A Distinctive Style Summer 2010 with Kim Alexis

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Delfeayo Marsalis

By Kristan Bourestom

M

r. Delfeayo Marsalis captures my attention in the first ten seconds of our interview when he tells me, “A person is attracted to the instrument that is most like their own personality.” As such, he found himself drawn to the trombone, “the mild mannered, and peace keeper of the band”. The middle son of six, two of whom are well known jazz musicians Branford and Wynton Marsalis, I soon learn why the trombone chose Delfeayo.

ADS: So tell me what it was like growing up in such a musical family.

DM: Because of our generation , Branford and Wynton where coming up in the late 60’s, and the shifting that was happening in the country my mother’s main focus was to provide us with access to as many opportunities as possible.

Music was part of what we did but we were in the Boy Scouts, sports, student council. My parents were interested in our keeping an open mind, with an emphasis on achieving perfection in whatever we participated in.

ADS: With exposure to so many things did you ever think something, other than music, might be your calling?

DM: I have always liked literature and I liked creative writing.

But other than that no, there wasn’t anything else I ever thought I would do other than music. That’s why I think I got into musical theatre because it combines the music with the writing.

ADS: So music has always been your passion?

DM: Oh yea! I was just talking to Branford about how we make our records for each other. I produced so many years for Wynton, now when he does his records he’s wondering what I am going to think about them. It affects what his final product is.

As it turns out, Delfeayo Marsalis affects a lot. He has produced over 100 recordings, made a comment about the bass direct in the mid 80’s that resulted in a complete shift in acoustic jazz and influences multitudes of young musicians through his Uptown Musical Theatre program, now in its 10th year. And if that isn’t enough, he is coming out

with his own orchestrations of Duke Ellington’s music based on Shakespeare, entitled, Sweet Thunder in August. “I influenced Branford and Wynton for so many years but because it was behind the scenes my impact hasn’t been well documented. I want to come out with this because, like the dreaded bass direct, it will change the whole sound of acoustic recordings. I think this will offer another approach to how jazz is presented.”

Just like the instrument he chose, Delfeayo Marsalis quietly works behind the scenes, influencing the course of an entire generation of Jazz, yet never quite tooting his own horn (pun intended). So next time the jazz siren calls, think about the man behind the music when you hear the trombone.

For details on concert dates and locations visit Mr. Marsalis’ website at www.dmarsalis.com

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A FILM ABOUT HOW THE WAY WE EAT AFFECTS US AND THE PLANET ‘PLANEAT’ is a provocative challenge to our love of meat and dairy. Tracking the work of a group of scientists, doctors and environmentalists, the film forces us to confront the evidence that a heavily animal-based diet is bad for our health, the environment and the future of the planet.

The film features the groundbreaking work of Dr. T Colin Campbell in China exploring the link between diet and cancer, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr’s use of diet to treat heart disease patients, and Professor Gidon Eshel and Professor Peter Singer’s philosophies on how to feed an ever-burgeoning population in the midst of global warming.

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features PAGE 20 BAronESS moniCA von nEumAnn

PAGE 50 BrittAny Snow

PAGE 34 ForBES rilEy

PAGE 4 DElFEAyo mArSAliS

PAGE 42 GEnA lEE nolin

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PAGE 14 Kim AlExiS

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sections

A DS Magazine COVeR Model KiM aLeXiS Photographer SebaStian SMith Music Lizz WRight Publisher DeniSe MaRie Editor-in-Chief gingeR bRaShingeR Beauty Editor SheLLY baLLeSteRO

AWARENESS

Features Editor PeteR MaCK Copy Editor MaRY haRRiS Art Director MaYthe CaRPentinO Marketing Officer iSabeLLa OPhia Director of Marketing/Sales ChLOe DiCaPRiO Contributing Writers Rita COOK

FASHION

BEAUTY

Jane WaiDe JaiMie SiegLe RUSSeLL DanDRiDge KRiSten bOUReStROM teReSa LOUiSe JOhnSOn Phone 214.717.5375 Skype DiStinCtiVe.StYLe Corporate Offices DaLLaS teXaS Sales SaLeS@aDiStinCtiVeStYLe.COM

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a DiStinCtiVe StYLe Magazine 13

Photographer – Sebastian Smith

Kim Alexis “What I want women to hear is, ‘I’m good enough.’

You may not have a perfect body, but you are still a good person.”

By GinGer BrashinGer

S

ome women just seem to have it all—and isn’t it wonderful when they are willing to

share?

Kim Alexis, supermodel, television personality, author, fitness expert, and most importantly, wife and mother, generously shares her life experiences with women everywhere. As a role model and spokesperson for women’s issues,

Kim gives back to a society that embraced her outer beauty by sharing her inner beauty, too.

“I happen to be a woman of many interests,” Kim says. “But, women’s issues just seem to be where my passion lies.”

Her own story, a winding path which spiraled upward to the present day, could have gone in a different direction had it not been

for a loving family, one which

critical of things I hadn’t even

always supported her aspirations.

dreamed of caring about before— like hair and makeup. I just shut

“I was blessed with a great family

up and learned.”

life,” Alexis said of her early years with parents from whom she

While listening and learning as

watched, listened, and learned.

she had done in her home, Kim

“I just always had positive

developed the traits that helped

reinforcement.”

her to move successfully within the diverse worlds of glamour

So, when Kim Alexis was

and entertainment to a life of

“discovered” as a teenager, her life

inspiration and spirituality.

plans changed dramatically, and her eyes were opened to a whole new way of life.

Fulfilling her desire to become a wife and mother at a young age (“I always had a desire to get

“I really saw a value change when

married and have children”),

I left my small town at the age of 18

Kim’s first marriage in the early

for New York City,” she recalled.

80s ended in divorce after eight

“I was almost stripped of who I was

years. However, her dream of

because the people I was with didn’t

becoming a mother was realized

care about the straight A’s I was

with the birth of her two sons,

getting in school or that I wanted to

life-changing events that helped

be a pharmacist. I was often with sharp-tongued people who were

Continued A DIstInctIve stYle mAgAzIne 15

Photographer – Sebastian Smith

to center and shape her life even further.

“I continued modeling when I had children,” Kim says, “but that was the start of becoming selfless. I wouldn’t take a job unless I knew my sons were taken care of.”

Family continues to be center stage for Kim. She married her present husband, Ron Duguay, a former professional hockey player with the NHL, in 1993.

They combined their two families (Duguay has two daughters from a previous marriage) and had a son of their own. Raising five children as committed Christians, the Duguay family has had to work through the bumps in life that any combined family might experience. But, just as Kim has modeled the necessity of being true to yourself and working hard for whatever is important in your life, she embraced the challenges of her second marriage.

“Through forgiveness, we’ve become family,” Kim says.

That inner strength allows Kim to concentrates on her passion of helping others through many and various avenues, all of which are geared to improving the self-esteem of women.

“What I want women to hear is, ‘I’m good enough.’ You may not have a perfect body, but you are still a good person.”

Kim Alexis, someone who knows a good deal about turning heads when she enters a room, understands a woman’s

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While Kim acknowledges that

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M

archesa is a glamorous, movie-star fashion house: Its specialty is the showstopping red carpet dresses you’re likely to see on Kate Hudson, Sienna Miller or “Annie,” known to the rest of us as Anne Hathaway.

The gowns seem a perfect complement to the label’s cofounders, Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, two Brits-turned-New Yorkers who fit nicely into the glitzy fabric of the fashion world.

Creative director Chapman is even married to film producer-mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The duo had known each other when they were students at Chelsea College of Art and Design in London and talked about having their own collection, probably loungewear.

But as Chapman earned her degree in costume design and Craig in textiles, they and their plan drifted.

However, after working as a both a model and behind-the-scenes costumer, Chapman decided she wanted to be her own boss. They rekindled their friendship and – just like that – Marchesa was born in 2004.

“Once we started, we had so much fun,” says Chapman.

And, with Marchesa Luisa Casati, the eccentric European style chameleon, as their muse, a vision of a unique brand was emerging. It was good, if coincidental, timing that their gowns, all one-of-a-kind, started making the rounds to Hollywood stylists just as the weekly celebrity magazines exploded into a huge force in fashion. “We saw the red carpets and saw them as an amazing marketing tool,” Chapman says, and they’d carry big suitcases back and forth to Los Angeles.

