H Magazine June 2013

Hat Trick Your Life

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Inspiring Women to Succeed

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Volume 2 Issue 6  June 2013

~Äçìí Hat Trick (noun): 1. A sports metaphor for three achievements by a single player in a game. 2. A magic trick. We like to think that we are a bit of a combination of the two.

Hat Trick Strategies is a company whose specialty is helping businesses improve the way they operate, implement new technologies, refine their image and offerings, and set strategies to identify, attract and engage with their customer base.

We have represented and controlled budgets for some of the largest companies in the world and government departments, helping to package everything from software to product lines, and also marketing and engagement online, direct and through social media. We have first-hand experience of the inner workings and best practice required for successful projects, for clients of all sizes. Founded by a Director with a background in complex Business Change, Project Management and Product Branding, we ensure our deliverables meet your requirements, are professionally managed to time and cost and with your branding image and marketability in mind.

Hat Trick Magazine is a project made possible by Hat Trick Strategies, and an extension to our dedication to philanthropy and knowledge-sharing for women. Our President joined a rewarding venture partnership in 2011, and although meaningful, we felt too little was being done to share essential information, inspiration and education with women which would help them leave their circumstances and obtain independence.

We love events, but knowledge is power.

With complicated and seemingly endless routes into employment, many of which offer no guarantee to an actual paid position, throw into the mix a challenging economic situation, children (or simply, life!) and it can be difficult to know what skills are valued in the workplace. For those who finally get there, how does one progress up the ladder or perhaps start a business? This magazine is our way of filling that gap, attempting to share what we know, friendly advice, inspiration for taking charge of your life and humor to help you get through.

We help those ‘learning to fish’, while recognizing those who have achieved their dreams. Our writers are internationally based and you will notice that each will write in the English diction and spelling of their region.

Thanks to our partnership with Issuu, achieved in 2012, we have grown our following to more than 900,000 readers around the world. If you would like to be featured in our magazine, or to contribute an article, please write to us via email.

Hat Trick Strategies Ltd cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited coverage made by our contributors including reviews, articles, manuscripts or photographs of products, services. While every care is taken, prices, details or availability of items are subject to change and we cannot accept responsibility for omissions or errors.

We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters or correspondence received via email, social media or other communication. Unless specifically indicated, all rights are reserved on copyright for photography, by the artist, with non-exclusive license granted to us, for which express permission has been obtained by the contributor, directly.

All advice is given in general terms or as a matter of opinion, for entertainment purposes only, and may not be exhaustive nor suitable for all situations.

Always seek specialized professional advice, specifically suited to your needs. Absolutely no part of this magazine should be taken as medical, professional or other advice always seek the advice of a qualified practitioner.

DISTRIBUTION This publication is electronically distributed globally thanks to a partnership with Issuu.com and is available in print, in select UK locations.

REPRODUCTION We are happy to allow single displays of this publication, in whole or in part, without written permission but only using the Issuu.com share link or embed codes, for non-commercial or educational purposes only. We are happy to provide assistance to you with obtaining the codes or links, should it be required. © Hat Trick Strategies, 2013 All Rights Reserved

Team Michelle Fitz Lindsay Pullen Sarah Alt Joseph D. Phillips Charlene SanJenko Karen Salmansohn Amber Hamilton Henson Brittany Harper-De Staedtler Tanya Jackson Mina Muirhead Patricia Bayne Shalanda Turner Lisa Wynter Ann Pissard Michael Hartley Marina BerBeryan Cherie Brooks DeBurger Gina Caruso Hussar Katie Clifton Sorelle Amore Kate Spencer Rosie Mazumder Manuela Wahnon Dara Avenius Christine Ritter Nina Nuru Lorraine Hill Suzanne Perry Patrick Dati

Editor-In-Chief, Design & Layout Photography Editor Copy Editor Business Editor Wellness & Lifestyle Editor Self-Help Editor Home & Garden Editor Beauty Editor Food Editor Health Editor Opinion Editor Fashion Editor Product & Style Editor Contributing Designer Contributing Designer Celebrity Stye Expert Columnist Columnist Columnist Columnist Columnist Columnist and Associate Editor Columnist Associate Editor Social Media Social Media Global Planning Broadcast Media Special Advisor

Our team consists of professionals at the top of their field, many of whom can be found elsewhere online!

Please be sure to explore the hyperlinks associated with their names, for great blogs, businesses and more, from this elite and talented group!

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Cover girl Gina Hussar, successful magazine mogul and coach talks to Hat Trick about her life and her new venture 30 Seconds To Peace.

CONTENTS From The Editor ............................................... 6 Inspiration Corner ......................................... 10 Why Impromptu Communications Are King ..12 Mogul Gina Hussar Talks 30 Secs to Peace ...16 Christian Columnist Katie Clifton ...................24 Book Review: 12 Lessons ............................28 5 Skinny Summer Cocktails ..........................30 Shasie’s Picks - Hello Summer Chic .............32 Recipe - Robert E Lee Cake ..........................34 Mina Wins Mrs Colorado! Off to Mrs America... 40 Charlene SanJenko’s PowHERhouse ............42 Posh Brats Beauty: Aloe, Plus Scrub Recipe! 46 Oprah Columnist Karen Salmansohn ............ 53 Lil Nipper Snappers Cartoon ........................ 54 Graphic Art by Ann ....................................... 55 Ask Laura Advice Column - WRITE IN! ......... 56 What ARE You Thinking? Kate Spencer ....... 58

CONTENTS Mystic Sisters - Love Psychics WRITE IN! ....62 Learning Stories From An L&D Expert ............66 Gina Living Well, Commitment ......................70 Opinion Columnist Cherie DeBurger On Life ..74 Manuela’s Attitude of Gratitude: Bad Day? ....78 Dime Piece On A Dime Budget Fashionista ..81 Pin Up Passion Asks: Permission to Love? .82 .

Confessions of A Hollywood Stylist ...............84 A Bit Quackers: Joke Book ...........................90 Cake Masters Magazine (Special Insert) .......93

We Love Hearing From YOU: content@HatTrickMagazine.com

She decided to change her life, so she did just that.

FROM THE EDITOR

Success & The key ingredient to

success, in my opinion, is having the drive and commitment to keep plodding away at a craft, even when it gets hard, to achieve your goals and dreams. For some, it can take a lifetime. For others, through a hard work, less sleep as well as a special dedication to constant research and learning, the process can require as little as a few years.

Regardless, the key ingredient is commitment. It’s a transferable quality for most things worth having or keeping, from marriage, partnerships, cooperatives, product development and especially big dreams. In my coaching practice, I get a lot of comments about how long a goal will take and the effort involved. But it doesn’t have to take forever. You get out what you put in.

I was struck by the story of Zach Sobiech, a brave teen from Minnesota who wrote an inspiring song called Clouds, who lost his fight with bone cancer (Osteosarcoma) on May 21st. Zach’s story caused quite the stir in people’s hearts across the world, choosing to achieve some of his goals, even though he knew that his window of opportunity was closing by the day. He touched the hearts of millions of people around the world with his farewell song to his supportive family and friends, from countless celebrities to certainly this lowly management consultant here in the UK.

"It is with heavy heart that we announce the passing of our son Zachary David Sobiech," the family said in a statement. "Our family has been blessed not only by his amazing presence in our lives, but also by the love and support of our family and friends and by so many people in the community. In particular we'd like to thank those people who listened with their hearts and helped

Zach bring his message and his music to the world."

Commitment

FROM THE EDITOR

Sobiech said he also needed to write Clouds for himself. "I needed to get that emotion out and they wanted something they could remember me by," he said. The lyrics read: "And we’ll go up, up, up. But I’ll fly a little higher.

We’ll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer. Up here my dear.

It won’t be long now, it won’t be long now."

Clouds was uploaded to YouTube on December 5, 2012, and has since been viewed by nearly 3 million people. This response saw celebrities come together to pay tribute to Zach with their own version of the song and a video. Among the stars featured in the video is Ashley Tisdale, Colbie Caillat, Anna Faris, Passenger, Jason Mraz, Rachel Bilson, Chris Pratt, Jenna Elfman, Jenna Fischer, The Lumineers, Rachel Bilson, Ed Helms and Phillip Phillips.

The video was assembled by The Office star Rainn Wilson and actor Justin Baldoni, who directed a short documentary about Zach, called My Last Days, which airs on Wilson's SoulPancake YouTube channel. The courageous teen was given just a year to live in May last year. "We're approaching that year mark," he told People magazine back in March. "It's scary to think about, but the key is to not feel bad for yourself."

Zach was able to celebrate his 18th birthday on May 3 and attend his senior prom at Stillwater Area High School in the weeks before his death.

He was named one of People magazine's Heroes Among Us earlier this year and helps Children's Cancer Research Fund to raise awareness of this rare and aggressive We Love Hearing From YOU: content@HatTrickMagazine.com form of cancer.

"Our goal is to give other kids with osteosarcoma a chance," he said. Watch Zach's viral hit song Clouds here.

How is that for commitment?

Michelle Fitz Editor-In-Chief

Michelle

She knew it would be a challenge, and so

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Inspiration Corner Share Yours Here

Commitment More than just a promise. A wish held so sacred, it is prioritized above almost all others. Ahead of fear, mind fog and worth every bit of sacrifice. Something worth fighting for. Something you must believe and work at every single day. And then some. The difference between ‘I wish’ and ‘I have’. Something you don’t see every day. Not anymore. But you, YOU got what it takes. Drive. Passion.

Defined by you.

Orchestrated by sheer resilience.

by Michelle Fitz, Management Consultant

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Why Impromptu Communications d Are

King

In my coaching practice, I talk a lot about the importance of your 'elevator pitch': that one liner which flows off your tongue in a way that the everyday person can understand, even if you are put on the spot.

Even though I give this advice to clients, I am the first to admit that even I found this took some time, crafting, rewriting and testing against my non-technical and non-consultancy friends and family members to get it right for Hat Trick Strategies.

As a multi-skilled professional, I am able to lend my skills in a number of capacities to clients ranging from technical to creative, directing of complex work and performing full project deliverables.

We found very quickly that we simply had no choice but to break those categories out which so cleanly articulated our remit and made sense to a corporate client or headhunter into a meaningful 'services list' that small business customers could understand.

etting hired, whether you're a permanent, freelancer or a business, comes down to communication. Showing how you can add value is the difference between commissioning new work and simply someone glazing over and choosing someone with whom they understand and can identify.

Simply put, Hat Trick Strategies are specialists in Business Change and IT Transformation. To a consultancy, corporate client, government, etc, this makes complete sense - but what does that actually mean to someone who is innovating a product line, selling services or products online or simply runs the best landscaping firm in his state?

When I made the jump from straight freelancing to proper business, we had to quickly adopt a vision which could be quickly conveyed in passing on a train, golf course, the local kayaking meet up, or simply your garden variety 'Good Ole Boy' I met elsewhere, with a budget, business need, and an equal disdain for bull.

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You see, in consultancy, although we're clever people with a penchant for vocabulary, there is a fine line between sophisticated language and bull-territory.

We needed something that could go on a poster or roll off the tongue which would quickly pull that contact into our world for a brief moment and make them consider how they might use us in their business.

Page 13

Do you have an elevator pitch or vision statement? Please believe me when I tell you that in the past, I have lost serious customers both met in passing as well as those who proactively sought me out through word of mouth, SEO or leaflet they received (and were impressed by) in their travels - simply I found myself on the spot without something they needed. A business card. A pitch.

Knowing my mobile phone number off the top of my head.

These are such poor reasons to lose out on business. It isn't just lack of preparedness. Consider communications your bread and butter of your foot in every door which will be presented to you.

Articulation is an art form.

If you are a solo-preneur (a one-man entrepreneur), arming yourself may seem enough but is your website serving you well? Are your business cards a reminder of the value you can bring? Is your voicemail message professional, inviting and informational? If someone answers your phone for you, are they able to provide information and if not, have they at least been briefed on how they should speak to a client and deal with any questions in a way that won't put them off?

Communications touches every aspect of your business, from the spoken word, the written form, a proposal, a text message, an email or simply a short-and-quippy elevator pitch.

Now I ask you - are your communications King or are they simply Court Jester?

The EXPOSURE Concert June 28-30

Buffalo New York’s Annual Concert Raising Awareness For Domestic Violence.

Gina Hussar

A 30 Year Journey for 30 Seconds to Peace

Create the Life You Want

By Inner Peace Coach Gina Hussar, Founder of 30 Seconds to Peace When I was asked to write a personal account of my journey, I thought to myself, “No way. What about me could possibly be ‘cover story’ material?” After all, I don’t recall doing anything that remarkable in the usual sense of the word. I have never fled from a war torn country. I have never triumphed over poverty or abuse. I’ve never won an award or inspired a blockbuster movie. I have the most wonderful family anyone could ask for. In fact a friend of mine once said, “You had the perfect upbringing, so you’ll never be famous.” As if the only way to an extraordinary, memorable life is to have a “rags to riches” story or the kind of drama worthy of an E! True Hollywood Special.

Then it hit me. This is exactly what I teach. Every life is

“

This is exactly what I teach. Every life is remarkable.

Life becomes extraordinary the second we realize that every moment, in its own way, is extraordinary. My struggles are your struggles. Your life- the job, the marriage, the kids, the friends, the girl talk, the diet woes- is all 100% cover story worthy.

