Beautiful Layers Magazine, Issue One, Summer 2012 by Lorrie Fenn

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Contents Pages: 10-12: The Rink Warrior 14-19: Bridal Shower Brunch 20-22 : Magical Thick Skin 42-46: Stars and Stripes 52-56: No Sugar Sweet Life 60-61: Dressing Professionally in the Summer 62-70: Date Night

4 57-58 Strawberry Pesto Grilled Cheese Beautiful Layers | Summer 2012

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Star Berry Cookies

Summer Style

71-100 5 Sun Queens Music Festival Beautiful Layers | Summer 2012

EDITO R â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S L E TT E R

Welcome to the premiere issue of Beautiful Layers Magazine! In short, Beautiful Layers is a creative lifestyle magazine for people seeking an extra dose of creative energy and inspiration in their personal and professional lives. While the topics vary from fashion, home, D.I.Y., careers, and following your dreams, they have one thing in common: living a full and beautiful life. Creating a Path, the tagline and theme of this magazine, is a concept that is very dear to me. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s from my own experience that we get out of life what we put into it. Building a creative, healthy, happy life on my own terms is one of my top priorities and I suspect it is for you too.

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In this issue we share stories from three women all following their bliss. From Tish who is finding her way in L.A. and coping with the ups and downs of following her acting dreams, to Tina whose life has changed with the camaraderie of roller derby, and then with Kelly who shares how she lost 50 pounds (and counting!) by giving up one of her biggest triggers: sugar. I have tremendous gratitude for the enthusiasm, beauty, and endless creativity of our models, photographer, and contributors who helped make this magazine possible. Thank you all so much. The next drink is on me!

a s p e c i a l t h a n k s t o o u r. . .

Tina

Tish

contributors

7 Kelly

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Miranda

Beautiful Layers MAGAZINE EDITOR IN CHIEF Lorrie Fenn ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN Beautiful Layers Design FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY Junebug Photography CONTACT magazine@beautifullayers.com

creating a path

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www.junebugphotography.info Beautiful Layers | Summer 2012

Written By: Tina Amburgey Illustration By: Lorrie Fenn

Beautiful Layers | Summer 2012

et me start off by saying that I never thought in a million years I’d be playing roller derby. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always loved roller sking, but playing roller derby? There was no way I would ever be good enough to do that. Back in 2009, around the time the movie “Whip It”, directed by Drew Barrymore, was about to come out in theaters, I decided to go to a local team’s “Newbie Night” to see what roller derby was about. I want to say it was awesome and everybody loved me, but that was not the case. The girls were nice, but it felt intense and overwhelming at the time. I could barely keep a squat, the basic derby position. The warm up exercises alone had me red-faced and winded. I was fat, sluggish and beyond humiliated. All these things only seemed to reaffirm my original opinion that it just wasn’t for me. Fast forward to October 2011, when I heard about this new team, H.A.R.D. (Heart of Appalachia Roller Derby). My friend Candi had started skating with them a couple months before and always had positive things to say. Later that month, I went out to a Halloween event that they held at the rink where they practiced. I met and talked to a few of the girls that night and they encouraged me to try it again. I was still scared, but after hanging out with them in a lower-pressure social setting, I was leaning more towards giving it another shot.

crossover to save my life, they reassured me that I was doing a great job and any struggles I was having were completely normal. Many of them told me about their own experiences starting out, how they could barely stand up on skates or how they had no endurance and couldn’t even skate a few laps without getting winded. These same girls were doing 28 laps in five minutes and skating in derby position like it was no sweat, which in my opinion is the hardest part starting out.They encouraged me to come back and to not give up. They assured me that I would get the hang of it eventually!

never forget the first time I reached This group of women never once twenty-five laps in five minutes. My made me feel like I would be belit- first big hit. Or the time I finally tled or kicked off the team if I didn’t got my T-stop. Nothing can replace catch quickly enough or improve in these mini victories for me. a timely fashion. Bottom line, the environment they created was that Without realizing it, I spread this of positivity, encouragement and newfound strength and confidence into other parts of my life. Because community. I was hooked. I wanted so badly to be good at this I started going to practice regularly. sport and help out my team, I started I was sore more often than not, and drinking more water, making better, my lower back continued to burn more healthful eating choices and from constantly trying to stay in exercising on non-practice days. I derby position. But after a while, the now have sincere passion and motipain lessened and it got easier. I fell. vation for the “lifestyle change” that A lot. Got lots of bumps and bruises is losing weight and getting healthy.