The buzz started when Renee Zellweger wore a red Marchesa dress to a high-wattage premiere, and it’s been one star after another, including Rihanna in a laser-cut leather number and Cameron Diaz in a micro-mini modern tuxedo style.

A Distinctive style mAgAzine 19

member within some of the most elite circles of society, she is an authority on everything “luxury” from dining to decorating, travel to hosting, jewels to sports cars. She also takes great pride in her role as a philanthropist. She works regularly with the Italian foundation AINA (Associazione Italiania Nomadi Dell’Amore), a humanitarian organization that provides orphanages and medical treatment

Baroness Monica von neuMann More Than Just a Pretty Face An excellent businesswoman, tastemaker and former Dior and Yves St. Laurent model as well as a member within some of the most elite circles of society.

By russell DanDriDge

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B

aroness Monica von Neumann practices a green lifestyle by doing the simple things on a day-to-day basis, like using ENERGY STAR© light bulbs all throughout her home, making sure all her trash is recycled, supporting companies that are trying to make a difference environmentally, using only biodegradable cleaning products, turning off computers to save energy, and printing on both sides of the paper to reduce paper consumption. But even with her ecofriendly bent, Baroness Monica von Neumann still lives in style.

An excellent businesswoman, tastemaker and former Dior and Yves St. Laurent model as well as a

for HIV-infected youths. Baroness von Neumann and AINA also provide them with a quality of life otherwise unavailable. In that same vein, she also works alongside a group called March to the Top, another children’s organization.

“About three years ago I met several children in Switzerland who were from Kenya,” she says. “They were absolutely brilliant and these children exposed me to their living conditions in their home country. I soon couldn’t resist the attraction to visit Kenya. Once there, I witnessed first-hand the devastation of HIVinfected orphan children.”

She immediately got involved in March to the Top and AINA, becoming part of a world in which she knew she could do something to help make a difference.

“I was not able to have a blind eye for all the circumstances that Kenya was enduring. On my trip to Kenya I visited over 20 orphanages and spent time with well over 3,500 children. I saw for myself what they needed and discovered that so little can really go so far.”

Closer to home, the Baroness also has been closely involved with a group called Inner City Arts for about four years. Inner City Arts, a

non-profit organization which provides elementary, middle and high school students in Los Angeles’ poorest neighborhoods with the means to find the skills and tools they need to flourish personally and academically.

“Inner City Arts does this through an all-arts approach in afterschool programs, a full service arts center and guidance to assist the children in taking their futures to the next level

ways. However, she does note that while she is equally committed to all of these causes, it’s AINA and March to the Top that take up the largest portion of her time.

For the future, she says, “Aside from aiding in fundraisers with Dr. Keith Black, I’ve particularly enjoyed traveling last May with March to the Top and AINA to finish the housing of an orphanage in Kenya. Spending time with the children, getting to

of success. I was introduced to this organization through a ‘Tables for Ten’ event - an annual fundraiser where some of the city’s top chefs and designers collaborate to create tabletop dining exhibitions,” Baroness von Neumann says. “I was chosen to design a dinner table, and I was introduced to the children who benefit from this involvement.”

know them, seeing first-hand what they live like and how much they really need is life-changing.”

Billed as one part Martha Stewart and another part Wendy Williams, this aristocrat-turned-lifestyle-expert does indeed take her foundations and her life seriously, always sharing advice with the utmost elegance and just a touch of Detroit soul, where

As well, she has also worked with the Hollyrod Foundation for the past year, a group that provides a wide selection of services and support to families enduring the struggles of having one or more children with autism. Finally, she helps support the efforts of Dr. Keith Black, a leading neurosurgeon and scientist at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles who is dedicated to research and finding new improved ways to treat and cure cancer.

“My husband passed away from a brain tumor,” says Baroness von Neumann, “So I, like Dr. Black, understand the environmental effects that cause the disease. I simply want to contribute to furthering his groundbreaking research.”

For each organization, the Baroness says there are specific reasons she became involved with each one, and they enhance her life in myriad

she was born.

“I was born in Detroit to a lawenforcement family,” she says. “But my parent separated when I was five and I moved with my mother to Los Angeles. I had what some might call a Bohemian childhood. My mother was a free spirit and had likeminded friends.”

When von Neumann was 18 years old she met Baron John von Neumann at a dinner party in Palm Springs, but she had no idea who he was at the time.

“We shared a fantastic night of conversation, but it wasn’t until later on that I realized that I had been speaking with not only an Austrian aristocrat but also the man responsible for introducing Volkswagen in America! I’m not one to be easily impressed by status, but when we met again at another party three months later he was so Continued Next Page

www.flickr.com/photos/dlennis

charming and sincere, I was his from then on. After two months of dating we were engaged to be married.”

The Baroness adds that she never

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loses her roots. “Growing up in humble circumstances and being around my mother and her circle of free-thinkers made me a lot more

open-minded. It made me want to see the world – to constantly be having new experiences, broadening my horizons and gaining new perspectives.”

She also constantly broadens her horizons when it comes to design, which has evolved over time as she has grown.

“Whatever home I purchase and design, I do stick with the bones of the house,” she explains. “The bones determine how the house will be designed. My taste is a combination of contemporary and classic.

Contemporary furnishings with classic pieces from your travels make your house a home. Living in Europe has taught me that contemporary doesn’t necessarily mean cold.

Europeans will mix the two styles, which adds warmth. Because of that I do not do ‘trendy.’ For me, trendy is a dirty word in design. “ What’s the only thing she says she would change in her life right now?

“I would ask for more than 24 hours in a day.” She admits she is secretly obsessed with sunflower seeds and always lives by two life mottos: “Do unto others as you want them to do unto you; and never lie.”

As for her future plans for the organizations she works with, she said, “I helped to organize and host a fundraiser in May with AINA and March to the Top to benefit The New Hope Orphanage and Clinic in Meru, Kenya, and I’m planning another trip to Africa to continue to see what each school and orphanage needs most from our efforts.”

A Distinctive style mAgAzine 23

By GinGer BrAshinGer

P

icture yourself in a green cape and tights with a gigantic “EC” for EnviroCitizen on your chest, flying over Mother Earth and saving her from certain ruin.

That’s an image that everyone should be able to relate to, according to Mike Valenti, founder of EnviroCitizen.org., an online source of, well, everything eco-friendly.

“I think it’s important that we all become involved because we need to realize we have a responsibility to our generation and to future generations to leave the earth a better place than we found it,” Valenti said.

Sound like a tall order? It’s not, if your first step is to take a gander at what EnviroCitizen has to offer.

With a website reminiscent of the Whole Earth Catalog, conceived by Stewart Brand in the late 1960s, EnviroCitizen.org grabs its visitors with a virtual surround sound of information and purchase options, all designed to help us “live more lightly on the earth.”

The message is lightly given, as well. There’s not a “You should,” but there’s definitely a “You can” attitude.

Everything from composting supplies to batteries to RVs to cleaning products and anything 24 A Distinctive style MAGAZine

imaginable in-between is offered in eco-friendly terms. And it would be fairly easy—and just as lucrative, no doubt—to stop right there. But Valenti and his wife Theresa have taken the company to another level, offering to educate the consumer through featured articles, links to local “green” providers, and databases, to name a few.

In 2008 they decided to “create a comprehensive e-commerce website combining robust commerce, content, and community.” Research had shown them that although each of these existed in isolation on the net, no one had effectively brought all three together.

“We thought it would be neat if we could feed and clothe our kids and save the planet at the same time,” Mike Valenti said, “with the three ‘c’s’ all under one web address.”

While the product line and resources definitely cover the commerce and content, an EnviroCitizen forum offers a hearty sense of community. Visitors can tap into EnviroCitizen through Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, as well.

Valenti, who has gone out into the community to talk to students about sustainability (“The second graders are the toughest, but they get it.”), walks the walk when it comes to living an eco-friendly existence

himself, but he is totally realistic about getting everyone from point A to point Z. “It’s not too late for anyone,” Valenti said. “There are people feeling guilty about how they’ve lived their lives who want to atone.

