MUA
Letter from the editor-in-chief
Hello! We’re so glad you’re here. For some of you, this is the first time coming across our publication and for others we’re old friends. Either way, welcome! I thought I would take the opportunity to introduce/re-introduce the magazines and a bit about me.
I’m the editor-in-chief of Mom to Mom and Woman to Woman Magazines, Send Media Company publications. We are an independent, woman owned business. We are accessible digitally online via our website sendmediacompanyllc.com as well as via Facebook, Instagram and our e-newsletter or “e-zine.” We have a print presence in Northwest Indiana. We have never wavered on our promise to bring you real, relatable content. We have grown our followers and readership on that foundation and we are honored to continue to do so with each post and issue.
What about me? Well, I bring more than 15 years of journalism and communications experience to our company. I’ve written for magazines all over the world. Nothing compares to these. Yes, I’m a bit bias, but I know the stories we tell are exceptional, inspirational and authentic. We keep a pulse on interests and trends, while covering subjects that matter. I’ve been with the magazines since their beginnings in 2012 and 2019 respectively.
When I’m not wearing my many magazine-related hats, I don my other hat as owner, founder and lead consultant of my change communications firm. And my personal life- I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart and best friend, Nick for 14 years (together for more than 20). He is my biggest supporter and constant. We have three daughters, which to this day blows my mind. Raising three under three (along with our 2020 rescue pup) is wild. Every day we lean into our mantra, “embrace the chaos.” It is beautiful, abundantly magical, chaos at that.
It is a pleasure and honor to be at the helm. We have kicked off some amazing new things at the tail end of 2024 and have much more in store this year and beyond. Thank you for your love. Stay tuned. It’s going to get EVEN better.
All the best, Nichole
Megan Klein’s story
What would 2025 look like if you could easily manifest anything you desired? Now don’t play it safe and only think about things you think are available to you. I want you to think big! Step out of your comfort zone and think about everything you have ever wanted. What would your life look like if this was possible? I bet it would be pretty amazing. But I bet that negative little voice in your head is getting pretty loud right now. Telling you things like, “that’s not possible,” “how do you think you’re going to do that,” “you’re crazy” and so much more. And it’s that little voice coming from your subconscious mind that stops most people from actually manifesting the life they truly desire for themselves.
What is the subconscious?
Think of your mind like an iceberg. The part above the water that you are aware of is your conscious mind. It’s the thoughts in your head, the memories you can remember, and the things you are consciously thinking about, like this article as you read it. The part below the water is your subconscious mind. It is the part of your mind that houses all of your memories, creates your belief systems and influences your thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Because it is below the surface you don’t consciously know what's going on in there, but it is this part of the brain that influences who you are and the life you have.
Think back to the last time you tried to adopt a new habit, maybe it was your new years resolutions last year. At first, making the change seemed pretty simple and easy. Then a few days or weeks in things got harder. Negative thoughts like “can I really do this”, or “maybe this isn’t available to me,” start to pop in. Or you find yourself falling back into old routines and habits and tell yourself you’ll start fresh tomorrow. We have all been told that this is due to will power and some people have it and some don’t. This is a lie though. This is actually your subconscious mind and it is silently trying to sabotage you.
Why does the subconscious mind sabotage us?
You’re probably wondering why is your mind doing this to you. The simple answer, it’s trying to keep you safe. Our brain's number one job for the past thousands of years, since we became a species, is to keep us safe and alive. While the world has evolved immensely over this time, our subconscious mind hasn’t. It thinks the best way to keep us safe is to avoid change and keep things the way they are.
To the brain, change is very scary. So last year when you made your New Year's resolution to change something in your life, you scared the crap out of your
brain. At first, it didn’t do too much because it thought it was a short-lived thing. But then that new habit started to last a few days and your brain started to worry. Next thing you know you’re finding yourself procrastinating, putting things off and even sabotaging yourself. Then you start getting mad or upset at yourself and that negative inner voice gets louder, and getting back into the new habit gets harder and harder until you give up and tell yourself that now's not the right time or maybe this just isn’t available to me. So how does our mind decide what is safe and what isn’t? It comes from our subconscious programs.
How do we receive our subconscious programs?
By age 5, we have received about 60% of our subconscious programs. These come from the things we hear and see going on around us during this time. But at this age, we don’t have rational thought or cause-and-effect thinking, so these things we hear and see can be taken at face value.