The very next practice they had, I and got the wind knocked out of me went. And I’m so glad I did. These a few times. But no matter what, I women were genuinely welcoming got up and kept going. I got stronand made me feel like I could may- ger, faster, better. And more conbe, really do this thing! Even though fident. And I continually reached | Summer 2012I could. I will I was wobbly Beautiful and couldn’t Layers do a goals I never thought

Through derby I have gained a great support system. My teammates are not just teammates, they’re my friends. We spend time together outside of practice and include each

other in all aspects of our lives. Because we see our teammates at our worst and our best, we know we can count on each other for pretty much anything. I find myself leaning pm them during hard times, wanting to tell them about personal and professioanl victories and going to them for advice and support. You know that song â&#x20AC;&#x153;Roller Derby Saved My Soulâ&#x20AC;?? Well, this might sound cheesy, but I feel like roller derby saved my life. Since I started skating six months ago, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve pushed myself harder, physically and mentally, than I ever have before. This sport has given me passion, purpose and fulfillment. I feel empowered. Sure, it makes me feel weak and humbled at times, but more often than not, it makes me feel like a strong, smart, badass woman who gets shit done. And that is the greatest feeling in the world.

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Beautiful Layers | Summer 2012 PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING BY: LORRIE FENN

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MENU MIMOSAS ICED COFFEE LEMON POPPY SEED MUFFINS MINI CINNAMON ROLLS YOGURT WITH GRANOLA AND BLUEBERRIES STRAWBERRIES CHEDDAR QUICHE

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Photographs by Vanie Poyey Photography Beautiful Layers | Summer 2012

Magical THICK

Skin

WRITTEN BY: TISH MERRITT

exist in the liminal state of the middle. This poses a problem when someone’s asked me what it is I do out here in Los Angeles. You see, I’m an actress in training. I say “in training” because I’m not currently filming anything. I’m not making any guest appearances. I’m just trying to be an actress. Occasionally I’ll meet people out here already excelling in their given profession and they’ll laugh at me with pity and preach that I should say I AM an actress, that my words possess a magical power and if I state my current reality I’ll jinx the universe and bring down a thin skinned plague upon my household. (e.g. I’ll never break into the business.) I thank them for their good hippity dippity intentions and go back to the $3 bracelet box. Faking the funk has never really been my style. I’ve never been good at faking it until I’m making it. My life is what it is. I’m following my dream, trying to make it in this wonky city. Hi, my name is Tish and I’m a practical dreamer.

keep going. Even through the stress-inducing auditions, the lack of auditions, the self-esteem blowers, the sleezoids and the green-eyed monsters, my inner dreamer is always still there; calmly there in a Zen-like sitting position. I like to think something greater than me is working with that inner voice. Some spiritual internal Yoda that has the power to Jedi mind trick my oh-so-strong ego,

“When an acting teacher or fellow classmate gives me a standing ovation or cries after a performance I’m inspired. I see in them what I saw in myself. ”

I’ve wanted to be an actor ever since I first watched The Color Purple at the ripe old age of four. Through the years my parents and extended family did their best to dissuade me from pursuing what they considered to be a pipe dream, but I’ve always had this stubborn belief that I was supposed to act so I got pretty good at shaking off the negativity. And that’s the magic glue that has always kept me focused and persistent. Even when my inner weakling questions why I put myself through all Beautiful Layers | Summer the rejections, my inner dreamer whispers for me to2012

hock-loogie me back to the Midwest. I’m sensitive. Stuff like that affects me. Yet here I am, seven years later still pelvic thrusting every time my agent tells me I have an audition. When an acting teacher or fellow classmate gives me a standing ovation or cries after a performance I’m inspired. I see in them what I saw in myself. It’s that joy, my inner Yoda, and hope that keep me firmly planted here: an actor’s thick skinned cocktail. …I think that’s what makes my specific brand of dream so special. There’s something wonderfully brave about going after something that’s far from a sure thing. I’ve got my own kind of Wonder Woman adventure going on; villains, haters, rejections, and lassos of truth. All of those adventures will make quite the Oscar speech one day. At least that’s how I see it playing out when I practice in the mirror each morning.