That’s why we have such an emphasis on education. People are hungry for information about what they can do, but they’re not always sure how to execute it.”

EnviroCitizen.org offers an opportunity online to quantify your carbon footprint for any number of activities and then calculate how many carbon credits to purchase in order to offset that footprint in an affordable way.

“I’m not meeting a lot of brides-tobe who get excited about a virtual wedding,” Valenti laughed. “But, with the carbon credits, they can walk down the aisle knowing they’ve done absolutely everything possible to have a green wedding.”

The Valentis feel they’ve done everything they can to allow visitors to their website to engage in an ecofriendly existence in a realistic, meaningful way. “This is an entirely self-funded business,” Valenti said.

“We basically took our entire financial existence and put it on the line. And you only do that if you deeply believe in it.”

THE END OF THE LINE

Imagine a world without fish The End of the Line is the first major feature documentary film revealing the impact of overfishing on our oceans. Narrated by Ted Danson and described as ‘The inconvenient truth about the impact of over-fishing on the oceans.’ www.endoftheline.com

ADisTiNcTivE sTyLE mAgAziNE 25

Can You Be Eco-Friendly and Trendy?

2010 Summer TrendS The Green Way

By TereSa LouiSe JohnSon

W

ith so much inspiration traipsing down the 2010 Summer Toronto Fashion Week runways, dressing the eco-friendly but trendy way is not the daunting task it might seem to be. Simply add some legwork and a little bit of scrimping.

Foremost trends on the runways were lace, dresses of all sorts, menswear

stores and closets, womenswear designers this season use hits of lace to create contrast and add femininity.

Etsy.com, the internet haven for all things handmade, makes wearing lace with eco-consciousness in mind simple. Lacy and sweet and all made from ecofriendly or upcycled and recycled materials, Etsy dresses by SavoyFaire are Grandma’s frocks designed with a modern spin.

Dresses

inspired clothing and, continued from past collections, exaggerated shoulders.

Lace With military inspired jackets and touches of menswear all over the runways and in our

Dresses were done every which way in runway shows this season; they were adorned with all sorts of patterns (plaid, floral, graffiti inspired), bows, high necklines, pleats, bondage inspired harnesses, and sparkle.

Nau.com is known for striving to lessen their carbon footprint and increase their sustainability when designing their collections. Fabrics like recycled polyester and organic cotton take the forefront in their choice of materials. They constantly evolve their standards because of ever-changing options and the products available to them.

The Chrysalis Dress by Nau reminds us not only of nature with its transformative sleeves but with its earth-friendly fabrics as well. The Chrysalis Dress is made of recycled polyester fabric that

vintage shops are filled with fantastic, original finds.

Exaggerated Shoulders

can be further recycled when its wearer is through with it. However, Nau designs have not suffered because of their worldly consciousness; the dress is extremely fashionable, with its high neckline and edgy structure.

Menswear With persistent military wear, the use of elegant tailoring in pants and jackets, and the use of pleating on trousers, it seems menswear continues to make its way into designer collections for women. It makes a stark contrast to the feminine lines of many of the dresses and the use of lace seen on 2010 runways, and it can be dressed up or down with the use of accessories and shoes.

Every eco-conscious fashionista knows that she can shop vintage guilt-free; it’s recycling and repurposing at its best. The fedora can be found not only in second hand stores everywhere, it also comes in so many different styles and materials. A dedicated shopper could probably buy one for every day of the week. Sometimes the popular hat is capped with a feather or lined with a fabric band, and sometimes it’s done up in a heavy black tweed and an impeccable design. Some of Toronto’s best

Exaggerated shoulders, as seen in 2010 Fashion Week collections, might seem at first like throwbacks to the Dynasty era, but the new overdone shoulder is more than just a shoulder pad tucked into your dress. It’s about architecture and texture. On the Pink Tartan runway this season, a fuzzy gray capelet made a textured exaggeration out of one model’s shoulders. On Project Runway winner Evan Biddell’s runway, a futuristic sleeve in a metallic fabric lay just atop a model’s shoulders.

A green approach to the exaggerated shoulder is a click away at Greenisblack.ca. The Reversible Puff Sleeve Dress is created from a mixture of organic cottons and bamboo.

It is made in Toronto under sweatshop free conditions by a company dedicated to assessing not only the environmental impact of a company’s garments before listing them on the site, but their social impact as well, by using clothing that celebrates the body.

Christy

Coleman “Know that life is a gift, kindness is a necessity, and our planet should be loved like a child.” ~

Christy Coleman

By Shelly BalleStero

www.christycoleman.com

he beautiful woman behind the makeup brush is Christy Coleman, a celebrated makeup artist who has graced the faces of famous actresses, models and has worked with the best photographers in the world. Her artistry has been featured in the pages of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar,

T

More and Vanity Fair, where she has worked with models and celebrities such as Giselle Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Karolina Kurkova, and Carolyn Murphy.

Over the past few years Christy proves that organic & natural cosmetics are just as glamorous and gorgeous as ‘conventional’ makeup— call it “greenglam” if you will.

Not only is Christy one of the first makeup artists to “green” up her makeup bag, she also has a passion and genuine love for all people, our planet, animals and life… truly setting her apart from the rest.

“It’s all about connecting with one another, we get so bogged down, work hard and your not going to take your money with you…we need to appreciate the small moments of the day” says Coleman.

ADS: What made you decide to green up your bag?

Christy: I always understood that our skin is the largest organ—that it is alive and I didn’t want chemicals on my skin, so I took good care of my skin and really didn’t wear makeup.

After my dad died of LG disease, I knew I needed to make changes-like getting rid of the plastic and went to a canvas makeup bag (see Christy’s organic makeup bag at below) changing my makeup (took the time to research)then I started my blog about greener choices in makeup and skincare—to keep me accountable.

ADS: How do you stay confident working with gorgeous celebrities?

Christy: Funny, I am guilty by association—when I am around the young and beautiful, I feel the same

way—it’s a job I love, and a form of artistry. I never look at it like I want or need to be like that woman, I appreciate her beauty. It’s all about someone else; I want to make sure they feel confident when they get behind that camera.

ADS: What is your passion?

Christy: Life! I love being outside, can’t wait to get out of bed to get outside and be with nature. I am thankful for my dog, walking Rider Pearl is like a walking meditation, running on the beach—I am such an outdoor girl! I love my gorgeous garden; in fact, I get my inspiration from nature like how the leaves change color or the shades of roses.

ADS: With working in the film/media industry, how do you remain ‘calm’?

Christy: I take time for myself first, if I have to be on a set at 9 am I will get up two hours prior—to get outside and walk my dog, go to my local tea shop, have a good breakfast.

If I don’t take care of myself or have a bad day, it can affect my clientele; the negative energy will come

through and it’s not about me it’s about them.

Christy Coleman is making a difference, for her clients and the planet, check out her blog where she shares her eco-beauty tips and personal recommendations to inspire you make healthier choices to live well!

By Shelly BalleStero, Beauty editor

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In these days of rush here, rush there, do this, don’t forget to do

that, its so refreshing to find something that works for you.

Stardust All Natural Body Powder Keeps You Cool ... No Sweat!

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Forbes riley Dubbed the "Julia Roberts of Infomercials" One of the top sellers on the Home Shopping Network and GSN and she just launched her ďŹ rst ďŹ tness product into the national market, the SpinGym.

By RITA COOK

A Distinctive style mAgAzine 35

F

orbes Riley is one of the top sellers on the Home Shopping Network and GSN and she just launched her first fitness product into the national market, the SpinGym. That’s why celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Mario Lopez and Vanessa Hudgens say Forbes Riley is their “go-to gal for fitness.” Recently inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame, she also just turned 50, but indeed there’s no stopping her anytime soon.

ADS: You are the Julia Roberts of infomercials—what does that mean and how are you living up to that name?

While it’s a great honor to be associated in any way with such an amazing industry icon, I think the

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reason Bill Geist of CBS Morning News gave me this moniker is that Julia represents a trustworthy, vulnerable and highly successful bankable woman—and also a mother of twins (though not at the time he said it, I think she copied me!) In the world of infomercials I was lucky to be in the right place at the birth of the industry and have had the opportunity to work with some of its giants and be the face of some of the its most popular campaigns grossing more than $2 billion dollars.

