Focus LA October 2015 – Inspiration Issue

B E V E R LY H I L L S | B R E N T W O O D | M A L I B U | W E S T H O L LY W O O D | S A N T A M O N I C A

COMMUNITY POWERED

ACTRESS AND CAMPAIGNER

OCTOBER 2015 | FOCUSMAG.US

KELLY RUTHERFORD

FUNNY LADY

HEATHER MCDONALD UNITING FOR A CAUSE

WOMEN OF THE AGENCY

MUSIC

NATIONAL ANTHEM GIRL

JANINE STANGE

&

INSPIRATION ISSUE

JAZZ CLUB OWNER

EDEN ALPERT

MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

TIM STOREY

LISA MANSFIELD

Realtor, NRT’s Top 1,000 Sales Associates

310.481.4313

lisa.mansfield@sothebyshomes.com www.lisamansfield.com

Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.

BRENTWOOD BROKERAGE | 11911 SAN VICENTE BLVD SUITE 200 | LOS ANGELES | CA 90049

TESTIMONIAL

Top

2%

of Sales Associates Nationwide

As I think back on… the showings, the 600+ email(s)… &… phone conversations, the one thing that resonates… is professionalism.… you & Michael were sharp, extremely knowledgeable & had an efficient operation. What I didn’t know was how consistent your level of professionalism would be…. You never complained or lost your zest…. you always had… words of comfort.… that is Professionalism with a capital P. When we… got the house,…we had beat… 11 offers, 3…all cash.… getting the house had everything to do with you – your expertise in knowing the market & our competitors, your… knowledge of the neighborhood & frankly,…knowing about every realtor in town. You got us that house….

– Jin S

DID YOU KNOW…?

…TOP REAL ESTATE TIPS FOR 2015...

*DO SWEAT THE SMALL (CHEAP) STUFF, SELLERS – Little touches go a long way in the buyer’s eye…

Trim bushes…change mats…de-stink with candles…de-clutter rooms (&) kitchen counters.

Hide scrub brushes and…fantasy-killing tools. *TAKE NOTE(S), BUYERS – Benefit by…keeping a pro-and-con…list… of features you seek in an ideal home…. *THE PRICE IS RIGHT, SELLERS – Activity in the first month of a listing is always best, so don’t risk wasting it.

Hiring the right agent based on recommendations, response time...interviews, track record and data…will yield that pricing expert you need.

By Steve McLinden (Bankrate’s Real Estate Advisor writer, 20+ years real estate industry writer, correspondent for National Real Estate Investor)

…CALL ME TO DISCUSS!

DIRECT: 310.481.4313

LISA MANSFIELD

LISA’S NEW LEASE!!!......429 N. BUNDY DR.!!!

CELL: 310.993.2303

LISA’S LISTINGS UPDATES...!!!

11351 Burnham St.

Asking $1,675,000

*CURRENT LISTING!!!

429 N Bundy Dr.

Asking $12,500/Mo

11403 Berwick St.

Asking $5,495/Mo

*CURRENT LISTING!!! *CURRENT LISTING!!!

11657 Chenault St. 107

429 N. Bundy Dr. Brentwood 4 Beds+5 Baths+Renovated Approx.15,000 sq.ft. flat lot!

BundyDr.com

Asking Price: $12,500/Mo

3408 Mandeville Cyn. Rd. 4031 Hayvenhurst Ave. 11362 Homedale St. Duplex 11350 Gladwin St. 11367 Homedale St.

11400 Berwick St.

*In Escrow!!! *In Escrow!!! *Just Sold!!! *Just Sold!!! *Just Sold!!! *Just Leased!!! *Just Leased!!!

Contact me to hear about my upcoming listings! – Lisa

Focus TV

Kelly Rutherford

Talking Head

Eden Alpert

Funny Lady

Since her divorce 6 years ago, Kelly has been fighting for her two children to be returned to the US, their native country.

Motivational speaker Tim Storey is mentor to celebrities, and an inspiration to all.

The daughter of legendary musician Herb Alpert, continues to bring fine music to the Vibrato Grill Jazz in Bel Air.

An entertaining interview from Heather McDonald – stand up comedienne, best selling author and producer of Chelsea Lately.

A Night To Inspire

Handstand App

Zoom Interiors

Janine Stange

The Women of The Agency in Beverly Hills, host a fund raiser for The Women Like Us Foundation.

Founder, Tiffany Hakimianpour, talks about her App which allows you to book a personal trainer wherever you are.

Melanie Frasier is the founder of Zoom Interiors, a budget friendly interior design service which recently pitched on Shark Tank.

Janine is the only person ever to sing the national anthem in all 50 states, earning her the nickname, National Anthem Girl.

Dani Behr

Tanya Memme Crafts

Leeann Tweeden

Boho Chic

Originally a child star, radio and TV host in the UK, Dani Behr uses her showbiz skills to good effect as a luxury estate realtor in the Westside.

A regular host on the Home & Family Show, Tanya shows us how to do craft projects with the kids.

Leeann is a model with a cause. She talks about how she became involved in the Boot Campaign, which helps military personnel.

Fashion shoot with teenage model Alexa Ryan.

focusmag.us/tv

Text focus to 313131 to watch any video

CONTRIBUTORS

Tanya Memme Tanya enjoys inspiring others to make a house a home, through her DIY projects – exploring the latest trends in home fashions and sharing the hottest products for the home. She hosted two Emmy-nominated TV shows for 13 seasons. tanyamemme.com

4 FOCUS | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5

Wendy Brokaw Kretchmer Wendy is an editorial producer at CNN but considers her most important job to be raising her 2 girls.

Her rare spare time is spent on a multitude of passions including fundraising, cancer awareness, fitness, and her guilty pleasure – Pinterest.

Sally Colon-Petree Actress, singer and TV host, Sally and her husband, Stephen, started a production company called Dream On Productions. Her documentary ‘Women Like Us’ is set to be released in Spring 2015. dreamonprod.com

Sande Charles Sande was crowned Ms. California United States 2014. She grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and also covers Football Night in LA for the Examiner.

When not in front of the camera, you can find her producing for the MLB Network. On the weekends she is in Studio for Fox Sports. sandecharles.com

Nikki Joel In the spirit of Sex and City and The Real Housewives, lifestyle blogger Nikki Joel is a multi-tasking, mom, friend, relationship expert and elite stylist! lifestylelemonaid.com

Lauren Gores Ireland An award-winning broadcaster and the blogger behind Lauren’s Lyst.

Lauren shows readers how to create a stylish lifestyle with ease and accessibility, while putting a little luxury into everyday living. The Lyst pushes readers to create a life of purpose and passion, while shedding self-doubt.

LaurensLyst.com

Janine Stange Janine Stange, who has come to be known as “The National Anthem Girl,” made history by completing her mission to sing the “Star Spangled Banner” in all 50 states. nationalanthemgirl.org

Kim Cahn Kim Cahn left her television producer job to be a full time mom to Olive (5) and Buster (1). She writes about their family activities on her blog. andrewjr.com

Molly Lyda Molly is a therapist and coach, and enjoys creatively collaborating with clients, helping them to overcome obstacles. She works with individuals, families, and young adults. She helps her clients address low selfesteem, anger management issues, depression, and the myriad of challenges that are found in all relationships. mollylyda.com

Community powered.

Editor Andrew Waldman andy@focusmag.us Focus TV Editor/Host Sande Charles Staff Writer Felicia Waldman Photographer Dana Adams Videographers Sally Colon-Petree Dalen Muster Ben Shani Publisher + Creative Director Mark Castellino mark@focusmag.us Copyright 2015 by Focus Media Agency.

Focus (ISSN 2328-1359) is published 6 times per year. Please do not to reproduce any of the content without permission.

Subscription and distribution inquiries: promo@focusmag.us

ISSUE 18

NOTE FROM THE TEAM

From time to time we need some inspiration and kindness in our lives. As one of our interviewees, Tim Storey, says – small things can make a difference, “Hugs, letting people know you love them, go such a long way. It doesn’t have to be a huge thing.”

Inspirational quotes peppering your Instagram feed, presumably count too.

We also sat down with actress Kelly Rutherford to talk about how she has spent the last 6 years fighting for custody of her two children. This in turn, led to the formation of the Children’s Justice Campaign, which fights for the rights of children everywhere.

It’s an extended issue with plenty of your community stories, and we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did putting it together. Please send us your thoughts, and also suggestions for our forthcoming issue.

Cheers, The Focus Team

@stylebyfluent Thank you so much @focus_ magazine_ for the feature this month! @theglamapp Thanks @focus_magazine_ for the fabulous feature with cofounder @caraasantana @lipsticksister @focus_magazine_ Lipstick Sister’s June Spotlight @ kellymili of @mycrownseven get your copy!

@tanya_memme So grateful to be featured in this month’s @focusthemag, thanks so much! @aprilbeyer Check out the interview I did for @focusthemag. I had such a great time! @dinacollection #ThrowbackThursday. That time that we almost sold a puppy to Floyd Mayweather!

Video by our friends @focusthemag

CONTACT US SUBSCRIBE

6 issues for $20 BUY ONLINE

focusmag.us/shop/magazine

Write: 149 South Barrington Place #178, Los Angeles CA 90049 Email:

hi@focusmag.us Advertise:

advertise@focusmag.us

focusmag.us 5

Trending

Favorite things we have seen around town...

Flaver Candy

This artisan-crafted dispenser filled with mouthwatering Flaver candy will add sophistication and charm to any space. Less than 95 calories per serving, enjoy Flaver candy in 6 interesting varieties – mint, cherry, pineapple jalapeno, popcorn, lime chipotle, and peppermint. flavercandies.com

CHURCH AND STATE

Proper

Proper is a high-integrity and high-impact range of bath and body products. Meticulously designed, proprietary fragrances are manufactured by a secondgeneration soap-maker family from an 18th-century, French soap recipe. The ingredients are sustainably obtained and contain the twin moisturizing power of shea butter and olive oil. With a charitable corporate business model too, Proper is a proper game-changer. propersoap.com

Naked Princess

Founded by former model Jordana Woodland, Naked Princess is an award-winning, boudoir, luxury house, passionately creating exquisite beauty and body collections and timeless loungewear and lingerie.

Crafted with the finest quality and design, Naked Princess combines elegance and luxury, making the every day woman feel extraordinary.

Celebrity fans include Lady Gaga and Mindy Kaling. Naked Princess has also been featured in magazines like Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, and Modern Luxury and on celebrities like Gina Rodriguez, Petra Nemcova, and Ana Ivanovic. 653 La Cienega Blvd. CA 90069. nakedprincess.com

Readers With A View

For as long as they’ve been around, reading glasses have basically had the same design with little room for individuality. Huschka Vision is changing all that with a more functional, yet stylish shape. The glasses have the added benefit of not hiding the wearer’s eyes and actually fostering eye contact with others. With the ability to wear them up higher on the nose bridge, it allows you to look over them, without having to tilt your head down – easing neck strain. Reading never looked so cool! huschkavision.com

6 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

Church and State, founded

by Nick Richmond and Justin Kreisberg in 2015, strives to connect the lucrative styles of High Fashion Europe, Streetwear New York, and the Music Scene of Los Angeles. It’s a brand that can be worn by all, for any occasion. churchandstateclothing.com

Hnina

Hnina was founded by Vanessa Morgenstern-Kenan with the mission to provide the most delicious yet healthy gourmet chocolates creatable, while sparing no cost and tolerating no shortcuts. She made her first truffle while pregnant with her twins. Vanessa was craving dark chocolate but with diabetes in her family and nothing on the market healthy enough, the only thing left to do was to create it herself. hninagourmet.com

MySpa2Go

Grandpad

GrandPad is a simple and secure tablet computer that digitally connects your senior to their family and friends. They can easily view family photos and videos, play games, check weather, listen to music, send voice emails, make phone calls, video chat, and more.

MySpa2Go – Bringing the ultimate spa experience to you, wherever and whenever you want it. Choose from a variety of beauty and wellness services ranging from massage, manicures, pedicures, hair, makeup and facial services – all of them offered by the most qualified and talented pros in their fields. Book online. myspa2go.com

grandpad.net

Ragged Vagabond

Gratitude Couture

Shoes Of Prey

Can’t find the shoes you want? Shoes of Prey allows you to design your own shoes in the style, color and fit you desire. With hundreds of materials, style options, sizes ranging from 2½ - 15 and width adjustments, shoe-lovers with unique needs and personalities don’t have to compromise on style. shoesofprey.com

Ready-to-wear, avant-garde fashion for a new generation aspiring to make a statement – somewhere between radical and wild. Ragged Vagabond Clothing considers what you’re wearing a form of self-expression – which is why their philosophy on style is to wear what makes you happy, with a sense of humor and confidence. Vintage style meets “rock n’ roll” with their color-fully dyed, screen-printed, carefully curated, up-cycled vintage and new apparel.

Gratitude Couture hopes, through fashion, to inspire you to spread the message of love, gratitude and empowerment.

They support non-profit organizations whose objectives are to eradicate hate and bullying. These fashion-forward, cause-driven, snapback hats emote coolness while reinforcing the message of LOVE. Twenty percent of proceeds from their sales are donated to various handpicked charities, especially those focused on anti-bullying. gratitudecouture.com

138 Water

#138 More than just water!

It’s a Lifestyle! #onemeaning #threewords #eightletters #ILoveYou 138water.net

ruggedvagabond.com.

focusmag.us 7

Eden Alpert Daughter of legendary musician Herb Alpert, Eden Alpert upholds the family tradition with live music at The Vibrato Grill Jazz in Bel Air. INTERVIEW BY SALLY COLON-PETREE

8 FOCUS | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5

Scene: BEL AIR. Vibrato Grill Jazz, with Eden Alpert and Sally Colon-Petree.

Sally: We are sitting in your restaurant that I’ve never been in, and it’s fantastic. It’s beautiful, it’s artistic. Your dad is also an artist, and these are his paintings?

Eden: Right. It’s called Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill & Jazz. It’s his vision, his dream. It’s his restaurant but we’re partners.

Tell us about growing up in Beverly Hills.

