Halfstack Spring 2018 Issue by Halfstack Magazine

HALFSTACK SPRING 2018

Bad Ass Babes Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

THE EMPOWERMENT ISSUE

IN EVERY ISSUE Editors Letter 4

THE SPOTLIGHT

Meet the Team

SKYLINED

LOCAL OPTIONS

Meet Amy Wolter

Ladyboss Blogger 28

The Latina Expo Chicago 36

FASHION & LIFESTYLE Spring Runway Review

FEATURES BADASS BABES - MENACE 64

Meet Beyond the Booth 74

The Art of Reiki Healing 86

GROOMING/HEALTH

Meet the CEO of USE ME

Grooming at Martial Vivot

Sustainable Style Spring Looks for Less 54

102

Spring Must Haves 106

EDITORS LAST LOOK Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Sights for the Soul 110

TABLE OF CONTENTS-SPRING 2018

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

LADYBOSS BLOGGER: ELAINE RAU STORY PAGE: 28 Photographed by: Daniel Lopez Perez

JENNIFER M. LEZAN-VEGUILLA EDITOR IN CHIEF & FOUNDER

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, Welcome to the first issue of 2018, the 24th issue since Halfstack came into existence and 6 years since we had our fateful Kickstarter campaign that set my life on a new path. What started off as a seed of an idea has blossomed into a spark of a movement that I am so honored that I have had the chance to nurture to life. Over the last 6 years I have the opportunity to work with an amazing team of people who have believed in me and the mission of Halfstack. Creatives who are my muses, who are the motivation behind why I push so hard to ensure each issue goes up every quarter and the inspiration for the work I do through Halfstack. I truly mean it, when I say that Halfstack is a zine by the people, for the people. We started off local, always repping Chicago and now here we are with over 2.5 million people reached and read in over 40 countries. Each person who writes, creates and photographs for the publication or is featured in each issue or our blog has helped us create a platform for anyone who has a dream and is working to chase it. We are giving a voice to the up and comers. It’s mind blowing to me, to think about the people I have had the opportunity to connect with, the stories and journeys we have been able to share. It’s been a beautiful 6 years, but it hasn’t been easy. I always highlight the realities behind the scenes in creative business. It’s a constant message in the podcasts and articles we share because I want to keep it real. There’s no sugar coating the hard work that needs to be put in to bring a dream and idea to life or the hardships that

sometimes come along with it. The last 6 years I have gone through a metamorphosis. I have seen some of my highest highs and lowest lows in both my personal and professional life, but I haven’t given up. Halfstack has been my consistent outlet. The place I go to share a vision and a reminder that I am going in the right direction, even when it feels that the world is pulling me down. When I want to run and hide, my kids and family remind me to show up and my creative work is always right there waiting for me to breathe life into it. I’ve gone from working in the retail world, being a freelance writer and creative, to working in the corporate world, back to pursuing freelance. All the while always having 2 side jobs as an adjunct professor at local colleges, being a mom and always releasing an issue of Halfstack every quarter even if I have to go days on end running on 2-3 hours of sleep. I shut down my other business this year and shed the weight of failure it held over me and brought myself back to focus on what I believed in: Halfstack. I’m still freelancing and teaching because a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do, but I’m working on prioritizing the growth this indie zine needs. Even though Halfstack hasn’t paid the bills and I have invested so much sweat, tears and money, I haven’t stopped. I’ve believed in the message and I keep doing what I can to nurture it. I worked other jobs so that I could find a way to keep bringing this to life because I think the message that we share is important right now. Yet, I won’t lie I’ve struggled this last year with my health, with my spiritual growth, with being spread to thin on top of being a mom, a provider and a working parent. I’ve questioned whether or not I should continue on doing this or if I do, in what capacity and what does that mean for Halfstack. I’ve gone through an evolution over the years and because of that so has this publication. It’s stretched and grown and changed because I along with the people who work on it have evolved. I’ve never been a quitter and I will not start now, but this year is going to be a year of continued change for us. I couldn’t do this without the amazing team of people who have consistently volunteered and posted on the blog, covered events for us, shared their art and photography in the issues and on our site. I couldn’t keep bringing this zine to life if it wasn’t for people like Danielle who has literally been here since day one or Laura and Shirin, Stella, Perry, Rob, Teresa, Pearl, Jennie, Iesha, Michelle, Kali, Aira, Kandy, Lauren, Olivia, Aira, Kali, Lauren Avante, Nisha, Louis and Tyronita. We thrive on their creative energy and fuel. I just keep it all running. My biggest hope for Halfstack is to be able to make a positive impact on the Chicago community and beyond as well as the people who pour so much of their creative souls into it. I like to think that we have inspired people to keep moving forward towards their goals and dreams. Yet, I’ve held myself back from my own. I’ve wanted to bring this brand into full time status for so long, but find myself scared of putting myself out there. So, here I am sharing the raw reality behind what we do here. I’ve wanted to give my friends, colleagues and fellow artists jobs that are fulfilling to them, that valued their time and paid them what they are worth. I’ll know I have made it and made my dreams come true when I can help others make their dreams come true. I’m not sure how we will get there, but I will continue working on it. I’m working harder on listening to my intuition and following my gut. When I feel scared or nervous about things, they’re typically things that I should be forging ahead on. That is what I did with this issue. We shared stories and ideas that were uncomfortable and different, but they all culminated into a vision of strength in connection. This year is the year of break through, Halfstack is breaking through the chrysalis and sharing thoughts, ideas and content that will continue to push the boundaries and I hope you will come along on this ride with us. This issue was inspired by the #MeToo Movement. It was an opportunity to take all the shitty things that came with that and see how the people who have been through the ringer owned their empowerment. How they didn’t allow themselves to be victimized any longer. They took back their night. Growing up my mother, a single Latina mom who was looking for love in all the wrong places, often suffered through one too many abusive relationships. As the eldest I had to be the one to help her pick up the pieces when things came crashing down. I was often mad and angry at her, not fully understanding how she would get herself and us into the messes we were a part of. Yet, when I got older and experienced similar traumas in past relationships as

a young woman, I finally realized why it was so hard for my mother. I realized how the hardships of growing up in a turbulent home with a parent who suffered from her own demons and addictions impacted the way my mother approached our life. Yet, despite the hardships, not once did she ever give up. Even in my darkest moments, like my mom, I continued on. It took so much of me to break through that darkness in my early adult years, but I did. It took my mother a bit longer, but I look at the woman she is now and I realize where I got my strength. I want to dedicate this issue to her and to every woman, mother, grandmother, aunt and every person who never gave up, who stood by their young people in their dark moments and reminded them to keep going. I want to dedicate this issue to every person at any age who is part of a victimized group, whether you are Black, Latino, Hispanic, part of any diaspora, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, binary, gender non-conforming, on the spectrum of all abilities or disabilities. I see you. I believe in you. We will continue to share your stories. I also want to dedicate this issue to the young men of the world. To the strong men of color, to our white brothers, and those men from the beautiful diverse countries and neighborhoods all over our beautiful Chicago and beyond, thank you for your support. Thank you for walking alongside us in our pursuance of equality, excellence and for believing that we should all be elevated together. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what intersectional feminism is all about <3 It is together that we will create the change we need to see in this world. I only hope I can continue to document it on the pages of Halfstack. In this issue we are promoting individuals who are taking back their night and some amazing bad ass babes who are doing things their way. Our cover features the trio behind Instagramâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest micro-series: MENACE. Flavia, Devon and Sarah share their journey in developing the series and talk with me about how feminism and the election influenced the direction of the series. I feature another amazing female founder and share the story behind launching the trade show app: Beyond the Booth. Laura recently released a book with Evelen Lauer and we share the story behind SKYLINED: A Story of Love & Loss in the City. And I share a very intimate feature with Erin Ryan: a Reiki Master and TCM Practitioner that explores the themes of overcoming family trauma, spirituality, alternative medicines and energy work.

bad ass babes -menace the series PAGE 64

Danielle has an amazing round up of empowering beauty features. Avante has a recap of Spring Runway shows and Teresa is bringing us the runway looks for less. Liv shares the latest in her sustainable lifestyle column and we spotlight some local Chicagoans doing great things for the Latino communities here and in South America. Nisha closes out this issue for us with an inspiring take on uplifting women. I hope we can continue to inspire for 6 more years to come. If you believe in what we are doing, consider supporting our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/halfstackmag or you can always just buy us a cup of coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/4vyJDPe9z

REIKI MASTER: ERIN RYAN PAGE 86

Thank you for your support, Jennifer M. Veguilla-Lezan Editor-in-Chief

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

EDITOR IN CHIEF

jennifer lezan creative director @halfstackmag

PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM

LAURA LOPEZ lead photographer

@theartistmeansnothing

SHIRIN KORIL lead photographer @pickaposephotograpy

meet the

team

perry fish

staff photographer @alluringchicago

pearl shin staff photographer @bigdipper4

HALFSTACK EDITORIAL teresa cutrera fashion editor

jennie velasco music, art & culture editor

danielle hazekamp sr. beauty editor

stella quimby sr. fashion editor

& blogger

louis vasseur music, event editor & blogger

STAFF CREATIVES

& DESIGNERS KALI KOLLER

Creative & Graphics Designer

LAUREN PFEFFER

Creative & Graphics Designer

KANDACE MCVICKAR

AIRA LHEIZ AQUINO

Creative & Graphics Designer

STAFF BLOGGERS/WRITERS IESHA CARTER Staff Blogger/Youtuber

DENISE GUEVARA Staff Blogger/Youtuber

REYNISHA LINDSAY Staff Writer

OLIVIA LEMLEY Staff Writer/Blogger

NICOLE STYLES Staff Blogger

TRACI CICARELLI Staff Blogger/Youtuber

ELAINE RAU

ROB SAMUELSON

TARIQ ALSAUD

Digital Blogger

Staff Writer/Blogger

Celia A. Pena Staff Writer/Blogger

JENNIFER OQUENDO Staff Writer/Blogger

KATHLEEN LEIFFERS Staff Blogger

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

Andre Thompson Staff Blogger

DWIGHT BEJEC Social Media Director

TYRONITA BELL Staff Blogger

KARLI BUTLER Staff Writer/Blogger

MICHELLE LANDRIAULT Staff Blogger/Youtuber

JULIO DELGADO Staff Blogger/Youtuber

AVANTE EDMONDS Staff Blogger

EMILY EHARDT Staff Blogger

JENNIFER GORDON Staff Writer/Blogger

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CHECK OUT THESE GREAT EPISODES!

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KATE ALBRECHT - OF MRKATE.COM ON LIFE ON YOUTUBE AND FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS

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Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

OUTFIT: FERMENTED FRUIT MAKEUP: DANIELLE HAZEKAMP PHOTO: LAURA LOPEZ CREATIVE DIR: JEN LEZAN STYLISTS: JENNIE VELASCO YARITZA RAMOCKI MODEL: JENNA ROACH ACCESSORIES: TRUE PARTNERS IN CRAFT

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

empowering female entrepreneurs Written By: Jennifer Veguilla-Lezan | All Photos Courtesy of Elaine Rau

LADYBOSSBLOGGER: ELAINE RAU GIVES BACK TO THE MICAH PROJECT INTERVIEW People can often place bloggers into this very narrow view of the online media world. People tend to think of fashion, beauty and shopping - often associating them with the frivolous. Yet, there are a slew of bloggers whose focus is on empowerment, business, inspiration and changing the world.

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They are writing about topics that have substance and meaning. They are sharing their thoughts, vision and highlighting how people all over the world are changing the very communities they are a part of through their work in business, art, activism and so much more. One of Halfstack’s past contributors: Elaine Rau, has created her very own space of empowerment on the inter webs, dubbed: Ladybossblogger.com. After transitioning and moving to Honduras, Elaine decided to make some changes and make her destiny work for her. Over the last couple of years writing for us and other outlets, Elaine kept on meeting male entrepreneurs and wondered where all the females were at! So, she started ladybossblogger to find and connect them and give them a platform to be seen and be heard. Her desire is to connect ladies from all around the world, build strong relationships, and create a network of sharing insight and expertise. She is sharing the vision of women supporting women! She also recently announced a new partnership with The Micah Project. She originally started her blog as an outlet for her to connect with people, specifically online business women, to learn what they did in order to succeed in business and make money online. However, it has transitioned into something else this year. Elaine explained that she originally moved down to Honduras because her husband’s brother was murdered and she needed to be with him and his family. However, during that year that she lived in Honduras, her husband’s nephew, a kid he used to be a guardian for, and one of his best friend’s brothers were all murdered.