ADS: Tell me what you are working on now.

One of the more daring moves in my career is to create the Forbes Riley brand—fit, fearless and FUN—to take a stand for what I believe in,

and create products, articles, book and clothing that promote that and have a strong impact on women's lives. We have successfully launched the SpinGym and in June we launched a line of fit/activewear for women on HSN called Love My Body by Forbes Riley. There's an exciting new talk/reality show in the works that will hopefully help me cross back over into more mainstream television! You know it’s funny, but what I do has become more mainstream acceptable. People used to look down on QVC and HSN and now I'm working with Fran Drescher, Sarah Jessica Parker; also appearing on the network have been Serena Williams, P. Diddy, Molly Sims, and Whoopi Goldberg. AND a little known fact, but I got Kim

Kardashian HER first infomercial.

ADS: What are your ďŹ ve-year goals?

To gain international recognition as the Rachel Ray/Martha Stewart of the health and fitness world through a tv series, books, and products, and really establishing Forbes Riley as an inspirational brand. The challenge is balancing my personal dreams and goals with the responsibility and honor of being the mother of a set of 7-year old boy/girl twins. Just today my daughter was sad that I was out of town shooting an infomercial and missing her first grade play, so perhaps my real 5-year goal is to help finance the cloning movement and make 2 of me!!

ADS: Is there anything you would change in your life?

I've managed to make profound changes in my life all along the way and strive to continue to transform and stay current. I do wish that I understood the power of branding earlier in my career and wish I could have gotten the weight issue under control before I hit my 40's. Everyone in Hollywood kept telling me I needed to lose 15-20 pounds—turns out they were right and when I finally DID do it, I found my calling though it wasn't to star on a sit-com!

However, I am always tempted not to think about what might have been, because it negates what's here, and I wouldn't change having my beautiful twins and the life we have living on the water Florida. When the sun rises from the bay each morning, I just count my blessings and keep going!

ADS: What is the minimum people should know about keeping in shape?

Little changes over a sustained period of time make all the difference. For example, with the SpinGym if you just used it five minutes a day, you would have gotten a solid two-and-a-half hours of workouts in a month and begin to see a real difference. Another small but powerful change is to focus on eliminating sugars, and not just the obvious cookies and candies; bread, cereal and pasta all convert to sugars and lead to multiple health problems from diabetes to cancer. www.forbesriley.com

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Buffalo ExchangE New and Recycled Fashion Buffalo Exchange brings you former favorite clothing for trade or cash! A forever changing inventory brought to you by others from designer names, vintage labels to current trends.

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The beautiful rose scent will leave you feeling happy as well as smooth your skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. A must have on my list! duchessmarden.com

A new favorite of mine. Wembe soap made with organic and natural ingredients—good for you and good for the planet and smells fantastastic! Love it!

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Recently I tried some of the botanical perfumes by Miessence…They are by far one of the prettiest smelling perfumes I have on my vanity, and did I say they are organic!! Not only are the exotic perfume collections healthy for your skin, but healthy for those around you, and the planet.

Beautifully packaged, with a great presentation— a green hit for sure. www.elyorganics.com/miessence-products/13707 38 a DistinctivE stylE MagaZinE

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Stardust body powder helps absorb perspiration, it helps prevent body odors, and it helps keep www.ancientwisdominc.org your skin feeling cool, comfortable, and fresh all day long! It’s made from scratch in small batches to ensure freshness!

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A

gifted Aboriginal singer who was born blind and brought up in poverty has taken Australia by storm, topping the mainstream music charts and earning plaudits for his "sublime" voice.

songs and new compositions, they reflect his background growing up in one of the most remote but

The singer's friend Michael Hohnen, who produced his album, acts as

beautiful parts of the continent.

Yunupingu's translator. He said it would be wrong to call the singer

Largely self-taught, he plays drums,

played for many years with the

keyboards, guitar and didgeridoo, but it is his clarity of voice that has attracted rave reviews. Sydney Morning Herald reviewer Bruce Elder recalled the first time he heard the young singer. "My immediate

well-known Yothu Yindi band before forming his own Saltwater Band and then striking out on his own.

an overnight success since he had

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, 38, from Elcho Island in Arnhem Land, northern Australia, has been hailed as one of the brightest talents ever to emerge from the country's indigenous population, with his debut solo album reaching number one in the country's independent music charts and his recent concerts selling out. Critics have heaped praise on the singer and described his voice as having "transcendental beauty." Sir Elton John, Sting and Bjรถrk are among his fans.

response was that here, as far as I was concerned, for the first time was an Aboriginal voice of absolutely transcendental beauty," he said. Iain Shedden, music critic of The Australian newspaper, said there was "an incredible aura" around Yunupingu, while another music critic, Lou Novachek, described his voice as "sublime".

Yunupingu's success is all the more remarkable because he speaks only a few words of English, is said to be acutely shy, and most of his songs are sung in his native language of Yolngu. A mixture of traditional

Yunupingu's songs are attracting people who do not normally listen to Aboriginal music and he received standing ovations after two recent performances at the Sydney Opera House.

Hohnen said his friend was different to other Aboriginal singers because he has no political agenda.

Aborigines in Australia remain a disadvantaged minority with high levels of ill-health, unemployment and poverty. "Gurrumul's not an activist or a social commentator," said Hohnen. "He just says it's his role to tell these stories about his culture."

Yunupingu, who has never learned Braille and does not have a guide dog or use a stick, has told interviewers he has little use for money. Following the Aboriginal tradition of sharing wealth, he said any money he makes goes to his mother and aunts still living on Elcho Island, some 350 miles from Darwin.

source: TheGuardian

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu “A voice of absolutely transcendental beauty”

www.gurrumul.com

Gena Lee Nolin MAKES A WISH “It’s not about the car you drive or what you have materially.

It’s family, healthy children and it is to be cherished.”

BY RUSSELL DANDRIDGE

M

ost people will remember Gena Lee Nolin from the popular television series “Baywatch,” but these days Gena Lee Nolin is much happier talking about philanthropy. A mother and wife, Nolin has three children and works diligently with, among other organizations, the Make A Wish Foundation.

“I’ve worked with a couple of groups for awhile. I want to give as much to as many [groups] that move me,” she explains. “I was named honorary woman of distinction 2007 for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, and I have recently become involved with Save the Children’s Make Time for Change. Jennifer Garner is on that board.” Lending her image in the past to various PETA media campaigns, Nolin said she has also recently considered getting involved with the American Heart Association as well.

Nolin got involved with the Make a Wish foundation back when she was still on “Baywatch,” saying that there are many highlights of working with the foundation, including “Seeing the kids light up when you help, whether it be your time, 42 A DistiNctive styLe MAGAZiNe

reading a book in the hospital or

stylist for sure. I almost enrolled at

listening to them and their dreams.”

One of her most moving experiences with The Make A Wish Foundation came while she was still working on “Baywatch.” She remembers, “There was a terminally ill boy who came to the set. He wanted to meet the cast and was [so happy] just hanging out chatting. I remember how strong and brave his family was, I could see the pain in his mother’s face and that killed me.

I’ll never forget how simple his wish was and how it was something I took for granted daily.”

While there are a few things that Nolin says she would change in her life right now, time management issues and multi-tasking to name two, overall she’s happy; after all, she does believe she is living her dream.

“Somewhere deep inside I knew I had to be an actress,” she says. “I was going to school at SMC to study interior design, I modeled a bit and ended up landing one show after the next. I was lucky to have been able to work so consistently. I knew I had to be on stage. I always felt like there was something bigger and better for me. If not that, I would be a hair

Vidal Sassoon hair academy in Santa Monica.”

On a personal level, Nolin admits to being a “total paper geek.” In fact, the Duluth, Minnesota native secretly reveals that among her hobbies she has started an invitation company called Paper Couture. She also believes that her upbringing made her the humble, grounded person she is today.

“I think I see things differently,” she adds and these days she is seeing much of her life differently with her children involved. She prefers to donate most of her time to family, as motherhood, she says, has given her everything she ever wanted.