fears, insecurities and pessimisms. It has to be something along those lines because outside of acting I’m not a warrior by any means. One time a working actress told me I’d never book jobs; that I was too mousy plain Jane. I still cry sometimes because of her words. I wonder where I’d fit in the world of Hollywood. People have told me since my first month here that I wouldn’t last. They said sooner or later LA would chew me up and

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Tish Merritt is currently “living the dream” in Los Angeles, CA. She spends her time waiting for her agent to send her on real, honest-to-goodness auditions for real honest-to-goodness biracial roles. (So far her agent has submitted her for Latina, White and little people roles. She’s still not amused.) She copes by writing for a fitness website called www.FitBottomedGirls.com, her personal blog www.luvandkiwi. com, and working on her first book; a compilation of short stories about the ups and downs of going after one’s dream.

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Summer Style

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Photography By: Junebug Photography

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Stars d an

stripes

Throw a casual and easy fourth of July celebration with these affordable tablescape ideas. Red, white, and blue never looked so good!

Beautiful Layers | Summer 2012

Styling and Photography by Lorrie Fenn

st by e r e t n i ual hing Add vis c t a m nd mixing a n the same s i pattern me. he color sc

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Dinner Plates: Target: $1 Dessert Plates: Target: $1 Red Polka Dot Napkins: Target: $2 Glass Bottles of Coca Cola $1 each Three Pack of Flags: Target: $1 Blue Straws: Amazon: $7 Potted Plant: $4 Striped Gift Box: Target: $1 Polka Dot Gift Can: Target: $1 Polka Dot Paper Cups: $1

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10- MINUTE DESSERT

Star Berry Cookies What Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Need: Star cookie cutter 16 count soft sugar cookies One pint of each: blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries Container of lemon or cream cheese icing

One:

Cut cookies out with star-shaped cookie cutter.

Two:

Spread a 1/4 inch layer of lemon or cream cheese icing onto the cookies.

Three:

Top with a couple of each type of berry.

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Yum!

Styling and Photography by Lorrie Fenn

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she walks amongst the trees

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Photography By: Junebug Photography

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Photograph by Kerinsa Marie Photography Beautiful Layers | Summer 2012

NO SUGAR sweet life

My new normal includes: lots of healthy veggies from our garden. Fresh vegetable juices like my pink kale, cucumber melon, and mean green juice. I enjoy hummus, quinoa and bell peppers: I run two or three miles several times a week and go to the playground for strength training, and stroller lunges! And lots of smiles! I’m well on my way, living the happy healthy life… no sugar added.

never wanted to be one of those people. You know, Kelly shares her journey and many delicious recipes the ones who let themselves go once they get mar- on her blog: www.nosugarsweetlife.com ried. I don’t think I did that intentionally; but I definitely didn’t get myself in check year after year that I gained weight. I always ate pretty healthy, but eating just an extra 100 calories a day can lead to a ten pound weight gain per year. Here’s the math: seven and a half years of marriage times 100 calories a day equals seventy five pounds. I was perpetually unhappy. My dear hubby was unhappy seeing me unhappy. It was a vicious cycle that needed to be broken. My only regret is that I didn’t wake-up to this fact sooner. Thankfully I did have an ‘aha’ moment looking into the sweet face of my daughter. I chose to finally be healthy for her. I wanted to show her what it looks like to have a healthy relationship with food, to use it as fuel for strength. Not for comfort or numbing pain. I want her to dance and jump and smile with glee. I want her to feel the amazement of accomplishing a long run. And if possible, I want her journey to be easier than mine.