Elaine’s husband fell into a deep depression and suffered from PTSD after having found the body himself. When they moved back to the states a few months ago, things seemed to get worse. According to Human Rights Watch, “Violent crime is rampant in Honduras. Despite a downward trend in recent years, the murder rate remains among the highest in the world. Journalists, environmental activists, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals are among those most vulnerable to violence. Efforts to reform the institutions responsible for providing public security have made little progress. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. Impunity for crime and human rights abuses is the norm.” In 2018, Elaine made a pact with herself that she would dedicate her business to serving the Honduran community and help alleviate as much suffering as she could. She now shares a portion of every single one of her posts directly to helping The Micah Project. The Micah Project is a non-profit organization in Tegucigalpa Honduras that ministers to street boys. There are three group homes for those wanting to leave the streets. This is the same organization that helped Elaine’s husband get off the streets as a kid. We wanted to learn more the growth of her brand and the work that she is now doing with the Micah Project. Elaine took some time to talk with me about this latest launch and what her journey has been like. Check out the full interview below. 1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself and your experiences that led you to launching LadyBossBlogger? Before I founded LadyBossBlogger. com, I was the National Wedding

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

Sales Manager for a global company in Chicago. Then one day I received a phone call from my husband that flipped my world upside down… his brother had just been murdered. I immediately asked my boss if I could go see him and bury his brother, and you know what he said? “NO. It will affect your work.” I was stunned. I had dedicated every waking moment of my life to his company for two years and THIS is what I got in return? I knew I had to get out of there ASAP, so I tried to quit… but to no avail! He wouldn’t let me quit! He threatened that if I ever left I would never get another job in the wedding industry again. He also started piling on “accusations” of all sorts telling me that if I left his company “he would no longer be able to protect me”. I had to hire a lawyer to protect myself from all this madness! I was terrified of my boss and I didn’t realize

until these events started unfurling that I was actually in an extremely toxic and verbally abusive environment. Imagine having your ideas, no matter how big or small, get devalued and pushed aside every single day. I was also constantly walking on eggshells, never sure if he would yell at me that day or even blow up at my clients! Ironically, his anger just made me work harder to impress him, and at the end of the day, I was left with zero self-confidence. Finally when I was able to quit, I cried for a week from relief. Then I packed my life in two suitcases and moved to Honduras to be with my husband and his family. Unfortunately, the transition was a lot harder than I had anticipated. I had left my home, my friends and my job (which had become a huge part of my identity) and had moved to a foreign third world country where I didn’t speak the language or understand the culture. Also all my “job skills” I had acquired were useless there. I started to feel really lonely and extremely isolated. Ironically, I had moved to be there for my husband, but being the most caring and most amazing man that he is, he ended up being there more for me. He encouraged me to take this time to find out who I was and who I wanted to be. All I knew was that I wanted to empower women somehow so they would never have to go through what I did. I also desperately needed to connect with people who spoke the same languages as me (Mandarin and English!) and somehow learn how to make money online. So I started a blog and decided to write about who I wanted to be… a female entrepreneur! I didn’t know the first thing about entrepreneurship and couldn’t afford a mentor, so I joined online entrepreneur forums, created an interview with targeted questions and sent it to several female entrepreneurs to gain insight from them. I started posting their interviews to my blog and learned something new from every interview I received. I realized that my interview series was

interesting to other people as well when I saw how many views and shares I was getting per post. I’m talking like 100 shares per post for a two week old blog! At that moment, I realized that I was creating something of value not just for myself but for other people as well! Using my background in sales, I crafted a sales packet to market my interviews. I sent it out to some leads and it came back a BIG HIT! I couldn’t believe it! Female entrepreneurs from all over started flooding my inbox asking to be interviewed… and that was the day I made my first entrepreneurial dollars. Read “How To Build A Credible Blog And Stand Out Among The Rest” 2. Can you tell us more about the premise of your site, who you are hoping to connect with and what kind of information readers are likely to find on it? My blog is for female entrepreneurs and has content curated by female entrepreneurs. You’ll find interviews of lady bosses at all stages along their entrepreneurial journey and in all professions. You’ll also find loads of resources where ladies will guest blog about their expertise and share HOW TO’s and TOP 5’s so that people can learn from them. It’s a compilation of everyone’s knowledge. It’s a place for sharing content, learning, and a place to find a solid online entrepreneur community. 3. What is it like being a full time blogger? So many people see it as such a glamour job, can you share some insights to what the reality is like? It’s HARD WORK and you’re literally in front of your computer all day, which honestly I don’t mind at all, which is probably why I can do it. I hate going to bed sometimes because I feel like I’m wasting time haha! Everything about blogging

fascinates me and I love that I get to learn something new every day! It’s a whole bunch of trial and error and ups and downs, so you must enjoy roller coasters! However, imagine that your life is that roller coaster and you keep on going around and around, it can be draining and exhausting and the ‘thrill’ will get old and you’ll be left feeling uncertain… constantly. There is no ‘right’ or easy path. Some things that work for some, won’t work for others. Uncertainty is what I have the most trouble with, especially because there are people that depend on me that I can’t let down financially. It’s a lot of pressure - you’re the entire marketing department, sales department, and everything else therefore you must learn to PRIORITIZE extremely well. We all love doing the easy things first, but to be a blogger you must be extremely disciplined. That is how you combat uncertainty. You must create your own schedule and never fail to reach your own goals. For a whole year I never failed to post at 6pm cst EVERY SINGLE DAY. I believe it’s my consistency that has made my blog successful. Imagine if you’re excited to digest the content of your favorite show so the minute you get home from work you open up your laptop to watch it… and it’s not there. Imagine how disappointed you would be. In order to garner an audience, you must consistently SHOW UP and STAND OUT among the rest. Your audience is literally your biggest asset and what big brands will pay you for. The more you know about your audience, the more your blog is worth. Another thing that I didn’t realize until after a year of blogging was that social media is great, but EMAIL IS WAAAY BETTER. You can have a massive following like me (100K followers now) but once Facebook or Instagram decides to change their algorithm you reach like 5 of them. The only way you can have control over your audience and when they see your content is if you have their emails.

ConvertKit is hands down the best email marketing service available for bloggers. Read “The One Tool Every Blogger Wishes They Had Implemented Earlier” 4. Can you tell us more about your travels and experiences in Honduras? Did that make any impact on what you are doing today with LadyBossBlogger? Yes it 1000% affected me! First, Honduras is where the blog began, second it started on the property of an organization called The Micah Project. They were the ones that helped my husband and I get situated in Honduras when I moved down there. The Micah Project is a home for street kids, it is also the organization that picked my husband off from the streets when he was teen and gave him a home and education. Without The Micah Project, we wouldn’t have met – but more than anything we are both indebted to them in more ways than one. 5. You recently mentioned you are working with organizations that help the Street Kids of Honduras, can you tell us more about this partnership? I saw the devastation and the reality of what it was like living there and I couldn’t turn a blind eye anymore. I was always raised with the idea that you work hard for your money, never ask anyone for anything, and never owe anyone money. My mom used to always say “there is no free lunch” so that was my attitude towards everything in life. I didn’t understand that the basics with which I grew up with, such as simply growing up with a family - was a privilege. There are lots of hard working Hondurans, but there is a massive lack of job opportunities and ability to obtain education due to lack of funds. My husband funded his sister’s cosmetology degree so that she

could do hair, however after she graduated there were ZERO jobs available so she had to go back to selling food on the streets. I didn’t believe it until I moved there and saw how life was and the limited options down there. That was just one of the many reasons I decided to partner with The Micah Project. 6. Can you share a bit about your husband’s story? My husband’s dad died when he was 4 and his mom when he was 7, both of tuberculosis – a very treatable disease in the states, but they lacked both in monetary resources and treatment opportunities. He had to learn how to fend for himself and his two brothers at a very young age. He started out begging in rich neighborhoods, but people started recognizing him and stopped opening their doors. Luckily one friendly man let him work odd jobs around his house. The man took notice of how hard my husband worked and took an interest in his well-being. He had run out of jobs around the house that he needed done, so he gave my husband a bottle of shoe polish and told him to go out and try his hand at polishing shoes. My husband came back the next day with the empty bottle of shoe polish in his hand and a wad of cash in the other. The man then gave him a whole set of shoe polish along with all the accessories he needed to start shining shoes and that was how he and his brother’s survived for a few years. He will have to tell you the rest of the story, that is just a tiny snippet of his life story. I always tell him someone needs to make a movie of his life haha! His entire life sounds like a “story”! It is in his plans to write his autobiography in the next few years, so we will see how that goes! 7. Why is it important to you to work with these types of organizations and connect them to your career as a blogger?

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

Lots of people are interested in learning how to become an entrepreneur and start their own thing, however, there is a massive lack of people talking about how their business can serve the greater good. My mission during the first year of my blog was to elevate women in business in order to change the landscape of media. That is still the mission, it has just slightly shifted to include supporting a charity. It’s great to be in business, but if it doesn’t serve a greater good, you’re only helping yourself and ultimately that isn’t fulfilling. If every single business in the world would support one charitable cause, we can literally change the world. 8. What are your goals for the next 2 years when it comes to the work you are doing and your growth overall? I just started learning about affiliate marketing in 2018 and realized I have been sitting on a cash cow, so I am diving head first into learning all about that. I am also wanting to create an event side of LadyBossBlogger where I help women connect with one another face to face in order to connect and collaborate. I am also launching my personal brand ElaineRau.com which will include everything that I have learned about blogging and business, so stay tuned for that! I currently have a few blog posts on there already which is what I have linked to in question #2 and #3. 9. When it comes to starting a blog or venturing out on your own on a freelance basis, what kind of advice would you give to someone looking to start? Be consistent in everything you do, as I mentioned earlier. You must be disciplined enough to stick to a schedule, set reachable goals and knock your goals out of the water! You don’t have to post every day, in fact the trend in blogging is the more advanced you get, the less

Photograph (c) Marisa Iglesias 32

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

you post because you’ve honed in on the quality of each post and on marketing them. However, if you’re just starting you must get yourself out there – VISIBILITY CREATES OPPORTUNITIES. A year and a half ago I didn’t have a blog, didn’t have 100K followers, and didn’t have the same opportunities as I have now. Start today. Little steps every day amount to big steps over time! Even if you have no idea what you want to do, I sure didn’t, you still take action to find out what that something is. All I knew was that I wanted to be a lady boss and blog about them in order to become one of them, hence the name “LadyBossBlogger”. In so doing, I learned something new from every interview I did, which I then implemented into my life and eventually became exactly what I wanted to be – a Lady Boss Blogger! 10. Where can we learn more about you, your blog and where can people donate to the cause you are working with? You can donate directly to The Micah Project here. http://micahprojecthonduras. org ladybossblogger.com and elainerau.com Instagram @ladybossblogger and @elainerau Facebook @ladybossblogger and @elainerauofficial Facebook Group facebook.com/ groups/ladybossblogger Twitter @ladybossblogger Pinterest @ladybossblogger LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/elainerau Google+ Ladybossblogger

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

local events - chicago Chicago Latina Expo 2018 - Imagen Consultants

LAT I NA EXP0 20 18 WRITTEN BY: JENNIFER VEGUILLA LEZAN

often afraid of those they don’t understand. Events such as the Latina Expo 2018 help to create an open dialogue within the communities as well as elevate the Latino community. Creating pathways for leadership within the Latino community allow Latinos to overcome challenges and make a positive impact within society. Events such as the upcoming 2018 Latina Expo enhances the well-being of the The mastermind behind Imagen the communities. This summer communities where they live by Marketing Consultants, Cesar Imagen Consultants along- offering the Latino community Rolón is at it again brining in side the Día de la Mujer Latina an opportunity to connect, learn a gorgeous array of culturally Organization are launching the and grow. Organizers such as diverse events, expos and con- 2018 Latina Expo Chicago. This Imagen Marketing Consultants ferences to Chicago. Cesar is will be Chicagos largest Latina are working to uplift voices of most well known for his work focused lifestyle conference emerging Latino brands, creas one of the Co-founders and and expo. June 2-3, the expo atives and influencers through Producers behind Chicago’s hits the UIC Forum for 2 days collaboration and impactful Latino Fashion Week which has filled with workshops, commu- conversation. spawned shows nationwide. nity building, great food, and brand spotlights at the expo. About Día de la Mujer Latina Cesar and his team have been The mission of Día de la Mujer working to take their events Connecting with the Latino com- Latina is to promote healthy global, showcasing designers munity is so important in these behaviors within the underand connecting with influenc- divisive times. Chicago’s known served Latino community by ers in Mexico, Honduras and for it’s culturally diverse popu- providing a culturally and linbeyond. The culturally diverse lation and Latinos are the sec- guistically proficient educaneighborhoods of Chicago are ond-largest ethnic group in the tion, facilitating early detection the perfect lab to experiment in city. Yet, many events don’t screening, culturally preventawhen it comes to experiential cater to or keep in mind this tive care interventions; promotevents that are meant to inspire diversity. In today’s charged ing wellness with resource inforand drive connections within political climate, people are mation, Promotores/Community

Health Workers training and Patient Navigation for follow-up services. Since 1997, DĂa de la Mujer Latina (DML) has earned national recognition as a Latino community based organization (CBO), founded by a Latina breast cancer survivor (Venus GinĂŠs), dedicated to eliminating health disparities within the Latino community in 39 states and Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Its focus on providing culturally proficient health education and facilitating early detection screening is a results of its successful signature bilingual training modules for P/CHWs. About Imagen Marketing Consultants Imagen Marketing Consultants is a Chicago based multicultural experiential and activation agency. We make the connections between your brand and appropriate ethnic/civic groups and proactively weaves them into a powerful web of influence. As an organization, they partner with people and organizations who know your market.

Events such as the Latina Expo 2018 help to create an open dialogue within the communities as well as elevate the Latino community. Creating pathways for leadership within the Latino community allow Latinos to overcome challenges and make a positive impact within society.

creative, non-traditional activities designed to engage the consumer. They have bilingual event and project management staff ready to execute your campaign in major cities around the nation. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re able to maximize your marketing dollars with our media, PR and creative sources. Stay tuned for more details as they are released about this event. The Halfstack team will be covering the event in full this summer. In the meantime, if you are a brand, company or creative interested in showcasing at the Latina Expo 2018, connect with Cesar at: crolon@imagenconsultants. com for more information and an event deck.

Their strength is that they go beyond the traditional ad agency approach to deliver measurable results. Their specialty is activating at retail with

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: LAURA LOPEZ

“How do you live somewhere that reminds you of someone who no longer (or maybe never did) exists in your immediate life? How do you walk the streets, drive the roads, stare through the windows that hold not only memories but feelings, feelings you can’t seem to shake, feelings that stir inside your bones? How does a place become more than what it once was? How do you learn to love the place despite the pain?”

F E AT U R E S

written by:jennifer veguilla-lezan Interview with Author: Evelyn Lauer & Photographer: Laura Lopez

SK YL I NE D - A STORY OF LOVE

AND LOSS IN THE CITY The journey of a creative is filled with the ebbs and flows that lead each individual to new places within their consciousness. Creatives perceive the world in such a unique and beautiful way. They feel deeply and tend to use their emotions as a direct influence for the art that they create. Whether they are dealing with heartbreak or are soaring high on the wings of happiness, creatives can communicate their pain and joy through their work. Although difficult to deal with, trauma can help people to grow in the areas such as interpersonal relationships, spirituality, appreciation of life, personal strength, and often will act as inspiration for creativity. Artists can turn life’s obstacles around and often use their most difficult experiences to inspire their greatest and most beautiful work. Two Chicago based artists: Evelyn Lauer, a writer and Laura Lopez, a photographer have managed to take their personal traumas, heart breaks and life’s obstacles to create a moving body of work dubbed: SKYLINED: Stories of Love & Loss in the City. SKYLINED is a collection of images and words, the collaborative effort of photographer Laura Lopez and writer Evelyn Lauer, shared in visual mediums of love and loss among landscape photography in Chicago.