“Family comes first,” she concludes, adding “I’m also working on a book about postpartum depression and I have a couple mommy style shows in the works, but in so many ways working with these foundations has changed my life. You really become aware of your own life, what really matters and it’s not about the car you drive or what you have materially. It’s family, healthy children and it is to be cherished.”

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OUR EARTH

DOWNSTREAM At the heart of the multi-bullion dollar Oil Sands Industry in Alberta, Canada, a doctor’s career is jeopardized as he ďŹ ghts for the lives of the aboriginal people living and dying of rare cancers downstream from one of the polluting oil operations in the world. www.downstreamdoc.com

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Stephen Wiltshire ‘Fragments of Genius’ tephen Wiltshire was born in

S

London on the 24th April 1974 to West Indian parents. He appeared to be mute and had major difficulties relating to his fellow human beings. Not surprisingly, he was diagnosed at three years of age as autistic. He had no language and created his own world to live in.

Some of us today might be happy to be in that ‘own world’ lifestyle.

At five years of age he was enrolled at Queensmill School on the borders of Hammersmith and Fulham, where it was soon discovered that he was interested in drawing. These drawings showed amazing skills for someone so young, and an inbred talent that needed to be encouraged. His works were his sole form of communication. This incredible journey started out with drawings of animals, followed by the worldfamous London buses, and later expanded to buildings. This talent, so unexpected and incredible, was the ultimate tool that carries Stephen to this day through life and around the world, sharing his gift with others.

When he was eight years old, he was shown some pictures of earthquakes

in a book at school, and he produced

The most remarkable thing about

some stunning works showing London as he saw it if indeed it had been the victim of an earthquake.

These imaginary works were

Stephen is his ability to look at a cityscape in full and hours later reproduce the scene in minute detail.

The BBC documentary ‘Fragments of

shockingly brilliant in their realism, as were the pictures of classic American cars (his knowledge of them would do any American car buff proud) and London’s landmarks.

They were all so stunningly accurate and beautiful in their own right.

At the same time his teachers tried to see if he could learn to speak by taking away his art supplies so that he would be forced to ask for them.

His first word was “paper;” within a year he had the full range of any nine-year olds language skills.

Genius’ (2001) showed him flying over London in a helicopter and then producing a detailed, perfectly scaled aerial illustration of a four-squaremile area three hours later. In 2005 he did the same thing over Tokyo on a ten-metre long canvas. He has also drawn Rome, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dubai, Jerusalem and London, all from memory. Only a couple weeks ago he reproduced the Sydney harbour and buildings after viewing at the scenery from a tower overlooking the city.

In 1987, when he was thirteen, he was

He has a spiritual partnership with

described as “The best child artist in Britain” by none other than Sir Hugh Casson (Past President of the Royal Academy), since then, he has been featured in tv programs, books, tours, and exhibitions. He has produced three books, the last being ‘Floating Cities’ in 1991, which made it to number one in the Sunday Times Bestseller list.

New York and he produced a similar masterpiece at the Pratt Institute NY in October 2009. Stephen’s remarkable story goes on, and hopefully we will watch as he continues to amaze us with his artistic achievements. It’s no surprise that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth named him a recipient of the Order of the British Empire in 2006 for services to the Arts world.

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By Russell DanDRiDge Photo credits the Jed Foundation

B

rittany Snow is a well-known face and name these days.

Because of that notoriety she has lent her support to an organization called the Jed Foundation in order to help raise the organization’s awareness - it provides programs to encourage young people to seek help if needed for themselves or for a friend.

“They also share stories from other teens and young adults about their own personal journeys in dealing with these problems,” Snow begins.

“I think everyone can relate to these thoughts and feelings, and many can relate to diseases like depression and eating disorders. There are not many resources out there for young people to turn to, and sometimes they feel alone. I wanted to share my story and help in any way I could to put out a message that no one has to deal with this alone and there is help.”

Snow got involved with The Jed Foundation a few years ago because she says she wanted to get involved with a charity that deals with issues she found important personally and that she felt everyone should be more aware of overall.

“The Jed Foundation deals with emotional health issues like depression, eating disorders, self injury and suicide,” she explains.

“I had a friend in high school who died by suicide and I found that many of my friends have struggled with these issues in one way or another. The Jed Foundation sends a 50 A Distinctive style MAGAZine

message that no matter what you are dealing with, you are not alone and there is help available.

Snow has been working with the Foundation for a little over three years and says it has been an amazing experience. One of the highlights has been to work on the “Half of Us” campaign (halfofus.org) with mtvU to create a personal story about her own struggles and how she overcame them.

“I have presented at the Jed Foundation’s Gala and I’m now working on creating a campaign with the photographer Tyler Shields called ‘It’s On My Mind’, “ she says. “The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of emotional health issues and encourage people to speak up if they are struggling. The piece will explore a range of emotions, how many people feel like they are alone, and how we can deal with these issues. We want them to know that they’re not alone – that there is help.

I am also doing a PSA for the Foundation, which is being produced

by Golden Globe winner Jon Landau.”

In the future Snow says of working with the organization, “I hope to be more involved for as long as I can and do anything to help this amazing organization. I have gotten so much out of working with The Jed Foundation. I shared my personal story a couple years ago in hopes that I would help even just one girl who was struggling. It was very

scary and hard for me, but the outcome was more than I ever imagined. I’ve had girls come up to me and say that I saved their life.

I have gotten letters from young adults saying that they watch my story almost daily and it has given them hope to beat what they are going through. I will never forget what people have said to me. It is truly a life-changing experience.”

A few years ago too, Snow said she was lucky enough to be able to speak at the gala about her friend who died by suicide.

“I was honored that they would ask me to speak and was amazed at how people received my story.”

From Tampa, Florida, Snow moved to Los Angeles when she was 15, but actually began modeling when she was just three years old.

“I started when I was three in modeling and commercials,” she concludes. “I did a few television shows, the soap opera ‘Guiding Light’, when I was 12 to 15. I then moved to L.A to do ‘American Dreams,’ a television show on NBC. From there I started doing movies and television and have been working hard ever since.”

So what does she do in her down time? She says when she is not working and taking the time to promote the Jed Foundation she actually collects clocks and Polaroid pictures.

Brittany snow lenDs her support to the JeD FounDAtion

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A S N AT U R E I N T E N D E D , LET ELEPHANTS BE FREE.

OLIVIA MUNN

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Dr. Brenda Draper “Keep your body healthy internally so you won’t need external work.”

BY JAIMIE SIEGLE

Don’t let the recent tabloid

Plastic surgery is not about perfection. At least, that’s not the photos of celebrities like way Dr. Brenda Draper looks at her MTV’s Heidi Montag fool you: profession, in which she has been practicing privately since 1992.

“The media makes it seem like you’ve got to have a perfect everything to have a perfect life,” says Draper, who views plastic surgery for some patients as a step toward personal wellness.

Throughout her career, Dr. Draper has helped give men and women more self-confidence by treating everything from acne scars and combat wounds to tummy tucks and brow lifts.

“I’m not fixing their li[ves], but it’s one part that can give [my patients] a little boost,” Dr. Draper says. In fact, nothing is a quick fix for the surgeon or her patients; Draper ensures that consultations are intimate and thorough, stressing that good communication is essential for optimal patient satisfaction.

“In some other practices you see the doctor for a few minutes. I really like to spend quite a bit of time defining what the goals are for each www.drdraper.com patient,” Draper says.

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“Any procedure that’s done has to be for the right reasons, and those reasons are totally personal.”

Still, she reminds us that major surgeries (like breast augmentations or liposuction) mean longer recovery periods, and therefore she tries to achieve the patients’ goals through minimally invasive procedures.

Essentially, less is more, an adage which also happens to be the topic of one of Draper’s upcoming preventative health lectures at Presbyterian Hospital. Her words of wisdom advocate healthy, lifelong habits that not only help her own patients with the recovery process, but also help others simply aiming to live a more balanced lifestyle.

Draper advises to keep your body healthy internally so you won’t need external work.

Her two biggest healthy lifestyle secrets? Don’t stress and take those vitamins.

“Try to find a means to reduce your stress. It certainly harms your body and your spirit; and everyone has their ways of dealing with it,” Draper says. Her other piece of advice is to take vitamin D3 daily.