”

remarkable. Life becomes extraordinary the second we realize that every moment, in its own way, is extraordinary. My struggles are your struggles. Your life- the job, the marriage, the kids, the friends, the girl talk, the diet woes- is all 100% cover story worthy. Because it’s yours; your tapestry; a testament to your gifts and triumphs. And even if you don’t have a gazillion followers on twitter, to SOMEONE you are the center of the world. To someone you are fantastic and strong and beautiful.

And if you’re lucky, someday you’ll even agree with them.

I struggled internally for most of my youth and my adulthood up to now. You wouldn’t know it. I’m a fabulous actress. On the surface I had exactly what a lot of women want. In high school I hung out with the right people, but never felt like I totally fit in. I got good grades, but not as good as some of my friends. I graduated from college, got a great job, had the big wedding and everything that comes with it. I wasn’t truly happy through any of it. No matter what was going on or how much fun

everyone else seemed to be having, I never felt truly present. I was the one who felt like they were watching from the sidelines thinking, “Really? Is this all there is?” I figured I’d be happy when I finally got out of high school. Then I thought I’d be happy when I finally graduated from college. But I wasn’t, so I figured it would come when I got married… or maybe once I had children. You get the picture.

When I had my first child, a son, for a brief time it felt like all of my questions were answered. I felt confident. Happy. This was the first experience I had ever had that lived up to the hype! It was exactly as amazing as everyone said it would be. My daughter followed shortly after. I poured myself into my children.

My husband poured himself into building his business, which of course made for several years that weren’t all rainbows and butterflies for us. I felt like a single mom. As the kids got older panic set in. I began to wonder what the hell I would do once they were both school aged and not on my hip any more. My daughter was suddenly 5, my son was 8, my husband was still never home and the familiar feeling of discontent crept back in.

I decided to start an online fashion magazine to “get back in the game.” It took off. Seemingly overnight I had a remote staff of 30, it transitioned to a digital page flip and I was

interviewing people like Lauren Conrad, Karmin, Cher Lloyd, Dita Von Teese, Pam Anderson and many other really cool celebrities. I was walking red carpets, being invited to New

York Fashion Week and creating solid relationships with companies like Epic Records! It came at a price. I was glued to my phone and computer all day and all night. I was working a lot with people in London and Los Angeles and the differing time zones had me working pretty much 24/7. I was stressed to the max, not eating, losing touch with lifelong friends and watching the distance between me and my husband grow wider every day. The wakeup call came one day when my oldest son was standing beside my desk telling me about his day. I was in the middle of troubleshooting a photo shoot we were producing in

As he walked away I realized

that I hadn’t heard a single word he said.

It was devastating. Fast forward a few months and my third (very unexpected) child was born. I became completely disenchanted with the magazine. I had this tiny, amazing miracle sweep in and remind me of what was important. And it wasn’t sequins and hemlines. I knew I had to get out. We were coming up on our one year anniversary and someone had offered to throw a party for us. I knew I was done and just wanted to quietly get through the party and then slowly phase out. Just my luck, MTV showed up at the party and aired footage from it (as well as my logo) on an episode of Made. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. I kept going for a few months but it was literally sucking the life out of me. But how could I walk away? It was going well, a few tweaks and we’d be making waves AND money.

If I bailed, my competitors would win, people would think I failed, the money I had invested would be lost, the staff would be let down and all of that hard work wasted.

I called on the amazing Intuitive Consultant Lynn Robinson. I had read all of her books and was certain she could help. She advised me to look inward; to weigh both options and really pay attention to my body wisdom. Which option brought a sense of peace? Which brought anxiety and an elevated heart rate?

She knew what I wanted to do and promised me that if I just made the decision, all of my doubts and fears would fade away. She promised that the second I was free of what was weighing me down, my true calling would appear. I’m not going to lie. I hung up the phone feeling a little disappointed. After all she gave me no answer. Is that what I paid for? For someone to tell me that I HAD the answer? Well I didn’t! If I had the answer I wouldn’t need to call her right? I felt completely alone and confused. I had been praying for months for an answer to it all; praying for God to guide me to the right decision, to mend my marriage, to bring back the money I had invested etc.

Rock bottom? I found myself sitting in an empty church crying and wondering (out loud) why God wasn’t answering. I wanted to do right by my family, my husband and myself and had no idea what that looked like. I remembered that a friend had told me about a labyrinth at a nearby convent. The idea was that you walk the labyrinth while focusing on your current need and when you reach the center, you pause, pray and receive the answer. So I walked it.

And at the end, a voice repeatedly said to me “Be at peace.”

That’s it? “But what am I supposed to DO?” I actually said out loud.

I heard again, “Be at peace.”

“But how can I be at peace when my husband and I are constantly fighting?”

“Be at peace.” it said again. “No matter what, be at peace. It’s the answer to everything. Be at peace. Be at peace. Be at peace. ” From that moment on I knew that every decision I made would be weighed by peace. I made the announcement to my staff and to our partners that I was shutting down the magazine. I turned my phone off. A lot. I realized just how right Lynn Robinson had been.

I knew the answers all along. I thought back to decisions I had made that had gone wrong and in every case, I had felt that something wasn’t right but plowed along anyway. I learned an incredible lesson from her. Every single answer I need (and that you need for that matter) is already in you. You just need someone to help you draw it out sometimes. There are a million different ways to choose peace and as I continued this spiritual journey, I thought back to my days in a Life Coach training program. I had loved the work but life got in the way and I let it go. I had become a certified Reiki practitioner years before, but had never made it a big part of my life. I had studied pretty much every book on the Law of Attraction and on intuition, but had never truly implemented the practices.

It hit me that this was where my heart was. I loved this work. I loved helping others find peace and power. I loved reading about it and writing about it and talking about it. One day, I ran into someone I hadn’t seen in a long time and when they asked me what I did, I said I was a Life coach. I don’t know where it came from but it felt good to say. That same day, before I had told even one other person about my plans, I received an email from an old high school friend. He remembered hearing that years ago I was training as a life coach. He was going through some things and wondered if I still practiced. Boom! First official client. It was amazing and he recommended me to a friend and the rest is history. Lynn Robinson was right again. I had let the weight go and I was at peace and my true calling was revealing itself. The teachers show up when you are ready to learn. The blessings roll in when you are finally ready to receive them. Life gets easier when you stop fighting it and commit to being authentic and to choosing happiness. It occurred to me that my challenges had brought a wonderful gift. I had learned to shift my mind in 30 seconds or less. I had developed, or uncovered rather, the ability to instantly choose love over judgment and peace over stress. And from that, my business 30 Seconds to Peace was born.

Nothing makes me happier than walking beside someone on their journey to peace.

Nothing lights me up more than showing someone just how powerful they already are.

I continue to study every single day. I am a student of A Course In Miracles, of Dan Millman’s course Mastering the Path of the Peaceful warrior and of Deepak Chopra’s How to Create Happiness Course. When I finish those I’ll begin others, because the education should never end. Life is constantly changing and often challenging and I am committed to always being ready and equipped to navigate the choppy waters in peace. And what you believe and share expands. If I can help

If I can help people to find peace, they become cultivators of it; peace architects, if you will.

people to find peace, they become cultivators of it; peace architects, if you will. I am now working with an amazing coach, Shanda Sumpter, (because every great coach also HAS a coach) and the community of women I have met through her inspire me every day. Life is good. The present is bright and abundant and because of that, there is no doubt that the future will bring more of the same.

So maybe my journey isn’t the most ground breaking thing you’ve ever read, but the lessons I learned undoubtedly are. The lessons I learned broke me wide open. Have the challenges of life disappeared? Hell no!

I am a mom of three. Someone’s always crying, their activities schedules run our lives and there are days that my husband and I barely have time to high five each other in the hallway. The difference is that I feel absolutely no stress about any of it. A friend of mine says she is “too blessed to be stressed.” And I feel exactly the same way. I have learned to find the miracles in every situation. I find the miracle in my baby who never sleeps, because he is healthy and happy and I get to hold him even more. I find the miracle in my husband not making it home in time to help with the Hussar Taxi service because it reminds me that I am in fact strong enough to handle it all myself when necessary. I have learned that expectations are dangerous, that resentment is really self anger misdirected at someone else, that my body will tell me exactly what I need when I need it. I have learned how to instantly shift my perspective and to dig deep for truth. And most importantly perhaps, I have learned that I love taking these lessons and sharing them with anyone who is ready to step into a life of love, peace, passion and power. I am no different than you. I am no smarter than you. I was just ready. Someday I hope that you are too; because you deserve a blockbuster chick-flick happily ever after kind of life.

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Mire and Manna

by Katie Clifton Christian Columnist

Score Keeping Being my friend or loving me must be exhausting. Please understand, it is certainly not because I am "awesome", "exciting" or "interesting." It must be exhausting because I am busy. Not only am I busy but I tell everyone how busy I am. I often have conversations about what I am doing or have done and I sound as if I am reading off a To Do list. Quite honestly, it is obnoxious - even to me. I would love to share the excuses I have for doing this. Maybe you find these excuses in your own life (or maybe I am the only crazy one around) and maybe we can work through this craziness together: • Excuse #1: I am a verbal processor. It helps me to talk about my To Do list out-loud so that I make mental notes and for whatever reason I am less likely to forget things.

• Excuse #2: I have a need for productivity. There is something inside my brain (surely this is blessing and not a curse, right?!) that tells me I have to set goals and accomplish them. I have a need to make the most of my time. I am a master multitasker. I call it organized chaos. It may not make sense to you, but I see it as productivity.

• Excuse #3: I need other people to know I am busy. There. I said it. It sounds gross out-loud. It is as ridiculous in writing as it is in my head. This has to be some sort of mental disorder. I think I just had some sort of psychological break through. (If this is a disorder, please don't tell me. Please let me at least think others operate with this insanity too.)

I am in a cycle of thriving on business and having it suck me absolutely dry. I have a desire to be intentional. To feel contentment.

To find fulfillment in the moment and to experience joy in the process of the ordinary. But most days I am stuck on productivity mode. I am systematic and strategic about how much time I can spend on any one task in order to not waste time. I am like a crazy machine. I have a desire to do everything exactly right. I get overly concerned with details and enjoy recognition for my efforts. This is a huge confession people. This "break through" actually embarrasses me to see it laid out before my eyes and I don't like confessing this to you.

Something is not right here....

Jesus says it isn't ok either. I am such a Martha. I did a bible study years ago about having a "Mary heart in a Martha world". Clearly, it didn't sink in. I completely relate to this story. I think I would have invited Jesus in to my home. You know, as long as I had plenty of groceries and the house was picked up. Of course I would have to sweep after they all leave and probably mop and be up late doing dishes (not to mention all the other things I had on my To Do list before these guys came knocking on my door). But, I would have invited them in like any "good Christian." Cooking for The Savior surely would bring me bonus points in the Kingdom, right? And of course I could make a status about it and it would be a great Instagram picture! Maybe I could even impress him with my newly developed culinary skills. I would work and DO and put on a good show of fake hospitality but do you know what Jesus would say to me?

"I am not impressed, Katie. You are missing it. You are worried and are upset over all these details. I want your attention, your time and your actions"

I know Jesus would say that. I know, because He said it to Martha.

Martha was so busy doing things for Jesus that she didn't slow down to spend time with Jesus. I have an embarrassing and shameful confession: Sometimes my serving is self-serving. Sometimes I just feel more valuable if I am productive and accomplished. Sometimes I judge others for being lazy. Sometimes I am a score keeper. And I just realized I am the one losing. Sometimes I want to throw Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and dare I say it...even blogs out the window. As humans we can't help but to notice those proverbial Jones's around us. Those people we want to measure up to when secretly we may not even like them. Don't do it people! It is a trap! We have to stop measuring our value against what the world says is important and a priority. Be those neighbors who have the whole family playing football in a front yard that needed mowed last week. Go to bed and spend time with your spouse and leave that sink full of dirty dishes.

Let's allow our kids begin to help us with our To Do lists. We could be a generation that doesn't raise rotten kids. They can learn responsibility and we can learn rest. We have to find this balance of carrying a Mary spirit in a Martha filled society. We have to show our kids a balance of being still and listening and working. Why don't we serve others alongside our families? Is it because we don't have time in between laundry, work and ball games and lessons? Why don't we sit in our living room floors at night and read scripture and talk about our days? Is it because dishes are more important and wrinkled laundry drives us crazy? Mary would sit in the living room and she would love it. Mary sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching (Luke 10: 39). I have been sitting at the world's feet: jumping at every call, signing up for every opportunity, working on checking off things on a long To Do list and today I choose to be done with the insanity. I am going to need help with this. Business is like a drug to me. It is bad for me and I keep going back. This is me, asking you to help me. Hold me accountable. Ask me if I am slowing down. Ask me where Jesus fits into my schedule. Ask me if I am sitting at His feet. We are going to be better people for changing. We may look a lot less like the world, but we will certainly look a lot more like Christ.

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking- around life - and place it before God as an offering.

Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

Romans 12:1-2 Message Translation

12 Lessons: Editor’s Review

By Michelle Fitz

Editor’s Note: We interviewed Kate Spencer in our May 2013 issue of Hat Trick.

This is our review of her book 12 Lessons.

12 Lessons by Kate Spencer was a truly eye opening book for me on a personal level. The novel takes readers through 12 Lessons assigned to the main character by her spirit guides, after an adulthood fraught with relationship discord and a focus on bleak materialism and shallow relationships. There is also a workbook, or Journal, which compliments the main novel and accents the application of the material in your own life.

The novel is written from a fictional standpoint, which drives home the 12 Lessons that Kate Spencer most commonly uses in her practice as a Lightworker and Law of Attraction Coach, although I do note that Kate is, by far, more talented than a simple one-liner could articulate.