Laura and Evelyn connected a few years ago in the most modern of ways, via Instagram. Each had been connecting with an audience and sharing their work with the public via digital platforms. Evelyn has always been a writer and poet. She was a Journalism and English Major at University of Iowa and completed her Masters in Creative Writing at Texas State University – San Marcos. Although, Evelyn’s professional journey led her to teaching at a local High school, she continued to share her body of work through her website, blog and other outlets like the Huffington Post. Laura’s journey in photography began in high school after experimenting with a camera that her grandfather gifted her and taught her how to use. She attended Summer Institute courses at Columbia College to quench her thirst for knowledge. It was at this point she learned to develop film, the basics of photography and began to develop her style. She was hooked and during this time, her love story with her craft began. Laura explored her craft further at Columbia College for a while post high school, launched a photography business called Pickapose Photography with one of her closest friends: Shirin Koril and has continued chasing her artistic endeavors throughout the years. The ladies shared that their connection on Instagram occurred after Laura stumbled upon some of Evelyn’s articles and poems on love, relationships

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

and loss. She felt an immediate connection. Laura, ever the believer in collaborative efforts, reached out to Evelyn to let her know she felt called to work with her and offered her photography services. Upon meeting each other for the first time, Laura and Evelyn instantly realized they shared a story riveted by the common themes of love and loss. Laura recalls the moment she sat down at a local coffee shop to meet with Evelyn. Evelyn asked, “So, what’s your story?” Thrown off, Laura paused while Evelyn explained, “Most people who are drawn to my work have experienced a great love and a great loss.” Laura had experienced a tremendous loss a few years prior and Evelyn’s words truly resonated with her. She recalls that Evelyn “could explain perfectly what being heartbroken feels like.” After this experience, they embarked on a creative journey to turn their experiences into collaborative art and the rest is history. When asked about how the collaboration worked, both ladies highlighted that the project truly grew organically on its own over the last couple of years. In some cases, Laura took the photos and sent them to Evelyn to write poems. In other instances, Evelyn wrote the words and Laura sought out pictures to match. Sometimes they would show up to a scene together: Evelyn writing in her journal; Laura

shooting with her Canon. There wasn’t a deadline, or a rigid organization of how this would work out. In fact, the idea of the book never crossed their minds initially. It was almost as if the project was a series of opportunities to heal their hearts through their work. It was an opportunity for each to support one another through some difficult points in their lives and continue to express their pain and journey through their creations. While the project began two years ago with specific “yous” in mind, the “yous” shifted over time. At times, the city of Chicago itself became the “you”, the great love story that holds all together. There were points for both women, where the journey seemed to be too bumpy to continue, but they always reminded one another to use the pain, the hardship and the darkness to transform the hurt into beauty. On February 15, 2018 – the day after Valentine’s Day, Evelyn and Laura held their launch party to introduce their book to the City of Chicago. The event was beautifully produced by: Joseph Lauer Washuk and featured not only Laura and Evelyn, but also musician Gia Margaret and Artist/ Animator Rory Scott. It was an all-encompassing multi sensory experience. From the beautiful works, to the music and the aromas and tastes of the food, everything allowed the guests to be

fully immersed in an evening of art on all levels. Evelyn read a few pieces from the book that evening. Each had a power all its own. Yet, the pieces in the book that seemed to embody the message behind it, somehow related to the juxtaposition between loving a city because of your connection with it, while also being at odds with it because of the loss it reminds you of. Laura and Evelyn explain, “How do you live somewhere that reminds you of someone who no longer (or maybe never did) exists in your immediate life? How do you walk the streets, drive the roads, stare through the windows that hold not only memories but feelings, feelings you can’t seem to shake, feelings that stir inside your bones? How does a place become more than what it once was? How do you learn to love the place despite the pain?” Through Evelyn’s words and Laura’s deeply felt photography of the Chicago landscape, SKYLINED creates a connection to the viewers’ hearts. It unabashedly pushes them towards exploring the emotions of attachment. It at times, rips open the floodgates of memories and failed love. Yet, it also allows the viewer to heal in the imagery. It reminds us that in order to truly feel a raw love deeply; we must also feel pain just a deep. Evelyn and Laura remind us that through the experience of hurt, we can use

our art to heal, not only ourselves, but also others. Through this body of work, they have found that by exposing their darkest moments, they have begun to heal their own wounds in the release of one of their most cherished creations. If you want to learn more about Laura and Evelyn, you can connect with them on Instagram: Laura: Instagram. com/theartistmeansnothing Evelyn: Instagram.com/evelynlauer If you want to pick up a copy of SKYLINED visit: https://www.amazon.com/ dp/1388911515/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ api_DaWHAb14BQA3E If you want to purchase a print from the series you can do so on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/ listing/514797281/chicago-photography-love-poem-skyline?ref=shop_home_active_2

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING WITH ANTICIPATION FOR THE

chance to see your favorite musical artist live. You took the day off of work (okay, you called in sick) to stand in line to get tickets for the show. You and your friends arrive at the venue early to stake out a prime location near the stage. The show was AWESOME, everything you hoped for and more. Meeting up for drinks after the show, you turned to your friend and said, “You know my favorite part was that moment where the band did….”. These magical

moments during a live show are one of the things that keeps music in a special place in our hearts. Amy Wolter is someone who helps create those special musical moments. Amy works with Nashville-based Tom Jackson Productions as a live music producer. She helps artists in multiple genres improve their live performances to create connections with their fans by creating “moments” throughout their show. Being a live music producer has given her a chance to impact the live shows of performers on stage in front of millions of

CREATING MUSICAL MOMENTS WITH AMY WOLTER Written by: Louis Vasseur

people. While Tom Jackson Productions has helped create live shows for the likes of Taylor Swift, Amy has worked with Grammy, Dove, and other awardwinning artists such as The Band Perry, LeCrae, Gloriana, Thompson Square, Chad Brownlee, The Stellas, Sidewalk Prophets Francesca Battistelli and more. She has helped artists in nearly every genre prepare for international tours, showcases, video shoots, The Voice and American Idol auditions, and nationally

televised TV specials. She has also worked with several artists on two of the largest U.S. tours in recent history. Amy brings an impressive musical resume to her role as a live music producer. She has been in bands since she was a high school student in Iowa. Amy was the lead singer/keyboardist for the band Fighter from 1986 to 1993. The band had a record deal with the Word label and toured throughout the country in support of their records. Her songwriting skills helped

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

earn Fighter several Top CCM hits. Amy ended her successful 7-year run with Fighter in front of an audience of 110,000 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She followed this with a solo album recorded with members of Princeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Power Generation. Amy moved to Nashville in 1995, working as a jingle writer and doing session work. She has been working with Tom Jackson Productions for over 10 years. Amy brings her passion for music and performance when

she works with various artists. While she admits her favorite genre is “straight up blues/ rock”, Amy enjoys all kinds of music. When first working with an artist, she asks questions and listens to figure out who the artist really is, what is their image, and what is true to them. This gives her an artistic framework within which to work. It also helps her identify who that artist’s specific audience is. “What we try to do”, she says, “is to identify or create unique moments within an artist’s live performance that we can use to help the artist connect with their audience. It is these moments that audience remembers long after the lights go down”. Jimmy Murphy of Momentum Label group agrees. “Amy has brought Rachele Lynae’s already professional presentation to a new level. Her expertise enabled us to pinpoint show moments that continue to engage fans”. At music conferences throughout North America, Amy will give a practical demonstration of how the Tom Jackson Productions technique works. She will have a band play a song live as they do as part of their regular live performance. Then, in front of the audience, she will break down the song and performance, making adjustments in the staging, vocal performance, and stage movement. Throughout the

process, the band continues to play the song, incorporating the changes Amy has suggested during their session. The result: the band, and the audience witness the evolution of the song into something that connects more strongly with the audience through the “moments” Amy has brought out of the band members. Not every artist is ready to accept this new performance philosophy. These remain a challenge. “Every once in a while you run across an artist that is not willing to try something new, no matter how you present it. However, the artists that are successful are the ones who search and find those special moments, own them, and then go further from there.” Amy has seen the music industry change significantly throughout her career. “There is definitely less money in record deals and A&R than there used to be. For many artists, live shows are where they make their living.” However, she also feels each artist needs to find their own niche, whether it be playing house concerts or arenas, and work to be the best they can be in that niche. “Working with Amy was amazing!” says Ben McDonald of Sidewalk Prophets. “Her passion to help connect the hearts of artists with audiences

through performance is truly a blessing.” Amy has seen amazing transformations in the people she’s working with. She loves taking singers and bands on their journey from “good artist” to “great performer”. She plans to “keep on keeping on”. As audience members living for those connections with our favorite musical artists, we’re glad she is. To learn more about Amy and Tom Jackson Productions, check out www.onstagesuccess.com.

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF AMY WOLTER & TOM JACKSON PRODUCTIONS ***

FA S H I O N / S T Y L E

Stevie Nicks would be proud. That 13-year-old Green Day obsessed little girl grew up and moved to Kentucky. This collection was ethereal, haunting (in the best way) and enchanting. What can we say, Ms. Cutrone sure knows how to pick em.

Written & Street Style Photographed by: Avante Edmonds

FA S H I O N / S T Y L E

RUNWAY RUNDOWN

STREET STYLE & A RECAP FROM NYFW

Spring has sprung. The days are getting longer, the sun comes out for longer than twenty minutes and suddenly head to toe black outfits seem morbid again. It is time to cipher through my favorite runway shows of the spring! Elizabeth Kennedy - I have to admit this brand was far off my radar until visiting their showroom for a magical presentation. Their modern approach to formal wear coupled with exquisite detailing made every look wearable. The gowns were sleek while still maintaining an element of romance.

Paul Andrew - Paul Andrew made me long for an after party at Studio 54. The metallic platforms deserve an impossible David Bowie interpretation. My strong admiration for this shoe designer is rooted in his ability to make flats the first choice in the morning, not a last resort. Romeo Hunte - The outerwear king strikes again. Consistency is key. Romeo (I like to pretend I am on a first name basis with him) has proven he, cannot only serve cohesive collections every season, but also quickly build a brand identity that is strong and recognizable. Go you! Photo: Randy Brooke / People’s Revolution

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

FA S H I O N / S T Y L E

GCDS - Teyana Taylor walked in this show. Not enough? I don’t understand why but I’ll continue on. This Italian brand created in 2007, brings the fun. Hard to miss logos paired with 80 prep satire makes this line completely loveable. Leanne Marshall- The millennial take on femininity. Whenever you get sick of seeing size negative 3 models, head over to Leanne Marshall. Sunshine yellow, saturated oranges and cerulean blue were beautifully combined with fabrics that flow as you walk. Naersi- Work wear just got a little more interesting with oversized pantsuits, functional footwear, and stripes galore. This China-based line made Fashion Week their bitch by booking the Museum of Natural History to host their epic runway show. Equally fitting, fictional sweetheart Blair Waldorf was in attendance. That’s one secret I will always tell. Mimi Prober- Stevie Nicks would be proud. That 13-year-old Green Day obsessed little girl grew up and moved to Kentucky. This collection was ethereal, haunting (in the best way) and enchanting. What can we say, Ms. Cutrone sure knows how to pick em. Runa Ray - Girly, magical and well thought out. Runa Ray does menswear with the same enchantment she designs her unforgettable womenswear pieces. If you didn’t leave this collection wanting to bathe in a garden of roses...you didn’t get it. MAISON the FAUX – Well, no one slept through this theatrical show. And I am pretty sure just about every boundary was

broken. Boys wore candy cane coated dresses while women wore pants. Men were Asian and girls were black. This show isn’t for picky eaters, only for those willing to taste all the rainbow has to offer. And now on to the most exciting portion of Fashion Week…street wear. Enjoy some original shots from yours truly. Stay tuned for the next installment.

FA S H I O N / S T Y L E

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

sustainable fashion Written by: Olivia Lemley | Images Courtesy of: To The Market

BRI NGING ETHIC S TO THE MARKET INTERVIEW The retail and fashion industry is embracing sustainability, as it has never been more of a trend. As our lifestyles and perceptions change, many have come to realize the importance of “going green”, equality, ethical practices, and assisting local and global communities. It is more than just a trend in products, but it is a trend of compassion. A combination of learning from past events and looking forward to a better future is establishing a new direction for the industry.

As shown in Nielsen’s 2015 Global Corporate Sustainability Report, “66% of global consumers say they’re willing to pay more for sustainable brands—up 55% from 2014.” Better yet, millennials drive this trend, as 73% were willing to pay more of their hard-earned money for sustainable offerings. This has not only opened an entire new target market for companies, but it is also a great recruiting tactic; many of these millennials will also be attracted to work for ethical and responsible companies to be part of the movement. Since the eyes of the fashion industry have taken a turn to focus on using sustainable goods to impact social change, Jane Mosbacher Morris came in with the world’s first supplier of ethically made custom goods for both consumers and businesses. As an entrepreneur and CEO of TO THE MARKET, she has provided customers with a one stop shop for fun products with a purpose: art, accessories, apparel, bags, jewelry, paper goods, home goods, pets, kids, men’s, shoes, and bath & body. To further their impact, TO THE MARKET partners with existing social enterprises and non-profit organizations in addition to supporting serious causes. You can shop in categories such as alleviation of poverty, conflict, exploitation, HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, orphanhood and refugees as well as country specific categories or local partners if a specific cause resonates with you. It is companies such as TO THE MARKET that connect our global community; these companies allow us to build our compassion and act on it. Empowering women is one of our goals here at Halfstack Magazine.