The small pill (a different vitamin D than the one found naturally in the sun) has been found by doctors to be helpful in improving your heart, improving your skin, and also maintaining a healthy weight.

It’s easy, over-the-counter, and good for all age groups,” Dr. Draper said.

Draper says one of the most rewarding aspects of her career is knowing her patients are satisfied and leaving them without wanting any more surgery.

SyStemized FaShion with Katrín JónSdottír

Kristina Grandén and Katrín Jónsdóttir, have always been working with quite strict limitations and conceptual solutions. They are inspired by how fashion is consumed by everyone today. H&M distributes designer clothes at affordable prices since the production and material costs are minimized. How far can this be exercised? Is it possible to minimize labour costs even more?

Is it possible to industrialize the process completely? Is it then possible to maintain the quality?

They are simplifying and rationalizing fashion, still keeping the aesthetic qualities. One example is a textile module, with which you can create any garment.

It allows the consumer, not only to be creative in combining clothes, but to combine pieces of clothes.

This way, second hand clothing becomes less unique in comparison.

In another example they highlight these issues by designing haute couture garments, all of them in one piece. Punched out in a non-woven fabric, with ties and straps that hold the clothes together––not a single stitch is needed.

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The EVolution of Books: How Green are eBooks Really?

By Teresa Louise Johnson

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A

new trend in books, and in

increasing the amount of books

behind with manufacturing it,

the world’s ever-growing digital revolution, is the

printed. If a book goes unsold, what happens to it (most likely it lands

boxing it up, transporting it, and disposing of it in already jammed

in the dumpster), asks Brad of Bradsreader.com, and how much waste is there in correlation to

landfills.

eBook. Simply put, electronic books are electronic adaptations of traditional paper books.

Bestsellers right down to lesser known books are available in eBook form and read either on computers, other electronic devices or e-book readers like the Kindle or iPad. Though the initial investment

unsold books? He reports that printed textbooks are responsible for four times more greenhouse emissions than e-readers are.

However, it seems that no one is arguing the eco-friendliness of

for book readers runs upwards of $500, they’re being touted as the green option for reading in the twenty-first century. However, some say they’re simply not sustainable and while eBooks are eco-friendly, the readers are not.

eBooks as paper savers; it’s the readers who are causing some uneasiness.

Traditional printed books are bought in bulk by bookstores; they tend to overstock their books, increasing shipping returns and costs and

The iPad is certainly green, says Supereco.com writer Lisa Poisso, as it contains no harmful chemicals or PVC, but she asserts it’s not sustainable. Though it’s not solely meant for eBook reading (users watch movies and listen to music on it as well), one of its uses is for reading electronic books. It can’t be repurposed and it leaves its footprint

The Kindle, according to Erika Engelhaupt in “Would You Like That Book in Paper or Plastic?” saves energy because instead of being backlit with LCD display it uses an electronic ink display. She also found that eBooks use less total energy in their lifespan than printed books do, they have less toxic impact than printed newspapers, and that Amazon.com has a recycling program for Kindle devices that is not only free but that sends the discarded readers to a licensed recycling service.

What is the answer? Which is better?

Perhaps it’s LG’s solar powered e-reader, which functions using renewable, solar power. Instead of powering from the grid like the Kindle does, the LG solar powered eBook requires only 4.5 hours of sunlight to power for an entire day.

Perhaps the answer is to reuse and recycle by making use of local libraries, book exchanges and second-hand books. Perhaps for now, we have to take the bad with the good and continue to protest and to search for a sustainable eco-friendly eBook reader which eco-conscious folks can use with a guilt-free conscience.

Read more about the environmental impact of eBooks at: www.ecolibris.net/ebooks.asp

A Distinctive style mAgAzine 57

A documentary that explores how pop culture and the media profit from feeding destructive body images to women and men.

Darryl Roberts, the Chicago-based director said, “We traced that after the women’s liberation movement got women the vote, three years later the Miss America pageant was created.”

Interviews include Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, industry professionals, plastic surgeons and the first 12-year-old runway model Gerren Taylor.

Two Vancouver filmmakers back up many of the themes of Roberts’ film in their documentary on anorexia, No Numbers: Identity Beyond Measure.

Sonja Ruebsaat, editor of the documentary, suffered from anorexia from age 13 to 19 because of the images she was exposed to in pop culture. But she says a person has the power to fight for a change.

For more information and screening dates for America the Beautiful, visit www.americathebeautifuldoc.com.

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What do women have to do with what America eats?

EvErything!

Farmer Jane is the ideal companion for exploring the modern opportunities in the sustainable food movement.

F

armer Jane is a compelling work about the decisionmaking power women have with what their families eat, the thousands of new farms women are starting, and their jobs at numerous organizations and businesses promoting a sustainable food agenda. As farmers, chefs, educators and activists, women are changing the way we eat and farm.

Farmer Jane profiles thirty women in the sustainable food industry, describing their agriculture business models and illustrating the amazing changes they are making in how we connect with food. These advocates for creating a more holistic and nurturing food and agriculture system also answer questions on starting a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, how to

get involved in policy at local and national levels, and how to address the different types of renewable energy and finance them.

Farmer Jane is the ideal companion for exploring the modern opportunities in the sustainable food movement.

With women increasingly owning their own farms and businesses and taking an active part in their community and governments,

Temra Costa got her feet wet by working for the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) in California from 2003-2009 through the programs of Farm to School and Buy Fresh Buy Local that started in the Sacramento Valley and took her around the entire state. She currently writes and co-hosts a radio show with filmmaker Deborah Koons Garcia on Green960 (www.greenmorning.org) that discusses none other than the challenges and solutions to our food and farming woes. look for Farmer Jane on

temra costa | Author

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Thirteen Shocking Maneuvers That Boost Confidence…and save your sanity!

By MoniCa Wofford, CSP

About the Author Monica Wofford, CSP has been a coach, consultant, trainer and speaker for more than 20 years. As the CEO of Contagious Companies, Inc. she engages audiences, in both her Contagious Conferences,™ training courses, and one on one coaching

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conversations, to be the best they can be and recognize that this rubs off on other people. Monica is the author of “Contagious Leadership” and “Contagious Confidence.”

WEBSITE: www.contagiouscompanies.com PHONE: (866) 382-0121

I

s it just me or are many "losing their minds" or just flat out "losing it" these days? Why are we all so on edge? Hmmm... let's see... could it be the 55 giant glass balls that we are all confidently trying to juggle? One person drops one or fails to follow through and there is this domino effect - or rather, it becomes contagious and that will rub off on your confidence.

But, when the voices in your head begin to run away with you, these maneuvers will help you tell the voices to chill out while you get your sanity, composure and confidence back. When things go wrong for you or when the world around you seems out of control or when others get in the way of our own success or happiness, we stress. We might even lose our cool, our confidence and sometimes our mind, otherwise known as our sanity.

Without a clear mind and a dose of Contagious Confidence,™ you will also lose the ability to make good decisions, which can result in overeating, impulse buying, or snapping at people. You may also feel less creative, which makes it hard to do problem solving, conflict resolution, and negotiation. Your perspective, such as the inaccurate notion that you are alone, no one understands, no one likes you and you should just go and eat worms may also be affected! There is a reason that “worm diets” have not become a craze yet! Put at least three of these tips into action today and regain your Contagious Confidence™ while watching your sanity soar to new heights!

1. Ask for help even if you feel like you might look silly, stupid, dumb, or less than absolutely strong and perfect. (trust me on this one)

10. Celebrate the very tiniest of accomplishments - you didn't buy that cookie at lunch, you let someone through in traffic work with me here!

2. Hire a coach for anything that you have been unable to work on or resolve for more than 24 months.

11. Confidently assert yourself and share your opinions, without riding your broom into the room.

3. Get Rest... plenty of rest, even when you don't have time and world says "go, go, go!" A ten minute nap qualifies as rest. Take one... or two..

12. Spend your time being fascinated by life and what happens in it, instead of being frustrated by the multitude of things out of your control.

4. “Awfulize” only at scheduled times and only for brief periods of time. “Awfulizing” is anything that begins with "Oh, my gosh, what if..."