A lot of people think it was a lot like 90210, the show - the original show back in the day with Tori Spelling. It’s very different. I would have to say not the norm. It’s so different than anywhere else because there are a lot of celebrities around, there are a lot of children of celebrities around. It’s a faster-paced life, I think. I’m not sure about today, but back then, it was very fastpaced. You grew up much quicker. You saw a lot more.

Did you grow up with celebrity friends?

I did a little bit. Martina Jones, Quincy’s daughter. I did People Magazine with children of celebrities with Griffin O’Neal back in the day, Stacey Schacter. There were Ryan Cassidy, Shirley Jones’ son with Jason Gould and Sonny and Cher’s daughter Chastity, now son “Chaz”.

As a little girl, did you ever go on tour with your dad? Did you get to do the fun stuff?

I did. I went to Canada on tour with him for a little bit. I don’t have a lot of memories as a teen. It was more of when I was 12, I think it was a little bit easier to tour with him. But, yeah, I went on tour a few times, and it was pretty awesome. I was going to concerts very, very young – seeing The Police and The Go-Go’s.

It was fun. Shaun Cassidy was my first concert.

Shaun Cassidy. Did you have the posters on your wall?

I had the jacket. I don’t think I still have it, but it was silk. You know, it was that fake shiny material that said Shaun Cassidy.

Do you ever get tempted when there’s like somebody singing up here and they’re singing your favorite song for you to just go, “Let me have that mic and let me sing a little?”

No, but I’ll sing with people. Music is my world and it moves me, and music speaks volumes to me. Every song that I love has a different meaning some place in my life, so I’m big on music. I get really emotional when I hear certain songs. One of the most famous songs my dad did - and I don’t know what year it was that it became famous – it was originally written for Dionne Warwick. It was called, You See This Girl, This Girl’s in Love With You, and it was written by Burt Bacharach. And then my dad did it, and it became a huge hit. You See This Guy, This Guy’s in Love With You. And that’s my favorite song. And when someone like Steve Tyrell sings it, I just get really emotional.

I’m probably in the best place in my life I’ve ever been in, and I had a relationship that broke me. I think it was maybe my dad not being around that much, and not in a negative way, he just was busy. I had a lot of love around me, and who’s to say what’s

enough love if you don’t love yourself? It’s been important as a single mother of a young girl – who’s now a beautiful young woman, going through her own stuff – teaching her that you don’t need to rely on a man. But we all want to be loved. You want to have a loving relationship at some point in your life, but you want to be independent and self-reliant and not say things like, “You better marry somebody rich”. Show them good examples.

No matter how great you think your life was, there’s something that you learn from a parent, that they learned from a parent, that they didn’t. I’m kind of glad of my parents’ generation. It’s a different generation now. Upbringing is so different. There’s so much more communication. You’re seen and you’re heard and you’re respected, I believe, as a child. My era wasn’t raised like that.

Yes, I’ve learned that kids are smarter at a younger age. I don’t really know why it’s like that. Social media, I think – the Internet helps kids to learn quicker. Your voice is heard now and people are learning from you.

Life is a lesson. My daughter got - as she says - “dumped,” and it was the end of the world.

It’s the end of the world until the next guy comes along and then the world’s back again.

Exactly. And if you can walk though the fire and come through it. People say to me, “Wow! Your dad is who he is, and he is a huge philanthropist. Huge, and a lot of people know it.

I looked your dad up, and he is in the top ten donors.

A couple years ago, CNN named him as number two over Oprah. So that’s a big weight – not a weight, but people hear about it in the news. Things like, donating the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA. And so, odd things happen to me, and they are like, “How are you so normal?” Well, you make a choice to let your past define you, or you be your own person.

And I think that’s a lot of what these processes have helped me to learn. That I can let what some may say is a difficult life, others may say privileged. They don’t know the depth of that.

Just because you come from maybe more money or something, doesn’t mean that your life was better than others.

You’re an inspiration for people, I’m sure. So we’re here at your restaurant, tell us about you and your daily life?

We’re in our 11th year right now. The first year, when we opened, I started literally as a hostess here because it took two years to build the restaurant. Everything is hands-on. When you look at the wood, the way the wood’s placed, the way these pods are placed, which were custom made in New Orleans, it’s all for sound. Because I love talking to people, and I love sharing this place. He built this place to give something back because there really wasn’t that old school kind of New York supper club vibe.

Somewhere you could eat really good food, hear really good music. So six months into it, on my birthday, he said, “I’d like to make you a partner.”

focusmag.us 9

Text focus to 313131 to watch this focusmag.us/tv/edenalpert

10 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

Who were some of the most famous people that have played here?

Well, my dad [laughs]. Steve Tyrell. Gene Simmons has been up on stage performing. Tom Jones has gotten up on stage and performed. Stevie Wonder, four times.

Are these people who have said they’re going to be here or they just show up and you’re like, “Get up there and sing.”

No, they just get up and sing...

So you can’t just call and say, “Stevie’s coming tomorrow?”

Call me because I love Stevie Wonder.

If I knew Stevie was coming, I would most likely call you because I would know that he’d probably get up on stage. When he feels the vibe, he wants to get up. When Gene got up, he may have known he was going to do it that night. Tom Jones, I’ve been trying to get up on stage. He’s a regular here. Billy Dee Williams is a regular too. There really isn’t anyone else, maybe except for Oprah, who I would want to be here. Seth MacFarlane performs here two or three times a year. He’ll be here at the end of May and he’ll sell it out. He plays with an 18-piece band.

How do you accommodate that?

I don’t think they remove the piano. They kind of work around the piano. It’s all his session players that do all of his shows, and we remove this first row of tables. And it’s a fun night. He’s a crooner. He fills the room. It’s a $50 ticket. It’s not for him.

It pays the guys, and it’s not about making money up here. It’s really just about having a stage, a venue, that doesn’t exist with a sound system like this.

What about the younger crooners like the Harry Connick, Jr., and Michael Bublé?

They haven’t been in here. I don’t know if Harry’s been in here. I know I was real close to getting Bublé in here. There have been a lot of them in here just visiting. We did the Frozen party and Idina Menzel performed.

Music is my world and it moves me, and music speaks volumes to me. Every song that I love has a different meaning some place in my life, so I’m big on music.

It sounds like you’re having a happy time.

“Everyone has a story, it’s just painted in another color.”

Somebody gave me that quote years ago. And I live by that.

Everyone just has a different story. It is what it is, but you get to redefine who you are and that’s your choice. So I’ve made a choice to just be happy, present, fun. I’m just me. I am who I am.

Vibrato Grill Jazz 2930 Beverly Glen Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90077 vibratogrilljazz.com

focusmag.us 11

1 For feminine meets chic, Alexa is wearing a green floral Nico dress made of 100% silk by a local designer – Natalie Martin, (sold at Barneys and other high end boutiques).

All hand made, (not one machine involved), and then dried by the sun.

She tops off the look with a gray fedora by Forever 21.

2 Alexa is working the Boho Chic swim look with a Tamara Catz (Maui designer) bikini paired with a tassel necklace from local, Natalie Martin.

To round out the look, she is wearing a floral mixed with leopard printed cover-up that was found at a vintage store on Melrose.

Boho Chic PHOTOGRAPHY BY SINDEN COLLIER STYLING BY RHETT COLLIER

2

1

3

3 Alexa is California Cool as she mixes high-end and affordable!

She is wearing Lolli Swimwear’s signature Beachy Bow Bottoms designed by California born Vy Nguyen. Using sugar as a sweet inspiration, designer Vy Nguyen has been creating her flirty and fun swimwear line for years! The look is completed with Chanel sunglasses and t-shirt from Forever 21.

MODEL: ALEXA RYAN Bookings: Vision Model Management @alexaryanofficial

Brandun@visionlosangeles.com LA Models Runway Division Daniel@lamodels.com

BLOG SPOTLIGHT MOM ETC mometc.com

Monika Tournaud Creator of Mom Etc Monika Tournaud is a wife, mother, blogger and producer of MomEtc.TV on Youtube. She is passionate about women empowerment.

It started when Monika was nine years old and immigrated to the U.S. from Poland. A series of fortunate events brought her to beautiful Santa Barbara. Talk about a culture shock!

From not knowing the language or any other human being, she quickly turned to writing, which turned into diaries that became journals that transformed into scribbles on cocktail napkins… which in the end became nothing. Lost in translation, young adulthood, trying to find her way through chaos.

It took Monika a while to find her “voice” and creative outlet. She attended FIDM to study product development and unexpectedly began her Fit modeling career, which lasted 7 years. After that she was Executive Assistant to a Global Marketing Coordinator and then co-owned a boutique recruiting firm. When she gave birth to her daughter, Monika decided that, with the constant juggling of career, home life, kids, most women don’t have a chance to share their stories and the chaos that comes with being a mother. She decided to create a place for all women, to be able to share their stories without judgment. A community with topics from breastfeeding, to postpartum depression to how intimacy changes after having a baby; as well as a space to share beauty secrets & companies she loves using. That is how MomEtc. com was born.

Monika wants to share her journey as a girl who loved skincare products, to a woman who believes the only way to live a strong and healthy life is through keeping your body and mind in shape – to a new mother who knows the hardships of pregnancy and motherhood… and of course how to juggle everything at the same time while remaining fabulous (and sane!).

05.28.2015 My answer to longer & thicker hair, stronger nails & flawless skin; Marine Collagen

by ProPlenish Good morning ladies & welcome back to MomEtc. Today I have something awesome for everyone. Something that I have been testing out for the last month so see if this miracle powder lives up to the hype. At first I was very skeptical to try it, but in the end I gave in and was pleasantly surprised. I first came across this company through my Instagram. I was very pregnant at the time & started noticing that every time I washed my hair there was an abundant amount of it coming out. Thankfully I was blessed with thick hair & at some point I forgot all about it. Until a few months after giving birth I noticed that my hair was still coming out, not enough for anyone else to notice, but enough for the worst critic to start worrying.

ME. I decided to try this magical powder and once I received the product from the lovely Marketing department at Proplenish located out of Australia, it was time to experiment & see what happens. mometc.com/my-answer-to-longer-marine-collagen-by-proplenish 04.20.2015 Wonder Woman feature of the week: Heather Dorak founder of Pilates Platinum!

Morning all my MomEtc readers & welcome to Inspiration Monday! As always I do a feature of a Wonder Woman and today I have something very special. Meet Heather Dorak; not only is this young woman a successful entrepreneur, but she is the reason why my love for Pilates started 4+years ago.

Living in LA there are so many options when it comes to Pilates studios. However, it is very hard to find one where you get everything you want in one place like top notch instructors, great locations and an owner who is very involved with their clientele. Heather is such an inspiration to me as well as a lot of women in Los Angeles who look up to her as she is very involved in her community. This exclusive interview will give you a glimpse into her life & explain how Pilates Platinum got started & why, check it out! mometc.com/wonder-woman-feature-of-the-week-heather-dorak-founder-of-pilates-platinum 03.27.2015 Bedroom Talk; Life After Baby Hello ladies and welcome back to MomEtc! Today’s subject is interesting because I know that many people go through this, but not many talk about it; how to keep things hot after a baby. I have been asked to write about this so many times so here it is. I want to point out before I get started that this is only coming from personal experience, stories from other women’s perspective and my personal view on this topic. http://www.mometc.com/bedroom-talk-life-after-baby/

focusmag.us 13

14 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

Funny Lady

Scene: WOODLAND HILLS. At the home of Heather McDonald, with Nikki Joel.

Heather McDonald is a lady of many talents.

She has mastered her craft as a Comedienne, Actress, Story Producer, and best-selling Author. Best known for her appearances on E!’s Chelsea Lately, she became a breakout star ‘mockumentary’ series, After Lately, which chronicled the ‘behind-the-scenes’ shenanigans of the Chelsea Lately cast.

McDonald is also a best-selling author of two books, You’ll Never Blue Ball in this Town Again and MY INAPPROPRIATE LIFE: Some Material Not Suitable for Small Children, Nuns, or Mature Adults.

She is also a regular collaborator with the Wayans Brothers; serving as a writer on their features White Chicks and Dance Flick. Heather has been a guest star on Frasier, Malcolm in the Middle, and Reno 911.

Nikki Joel: Where are you from?

Heather: I’m 818. I’m a true Valley Girl. I went to USC, and in my twenties lived in various locations between Santa Monica and Brentwood.

Were you always funny growing up?

I always knew I was funny, and I could make people laugh. I could impersonate friends and teachers and tell stories but I didn’t really pursue it until after college.

What made you decide to do it?

I knew that I should but because when you grow up in LA you become really jaded. Even 6 year old kids say, “Well, you know a lot of pilots don’t get picked up. Good luck sugar!”

As a stand up comedienne Heather McDonald has sold out shows throughout the country.

Somehow, she has also found time to write two best sellers, and write and produce Chelsea Lately.

INTERVIEW BY NIKKI JOEL

What was your biggest break?

Chelsea Lately. It opened doors for me as a stand up – opening for Chelsea and being on the show. Then we did After Lately, and that led to me getting a book deal.

Do you write all of your own material?

Oh yes.

Do you wake up in the middle of the night with a funny joke, pad at your bedside?

Yes. Or I have the most amazing dream and I think it’s a movie, and I’ll write it all down and then the next day I realize it’s just weird thoughts blended together. But yes, throughout the day I write small things down to go to later, to make a bigger bit from it. focusmag.us 15

The titles of your books are really funny. What was the impetus for the books?

Actually when Chelsea got her first book deal years ago, My Horizontal Life, I just loved it and thought it was so funny. I love these books about dating, and I thought – ‘I have so many funny dating stories’.

Your kids go to the same school you went to. How does the Text focus to 313131 to watch this mommy mafia treat you? focusmag.us/tv/heathermcdonald I don’t think they enjoy me as much as I think they should! But I also don’t think they are thinking of me that much…I try really hard to get invited to their parties, and I just “...in LA you become really jaded. haven’t been.

Even 6 year old kids say, “Well, And now, I’m thinking let’s you know a lot of pilots don’t get just wait till picked up. Good luck sugar!” high school I’m going to really kick it out of the park then.

Are your kids really funny – do they have the comedy gene?

Yes, they are really funny.