Kelly’s before and after photographs show off her 50 pound weight loss.

I want my daughter to grow to love her body and know 100% that she is beautiful, loved, and enough. And heck, I hope someday she’ll be a positive influence in others’ lives as well. How awesome would it be for her to be a catalyst and encourager in others’ lives to live the happy healthy life too? I struggled with my weight for my entire adult life. I finally decided life is too short to live perpetually unhappy. I recently lost over 50 pounds and am currently working on the last 30. I made a few simple changes to my lifestyle: less sugar, smaller portions, and more veggies. I have never felt better! Beautiful Layers | Summer 2012

Kelly’s Top 10 Low Sugar Tips 1. Read Labels. I went to my local market recently and was appalled to see the following ingredients when I flipped around a can of sweet kernel corn: Corn comma Sugar. Seriously? They need to make sweet corn sweeter by adding sugar? That's just wrong. Luckily I found a similar can without the added sugar. But if I hadn't checked, I easily would have bought the can with extra sugar. The hard part is that everything has sugar in it these days! You name it, and it probably has added sugar or worse, high fructose corn syrup. So be diligent to check the labels.

2. Find lower sugar versions of your favorite items. I looked at probably twelve different brands and flavors comparing sugar content and finally decided on one with half the sugar content. Stubb's Hickory Bourbon (7g of sugar per 2 Tbsp, compared with 15+ grams in most other brands.) It was delicious. 3. Rethink Dessert. I don't know what it is about Americans, but we feel like we deserve dessert. I'm not re-

ally sure why. We feel we are not really living life or are depriving ourselves unjustly if we go without dessert, even for one day. “Oh I'll diet, but I still need Cheesecake. Oh I'm overweight, but let me have more ice cream before bed. Don’t take away my sweet freedom!” News flash: you don't need dessert. Go ahead and hate me now, but it's true. Your life would be just as good without it. How do I know? Because mine has been! I’ve gone almost a year without having a real dessert, even subbing fruit and a yogurt cream sauce out for traditional cake at my birthday festivities. I'm not saying never have dessert, or that you need to do it exactly like I did. But do we really need dessert every day?

4. Just say No. I was recently at a retreat for healthy living bloggers. The first night there were cupcakes that

everyone raved about; I passed. People thought I was strange, or maybe a bit extreme. But, I can honestly say, my life is just as good now, two months later, having not eaten them. Did I deserve them? Maybe, but I was going to be doing some major hiking the next day.

5. Find a Substitute. This is my favorite way to cut added sugar. Substitute greek yogurt and bananas in breads to reduce the amount of sugar needed to sweeten them. Substitute sliced tomatoes and drizzled mustard on a burger instead of sugar-filled ketchup. Substitute sliced fresh strawberries on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead of sugar-filled jelly.

6. Watch what you drink. So many drinks these days are loaded with sugar. A Wendy's All Natural Lemonade

has more sugar than an entire box of Haagen-Dasz Ice Cream Bars. Beware, my friends. I aim for drinking mostly water, some unsweet teas - green and black, fresh veggies juices, milk or almond milk, and coffee.

7. Prepare by bringing healthy snacks. Don't let your office make you fat! Plan ahead. Bring hummus,

nuts, seeds, greek yogurt, toast with peanut butter. Anything for that afternoon pick-me-up that is not candy or a soda.

8. Reboot. I trained my body to need less sugar. The more sugar I consume, the more my body wants it. Similarly, the less sugar I consume, the less my body wants it. My body now craves fruits, veggies, and healthy foods.

9. Reward yourself differently. I stopped rewarding myself and others with sweets. Instead, a manicure, a

new book, a trip to the movies, a new workout shirt, and a photo shoot have been my motivators.

Beautiful Layersthis | Summer 10. Decide you’re worth making change. 2012 And start living the sweet life, no sugar added.

