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January 2026 FREE

The Gentle Reset: Building Soft Routines For A Fresh Start

By: Jessica Waugh

Why Wellness Spas Are Booming in Las Vegas

By: Allison Heart

The Invisible Power of Scent

By: Melissa Baker

eWomenNetwork Leading Las Vegas with Connection, Collaboration and Community By: JoJo Bennington

Becoming Her Took Every Version of Me By: Andi Singer

Table of Contents Featured Article

Becoming Her Took Every Version of Me By Andi Singer Page 10

Articles 6 9 14 16 18

Ask Rae with Rae Indigo Lyrics from Leah The Invisible Power of Scent by Melissa Baker Becoming You: The Quiet Strength in Becoming by Jennifer Hass The Gentle Reset: Building Soft Routines For A Fresh Start by Jessica Waugh

20 eWomenNetwork - Leading Las Vegas with Connection, Collaboration and Community by JoJo Bennington

22 Hidden Stressors in Modern Health: Parasites, Heavy Metals, and Why Detox Matters 26 Why Wellness Spas Are Booming in Las Vegas by Allison Heart 27 New Year Dog Resolutions by Rissa

Community Spotlight

Recipes

4 5

12 Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Chicken

Top 5 Las Vegas Businesses

Bake by Jennifer Affronti

Top 5 Las Vegas Service Providers

14 18 10

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Home Cooked Happiness: Cooking with Love with Jennifer Affronti

Jennifer Affronti is a former model, actress, stage performer, television personality and burlesque dancer. Her personal journey through chronic illness led her to completely change her career path to become a resource and advocate for people who want to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. She is now a certified Holistic Health Coach and the founder of Wholelistically Healing, where she focuses on empowering individuals to take control of their health and well-being through personalized coaching and guidance.

Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Chicken Bake A new year calls for fresh beginnings—and nourishing meals that make you feel amazing from the inside out. But first things first: get ready to dance in the kitchen! Turn on your happiest song, let the energy flow, and take a moment to say a little prayer or blessing over your food. The love and positivity you bring into the kitchen truly do translate into every bite. If you’re looking for a cozy, high-protein dish to kick off the year with strength and good vibes, this Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Chicken Bake is the perfect place to start. It’s rich, comforting, and packed with wholesome ingredients that fuel your body without weighing you down. Whether you’re meal-prepping for busy days or serving a family-friendly dinner that tastes indulgent yet supports your goals, this casserole delivers every time. Let’s kick off this new year with flavor, joy, and all the positive energy you’re ready to pour into it.

Ingredients:

Directions:

• 2 tablespoons melted grass-fed butter or ghee

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a 1.8-liter casserole dish or an 8×8-inch baking dish with butter or ghee.

• ½ cup organic whole-milk cottage cheese • ¾ cup organic sour cream • 2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided • 2 tablespoons fresh Italian seasoning • 1 teaspoon sea salt • 2 teaspoons garlic granules or garlic powder • 3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme) • ½ cup lemon juice • 2 cups fresh organic spinach • 4 artichoke bottoms, diced (or 8 artichoke hearts) • 3 cups cooked cubed chicken (I used four chicken thighs) or you can use any shredded chicken

2. I baked my chicken thighs with salt, pepper and granulated garlic on a cookie sheet for 20 minutes, let them cool and then diced up. 3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken, melted butter, cottage cheese, and sour cream. Give everything a quick stir to blend. 4. Add 1 cup mozzarella, Italian seasoning, sea salt, garlic, thyme, and lemon juice. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated. 5. Gently fold in the spinach and artichoke hearts just until combined. 6.Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup mozzarella evenly over the top. 7.Bake for 40–50 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and lightly golden brown. 8. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving so it can set. Enjoy!!

Discover more content by Jennifer! Visit her website or follow her on social media: Website: www.wholelisticallyhealing.com Facebook: Wholelistically Healing by Jennifer Affronti Instagram: @WholelisticallyHealing

The Gentle Reset: Building Soft Routines for a Fresh Start By Jessica Waugh

January arrives with a sense of possibility. A clean slate. A quiet hope for something lighter, clearer, or more aligned than the year before. But for many women, the new year also brings pressure. Pressure to fix, change, improve, or suddenly become a more disciplined version of ourselves overnight. We’re told to start strong, cut the sugar, overhaul our routines, join the gym, set resolutions, and get everything perfectly in order by January 1st. Yet for women, especially in perimenopause or menopause, this push toward rigidity often leads to overwhelm, exhaustion, or feelings of failure long before February arrives.

few simple places to begin. fluctuate, the nervous system becomes more sensitive to stress. 1. Start Your Mornings With Light Cortisol spikes more easily, energy dips feel sharper, and recovery takes Before you pick up your phone longer. This means the traditional or step into responsibilities, let “New Year intensity” of rigid natural light touch your eyes. routines, strict diets, and extreme Open the blinds, step outside commitments often works against for a minute, or sip your tea by your hormones, not with them. a window. Morning light helps regulate cortisol and set your Your body thrives in rhythm, circadian rhythm for steadier not rigidity. In consistency, not energy throughout the day. perfection. In soft routines that bring you back to yourself, not harsh ones that pull you away.