They are a lot of fun. One of the things we do is we play Shark Tank, where we totally improvise. We’ll pick out anything and then you’re either Damon or Mark Cuban.

My 9 year old always wants to be Damon. He says ‘What, I created Fubu…’ and my older son who is Mark Cuban says ‘I will sell it at the Mavericks games.’ And I’m always like the dorky mom who has the product....

‘Hi Sharks, as you know bedtime can be a challenge..’

What is your favorite topic to talk about?

Probably marriage and dating and relationships.

Tell us about the new show you are working on at TLC. It’s called #whattshesaid and it’s a bunch of funny mothers, some stand ups like myself and others who have hit it in the blog world.

We address motherhood in a humorous and really honest way.

What does the next 5 or 10 years look like for you?

I would love to be a regular on a talk show. I like doing the topics.

I would love it to be Daytime because I feel like I could give advice to moms. I’ve been through it all. I’m a stepmother, I’m a mother.

I have sisters. And to continue with stand up, and create shows for other people.

Fast Focus Pretend Porn Star Name Pepper Lander

Most Important Makeup Chanel Bronzer

Favorite Movie White Chicks

Favorite Song Turning Tables by Adele

Celebrity Crush Joe Manganiello

Best Gift Mirrored Doors In My Master Bedroom

Favorite Part Of Your Body Legs Favorite Valley Girl Phrase 818 Till I Die Guest Appearence Fraser Most Like About Living In LA Incredible Weather Favorite TV Show Real Housewives NY, OC, BH

HeatherMcDonald.net @heathermcdonald

16 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

Favorite Designer Trina Turk Favorite App Twitter Last Book You Read Gone Girl Style Muse Jennifer Lopez 3 Things In Your Handbag You Cant Live Without Cellphone, Credit Card, Lip Gloss

Red Fire Dragon Machine RFDM Started out of a journey to find and recapture the romance of making music.

How do you come up with the songs you write?

Rhythms and melodies for writers come in the middle of the night, listening to a blinker while waiting in traffic, or hearing water drip from a shower head. Lyrically speaking, LIFE, for better or for worse. RFDM does have a filter that we run our ideas through. We are making this music because we want to, not because we have to.

Musical influences Kenny Rogers/ Ween/Elbow/Lord Huron/The National Kenny Loggins/Warpaint Band members Chod - vocals, guitar, keys, bass-producer Stave - vocals, guitar, keys, bass--producer Drew - lap steel, pedal steel, guitar Dalen - images Describe your music or genre It’s always melodic, song based, but RFDM isn’t trying to write radio hits so we’ve opened up some space in these first few songs...still configuring. Indie-pop? Maybe Rock at times too.

What is on the horizon for your band?

Honestly, whatever we want. Success is being able to do what you love and connect with people with your art. We are doing that and we feel fulfilled and comfortable in this moment.

The story behind the name and logo for Red Fire Dragon Machine: My daughter StevieJane drew a picture while Drew and I were in a session and she presented her art to him and said, “Here Drew this is for you, it’s, Red Fire Dragon Machine”. We were shocked that this 5 year old could name a band with one drawing and a description better than any of our previous bands. the name stuck and now we’re just trying to live up to how amazing that name is....

The avatar is our nephew, Jonas. He decided to tape himself up with colored electrical tape and be a super hero. My sister sent me the pic and Dalen tweaked on it to make it look like it does now.

Who are the kids in your videos?

Random street kids. Kidding. Two of them are mine, and the rest are probably all the cousins. We also make a lot of babies as well as making music...and videos.

Goal of the band: To do what we do every day. Work in our studios making music that we feel, and hopefully stay healthy enough to do it for another 60 years!

Thoughts on the future of the music industry?

It’s the wild west. So many new ideas and paradigms in which to find your platform. We explore all, but we gravitate as of now toward content we share online, such as music, videos, live performances, and social media connection. We’ve said up until now, we would like just 1,000 fans so we could actually have an interaction and a community that love what we do. I assume things will continue to change and move around for a while. In some ways, this band fits with an anything goes approach because our main focus is to play music together, more than just trying to have a hit record.

One thing nobody knows about each band member: Drew – has a twin sister and lives in Checotah, Oklahoma. (where Carrie Underwood is from) Chod – is more of a country boy than a rockstar Dalen – can actually sing Stave – has 100 pair of shoes redfiredragonmachine.com focusmag.us 17

The Boot Campaign WITH SPOKESPERSON LEEANN TWEEDEN

Boot Campaign is a charitable organization dedicated to promoting patriotism for America and the military community. They raise awareness of the unique challenges service members face during and post-service, and they provide assistance to military personnel, past and present, and their families.

Retail sales of combat boots, apparel and mission-focused merchandise, general public donations and corporate sponsorships fund programs that support military families.

Started in 2009 by five women from Texas known as the Original Boot Girls, the Boot Campaign began as a fun photo op and turned into a national movement funding more than $2 million into the military community each year.

HP HONOR PACK $25.00 Each Kit Includes: Drawstring Backpack/Collapsible Water Bottle/Knit Beanie Cap/Gloves/Notebook with Pen Combo Toiletry essentials including: Comb, Soap, Shampoo, Deodorant, Nail clippers, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Lip balm, Lotion, Bath wipes *All Honor Packs will begin distribution Oct 2015 in time for Veteran’s Day* Home of the Brave is a nationwide community service project by HP and company partners Boot Campaign, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Halo Branded Solutions to honor our nation’s Veterans around Veterans Day with planned activities and patient visits at VA Medical Centers (VAMC). The sale of Honor Packs will help Veteran patients at the medical centers and community living facilities as well as the homeless.

18 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

MENS, WOMENS, KIDS AND UNISEX BOOTS $39.99 - $229.99

Buy at: bootcampaign.org

Leeann Tweeden An active spokesperson and ambassador for the Boot Campaign, Leeann has completed a record of sixteen USO tours traveling around the world, including fourteen visits to Iraq and Afghanistan. She proudly wears the signature silver-boot dog tag from the Boot Campaign, in honor of her military serving husband who just completed his twelfth deployment.

Leeann’s involvement with the Boot Campaign grew from a celebrity boot shoot in 2011 to supporting and co-hosting numerous Boot Rides, Emcee of the Boot Brawl (2014) and posting photos of the boots on her social media practically every day.

While working as a hostess at a Hooters restaurant in Colorado, she won first place in the Venus International Model Search. This break led to national exposure and to Leeann modelling for Hooters and Venus International, along with Frederick’s of Hollywood and Playboy.

Tweeden was a correspondent for Fox Sports Net’s Best Damn Sports Show Period from 2000 to 2007. In 2008, Tweeden became the third hostess of the NBC late night television series Poker After Dark. She has also appeared on the political discussion series Hannity, as a member of the “Great American Panel” and occasionally appears on the panel of the early morning program Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. She is currently working on Fox Sports 1’s UFC Tonight, with Kenny Florian and Ariel Helwani.

Leeann has always had an interest in helping others. In 2009 she became the public face of the website Autism|Rethinking Autism, which uses a series of videos to educate the public about autism.

Listen to Leeann from 9am-12noon every weekday on AM570LASports. Go to www.

AM570LASports.com or find it on your iHeartRadio app.

Text focus to 313131 to watch this focusmag.us/tv/leeanntweeden

Leeann Tweeden leeanntweeden.com focusmag.us 19

Janine Stange is the first person to have sung the national anthem in every State across the USA.

20 FOCUS | S E P T E M BE R 2 0 1 5

The National Anthem Girl Janine Stange is originally from the East Coast. She moved to the West Coast eight years ago. In LA terms, that’s practically enough time to be considered a native.

Not only has she has she moved from coast to coast, as of last year, she has literally gone from coast to coast.

Perhaps, in her case, the better phrase would be ‘from sea to shining sea.’ On August, 28, 2014 she became the first person ever to sing the Star Spangled Banner in every single state. The effort was all heart – no corporate backer, no booking agent, or publicist – she just blazed a trail that led her to make history – and national headlines along the way. You may have seen her on the Today Show, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt or Fox & Friends.

Tell us about your mission and how it came about.

My mission was – and still is – to promote patriotism and honor for our nation’s heroes. Our National Anthem is a perfect vehicle for that. I always would sing it whenever, and wherever I could. One day, I realized I had sung it in about seven states so I figured, hey – why not go for all 50! I had no idea what I was in for but I would do it all over again. I say this a lot, but it’s true: for 90 seconds, no matter who you vote for, or what team you want to win – when we are singing the Star Spangled Banner – we are one nation…and there is power in that moment.

After I sang, I set up and table and provided blank thank you cards for people to sign. It was so touching to watch people put their cell phones aside, pick up a pen and take five minutes to write something that came from their heart to a deployed soldier. Each card, (literally thousands), went into an Operation Gratitude care package. I still have those tables whenever I sing. They are priceless.

What are some venues and events you’ve sung at?

NASCAR, Titans, Orioles, Reds, Tigers, Knicks, LA Kings, Arlington Cemetery, September 11 Museum and Memorial, aboard the USS Missouri in Hawaii, from the ‘Center of the Universe’ in Wallace, Idaho, on a plane 30,000 feet above the country on a flight!

I’ve opened for The Band Perry in Florida, Bruce Springsteen at Madison Square Garden.

Tell us one of the most memorable performances: There are so many – each performance has it’s own story. For instance, on the National Anthem’s 200th Anniversary (9/14/14) I got to sing at Fort McHenry, at the flagpole – which is what Francis Scott Key was looking at when he was inspired to write the words that would become the Star Spangled Banner. An hour later, the US Coast Guard took me out on Cutter Ibis and I got to sing it from the “Star Spangled Buoy” which marks approximate the location from where his boat was when he saw our flag was still there. That

happened on September 14, 2014 – the National Anthem’s 200th Anniversary. It was surreal.

What’s next for you?

I’m still singing all over the country at sporting events and corporate events. I’m also being asked to speak in an effort to spread the message of inspiration that I was so fortunate to have received during my 50 state tour. Most recently, I have joined the efforts of the Boot Campaign, (see page 18), and I was a part of their most recent celebrity shoot. It is so much fun to tell stories about the journey and share the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I just got back from Chicago, where I spoke for Jelly Belly’s national sales meeting, and can’t wait for my next speaking event. I’m also writing a book which is geared towards young girls – sort of like a travel journal that weaves lessons into the stories from all fifty states. ____ To learn more about Janine Stange or schedule her to sing or speak at your event, visit: www.

NationalAnthemGirl.org.

Connect with her: facebook. com/NationalAnthemGirl.

Janine can also be heard every Thursday at 6:30 am Text focus to 313131 to watch this PST on Sirius XM’s 60’s on focusmag.us/tv/janinestange 6. She and Phlash Phelps highlight one state a week in a segment called: called #AnthemInAll50 Phlashback.

Janine Stange NationalAnthemGirl.org Twitter: @theanthemgirl Instagram: @JanineStange

focusmag.us 21

COMING SOON

22 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

The Agency Hosts the Women Like Us Foundation’s Star-Studded Event

Women of The Agency and Focus Magazine hosted A Night to Inspire – a lively, inspirational event benefiting the Women Like Us Foundation on Thursday, May 28. Held at The Agency’s Beverly Hills office, the Foundation’s annual event was a rousing success, raising funds and creating awareness of its incredible work in support of women’s charitable leadership and women around the world.

The event, hosted by award-winning Journalist and E! News Anchor, Catt Sadler, was packed with 300 enthusiastic Foundation supporters who are truly passionate about social change.

Attendees included recording Artist and Musician, Moby, who donated music for the foundation’s upcoming film, TV Personality Maria Menounos and Musician Don Felder.

Representing Women of The Agency, was Kathrin Nicholson, who delivered a heartfelt introduction to the Women Like Us Foundation.

“The Women of The Agency was founded to continue the ideals of The Agency – which are collaboration, innovation, integrity and philanthropy. I brought in the Women Like Us Foundation, because that’s exactly what they do,” Kathrin explained. “They find these remarkable women. They help them; they lift them up, give them money, emotional support, and the results are amazing”

Women Like Us Foundation CEO and Founder Linda Rendleman also addressed the crowd, explaining, “We want to raise money so that we can turn around and give it back to women who are changing the world.”

Rendleman’s book, Women Like Us: Illuminating the World, was the inspiration behind, not only the charity, but also the upcoming documentary film, co-produced by Catt Sadler and Sally Colón-Petree. Premiering in the Fall, the film reflects the women’s personal journeys of inspiration and motivation, featuring compelling conversations with women advocates such as Ida Odinga, former First Lady of Kenya; Caroline Burnett of the Dream Center in Los Angeles; CNN Hero Robin Emmons; Teen Advocate Deb Myers and more.

The private event raised money for the charity, created awareness of the film and featured fantastic silent auction prizes, music, cuisine and cocktails. In addition to Women of the Agency, several members of The Agency team were on-hand to support, including Paul Lester, Jonathan Ruiz and Kofi Natei Nartey.

focusmag.us 23

A Night To Inspire 28 May 2015 The Agency, Beverly Hills A

EVENT

24 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

Thank you to the Event Sponsors

focusmag.us 25

26 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

COVER STO RY

KELLY RUTHERFORD Kelly Rutherford lost custody of her two children after her divorce in 2009. What followed was a national campaign for six years, in which she fought to bring them back to their mother country. Out of adversity has come her Children’s Justice Campaign – her effort to protect children’s constitutional rights and to promote their health and wellbeing in law and society.

INTERVIEW BY MARK CASTELLINO PHOTO BY DALEN MUSTER

Thanks for sitting down and talking with us Kelly. Tell us something about your background. You’re an actress, right?

What have you been in, how we would know you?

Well most recently, I guess it would be Gossip Girl. I moved to New York from Los Angeles to do Gossip Girl about eight or nine years ago.

Are you still acting?

I am. I’m still acting, but my life has taken on another shape in a way, which has been an extraordinary experience because of a personal situation. So I’ve started an organization, and that’s been really time consuming, and my case to get my children back to this country has been quite time consuming, as well.

So start from the beginning and tell us what happened.