Kate’s experience in Chakra and energy work came to me at a point in my life where I was actually doing very well, emotionally, financially and otherwise.

After 30 years of turmoil and steap lessons learnt in my own life, often through hard knocks and serious lows, I found myself completely shut down from a Chakra perspective and struggling with ridding myself from some memories and experiences which came part and parcel with my life experiences. I was functionally traumatized. I was also a bit negative and quite a bit nervous to truly connect with new people for fear that, yet again, I would be hurt.

When I read 12 Lessons, I was suprised at the humour and the journey of raw, descriptive anguish that the main character faced - both from the past and that which manifested in her life on a daily basis. I found it refreshing to read what was at times quite gritty accounts of heartache, note this book does contain some adult moments and subject matter, and I certainly identified with this character on a deep, personal level. For I, too, have lived a life which was often based on shallow relationships and a lack of connectedness to my own day-today life. Life simply happened to me, as it does in Steph’s life.

I also identified with some of her personality, character traits and coping mechanisms for getting through life and its knocks Career and status obsessed - check! Never quite connecting emotionally check! Series of struggle balanced off with willful participation in abusive (verbal, financial and otherwise) relationships - check! Denial over the true state of my life and the need to do something about it - CHECK! Steph’s life is completely turned upsidedown in the space of one year and in that year, she finds that she truly has everything she needs, despite it all. She changes her patterns and manifests deep change which heals herself, her finances and even her friendships and priorities.

12 Lessons, for many, is a lot like being given a mirror which reflects back upon many women who read the book as though it were their lives on paper.

If you think for one moment that this is yet another Law of Attraction book, think again. This book highlights that repeating mantras, prayers and even classic therapy simply will not change your life.

Actions change your life. Actions which focus on changing your life, your attitude and your soul - aligning with your higher self - are the key to manifesting the change you crave.

Whether you’ve been praying like Sun Stand Still or practicing an attitude of gratitude, mantras and positivity as you navigate the principles you learned in The Secret, you don’t have the fuller picture until you read 12 Lessons.

I hope you enjoy the following interview with Kate Spencer and that you will explore her craft further, elsewhere online here and here. You see, Kate is not your usual author - she is a Lightworker in the truest sense of the word and spends much of her time in a state of gratitude, peace and working to further the graces afforded to humanity, especially those who come into her life seeking her unique help.

In the interview, we learn a bit more about Kate’s experience as a writer and how she found the experience of telling this magical story and helping people around the world to change their lives,

from the inside, out.

Buy Kate’s Life Changing Book and Workbook On Amazon

What Amber Loves Skinny

By: Amber Hamilton Henson Home & Garden Editor

Summer Cocktails

Too much sugar can lead to all kinds of health problems, like diabetes, cancer and of course obesity. So what’s a girl to do when she craves a little fancy drink, worthy of a paper umbrella or fancy fruit garnish while she lounges poolside? Try a skinny cocktail, part of an image-conscious trend, which generally weigh in at under 200 calories a piece.

1

1 Disco Water

It doesn’t get simpler, skinnier, faster or more cost effective than this: vodka and water. Looking for some more kick? Add a lemon slice, lime wedge, orange wheel or some sprigs of fresh mint. Craving something more exotic? Use flavored vodka instead of plain. Serve any variation on the rocks or straight up in a martini glass. The best part is, this drink is readily available—it can be easily made in any establishment and plenty of homes.

2 2

Mojito

This is a classic and refreshing summer cocktail containing the juice of half a lime, some mint leaves, rum and club soda over ice. Traditionally sugar is used to sweeten it, but use stevia or your favorite low-calorie sugar substitute instead. For variation, you can add fresh strawberries, raspberries or other fruit.

3

3 Skinny Colada

Forget the thick, calorie-ridden pina colada of yore. The skinny version weighs in at only 170 calories by using coconut vodka or rum, a splash of pineapple juice and club soda.

Serve it over ice, or mix it up in a blender if you want that tropical texture. Garnish with a slice of lemon, pineapple or banana.

4

Skinny Margarita

5

Bellini

4

This also takes a step back from the thick and sugary blender drinks you might have guzzled on spring break in your youth. The skinny version of a Margarita contains just tequila, a touch of triple sec, and the juice of a fresh lime. Now you've got a more authentic Mexican drink! Again, feel free to throw it in a blender with some ice if you want something that feels more familiar; ice has no calories so there’s no need to hold back.

5

A traditional Bellini is made with champagne and peach juice or peach puree in a ratio of two parts sparkling wine to one part fruit. For a fresh and skinny variation, use a splash of pomegranate juice instead, or some muddled strawberries, raspberries or blueberries. To cut down the calories even more, make it half sparkling wine and half club soda.

Pa

Shasie’s Picks

Follow Me: Twitter Facebook

by Shalanda Turner Fashion Editor

1 2 Page 32

4

5

Feminine

3

1. DRESS from French Connection / 2.

BLAZER from French Connection / 3.

iPHONE COVER from

Accessorize / 4. BAG from

Mulberry / 5.

POLISH from Nails Inc in Burton Street

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Like Magnolias Classic Southern American Recipes

by Tanya Jackson Food Editor

Tanya’s Robert E. Lee Cake This is my favorite cake. Robert E Lee was a General in the Confederate army. In southern historical circles he is revered as the best the south had.

This cake was supposed to be served to him by his future wife. The records are kind of iffy about naming it after him, but still the romance of the story lingers on. Although I will eat cake I really like cakes that have body to them. You may not think a sponge cake has body, but the filling makes it the best.

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Ingredients Sponge Cake

• 1 tbs fresh lemon juice (approx. 1/2 large lemon) • 2 cups all purpose flour, sifted • 2 cups sugar • 9 eggs, separated. Keep BOTH the whites and yolks (be very careful, this recipe will not work if any yolk gets in the egg whites - you will have to start over!)

• 1/4 tsp Cream of Tartar • 1/2 tsp salt • 3 cake pans greased with non-stick spray and flour

Filling/Frosting

• Two lemons and 3 oranges - grate grinds for zest first, then juice • 2 cups of sugar • 3/4 Cup grated coconut Preheat Oven: 300°F or UK 150°C / Gas Mark 2

Method

• Sift the 2 cups all purpose flour to add air and make the cake fluffy.

Set aside.

NOTE: You are going about to whip the batch of egg whites and then the batch of egg yolks. The egg whites must not be tainted by the yolks or you will have to start again so whip the egg whites first so the beaters do not taint your whites.

• Whip the 9 egg whites into a frothy peak. Sprinkle ¼ tsp cream of tartar over the egg whites to keep the egg whites light and airy. Set Aside • Beat the 9 egg yolks, using a whisk or fork • Mix in 2 cups sugar & ½ tsp salt into egg yolks until the sugar is moist Put the mixer away at this point.

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• Fold the whipped egg white mixture into egg yolk and sugar mixture. Fold means you take your spatula and literally fold the egg whites into the yolks carefully. I try to divide the egg whites into three different folds to gently put this together.

• Mix the flour into the egg white/egg yolk mixture gently; add the 1 Tlbs lemon juice to the cake mixture-again-gently.

• Spray 3 cake pans with no stick for baking or grease & flour your pans.

• Cook in Undisturbed oven for 25-30 min. The cake is done when pushed on the middle springs back.

• When cakes are ready, take out of oven and take cakes out of pans and place each cake on a plate to cool.

Filling

• Grate the rinds of 2 lemons & 3 oranges before you use them for juicing.

• Cut the lemons & oranges and juice them.

• Add 2 cups of sugar to the juices. Stir. At this point I put the sugar/juice in the microwave for 30 secs. at a time to melt the sugar until it is liquefied, be careful not to let it cook and get hot. I do this because you don’t want to bite into sugar granules.

• Add 3/4 cup grated coconut and ¾ of the grated lemon & orange rinds into the juice.

Page 36

Assemble • Take one of the sponge cakes and put on a serving plate.

• Using a ¼ cup scoop up the lemon/orange, coconut, rind mixture and pour over the first cake. You will have to eyeball the amount because you will do this 3 times. Sprinkle a little coconut and rind over each cake.

Stack the second cake on the first and do the same: Stack the third cake and do the same. Sprinkle the rest of the coconut and rind on the top.

• Let it sit for at least 2 hrs so the juices seep into the cake. Serve.

Absolutely delicious.

Picnic?

Make it portable!

This clever cake plate and cover are made from a large plastic plate and a plastic bowl turned upside down with a kitchen handle super glued on the top. Voila! You have a cake server with lid. Put together a basket with paper napkins, plates, plastic forks and server and you have an easy clean up party.

After all the work you do making the cake you need it. Enjoy!!!

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READER QUESTIONS

Have Your Say!

We love hearing from our readers!

If you have a question or comment for one of our writers, please feel free to write to them content@HatTrickMagazine.com

Q. We want to hear your stories of triumph and achievement!

Whether it’s school, work or balancing school lunches, bedtime stories and little league games, your life is fully of wins and scheduling tricks and we want to know how you do it! Write in and be sure to sign your message in the way you would like to be credited in the magazine, including your location.

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Editor’s Note: Quite understandably, the fabulous Mina is a little busy. Please join us in congratulating our Hat Trick sister, who has just won the Mrs Colorado pageant and is now preparing for Mrs America! Mina will be back ASAP with original content but for now, enjoy some of the images from her big day.

Health Matters

by Mina Muirhead, R.N. Health Editor

Graphique Fine Art Photography

Mina’s Top Summer Tip is simple! From cancer prevention to photosensitivity and sun spots, sunscreen is your number one product for anti-aging.

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Blue-Chip All The Way Baby!

Capacity-Building For HIP Women (“HighImpact Performance”) When we think ‘blue-chip’, we think of blue-chip investments, those that have a reputation to perform in good times and bad. I want to talk about another type of investment. Your investment in yourself.

In a recent Forbes article, Geri Stengel summarizes five ways to create more powerful women. They include: 1. Building large and diversified networks; 2. Finding the courage to step into the limelight; and, 3. Accessing support, capital and inspiration you most need.

Capacity-building is a term that’s been thrown around for many years. But what does it really mean, and what does it mean to you? Wiki says: Understanding the obstacles that inhibit people… from realizing their developmental goals while enhancing the abilities that will allow them to achieve measurable and sustainable results.

Let me tell you what capacity-building means to me: The stronger we are, the stronger we are. That’s our PowHERhouse motto. As physical Page 42

Charlene SanJenko Lifestyle & Wellness Editor

beings, building strength and capacity starts with the physical.

Healthy, strong, energetic and positive women are where it’s at for us.

It all starts here.

Our focus is helping women to build a sustainable practice that will support their lives dedicated to achieving and sustaining greatness.

Business groups build business. PowHERhouse reaches beyond to build strength and capacity behind the business or organization – the woman – allowing it to flourish as she does.

The fitness industry has the right idea however it has gotten so far out of control that we’ve forgotten our real reason to be healthy and strong in the first place. It’s not about having the ‘perfect body’ or ‘losing weight’. It’s about being strong, having confidence and courage and believing in yourself.

My top 3 reasons why it is important to redefine and reprioritize capacity-building right now: 1 The world needs positive female leaders – check; 2 The world is craving positive feminine energy – check; and, 3 The local and global challenges we’re facing need solutions from a strong social fabric built by strong women – check.

Here’s my top 3 tips you can start immediately to become stronger: 1. Find Your Peeps: Having positive, like-minded people in your life is huge at whatever level you need them. That may be a coach, mentor, accountability buddy or perhaps just an online community that you know you have access to if and when you need it.

2. Make Your Plan: If you want to succeed, you need a plan. On a weekly basis, I chart-out (thank you Google calendar!) my training times, cardio sessions, which protein-based meals I’m going to prepare for the week and what food staples I want around for ease and variety in my diet. We’re all busy so let’s just take that excuse right out of the conversation. Busy people make it work because they are organized.

3. Commit To A Daily Practice: Here’s the tough one until it becomes a habit. It’s what you do everyday that makes you the person you become. If you want to be a concert pianist, you

practice every day. If you want to be a top-athlete, you practice every day. If you want to be a world-renowned public speaker, you practice every day. If you want to be a strong, powerful woman, you practice every day.

A few quotes and thoughts on capacity-building: “When we talk about capacity development we talk about 2 things: 1.

Moving from development with to development by the community 2.

Moving from what I need to what are my strengths that I can build on.” ~ Raul Alberto Caceres, International Development.

“Capacity – building reflects my work in self development – continually increasing my capacity to learn, to grow and work more efficiently, in body, mind and spirit. This then translates to my capacity to obtain more from my personal and professional endeavours. Doubly difficult when life’s moments continually test the endurance, however staying focused on the results helps tremendously.” ~ Cheryl MacKinnon of Great Getaways With Cheryl, Female Entrepreneur, Mother and Travel Expert.

“Capacity building to me shows me how important it is to provide a structure of support for women. Strength, to me, comes from support, encouragement and the discussion of new ideas and without having a community of support it is easy to become stagnant. A community of women encouraging others can also help you extend your goals beyond what you originally thought possible and allow for strong personal growth and development.” ~ Reagan Burwash, West Coast Manager, Dermalogica | Founder of Pink Tank Group.

Excellence Is A Habit Join our movement at PowHERhouse.com Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Pinterest.

e v a

e Th

D

e! t a

S

Launch Party!

Join us on October 3rd, 2013 for the PowHERhouse Launch Party from 7-10 pm at The Edge Social Grille & Lounge, 1100 Granville Street, Vancouver.

