals, ride the zoo train, pet some animals, play in the playgrounds and enjoy the 4-D theater. The zoo also has a water park and 18-hole golf course. For more information, visit the website at www.columbuszoo.org.

For more activities, check out Columbus’s visitor bureau.

Cleveland

Summer days are drifting away, but Cleveland’s Oktoberfest is the perfect way to end summer.

Oktoberfest is Northeast Ohio’s largest annual outdoor festival, which occurs during Labor Day weekend. Check out all the German-filled fun on their website Looking for more culture? Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame invites you to “rock with us” by exploring five floors of rich rock-and-roll history. On the lower level, you see the list 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees. Floors above contains backstage stories, interactive opportunities, gift shops, numerous exhibits and more treasures guaranteed to blow your mind.

For more exciting events, check out Cleveland’s visitor bureau.http://www.clevelandoktoberfest.com Keep following Hope’s blog for trendy midwestern travel tips.

SPRING 2017 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 49

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