I have two kids – Hermes and Helena. I was married, then divorced six years ago, and then basically, we went back and forth about custody and that kind of thing, and it was never quite enough for him. So it was like we were constantly in court, and no matter how many evaluations we had that said, “You should be the primary parent, and they should have a lot of time with their dad, and because I was pregnant, when we separated, so you have to understand they were really tiny. It wasn’t like they were five, six years old, they were really little. My son was two, and I was actually pregnant at the time when we separated. He kept fighting for more and more to the point where I really didn’t have any money left, because I couldn’t keep up with all the legal aspects of it. I never tried to keep the kids from him. I never asked for a penny. I just said, “Let’s be great parents.” And what ensued was this odd legal battle. He had sued a lot of people. He sued Google. He sued The German Post. He was really smart at litigation. I had never even had a lawyer, never even been in court, so it was an interesting process.

And I didn’t really understand all the details of that process, until I met Wendy Murphy who became my Pro Bono attorney. But what happened was my kids were sent to France three years ago by a judge who basically made an order that was unenforceable in a foreign country, and therefore Monaco took jurisdiction. And now, my ex is now trying to take all my custody away, which I think was his intention from the beginning. But this has gone on for seven years, the last three, they’ve been in France. And at the time that they were sent there, I was bankrupted, and I was given 50-50 custody in a foreign country, not because I wasn’t a fit parent – we

Text focus to 313131 to watch this focusmag.us/tv/kellyrutherford

were both found to be fit parents – but because I could travel and he couldn’t. So instead of saying, “Okay, well then, we’ll keep the kids in their school, in their country with their primary caregiver, and because this father who’s an adult, needs to figure out his situation, we’ll accommodate the dad. And mom will travel the kids back and forth every holiday, every summer, until he sorts it out.” Instead, the judge took the kids out of their school early, sent them to a foreign country away from their mother, away from their country, which was unconstitutional really, because they have a right to remain in their own country.

They’re American citizens?

Yes. They hold US passports. So now since then, I’ve been working with Wendy Murphy. It took me about a year and a half to find her.

And certainly, I was so thankful, because she explained it to me what’s going on in family court today. And also, we’ve been working together on getting them back.

Can you explain the process of appeals? Does a certain amount of time have to pass by, and then you can make an appeal? How does it work?

They give you a certain amount of time to appeal, and we’ve been doing that. It’s an unprecedented case. It’s obviously very unique, and the first time, I think, The Federal Court’s hearing this, and it’s certainly unusual. It’s something that affects every child now in The US. We all marry people from different countries, and what defines your citizenship? Just because you’re a child versus an adult doesn’t mean that there’s a difference. As Wendy says, “Just because children don’t vote, and they don’t pay taxes doesn’t mean they don’t have rights.” And unfortunately, in family court they aren’t rights, they’re called ‘interests’, and interests can be very wishy-washy, whereas rights are definite. So we know one of the things with the Children’s Justice Campaign, which I started out of this whole experience a year and a half ago, is how do we define children’s rights, and how do we make sure that children do have rights, and they don’t just have interests? So that’s what’s going on in my life.

That’s where you’re at now. That must be very confusing for the kids. How often do you see them?

I go back and forth a lot. I was just there for ten days, and then I’ll go for another ten days at the end of the month. And really, it was just about when I had the money to go, because again this judge focusmag.us 27

knew that I didn’t even have the money to go see my kids, when she sent them there. The whole thing was set up in a very odd way. You sort of think, “Well, she can’t really go there. It’s not going to be easy.”

It’s a woman, Judge Theresa Beaudet, here in the LA court, and you just would never think. So it’s been challenging on many levels.

And certainly the most challenging for my kids. What did they do?

They didn’t do anything to be taken away from their mother and their country.

How do they feel about this? Do you talk to them about it, and do you say, “Do you understand why I can’t come and see you?”

They understand, because they ask questions. “Why are we now here? Why aren’t you here? Why aren’t we with you? Why aren’t we in our school?” There was a lot of stuff in the beginning that had to be explained. And as a parent, you have to decide – or at least for me, my decision was I want my kids to get through this, as if nothing happened. Their childhood is perfect, and they’re going to be great, healthy adults. That’s the most important thing. I, as an adult, have understood what’s going on, and more and more so as time’s gone on. So my job has been to say, “Hey, enjoy this time. I’m going to be there as often as possible.” They know it’s unfair. They said, “But mommy, this is unfair.” They cry on Skype, “We want to be with you.” They know that a judge made this decision. They know a lot of it, but I don’t want it to weigh heavy on them. They know the basic details of it, but they don’t know all the details. It’s important to comfort them in a way that they know that they’re loved. And yes, they’re right. It’s not fair. When they say ‘it’s not fair’, I say, “You’re right. It’s not fair, but we’re going to get through it, and we’re going to be okay, because you know I love you.”

They know there’s a plan. They say, “Mommy, are you still fighting for us, and when are you going to be here?” And we mark off the days on a calendar, so there are actions that are being taken.

They know even when our first board meeting for the Children’s Justice Campaign took place. We had Doctor Shefali there, who wrote The Conscious Parent, Wendy Murphy who’s an incredible activist, and lawyer, and my savior. And we have an incredible pediatrician on board. We have a gentleman who wrote a book about domestic violence, and why it’s prevalent – a study of it in our society and how we raise men differently than women, and why it happens. And then we have a woman who’s my co-founder who runs a support group for women who have been victims of domestic violence. She went through a divorce herself that was very challenging. We sat, and we talked about it, and we thought, “Well, this is really about the children, because this happens to mothers a lot. It seems to be happening a lot more to mothers these days, but it happens to both parents. We wanted to make sure that the focus is really on the children. We all get divorced for different reasons but the focus really should be on what’s right for the kids.

Yes, sometimes when you get divorced, the parents, who are supposed to be the adults, play games through their children.

They can sometimes. They’re not evolved. They do. I was able to think. There are evolved parents, and that’s what’s so great about Doctor Shefali’s book, The Conscious Parent. It explains how we can become more conscious and aware as parents – even if we have a great marriage – that we’re not projecting things on our children, that we’re evolving ourselves instead of expecting our children to evolve.

28 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

A couple of things are happening this week. You’ve just flown in because there’s a benefit tomorrow night.

It’s at the home of Julia Sorkin, and we have an amazing group of people. Wendy Murphy’s going to speak. Lisa Bloom’s speaking. My co-founder Patrice Lennowitz and I will speak, and we have this girl Sierra who wrote a song specifically for our organization. She’s going to perform, and we have Lisa Rinna, and Marcia Cross, and Ed Westwick, and Lysa Heslov who’s George Clooney’s producing partner’s wife, and Sarah Elle. All these really amazing people have come to host. And Selma Blair. It’s just a really good group.

It sounds like you have a lot of support.

Well, I think it’s terrifying that this can happen. Since the beginning, people have been saying, “How could this even happen?” And I said, “Well, I’ve been saying the same thing.” So I think it’s frightening to think that you can have children in a country and have them sent away from it, not based on anything really. There was no evidence in our case that showed that he couldn’t get back into the country.

It was a very odd thing, and what it’s saying about the future of American citizen children is, I think, terrifying to most people.

And of course, I think a lot of people have seen a breakdown of the family court system, as well. So anyone that’s been through a divorce and dealt with this knows that it’s not easy. Even if you haven’t been through it yourself, you certainly know someone who has been through it.

What are your ultimate aims for the organization?

We want to raise awareness in the media, because it’s not really being talked about, and I think my case is a landmark case on many levels.

You hear about random cases, but my case has been in the press for a long time. And I’m very fortunate that I’ve had a voice, because Lord knows when you don’t have a voice, you have no money, and you have nowhere to go, you have no opportunity. So my thing was, “I want to be a voice for the people who don’t have a voice and the children who don’t have a voice – my children and all American children.” That’s how this whole thing came about. We’re looking at how we can change laws to protect children, how we can raise awareness about what is going on the family court system today, and be a resource for parents who are going through this. Really, just get out there, and start the conversation.

Which is commendable – so people don’t feel that they’re alone.

If they’re in the same situation, they can go to your website, and they can talk to someone, and they can feel like they have support.

I felt alone for a long time, so I know the feeling. I do know how terrifying that is, especially when it comes to children. And I think when I went to see Gloria Stein speak, there was an event for Sanctuary For Children in New York. She said, “The minute you go from being a victim to an activist.” In other words, you stop being a victim the minute you become an activist. And it’s so true, because you go, “Oh, I’m doing something.” You get up in the morning, and you’re taking an action. And not only are you taking an action for you and your family that you’re seeing, but, “I’m going to pay this forward.” And I think that gets you through a lot of tough times. Not that there aren’t pity parties that happen. But at least you know that in my stage, you’re like, “Okay...”

You don’t feel like a victim.

Exactly, exactly.

that this is a big issue. It needs to be looked at. It needs to be addressed.

You have a petition going now. And I didn’t even realize this, but you can petition The White House?

Yes, I didn’t know either. Well, he convinced Monaco to take jurisdiction. They’ve probably been given some misinformation, because the children are US citizens. And now he’s filed to take all my rights away. So I thought, “What do we do now? We’ve got to take this to another level, because this is absolutely insane and for no reason.”

If people want to help you, they go to Whitehouse.org, look up your name Kelly Rutherford, and then they can just sign?

Yes, they sign. And then they send you an email, and you have to confirm it. That’s the big thing. I think it’s very easy. I think all you need to do is put your email and a zip code, and they send you an email, and you just confirm it, and that’s it. So it’s not like you have to do a whole, big, long thing.

Why would he feel like you shouldn’t have any custody at all?

I think it’s about control. And he told me when we were breaking up, he said, “Yeah, I’m going to take you down and see that you have nothing. I’m going to take the kids.” He sued Google. He sues people, and I think it’s his way of dealing with things possibly – which is unfortunate. But like I said, everyone deals differently.

Everyone ends up in family court for different reasons. It’s unfortunate, but we see it happen. We see it happen on both sides.

If one of the people is angry in a divorce, you see them just try to destroy everything. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the husband or the wife, but it happens, and it is unfortunate.

It is. And so coming back to the petition – you’ve petitioned The White House?

Yes, we’ve petitioned The White House, and we need 100,000 signatures, and they give you about a month to do it. We’re already at 80,000 which is good, but we really need to get up to that 100,000.

How many days are left, do you know? Is there a time limit?

I think a couple weeks are left, which is good. It’s incredible the amount of support we’re getting. I think people really do realize CHRONOLOGY (at time of printing): April 30th – Kelly starts her petition May 12th – Kelly hosts The Childrens Justice Campaign Fundraiser In Beverly Hills.

May 14th – Reaches 100 Signatures. Currently at 119,218 (Aug 12, 2015).

May 24th – Kelly gets judgement from LA Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas ordering the children to be returned to the US. July 4th – Children reunited with Kelly in the US for the Summer, as a result of 2013 Custody Order.

July 9th – Kelly goes before a judge In LA, to plead for custody and argue for jurisdiction.

July 23rd – Court says Kelly has no legal right to fight for her kids in California even though kids were born in California, providing a “Legal Noose” as quoted by ABC News Legal Commentator, Dan Abrams.

August 12th – Court orders Kelly to return her children to Monaco.

It’s great that you can do that. What happens when you get the 100,000? Then what happens in The White House?

Well, I think Obama then sends Air Force One to pick up my kids. [laughs] Yes, that’s what’s going to happen. Michelle’s going to be like, “We got to do this. This shouldn’t be happening to moms in America or dads in America. This is unAmerican, and we’re going to do something about it.”

And that’s why we should always petition The White House, because Air Force One should get used more often, right?

Well, you never know.

So what can people do to help you with your cause?

People can get involved with Children’s Justice Campaign. They can just go to childrensjusticecampaign.org and make a donation. We’re obviously building this organization and need all the support we can get, because you need so many things today. You need a social media person. You need a resource person. To be as effective as we really want to be, we need that support. And we’re doing events and things like that, but people are welcome to go online obviously, as well and donate, or get involved if they’re going through it.

Do you have plans for more events, more benefits in New York and LA? We’re even partnering with different people. We’re partnering with a jewelry line now to do it - Meira T - they’re going to do their children’s collection for Children’s Justice Campaign, and they’re going to give the profits to us. We’re teaming up with other brands.

We’re doing events. We’re discussing this in the media to create more awareness around it.

We’re joined now by Wendy Murphy, who is your lawyer. Can you tell us how you got involved in this case, Wendy?

I do impact litigation work, and I’m an academic. I teach at a law school, and so I’m always looking for cases that are good examples of systemic problems that relate to violence against women and children. And this case was just an incredibly important example of the way children’s rights are violated. Fundamental constitutional rights are violated with impunity. Which is to say, the harm happens and nobody notices. Nobody cares, and no one can do anything about it. In a traditional sense, as Kelly pointed out before, children in family court are more like furniture. They’re owned by their parents. They don’t have their own rights. So when you go to family court, it’s the mother versus the father, and the kids get dragged along. So when bad things happen to children’s rights in family court, it’s a tree in the forest problem. It’s like, “Is there a violation, if nobody speaks for the children?” So when Kelly told me that focusmag.us 29

her children had been forced by court order, a California family court judge literally ordered her children to leave The United States of America and live in France, my constitutional bones started shaking. Because it’s so wrong on so many levels, and it may well have happened before to other children. But because people don’t understand that children do have rights, nobody fixed the problem.

Injustices to children, especially something as important as not being allowed to live in your own country, should have a remedy in the courts.

The United States Supreme Court said a long time ago, “If you are an American citizen – man, woman, or child, under no circumstances can you be forced to live in a foreign country.” It’s called expatriation. The only way you can live in a foreign country, is if you chose to, if you want to. A voluntary choice. These children did not choose to leave The United States. In fact, the attorney appointed for them in California specifically wrote a report saying, “These children should stay here. This is their country. Their mother is here. They were born here, and the only reason a California judge shipped them to live in a foreign country is because their father said, “My visa was revoked, and I’m not allowed to enter The United States.” There was absolutely no evidence that he was forbidden to enter The United States - none. But because he said it, the judge indulged it, shipped the kids abroad, when they were only two and five years old. Ripped from their mother’s arms, put on a plane for a foreign country - where guess what - when they landed there, they were nationless with no rights, no protections as American citizens. That’s what happens. When you get forced to leave your own country, and you’re forced to live in someone else’s country, where you have no citizenship, you have no rights. If we don’t prevail there, we will file a case with The Supreme Court of The United States, because really we have – not just the winning hand – we have all aces. What’s higher than that, a royal straight flush? We have that. On Delta, it’s the ‘diamond status’.