Featuring amazing PowHERhouse presenters, an exceptional PowHERpanel of experts and lively PowHERpods, unique networking at its finest!

Clean eats ~ Great music ~ Drink specials ~ and SWAG. What more does a girl need?

But wait, there is more. We're having a virtual party too! Friends, colleagues and PowHERhouses around the globe will join the party online.

Visit PowHERhouse.com to join our guest list.

Learning. Lifestyle. Leadership. The stronger we are, the stronger we are.

Page 45

Brittany Harper-De Staedtler Beauty Editor

Aloe- lluja!

Pure Aloe Vera Gel is something we use a LOT of here at Posh Brats HQ. We used to buy it by the 20 kilo weight.....used to. Very recently I discovered something that had me seeing red.

Like many of you, I used to buy Aloe Vera gel and totally expected it to be clear in colour or some pretty shade of blue or green. You know the kind, the stuff you buy in the drugstore in big economy bottles or tubes.

When I started using it in my products in place of plain water I was really pleased with myself. I thought I was seriously doing everything I possibly could to make sure my natural bath and beauty products were the BEST they could be.

As I mentioned, I was buying this stuff by the 20 kilo per container weight and it's EXPENSIVE!! This is what the "Pure" Aloe Vera gel I was buying looked like and let's just say the amount I was buying would leave me very little change out of ÂŁ1000 every month.

Artesan Craftsmanship, All-Natural Ingredients

Skincare Bath& Beauty - Made in England -

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I was told by my raw materials supplier of this that it was clear because it was "ultra pure" and organic with added Vitamin E to naturally preserve it.

Okay, that made sense to me and this is a HUGE International supplier with branches in several countries so who was I to doubt?

As we in business are obliged to do from time to time, it came time for me to review my budget when doing my accounts for the year to submit to my accountants. I sat there staring at the spreadsheet of figures for my raw materials and the number for my Aloe Vera "habit" was just painful.

I said to myself, I simply MUST find a way to bring this cost down without compromising quality. I had a word with a Swedish fellow Cosmetic Chemist friend of mine and asked him if he knew of another source or way to use this magical ingredient without raising my prices.

He said to me, "Don't you make your own?"

Huh? Sure, I have an Aloe Vera plant on my windowsill at home and we use it for home purposes but it's not enough to supply me with endless kilos of raw gel.

Page 48

He explained to me that making my own was not unlike making a simple emulsion...something we chemist do all the time. He gave me the formula for the gel and told me a reputable source to get my organic freeze-dried aloe from.

I was almost embarrassed that I wasn't aware of this really. I mean, he thought I was completely insane to be BUYING the gel and when I told him how much I'd spent this past fiscal year on Aloe Vera he laughed at me. I had spent literally 30x's MORE than I needed to at WHOLESALE cost.

I made my first batch of Aloe Gel according to his formula and THIS is what it looked like, you can see it sitting there in my mixer.

Now, you can imagine looking at this earthy green sludge that I immediately thought I did something wrong. I contacted my friend and he checked it all out for me and said, "No, this is exactly what it's supposed to look like. Furthermore, that is a beautiful batch!"

Wow, so

THIS is

the pure stuff?

He explained to me that within the cosmetics industry in order for Aloe Vera Gel to be labeled as "Pure" it needed only to contain 1% pure Aloe Vera. Furthermore, it is then further diluted with fillers to make it clear so it can then be recoloured to the stuff you see in your local drugstores.

Now imagine my fury when come to find out when I researched this 'pure' gel I had been using for years...it was pure alright...but it was a concentration of 1% aloe and the rest was.....water, a tiny amount of Vitamin E and glycerine!!!

Compared to the 10% concentration of my own mix which is what is needed to make 100%Â Pure Aloe Vera Gel when reconstituting from pure freeze-dried form.

Suffice it to say....this was me (from my throne but minus my crown since it was Casual Friday) I am proud to say that my operating budget has been greatly slashed, no prices had to be raised and our products are EVEN BETTER. I have 100% control over my Aloe Vera and for this control freak, that suits me just fine!!

Love and Light,

Brittany xx As an added bonus, here is a recipe you can make at home by harvesting your own Aloe Vera plant or just use some pure Aloe (the kind from the health food store that is liquid).

Page 50 Page 50

Aloe Honey Body Scrub • 2 C fine ground Sea Salt* • 1 C Aloe Vera • 2 Tablespoons pure raw Honey (Use an organic brand or Manuka honey) • 2 Tablespoons Brown sugar • 1 C Olive Oil Mix together all the above ingredients. Apply mixture to damp skin. Gently massage, giving special attention to rough areas. Rinse well with warm water. *Sea salt removes dry, flaky, dead skin. Do NOT use table salt, it is NOT the same thing!

You know her from her inspirational books and posters Karen Salmansohn, Oprah columnist and happiness guru, has launched a brand new shop and now YOU can get her best loved posters, and slogans featured on handy notebooks, mugs, tank tops and more!

Believe/Materialize Keepsake Box

Jr. Ringer Tee “More love in the world please”

Mug “The cure for procrastination is caffeination!”

Visit Karen's fabulous new shop!

Here's your chance to get some of Karen's awesome posters and slogans on everything from notebooks, to mugs to tank-tops! Treat yourself today, or share the love with somebody who deserves it!

Don't forget to check out Karen's main website NotSalmon.com for more wisdom, humor and fantastic freebies!

by Karen Salmansohn Self Help Editor

Check out Karen’s latest books for inspiration on being happy and insights and tools to break bad relationship patterns PRINCE HARMING SYNDROME & INSTANT HAPPY Page 53

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Joey Phelps & Michael Phelps Cartoonists Hat Trick Magazine

By Ann Pissard Graphic Artist Page 55

Ask

Laura

by Laura Briola Opinion Editor

AL

Laura, Today my boyfriend is having surgery and he told me he doesn't want me to visit him. I don't understand why. He said he would worry about me travelling there. It is an hour away. His family is not coming either. I feel left out and like he doesn't want me to be there for his life moments. Do you think this is a sign of trouble? We do argue but otherwise it is a good relationship. Debra, Southend UK If that is his wish for you not to be there, sadly, you need to respect that. I wouldn't assume this is a sign of trouble, considering that his parents will not even be there. You never specified whether this was a minor or major surgical procedure, but either way, some people don't want to add undue stress to others, even if you feel like you deserve to be there. So, that said, let him know that as soon as he is discharged, you will be willing to help in through his recovery process if he would take you up on the offer! Hang in there!

Laura

Laura is a Southern girl who has made a name for herself keeping it real with friends, family and innocent bystanders for decades. She’s a true Southern belle with a lot of tough love and a feisty passion for helping others. She welcomes questions from readers for her column, though we note that she does receive quite a few each week!

Your question will be selected and answered by Patti personally via the magazine. We request that you sign your question in the manner you wish it to be credited in the magazine. We are happy to accept signatures using a pen name, first name only or moniker like “confused in New York” in support of your privacy. content@HatTrickMagazine.com

The Lightworkers Academy

by Kate Spencer Opinion Columnist & Life Guru

What ARE You Thinking?

Have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly you are thinking and why? The answer is probably no, as its part of the human condition to generate something that psychologists call “self-talk” and allow a constant stream of thoughts and opinions to pass through our mind in every moment. You may think that it’s not important to have an awareness of your thoughts, but these thoughts may not even be yours in the first place!

We inherit opinions and beliefs from our families, we absorb them culturally and we make associations in our brains that can become very fixed in nature and may not be serving us. This is especially important to consider when you have contact with children, and this is why there are so many “new agers” telling us to be conscious with the next generation. As children learn about life they pick up concepts and ideas from adults and integrate them into the map of world that they use to navigate their day to day reality. If this map is filled with ideas and beliefs that are going to hold them back or sabotage their progress then this is really unhelpful.

The messages that we send out can be subtle, for instance a man expecting that his wife does all of the cooking and cleaning on top of her full time job and the wife accepting this and working around the clock to please everyone else. Nothing is said directly about this but the subtle mind programming message to children is that the man is better than the woman and that the woman must comply with what is expected of her. You can imagine how a child growing up in this household would internalise this depending on their gender and that this could lead to a program in their thinking that would contain expectations about relationships that would not lead to equality and mutual respect.

And, Newsflash…….we were all children once which means that we have a whole head full of thoughts that are based on what we have been exposed to directly or indirectly as messages from our environment, culture and upbringing.

Some of you may have heard of The Law of Attraction and the theory that thoughts are energetic living things, and that they attract like for like energy into your life. Now think about it for a moment, what if you were thinking thoughts that were not really yours through habit and early programming, and what if these thoughts were shaping the course of your life right now?

Well they are! And many of those thoughts aren’t even your own!

You could well be attracting a whole load of what you don’t want because of what someone else thinks, and you may have been subject to this for the best part of your life!

There is a whole branch of science studying this phenomenon at the moment and these

Buy Kate’s Life Changing Book and Workbook On Amazon

programs are being referred to as Mind Viruses because of the way that they “infect” your consciousness and then “replicate” so fast by passing from one person to another. Although the name virus sounds sinister there are some really positive concepts and ideas that have been passed from person to person and integrated into societies belief system, look at trends such as the iphone, facebook and the Pay it Forward movement.

The trick is to observe your own thinking and see what you may be playing out in terms of a mind virus or inherited belief that does not serve you, then stop and step back from it. Ask yourself these 3 questions: 1) Is this really true?

2) Is this really my stuff?

3) Is serving me well and helping me in my life?

If it’s a resounding NO to any of these questions, then make a conscious decision to change the way that you are thinking and make sure that it’s what YOU are thinking and not anyone else!

If you are wanting to work on this you may find the Breaking Old Patterns MP3 download helpful on my website www.thelightworkersacademy.com as well as some of the other products and services listed. Hope to see you on facebook at The Lightworkers Academy.

Kate Spencer – Author of the life changing 12 Lessons & 12 Lessons Journal available on amazon sites worldwide.

As Within

So Without

Mystic Sisters

by Intuitive Therapists & Celebrity Relationship Psychics Mellissa Mallaya and Jaycee Mallaya Hi Jayshree. Hope you’re well! I am 8 months pregnant and I have 2 kids. All with the same man. We have been together for 9 years and been living together since, but we never got married due to financial reasons. Lately I have been very insecure and constantly suspicious. Is it possible for you to please tell me if I am over reacting? Help me bring my stress levels down! Am I ruining my so called marriage or am I right in being insecure! Pls help me! MRP Sweetheart, As a friend or family member, I would say get out! He is not worth it etc. But, as your intuitive therapist, I would say stay. He does love you and he is feeling like he is drowning in debt. Financially, he feels that if you marry, he has so much of debt it would be a burden to you. I think you need to calm down and explain to him that you are already by his side and that you are prepared for the long haul until he sorts out his finances. He does love you. He is feeling flirty. Flirty and cheating is not one in the same.

He is feeling flirty. He has NOT been flirty. So start laughing together. Relax.

Mystic Sisters Jayshree Mallaya and Mellissa Mallaya-Pandya are a household name in South Africa. They are intuitive therapists who have read the palms and cards of stars from Hollywood to Bollywood! Mystic Sisters was founded by sisters Mellissa & Jayshree Mallaya 20 years ago. Their accuracy in readings have profiled them in magazines, newspapers, television and on radio shows. They’ve even been reviewed and featured in Cosmo Magazine! Based in South Africa, Durban and England, London they are available for Skype, telephone and 1:1 consultations.

Phone +44 772074809 Facebook

Email Mellissa Email Jayshree

I think the sparkle has been hidden in your relationship. After baby comes along, I think a small intimate union, uniting all of you as a family is important as it would give you a great degree of peace of mind! Lots of Mystical Love xx Dear Mellissa, I am trying to concieve and it is heartbreaking every month when i realise I have not. You did predict my first born but now after 3 years I am ready to have the second. Will I? Mrs N Darling, You say that you are ready to have a second child but looking at my cards, I hardly see you being ready at all. You might feel financially ready, but your body is a mass of stress! When did you last have a romantic time with your hubby with no other thought in the world??

Falling pregnant is like taking your car on a long journey. You need to be prepared, relaxed and have your motor in order. Peace and calm with the co driver. I do pick up a bit of anger towards him. His past infidelity is over nd you do need to let it go or let him go! Try yoga, deep breathing, eating healthy and maybe just having a bubble bath with a glass of wine every so often. You will have a second baby and await pics.

Dear Mystic Sisters, I truly feel so stuck. I have lots going on for me right now, a loving husband, fantastic job and recently paid off my parents for my uni fees. The issue is I feel so truly down. I cannot explain why I feel this way. My husband says I nag and complain too much. It's just that everything and everyone annoys me right now. My husbands sister for example. She is a do Gooder and her energy frustrates me. Plus she always manages to pull off her wardrobe so well. I try to make everyone happy. It does not seem to be working. I have been feeling like this or the past 2 years and am so afraid that I will be stuck in a rut! What advice do you have for me? Where am I heading? Sam Oh dear! Heading to disaster if you keep strapped in on your train of irritation. According to my cards gorgeous, there is no real disaster heading your way. The only disaster is the one you are building up in your marriage between your husband and yourself. Let me be blunt. Â You are successful.

Wear your success with a designer bag. Not a nag bag! Your incessant complaining, nagging and comparing yourself to everyone around you is becoming tedious....even to you! If you are feeling frustrated and drained by this emotional bad habit that you have adopted, can you imagine the people around you? Your life does not need to stay in this vein. You have so many things going for you that other women would kill and have literally

With Clients From Hollywood to Bollywood and Rated For Accuracy By Cosmo Magazine!

killed for! Focus! You are witty, but recently bordering on being sarcastic.