So, if you did something stupid and a loved one asks you “why were you so stupid,” your brain may take that as a program that you are stupid. Then as you go through school, when things get hard you find yourself saying things like “why am I so stupid” (the belief system you created for yourself.
Then by the age of 18 we have received about 95% of our subconscious programs. Now you have rational thought and cause and effect thinking but because our prefrontal cortex is not yet developed, we struggle with managing our emotions, planning, problem-solving, decision making and so much more. Our teen years are pretty much spent worrying about what others think and say about us. And those things we think and hear become programs. So, if you heard someone say, “she’s too much,” you may make
yourself small and pretend to be someone else to make others like you.
It is these subconscious programs that control our thoughts and actions as an adult. So, if you’re trying to achieve a goal, create a new habit, or completely change your life and it feels impossible, it's likely because one of these subconscious programs is sabotaging you and you didn’t even know it. Until now that is.
How does Hypnotherapy change your subconscious programs?
Though the subconscious programs are not available to you consciously, there is a way to tap into the subconscious mind, uncover the beliefs that no longer serve you, and provide your subconscious with new beliefs. That tool is hypnotherapy. With hypnotherapy, you are guided into a relaxed state where your brain shifts into the same frequency as your subconscious mind. While you’re in this hypnotic state you’re able to ask your mind directly, “what belief do I have that is stopping me from doing X.” The subconscious mind will tell you exactly what you need to know and can even take you back to the moment you created that belief. Then once you uncover what the subconscious program is that you don’t want, you can remove it and give your mind a new program that aligns with you easily achieving your goal. Once this new belief is instilled in you, you will find it much easier to achieve your goals without your mind sabotaging you.
By changing these subconscious programs, you’ll find that manifesting your desires gets to be easier and easier. The key thing to remember is that everything
you desire to manifest requires you to step into the version of yourself that already has that thing. And with each new version of yourself, you may find new subconscious programs coming up that you need to reprogram. Mindset work isn’t just a one and one thing, but a lifelong process. When you understand that, and address things as they come up, nothing will stand in your way of manifesting your most abundant life.
Jen Gutfriend is a clinical hypnotherapist and coach who loves helping ambitious women easily manifest their wealthiest and most abundant lives using subconscious reprogramming. Your life is a result of the subconscious beliefs you carry, and you can easily change your outer world by changing your inner world. Connect with Jen on Instagram at Hypnotherapist_Jen. While there grab her free Wealthy You Hypnosis Bundle to start rewiring you subconscious to manifest more wealth in 2025.
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A WoRlD Of wElLnEsS AwAiTs
DaIlY AcTiViTiEs
SpEcIaLiZeD ExPeRiEnCeS
ReLaXaTiOn mEeTs lUxUrY
10 lEsSoNs fRoM CaNyOn rAnCh
FiNaL ThOuGhTs
Elaine Achtzehn is an independent travel consultant with Well Traveled Moments based out of Crown Point, Ind. After years in the corporate world of hospital administration, her father's passing from cancer put life in perspective. She left her job and opted to stay home with her children. Inspired by a multi-generational trip to Disney World her family had taken before her father's death, she knew she wanted to help other families make lasting memories like they had. Her goal now is to help busy people slow down, explore and capture moments.
WITH MELANIE DEENIHAN
What a better way to celebrate the year past and welcome 2025 than with festive beverages.
Ingredients:
• Fresh strawberries
• Garnish Ice Cubes (prepared ahead)
• 1oz Honey
• 1oz Lemon Juice
• Rosemary Sprigs
• Grapefruit Seltzer Water or Soda
Festive Ice Cubes:
Dice up fresh strawberries.
Place diced strawberries into an ice tray. Fill the tray with either filtered water, or your favorite grapefruit seltzer water or soda brand. Place in the freezer for 3 to 4 hours, or until frozen solid.
Recipe:
In a short glass, muddle the fresh strawberries into a pulp. Add one ounce of honey (local honey is a bonus!) Next add one ounce of lemon juice. Drop in your premade ice cubes, and top with the grapefruit seltzer water or soda. Garnish with a fresh sprig of rosemary, and enjoy!
*Pairs well with vodka or reposado tequila*
Cheers!