13. Lose the word "WHY" in your vocabulary and replace it with "Help me Understand" or "How" or "When" or "What's next" or "Next time."

5. Avoid the temptation to trust your first perception when you are stressed out.

And just for giggles, one more to boost your Contagious Confidence™ and stay sane in a world that often appears to have gone mad....

6. Realize and accept that not all people are as smart as you are in all areas (and encourage them to realize the same - yep that may mean they accept your shortcomings, too).

7. Give different (as opposed to difficult) people the benefit of the doubt more than once.

8. Moderate your self-talk and say good things as often as you can even when things look bleak.

9. Remove yourself from negativity walk away from the news, excuse yourself from conversations held by a friend talking like “Eyeore.”

14. Walk around with a “Cheshire Cat sized” grin on your face and when people ask you what you are so excited about... just mysteriously and with a bit of flair say "Oh... nothing." You will be amazed at how people will be attracted to that and how many times they will ask you to "go on... tell me!"

So does this mean that people really do want to be happy after all? Even the complainers who constantly tell you how rough things are? Could be… but most important of all is your own sense of sanity and confidence. Keep yours intact and stay contagious!

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A Migrant and Writer’s Journey...Tenacity is the Key

by PETER MACK

and have children.

Letizia, as she still does to this day, stepped outside the mold in the hope of teaching at a university one day.

“Teaching was the traditional thing for women of that era to do; it was also the Photographer: Peter Mack ‘Italian’ thing to do.

It was a way to pursue a career without s a child and the only disappointing your family,” daughter of Italian explains Letizia. There was no way immigrant parents, imaginable for Letizia to believe Letizia C De Rosa was forced to that twenty–five years later she attend speech classes simply to would be a writer, public speaker, learn to speak and to gain the finally embarking on her doctorate, confidence to speak in public. That and the owner of an international experience, so uncomfortable at the business for writers. time, had the desired effect. Letizia It was her experience in a migrant is now a published writer, lecturer family that motivated Letizia to give and in–demand guest speaker at a a voice to Australia’s migrants host of functions across Australia. through writing. “You have to have The founder of Book Creators Circle a reason to write a book,” she has hopes of increasing the BCC continues, “and one of my reasons profile and enhancing her own was to give a voice to the voiceless, image at to the migrants and for me, more the same time. importantly it was also to help rise Growing up in Cairns, Australia out of depression after losing two in the ‘60s, Letizia C. De Rosa, like babies; it was manifestly therapeutic many young migrant women, was and maybe providential.” Letizia is faced with the expectation she a strong believer that things happen would finish school, get married for a reason and in writing her first

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book Antonino’s Niche, she ironically found her own niche in writing.

Letizia is now the director/founder of Book Creators Circle where she continuously widens the circle with writers from all over the world. Her dream is rapidly becoming global. She knows that this site will give writers a profile on a professionally managed site and the potential to broaden their networks and Google status without spending money to create a website. Letizia says, “This is more than a website profile. It is a family of writers supporting themselves and each other.” Letizia C De Rosa encourages all writers and people in the book industry to work together and to have as many avenues as possible to promote themselves and get known. She would be thrilled to have you join Book Creators Circle and come to the International Expo each year in September and get yourself known in other parts of the world.

Letizia Carmel De Rosa has a very generous offer for the readers of A Distinctive Style Magazine. The first seven writers, or book industry people to contact Letizia and mention this article, will receive a free web page on The Book Creators Circle!

This is an amazing opportunity… what are you waiting for?

Book Creators Circle www.bookcreatorscircle.com.au | twitter.com/bookcreatorscircle admin@bookcreatorscircle.com.au | 61 7 40543726 skype: letizia.de.rosa

The Book Creators Circle is an international website whose aim is to bring economical and collective profiles to writers and anyone in the book industry. We encourage anyone with a passion for books to join us to help raise their profile locally, nationally and internationally.

We celebrate the fact that our contributors

include emerging and high profile writers. We pride ourselves on the fact that we are sponsors of the International PEN Sydney and America, and profile at an international level to support the book industry.

We look forward to hearing from you and invite you to join our incredible circle!

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Nowhere Better in the World Music and Art on the French Riviera

By Rita Cook

S

ome places just lend themselves to perfection! I probably don’t need to tell you that the French Riviera is one of those places. Or that I am not the first one to have discovered this, but instead follow a long line of distinguished visitors to the area, including the likes of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, and the list goes on.

But what is it about the French Rivera that makes people swoon, breathe heavily and do just about anything to get there – even if they don’t own a yacht the size of my house?

Well, first of all, it might have something to do with the weather.

And the weather then lends itself to a good time, which then lends itself to… Voila, a jazz festival.

Not just any old jazz festival either. In case you might be

confused, I am talking about the Antibes Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival (www.jazzajuan.fr), celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The festival will be held from July 14 through the 25th with headliners as substantial as David Sanborn, George Benson, Kyle Eastwood, Diana Krall, and Marcus Miller.

This year, as in years past, the festival will also feature a few newer artists, but you can be sure they won’t be new for too long. art and More in the Riviera to accompany your Jazz The area is known as the Cote d’Azur and there is a reason this part of France is called “The Blue Coast.” All the colors are so brilliantly inspiring that this is one of the places Picasso lived (in 1946) and created “happy” art, as I like to call it. Stop in at Picasso’s museum, formerly the Grimaldi Castle, for a chance to see up to 245 pieces of his

work. And, when he left the area six months after his arrival and after some intense creations, he left the city of Antibes 23 painting and 44 drawings.

There is sunshine in Antibes Juan-les-Pins 300 days a year, so who wouldn’t be happy (or want to leave, for that matter.) It made Monet so happy that he said of his time spent here, “What I will take back from here will be the mildness itself – white, pink, blue – all wrapped up in that magical air.”

See for yourself as you tour the city and notice the imposing citadel standing as a fortress against the background of the mighty Alps.

Or ramble down the little alleyways and get lost in time – after all, there is a 3,000-year history here.

Also in Antibes there’s an Absinthe Bar near the marketplace; you don’t want to miss that, it’s a one-of-a-kind thing for sure.

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For the hardcore art lover (or even if you’re not) the Painter’s Trail is a must. It’s along the breathtakingly scenic coast. You will follow the trail offering a chance to see exactly what Picasso, Monet, Raymond Peynet, Eugene Boudin and others saw as they painted, with their art placed on the very site where they set up their easels. With sixty lecterns it’s another way for the Cote d’Azur to warm its way into your heart.

Quick Stop in Vallauris Why Vallauris, you ask? That’s an easy question. This is a town that is known for its ceramics (the names Jean Marais and Jean Cocteau should come to mind) so when in the area it’s a must. There’s also the chance to see Picasso’s “War and Peace” at the National Picasso Museum in the Chapel of Peace.

You will see the hardwood panels of both the war and peace compositions – a good place now to sit and contemplate.

It was in this town too that many an artist came to learn what was called “the art of fire”, which is delicate ceramic glazing.

Just southeast, the coastal resort town of Golfe-Juan celebrates Napoleon’s landing on his return to France from the Isle of Elba every year.

A Short Jaunt to Jazz Option Number Two Just a quick trip from Antibes is the town of Vence where the second jazz festival option awaits, even if for one night. The festival in 2010 is going on its 13th year, created by Teo Saavedra, Director and musician in

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his own right. The event, Nuits du Sud (www.nuitsdusud.com) will be held from July 8th through August 7. Artists this year include Suzanne Vega, Youssou N’Dour, Axelle Red and Georges Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, but there’s more too. A cultural experience, musicians from all genres play here. When not enjoying the music, there is the old town to discover.

In Vence there’s Matisse’s chapel and of course the historic town itself.

Of particular note, absorb the 2,000 years of history, the Roman columns, and slip into the Cathedral to see the Notre-Dame de la Nativite; lastly, don’t miss the Castle of Villeneuve.

Final Instructions Okay, now that I’ve basically planned it all out for you, your next move is to visit the jazz festival websites and figure out which days coincide with your artists at both Juan-les-Pins and Nuits du Sud. It’s that simple because, let’s face it, there’s nowhere else in the world where the best music, the best destination and probably the best days of your life will be spent in unison and all you have to do is ask for another glass of that famous French wine (oh, but that’s another story).