How would you feel if hubby or your friends had that tone with you....daily???!

Reaching the 1 million mile mark in life starts with 1 step. Will you start the first step begrudging yourself or motivating yourself. Habits are formed when we repeat a thought or action consecutively. Breaking a habit does not always seem possible. We sit with that thought as an additional added problem. How do I kick that habit? How do I change? Will I ever be able to?

Why can't I? STOP! By adding these extra thoughts to your day, you are reprimanding yourself and taking away your unique power of being able to succeed. You are filling your self with that frustration and angst. No one likes to feel second best. But why should you. Your husband and family love you. But to be fair, they are finding you to be a slight pain in the bum.

Take up a hobby. Find a way to awaken your soul and make your heart feel alive. When last did your soul dance? If you struggle to tune into your heart and soul and feed it all the excitement, appreciation, love and laughter, it is going to be almost impossible for anyone else to achieve that. It's natural every now and  again to feel slightly disconnected from reality. Sometimes we give our self so many options at once that we feel overwhelmed just by thoughts. These thoughts, like a seed blossom and bloom inside of us.Plant your seed of love for life back within you. Good luck!

For psychic love advice, readers are asked to write in to Mystic Sisters as the subject line to: content@hattrickmagazine.com Please note that we will run your signed name as indicated in your closing.

Mystic Sisters

Learning Stories Different worlds

by Sukh Pabial Careers Editor A while back I opened up the blog for welcoming stories through different media which share a purpose and imperative for people to change. I called itLearning Stories, and the first submission is from Vera Woodhead.

This is a great story, and one I very much enjoyed reading. It made me question if I do these things, and what I know of myself. Thanks Vera. ***** Different worlds: from South America to not so sunny Yorkshire It is 6 am, Friday 15th June 1979. A young girl pushes back the mosquito net and energetically jumps out of bed. She is excited, as today she is going to spend her savings to buy… a book.

Books are important in her life. They unleash the imagination and transport her to different worlds – where people live in fancy houses, drive cars and wear beautiful clothes; where children have adventures and do such exciting things. In this tiny village in South America there is not much to do apart from listening to the world service, pop songs and climb trees.

She heads outside to the shower. Well actually it is a tin shack shared with 2 lizards, a frog and a bucket of cold water. There is no electricity and she finds her way around by the faint moonlight.

After breakfast, she searches for her shoes. She only wears them when she goes to school. She puts them on, grabs her bag, says goodbye and rushes off as she is late. Its quarter to 7 in the morning and the bus goes by at 7 am. She gets there just in time and manages to get a seat.

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30 minutes later she gets off and heads down the road towards the ferry. The water is choppy and the 15 minute journey to cross the mighty Demerara River is now a 30 minute one. She manages to get to school just in the nick of time as the bell goes at 8.30 am School is St. Stanislaus College. At the age of 7 she had decided that she didn’t want to go to the local village school. She wanted to go to THIS school where the diplomats, ambassadors and rich people sent their children. She persuaded her parents to let her sit the entrance exams to get a scholarship. Secretly, she believed that her parents thought that she would never make the grade and get in but she did.

Her year was the first intake of girls in what was an all boys’ school.

There was only 1 class in each year of this Catholic school which was run entirely by Jesuit Fathers.

She didn’t quite fit in… with the colour of her hair, her skin, her clothes and shoes….but she didn’t mind. It was a different world…and her teachers were like no other. Father Drake, the Maths teacher was feared as he was the one that did the caning. Father Rigby was a tall thin man who taught French. Her favourite was Father McClusky. As you have guessed, he was Scottish and portly: a bit like Robbie Coltrane’s Hagrid in Harry Potter. He opened up the world of poetry, of Shakespeare, Keats, Blake, Steinbeck, Hardy, Dickens….and suddenly her world expanded again. She got the role of Portia in the school play, recited poetry in the school competition, wrote short stories and even won a few competitions ….

She was good at running, though she didn’t have the right shoes but that didn’t stop her doing well at sprinting. She was no good at art, her paintings never made it on the wall. The rolling pin that she made in woodwork didn’t quite roll and her embroidery work only got her 2nd placed. Imagine being beaten by a boy, Brian, her classmate…oh she loved school.

But her world was soon to be shattered as riots and shooting ensued outside the school and later Father Drake was fatally stabbed.

Her parents decided that it wasn’t safe. They gathered up all their savings and sent her and her sister to live with a spinster aunt in England. Ilford, Essex to be precise. It was a different world. She had never seen houses like these: all in a row, neatly joined up and not to Page 67

never seen houses like these: all in a row, neatly joined up and not to mention, so cold.

School was Bancroft’s, 250 year old and was truly like something from Enid Blyton’s Mallory Towers. If she didn’t fit in the first school, she certainly didn’t fit in here. Language, culture, making friends, school work, the curriculum …were all a challenge but she took it in her stride.

At the end of the 2 years there and with no money left and a handful of qualifications she decided to train as a nurse – that way she could get a job, earn some money, live in student accommodation and move out of Mrs. Trunchbull’s (her nickname for her aunt) house. And so she worked her way up, studied hard and with each qualification gained her salary increased and career and life blossomed.

As you would have guessed that is an abridged version of my early life which has shaped who I am today.

You can’t do anything to change what has happened in the past but you can take control and create a different future for yourself.

My learning: 1. Be self aware Get to know the inner you – who you are, what your core values are, what you stand for …

Find out what your talents and strengths and use them. What are you good at? What can you spend ages doing? What do other people say you are good at? What do others ask you to do?

Align the inner You with the outer You. In the words of Mahatma Ghandi, “happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony”. Be in harmony.

2. Be a sponge Knowledge is powerful. The more you know the more you can use it to your advantage. Coupled with experience, knowledge and its application can help to progress your career, expand your worldview and grow your wisdom. Be open to learning and one of the best way of learning is through doing. You might not get it right first time, but making mistakes is all part of learning and building resilience.

Do something on a regular basis that stretches you and takes you out of comfort zone. It may be difficult, hard work, uncomfortable and perhaps even painful at times. But it is often from undertaking such acts and developing mental toughness that we grow progress and achieve our greatest accomplishments.

3. Be yourself In the words of Tigger, “the most wonderful thing about tiggers is I’m the only one.” There is only one you. Strive to be you only better. You are unique with your own set of talents and gifts.

When you realise that, you will stop comparing yourself to others – we are all different, with different skills, and talents.

Be proud of who you are and where you have come from. Don’t be a clone. Be an individual. Stand out from the crowd. Find opportunities where you can have a voice and put yourself forward when leadership opportunities present.

4. Be accountable When things go wrong, don’t blame others and your life. Accept responsibility for it, learn from it and move on. Get into the mentality of seeing hurdles and problems as a challenge. And when faced with them, ask, ‘what do I need to do to solve it, who can I go to for help, what have I done in the past that has worked, how can I use my strength to get through this? …’ You have it within you to find the solutions, Believe you can 5. Be connected It is our relationships with other people which form a network that supports us, make our lives meaningful, and ultimately enable us to survive. This is also good for our mental health and well being. Nurture your relationships and connections.

In your travels you will find people who will buy into you and your story and when they offer to help, seize it. When you need help, do not be afraid to ask for it. Seek out your friends, connections or find a mentor.

Connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter @verawoodhead

By Gina Hussar Resident Life Coach

Gina Living Well

Commitment Full disclosure. I’m kind of a commitment phobic. I have a really hard time saying “yes” to things because then I am expected to actually do them. That’s how it works right? And I definitely don’t want to be one of those people that posts on facebook about all of the amazing things they are planning to do only to crawl sheepishly into the corner when they STOP training for that marathon.

There is one particular practice that I have resisted with such fervor and determination you would think it had insulted me at a party or slept with my husband—meditation. I have read a boatload of personal development and wellness books and every single one sings the praises of quiet meditation. No really…Every. Single. One. I just didn’t get it. First of all, it felt like a waste of time. Why sit quietly with my eyes closed when there was perfectly insane reality TV to watch? It turns out that I also have three small children. We’re busy. When I think “meditation” I picture some holy, quiet woman sitting Indian style with a monk on a hill. She probably gave up coffee and sugar ages ago and never says the F word. That’s just never going to be me. I’m Italian.

There’s nothing quiet about me. It’s not like I didn’t try.

I bought the book Meditation for Dummies. It suggested all kinds of different methods for beginners. There was the counting method to clear your head. There was the breathing method of course which just reminded me too much of childbirth. (This is supposed to relax me, not produce post traumatic stress symptoms.) And then there were the projection methods that involved picturing an apple, picturing a movie screen etc. None of it worked. I have no attention span and was bored out of my mind. I gave up. Fast forward a few years and a third kid later and I dragged out the candles again. I decided this time to “become one with nature” and headed outdoors for my meditation time. Here’s how it went: “Ok. I’m sitting. I am sitting in the grass. What if a bug crawls on me? Am I allowed to smack it? Focus. Breathe. What is that noise? Who in the hell cuts their grass at 6:30am? Focus Gina.

Breathe… I smell bacon. I wonder who’s making that? I should have eaten first. Jesus I can’t focus at all. I suck at this. Ok try again. Breathing in and breathing out…. MOOOOOOM!!!”

And that was it. The past year, however, something shifted. Life happened. My third child was born. I dissolved one of my businesses. I felt overwhelmed. Lost. I bought more books and of course at least once in each of them the subject of meditation came up. If you do the research, which I begrudgingly did, it turns out that pretty much every important person in history who contributed anything of value to the human race practiced some form of meditation. (Sigh.) I couldn’t put it off any longer. There were things in my life that I was looking to change and this was the one thing that I hadn’t tried. I mean hell if it was good enough for the Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra and Russell Brand, maybe it would be good enough for me.

A friend of mine who I consider to be quite enlightened (and who also happens to be a millionaire) meditates regularly. She advised me to start slowly, committing to just two minutes, twice a day. You might think that sounds entirely doable, but if you’re a mom you know that peeing alone is a feat of Olympic proportions, so four uninterrupted minutes are hard to come by. As a coach, I know this is an excuse. If a client said these things to me I would call it “resistance.” For myself, however, it’s perfectly justifiable right? Wrong. I set my alarm to ring a bit earlier and start with two minutes. I close my eyes for a bit, check the clock once to see if I can quit. The next day I up it to three minutes.

Something shifts. I feel really relaxed when I open my eyes. I feel like there isn’t anything that can rattle me; not the morning rush before school, not traffic or a fussy baby. I am super calm. Calm is a foreign feeling to me at this point. I continue to up it one minute each day that week. By Friday night as I am sitting at dinner with friends, sipping my wine, I am keenly aware that something is different about me. I am judging no one. I am feeling something that I cannot put my finger on but it’s fantastic. I am at peace.

By the following week I am up to ten minutes and I suddenly find myself wishing for more. It is at this point that I stumble upon this video from Deepak Chopra. It’s a short, guided meditation. Deepak says, (and I’m paraphrasing) that many people mistake meditation as a practice that is meant to help you tune out, when in fact the beauty of the practice is to help you tune in. Meditation takes you to the space between your thoughts and that space is meant to be a portal to voice of the Infinite. It is in your quiet time that ideas will flow, that your perspective will shift. Take a look.

It’s not about chanting. It’s not about getting into (and holding) some perfect yoga pose that only 20 year olds who have never given birth are meant to get into. It’s about being still. It’s about shutting off the phone and just BEING. Listening. It is in this quiet time that you invite the voice of a higher power to speak to you, to guide, and to fill you with peace and healing. And guess what? It works.

There are people who have reported incredible transcendental experiences during meditation, almost like lucid dreams. There are folks who say that some of the greatest inventions and masterpieces of our time were shown to their creators during deep meditation.

I didn’t have anything trippy like that. I didn’t see an image of the next great invention. I didn’t get the formula for the next breakthrough cure.

What I did get was a new level of peace, a new space for hope, a new feeling of being one with a higher power, and 90% of this article. Hey… it’s a start. I’ll take it. ;).

Gina Hussar is a motivational coach specializing in helping women to find peace, purpose and power. New site is launching soon, in the meantime please email to gchussar@live.com or follow on twitter @GinaHussar.

Life, Without Map Or Parachute

by Cherie Brooks DeBurger Opinion Columnist

2 Failed Birth Control Ask anyone and they will tell you the world is now faster and more furious than ever. The World Wide Web has enabled the human race to advance in all areas of life. This technology makes it a synch to solve problems and answer questions that in previous times we would have forced us to spend hours in the library flipping through index cards organized by the Dewey Decimal System. We basically have the world and everything in it, at our fingertips whether we like it or not.

When it comes to our children we try to monitor and limit the type and amount of access they have when it comes to the information highway. Unfortunately, with the availability of all the technology, it would be easier to cut the lawn with nail scissors then keep them off the web.

Each child is different and mature at their own rate so I believe it is up to the parent to determine when their child is ready to be educated about the "birds and bees".

My husband and I have been very open with my teenage daughter and have had many discussions, both uncomfortable and awkward but necessary, about drugs, peer pressure and sex. As every “talk� begins it takes only moments for the blush to come to her cheeks and the nervous little smile or giggle of embarrassment to escape her lips. Her protests or suggestions of talking later are all in vain so finally she gives in and fidgets while she listens, silently wishing for a magical hole to appear and swallow her up ending the torture that we are making her endure.