Naturally, I felt the need to speak further with Jane Mosbacher Morris as her story is nothing short of inspiring! I was able to interview Morris and she went more in-depth on how TO THE MARKET impacts the lives of so many—from empowerment through employment, communities in need, and ethical production. How did the idea for TO THE MARKET come about? For years, I had thought about how to create and protect the dignity of work for vulnerable communities. I finally conceptualized the business after a trip to India to learn about human trafficking. We visited aftercare facilities, advocacy groups, and then ultimately two production facilities making beautiful products that employed human trafficking survivors. I was blown away by the quality of the goods and the opportunity in front of me. My “aha” moment came when I realized the potential of organizations like these to serve the procurement needs of big business, who are constantly buying product. There is enormous interest across the board, especially from millennials and Gen Z, for ethically made goods beyond just food. People want to see the same transparency in the fashion world that now exists within the food and beverage space. On the supply side, there is incredible untapped production capacity in the artisan industry. It’s the second largest economy in the developing world, behind agriculture, but is largely disconnected from the supply chains of traditional retailers and corporations. I was inspired to start TO THE MARKET to address these two underserved markets.

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

What has been your favorite part of founding TO THE MARKET? Seeing the impact TO THE MARKET has had in only our first few years in creating jobs for vulnerable communities, around the world and here at home in the US, has been the continued driving force for myself and the team.

As an entrepreneur, what has been the most difficult obstacle to overcome?

What are some ways customers/ consumers can become more socially conscious?

As TO THE MARKET continues to gain momentum and clients, keeping up with demand has been an obstacle, but definitely a good problem to have. Increased demand has allowed us to expand our networks of suppliers to new countries and causes. For example, we have recently created partnerships with artisan cooperatives within the United States that work with adults with special needs, at-risk youth, and vulnerable mothers.

Being socially conscious doesn’t mean you have to drastically change your lifestyle. Simple, everyday choices, such as bringing reusable shopping totes to the grocery store, can have a significant impact over time. Identify causes that align with your values and vote with your wallet. For example, you can support local business by choosing to shop small once a week. The key is to consider how you spend your money (and time) and identify microchanges that are feasible and sustainable within your lifestyle.

In the next 5 years, what do you and your team hope to accomplish for the brand? In the next five years, I hope to see our footprint - and most importantly, impact - grow substantially through continued and expanding partnerships with large corporations and big box retailers. Is there any specific accomplishment or honor TO THE MARKET has received you are particularly proud of? It’s really so hard to pick just one! Each and every order placed by our clients creates a cascade of positive impact. For example, in one order from a big box retailer, TO THE MARKET was able to provide employment for one hundred Haitian artisans for a few months. But the impact doesn’t stop there; it cascades to family members and communities - creating a wave of opportunity and continued employment as wages are reinvested into community businesses and services.

As much of a trend sustainability is now, do you see there being laws set in place to require companies to practice sustainable business? I think a lot of the movement is coming from consumers rather than regulation. Millennials and Gen Z, for example, are gravitating towards brands with more sustainable practices. Companies are, in turn, providing more sustainable options. What is your advice to other entrepreneurs/businesses to become socially responsible? Look at your existing expenditures and identify areas where you can make slight changes with great impact. For example, we work with companies big and small on things like client gifts. It’s often an end-of-the-year purchase that may be an afterthought. We turn it into an opportunity to make a social impact by helping align that buy with the company’s values.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT: https://www.tothemarket.com

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

Looks For Less n o i t i d E e o Sh spring 2018 By: Teresa Cutrera, Fashion & Style Editor

Changes are sometimes welcomed and at other times they aren’t. In the case of spring, it’s most definitely welcomed around here! With a change in season comes a change in wardrobe of course. And being the hopeless shoe addict that I am, I’ve made this a special spring looks for less: The Shoe Edition! Prep yourselves! Though I’m a firm believer in the theory that you can never wear too much black, there is something cool and refreshing about a healthy dose of color. This spring season is all about splashes of color, specifically splashes of violet hues. After being declared the color of the year, Ultra Violet has become the go to color for spring. There’s also no shortage of sparkle with sequins still going strong straight through the season, because who doesn’t love something sparkly, really? Mules are still having a big moment with an array of styles popping up to challenge the previous seasons. Another trend that has a strong hold on the women’s end is the clear shoe aka “the naked shoe”. On the men’s side it’s all about casual cool. Espadrilles and slip-ons are the go-to style for everyday wear. The sneaker trend continues its reign in menswear with the new it style being “sock shoes” and fun chunky soles. I’ve said it many times, shoes are the best way to experiment with trends and have fun doing it. So, make your picks and make it a stylish spring! Renee Pom Pom Sandals Topshop $68.00

Arrow Western Boots Topshop $150.00

Hibiscus Ankle Boot Topshop $160.00

Lovely In Lavendar The Pantone color of the year for 2018 is ultra violet, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been no surprise to see all kinds of violet hues popping up on the runways. The most popular hue was lavender. I am a huge fan of this trend; the color is so perfect for spring and makes such an impact in any outfit. Some of my favorite shoes for this spring are on this list!

Birkenstock Arizona Lavendar Magic Galaxy Flat Sandals ASOS.com $103.00

Alexandre Birman Lovely Clarita Bow Embellished Sandals $595.00 Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

Glam Squad Though you may not buy into certain trends because they go in and out, sequins and sparkle are always a sure thing! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about how glam you can go. There is so much variety that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost impossible not to find a style that fits you. Keep it casual with a simple slip on sandal or go as glam as a sling back heel! Kenneth Cole New York Xenia Sequin Embellished Sandal Nordstrom $129.95

ASOS Papaya Embellished Heels ASOS.com $87.00

Gladis Steve Madden $79.95

Christian Louboutin Moulamax 100 Sequined Leather Ankle Boot $945

Sequined High Heel Ankle Boots Zara $69.90

ASOS Malice Leather Pointed Mules ASOS.com $56.00 Nicholas Kirkwood Nini Satin & Suede Mules $795

Mod Mules Flat Mules with Pearl Beads Zara $59.90

Sandals with Vinyls Strap Detail Zara $79.90 H a l f s t a c k M a g a z i n e | M a r c h 2 0 1 8

Mules have been around for a few seasons now and they show no signs of disappearing. They are effortlessly chic and are a great go to shoe for so many outfits. Change it up and pick a pair in a fun print or bold color. My favorite pick for spring is the Zara Pearl beaded mule!

Rhonda Fringed Mules Topshop $68.00

Stretch Fabric High Heel Sandals Zara $79.90

Vinyl High Heel Ankle Boots Zara $59.90

Tom Ford Embellished Metallic Leather PVC Sling Back Pump $1250.00

Clear It Up Ever since hitting the runways a few years ago, the clear shoe trend has been making its rounds. However, the trend has evolved into being more about the details as opposed to an entire “naked shoe”. It’s all in the details, be it in a clear heel or a simple clear strap. This trend definitely makes a statement and is perfect for a night out.

Public Desire Missions Black Clear Strap Block Heeled Sandals ASOS.com $49.00 Siren Clear Wedge Sock Bootie Nordstrom $134.95

Easy In Espadrilles Espadrilles are some of the most casual and easy shoes to wear. We’ve seen trends leaning more towards the casual and comfortable style for a couple years now. Still stylish, the espadrille is great for everyday casual wear. Pick a pair in a fun print or go out of the box and try a bold new color for spring. TOD’S Espadrille Slip-on $475.00 ASOS Lace Up Espadrilles In Pink Faux Suede ASOS.com $23.00

ALDO Aleng Chambray Espadrilles Topman $65.00

River Island Espadrille In Navy ASOS.com $40.00

Call It Spring Drarecia Espadrilles In Chambray ASOS.com $56.00

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

Slipping Into Spring

Gucci Dublin Angry Wolf Slip-on $580.00

Shoelaces are over rated! That could very well be the thought process behind this trend. The slip-on shoe is all about combining ease and comfort with a sleekness and style. There really is something very sleek about this shoe. It’s practicality and versatility is perfect for just about anyone. Gucci’s version will set you back a rent payment, while the “looks for less” versions will be super pocket friendly!

Beige Contrasting Sneakers Zara $39.90

ASOS Slip on Sneakers in Blue and White Stripe ASOS.com $29.00

ASOS Slip on Sneakers in White Canvas ASOS.com $23.00

ASOS Slip on Sneakers in Black Canvas with Crown Embroidery ASOS.com $35.00

Adidas Originals EQT Cushion ADV Sneakers in Black ASOS.com $130.00

Adidas Originals Prophere Sneakers in Gray ASOS.com $120.00

Sneakers with Thick Soles Zara $89.90

Adidas Originals Tubular Rise Sneakers In Black ASOS.com $160.00

Chunky Soles The sneaker style has been done in just about every form you can think of. In womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wear you see heels played with and made in new shapes; on the menswear side, not as much. However, this spring the big trend in sneakers includes chunky and bold colored soles. This is quickly becoming a sort of statement shoe with so many different takes on colors and designs. Pair yours with a simple casual outfit keeping in mind to let the shoes be the stand out piece! Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

Givenchy Active Runner Sneaker $650.00

New Heights You’ve heard of the women’s shoe boot trend, right? Well, now the men have their own version of that same shoe; the “sock sneaker. It’s pretty much a sneaker with an ankle sock attached. Though, it’s much cooler than it sounds! If you haven’t spotted this shoe out and about yet, prepare yourself because you will. It’s the perfect mix of athletic, casual and cool.

Mens Adidas Crazy Explosive 2017 Primeknit Basketball Shoes Finish Line $150.00

Grey High Top Sneakers Zara $79.90

Balenciaga Speed High Slip-on $750.00

Ignite Evoknit Mens Training Shoes Puma $130.00

Black Sock Style High Topo Sneakers Zara $79.90

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

The female led team includes: Sarah AlĂ˛ (Director & Producer), Flavia Borges (Director & Executive Producer), Devon Carson (Director), Dianne Lee (Editor), Kim Pederson

(Cinematographer), Lianna Squillace (Sound Designer), Jacquee Meller-Vogt (Makeup Artist), Fareine Suarez (Associate Producer) and Melinda Klein (Graphic Effects).

COVER STORY

“Roses are red, violets are blue I want to smash the heteronormative capitalist white supremacist with you.” This is a quote by Activist: Dana Suchow and most recently featured on the social media channels of the Instagram Micro-series: MENACE. It’s fitting considering the empowered undertones and themes of the storyline. The series is a cheeky, but profoundly observant take on the modern day struggles faced by women. It opens up the conversation about intersectional feminism, rights, violence, sexuality, independence and the importance of being open to connecting and building your tribe. The series was co-created by: Flavia Borges, Sarah Alò and Devon Carson. The female led team includes: Sarah Alò (Director & Producer), Flavia Borges (Director & Executive Producer), Devon Carson (Director), Dianne Lee (Editor), Kim Pederson (Cinematographer), Lianna Squillace (Sound Designer), Jacquee Meller-Vogt (Makeup Artist), Fareine Suarez (Associate Producer) and Melinda Klein (Graphic Effects). MENACE introduces viewers to: Ana, Daisy and Jane. Three women who never planned to know their neighbors, but when they receive alerts that encourage women to protect themselves, they forfeit their fierce independence to hide out together. After a rollback of women’s rights triggers increased violence in the near future, a male pride group sends a wave of femicide throughout the country. In this rebellious and poignant dark comedy, three single women reluctantly band together, seeking safety in a small apartment. The viewers of the series

BADASS BABES: MEET THE FEMME FATALES BEHIND

INSTAGRAM’S LATEST MICRO-SERIES: MENACE WRITTEN BY: JENNIFER VEGUILLA-LEZAN

Photography by: Bianca Garcia | Photos Edited by: Flavia Borges Hair and Makeup by: Jacquee Meller-Vogt Wardrobe Styling by: Sarah Alò Location: Chicago Filmmakers

are immediately drawn into this intimate setting creating an electric connection filled with hilarious over the top moments that make you wish the first season was more than 13 episodes. Although, the story line is based on fiction and comedy, there is a sobering reality to the underlying story plot of apocalyptic femicide. Last year in January during the Women’s March and again on March 8th for International Women’s Day: women and yes, even men, of every kind marched, stopped work and took over the streets in fifty countries across the world. In the year since Trump took office, a barrage of policies and threats have been catapulted at women, people of color and other disenfranchised people of our population that are set to continue the attack in deeply institutional ways. Yet, despite the difficulties and hardships those who are a part of the resistance continue to fight back. Whether it is directly through organizing and protesting, speaking out on pertinent platforms or through their art, they are speaking out. Last fall, those with public visibility

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

and access to major media platforms, broke their silence about the continued harassment, sexual violence and inequalities in the workplace. The floodgates tore open and a constant stream of survivors exposed the fact that gender violence, gender inequality and racism still haunts the lives of so many today. The unfortunate reality that is so evident is often the public silence about these issues that many have known about, endured and fought against, does not happen because people are afraid to speak out. Often, this silence is enforced through institutional strong holds and imposed by Congressional laws that make women and other individuals go through hoops that are filing official complaints. It is also perpetuated by the criminal justice system that has historically routinely dismissed women’s reports, at times using additional layers of intimidation and violence in some cases. While this may not be the case in every case, it is all too often the norm. Changes are needed. The #Metoo, #UsToo and #TimesUp movements have not only exposed

The three of us definitely connect in our strong pursuit of equality for women. We want to see more female characters we can relate to, and more women telling stories.