We have no argument against us, because The Supreme Court said it is non-negotiable. And if you can’t win, when you have The Supreme Court clearly on your side, there’s something wrong with your legal system, which by the way is why we formed The Children’s Justice Campaign. It is the kind of outrageous example of what’s wrong with our family courts and what’s wrong with a legal system that treats children like stuff. If children are stuff, bad things happen to them with impunity. We want to change that. We want to call attention to the injustices - critically important piece of the campaign - but we also want to force the legal system to create more rights for children. Children don’t need rights exactly the same as adults, but they need something higher than what they have which is status as plants. They shouldn’t be house plants. We want children to be able to stand up, when something really serious is happening to them. Whether it’s a loss of fundamental rights like Kelly’s kids, or they’re being abused in some serious way which is very common, very common. Something like five children die every day from abuse or neglect in this country. Every day. And I think if children had more rights, that number would go down. I know that if children had actual rights, Kelly’s children would be in their country where the belong. So The Children’s Justice Campaign is going to make them at least talk about it. And if we can start to develop doctrinal contours that give children more weight because they don’t vote, they don’t have any money. If we can give them a little more 30 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

weight in terms of basic human rights, basic constitutional rights, we’re going to see a lot less abuse in this country. And certainly we’re not going to see any more children expatriated involuntarily by any court.

A benefit for the Children’s Justice Campaign in LA was attended by celebrity supporters, including Selma Blair, Frances Fisher, Melanie Griffith and Kris Jenner.

UPDATE: Since this interview was recorded, Kelly received her 100,000 signatures but the custody order was not overturned, and Monaco still has official jurisdiction over the children.

Children’s Justice Campaign Mission: “Through a massive media campaign, The Children’s Justice Campaign seeks to educate the general public about the health and safety risks to children exposed to current family court practices, using statistics, scientific research, expert and victim testimony. Our mission is to inspire Americans to take action, demanding transparency and accountability within our courts., and ultimately transforming standards of practice that will honor the needs of a child by making their physical and emotional wellbeing the top priority in divorce and custody litigation.”

childrensjusticecampaign.org

Skin Deep

Q&A with Tricia Dikes

Expert aesthetician, TRICIA DIKES dispenses skin care treatments in Beverly Hills.

BY WENDY BROKAW KRETCHMER

We all learned from an early age, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” I tell this to my own children and I mean it....well, usually! I have a few exceptions. For instance, if I’m taking a workout class, I want the instructor to have a smoking body. This will motivate me and give me something to which I can aspire.

I feel the same way about skin care. If I am seeing a dermatologist or aesthetician, they better have great skin or why should I trust them? So, I knew I was in great hands when I went to get a “Power Peel” from Tricia Dikes of O’donna Skin in Beverly Hills. Her skin was more than flawless, it was glowing! Although this Power Peel was rumored to hurt, I said to myself, “Sign me up if my skin will look like hers.” And, P.S., this is coming from the girl who doesn’t like pain! Let’s just say, this quick 30-minute Power Peel hurt so good!!

She began by steaming my face with vitamins and enzymes and did a few extractions to clean out my pores. Next she applied a scrub that she said would feel like shards of glass.

When I asked exactly what it was, she replied, “Do you really want to know? It might freak you out?” Hell yes, I wanted to know. Okay, are you sitting down for this one? She was applying LIVE sea urchins to my face! There was nothing I could do, as there was no turning back. Tricia discovered these live sea urchins from a chemist in Europe 16 years ago. He was using them to try to eat away at a certain type of skin cancer, (which was not successful). He found that it was, however, great for eating away at the bad bacteria in the skin which caused breakouts and discoloration. So, for 10 bizarre minutes, I held still while the live sea urchins did their job on my face. She then removed them and applied oxygen with vitamins followed by 2 different types of acids, one to brighten, the other for antiaging. I’m not going to lie, the acid burns, but within minutes, the sting dissipates.

The final step was applying her Power Peel which stays on for 8+ hours, to be washed off at home. I left her office with no obvious discomfort or redness on my face. By day 2, my face looked slightly sunburnt, but in a good way! By day three, the magic began, and my face started to peel! The dead skin peeled off so easily, and I am thrilled with the results. I can’t wait to go back and spend more time with my new sea urchin friends!!

O’donna Skin Beverly Hills 310 400-2734 by appointment odonnaskin.com

WK: Who needs a Power Peel?

TD: The client who benefits from this peel would be – everyone! This is a great treatment for all skin types.

It is safe for all colors of skin from very fair to dark.

WK: How often should someone come in for this treatment and what skin issues can it help?

TD: A client may come twice a month, once a month or once every 3 months. This really depends on why we are treating the skin. This treatment is for acne and pore reduction, hyper-pigmentation/malasma (brown spots and/or uneven skin tone), and for anti-aging to firm and tighten the skin.

WK: What should your clients expect after only one treatment?

TD: Most clients will have a 70% change in their skin after their first session – from clearing of acne, to tighter, firmer skin, and noticeably less discoloration.

WK: What products do you use for the aftercare?

TD: These products are formulated for each individual’s skin needs. Before a new client leaves my office, I always mix a cleanser, scrub, moisturizer, sunblock, acid pads, eye cream, and 2 different serums for them to take home and use for 7-10 days after their treatment. I do suggest that the client puts aside other products they were previously using, and only use these for the week after their treatment. They work great, following their visit to me.

WK: What is the cost of a Power Peel treatment?

TD: $200 - But this treatment can be covered through insurance if the patient has acne, rosacea, or malasma. Dr. David Amron is the dermatologist who oversees my clients who choose to go through their insurance. focusmag.us 31

@_kendra_rae @glamarellacouture @90210realtor

@cherryaplbottom

@cupsnakelaura

@caseyscupcakes

@anastaystay

@cynthia_cintia

@emilysimarski @juliannedamico

@daniellaclarkestyle

@brizins

@laurenhla

@gail_melicor @rarbrooks

32 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

Post your Instagram pics with the hashtag #lovefocus and we will publish a selection in our next issue.

Community

@thecarriesource @megynbell

@ontour4ever @halsey_manor

@scohen13

@kerrizane

@nataliehills

@linabean113

@robin_mcgraw @sheekymeeky

@morganbishopp

@stephbauertv

@rnbgirl1231

@sunnydee3

@angeliquecabra

@focus_magazine_

@raventryon

@adaezotron5000

Gallery Powered by

focusmag.us 33

Music & Theater

Hollis Brown 3 October, 9pm

Hollis Brown has already achieved an impressive series of career milestones in its relatively brief existence. Their 2013 indie album Ride on the Train attracted critical acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone. The following year, Hollis Brown Gets Loaded—a song-for-song reading of the Velvet Underground’s 1970 classic Loaded— became a surprise international phenomenon. Their tireless touring has continued to spread Hollis Brown’s reputation as a consistently inspired and exciting live unit.

Tickets: $10 The Hotel Cafe 1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd. CA 90028 hotelcafe.com

Celebrating Gregg Allman: Featuring Eric Church 24 September, 8pm

In a special program presented by the Skirball Cultural Center and the GRAMMY Foundation®, Gregg Allman, renowned founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, discusses the impact of legendary concert promoter Bill Graham on his career with GRAMMY-nominated country star Eric Church, who counts Allman among his biggest influences.

Moderated by Scott Goldman, Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares®, the evening concludes with live acoustic performances by both Allman and Church. Tickets: $35 Skirball Center skirball.org 34 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

Grace Jones, Future islands 27 September, 8.30pm

Legendary rebel and pop siren Grace Jones returns to the Bowl with an unforgettable stage show: a hypnotizing blend of new wave, world beats and disco that can only be matched by her awesome performance power. Baltimore’s Future Islands craft dynamic synth pop – their song “Seasons” was named Song of the Year by Pitchfork, NME, MOJO and others – and deliver an extraordinarily ardent live show.

Tickets: $13-$147 Hollywood Bowl hollywoodbowl.com

Twyla Tharp: 50th Anniversary 1 - 3 October, 8.00pm

A flourish of trumpets heralds the double bill of premieres celebrating Twyla Tharp’s 50th Anniversary. In each premiere, Tharp turns her decades of experience – having choreographed Hollywood films, television specials, Broadway shows, figure-skating routines and full-length ballets– into living proof that time is her partner as she continues to deepen and expand the singular imagination which makes her one of the century’s most treasured artists. By combining different forms of movement – such as jazz, ballet, boxing and inventions of her own making – Tharp’s work expands the boundaries of ballet and modern dance. John Zorn provides the show’s vibrant introductory Fanfare, followed by brand new works Preludes and Fugues set to J.S. Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” and Yowzie set to the raucous humor of Henry Butler and Steve Bernstein’s jazz. The Wallis and four national powerhouse co-commissioners - the Auditorium Theatre and Ravinia Festival in Chicago, the Joyce Theater in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., TITAS Presents and AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas - present this Anniversary Tour. Tickets $49 - $119 Wallis Annenberg Center thewallis.org

Madeleine Peyroux 29 October

“The only thing that matters is the song,” says singer-songwriter Madeleine Peyroux. That conviction along with a ‘one of a kind’ voice, has carried this jazz artist from busking on the street of Paris all the way to mainstream recognition. Through intensely distinctive renditions of old classics and modern tunes by the likes of Leonard Cohen and The Beatles, Peyroux has proved to be an uncannily insightful ‘interpreter’ with her consistently impeccable choice of material. Much like Ray Charles, who in 1062 jelled R&B, Gospel Country and Jazz, Madeleine is at a nexus of styles blending Jazz, Blues, Country and Pop. $1.00 from each ticket sold will be donated to a local domestic violence charity of Madeleine’s choice.

8pm. Headliner 9pm. Tickets: $38 / $48 / $59

The Canyon, 28912 Roadside Drive CA 91301 canyonclub.net

Culture

Current Exhibitions Manzanar: The Wartime Photographs of Ansel Adams from 8 October

A lesser-known dimension of celebrated photographer Ansel Adams’s body of work, this exhibition offers an insight into a decisive and disquieting period in American history.

Presented at the Skirball in association with the Japanese American National Museum, the exhibition features fifty photographs by Adams of the Japanese American incarceration camp in Manzanar, California, during World War II. These photographs were the subject of Adams’s controversial book Born Free and Equal, published in 1944 while war was still being waged. The book protested the treatment of these American citizens and what Adams called their “enforced exodus.” Powerful forms of civic and artistic expression, the images speak to the Skirball’s mission of confronting injustice, embracing diversity, and preserving community.

Skirball Center skirball.org

Manzanar street scene, clouds, Manzanar Relocation Center 1943. Silver gelatin print

Frank Gehry

Opening 13 September A comprehensive examination of his extraordinary body of work from the early 1960s to the present, featuring over 200 drawings, many of which have never been seen publicly, and 65 models that illuminate the evolution of Gehry’s thinking. Tracing the arc of his career, the exhibition focuses on two main themes: urbanism and the development of new systems of digital design and fabrication, including his use of CATIA, a software tool used in the aeronautics and automobile industries, which allows the digital manipulation of 3-D representations.

This retrospective offers an opportunity to reflect on the development of Gehry’s work and to understand the processes of one of the great architectural minds.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, CA 90036 lacma.org

Animalia Until 18 October

Fielden Harper

29 September -24 October Focusing on signature historic buildings in and around Santa Monica, her representational paintings serve as an informal documentation of the area – mainly buildings, especially older ones that seem to carry a sense of history with them. Fielden Harper and her husband moved to California from their native Kentucky soon after they were married. While raising a family, she attended Otis Art Institute and then went on to California State University, Los Angeles for her M.F.A. in painting.

Tagg Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Avenue Gallery D-3, CA 90404 taggallery.net

Photographs of animals have circulated since the early history of the medium, initially focusing on those that were tame, captive, or dead. Advancements in camera and film technologies enabled precise recordings of beasts in motion and, eventually, in their natural habitats. Spanning the history of photography, this exhibition examines the expanding tradition of animal representation through the works of artists such as Horatio Ross, Alfred Stieglitz, William Wegman, Pieter Hugo, and Taryn Simon, among others.

Getty Center 1200 Getty Center Drive Los Angeles, CA 90049 getty.edu focusmag.us 35

Kids

Cahnicles

The Adventures of the Cahn Family

Yosemite I absolutely love taking pictures. I carry my camera with me at all times and I can find inspiration almost anywhere. A few weeks ago we took a family trip to Yosemite and the sheer beauty surrounding us had me snapping photos left and right. A little more than 300 miles north of Los Angeles, it’s a long drive with little ones, but well worth it! Recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, beautiful meadows, and giant sequoias, there is so much for little eyes to see.

As far as places to stay – if you are in the mood for roughing it, there are a few campgrounds within the park. One of my family’s favorites is Curry Village. If drinks by the pool and fine dining are more your thing, then the Ahwahnee Hotel is a better bet.

If you love to hike, Lower Yosemite Falls and Mirror Lake are easy treks to do with kids. If you are up for something a little more adventurous, then try Half Dome. But keep in mind that it takes ALL day, and is not for the faint of heart.

No matter what you end up doing, the possibilities for amazing photographs are endless. So make the drive, and don’t forget your camera!

For more information on Yosemite Park please visit yosemitepark.com

KIM CAHN left her television producer job to be a full time mom to Olive (5) and Buster (1). She writes about their family activities on her blog andrewjr.com Watch this space for Kim Cahn’s family adventure in the next issue!

36 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

Childrens Books Fashion themed books curated by VERONICA MAJD

Rocker Babies Wear Jeans

by Michelle Sinclair Colman Ages: 0-2 This baby board book illustrates the activities of rock-musician babies. This includes shaking their booties, going on tour and rocking out.