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WWW.BADGIRLBOUDOIR.COM Page 75

A Life Lived Well

When I was pregnant for my fifth, and what I hoped to be my final, child I had an epiphany. To a teenager a parent knows nothing or what we do know is old and out dated and there is no way we could ever understand what they are going through so why not put by the Cherie proof Brooks in the DeBurger pudding so to speak? What if instead of telling her about Opinion the possible Columnist outcome of unprotected sex I invite her into the delivery to witness the joy of birth. I think seeing things first hand, up close and personal would accomplish more than any conversation ever could.

The Pros Of Cancer

When I first presented the idea to her she reacted with sheer horror and disgust when she realized the parts of anatomy she would see before the Life doesn't come with instructio actual delivery. An angel appeared on my one shoulder and a little redmakes all t both good and bad.

What devil on my other as I let her ponder this. The told me to tell her in angel the road.

I have discovered that a she wouldn't be seeing anything while the devil told me to wait and let physically and emotionally. This maga her think about it, when I saw her experienced a full body shudder I each one w strengthen, inform and aid decided to let her off the hook before she began to dry heave.those I toldwomen her who attempt at helping she would be sitting safely up by my head, with no direct of Sometimes the against breastviews cancer. lau lower half of my body and as she contemplated this she started to warm In January of 2009 I hit a bump i up to the idea. bump and one that, until later, I would

diagnosed with a very aggressive brea was not contained and had sp As the due date approached every twinge ofcancer pain would bring her known the lump in my ar running to my side asking “Is it time?!” I don’t knowwhen if sheI found was more my family that even our d excited about the delivery or getting to skip aruns daythrough of school.

I prepared Webodily aren't fluids, bias; we have "enterta her as best I could telling her there would be blood, and father's andbemy mother's family most likely some screaming but that it was all normalfamily and to ovarian andthis even tongue cancer. expected. I hoped I was doing the right thing and that wouldn’t My prognosis was not good and backfire and scar the poor girl so badly that she stopped wanting and intense and even then no one was children of her own.

After wrapping my head around out how many women were struggling When the time came to head to the hospital had her eyes were a story of awide sister,with best friend, mo excitement and she bubbled with nervous giggles.

It was eight o'clock in disea battling the same life threatening the morning so not only did we all get a good nights sleep with but she was of us hav I figured so many going to get the entire day off of school which made whole at just the pros of the breast cancer and some situation better than she could have hoped for. journey.

When I was told that the biopsy Two hours later, with my daughter cementedwas to her only stool a mental situated vacation at thebut it was I realized that theI had first laugh w head of the bed, we were getting close to thewore finaloff act of the show. diagnoses I had always had quick deliveries and this being my fifth baby we gotten knew itmy hair cut an my hair go down the drain along with would happen fast. Since the labor progressed so quickly there was no Thatthe gotwords me thinking about all th time for pain medication. I began to cry and uttered that my chemo.

I had long thick hair down to daughter, to this day, says it was the weirdest thing she has ever heard shampoo and conditioner, haircuts an me say, "They won't give me my drugs! I want my drugs!" take a real vacation instead of just a m Fighting cancer gives you Page 76a type One thing you have in abundance is m

A Life Lived Well

I don't care how many children you have the actual point of expelling the child from your body is the most pain you will ever willfully endure especially with the lack of pain medication. So as I lay there, crushing my husbands hand, sweating, contorting by myCherie face into Brooks unrecognizable DeBurger expressions, screaming with each contractionOpinion and ready Columnist to ask someone to please just kill me I was told I could go ahead and push. After a few excruciating pushes my daughter was delivered into this world and into my arms.

The Pros Of Cancer

It was a magical moment made even more special by my oldest daughter being there. As the nurse took the baby to checkLife her doesn't over thecome attention with instructio quickly turned from me to the newest member of our family. both good and bad. What makes all t in the road.

I have discovered that a

As things calmed down I was anxious to speak with my daughter, evenThis maga physically and emotionally. though it was a mercifully quick delivery no child birthing experience strengthen, inform and aidiseach one w easy and I couldn’t wait to see how the eventattempt had affected her.those While my who at helping women husband was across the room talking to the against nurse I breast took the private cancer.

Sometimes lau moment to ask her what she thought of the wholeInexperience January of and 2009I Iwas hit a bump i totally floored by her response. “It wasn’t that bump bad,” andshe onesaid. that, This until from later, I would the girl who screamed when she got her earsdiagnosed pierced! with a very aggressive brea

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cancer was not contained and had sp known when I found the lump in my ar runs through my family that even our d We aren't bias; we have "enterta father's family and my mother's family ovarian and even tongue cancer.

My prognosis was not good and and intense and even then no one was After wrapping my head around out how many women were struggling had a story of a sister, best friend, mo battling the same life threatening disea I figured with so many of us hav at the pros of breast cancer and some journey.

When I was told that the biopsy was only a mental vacation but it was wore off I realized that the first laugh w diagnoses I had gotten my hair cut an my hair go down the drain along with That got me thinking about all th chemo. I had long thick hair down to shampoo and conditioner, haircuts an take a real vacation instead of just a m Fighting cancer gives you a type One thing you have in abundance is m

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Attitude of Gratitude

By Manuela Wahnon Columnist

Having A Bad Day?

This is dedicated to all the people that I know personally that endure the most awful daily pain ~ yet do so staunchly ~ and without qualm.

So long have they endured this, that they know no other way of living, than enduring the limited quality of life, that they personally have... (♥) Friends for whom something so basic as a visit to the bathroom becomes a mammoth hurdle, yet they consider themselves lucky, as they do not have a colostomy bag, or incontinent. (♥) Friends for whom drinking a cup of tea (which you or I do in a blink of an eye) is beyond them now, so cups have to be held up for them, in the region of their faces, then they take over and drink the tea unaided…

Yet even they know that the next downward spiralling moment along the slippery slope of their illness, is when that will no longer be possible, and tea will be fed to them in a child’s cup ..

MRSA meant a friend of mine who had gone into a local hospital with one problem came out minus a foot, but she felt it was a small price to pay to have it amputated, as otherwise she could have lost her whole leg. Still, this friend of mine is so upbeat and glamorous, a total inspiration to all around her, despite others looking on in sympathy, she is totally oblivious to it, safe in the knowledge that things could have been infinitely far worse. What a trouper. (♥) Being able to see the carer that is looking after you is not a blessing granted to everyone if their disease has now rendered them blind or visually impaired.

Frustration and stress is the overriding factor that they deal with but blindness is often brought on by something deeper, with a far greater list of worries, like diabetes. (♥) Diabetics, have their own cross to bear: something so indulgent and gloriously delicious as a cake biscuit or chocolate is a prohibited extravagance consigned to the distance recesses in your mind where the poison of sugar was yet not fully understood to you~ but by golly you are fully aware of it now~ robbed as you are of the beauty of sight.

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(♥) Friends who are profoundly deaf and do not have the normal every day joy of music or conversation or listening to the birds twittering away early in the mornings, ~ yet they consider themselves better off, than another friend of mine, that suffers with Tinnitus ~ intelligent and extremely wise ~ but confidential chats, are now things of the past, as he precedes all answers with ‘ sorry love this tinnitus is driving me crazy’

(♥) I have a number of close and very dear friends that have all manner of cancers in different parts of their bodies and I know of three so far, that have respiratory illnesses that they are dying slowly of, but they are grateful for the inhalers, despite the fact that all three of them are in wheelchairs, two of whom carry round strapped to their backs oxygen tanks~ so something as simple as exertion is a definite no no to them… (♥)Friends who have blood disorders for whom complete blood transfusion was the only remedy left to them, another one who after waiting in vain for a kidney transplant, finally was given one from his wife, only to then nearly lose his life anyway when infections set in whilst still in hospital..

One lady who has endured Angina, had triple heart by bass, 2 of her vertebrae are fused together, severely diabetic and yet constantly keeps going even though doing so, means she's out of breath, yet her smile and her joy for life never leaves her..

As I said to her, The Lord spared you, I think its because he has a plan for you and it is to spread joy no matter what cards you are dealt..

(♥) Friends for whom cancer remedies ~ chemo etc has left them profoundly so grateful for their lives that subsequent hearing loss, and in once case breast loss ~ was a tiny price to pay for the gift of their life…

(♥) Parents whose grief is a never ending hourly pain, that they endure.. because their child is lost to them, and lets not forget that to a mother, a child is a child, no matter how old they are … life goes on for everyone ~ but not for the woman that carried the child in her womb, and nursed it in her arms.. a gaping hole remains where love and life should be

(♥) Talented actor and musician friend of mine, who is renowned for his music and ability to play religious parts with such conviction, yet cruelly now afflicted with problems to his vocal chords, yet through it all has such a beautiful and exquisite sense of humour that it puts me to shame.

So if like me you were having a bad day, perhaps now you may not feel so bad about what ever it was that was troubling you.

Pregnancy doesn’t have to be any less

Fabulous Comfy Chic You (On A Dime)

With Lisa Wynter

Pregnancy Month 9 Hey, loves!! As my pregnancy wears on I'm definitely getting slower about updating you all on the blog so be sure to follow me on instagram and my facebook fan page for the latest and greatest about your preggo Dime.

Now, without further ado I bring you more pics of my heavy self as I'm four weeks shy of becoming a mommy!!

I'm still trying to keep it cute and plan to do so right up until I deliver! Holler if you hear me fellow preggos.

Dress: Forever21 Flats: Charlotte Russe Jewelry: Aldos Cluth: Asos.com Jacket: Zara Jewelry: Aldos Flats: Charlotte Russe Page 81

by Sorelle Amore Columnist

Click Here & Follow MY Website!

Permission to Love Are you giving yourself permission to love? Are you truly allowing yourself to love the most important person in your life, who is with you through thick and thin…that person being you?

Firstly, let us define love… Love is the appreciation for exactly what is, as is. Embracing the 'positives' and 'negatives'. Think of the love you have for your closest family and friends. It's unconditional. No matter their flaws, you still love them to bits.

But what about yourself?

Why is it that there are so many conditions we put upon ourselves in order to say we love ourselves? Only when I lose some extra pounds. Only when I finally get that man that will prove I'm worthy.

Only when I color my hair, change my wardrobe, change my attitude… On and on and on it goes.

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Perhaps the person you are with 24/7 deserves to be cut a little bit of slack and finally appreciated for how amazing they are.

The fact that they carry you around every day. The fact that they listen to your endless whinging thoughts daily. The fact that you abuse them mentally and emotionally on a regular basis. Self love should not even be an option.

The more you love yourself as you are, the more you will be able to love those around you. You'll create stronger relationships with yourself and with the ones closest to you.

So let's start today. Go to the mirror right now, look yourself up and down and spend at least 2-5 minutes admiring the perfection of the body, mind and soul that is always there for you. It finally deserves it.

As always, the action happens below; leave a comment on my blog "Are you giving yourself permission to love?". The PUP Community thrives in the comments and it's a GREAT place to get support! Love always, Sorelle

If you enjoyed the article 'Are you giving yourself permission to love'‌ Connect with me on Facebook!

Click here to connect with me on FB

Marina

Confessions of A Hollywood

Stylist

By: Marina BerBeryan

Page 84 MarinaBerBeryan.com

Fan Love!

A very special “Thank You” to all my readers.

Looking forward to sharing even more confessions with you next month.

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Link

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Working with Sukh I’m available for consultancy and associate work in the field of learning and development and positive psychology. Read on for more details…

Learning and Development. My chosen career path for the last ten years, and I’m not stopping yet. Designing and developing solutions to make workplaces successful through the skills and abilities of their people is the core role of any L&Der. I take this seriously and am actively involved in being a key part of the continuing thoughts and developments in this field. I’ve done everything from interpersonal skills training to management training to leadership development to basic behavioural skills like time management. It’s all interesting, but importantly it’s about getting it right for the business. I’ve developed L&D strategies, been involved in culture change initiatives, delivered whole programmes, and more.

Raising self awareness. This is what I live and breathe. We can all learn about ways to influence and encourage others to do things, but until you learn about your own style and what this means for you, how can you expect to do the former? In learning about your strengths, and your weaknesses, you gain strength of mind and conviction that you have a clear path ahead of you. This is what I will help with, and I’m qualified in the MBTI and 16PF to help you.

Conversation. That’s what I help to enable. I’m a collaborator, facilitator, and interested in the challenges you’re facing. Through bringing people together, ensuring the right conversation is taking place, and bringing to front of mind better ways of working with others, I want to be part of making it happen.

Making things happen. That’s what I enjoy too. People can achieve great things, either on their own or with the collaboration of people around them. I will use what I know to help you make things happen. There are good ways of achieving your goals and ambitions, and there are bad ways. The good ways mean you enjoy the work you do, you have a reason to be motivated, and the output you produce will be better. The bad ways mean none of that happens, and generally things are very selfish. I’m in the camp for doing things the right way.

I can be contacted for consultancy and associate work on any of the above. Have a look at the About Sukh page for contact details.

Sukh Pabial is a learning and development professional and if you like what he says, he writes a regular blog.

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by: Joseph D. Phillips Business Editor

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A Bit Quackers

Q: Why does Bill Clinton wear boxers?

A: To keep his ankles warm.

Submit your jokes to Content@HatTrickMagazine.com

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To Do Book T ra Tickets in Pen re fill Cat Fo s od

Charlotte

Katie

Have Your Say! Write to the Editor or any of our writers on content@HatTrickMagazine.com We are also seeking writers on the subject on books for Kindle and additional writers who can provide business, marketing and technical tips. Email us for more information.