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

individual perpetrators, these movements have torn open the veil that inconspicuously hides the very institutions and structures that continue enable them and the people benefiting from them. It’s women such as Flavia, Sarah and Devon as well as the female led production team they coordinated to execute this project, who are using their creative prowess to make a statement and push the movement forward through their work. MENACE forces the viewer to look at their own personal biases, the reality and harshness of the world around them, but does so with a touch of comedic relief. The series explores relevant topics such as immigration, class, gender roles and sexuality in a way that is raw, but also open and accepting. These women are reexamining the mainstream narrative that has been set for so many and working to turn it on its head to create their own opportunities. MENACE is an example of what happens when someone stops asking for permission and creates their own opportunity. This series shows what happens when individuals push forward on a project that sparks a conversation about topics and themes that the public wants to hear about, but might be considered taboo. It’s the visual equivalent of intersectional feminism wrapped up in a bright brow with glitter dusted on top and a touch of grit. It’s what the public needs during these times of divisiveness. The feminist movement itself can almost function as a way to divide and exclude, by marginalizing less powerful and less privileged women and allies, who are the people who actually need it the most. Yet, when we confront the realities of the world, truly accept the fact that there

are differences among women and allies, which include different identities based on sexuality, gender, economic status, nationality, religion and language, we can then find a way to universally support the fight for rights across the board to support all of those within underrepresented communities. MENACE is sharing these stories, themes and ideas in a way that doesn’t take itself too seriously. In an effort to learn more about the concept and how these women connected, the Halfstack team coordinated an interview with the ladies behind MENACE. Keep reading for the full interview. 1. Ladies, can you each please tell us a bit about yourself, your background and what led you to pursue connecting and creating the Menace Series? Flavia: I’m an artist first. Acting was my primary artistic medium for several years before I realized I was miserable. Waiting for permission to exercise my craft was a buzz kill for me. The few times I was given the opportunity, more often than not it felt like I was playing not a human but a plot device. Being surrounded by female talent inspired me to pursuit a creative project in collaboration with Sarah and Devon. I was also super excited about the possibility of working with a female crew. Sarah: I met Flavia in a Second City improv class, and I thought she was super funny. When I decided to try to find some acting gigs, she took my headshots. Afterward we went to dinner and talked. We got along so well, and I thought how great it would be to work with her. When she invited me to create a series with her, I knew it would be dope. I haven’t pursued as much acting as I have writing and producing. I care a lot more about the

message — telling stories that, while sort of fucked up, make people laugh. Devon: I have a pretty eclectic background, theatre, film/tv production, and music. Not to mention the 100’s of random day-jobs I’ve had over the years. When Flavia contacted me with her vision of creating a femaleled project, I thought it would be a great opportunity to focus on finding my voice, and telling our stories. 2. Can you tell us more about the Menace concept, how it came about and how it evolved into what it is today? Flavia: Violence against women is a reality and it’s not just in foreign countries like we are made to believe. Right here in America, women are getting killed by their husbands and boyfriends. The numbers are high and proven statistics by the CDC. Not to mention the harassment women have had to put up with silently over the years, including the treatment of women by our own president is unacceptable. All of these factors had a heavy influence on our writing. That combined with our own personal interests resulted in what the series is today. Sarah: Menace is a future we hope doesn’t come true. I think it came from our fears for the future of women’s rights, but it has evolved into a greater conversation about violence against women, women’s rights, and their resilience. Devon: We didn’t know if it would be a short film or a series or a feature. But we were frustrated with the traditional formats because of shortened attention spans and over saturation of the industry. So we asked our

friends where they consume media and what format would actually result in them watching something. From there, we came up with the microseries format that we would distribute on Instagram. We’re not the first to do it, but there wasn’t a ton of one-minute narrative content that’s not just commercials, so it was a scary leap, to challenge ourselves to tell a story this way. 3. What is the creative process like with creating a micro series like this? How complicated was it and do you find the shorter medium to be easier or more difficult to work within? Flavia: There are three of us and we are all very different in the way we experience the world, so the process automatically reflected that diversity. I’m not going to lie, it was hard. To tell a story in 1 minute increments and have a whole season in 13 minutes is nuts. We brought TV to Instagram and it’s not like we had examples to follow so there was a lot of convincing to be done when we approached crew about it. Shorter is definitely harder. You have to be extremely selective with your words and cut all that is extra but make sure the piece makes sense as a whole. Sarah: The creative process was messy. We didn’t quite know what we were doing. The shorter medium restricted our creativity a lot, too. Now that we’re developing the premise for a longer format, the ideas can be a lot bigger and we’ve learned from the past, so our creative process has become a lot more streamlined. Devon: It was totally nuts. Super complicated and stressful. There was no handbook to tell us what to do. We were just writing and

re-writing. Failing a lot, arguing a lot. But also having a lot of fun and drinking a lot of wine.

was hard to watch half the nation come forward and reject immigration so boldly.

4. What inspires the work you all do and how do you hope your series is connecting with those who watch it?

It made me realize how little Americans understand about the immigration process in this country, who those immigrants are, why they came and what they are doing here. So writing Ana as an illegal immigrant made a lot of sense to me.

Flavia: I think our writing comes from an honest place, whether it’s necessity, fear, anger, or sorority on the driving seat for that moment. I just wanted to write a show where I could see myself and my experience reflected, which goes way beyond what I was seeing in media and given an opportunity to play. The series is our chance to react to reality and express our artistic vision. Seeing other women connect with makes me plain emotional because we made it for them. Sarah: My friends and family inspire me. I’m inspired by comedy television, especially stories by women. I read a lot of feminist literature, and that inspires me too. I hope people watching can feel a sense of a greater, more powerful, communal sisterhood. Devon: The three of us definitely connect in our strong pursuit of equality for women. We want to see more female characters we can relate to, and more women telling stories. We’re all sick of the male gaze, and hope that people who watch MENACE see how exciting it can be to switch that POV. 5. Can you offer some insights on how the current political and social environment influenced the series, if at all as well as each of your own personal journeys? Flavia: I’m an immigrant myself and during the election period it

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

Sarah: If you don’t think women’s rights are under threat in this country, you’re not paying attention. Women’s rights are always being attacked. Progressive women thought they were getting their first female president, and now a sex offender is the president. We wrote a dystopia because the outlook is bleak, and we’re scared. But we insist on facing our fears and fighting back. The one thing this administration has been successful in doing is making our fears worse and worse. We’re all scared, and that makes us isolate ourselves. That’s what they want. Isolated people are easily manipulated, and they are more likely to stand by idly while others suffer. Menace is about sisterhood, and sticking together to keep hope alive. We hope our work inspires women to create, lead, step up, and make sure we keep moving forward. Devon: The Trump election win was a huge blow to us all personally in different ways. We scrapped everything we’d written so far and started from scratch. Life felt like it had become an absurd existential prison, so that’s what we wrote. 6. What are your thoughts on modern day feminism, social justice and the me too movement? How are they changing the narrative for women? Do you see any negative impact? What are the positive impacts?

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

DEVON, SARAH & FLAVIA

Flavia: Modern day feminism is certainly not perfect but it’s more inclusive, which I love. Women of color have been on the forefront of fighting social justice for years and I think it’s important that other women come forward in support of their leadership. #MeToo has been instrumental in changing the conversation about sexual harassment but I think it’s important we don’t stop there. It’s not enough. The same goes for #TimesUp. If the same energy applied to these movements is also used to encourage female leadership and support them in the process, we’ll be getting a lot more done in terms of gender inequality, which is the origin of these issues. Sarah: It’s tricky. We’re seeing extremist feminism sometimes. Other times, it’s lukewarm white feminism. We need progressive practical policy and social justice and resources for everyday women. Is #metoo accomplishing that? It’s causing a conversation, and I’m glad for that. But it’s really change that we need — real change that makes women’s lives better through equity and opportunity. There is good and bad to every movement, but that’s just true of everything. Nothing is perfect. We need more awareness about sexual harassment in the workplace. I have been sexually harassed at work, and I didn’t take it as seriously as I would have now that I’ve seen all of these stories come out. It’s more than just one individual experience. We each need to break silences in order to lift one another up. Devon: It is so exciting to see that strength is in numbers for women. It’s bringing up important truths that have been bubbling under the surface for a long time. As more women say #metoo, even more women feel

empowered to tell their stories, stand up to the patriarchy, and fight back. It’s also fostering new conversations about intersectional feminism, which is crucial to the evolution of our culture. 7. What would you say has been the greatest success for your team on this project? Flavia: Our greatest success was completing the series. We had no budget to shoot, no time, crew volunteered, donated gear and because we had the goal of 1-minute episodes for Instagram, even after we wrapped production we didn’t know if we had pulled if off. It wasn’t until far into the editing process that we took a deep breath and knew everything was going to work out as planned. Sarah: No typos! As far as I can tell, not one typo in the captions. Not one in the title cards! I think we got all the names too! Killing it. Devon: The greatest success for me was that we finished it! So many projects die at some point in the process, and we were able to bring it home. We had a brilliant and hard working team of passionate badass female filmmakers and that’s what I’m most proud of, being a part of that. 8. What is next for MENACE and each of you ladies? Flavia: We are applying for festivals and award shows and are in the process of adapting the microseries to long-form for streaming or TV. In order to fit the story in the micro format we had to be economic with premise, plot and storyline, but there’s a lot about the world of MENACE and the characters that never made it to the series. It would be crazy to let it all go to waste. We want to see these

girls get out of the apartment for once. Sarah: MENACE, the NOT micro series, is currently being developed. We hope there will be some film festivals in our near future. We’re going to try to get Menace out there. Devon: We’re going to try to evolve the world of MENACE into a more traditional TV format, so we’re writing a pilot. I’m also working on my band Airstream Futures’ second record, touring the US, Canada and the UK this year. I’m a ensemble member at The Artistic Home Theater, and I just started a new job bartending, because I have to pay rent somehow. 9. Did you all face any obstacles on the journey creating this series? If so, how did you overcome? Flavia: I think our biggest obstacle was ourselves. Women grow up learning not to trust one another. We are brought up seeing each other as competition. Working with an all-female team was a new experience for all of us. We had so much freedom that it felt intimidating at times. As a woman it was so exciting to finally feel like I was being heard and at the same time I had this constant fear of coming across as “bossy”, or “the bitch”. I’m not sure this is a factor for men. We had to be attentive and work actively to strike down these constructs when they snuck into our collaborative process. Sarah: So many. Too many! It’s been super hard work, but honestly we all keep each other afloat. We’re there for each other, and when there are problems we find a way to work through them. Devon: Absolutely! Too many to name, and if you focus on the obstacles, they will block your way. I’m so lucky to have worked

with a team that kept me disciplined, motivated, and inspired. It was the most difficult and most rewarding artistic process of my life to date. 10. How do you think technology and things like social media have influenced the type of media work that you all are doing today? Has it helped or hindered artists such as you all? Flavia: I think it influenced the format and platform, but not so much the content. Social media works for us in a way that it brings our audience to us as much as it brings us to them. But the social space is currently changing and just because it is working for us now doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way. Independent artists like us have relied on the internet to find an audience and I hope this is true for the years to come. Sarah: Drastically. TV is changing constantly and rapidly. No one watches TV live anymore. And so many young people don’t even own TVs and just stream on laptops and phones. I think that helped us. We came to where people are, on Instagram, scrolling around. Devon: I love exploring new ways to tell stories. And so many people are taking these new formats and creating amazing and relevant things. You don’t have to wait for the big studios and green lights.

something exclusively for yourself and your artistic growth that’s valid. But if you intend on sharing it with the world, start thinking about marketing and distribution as early as you think about the piece itself. Build a base audience and develop community first. Lastly, filmmaking is expensive so if you don’t have a budget to work with, learn how to be resourceful. Sarah: Do it. One page is usually one minute, but not always. You still need to time things out very exactly if you’re trying to stay under a minute. A minute is so short! I’m exhausted just thinking about it. Devon: Be ready to fail. Be ready to write something amazing and then throw it away. Be open and trust your team to do their part. And don’t rely on what’s been done before, tell your own story your own way. 12. Finally, where can our readers learn more about you all online? They can visit our website www.menaceseries.com OR join us directly on Instagram @menaceseries. We are working toward big goals this year going forward and will need all the support we can get.

11. What kind of advice would you offer someone who might be looking to launch his or her own micro series? Anything they need to think about before they take the leap? Flavia: Creatives tend not to think beyond creating the piece of art itself. If you’re creating

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

F E AT U R E S

THE START UP

SPOTLIGHT

An Interview with Prianka Dhir Founder of Beyond the Booth - A Trade Show Mobile App WRITTEN BY: JENNIFER VEGUILLA-LEZAN

RIGHT PAGE Vendors check out the Beyond the Booth app on IOS

Project Entrepreneur connected me with more female founders than I would have ever imagined. Over the last year since I attended the 3-day startup workshop and venture pitch competition, I’ve connected with nearly a hundred founders and organizations. Each one has a story that is somewhat familiar, but also incredibly inspirational. I’ve had the opportunity to share their stories with readers on the blog, in past issues and on our Podcast. Every time, each woman I connect with, inspires me to keep moving forward with the creative work I do. They highlight the grit, inner strength and fortitude that women entrepreneurs & creatives alike have. They are a constant reminder to not quit my daydream. Project Entrepreneur ignites bold ideas by providing women access to the tools, training and networks needed to build scalable, economically impactful companies. The organization accomplishes this through a multi-faceted national initiative that includes a robust digital hub, multicity events, a venture competition, and a 5-week accelerator program.