This book leads to parent/ child interaction, learning concepts, along with building babies’ early literacy skills.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

by Eric Litwin Ages 0-6 Pete the Cat LOVES his white shoes. He loves them so much that he sings a song about them during a walking journey.

However, while he’s walking he accidentally steps into a couple of messes, including a large pile of strawberries, a large pile of blueberries and more – leading his shoes to turn into different colors. But does Pete cry? Check out this book and discover his rhythmic approach to dealing with life’s messes.

Katie’s Noisy Music

by Fran Manushkin Ages 4-8 Katie Woo loves music. She loves it so much, that she’d like to make music of her own. She enjoys all of the instruments her father and his friends play.

However, none seem to be a good fit for her. Will Katie find an instrument that will be a good match for her? Read this comical independent reader to find out.

The Way to Stay in Destiny

by Augusta Scattergood Ages 9-12 Theo goes to live with his Uncle Raymond in Florida.

They both find Miss Sister Grandersole’s Rooming House and Dance Academy where Theo is drawn to play piano and also becomes friends with Anabel, a baseball fanatic who invites Theo to solve the town’s mystery. A touching story about adversity – and finding consolation with family, friends and music.

Veronica Majd is the children’s librarian at Donald Bruce Kaufman - Brentwood Branch. For comments, suggestions, questions or follow-ups, please email her at vmajd@lapl.org

Kids

DIY With Tanya Supermom, TANYA MEMME has the best job in the world – creating DIY projects for the tv show Home & Family. Armed with a glue gun, in each issue, she shows us how to make some of her favorite projects.

MATERIALS: • Mason jars

Moroccan Candle Votives Add some sparkle to your votive lighting with Tanya’s decorative DIY. Tanya shows you how to save money by making your own Moroccan Votives at home!

• Acrylic paint (a variety of fun colors) • Adhesive rhinestones • Puffy paint • Wire handle

Directions for the Tea Light Candles: 1. Pour colored paint all over outside of Mason jar 2. Let sit for 24 hours.

3. Decorate with puffy paint 4. Add peel and stick gemstones 5. Add a wire handle if desired.

Directions for the Wire Handle: 1. Cut 2 wires 12-14 inches twist each end into a hook 2. Wrap one wire around top of mason jar and connect other to hooked end. Twist together.

Text focus to 313131 to watch this focusmag.us/tv/tanyamemmecrafts focusmag.us 37

Handstand App TIFFANY HAKIMIANPOUR is the Founder and

CEO of Handstand, which is revolutionizing the fitness industry. It allows anyone to lead an active lifestyle.

38 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

D ESTI N E D

If you ask anyone close to me, they’ll tell you that I always have to be moving, learning, and planning. It’s very true, and it applies to almost every facet of my life – thankfully in the fitness and health realm too. I’m a chronic researcher and real life example that fitness of any sort makes you more aware, conscious, productive, courageous, and happier than ever. It also improves your intellect, but I won’t toot my horn here!

And of course, we know that fitness helps with your outer appearance. I shed about 50 lbs. some time ago and I can proudly say that fitness changed and still continues to change my life. It was when it was failing to do so, that Handstand began brewing. I know that now looking back. It wasn’t college. I had countless hours of available time and I fully took advantage of them. My friends would jokingly ask if they could live with me so I could get them motivated to move! The problem arose when I began my first career. I tried it all. I was that 5am gym goer, but it wasn’t healthy in the slightest. It had me skimping on sleep, missing out on friends, family, and other important aspects of my life. I needed help.

Enter Trainer Number 1. Enter long-term contracts. Enter inflated costs. Enter hidden fees. Enter no flexibility. Enter no variety. Enter inconvenience. I found that hiring a trainer was one of the most outdated processes to date. It was time-consuming, unfair,

inconvenient, and expensive. These experts help change lives; they should be more accessible, affordable, and convenient. Right?

Shortly after, I quit my job because it wasn’t the right fit. Nothing had clicked yet and I had one more stop. Meantime, I couldn’t help researching both online and offline looking for a solution. I quickly jumped back into work at a startup and learned how technology could bridge the gap between various markets. Of course, I applied it to my problem. There were so many trainers, instructors, and

W H AT I S H A N DSTA N D?

Handstand is perceived as the “Uber for personal trainers” but it’s so much more than that. Handstand is disrupting the fitness industry and taking something that was once reserved for the celebrities and the elite, and making it accessible and affordable for you. It’s taking these incredible trainers, instructors, and fitness experts in every fitness field imaginable, and helping them make a living doing what they love the most – teaching you how to start, change, or improve your fitness level and health. Handstand is fulfillment on both sides. One-on-one or small group training of any kind, is proven to be one of the fastest ways to improve your health. To have this App and website as the backbone, is the marriage of two of the fastest growing markets today: health and tech. You can now enjoy kickboxing, yoga, tennis, pilates, resistance training, and an ever-growing list of fitness sessions and types whenever, and wherever.

TH E RO U G H ROA D

fitness experts, but they were not reaching or attracting clients with their websites, flyers, or jobs at gyms and studios. I wanted to create a platform where they could be impactful and useful to people who needed and wanted their help. I also needed to improve the user experience drastically because of what I went through with Trainer Number 1. I quit my job at the startup and didn’t look back. Then I met James Hicks and Michael Jones, one of the Founders of Science Inc. and the former CEO of Myspace, and it was the perfect fit. We began incubating Handstand.

Don’t let the story fool you. It’s been almost 6 months and I’m essentially a one-person team wearing way too many hats. It’s been rougher than rough, but I can’t say I wasn’t warned. I’ve experienced a lot and have so much to still learn and grow, but that’s all part of the entrepreneurial path and process.

I’m more than blessed to have James and Mike to mentor and guide me. I know now firsthand that entrepreneurship is waking up on a Sunday when it’s raining and working your hardest. It’s failing 10 times on Tuesday and thriving on Wednesday morning. It’s taking an idea and translating it into an impeccable execution. It’s having the patience and the vision to see it through all the highs and lows. And most importantly, that there’s really no other way to grow than to go.

Go with passion, persistence, and everything you’ve got.

Text focus to 313131 to watch this focusmag.us/tv/handstandapp

handstandapp.com @HandstandApp focusmag.us 39

40 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

Talking Head The motivational speaker, TIM STOREY, is a mentor to many celebrities, including Oprah, but his words are inspirational for anyone who is willing to listen.

INTERVIEW BY SALLY COLON-PETREE

Text focus to 313131 to watch this focusmag.us/tv/timstorey

Scene: HOLLYWOOD, East West Studios – with Tim Storey and Sally Colon-Petree.

Sally: We’re here with Tim Storey who is an author, speaker, and life coach to stars like Robert Downey, Jr., Kanye West – and now Oprah?

Tim: We’re friends.

I loved the interview you did with Oprah. I thought it was phenomenal and I love that she pulled a lot of your one-liners and called them tweetable moments. One of those tweetable moments was – and I love this line – ‘Today’s decisions are tomorrow’s realities’.

Yes, because here’s what happens. People want to do big things in life, but it just doesn’t happen overnight. We make decisions every day. A decision is a choice or a selection, but today’s decisions are tomorrow’s realities. Start exercising today, you won’t be chubby in three months.

I love that. Did you know as a little boy, with your afro – because I saw the photo – that you were destined for success?

I knew I was destined for more than I saw around me, and I think that’s a key for people. Being raised in East LA, we didn’t see much. But what happened is that I began to become educated but also exposed. Education and exposure can change a person’s life.

They took me to Disneyland at age eight. I’d never seen anything like it. Everything was so clean. Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Adventureland, all these lands I’d never seen [laughs], exposure hit little Timmy with the afro. I said, “This is me. I’m going beyond.”

Tell me the difference of the mentality of people who are successful and the people who are never successful.

Time Magazine just did an issue of the 100 most influential people.

Here’s what they found. They had an uncommon work ethic. People who do well in life, they work their land. They had uncommon plans. See, some people, their plans are too small. Uncommon plans – they had uncommon friends. They partnered with the right people, so they are uncommon thinkers. People who do well are not standard thinkers, normal thinkers, regular thinkers – they think in an uncommon manner.

Beyond the norm. So you’re going outside of what most people do in your thinking?

Right. What happens to most people is that, in their house when they’re kids, the standard is an eight-foot ceiling. And you’ve been

overseas. You’ve even been to Africa. Some of the huts, the ceiling is low. The lower the ceiling, all of a sudden you feel sequestered. You feel tied in. Life wants to extend your ceiling, raise your roof, and cause you to look beyond.

You say that people get the ‘shout’ knocked out of them. Can you explain that?

When we are kids, we have a shout to us. You and your family, your sister I know... I doubt if your mother came in your room as a kid and said, “Sally, pump up the volume.” No, she said, “Shh.” Right?

Exactly. Yes. “Quiet.” Everywhere you went as a kid. “Quiet” – because kids have volume. They have a shout. It’s an inward shout. But then we get disappointed in life. Then we have distractions. Then we have things that don’t work, and life begins to knock the shout out of us, but we can get our shout back.

So who – and this is the big question – who motivates Tim Storey?

I am motivated by people’s lives. I read two biographies a month. I just read one about Gianni Versace. Before that, Armani. Now, I’m reading Bob Fosse. I want to know about people’s lives. I’m inspired

by David Bowie, by Mick Jagger, Mother Teresa, Lady Diana. Two biographies a month motivates me, stirs me up about somebody else’s life.

Wow. I know that people who are fascinated by celebrity always think that celebrities do things differently from regular people. Is that true? Because you deal with celebrities all the time.

The interesting thing is, is that everybody has problems. So we all have problems, but if you are a celebrity, everything is amplified.

So if you are on Scandal, and you have a scandal [laughs], now we know it on all these shows. Now there are all these outlets. There used to be Rona Barrett back in the ‘60s, and maybe Rona Barrett would talk about somebody and write about it. Now, there are about 50 outlets, so that very quickly your scandal becomes a scandal. So what happens when I deal with celebrities, I always tell them, “Let’s bring your challenge right here. Because it’s being amplified, but let’s deal with it right here in front of us.”

Is there currently, a celebrity or someone that you would love to meet, and maybe coach?

I would say Prince. I like Prince. I’ve been in the room with Prince, and I like the way he thinks. He’s outside the box. I would like to talk with him, stir him up, learn from him. Prince would be a good one.

focusmag.us 41

Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.

What do you say to someone whose life has lost purpose, and they’re trying to figure out how to get it back? For instance, stayat-home moms who gave everything to their kids. Now, they’re empty nesters. They have no idea what to do with their life now.

If you’ve lost your way, you have to go back to your first voice. That’s what I call it, the first voice. When you’re a child your dream talks to you. Dreams have a voice. Little girls say, “I want to be a ballerina. I want to be a school teacher. I want to be a missionary.” Your dream is talking to you. Little boys say, “I want to be Superman, SpiderMan. I want to be a doctor.” Your dream has a voice. So go back to the original voice, which I call the voice of innocence. See, what happens to us as we get older – as you know, Sally – all of a sudden, later in life, somebody tells you it can’t happen. Or challenges in your life say it can’t happen. So now you have multiple voices talking to you. It could even be a negative parent, a negative sister or brother, an ex. Go back to your original voice. And I say it this way.

The real you makes a demand on the you that you become. Let me say that again. The real you, your voice, makes a demand on the you that you become, and it says, “Hey, rise and up and do you.”

Now that you’ve interviewed celebrities, flown across the country, spoken in front of hundreds of thousands of people, written a lot of books. Where do you go from here?

I think it’s more of the same. I feel like I did back when I started, and I was 20 – twenty years of age, motivating people all over the world.

I’ve done this in 70 countries now. Now, people are just paying more attention, so I’m going to do more of the same. The guy at 7/11 who is struggling, Tim Storey’s talking to you. The celebrity up here in Beverly Hills, I’m talking to them. I’m talking to your son. I’m talking to your daughter. I’m stirring people up, waking them up, more of the same. It’ll be sheer TV. It’ll be radio. It’ll be Focus TV, more of the same. Let’s help people up.

Who inspires Tim Storey?

I am so inspired by Mother Teresa, and I love Mother Teresa. She’s in heaven now, but look what she did. People can look at her and say, “Hey, she’s just barely over five feet. She’s just this normal lady.”

Starts in India, a nun trying to change people, inch by inch, one by one, she changed her world. She changed the lives of millions of people because it wasn’t just the thousands in the orphanages, but she inspired so many people. Mother Teresa is my hero. Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.

And that’s how she thought. Some people think great is always grand, but great is a good word. Great is helping a cause. Great is calling your mother when she’s ill. That’s great. That’s Mother Teresa great.

It doesn’t take much. Seeing somebody on the street who seems kind of sad, just saying, “How are you doing today?” Or touch, I think touch is so important. Hugs, letting people know you love them, it goes such a long way. It doesn’t have to be a huge thing. I don’t think doing things for people should be an event. It should be a lifestyle. If you’re in that giving-back lifestyle, it’s happening all the time. It’s nodding to a person that looks down or saying, “Hey, you look great.” It’s a lifestyle. It’s not an event. I always say that if everyone does just a little bit, together we can accomplish a lot.

42 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

What is your ultimate goal in life?

What I do, my vision is to see somebody else’s vision come to pass.

And what I mean by that is, so many people, they have greatness inside of them, but no one has really come in with the skills to pull that person out. That’s my gift – so my vision is to see their vision come to pass. That’s my vision.

How do you spread yourself out? So many people need what you have to offer. How do you spread yourself out?

You know what’s beautiful about the world we live in today? Look at Focus TV. Look at Focus Magazine. Look at all the outlets that I can just do this interview, and it can go to thousands of people. The next thing you know, it can go to tens of thousands and possibly millions of people, because that quickly things can go viral.

How do people find you?

We have an incredible website timstorey.com. It will open you up to a whole giant world. We have free life-coaching, books they can get, videos they can get.

timstorey.com

What Is Success?

BY LAUREN GORES IRELAND PHOTO BY ANNIE SHAK

It’s Monday. Which usually requires two cups of coffee and a self-pep talk on the way to work.

I’ve been giving myself a lot of those pep talks lately. Mostly because of work changes requiring me to practice what I preach — that is, to shed self-doubt.