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Strawberry Pesto Grilled Cheese Recipe and Photography by Kelly from No Sugar Sweet Life Start with lovely strawberries. Gather your remaining ingredients: • 4 Ciabatta Rolls • 8 ounces Fontina Cheese • 4 tablespoons Pesto • 16 ounces Strawberries • 2 teaspoons Balsamic Vinegar • 2 teaspoons Pumpkin Seeds (optional)

To my surprise, he actually uttered that he liked it, that the flavors complemented each other well, and that it was good, really good. What was that honey? I couldn't hear you. This was a simple, yet sophisticated meal… perfect for a summer evening.

Directions: 1. Slice Ciabatta rolls in half. 2. Spread 1 Tbsp pesto on one side of each sandwich. 3. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top of the pesto. 4. Slice fontina cheese & lay on the other side of each sandwich in a single layer. 5. Slice strawberries, then soak with the balsamic vinegar. Stir so that each slice is liberally covered. 6. Layer marinated strawberries on top of the fontina cheese. 7. Carefully put back together. 8. Use butter or non-stick spray to coat pan. Then, cook over low heat for 12 - 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Make sure cheese is melted and strawberries are heated through. 9. Let cool for a couple minutes so you don't burn your fingers. With pesto for added protein and flavor, pumpkin seeds for a slight crunch, and balsamic strawberries for a hint of sweetness, this grilled cheese was a winner all around. These finished up just when Dear Hubby walked in the door from work. And I must confess, I got "the look." You might have a similar spousal look of disapproval in your house, but mine had a bit of a sigh associated with it as well like, "seriously, you made me something weird to eat again?" He likes his food simple and traditional. This was fairly simple, but definitely not traditional! And there was no meat involved. Completely sacrilegious in our house!

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Floyd, Virginia

You Wish You Were Here!

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! ! e r a l c I de Miranda’s Guide to Dressing Professionally in the Summer

adies, summer has officially started and I don’t know about you but I’m already running the air conditioning. I start sweating the minute I step outside. It’s not a glamorous look. But despite the heat I still have to head into the office five days a week and professionalism is important to me so I want to look my best. There’s an unspoken rule in most offices that the dress code doesn’t apply during the summer, and I’ve seen some pretty outrageous outfits walking the halls under the guise of being “business casual.” Believe me, dressing strictly for comfort might make you feel cooler but it won’t do you any favors professionally. Here are some tips on how to look your best during record-breaking heat.

able and your co-workers won’t have to hear you flipflopping away from the break room. • Dress for success. For me, wearing pants between the months of May and October is pretty miserable -- too hot, too sweaty -- so I spend most of the time in dresses and skirts. They’re a great option for the office as long as you don’t go any shorter than kneelength. Pull on a pair of Spanxx if your thighs rub (like mine) and you’ll be cool as a cucumber. Not into skirts? Try a pair of skorts, Bermuda shorts or Capri pants. (The same length rule applies to shorts – nothing above the knee at work.)

• Go natural. I’m a big fan of natural fabrics, especially in the summer. Why sweat to death in synthet• Just say no to flip-flops. I know, they’re ics when there are plenty of work appropriate clothes super comfortable and everyone in your office wears made from natural fibers? Look for clothing made them. I don’t care. Don’t wear them to work. You mostly from cotton or linen and follow care instrucwouldn’t wear a business suit to the beach and you tions carefully. shouldn’t wear flip-flops to the office. Go with a strappy sandal or canvas flat instead. They’re just as comfort-

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• Accessories are your friends. Can’t afford to buy new clothes? Don’t sweat it! Try investing in some great accessories or reworking pieces already in your jewelry box. Look for pieces that you can mix and match with multiple outfits. Select one statement piece – a colored belt, a chunky necklace, chandelier earrings – and keep everything else minimal. It doesn’t matter if you spend five days a week in a cubicle or if you’re a freelancer who only meets with clients occasionally; looking professional and put together tells people that you’re worth every penny they’re paying you. Maybe more. Miranda Marshall has been a project manager for eight years. She is generally the best dressed person on her team but she’s also the only woman, so there’s not much competition.

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date night 62

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Photography By: Junebug Photography

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Photography By: Junebug Photography

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