Founded by Rent the Runway co-founders Jennifer Hyman and Jenny Fleiss – in partnership with UBS – the organization is on a mission: to break traditional barriers in women’s paths and democratize the knowledge and resources necessary to build impactful ventures. Having raised over $100 million in venture capital funding for Rent the Runway, Jenn and Jenny have revolutionized the fashion retail industry and want to encourage other women to establish their own disruptive businesses. The women who I’ve been able to connect with all have a common thread, an undeniable strength and creative synergy that propel their business forward. Priank Dhir is another founder who was a part of the Project Entrepreneur cohort who I recently connected with. She’s the founder of Beyond the Booth, a trade show mobile app. Prianka founded her company Beyond the Booth in Vancouver, Canada and moved her business out to San Francisco about a year and a half ago. She shared that it has been a really great experience learning the ins and

outs of growing a tech business as a female founder and took some time to go into more detail about her journey. Keep reading for the full interview: 1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your background and what led you to pursue launching a startup ? Coming up with new concepts and finding innovative, scrappy, non-traditional ways to grow ideas into business models was something that I truly always enjoyed. I’m originally from Vancouver, Canada and am currently building Beyond the Booth in the technology hub of San Francisco. I graduated from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business with a Bachelors of Commerce degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship in 2013 and I couldn’t wait to take on a venture of my own. Immediately after graduating from Sauder, I launched a Social PR startup focused on marketing strategy for innovative brands in Vancouver. This experience led me to create a women’s luxury trade show in 2015

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: BEYOND THE BOOTH / PRIANKA DHIR

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

featuring 60 exclusive local vendors and 500 attendees, with a core focus on shopping and online promotion. After attending 63 trade shows in 8 months to learn tips and tricks to improve my own trade show, I quickly realized that the problem wasn’t launching a new, better show, but rather building a product to help each show and each exhibitor be more successful. I loved seeing real people make real connections with businesses in a trade show setting, but realized that so many leads were lost due to poor marketing tactics. Launching Beyond the Booth has given me the opportunity to take this challenge head on and work with hundreds of businesses to solve a bigger, global problem in the trade show space. 2. Can you tell us more about Beyond the Booth and the mission/vision driving it? Beyond the Booth helps businesses secure up to 50% more leads on the trade show floor. We connect exhibitors and attendees through mobile offers and exclusive contests, generating more leads for exhibitors and making a streamlined and engaging experience for attendees. We’re motivated by helping businesses to create memorable first impressions, which turn into stronger leads and ultimately more sales for their companies. We’re currently working with many business to consumer (B2C) trade shows across North America spanning the bridal, baby and health/ lifestyle spaces and we’ve been able to create our own niche in the market by identifying how we can better serve the B2C show space. Many exhibitors at these shows are smaller, local businesses that have simple needs – more exposure and more sales. We’ve found the best ways to deliver exactly what they are looking for in a format that they find useful. Exhibitors are some of the happiest business owners because by investing in a trade show, they are opting in to invest in growing their companies. We love working with businesses that care about growth and are willing to put the time and energy into reaching their customers. 3. What was the process like building up your company from concept to final execution? How did this all unfold?

Ideas usually come from necessity. As a firsttime founder of a trade show with no prior experience in the trade show space, I knew I needed something to differentiate my show experience and also give my exhibitors measurable return – something they weren’t getting at any other trade show. After seeing a recurring problem of measurable return at other trade shows, I sought ought to build a solution that targeted the B2C trade show space and that gave me and my exhibitors analytics from the trade show experience. After putting together a business plan, I connected with an incredible investor through a mutual contact. I received great feedback from the investor, who then suggested we stay in touch over the next while to see how the product changed. After monthly Skype meetings for a year and a half, numerous product iterations and a complete rebrand, I was ready to build the product. The investor, who had now become a mentor of mine, gave me some of the best advice I ever received, “Go sell it.” Without a product in hand, I was confused on how to execute sales, but he reassured me that if the idea was viable, I would be able to get signups with customers willing to pay for my service. He was right. I signed up exhibitors and shows and then my investor’s development and strategy team helped us build the product. Today, we are supporting trade shows across North America, with some of our biggest shows having over 200 exhibitors each. 4. How is your company looking to innovate within the tradeshow/sales industry? What are you doing differently? Trade shows are considered an “old school” marketing method. With a growing number of companies opting for online marketing, the trade show industry needs innovation to keep it relevant, without losing the charm of engaging with people face-to-face. Event apps have been created by dozens of companies to add a more mobile-friendly experience to trade shows. However, many event apps really miss the mark when it comes to consumer (B2C) trade shows (ie. Bridal shows, baby shows, food shows, health/fitness shows, etc,) because of their lack of understanding of the attendee psyche and exhibitor goals. Most event apps are purchased by the organizers to benefit attendees and focus on the organization or planning of the show, with features such as attendee chat, photo sharing or event scheduling. None of the current platforms create an ideal experience for a

short-term event attendee looking to connect with vendors. We’ve challenged the current status quo with event apps and have created a vendor and attendee-friendly alternative to the traditional event app by giving attendees an easy and meaningful reason to participate on the app, while delivering the most return to exhibitors. The average event app has an attendee adoption rate of 30-40% while our platform has an attendee adoption rate of over 85% on average. More attendees on board bring a higher level of engagement and ultimately more return to the exhibitors and organizers involved. 5. Can you offer some insights on how your service/product works to make doing business easier for both exhibitors and trade show organizers? Paper promotional materials are expensive and rarely ever returned. Exhibitors spend thousands of dollars on creating brochures, pamphlets and coupons and these materials are usually thrown out immediately after the show by attendees. We push any promotions exhibitors would traditionally offer on paper (ie. contests and special offers) and move them to mobile. Through our web-based app, attendees can easily get access to all of the exhibitor specials and information they are interested in and access them whenever they wish, without the hassle of paper. In return, exhibitors get more targeted leads and a way to measure their success at the show. Organizers can now show their exhibitors the exact return that their show was able to generate, reduce vendor churn and keep exhibitors year after year. 6. It seems your business is based in building meaningful and beneficial relationships with potential clients? What has that journey been like for you and your team? Has the tech aspect of your business helped or hindered that? We’ve loved seeing the power that our platform has on helping businesses to have more meaningful interactions with potential clients. Exhibitors at B2C trade shows usually spend a lot of time during interactions with attendees sharing special offers or having attendees fill out contest forms, but our business has helped them to transition their conversations to be about their specialties, their story and what sets them apart from competitors. Having exhibitors come to us post show and share how grateful they are to not have to

worry about rushing attendees to fill out forms and to have the platform work for them in the background of their trade show experience has been incredible. Technology has helped us to have businesses build more meaningful connections because of the content of what is being shared between exhibitor and attendee. We’ve been able to find ways to help attendees go to various booths and engage with businesses based on what they see on the Beyond the Booth web app. More exposure with a strong focus on engagement has given us the ability to empower all of our users. 7. What kind of successes have you seen since launch? We’re currently working with trade show partners across North America, supporting hundreds of exhibitors at each show. We have a 100% rebooking rate for any shows we have worked with and are super thrilled with our over 85% attendee adoption average per show. One of our biggest clients to date was San Diego’s largest bridal show, Bridal Bazaar with over 210 exhibitors and thousands of attendees in their January show. 8. What are your goals for the next few years when it comes to the work you are doing and your growth overall as a business? We’re currently focusing on growing our impact in the bridal show vertical and expanding to other B2C trade show verticals as well. Over the next few years, we are working towards becoming the new standard in consumer trade show marketing across all B2C trade show verticals. We’ve kept our company pretty lean but we see it continuing to grow as we begin to learn and implement new ways to support our large exhibitor and attendee base. 9. Have you faced any obstacles while building Beyond the Booth, if so how have you overcome and what kind of advice would you offer startups who are facing rocky roads ahead? Definitely – we wouldn’t be a startup if we didn’t face a few challenges along the way! We’ve had our fair share of trials and tribulations. One of the main challenges we had was in understanding the sales cycle of our market. It took us a while to learn that trade

shows operate in long cycles, where many are planned 6-8 months ahead of show time. In order to have the most successful attempt at making the sale, it was important for us to enter into conversations with show organizers well in advance of their shows to give us the best opportunity to be included in their budgets. With this in mind, we’ve been able to make adjustments in our sales cycles and work in sync with our industry. I’d definitely advise other startup founders to constantly be open to learning while building their startup. There is a ton of resources available for sales, marketing, and technology or growth tactics through books, podcasts or blogs. Following individuals or companies you find interesting and reading or discovering new ways to approach similar problems has been extremely helpful for my company and me as I’m sure it would be for others. 10. What is the future for the tradeshow and retail industries? We hear so much about the traditional models like brick and mortar and event concepts dying out, what are your thoughts? Does a company like yours work to marry these experiential focuses with the tech side of business? The trade show industry is growing 2-3% every year in North America. With the rise of more online alternatives many believed that the trade show industry would also transition to become digital and that virtual trade shows would dominate the space. However, the faceto-face engagement at trade shows is truly what drives the growth of the industry as many new relationships are formed with potential clients or industry experts during these experiential events. New product testing and discovery keeps these events fresh and interesting for attendees who aren’t able to have the same experiences elsewhere. With Beyond the Booth, our goal is to maximize engagement, increase lead acquisition and derive more analytics from the event experience with the help of technology without losing the personal experience that the attendees come to the event for. We believe it is completely possible to improve the event experience with technology, without taking away from it.

I would advise any new entrepreneurs to look to build solutions for markets that they understand. A more powerful connection to the needs of the customers happens when founders have personally felt the pain point themselves and have tried numerous alternatives that didn’t solve their problem. Time and time again, founders jump to create products without fully understanding the needs of their customers. A lack of depth in understanding customer needs makes it more difficult to acquire new customers and sustain a business. By understanding your customer, you’ll be able to preemptively address their needs and relate to them on a personal level when making sales. My second piece of advice is to constantly be learning throughout the entrepreneurial journey. There is a ton we can learn about areas of our business which we are not experts at through books, podcasts, blog posts or even social media. Discovering new techniques, solutions, alternatives or skills will only help in the growth of your company and in you as a founder. 12. Finally, where can our readers learn more about you all online? Where can potential exhibitors or tradeshows clients connect with you one on one? Check us out at beyondtheboothhq.com! We have a ton of resources available that showcase how our platform can benefit your event and best practices for the trade show space when it comes to being an organizer, exhibitor or an attendee. Feel free to drop us a line anytime at info@ beyondtheboothapp.com or reach out to connect to us if you’re in San Francisco or at one of the trade shows we support across North America. We’d love to chat about the trade show space, how we can impact your next event or just connect with like-minded founders or marketers doing big things – we’re all about making meaningful connections and we’d be thrilled to hear from you. VISIT BEYOND THE BOOTH ONLINE: http://www.beyondtheboothhq.com

11. What kind of advice would you give a budding entrepreneur when it comes to jumping into the shark tank so to speak?

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

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Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

T H E JOURNE Y TO FINDING YOU R P U RP O S E

THE ART OF REIKI HEALING

An Interview with Erin Ryan - Reiki Master, Teacher & TCM Professional

PHOTOGRAPHY: DWIGHT J. BEJEC

We often search for meaning in our lives at points when we are going through transformation. At an early age, individuals are expected to figure out their life’s purpose, go to school and pursue a career. Yet, many fall short of societies expectations of success. We question our journey, our choices and our inability to fit a mold that has been created for us. We have an internal battle between doing what makes us happy and doing what others expect us to do. It’s a constant struggle between fulfilling our personal goals, needs and wants and settling for doing what pays the bills and what others/society expects us to do. In this process, we often become plagued with health issues, stress and lack the coping mechanisms to take care of us. People question their choices and wonder if there is something more. It’s not a surprise that we are seeing a shift in perspective in the world when it comes to how people are now approaching the work world, health and life in general. So often, we live to work. Yet, many are seeing that there is so much more to life and that while work is an instrumental part of what we do on this planet earth, that there are ways we can live with purpose without compromising the journey of our heart. That we can lead a purpose driven life, handle our responsibilities and still manage to care for ourselves.

There is this shift in consciousness when it comes to living life as well. People are coming to terms with the idea that while there is a lot of negativity in this world, this is also so much beauty and positivity to balance it out and allow us to find joy in the world around us. This shift also includes a realization of the idea that we are all interconnected. That our decisions not only impact us, but also others and that it is so important to work on healing our own wounds in order to help others heal their own. It’s not easy, sometimes it’s not pretty, but it is necessary to face these dark realities in order to come to terms with the fact that transformation is necessary to be able to reconnect with the joy you are searching for. There is an opportunity to heal ourselves and overcome our challenges if we manage to find a way to care for mind, body and spirit. Personally, I’ve been struggling with this very issue, which is what led me to begin this search to connect with others who have experienced similar things, but have found ways to overcome and find a way to begin to heal. For many years, I’ve been at odds with spirituality, the traditional view of success and the world in general which often led to negative self talk, depression and an overall stall on the trajectory I have been working to take my life in. During my corporate days and even now