This little space — this blog, this creativity corner, this passion project of mine — is now my career. Something I never planned or envisioned for myself when I first started writing. But that’s the beautiful part about life, isn’t it? Plans change and God creates room for new paths we’re willing to take.

In helping me navigate this new path, a colleague asked me last week, “What is success?”

Such a simple question — yet such a complicated one for me to answer.

What is success? I have a trillion ideas in my mind and a lengthy goals list. But that list alone isn’t necessarily a sufficient answer to those three words.

My family spent a good part of the weekend listening to me contemplate precisely what I want to achieve to consider myself successful. A book, a show, a family… [+ a long list of other dreams].

And then, an aha! moment arrived…

The success I dream of today might not be the success I dream of next year, or in five years… or in 20 years. So, instead of trying to answer the question with something tangible — like an accolade, a title, or a hefty salary — I’m answering it with who I want to be. The type of wife, colleague, friend, sister + stranger. The type of dreamer, believer, doer, maker + writer.

If I love who I am, then I’ll love what I do, which will ultimately breed the greatest successes.

What is success to you? laurenslyst.com

focusmag.us 43

Happenings

LA MUSIC AWARDS 19 June 2015 Whisky a Go-Go, West Hollywood LA Music awards Nominations ceremony at the Whisky a Go-Go in Hollywood.

Musicians gathered at a special show to learn about their nominations for the main awards show in September. lamusicawards.com

Text focus to 313131 to watch this focusmag.us/tv/lama

A

EVENT

44 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

CELEBRATING

YEARS

LA MUSIC AWARDS 17 September 2015

Whisky a Go-Go 8901 Sunset Blvd.

25 years of red carpet extravaganzas in Los Angeles!

A special event honoring 25 stars from music, movies and television success stories, who were originally part of the LA MUSIC AWARDS family of stellar alumni.

Tickets: lamusicawards.com focusmag.us 45

Happenings FRENCH TUESDAYS 9th ANNUAL WHITE PARTY 23 June 2015 W Hollywood Rooftop Pool and Loft Annual gathering of the French Tuesdays club members for a White Party at the W hotel rooftop in West Hollywood.

A

EVENT

46 FOCUS | S E P T E M BE R 2 0 1 5

French Tuesdays White Party

LA Music Awards

http://focusmag.us/tv/ftredcarpet

http://focusmag.us/tv/lama

A Night To Inspire

FilmOn 3D holographic Show

http://focusmag.us/tv/inspire

http://focusmag.us/tv/filmonlive

WE CAN COVER YOUR PARTY, EVENT OR LAUNCH OPENING. EMAIL US WITH DETAILS OF YOUR EVENT

events@focusmag.us SPO NSORED BY

EVENTS focusmag.us/events/focusevents B E L A I R | B E V E R LY H I L L S | B R E N T W O O D | W E S T H O L LY W O O D | S A N TA M O N I C A

focusmag.us 47

Charity Angels MELLISA NIELSEN parlays her love of helping others into a successful fundraising business, creating employment for young women and channeling their talent and energy toward community growth.

There is a new set of “Angels” in town, and while these ladies aren’t fighting crime on prime time television they’re changing the world in a different way, through charity fundraising.

The Charity Angels is the brainchild of long time philanthropist, Mellisa Nielsen. Mellisa had a long history of volunteering in the community when a unique opportunity presented itself. A friend who served as the chair of his charity’s golf tournament asked Mellisa if she could help with day-of event fundraising strategies and activities. Mellisa obliged, the event turned out to be a huge success, and seeing an unfulfilled niche in the fundraising marketplace, The Charity Angels concept was formed that very day.

A decade later, with more than 100 charity clients, and having helped raise more than 73 million dollars, the business is still growing. While the core of the business remains golf tournaments, galas, and poker tournament fundraisers, The Charity Angels is expanding its service offering to include Cause Event Planning, Fundraising Consulting and Live Auctioneering. To that end, Mellisa partnered with Candace Yoder as COO to spearhead growth efforts of the business.

Ms. Nielsen is a fundraising force. Her drive to raise as much money and awareness for charities across the nation took her to the next organic step in her career – Live Auctioneering.

In July 2014, Ms. Nielsen was formally trained as a Live Auctioneer at The Missouri Live Auction School, referred to as “The Harvard of Auctioneering” in Newsweek Magazine.

The community has embraced the new product “Auctioneering Angels” with open arms. “I have been overwhelmed with the support of clients partnering with us for their Live Auctioneering needs” stated Ms. Nielsen.

The combination of professionalism, charisma, and passion for helping others that set The Charity Angels apart from traditional fundraising consultants/specialists. The Charity Angels are Cause Ambassadors for every charity partner they work with. They bring a

48 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

fresh blast of energy and enthusiasm to each event they attend.

“We have very strong client loyalty; if we aren’t available, clients often move their fundraiser date”, stated Ms. Nielsen.

Most recently The Charity Angels has partnered with The Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation to produce The First Annual Light Up The Night for Teen Suicide Prevention and Awareness on October 24, 2014 at The Buffalo Club in Santa Monica.

With the help of Ms. Nielsen and her team they were able to secure a celebrity studded crowd to talk about a very sensitive taboo topic “suicide”. Guests walked the red carpet, enjoyed an acoustic set

by Lukas Nelson (Willie Nelson’s son), a special appearance by the Bumby’s and danced the night away. “While guests certainly had a great time, the message was clear and felt throughout the night which is always our mission as Cause Event Planners” stated Ms. Nielsen.

“My heart was overwhelmed when our 250 guests took a moment of silence with candles lit in memory and honor of those who have lost their lives to the unspeakable epidemic of Teen Suicide and learned our event resulted in over 63,597 social media impressions”, said Ron Silverman Founder of The Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation.

“I am grateful to have built a company that creates jobs for young women in the community while raising money and awareness for charities across the nation. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my time”- Ms. Nielsen stated.

The Charity Angels T: (424) 293-8000 thecharityangels.com

What does Intimacy have to do with Taking Action?

BY MOLLY LYDA

Coming Out MIA BANDUCCI relives the day

Ladies…what if you were living a life that you fully love?

What if the parts of your life that you’ve been neglecting were flourishing and you were finding fulfillment in them?

What if you found time for You and the many things you’ve wanted to do, but haven’t gotten around to?

I know people who have all of that. I see them regularly, and it brings a huge smile to my face. I’m grateful to know them and to have supported them on their journeys towards balance. For them it required pausing, taking time to look within, reevaluating patterns, and then taking action from a place of clarity and passion. But their lives weren’t always like that. So many women today, as you know, are living in a rush; overscheduled and overwhelmed, just trying to make life happen and feeling unfulfilled at the end of the day.

I know many of these women and maybe you’re one of them. They often come to me in a panic, because something has gone wrong, and the delicate juggling act they’ve been managing, has crashed to the floor. These women are exhausted, burned out, and know something needs to shift on a soul level.

What I’ve found is that a disconnection from self, over sacrificing for others and a narrow focus on life in the external world has brought them to a critical standstill.

Intimacy with themselves has vanished on many levels – no quiet time, no selfreflection, little self-nurturing, and not a moment to hear the whispers of their own hearts.

I’m familiar with this experience.

I’ve lived a life for others and not myself.

I’ve been stuck in outward appearances before, listened to old, untrue stories about who I am and robotically followed family programming. All of it rendered me immobile and hopeless for too long. The good news is that I also found my way out

50 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

of that despair and onto a path that changed my life. Through deeper self-discovery, I began speaking my truth, embracing my power, and creating the life I really wanted.

For the last three years, I’ve helped many women do just the same and more.

I’ve helped them renegotiate their priorities and come home to a new Sense of Self, that leads them to actively living what they want most. This transformative work is done through my workshop called Intimacy 101: Create the Life You Really Want.

It’s an 8 week program where we zoom out and examine life from the big picture, identifying the areas that each participant wants to change or grow. While coaching them through the process and building unique, supportive relationships with others in the group, these women learn tools that assist them in creating what they most desire, while courageously managing obstacles that get in the way.

With a master’s degree in psychology and 12 years in the world of personal development, I know the value of life coaching and how it transforms lives. My clients learn that when you connect and truly tune into yourself intimately, the ability to take action, make change, and embrace new perspectives emerges, paving the way to create all that you really want and can imagine for your life.

The results of my coaching and workshops are abundant – with women finding their own voice, honoring themselves, stepping into creativity, finding love, feeling great about who they are, and Creating the Life They Really Want.

It’s the intimate connection and discovery within that ultimately leads to the outer change we’ve each been seeking.

That’s why intimacy and action are related.

And that’s what brings a huge smile to my face, thinking about those who are fully living and loving their lives from the inside out. I’m just humbled and grateful to be part of the process.

MollyLyda.com.

she decided to be free of the stigma created by the scar inflicted on her in a horrific car accident.

“Maybe, even though it was painful, this was meant to happen to teach you and make you better!” Grace, (how appropriate), is a beautiful little girl sitting beside me flying from NYC to LA, and she is absolutely right.

That’s how a child responded to the scar I bear. The snakeskin seared on my left forearm that made me hate myself, I mean HATE myself. I could barely look at it, let alone allow others to, showing all I truly am?! YIKES! I was petrified it meant I’d never live up to my destiny, (good one).

At 16, a devastating car accident almost left me an amputee. We flipped, and on impact with the asphalt, 60% of my forearm including bone was shredded off. I’ve had more than 10 surgeries – muscle, bone,

skin and tendon grafts, two joint fusions, and a 10-inch titanium plate that prevents movement.

For 11 years, I covered it up. I was disgusted by it, and all it represented. I felt unworthy of love or praise, isolated, disfigured. I saw nothing beyond the pain and imperfection I battled physically, mentally, and emotionally. In intimate situations I wouldn’t even touch a man with it, afraid they’d feel the difference and be turned off. I could hardly have a conversation without negativity or judgment. That’s how I chose to believe people would perceive my colossal flaw, so I projected that to my internal and external environments. I told myself how grotesque it, and therefore I, was.

One fateful Sunday last summer, like most weekends, I went to a pool party, completely unaware it would be the most significant day of my life since the accident. I packed the black cotton sleeve I never left the house without, and ventured off in a sweatshirt (safely hidden). When we arrived, I went to slip on my shield of armor… Panic set in. It wasn’t there. Digging frantically through my bag, “Holy sh**, WHAT am I going to do?” FREAKING OUT, anxiety coursed through my veins like toxic fire. Overwhelmed with terror and emotion, I almost didn’t hear a soft message calmly communicating, “Mia, this is it... Be done now.”

I wasn’t conscious of it, but instinctively knew the time had come to be brave. To accept this scar that’s been with me almost as long as it wasn’t. People have always lauded my strength and confidence, if there was ever a moment to truly embody those traits, this was it.

I took three deep breaths, assured my concerned friend we’d stay, and begged for every iota of courage I’d gained living in NYC, Europe, and South America all alone. As we approached the door, tears trickled down my cheeks. They hit a stiff upper lip and I entered the lion’s den of beautiful, perfect people.

I spent the day like always, in a bikini. But was more naked and vulnerable than I’d ever experienced.

A few minutes passed, no one asked about my arm.

Someone complimented my suit, but didn’t mention my scar. They barely noticed! Mind BLOWN! HOW?! I fabricated a story so horrific I denied myself the power I possessed! I didn’t spontaneously combust! It was ALL in my head.

Funny, I got my first and only tattoo at 21, in Arabic, after teaching English to boys my own age in a maximum security Moroccan prison, “freedom.” I adventured all that summer, dancing nights away, never understanding I was enslaved to fear. Like my scar, it’s forever with me, but it took 6 years to live up to. Now, EVERYTHING has changed. I quit the job I hated, and fell in love with life and myself. Liberated from my imprisonment behind a mask, I found gratitude for my challenge and accepted that this is why I’m here, to heal and inspire! That is freedom.

Focus LA

The App

@miabanducci focusmag.us 51

Who, What,

STYLE

DINING

FITNESS

INTERVIEWS

PERFORMANCE

ART

DECEMBER 2013 focusmag.us

CO M M U NITY P OW ERED

HANGING OUT WITH ACTRESS NICOLE CANNON

ALLI WEBB

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE FOUNDER OF DRYBAR

A GOOD GUY

EX ‘SOPRANOS’ LOUIS LOMBARDI HITS A HIGH NOTE

A HAPPY PLACE THE SENSORY WONDERLAND THAT IS HAVEN & Co.

CATT SADLER/ANDREA SCHRODER/MARK STEINES/BROOKE ANDERSON/EDEN SASSOON/APRIL BEYER/MEGHAN MARKLE/TRACY O’CONNOR/LAURIE DAVID/HEATHER BILYEU/VICTORIA TENNANT/ALLI WEB/BRANDE RODERICK/SANDRA TAYLOR...

NICHE DEMOGRAPHIC, AVERAGE INCOME $113,000, AVERAGE HOME $1 MILLION. MEDIA KIT AT FOCUSMAG.US/ADVERTISE OR EMAIL:

ADVERTISE@FOCUSMAG.US

YO U R CO M M U N I T Y P OW E R E D M AGA Z I N E

focusmag.us B E L A I R | B E V E R LY H I L L S | B R E N T W O O D | W E S T H O L LY W O O D | S A N TA M O N I C A

When.

REAL ESTATE

OPENINGS/PRODUCT LAUNCHES

CHAUTAUQUA BLVD Pacific Palisades

Video coverage of the preview party for Partners Trust to reveal a new construction property for sale.

Video coverage/photo gallery focusmag.us/tv/hamptonsinla

HERITAGE WINES STORE OPENING 9400 S Santa Monica Blvd

Coverage of a wine store opening in Beverly Hills.

Video coverage/interviewer/photo gallery focusmag.us/tv/heritagewines

CHARITY EVENTS A NIGHT TO INSPIRE Beverly Hills

Red carpet coverage of the Catt Sadler hosted, Women of The Agency event in Beverly Hills.