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INE

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SHOWCASE Cake & Bake Show Cake Catwalk

FEATURE Edible Vincent Van Gogh Art

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Mary Berry Paul Hollywood ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 - ÂŁ3

The Cookie Edition

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

London Cake International Award winning cakes

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Cookie Special

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ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

Contents Cookie Special 5 Marelle - De Koekenbakkers 8 Elizabeth - Arty Magoo 13 Julia Usher - Recipes for a Sweet Life 17 Marian - Sweetopia 20 Joanna - The Biscuit Box 24 Melissa - The Baked Equation 28 Kim - Sugar Rush Custom Cookies 31 Tracy - Whisked Away Cookies 34 Hannah - Made With Love By Me Recipes 18 Sugar Vanilla Cookies 37 Royal Icing 46 Orange Vanilla Spice Cookies Tutorial 58 Cookie Box Tutorial from SweetAmbs Interviews 47 Couture Cakes By Rose 64 EXCLUSIVE: Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood 71 Peggy Does Cake Features 38 Travel - Taste - Try 42 Baking Wish List 44 50 Star Bakers Collaboration 69 VIP Cake International Experience Shows 50 Cake Cat Walk - Cake & Bake Show 74 Cake International

Welcome to our long awaited June issue, and boy is it bursting at the seams!

We have a special Cookie Edition, with interviews and a showcase of cookies from contributors across the globe.

We hope that you are blown away by the skill that is transferred onto various shaped sugar cookies- I certainly was! A big thanks to the 10 cookie contributors for featuring in this issue, especially Amber from SweetAmbs who let us include her fantastic cookie box tutorial.

We also have the mother of all interviews - Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry. I was lucky enough to interview them at Cake International London, and we have a Cake Masters exclusive with them.

Next, thanks to Rose and Peggy for sharing their baking journeys with us, of which you can read more about in their interviews.

Last, and by no means least, we have a round up of Cake Catwalk at the Cake & Bake Show (Manchester) and a showcase of some of the award winning cakes at Cake International (London).

I just wanted to say a special thanks to Jen from Jen’s Just Desserts, for taking fantastic pictures at Cake International.

Manchester Cake and Bake Show Cake on the Catwalk

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I really hope you enjoy our Cookie Edition, as always I would love to hear any feedback from you.

Rosie x

Editor

Editor editor@cakemasters.co.uk Content editor@cakemasters.co.uk Advertisement magazine@cakemasters.co.uk Product features: magazine@cakemasters.co.uk Class directory: magazine@cakemasters.co.uk Front cover designed for the cookie edition of Cake Masters Magazine by The Biscuit Box

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 Produced by De Koekenbakkers

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Cookie special

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

Meet MarĂŤlle Author and designer of her own collection of cookie cutters, MarĂŤlle is a cookie super star from the Netherlands!

Q: Tell us about you and your family I am 38 years old and a mother of two children: my daughter Rosalie is 4 years old and my son Boudewijn is 3 years old. I live together with my husband and our children in a small village in the northern part of the Netherlands. I studied Business Economics and Marketing at the University of Groningen and graduated in 2000. Me and my husband owned a bar/restaurant/ catering service in the city of Groningen for 7 years. When I was pregnant with our first child in 2008, we sold our businesses and moved to the country. We travelled for a while and decided to take action to make our dreams come true. My husband started studying to be a professional photographer and I started my cookie baking business: De Koekenbakkers.

Q: What is your earliest memory of baking?

I baked my first apple pie on the 13th October 1983 (with a little help from my mother) and I was so proud we drew a picture of it!

Q: What is your baking story, how did you get into baking?

I always loved to bake as a child but only discovered cake decoration online 5 years ago (in 2008). I was pregnant and a little bored and was searching for a hobby. I ordered some books on cake decorating and decided I wanted to have a go myself.

I started with cakes and cupcakes but soon discovered cookies and fell in love with the endless possibilities for decorating them and working with royal icing.

Continued >

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

Meet Elizabeth The genius behind Arty Magoo, Elizabeth is a hobby cookier, wannabe photographer, aspiring food network star, addicted to her oven!

Q: Tell us about you and your family I've been baking for 15 years, and decorating cookies for 2 years.

I am married to the amazing Mr. John and we have 3 delicious children who are 7, 9, and 11 years old.

I love the creativity of baking, because while we all use the same medium, our masterpieces are so varied and BEAUTIFUL! I am constantly in awe of the artistry and what people can do with sugar. Don't be scared to try new things.

Q: What is your earliest memory of baking?

My mom was constantly baking.

Since there were eight in our family there was always a bake sale or a party and I have very early memories

of helping measure and mix. My fist solo baking efforts started when I was about 12 and I baked a cake every Sunday for dessert.

Q: What is your baking story, how did you get into baking?

I am a do-it-yourself kind of gal. 2 years ago I was throwing one of my daughters a birthday party and I decided I wanted to make and decorate cookies as the take home favour. I had a simple cookie decorating pamphlet that came with a set of tips and I got to work! I soon found out EVERY occasion calls for cookies!

Continued >

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

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ŠKaren Forsythe

PREVIEW VERSION

Julia Usher

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Engineer turned business consultant, turned pastry chef, Julia is now a successful author and food stylist

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

Q: Tell us about yourself I am an engineer-turned-business consultant-turned -pastry chef, and I divide my time between St. Louis, Missouri and Stonington, Maine with Bryan, my husband of 17 years. (I’ve known him since I was 19, and he is my best friend and biggest supporter.

Nothing I do would be possible without his calming influence and gentle guidance.)

I’ve always had a huge sweet tooth and a fascination for lavishly decorated sweets and tabletops, but I only relatively recently (1996) parlayed this passion into my career. I currently work as a freelance food writer and food stylist with a focus on desserts and party design, and writing/styling my own books on these subjects. In the last two years, I’ve published two cookie books, Cookie Swap: Creative Treats to Share Throughout the Year and Julia M. Usher’s Ultimate Cookies, as well as a 16-video webTV cookie decorating course called Julia M. Usher’s Ultimate Cookie Decorating Series. I’m currently at work on a third book and series of TV show treatments on the subject of sweets.

There are few things in life more satisfying to me than watching people’s eyes light up when they see a remarkable dessert, and hearing their oohs and ahhs as they bite into one. I love creating one-of-a-kind ahha moments for my readers and guests – basically visual and taste experiences that they’re unlikely to have encountered anywhere else.

Q: What is your earliest memory of baking?

My mom taught me the importance of shared time in the kitchen nearly as soon as I could stand on a stool to reach the countertops. She was an ardent proponent of everything made from scratch, which meant that much of our time together revolved around baking and cooking. As early as I can remember, I was working alongside her. Whether it was gathering eggs from our backyard chickens, picking red currants or blackberries from our untamed bushes, or turning these ingredients into cakes, cookies or jams and jellies, she showed me her various tricks. She also introduced me and my siblings to the fun and beauty of decorated cookies. In anticipation of the many neighborhood gatherings

that were part of our annual holiday festivities, we’d gather for a week or more in the kitchen for collaborative (and sometimes competitive) sugar cookie and gingerbread decorating!

Admittedly, my mom enjoyed decorating the house and making tablescapes more than she did cookies or other desserts, so by the age of 8 or 9, I had turned to books and cooking classes to advance my decorating skills. One of my specialties of that era was a leavened stollen decorated with hand-cut flowers and leaves, arranged into a wreath. I think it’s fair to say that a love of decorating was hardwired into my DNA! Continued >

Julia baking with her mom and sister

©Julia M. Usher, 2012

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

Meet Marian Queen of cookie tutorials, culinary arts teacher Marian is the face behind the excellent blog Sweetopia

Q: Tell us about you and your family It's funny, I never imagined myself as (becoming) a part-time blogger and full-time Culinary Arts teacher.

Although I grew up in a food focused family (my father is a chef and taught Culinary Arts at George Brown College for 28 years), and my mother is an excellent cook and always made sure we had healthy, home-made meals, I didn't really become interested in cooking until shortly after University, and in baking even later. Continued >

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

WINNER OF THE CAKE MASTERS COOKIE COVER COMPETITION DESIGNED BY THE BISCUIT BOX

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

Meet Joanna

Winner of best cookie cover design for Cake Masters magazine, based in the beautiful island of Guernsey

Q: Tell us about you and your family I still live with my parents and my Mum is my chief baker, Dad is the post boy and Nana is the washer upper!! We live in the beautiful island of Guernsey, where I was born. My other hobby is cheerleading, I competed at National level for 4 years and also represented the UK at the world championships in Florida.

Q: What is your earliest memory of baking?

I remember making fairy cakes with my Mum and Grandma in her kitchen, but they turned out to be horrible,

even though they are both really good bakers; maybe that's why I stick to cookies!!

Q: What is your baking story, how did you get into baking?

I graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in graphic design, but when I returned to the island looking for work in advertising I was told I needed more experience; but no one would give it to me. I ended up temping, but it was not what I had wanted to do, so I decided to combine my love for baking with my creativity and so The Biscuit Box was born!

Continued >

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

Meet Melissa

It started with a charity bake sale which turned into an obsession to learn the art of the perfectly decorated cookie

Q: Tell us about you and your family I am married to my best friend. I think as a baker you have to have a supportive husband and I am proud to say I do! I am so lucky. He encourages me all the time in my venture and he definitely enjoys taste testing. We have one son named Jude. His biggest complaint about bakers is that we are never happy with our work. I am trying to work on not being so critical of my creations.

We all need to remember, even though it has become an art form, it is still a cookie or a cake at the end of the day. I have learned that while I might see all the flaws, my customer’s do not see them at all. Lastly, is our “African” son Permina, who is a like a big brother to Jude. He is our partner working on our farm in Africa.

The last member of our family is named Athens. She is beautiful Doberman with the sweetest personality.

Q: What is your earliest baking memory?

My earliest memories of baking are with my mom in the kitchen. Every Christmas and Easter my mom would make sugar cookies and we would decorate them with buttercream. She would have little bowls of jelly beans, red hots and sprinkles for decorations. There are always happy memories when it comes to baking.

Q: What is your baking story?

I started off baking brownies and cupcakes to raise money for my husband’s charity, Micah 6:8 Sudan. I had no intentions of ever making “crazy” decorated cookies. I would have never even dreamed I had the skills to make them.

A client of mine begged me to make her decorated cookies, and I caved.

How can you say no to someone who orders brownies from you every week? The first time I made decorated cookies it was a disaster. It became a passion, oh let’s be honest, an obsession to figure out how to make these cookies. One thing I learned is that there is nothing “simple” about a decorated cookie.

Making custom cookies has become one of the best ways to raise money for our charity, Micah 6:8 Sudan. We seek to help train Sudanese men and women in sustainable agriculture.

One of the greatest problems that plague many countries in Africa today is that we attempt to solve their economic problems through aid. Aid helps temporarily relieve the suffering, but it does nothing to help the long-term problems.

We are teaching men and women to stand in line for food instead of truly giving

them what they need; the training and education of how to work with the amazing resources they have in Southern Sudan.

Q: Why cookies and not cake?

I actually make cakes, cookies and cupcakes. I have really come to love to not only bake artisan cookie flavors but I love creating beautiful cookie sets. One of the things I love most about cookies is that if you make a mistake, it is not the end of the world. What do I mean by end of the world? It does not always take forever to recreate a cookie. In fact many times you can take a knife and scrape off the icing. But a cake can be a very costly item to mess up. If I mess up my vanilla cake that takes 16 organic egg whites that is very costly.

Cookie delivery versus cake delivery is much less stressful.

Continued >

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

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ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

Meet Kim

Artist, cookie extraordinaire and master of the hand painted cookie!

Q: Tell us about you and your family Born and raised north of Toronto, Ontario Canada, my husband and I home school four children, and enjoy all that country living has to offer.

Health and wellness are a priority and we spend a lot of our free time hiking, biking, skiing, and swimming.

My days are jam packed so I work on most of my cookies in the evening hours.

Q: What is your earliest memory of baking?

When I was a child, my love for baking started with my very first Easy Bake Oven. Some of the sweetest memories of baking come from my Nana's kitchen where she would make her famous chocolate chip cookies. I couldn't wait to be the official taste tester!

Q: What is your baking story, how did you get into baking?

My husband has been off work because of a car accident in 2009. At that time I picked up a few cookie decorating books and began playing

around in my own kitchen creating cookies for friends and family. It started as a stress relief and then kind of grew into something more.

Why cookies and not cake?

I consider myself more of an artist than a baker, and since I am not a big fan of sweets and cakes I naturally gravitated to working with cookies. I find that royal icing makes a wonderful canvas and I am not sure if I could achieve the same effect working with cake. Many clients have displayed their cookies because they Continued >

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COOKIE SPECIAL

Meet Tracy Whisked Away Cookies

Tracy started making cookies for her family and friends and now creates beautiful cookie designs for celebrations and special events Q: Tell us about you and your family Most of my childhood was spent in California where I later studied Graphic Design and Photojournlism at university. Directly after graduating, I spent the summer working in London and backpacked through Europe with the goal to see my favorite pieces of art. Upon returning to California, I met a young man, Dixon, who turned my life upside down. We married, beginning our somewhat nomadic

life. He is a U.S. Naval Officer specializing in submarines and I just calculated that I have moved my whisk twelve times since joining this ‘Life of Adventure’, as he likes to call it. We are now in Virginia with our two children, Bryson, 17, who is very involved with Scouting and Robotics and Alexandra, 14, who enjoys art, soccer/football (depending upon which side of the pond you are on), music and has a talent for cake decorating that I wish that I had.

Q: What is your earliest memory of baking?