WRITTEN BY: JENNIFER VEGUILLA-LEZAN

as a professor and entrepreneur, I would struggle with self-care, healing my emotional wounds and self-doubt. I would be on a constant grind, masking my depression with a positive attitude and the guise of being continuously busy. I refused to quiet my mind and just sit in my thoughts because I was afraid of what those thoughts would sound like. I was afraid to truly feel and connect with the traumas I’ve experienced during my life. I was also afraid of the direction I was taking my life in. I didn’t feel like what I was doing was right for my soul. Yet, sitting with these emotions and feeling them is something I am now realizing I must do to begin healing and utilize them to help and inspire others. As I soul searched over the past year, I have been led down a path to reconnecting with my spirituality and coming to terms with my beliefs and the history of my family. I’ve often felt lost as if I wasn’t sure what to do with my life, my career and it felt like my goals weren’t worthy enough. It’s scary not knowing what to do and just working to live, when you preach that there is so much more to the world. I had a wake up call this year. It has been because of this awakening that I was led to connect with one individual, who is constantly working through her own personal transformation and healing: Erin Ryan. She’s a Reiki Master, Teacher and Oriental Medicine Practitioner whose journey has allowed her to touch the lives and help to aid in the healing of countless others. I initially connected with her for personal reasons, to work up the courage to schedule some time with her for emotional healing. Yet, the universe had other plans. As I worked through the goals for this issue, I realized that while education about the issues facing women today were of paramount importance so is helping women

and people find ways to help themselves. Whether it is through inspiring stories of fellow women making an impact or finding ways that we can begin to heal ourselves, I realized that we need to share alternative ways that we can begin to heal our own hearts and small worlds so that we can make an even bigger impact on the giant world around us. Erin’s abilities are truly a gift, and a gift that she fought against early on, but once she embraced them they have allowed her to be a light in this world for so many people. She explains that at one point, while pursuing a career in nursing, it finally clicked that her calling was elsewhere. She had heard about Reiki and alternative modalities in medicine and eventually gave into the calling. She was at a point where she didn’t care if people thought she was “crazy” for pursuing this journey, but she had to do it for herself. She first learned traditional Usui Reiki Ryoho in 2009, later going on to become a Reiki Master in 2010 (the highest level). In 2015 she took an additional Reiki class, this time in Usui & Holy Fire Reiki, to become a Reiki teacher. She has had the opportunity to not only help heals others through her practice, but also teach Reiki through McHenry County College and the Crystal Lake Park District at her business located in Crystal Lake, IL. She eventually went on to also pursue a Masters in Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture. She also has a background in Western medicine and is a licensed EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). She has worked at Good Shepherd Hospital located in Barrington, IL as a CNA and at Stroger Hospital in Chicago, IL practicing acupuncture. She believes that the best way to heal is by fusing Western and Eastern medicine together to create greater

wholeness and health. By utilizing Eastern medicine’s approach to holistically heal the body while seeing it as an entire working system alongside her knowledge of western practices and modalities she can work with people to get at the root of their ailments. Erin’s life wasn’t an easy one. It seems that this is often the case for those who pursue helping others to heal, that they are also healing themselves in the process. Growing up she dealt with a variety of obstacles, hardships and experiences that were likely to lead her to becoming another bad statistic. Enduring family traumas, manipulations and the loss of her mother due to addictions, all of which left her with deep emotional wounds. Yet, she highlights she isn’t unique in this, so many people go through the same things. At 25 she became a mother and worked to care for her son on her own. She was living to work, to just survive – like so many do. Yet, she persisted. At 32, after burning out and struggling between pursuing traditional western medicine in the nursing field or following her heart to focus on Reiki and pursue Eastern Medicine, she finally made the shift to pursue what called to her heart. She believes that we chose our families before we are born along with the hardships, destructive behaviors and experiences that come along with that choice in order to learn and grow during this lifetime. Now, 10 years after the birth of her son, 9 years after taking her first Reiki class and 3 years after making the leap to pursue Oriental medicine and launch her business, she has a thriving Reiki and Acupuncture practice. She has managed to blossom, grow and now help others on their path towards emotional healing. Erin’s passion in life is to assist her clients in healing. There is

nothing more beautiful, amazing, wondrous, and extraordinary to her than facilitating people in growing, playing, laughing, learning, and changing their life. The moment someone walks into a room with Erin, there is this beautiful energetic buzz about her. You can feel something special about her that can be unsettling and comforting at the same time. She specializes in Emotional healing work, but her skills allow her to work on an array of medical issues. She explains that, “Those who gravitate to my healing practice know there’s more than what they’ve been experiencing in their lives and are ready for what’s beyond, ready for change, and ready to heal and grow past where they are now.” She explains that people know they have greater capacities, but it’s often a matter of being open to accept and work with those capacities. When a person is ready to let go, really ready to move past the barriers and blockages that keep them stuck and away from their fullest potential, out of possibility and wonder, that’s when magic can really take place. She’s not creating the magic, rather she’s the conduit to help the energy that is already there within us all, to flow. In order to get a better understanding of Reiki, her journey and experiences, we sat down with Erin for an intimate one on one. When asked what Reiki is Erin explains to truly understand Reiki, one must experience it. Reiki is a Japanese form of energy healing that reduces stress, anxiety, and so much more. Many people have referred to Reiki as a “laying on of hands”, though Erin explains, touch is actually unnecessary. Reiki can be done over long distances as well since it does not require physical touch (though light touch is commonly incorporated).

Reiki is comprised of two Japanese words, “Rei” and “Ki”. While an exact translation is difficult, many describe “Rei” as divine wisdom, divine guidance, divine direction, divine knowing and “Ki” as the universal life force energy, the loving, unseen energy that surrounds and permeates everything living. Together they form the foundation of a healing practice that taps into this higher wisdom to channel energy through the practitioner to help release blockages and heal dis-eases in the body. This healing takes place on a mental, physical or spiritual level (often all three). Erin’s connection and strongest abilities lie in emotional healing due to her own experience healing her internal personal traumas. The journey towards healing herself was a large part of Erin’s evolution. Women have this tendency to focus on caring for others, rather than themselves. They along with many others tend to fall into the path of doing things that are not meant to fulfill, but rather meet the obligations of what society has placed on them. Many people push away the idea of filling their inner well and taking care of themselves. There’s no balance between caring for themselves and the caring of others and responsibilities. Reiki aims to help people find a balance. Yet, society is quick to judge alternative care like this as hokey. Erin’s experience is a fantastic example of what happens when we don’t fall into this trap or attempt to control everything. Erin explains that, “people often get stuck within constructs that keep us in a constant state of fight or flight today. Often, people see anything that falls outside of their “norms” and belief systems (that they tend to pick up from other people) as a threat. It’s a threat to the ego, a threat to themselves and it keeps them stuck.”

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

Erin highlights how the idea of seeking validation and love from within is so foreign to us due to our experiences as children. As babies, we can’t truly survive without our parents and we instinctively understand this and in that moment we give up that love and validation for ourselves for an external connection. We see this happen continuously as we get older. Going from how can I get love and validation from our parents, to siblings, friends, society and then intimate partners. As that process continues on, we disconnect, but Erin is noticing an evident shift in how people are looking at the world and healing themselves. Erin highlights, she is witnessing how more people are transitioning towards being open to alternative medicine and energy work over the last few years. She highlights healthcare is a major player in this

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

due to people realizing that while Western Medicine has its place, it is not getting to the root of the many health problems we are experiencing today. Meanwhile, Eastern Medicine has been around for thousands of years and people are realizing that there is something beneficial to this work. Whether it be through Reiki sessions for cancer patients or Acupuncture being a healing modality offered at hospitals, alternative medicine is re-emerging as a way to heal the mind, body and soul. When Erin first started her work in Reiki and spirituality, she was under the impression that she was going to become something. Something like a Guru or enlightened, but she realized this journey was not about becoming anything. “Rather, this experience was about unbecoming what you weren’t in the first place”. That means coming back inline with our own nature and what that means to each of us on a personal level. Erin states this is all about, “how we show up in our own world.” Erin’s own purpose has brought her to a place where she has a deeper connection to world around her and people who are a part of it. Her journey took her from her Western medicine to Reiki and now she’s added in Traditional Eastern Medicine because she believes the best way to heal is to combine all of these traditions to help the people of the world. When it comes to Erin’s journey, Reiki Healing has benefited her in healing emotional traumas. Yet, it is important to note that it can also help in releasing stuck energy, which can translate into physical pain. Erin explains that, Reiki is non-invasive and gentle, and promotes overall wellness and balance. It is often used as a complementary therapy. It relieves stress and catalyzes the body’s self-healing ability. Reiki treats

one’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual body through your life force energy and works from the inside out on the root cause. Erin pinpoints that the most benefit she sees out of Reiki is that it, “promotes self-healing by letting go of limiting conscious and sub-conscious thoughts and feelings, creating forward momentum in your life.” When it comes to pursuing a Reiki Master training, Erin explains that it is a fairly simple process, but this is due to the fact that you can only talk about the process so much and it helps to ensure that the practice is put to work. Essentially, individuals take 3 classes - Reiki Level 1 which is a 1 day class, 2 which is a 1 day class and 3 which is a 3 day class. Reiki Level 1 helps you become attuned for self-healing, Level 2 is for healing of others. Reiki Level 3 (Usui & Holy Fire) is the most advanced Reiki training that finalizes your training to become a Master Teacher & Practitioner. Level 1 and 2 requires at least 1 month of training between in order to put your learning into practice. Meanwhile, there needs to be at least 6 months between Level 2 and Level 3, which is the Master Teacher Class. What makes Erin’s practice so unique is that she able to bring her knowledge of Eastern Medicine, acupuncture and herb work into her practice. Her Reiki and Eastern Medicine worlds merge on the daily when working with clients. She is able to blend her healing energy work, with her knowledge the meridian points that are a part of the acupuncture world and finds that she is able to better help her clients and their bodies. She’s innovating in the work that she does. Rather than sticking to one way of doing things, she has found that by expanding her thinking,

style and framework, she can positively impact the clients she works with. Traditionalists in the Reiki community may not always appreciate this, but from Erin’s perspective she’d rather not get stuck and pigeonholed in a way of thinking that doesn’t benefit her or her clients. Chakra work is a very important part of the work that Erin does for clients. The Sanskrit word Chakra literally translates to wheel or disk. This term refers to the wheels of energy throughout the body. There are seven main chakras. Each of these aligns on the spine, starting from the base of the spine all the way up to the crown of the head. These swirling wheels of energy also correspond to massive nerve centers in the body. Each of the seven main chakras contains bundles of nerves and major organs. They also include our psychological, emotional, and spiritual states of being. Since everything is moving, it’s essential that our seven main chakras stay open, aligned, and fluid. Yet, many Westerners are plagued with their chakras and energy system being out of alignment. Erin highlights that as humans to find balance in our systems we are either in a flight or fight state as needed or a rest and digest state. Yet, many Westerners are in a constant fight or flight state due to stresses of life, work and responsibilities and not having the proper coping mechanisms to handle these things. Our sympathetic nervous systems are constantly engaged causing a disruption of the rest and digest state. With Reiki Erin is able to help her clients come down from that sympathetic nervous system response into a parasympathetic nervous system response which allows the body to begin to rest

and digest. It is while in this state, that the human body allows itself to actually heal and regenerate. Erin truly feels that the direction the world, medicine and the health industry is going in, that Reiki and Eastern Medicine like acupuncture is desperately needed. Experts state that the United States is in the throes of an opioid crisis. More than two million of Americans have become dependent on or abused prescription pain pills and street drugs. Opioids are the key drugs used and formulated to replicate the pain reducing properties of opium. They include both legal painkillers like morphine, oxycodone, or hydrocodone prescribed by doctors for acute or chronic pain, as well as illegal drugs like heroin or illicitly made fentanyl. Recent reports from the CDC highlight that, “in 2016, there were more than 63,600 overdose deaths in the United States, including 42,249 that involved an opioid (66.4%). That’s an average of 115 opioid overdose deaths each day.” The fact that pills are the main source for dealing with chronic pain has led to countless abuses and deaths. Something has got to give. Erin believes that healing modalities like Reiki, Eastern Medicine and acupuncture can offer alternative ways to cope, handle and address pain management. As the opioid epidemic crisis continues, more and more hospitals and health centers are realizing that something has to change and practitioners like Erin are proving the efficacy of these modalities by bringing them into the health field. When asked what kind of advice Erin would offer an individual who feels as if they are being called to a healing path or looking to gain knowledge in this field, she suggests that people just, “follow their nose. Whatever sounds interesting

to you, is often leading you in the right direction. Start putting your feelers out and Google it! Learn more about what is around you and just start.” Erin explains that as you start to do that, you are stepping out of your comfort zone and leading yourself into the direction that is in line with your calling and your purpose. The energy is speaking directly to you through what excites and interests you. It allows you learn, experience and grow. Finding your purpose isn’t about the final destination, it is about the journey along the way. Enjoy it, live it and allow it to lead you to unexpected places.

If you would like to learn more about Erin Ryan, Reiki, Eastern Medicine or schedule a session visit: www.crystallakereiki.com Learn more about drug overdose deaths in the US here: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db294.htm Find addictions & mental health resources here: https://www.samhsa.gov

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

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DEAR CHICAGO LETTERS TO MY CITY

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PARENTS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE THESE ARE THE MOTHERS OF PARENTS AND PEACE AND JUSTICE AND THESE ARE THEIR STORIES. THEY SHARE HOW LOSING THEIR CHILDREN TO GUN VIOLENCE HAS IMPACTED THEIR LIVES; SO THAT THE MEMORY OF THEIR CHILDREN LIVES ON. THEY OFFER A CANDID, RAW AND HEART BREAKING LOOK AT GAPING WOUNDS INSIDE THEIR SOULS SO THAT THEY DIDN'T LOSE THEIR CHILDREN IN VAIN. Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

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Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

y t u a e B Beat Q&A with

Devin Graciano Written by: Danielle Hazekamp

Since becoming a mom, my hair has changed in a major way. It took forever for it to hold color like it used it and not to mention, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the amount of time to get ready like I used to! After reading more about USE ME hair care, the more I felt like these products were meant for me or anyone else that leads a busy lifestyle. Created by hair industry stylist expert, Devin Graciano, his hair care line is like no other. For starters, it is made up of 4 products and each product pretty much has multi uses. For example, the wave and curl cream can be not only used on curly hair to tame curls, but also on hard to curl hair to help hold a curl. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know about you, but I have a ton of different hair products and each one has its own purpose. I like the idea of downsizing my products and I love the idea of USE ME hair care. In fact, after reading this interview I am looking forward to trying the whole hair care line.

You are not only an expert hairstylist, you are also the founder and CEO of Use Me a hair care line. What made you want to start your own line? The more time I spent with large manufacturers, the more people I met and realized their needs weren’t being met. Sure, they had more than enough products to choose from, but nothing that screamed, “This product is for me!” I was at the forefront of development, global interactions with real people, hearing their wants and seeing their needs. I thought, I can really make a difference here. Making getting ready, simple!

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

What makes your hair care line different from all of the other ones that are out there? Oh my gosh, there are so many differentiators in our products, but the ones that really stand out are; user friendly guides illustrated on every bottle, affordable luxury, and each product has multi-usage benefits – so, it’s like having four products in one! The products are small, molecular structured and have function - which means, it goes into your hair and gets to work. There is no weight left behind. Most products sit on top of the hair and need heat for activation causing more weight and time to get hair prepped. Blow dry optional styling, products are so concentrated and focused to work on towel dried hair, so you can literally wash and go, and style later! Our line also brings youthful hair back. The healing properties of the organic ingredients will rejuvenate your broken, dull, dry or matured locks.