Co-branded/banner/Red Carpet/ Interviewer/ Video coverage/Photo gallery focusmag.us/inspire

Magazine and video coverage to make your event unique.

events@focusmag.us

EVENTS focusmag.us/events/focusevents B E L A I R | B E V E R LY H I L L S | B R E N T W O O D | W E S T H O L LY W O O D | S A N TA M O N I C A

Actress, host and voice over star DANI BEHR combines all her talents with her passion for real estate, to showcase properties in the Westside of Los Angeles.

Dani Behr IN CONVERSATION WITH JANINE STANGE

54 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

Scene: PACIFIC PALISADES – Dani Behr with Janine Stange.

Dani Behr is in the midst of her second career, although it really is her first working path reinvented. Her father had a real estate company and her mother was an interior designer.

“I saved my money from working since age 11, and when I was 16, I put it as a down payment on a house. That was the stepping stone to my interest in real estate”, she said.

Her early years were a fascinating blend of acting and performing, enough to make any adult envious, let alone a child. At an early age, she joined The Sylvia Young Theatre School in the UK, and her career in the world of entertainment began, changing her life forever. From the age of 13 she was acting in commercials, TV dramas and films. Her first job was a Pepsi commercial with Whitney Houston.

At just 14 yrs of age, a music producer picked Dani out to be in his new all-girl band, Faith, Hope and Charity. She signed a recording contract with WEA and manager Tom Watkins (of the Pet Shop Boys fame), and spent the next two years recording an album in studios with George Michael and Technotronic, shooting

videos in Paris and hanging out with Prince and Madonna.

When a second album failed to materialize, she auditioned, and was chosen from thousands of hopefuls to host what became one of the highest rated late night shows on British TV, The Word. The show gained cult status, as did Dani, and it made her into an overnight star – one of the youngest hosts on television.

Her deep, sultry, instantly recognizable voice has been in constant demand for over 24 years and a staple in the voiceover world. She has recorded TV and Radio commercials for thousands of clients – animation, movie trailers, video games and not forgetting the voice of the Virgin Atlantic Airways preflight videos, for nearly a decade. Her voice was a tremendous attraction for radio, and she was a natural host for a daily 4 hour live radio show on Kiss FM in the UK – her favorite job, as she fondly recalls.

Always keeping one acting foot in the door, she has appeared in a selection of roles over the years. She has taken to the stage for Cameron Mackintosh in Moby Dick, appeared in The Vagina Monologues at The Old Vic in London, with Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet and Melanie Griffith. And again, at Madison Square Gardens with Oprah Winfrey, Jane Fonda and Glenn Close. She was featured in various roles in TV sitcoms and British movies, including Rancid Aluminium with Joseph Fiennes and Rhys Ifans, Goodbye Charlie Bright with Paul Nicholls and Like It Is alongside Roger Daltrey.

In 2001, after spending more than half of her time in LA, she decided to move here permanently. She was seen as a regular host on Extra for NBC, hosted Boy Meets Boy for Bravo/ NBC, Littlest Groom for FOX , Paris Fashion Couture and Rio Carnival for ABC. Dani is a contributing host at FOX SPORTS and is always working on developing new television shows to produce.

Dani’s first love, and favorite hobby, has come full circle and alongside her TV and voiceover work, she is also currently a real estate agent, partnering with legendary Pacific Palisades broker, Anthony Marguleas at Amalfi Estates. Behr specializes in highend luxury homes in the Los Angeles area Westside.

“I have been out in LA for 16 years. The biggest difference between London and LA is the attitude of people, everyone in LA is more positive, friendly and there is a “can do” attitude which I love. What I also love about America is that you can reinvent yourself.” says Dani.

And she has done precisely that.

Text focus to 313131 to watch this focusmag.us/tv/danibehr

“I feel like I grew up too fast, I didn’t have the college experience, but at the same time I was recording albums, hosting tv shows and flying around the world.”

danibehr.com

focusmag.us 55

Zoom Interiors MADELINE FRASER, one of the founders of Zoom Interiors talks about affordable interior design and their experience pitching on Shark Tank.

Who are the founding members and what prompted you to start the company?

The founding members of ZOOM Interiors are Madeline Fraser (Marketing Director), Beatrice Fischel-Bock (Business Director), and Lizzie Grover (Creative Director).

We met in our first interior design course at George Washington University. We became friends instantly and worked together for the next 3 years of design school learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We went abroad our junior year and our friends back home were graduating and getting their first jobs. They were all asking for our design help for their apartments. Through helping them, three things stood out to us.

1. We were able to help them with their apartment virtually overseas.

2. They were on a budget.

3. They had quick timelines and wanted instant gratification.

It dawned on us that this is clearly an underserved part of the market. The design industry had just been shaken by the recession and people were very conscious about affordability. We decided to try our new formula with paying customers. We had the luxury of testing our company while still in college. Two years later here we are developing technology to bring our services to the masses.

56 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

What is your business model, and what problem is it solving?

ZOOM interiors is the completely virtual interior design service.

Our mission is to revolutionize interior design by making it accessible and affordable to everyone through our online platform.

When we founded ZOOM interiors, there weren’t options for people on a budget, let alone living a busy lifestyle. We felt that there wasn’t an easy and affordable outlet for interior design. We felt the best way to do that was by bringing it online.

Who is your target customer/demographic?

We work with all kinds of clients across the country. We have found our target demographic to be Millennials. Our average client is in their mid-late 20’s, early 30’s.

When did you earn your first revenue, and how did that feel for the founding team?

Our first project was with a client named Gracey. She was our guinea pig, so to speak. We transformed her space in under one month for only $1,400. Seeing that transformation and hearing from her how happy she was with her new space made us feel like this was really a service that could help people and really work. It was an incredible feeling and has kept us going ever since. Gracey

was so ecstatic about her new space that she blabbed to all of her co-workers about the design. Her boss decided to get ZOOMed and they bonded over their mutual love of the brand. They recently got engaged and have enlisted us to ZOOM their new home together.

PITCHING TO THE SHARKS

Tell us about your Shark Tank experience. Why did you decide to do it, how did you apply?

We decided to apply on a total whim. We never thought in a million years that we would actually get on the show. We just believed in our business idea and decided to share it with Shark Tank. We had luck on our side because we happened to email them about ZOOM interiors during their pre-production month when they were scouting out companies to apply. We scrambled and got our application and audition video in one week before the 40,000 others applied. Seriously, sheer luck!

How long did you have from the time you found out you would be on the show, to the time you had to present?

The application process alone took about six months to complete.

We kept slowly moving to the next level until finally they were like okay we are flying you guys to LA. We pitched to the Sharks in June focusmag.us 57

of 2014, almost one year ago and the episode just aired on May 8th 2015.

How long was the filming process?

We were in the Tank talking with the Sharks for about one hour!

It was a long and intense conversation but we felt that we got invaluable advice and guidance that has helped us grow our company since then.

Who was your favorite Shark?

Going in we had our heart set on either Mark or Barbara but we really didn’t have any expectations. Our main goal was to find a mentor and gain as much advice as possible. Every Shark had some great advice and seemed very invested in the idea and business concept.

Did you have any social time with the Sharks?

No. Did you seek out advice from others on the show?

We sought out advice when we found out our episode was going to air. We called a few companies that had been on the show in the past to find out how their experience was after their episode aired.

Everyone we reached out to was incredibly kind and helpful. The Shark Tank community is very supportive.

We really thought the entire process was a lot of fun when I think we expected it to be much more scary. Everyone was so kind and supportive.

How long was the actual pitch, how did you think it went in hindsight, were you surprised you got funding?

The pitch was about an hour. We went in there and received advice from some of the most well-known, successful business minds. The whole experience was priceless in our eyes. The Sharks were invested in the idea, thought it was a great concept, and it really seemed like they wanted to help and guide us.

How long was it from the time you filmed the show to the time it aired, and did you keep it a secret?

It was 11 months! A very long time coming. Yes, we kept the secret for that entire time, if you can believe it.

Today, what is the focus of Zoom Interiors – do you have any employees other than the founding team?

We have brought on two other employees and have about 5 interns on the team right now. We are taking Mark Cuban’s advice and have been “grinding” for the past 11 months to grow this company.

Did you get any advice from the Shark Tank producers?

We absolutely loved our producers. They were so fun and easy to work with and were incredibly supportive throughout the entire process. They kept us calm, level headed, and walked us through the entire process. They also helped us clearly craft our pitch.

Text focus to 313131 to watch this focusmag.us/tv/zoom

58 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

zoominteriors.com Instagram: @zoominteriors Twitter: @ZOOMinteriors Facebook: ZOOM interiors, LLC

focusmag.us 59

A N O JA I R E T R E AT GEMSTONE RANCH This exceptional Upper Ojai estate on 10 pristine acres is part private resort, part equestrian ranch. The main lodge has seven bedrooms and an elegant guest wing. The pool house includes a bedroom suite, a steam room and a gym, adjacent to a freeform rock pool with waterfalls and spa. Boasting spectacular views of the Topa Topas, the 4 acres of terraces, outdoor entertaining spaces and lush landscaping include an all-weather tennis/basket ball court. There is a separate office and garaging for 5 cars. The superb horse facilities include 10 stalls, hot wash, a show-size arena and 6 acres of pasture plus private water well. Amazing Ojai trails are easily accessible. The estate is gated and completely fenced for total privacy and security. Enter the gates to this magical property and you may never want to leave.

Contact: Serge Sarkassian home@lahomemag.com T: 818-427-9997 60 FOCUS | S E P T E M BE R 2 0 1 5

Gemstone Ranch 12057 Sulphur Mountain Rd Ojai, California

7 Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 10 Acres 7500 Square Feet

Offered at $6,950,000

LA/HOME

Spend a relaxing day in picturesque Ojai, with lunch (on us), and a private viewing of Gemstone Ranch. Contact Serge at 818 427-9997 to schedule a day to visit.

LA/HOME

Contact Serge Sarkassian at LA Home for a viewing

focusmag.us 63

LA/HOME LA HOME magazine is a celebration of life in LA, with stories about the designers and artists who make this city a center of culture and innovation.

“Finishing a record is the most disappointing part of making records, because there is no more potential.” Moby

“prime Beverly Hills or prime Bird Street areas with amazing views, should be hitting $4000 a SQ foot.

I think that’s very possible in the foreseeable future.”

Mauricio Umansky, The Agency

64 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

“I was a fan of Flipping Out, and it had been on maybe 2 seasons. You think you know Jeff Lewis because you’re in his life, you’re in his world, and you feel like you want to be his friend. I went to dinner one night and walked into a unisex bathroom at a swanky restaurant...and there he was. I introduced myself and...he actually brought me back to his table to meet his friends.” Megan Weaver

N

ot, as you might imagine, the name of an English butler, Alfred Coffee is named after Alfred Street, where owner Josh Zad once lived, and just around the corner from the original Melrose Place location. Alfred Coffee

F

orming their name from the year Prohibition was repealed, The 1933 Group is surely a name to make hedonists rejoice. With eight bars opening within the last decade, like a competitive drinker, they don’t seem to pause for breath. And each successive venue brings with it a different theme.

All of them however, hark back to that bygone era of the early 20th century – if only to give Bobby Green, the designer, indulgence to scour the Mid West flea markets for the vintage items he is so passionate about. 1933 Group

T

he design of the center alone calls attention from all angles, even to those who are unaware of what goes on inside. You don’t need to be part of the design world to appreciate the stunning beauty of the architecture; its sharp edges, colorfully smooth surfaces, its enormous presence on the fourteen acre campus in West Hollywood. The greens, blues, and reds of the chic complex looks more like something out of a Pixar film, nothing like the rest Los Angeles. Pacific Design Center

On newsstands NOW, and for sale online at lahomemag.com

focusmag.us 65

focusmag.us/getfocus BRENTWOOD

BEL AIR

WEST HOLLYWOOD

MARINA DEL REY

Coral Tree Cafe 11645 San Vicente Blvd,

Shu 2932 Beverly Glen Circle

Eden by Eden Sassoon 8600 W. Sunset Boulevard

The Studio 330 Washington Blvd Marina del Rey

Unplug Meditation 12401 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 101 Bank of America 287 26th Street., Sweet Crush 11753 San Vicente Blvd Vicente Foods 12027 San Vincente Blvd.

Brentwood Library 11820 San Vicente Blvd.

SANTA MONICA Coogies 2906 Santa Monica Blvd.

One West Bank 1630 Montana Ave. Groundwork Coffee Shop 1601 Montana Ave.

Urth Cafe 8565 Melrose Ave. MALIBU Malibu Gym 29575 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu Health Club 22917 Pacific Coast Hwy PC Greens 22601 Pacific Coast Hwy Colony Liquor 22523 Pacific Coast Hwy CVS 23841 Pacific Coast Hwy Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 3835 Cross Creek Chipotle 3828 Cross Creek

Marmalade Cafe 710 Montana Ave. Izzys Deli 1433 Wilshire Blvd.

Sofitel Hotel 8555 Beverly Blvd.

SHERMAN OAKS

BEVERLY HILLS

Kinsley 14006 Riverside Dr, Sherman Oaks

Christophe 348 N Beverly Dr, Nate ‘n Al 414 North Beverly Dr Urth Cafe 267 S.Beverly Dr. Whole Foods 239 N.Crescent Dr. Beverly Hills Market 311 N.Crescent Dr. Mercedes 9250 Beverly Blvd.

On Newsstands STUDIO CITY Laurel Canyon News 12100 Ventura Blvd Studio City BRENTWOOD Marcks Newsstand 11737 San Vicente Blvd WEST HOLLYWOOD Sherwood Magazines 745 N La Cienega Blvd between Melrose and Santa Monica Blvd

Buy Online: focusmag.us/shop/magazine

66 FOCUS | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

#lovefocus

focusmag.us 67

focusmag.us 69

LA HOME /

CALIFORNIA FOR SALE

Mapleton Drive, Beverly Hills Offered at $16,995,000

Gemstone Ranch, Ojai Offered at $6,950,000

Minorca Road, Pacific Palisades Offered at $7,885,000

Collina Strada, Bel Air Offered at $8,990,000

Oak Pass Road, Beverly Hills $23,000,000

Amalfi Drive, Pacific Palisades $12,899,000

Showcase your home

If you are looking to sell your home, and you would like us to showcase it in the next issue of LA HOME magazine, please email us at home@lahomemag.com