Where to Stay: Garden Beach Hotel, Juan-les-Pins www.partouche-hotel-garden-beach.fr

Las Mas de Pierre, Saint-Paul-de-Vence www.lemasdepierre.com

Where to Eat: Cour des Thes, Antibes Juan-les-Pins 14 avenue du 24 Aout

Le Bastion, Antibes 1 avenue du General Maizerie www.restaurant-bastion.com

La Litote, Vence 5, rue de l’Eveche www.lalitote.com

How to Get There: Air France, of course. This airline went beyond the call for me and if you opt for business class you won’t want to get off the plane. Flights into Paris are daily from many US cities and, what can I say, the food is good, the service is good and the check-in process was so painless I almost felt like something was wrong. Yes, it is Air France every time I visit France from now on – period. www.airfrance.us Getting Around: French Rivera Executive Transport Service (ask for Piero) www.executive-transport-service.com

For More Information: www.frenchriviera-tourism.com www.antibesjuanlespins.com www.vallauris-golfe-juan.com www.vence.fr www.saunt-pauldevence.com www.cotedazur-tourisme.com

area. Now, it’s a good place to find several historic sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Moore’s Grocery.

I

n a world

looking for perfect, there’s no place else I’ve found where the beaches beckon with just the right amount of allure – you know, soft, white sand ready to offer a day or a week of perfection. So, if building sand castles is on your to-do list, or hiking on one of the many wildlife trails, or even just finding that perfect seafood dinner, that’s wonderful: it’s all about what you want while in paradise.

On a recent trip, I made a short stop at my accommodations, a condo at Turquoise Place, Alabama found through Spectrum Vacations, and then hit the beach for some down time. However, you don’t have to be lazy unless you want to. If you prefer to enjoy a small town that’s uniquely Southern and full of character, head over to Magnolia Springs, a small Southern river town that has inspired the likes of Fannie Flagg and Winston Groom, to name a few. Located at the headwaters of the Magnolia River, originally called River de Lin by locals, boats and steamships brought travelers into the

For a good hike, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, designated as one of Alabama’s 10 Most Natural Wonders, offers 7,000 acres of wildlife habitats and supports one of the finest examples of the globally imperiled coastal scrub. You can experience not only maritime forests, coastal marsh, beaches and open water, but also an amazing habitat for a diverse number of birds.

Still need more back country?

Take a golf cart ride along Hugh S. Banyon Back Country Trail.

Highlights here include (in addition to seeing alligators) an overlook of marshes, sand dunes, swamps and creeks. The trail system through Banyon Back Country also takes a few turns into Gulf State Park, immensely peaceful and worth the two-hour tour. And if you’re so inclined, there’s an amazing butterfly garden too.

If you’re more up for getting out on the water, you might opt for a dolphin watch cruise: Dolphin Express Cruises stresses that dolphins can be seen year-round playing in the surf.

One of my most exciting experiences in Gulf Shores was a trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. In fact, I went back twice because they let me go inside the area with the wolves, my favorite animal. Other than wolves, there are 300 other animals including lemurs (yes, you can pet them), kangaroos, tiger cubs (and the mothers), lions, and bears. This zoo most definitely gives you an appreciation of understanding and respecting our four-legged friends.

And, if you’re thinking the name of the zoo sounds familiar, it might be: these guys were on national morning

shows during one of the recent hurricanes and the zookeeper actually moved most of the animals to her home in order to keep them safe.

A few other interesting facts about a Gulf Coast visit - the Gulf State Park

Alabama Gulf Coast Offers Unsurpassed Beaches and Then Some

By RiTA COOk

Pier, rising 20 feet above water level, is the best place (in the world perhaps) to watch the perfect sunset.

And, it spans almost a third of a mile, making it the longest fishing pier in the Gulf of Mexico. At the end of the pier (where lots of fishing is taking place) there is a 65-foot

octagon that extends over a sandbar where king mackerel, tarpon and cobia fish can be found.

So whether it’s days lounging in the sun and sand that you want, or a bit more adventure, it’s easy to see that Gulf Shores is going to be your kind of place no matter what’s on your wish list. Don’t forget to take in a few hours of shopping before you wind up your day at The Wharf, where the southeast’s tallest Ferris wheel is certainly just the perfect end to a trip you won’t forget.

For more information visit www.gulfshores.com

Places to Eat: Jesse’s

(Try the fresh seafood or the Whiskey Steak) Lulu’s www.lulusathomeport.com (Jimmy Buffet’s sister is the owner here) Beach Club Restaurant www.Beachclubal.com (It overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and offers great dining) King Neptune’s www.kingneptuneseafoodrestaurant.com

(Order the Red Royal Shrimp and the oysters) Cobalt www.cobaltrestaurant.com (Picturesque windows and the perfect place to end the evening)

Art has always been a big influence.

We had large paintings on the walls of my family home: Dutch masters with figurative classical images. My involvement in photography grew from working as a diving instructor and taking underwater photos. I was fortunate enough to work for one of

emile W Maximillian

ashley FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER

“My favorite setting is putting mystery into the images so people who see them stop … and wonder for a moment.”

e first noticed the photographic art of Emile Maximillian Ashley while looking over images from ecodesigner Leila Hafzi’s 2010 Bridal Collection. Flashback to the first six pages of our last edition and the gossamer gowns that literally danced their way across each page.

There was an intuitive quality to the pictures that seemed to bring Leila’s designs to life. A perfect pairing, an amazing panoply w here photographic function gracefully merged with form and fashion. The results of this symbiotic pairing of art forms so intrigued us that we were compelled to contact Emile. The following is a portion of our interview.

ADS: Please give us a bit of background information: Where you’re from originally? When your interest in photography began? How you settled in Oslo, etc?

Emile: I was born in London but consider myself Norwegian since I’ve been living here since age five.

Norway’s best photographers, who was an assistant to Richard Avedon in New York. I also studied photography in Florence … amazing art galleries there! Currently I have a photo studio on the west coast of Norway in the oil city of Stavanger.

ADS: How did you originally connect with Ms. Hafzi and why do you think your visions blend so beautifully?

Emile: Well, I’ve known Leila for a long time and have admired her work since she first started. It must be 15 years ago when I saw her first fashion show, and her collection was already eco-friendly and ethical.

Working with her is surprisingly easy because we [inherently] understand each other regarding the feelings the images reflect. We kind of jump into things from the start of each shoot and improvise as we go along.

ADS: Which subjects spark your creative vision? Which do you find most challenging and which have been the most fun?

Emile: I guess my interest lies mostly in pictures of people. I’m not into Continued on Next Page

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landscape and still life. People lend nice energy to my work. My favorite setting is putting mystery into the images so people who see them stop … and wonder for a moment. And if they are allowed to go deeper and discover more meaning, it’s great.

These days I’m focusing on art projects. The big thrill is underwater pictures in black and white. They’re very hard to do but very rewarding.

There is always a point where you get unexpected images because of the difficult settings. And I love that!

ADS: What was your first camera and what equipment do you currently use?

Emile: My first camera was a toy.

I’d use it to shoot water at people.

These days I mostly use a medium format digital Mamiya ZD, a Nikon

D3 and a Ricoh GR2 for fun.

ADS: Who’s at the top of your list of people you’d most like to photograph, and, amongst your peers, whose work do you most respect?

Emile: Well, that would have to be Elvis on the moon! But I really like the pictures of Sally Mann. What she does is fantastic, with beautiful humor. I never get bored with them.

In fashion, Steven Meisel and Irving Penn.

ADS: Tell me about your underwater wedding photos.

Emile: The people in that picture are Mona and Alexander. They had seen some of my underwater images and asked me if they could try it out.

Mona bought an extra wedding

dress just for that purpose. We rented a pool for 6 hours and after giving them a quick course in "how to hold your breath, swim with clothes and look natural underwater," we tried to capture some magic. They had no experience whatsoever and it was difficult for them to hold their breath. The trick is to swim down, do one exposure, then surface and give feedback and try again. I am controlling the light and camera and if I see that a setting is looking good we try for a while and hope for the best. That's when it just happens.

Emile works together with his wife, Yumiko, who is also a photographer.

Please visit their website at www.ashley-studio.com.

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