You are also an expert in hair trends and the industry in general, coming out of winter, what are some great products that we can use to help restore moisture in our hair, as well as help with dry scalp? The entire USE ME line! Honestly, no matter where you are in the environment, our products help to rejuvenate your hair to its best potential. Itchy/dry scalp, skin conditions or just color-damaged hair will drink up #2 and #3!

Tip:

USE ME conditioner can be used as a hair treatment mask, leave it on 5-10 minutes. Daily Vitamins + Biotin restores moisture, shine, over-all health and conditioning while soothing current skin irritations.

What is next for Use Me? Do you plan on expanding the product line? Yes, we do plan on expanding in relevant, yet interesting products. Again, we are a simplified solution so you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see us with 97 hair products in one line. We will be smart with executing the next heroes to hit the market.

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What are some easy and fun DIY hairstyles to wear in the spring?

Super simple, high waterfall ponytails are always chic and youthful.

For a quick styled down look, apply USE MEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wave + curl cream on towel-dried hair, give yourself two or three braids and let it air dry. Shake it out and you have a touchable, shiny lived in wave look. Easy-peasy!

For more information or to purchase products head on over to www.usemehair.com

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The Grooming Guide: Q & A with Martial Vivot Written by: Danielle Hazekamp

Martial Vivot (Photos Courtesy of Martial Vivot)

Martial Vivot is a name most people don’t know, but they should. Martial Vivot has been named “the best in the city (New York)” by GQ as the ultimate upscale gentlemen’s salon. With the opening of their second location in the West Village, Martial Vivot is the destination salon for men. A male grooming and hairstyle expert, Martial Vivot is the go to in the industry and I was lucky enough to get the low down.

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DO’S DON’TS

What are some important dos & don’ts when it comes to grooming?

Remember to always comb hair after applying product. This allows for product to fully cover the hair strands from root to ends to make styling more effective.

If you don’t have time for a haircut, at least keep the area around your ears, sideburns and neck clean. In other words, get a neck trim. You’ll probably need one about 2 weeks after a cut. It’ll make your hair cut last longer. Embrace your natural hair -- the curl, the straight hair, the strong forward growth, the cowlicks etc. Whatever your hair type, learn to live with your hair’s natural tendencies and go with it!

Sometimes you want a soft, yet clean and classic look without it being too flat or severe. For instance, the side part, combed off the forehead to the side etc. Once you achieve the style you want instead of spraying hairspray all over your hair, spray on and between your fingers. It puts the product between the hairs for more control instead of the all over like a “protective coating”. After shampooing your hair, mix a dab of the Martial Vivot Gel and a dab of Martial Vivot Creme in your hands and apply to towel dried hair. Then dry with a blow dryer or comb your hair in the desired fashion and let it dry naturally. This creates a nice base and will give your hair some texture, so you can properly style it.

Please try not to use too much product on your hair. I understand why people use so much. It’s easier to put a glob of product in your hair and then just mold it without too much time or effort, but it is bad for the scalp. It causes suffocation of your pores and it may create buildup (but not with Martial Vivot products!). A little at a time is the way to go. If you do clean the back of your neck yourself, be mindful of your hairline. So many men cut too high and go into their hairline for an erratic serpentine look. It’s hard to fix that without raising the hairline.

If you are going to dye your hair at home just remember it’s permanent. You can’t dye it black, dislike it and think that the salon will put it back the way it was the next day. Nope – the hair color is in there and it’s staying. There are treatments we can do, but it will take time and money. Don’t towel dry your hair like you’re scrubbing a pot with a steel wool pad. So many people do this and when your hair is wet it’s at its most vulnerable state. This is the time where you can break or split the strands in the middle of the hair, which leads to frizz. Be gentle with your hair! Don’t forget to attend to nose and ear hair. As we get older hair grows in places that we never needed to upkeep before. You can do this yourself with a clipper with a T head. This is where the teeth extend a little from the head of the clipper to allow you to reach those hard to get to places. But please no over manicuring of the eyebrows! Just a little tweezing to keep them looking clean and maybe lessening the unibrow.

What is the key to achieving the best shave? Preparation is everything. I recommend a face scrub once a week with a very soft exfoliant to remove the extra dead skin layers. This also prevents bumps and ingrown hair. Before shaving always make sure to warm up the skin (after your shower or with a hot towel). This softens the beard and opens the pores. With or against the grain? Always shave with the grain first. For a closer shave, go against the grain or across for sensitive skins. Moisture is Key Keep the skin moist throughout the whole process. I like to use the Martial Vivot Beard & Face Oil for the second pass because it’s moist and you can see-through the product for a more precise shave.

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After the shave – cool down One of the most important things to do after the shave (that many guys don’t know to do) is to cool down the skin with a splash of cold water or even better a cold towel. The colder the better! This closes the pores, prevents from redness and it wakes you up in the morning!

Don’t forget to moisturize Lastly, you need to moisturize again with a few drops of oil. I use the Martial Vivot Beard & Face Oil.

What are some trends that you are seeing for spring in men’s hair and grooming? 90s hair is making a serious comeback. Some looks we’re seeing a lot of now: 90s hair is making a serious comeback. Some looks we’re seeing a lot of now: Under cut situation, but more groomed. Similar to a disconnected texturized fade. High flattop with texture – a lot texture at the top. The Grungy look: Long version of Kurt Cobain – bleaching the tip of your hair (short) or doing a balayage (a very thick version of Kurt Cobain). 90s are also all about the gel, which we have been using a lot more of.

What are some great hairstyles that men can achieve themselves? I always say the best way to achieve a good hairstyle is to start with a good haircut. Once you have a good haircut, you can achieve any look! Just make sure to have the three products we mentioned above to help (Creme, Paste & Gel).

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Product Review

“

This shampoo is a must try. It lathers really well and has a nice light scent!

” “

This is a very nice lightweight conditioner that leaves the hair very lush and soft.

”

Marital Vivot Shampoo 7.3 oz // $43

Martial Vivot Conditioner 7.3oz // $48

“

Very nice and sturdy. It is the perfect size for travel and even comes with a nice holder.

Martial Vivot Comb // $40

Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

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Must Haves for

Spring Her for

Written By: Danielle Hazekamp

Dew Puff Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Sponge When I first received this I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe that this sponge alone could act as a gentle cleanser, but in all actuality, it really does a fantastic job! Due to it containing konjac which acts as neutralizer, it diminishes dirt without soap. This particular sponge contains Bamboo Charcoal which helps prevent breakouts and helps fight blemished skin. I love using this on days that I am not wearing a lot of makeup and mornings when I know my skin is makeup free. // $8.00

Wunder2 Super Stay Liners in Glitter Navy Blue I love how these liners just glide right on. What is even better is how longwearing they are! When it comes to a pencil liners, I find some types tend to smudge too easily; even the ones that are supposed to be longwearing. This navy color is beautiful. The perfect color to switch up when you want to wear something other than black liner. // $14.95

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Purequosa Cleansing Body Spray in Coastal

Perfect for after the gym or at times when you feel you need a pick me up. This blend contains Colloidal Silver which neutralizes odor as well as sage, aloe, eucalyptus and yucca essential oils to help uplift your spirits. I like how nice my skin felt after using this and how pleasant it smelled. It was especially nice that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a strong scent. // $17.95

Skin Laundry Purifying Cleansing Cloths I love, love these cleansing cloths! These are by far my favorite cleansing cloths. For starters, the material of the cloth is incredibly soft. These cloths also get all the makeup off! Even stubborn longwearing stuff! Believe it or not, my skin actually looks better after using these due to the product containing ingredients such as witch hazel and cucumber extract that calm redness. // $15.00

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Covergirl Peacock Flare Mascara I always love a good mascara. What I love about this one is it separates and lengthens lashes without causing any clumps! If you want more volume I would suggest following up this mascara with a volumizing mascara. // $7.99

Sally Hansen Color Therapy Top Coat & Color Containing nail nourishing oils, this particular polish line actually helps your nails, while being able to wear your favorite color. It also lasts longer than most nail polishes. I can go about week wearing it without having to touch it up. What I also love is how the color doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fade and how my nails stay glossy looking. // $5.99

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G.M. Collin Lip Plumping Complex This product is made with collagen and hyaluronic acid and is a keeper in my book. The minute you apply this to your lips, you will feel instant moisture and smoothness. It is perfect to wear by itself or under your favorite lip color. // $34

CO2 Lift Single Pack This pack gives you everything you need for a successful mask. It even includes a headband to keep your hair held back. A little advice to keep in mind is to be sure to follow the instructions and make sure to mix the packets together well. After about 40 minutes the mask was pretty much ready to be peeled off. Peeling off was a little tricky since I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t apply an even layer of the mixture. If you find this is something you experience as well, it will come off with a warm washcloth. After the mask was completely peeled off, my skin was super soft, plump and firm. It even helped with the redness in my cheeks. // $85

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BE A SPARK Written by: Reynisha Lindsay

you look around the world today and have taken notice, you could say that this is the Time of the Woman. Women have always made their mark in history, whether it was fighting for voting rights, flying across the Atlantic Ocean or running for President of the United States. Women are not intimidated nor limited by what others say they can or cannot do. Therefore, it is important for women to inspire, support and respect one another. It has been said that for every negative comment there needs to be 5 to 6 positive comments for a person to progress. As human beings, we dwell longer and more significantly on criticism, than on

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positive comments. Therefore, it is no wonder that we need so many more positive, inspiring thoughts to combat just one negative thought. Now, that is not to say that everyone lives by this same ratio. On one hand, you have the optimist. The word optimist is defined as a person who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future or the success of something. Therefore, if they receive a negative comment, most likely they will dwell on it for a minute, but soon thereafter move on because they have hope and/ or confidence in their abilities. On the other hand, do not worry if you are not an optimist because you are not alone. You can learn to choose positivity through positive

affirmations and meditation. Many successful people use words of affirmation to propel them forward each day. These words could be a Bible verse, a quote from a mentor or just words that you have written that align with your purpose. The important thing to keep in mind is that you read them every day and envision yourself as a successful person. Words have power. So, choose to focus on positive ones. Breathe them in and exhale them out. How calming is it, when you take a deep breath in and exhale slowly? It not only feels good, but also lowers your heart rate. I say all of this to show, that you can be the inspiration that someone else needs, especially

another woman. Women can be the most loving beings and at the same time the most ruthless. We look at each other and judge every little thing – from the way we walk to the bag we carry. We make assumptions when we have never even met the person. Some of us judge others so we can feel better about ourselves. Some of us judge others because it is a bad habit that we have learned from someone else. Yet, still some judge and criticize others for fun. Yes, I said for fun, gaining a laugh at someone else’s expense. What you do not realize is that words have power. Ask anyone who has ever been bullied, or been told “No” or has been told, “You’re worthless” if words have power. Ask anyone who has been told, “You are cured” or “You are my hero” or “I love you” if words have power. If you constantly hear the same words long enough, you start to believe them. Use your words wisely and speak things into being that are positive. Once you realize the power that you have, the influence you have just by speaking…you will think twice about what you say.

others throughout time. In that role, we have excelled, but we have also fallen short. We have struggled with our role in the home, in the workplace, in politics and in the church. Yet, the one thing that I do know is that together, women have succeeded. Through rallies and marches, we have fought for injustice and have been a voice for those who have none. We have started movements that have inspired the nation and changed the environment. We have been the glue that has held families together. Our accomplishments have been woven throughout the tapestry of time. In addition, if that was not enough, we bring life into the world. Kavita Ramdas, a women’s human rights activist, once said:

We need women, who are so strong they can be gentle, So educated they can be humble, So fierce they can be compassionate, So passionate they can be rational, And so disciplined they can be free.

I read a quote a couple of years ago that really resonated with me. It simply states that words have power. It says, “Be sure to taste your words before spitting them out.” It makes you stop and think that your words can be harmful. Think about the affect they will have on someone else. Think about the shame they may cause someone else. Think about how you would feel if someone said those words to you. You can God made woman uniquely and perfectly. spit your words out without tasting We are complex beings, which is them, but rest assures that someone illustrated quite beautifully in the else will feel the bitter sting of your quote by Kavita Ramdas. Many a man recklessness. There are so many has tried to understand a woman, examples of people spitting words but none has truly been able to out with no thought of consequence. comprehend the multi faceted beings Examples run rampant in politics, in we are. However, women have the gossip blogs and magazines, schools, unique perspective to understand workplaces and church. None of us each other. There is a connection is above reproach, as none of us is through womanhood, a bond that is perfect. Yet, we all have the power of unbreakable. choice. We can choose to be better. We can choose to be the light we want Now more than ever, woman need to see in the world. We can choose to to inspire one another and be the “go high” when others go low. change we want to see. Let us not Women have had led and supported Halfstack Magazine | March 2018

depend on others to fight our fight. Let us not let others define us by words. You are dynamic, you are awesome and there is nobody like you! Do not listen to the naysayers. Love yourself honestly, so you can love others. You have the power to choose to be the wind beneath someone else’s wings. You just have to believe it. Believe that power is not only physical strength, but that power is a skill, ability and influence over another. Once you realize the power you possess, you will be unstoppable. We all have a purpose in life. Yet, we spend most of our lives moving away from our purpose, trying to be something that we are not. Listening to what others say we should be or what we should do. We waste years following dreams that are not meant for us. We waste years trying to marry someone who was not meant for us. Stop and listen to the power within. Find your voice when the naysayers are deafening. Once you have found your purpose, reach back and propel the next woman forward. We can get to the mountaintop alone, but it is much easier when we do it together. Therefore, my challenge to you is this, the next time you see a woman (you know or do not know) and think something positive about her, let her know. If you think her hair looks fabulous, let her know. If you think her speech was inspiring, let her know. If you think she is a great mother, let her know. Make sure when you taste those words you are spitting out into the world, they are sweet. We only pass this way once, so be the spark that ignites the possibilities in others. As the Italian proverb says, “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”

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CLOSING THOUGHTS......

HEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TO STRONG WOMEN. MAY WE KNOW THEM. MAY WE BE THEM. MAY WE RAISE THEM.

- steve jobs

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