A gentle reset honors your physiology, your season of life, and your emotional bandwidth. It helps you build momentum slowly, sustainably, and with the kind of compassion that lasts far longer The truth is, your body doesn’t need than any resolution ever could. a hard reset. It needs a gentle one. Soft Structure, Strong Soft routines. Slow beginnings. Foundation Hope without hustle. This is where true change starts. Not with Instead of big, sweeping changes, pressure, but with presence. focus on small rhythms that help regulate your hormones, restore Your Body Isn’t Asking for Intensity. It’s Asking for Rhythm. your energy, and reconnect you with your own needs. Here are a As estrogen and progesterone

2. A Nourishing First Meal You don’t need a perfect breakfast. You simply need one that steadies your blood sugar and fuels your mind. Think protein, fiber, and healthy fats. A gentle routine like this supports mood, hunger cues, and balanced hormones. 3. Move for Mood, Not for Measurement Forget harsh workout resolutions. Your body will respond far better to movement that matches your energy. A walk, a yoga flow, strength training, dancing in your kitchen, choose whatever feels supportive instead of punishing.

Hidden Stressors in Modern Health: Parasites, Heavy Metals, and Why Detox Matters In today’s modern world, our bodies are navigating an environment very different from the one humans evolved in. Processed foods, environmental pollution, chemical exposure, and contaminated water and soil have become part of daily life. Even when we eat well and live consciously, the body is still exposed to a growing number of stressors. Over time, this constant exposure can quietly strain the systems designed to keep us healthy. Two often overlooked contributors to this internal stress are parasites and heavy metals. Many holistic and integrative health practitioners believe that supporting the body through parasite cleansing and heavy metal detoxification at least twice a year can play an important role in reducing toxic burden, restoring balance, and supporting long term wellness. This approach is not rooted in fear or extremes, but in understanding the realities of modern living and supporting the body proactively. Parasites are organisms that live in or on a host and obtain

nourishment at the host’s expense. These include protozoa, roundworms, flukes, tapeworms, and other microscopic or larger organisms. A common misconception is that parasites only exist in developing countries or unsanitary conditions. In reality, parasites are present worldwide and exposure is far more common than many people realize. Parasites can enter the body through contaminated food and water, undercooked meat, unwashed fruits and vegetables, contact with pets, soil exposure, and travel. Even everyday activities such as gardening or swimming in natural bodies of water can create opportunities for exposure. Because the body is resilient, many people may carry parasites for years without obvious symptoms. As parasite load increases or the immune system becomes compromised, symptoms may begin to surface. These can include fatigue, bloating, digestive discomfort, nutrient deficiencies, brain fog, skin conditions, joint pain, mood changes, and unexplained

weight fluctuations. Parasites compete with the body for nutrients and release metabolic waste that can disrupt immune signaling and digestion, placing ongoing stress on the body. While parasites are not universally accepted as the sole cause of serious illness, many integrative health frameworks recognize chronic parasitic burden as a contributing factor to long term health challenges. Persistent immune activation, inflammation, and nutrient depletion can weaken the body’s natural defenses over time. When the immune system is constantly responding to hidden stressors, it may struggle to regulate inflammation and maintain balance. This ongoing stress can affect the nervous system, immune function, and gut brain axis. In weakened terrain, the body may have difficulty supporting detoxification, cellular repair, and immune surveillance. These systems are essential for maintaining resilience, healing tissues, and protecting long term health.

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How to Sew a Pillow By Tateonna Hass

Hi, my name is Tateonna Hass! Sewing a pillow is a fun project you can do with help from an adult. You can make one for yourself or create a special gift for your friends and family. Step 1: Choose your fabric Pick a color or pattern you really like. This will be the outside of your pillow. Step 2: Cut your fabric Cut two pieces of fabric the same size. You can also cut out a heart or another shape to decorate your pillow. Step 3: Sew the fabric Have an adult help you use the sewing machine. Sew the two pieces together slowly and carefully. Remember to leave a small opening. Step 4: Add the stuffing Put stuffing inside the pillow until it feels soft and comfortable. You can choose any color stuffing you like. Step 5: Close the pillow Have an adult help you sew the opening closed so the stuffing stays inside. Your pillow is now finished. You can keep it or give it to someone special!

About The Author Tateonna Hass loves making crafts and teaching others how to create them too. She enjoys sharing her creativity through hands on projects, from sewing pillows to making colorful handmade items. Tateonna is the founder of Sunshine Beads, her own small business where she creates and sells handmade bracelets at pop up locations. 20

Table of Contents Recipes

Readings

14 Carrot Cake Energy Bites by Jennifer Affronti

Learn About The Chinese New Year

Lyrics from Leah

18 Puppy Chow

20 How to Sew a Pillow by Tateonna Hass 22 The Extraordinary Snowman

Activities 4

My Daily Journal

Acts of Kindness

Connect 4 in a Row

Winter Activity Page

10 Check-In with Yourself 12 New Year’s Resolutions 16 Special Snowflakes

21 My Playlist 24 Spot the Difference

26 Release What No Longer Serves You 29 Complete The Comic

Crafts 13 Build Your Own Snowman 17 Color by Mood 25 Create Your Own Snow Globe 27 Snowman Coloring Page 28 January Coloring Page

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If you would like to be featured in our next issue, email us your photos at editor@storiesofperseverance.com 2

January 2026 FREE

Draw Your Own Snow Globe!

Create Your Own Playlist

Learn How to Sew a Pillow

Fun New Year’s Activities Inside!