Melanie Deenihan is the founder of Tipsy Gypsy Traveling Tavern based out of Crown Point, Ind. When the COVID pandemic hit, her role as a bartender and server drastically changed. Deenihan was forced to analyze the situation and brainstorm ideas to supplement her income. With people no longer gathering at local bars and establishments, she noticed an increase in backyard barbecues and outdoor events. She loved the idea of entertaining and bringing people together in the safe-alternative of outdoor spaces. Deenihan launched her fully functioning wet/dry bar in an old refurbished, but aesthetically pleasing horse trailer. If people can’t make it to the tavern, she can bring the tavern to them. Today she continues to offer her services for all occasions across Chicagoland.
A life coaching column with Teri Healy
answer: words to live by
Teri Healy is a speaker, coach and visionary. Her clients span the globe and include Fortune 100 company senior executives, sales professionals and entrepreneurs. She supports her clients in personal and professional transformation. Teri lives in Cedar Lake, Ind. and enjoys live music, photography and travelling. She is passionate about volunteering in her community and is committed to touching 10 million lives in her lifetime. You can find her at terihealy.com.
WITH SAMANTHA EANES
Name: Samantha Eanes
Age: 33
Job title / company: Urban Forester, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Town / city you’re from: Munster, Ind.
Town / city you live in now: Springfield, Mass.
Describe your family. Significant other? Children?
My husband and I are expecting our first baby this spring.
Do you have a license or degree? If so, in what, from where?
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management from Indiana University and recently completed my Master’s in Project Management from Southern New Hampshire University. Additionally, I’m an ISA Certified Arborist.
Describe your professional background / history?
After completing undergrad, I moved out east and started my career as a forester in New York City where I oversaw municipal street tree planting contracts. This experience laid a strong foundation for my next role in Detroit, where I administered tree planting projects for a non-profit organization. Currently, I’m based in Massachusetts where I manage grant-funded tree planting initiatives aimed at enhancing green spaces in underserved communities.
How did you discover your passion?
From a young age, I always valued nature and being outside. Our family traveled a lot which provided opportunities for me to be curious in learning more about the world around me. I remember scouting the ocean on our trips to the Florida Keys, visiting nature centers with my dad and camping along a riverbank in the Smoky Mountains.
What mark do you hope to leave on your industry?
I hope to leave behind greener, healthier cities not only for aesthetics but that also serve as habitat for wildlife, provide shaded canopy cover and offer spaces for connection with nature for generations to come.
What are you most proud of in your life personally and/or professionally?
Not being afraid to take a chance. Whether that’s moving across the country or deciding to start a family, you learn how resilient you are and to enjoy life as you figure it all out along the way.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Another woman on the path to finding her calling?
Believe in your potential and know that what you have to say matters.
Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?
Hiking new trails, being out on the water visiting botanical gardens and art museums and spending time with my husband.
WITH LYNN BUCKMASTER
Name: Lynn Buckmaster
Age: 54
Town / city you live in now: Born and raised in Northwest Indiana now living in Demotte, Ind.
Do you have a degree? If so, in what, from where?
Graduate of Hobart High School Class of 1988; self-taught artist
Business name (if applicable): Buckmaster Art; studio based at the historic Fairchild House and represented by Gallery02 in Fort Wayne, Ind.
My art reflects the deep connection to the landscapes I love, capturing their essence with a unique blend of
One of the highlights of my portfolio is ‘Whispers of the Past,’ a painting I completed in 2024. This piece, which began as a plein-air painting in 2023, depicts a historic house at Chelburg Farms in the Indiana Dunes National Park. I was compelled to paint this house because I was drawn to the light striking the historic house as seen from a shady area right outside the rustic gate, inviting you to enter the flowery yard. In my work, I capture not just the interplay between light and shadow, but also a sense of place—the feeling of standing just outside that gate, looking in on a bright, sunny morning.
My connection to the Indiana Dunes National Park goes beyond artistic inspiration, it’s a personal journey. In 2021, I was honored as an Artist in Residence at the park, an experience that allowed me to immerse myself in its natural beauty and history. My passion for the park and its landscapes is evident in my body of work. I donated the original painting to The Chesterton Woman's Club, where it was raffled off to raise funds for those in need.
Linktr.ee/buckmasterart | Buckmasterart.com
Smile Day a Give Kids
Thank You