As mentioned, I did not grow up baking, but do recall one particular baking occasion. My father, who had been a Chemistry professor, is an incredible gardener, testing the soil and creating the perfect balance for wondrous produce. When I was 13 14 years old, he planted pumpkins and thanks to his very green thumb, my mother and I together baked over 30 pumpkin pies as a result. My first Continued >

Meet Hannah

Hannah is the baker and artist behind the blog Made With Love by Me. Not only does she produce exceptional cookies, her cakes are also fantastic!

Q: Tell us about you and your family One hubby, one gorgeous little boy and one on the way!

Q: What is your earliest memory of baking?

My earliest memory was baking cakes every weekend with my Mum, nothing was shop bought, everything had to be home-made and there ALWAYS had to be cake around.

Q: What is your baking story, how did you get into baking?

I started baking and decorating as a

way of dealing with personal grief, very quickly developed into an obsession, passion and love whilst on maternity leave and I am now working on building a small, part-time business.

Q: How did you come up with your business name?

It's a very silly name that I came up with for a blog that was just for me

Q: Why your obsession with cookies and not cake?

They are different. Cookies work more as a traditional art canvas and as any canvas they are incredibly versatile.

details as well as other

Check our website for class

Continued >

awesome cake classes we have lined up this year.

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 FEATURE

PREVIEW VERSION Buy the full 84 page version from www.cakemasters.co.uk

Travel ~ Taste ~ Try Jennifer is an ex-pat Californian foodie now based in the UK and genius behind successful blog Jen’s Just Desserts. Jennifer is a regular reviewer of the best baking establishments around the world and on this occasion we are off to France with her!

“I happened to come across this little gem of a cafe in the Musée Jacquemart-André. The Musée Jacquemart-André is a public museum in Paris created from the private home of Édouard André (1833–1894) and Nélie Jacquemart (1841-1912) to display the art they collected during their lives.

This is 'just around the corner' from the the Ladureé on Champs Elysees. Sorry, you'll have to look it up on a map because I am directionally impaired and I literally was just strolling around the area when I found this gem. I didn't have time to stop and indulge in afternoon tea there, but I am going to definitely make the time next time I'm in town. Imagine having afternoon tea in this gorgeous, historic site. OOH and check out the treats they had on offer. Even if you don't stop for afternoon tea here, the museum is worth a visit and worthwhile photographing for its sheer beauty!”

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 WISH LIST

Baking Wish List Diamante Illusion Mesh Add sparkle to your cakes The Hand Cra3ed Card Company From £0.55 per metre

Sanderson Fifi by Portmeirion Set of 6 dainty cake forks Millys Kitchen Store £13.60

Vintage kitchen scales in Cream from Typhoon

Swarovski £39

The Contemporary Cake Decora;ng Bible

by Lindy Smith Amazon £12.97

Hobbycra3 £39.99

Vintage Floral set of 3 Cake Tins Storage with style at a bargain price Dunelm Mill £4.99

House on the Hill bouquet ribbon border mould Perfect for cookies and cupcakes Babycakes & Roses Cakecra3 £35

KitchencraL Metal Scoop Perfect for geMng the same amount of baNer for cupcakes Windsor Cake Cra3 £5.99

Nielsen Massey Vanilla Bean Paste For the best vanilla flavour Sainsbury’s £6.99

CupcakeArt Mat -­‐ Dakini Gorgeous designs perfect for cupcake domes Carina’s Cupcakes £20

Silicone chocolate spoon mould Lakeland £2.99

Light Rose Crystal Swarovski Cupcake Charm

Wilton 7 Piece Deluxe Brush Set Must have for pain;ng on cakes Hobbycra3 £7.99

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 WISH LIST

Apron available with matching kitchen accessories Ableys £12.50

John Lewis Polly's Pantry Measuring Cups John Lewis £16

Dr Oetker Silver Shimmer Spray For the perfect metallic finish Asda £3.37

Set of 12 Fork Candles No need for cutlery! dotcomgi3shop £6.95

Wilton 2D Nozzle For the best rose swirls Lakeland £2.99

Wilton Bake Even Strips The really do work!

The Cake DecoraTng Company £8.99

Set of 9 Oval cookie cuNers Perfect for sugarpaste too The Sugar Shack £21.49

I Love Baking Charm Necklace Etsy £10.59

JEM set of 6 Daisy Centre Stamps Excellent detail for flowers Lindys Cakes £5

Macaron Mat For perfect circles siliconemoulds.com £13.00

Jade Green Sugarpaste New colours from Renshaw Planet Bake £2.75

Cupcakes 2013-­‐2014 Mid Year Diary gostaTonery.net £7.50

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 FEATURE

50 star bakers

The Starry Night Edible Art Collaboration Project features 50 bakers across four continents; each with their own unique skill sets, backgrounds, and experiences. The focus of this project thought up by Alyssa Hall from Cuteology Cakes was to support cake artists and homebakers around the world.

Cake Masters exclusively interviewed Alyssa to find out more about the collaboration.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself I am a self-taught cake decorator that lives in Scottsdale, AZ. I have been decorating cakes for about 3 years now. My company, Cuteology Cakes, is a home-based bakery that specializes in custom cakes, cupcakes, cake-ups, cake pops and cuties. I enjoy the challenge that each new order brings, and I try to never re-create the same cake twice.

I am honored to have worked alongside of so many of the cake decorators that I look up to and admire.

Q: Tell us more about the project Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night was divided into a grid of 50 equal parts, which were then randomly assigned to the participating bakers. Each baker was able to re-imagine their section in whatever medium and style they wanted. Each unique piece was then placed in the grid to recreate Starry Night with edible art.

Q: How did you come up with the idea?

I have been so blessed to interact with a variety of fellow bakers online.

I dreamed of one day working with

each of them. Being spread out among four different continents makes that nearly impossible. So I started to think of ways to collaborate with them, without having to be physically in the same place. That is how The Starry Night Edible Art Collaboration Project was born.

Q: How did you choose the 50 participants?

Once I had refined the idea, I started to share it with several baking friends. The response was overwhelming. Before I knew it, they

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 FEATURE

Q: How did you allocate each section of the painting?

Each of the 50 pieces on the grid was assigned a number. I randomly drew those numbers to assign to each baker. This was the most efficient way to decide which person

was re-creating each piece.

Q: Will you be working on any future projects?

This has been such a positive and wonderful experience, so I hope that there will be many other collaborations in the future. There are no set plans as of right now, but I do hope that other groups of bakers will become inspired to collaborate with one another.

Projects like this help our baking community come together and support one another, which is so important

Alyssa Hall - Cuteology Cakes

Starry Night Art collaboration

had told friends, who had told friends, and we had 50 talented bakers willing to give this idea a shot. I was truly humbled by the immediate and passionate response of these 50 bakers; some of whom I had never had to chance to interact with prior to this project.

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 INTERVIEW

Couture Cakes by Rose An interview with Rose de Guzman-Warnick In the business of cake for ONLY the last 22 months, Rose not only creates stunning cakes but has her own silicone moulds business too Q: Tell us about you and your family: I am a Filipino expat who currently lives in Rock Hill, USA. I moved here back in 2005 as a travel nurse. Prior to moving here, I lived and worked in Northern Ireland for 1 year and in England for 3 years. I love all those years I spent living in the UK and I firmly believe that my decorating style is highly influenced by the rich culture of the UK. I initially had plans of travelling all over the United States but meeting the love of my life-Jon, ended my wanderlust, we are both blessed with 2 beautiful daughters, Darrose and Madeleine.

Q: What is your baking story, how did you get into baking?

The birth of Madeleine almost 6 years ago had me thinking, "I want to make a birthday cake for my baby", but it wasn't until she was about to turn 4 years old that my plans actually materialised. The year prior to her fourth birthday, I was Facebook stalking a college friend who loves to bake, Shine of Mrs. Sunshine's Cakes. One day, she created this beautiful "shoe cake" that made me go "WOW". Looking at that cake, I kept saying to myself "such a beautiful cake, I want to make one just like that too." Looking back, it was "that shoe cake" and Shine who ultimately inspired me to make my very first decorated cake.

Just 2 weeks before Madeleine's 4th birthday, I was browsing the cake aisle at Michael's when my eyes caught a little bottle of electric green food coloring. I remember thinking how beautiful that color would look on a Tinkerbell themed cake. I bought the electric green food coloring, went home and started "googling" and 'you-tubing" "how to make a fondant cake". The resources I found online was vast but being an inexperienced baker, I didn't know which tool is essential and which is not so I spent $200.00 plus buying what I thought was essential to make that 4th birthday cake for my Madeleine. I also dreamed of making a three tier cake using boxed cake mix, canned icing and Wilton fondant. If I say I bit more than I could chew at that time, would you all say "Yes"? That's exactly what happened. I saw a youtube video showing how to cover a cake with fondant and I thought "easy peasy, I can do that". Little did I know it is easier said than done. What was to be a three tier birthday cake turned into a two tier cake with each tier about two inches high. I now laugh at the thought of that cake, but that's the cake that got me addicted into cake decorating. Fast forward to 22 months later and that cake is still my favorite cake, the one that will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Q: Tell us about your business: When I first started caking, I was always drawn into the rich history and architectural designs of Europe, but I instantly realised that I was one of those "piping handicapped" cakers.

Believe it or not, I can't even pipe a decent scroll. It's like having two left hands! My quest on how to prettify my creations without the much coveted piping skills led me to discover silicone moulds, but I was heartbroken when I realised how expensive these silicone moulds can be. Before long, I was looking into creating my own silicone moulds to use solely on my cakes. When fellow cakers expressed their desire to purchase my handmade silicone moulds, I opened my Etsy shop and I have to say it is one of my best ventures to date yet. The cakes I make are almost always accented with my very own handmade moulds.

Continued >

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 FEATURE

Cake & Bake Show - Manchester 2013

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 CAKE & BAKE SHOW - MANCHESTER 2013

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ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 TUTORIAL

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Cookie Box Tutorial

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Bread god and baking legend...

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

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ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COMPETITION WINNER

Calli Hopper Callicious Cakes Professional Winner Cake Masters Fairytale Competition

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ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 COMPETITION WINNER

The VIP Experience at Cake International London 2013

Calli from Callicious Cakes was the Cake Masters Professional Category winner for the Fairytale Competition Where does one start to recall the magical day I had as a VIP at Cake International?

I guess it was on the Saturday morning when, donning the purple ribbons holding our VIP tickets, my husband and I set off on a weekend cake adventure.

On walking into the Excel Centre I was presented with a program and ushered through to the VIP lounge.

What a treat to go to the front of the queue (it felt good to queue jump and be allowed to get away with it) and walk straight into the lounge, which was next to the demo area so could we watch the pros at work.

I met so many wonderful people on the day, but what made it really special for me was meeting so many of my Facebook page friends face-toface for the first time - that was such a treat! I was excited to meet the fabulous Rosie of Cake Masters, Jay of Just Jen’s Desserts, Isabel of Lets Bake Cake and Jenny of Coco Blossoms Chocolate and Cakes, Rosie of Rosie Cake-Diva, Dave of Dave’s All Occasion Cakes, Debbie of Debs Unique Cake Boutique, Dawn of Lemon Lilly’s and so many more. It was so much fun and I don’t think I stopped smiling all day.

My brief encounter with Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry was such an honour; I was completely starryeyed and at a loss for words. I asked Paul and Mary to sign my program for a partially sighted 8-year-old boy called Charlie who loves drawing cakes and has, in fact, designed a cake that he would like me to make for a Charity event. This project will kick off later this year.

I had front row seats in the demo area and what a delight it was to watch my two icons (Paul and Mary) banter and demonstrate their bakes and pastries. Paul made his flat bread filled with Stilton and grapes and Mary made a gorgeous Pear Tart.

Continued >

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 INTERVIEW

Peggy Does Cake An interview with Peggy Lee Peggy only started her cake journey in April 2010 and is a self taught hobbyist who creates beautiful cakes for friends and family Q: Tell us about you and your family: I’m married to Gary Lee, who happens to be the smartest, funniest, most beautiful person I’ve ever known. I absolutely adore him. We have a 15 year old daughter who is the light of our lives. She’s been a vegetarian since she was 12 and loves gourmet cooking. She cooks and I bake. Gary is the family taste tester!

Q: What is your earliest memory of baking?

My memories of baking go back to my maternal grandmother in the 70’s. She was fantastically talented in the kitchen when it came to ANYTHING that went into the oven or with any kind of dessert. She was making English puddings, French pastries, toffees, caramels, sausage rolls and pizzas back in the 1950’s when others in my hometown didn’t even know what those things were.

Today, we’ll find a recipe for something “new” and my mom will remind me that my Grandma Adams was making those fifty years ago! I have her original recipe box where she’s made notes on all her recipe cards swapping ingredients, changing amounts, adding things, crossing things out – always tweaking every recipe until it was her version of perfect. When I was a kid, she was doing things in the kitchen that no one else in our town could do.

Everyone loved her for it and hung out at her house. She threw the best parties and loved to entertain – and she was incredibly good at it. She was Pinterest in the flesh for my entire neighborhood 30 years ahead of her time! If you wanted to see something cool or clever or beautiful, she was your girl. I wish with all my heart she had lived to see one of my cakes.

Q: What is your baking story, how did you get into baking?

It was at the very young and delicate age of 43 that I saw a cake show on TV and mentioned to my husband, Gary, completely offhandedly that I “bet I could do that.” I had never decorated a cake in my life and had no reason to believe I could. To this day, I have no idea what possessed me to think that or say it.

But a couple months later, on my 44th birthday, he surprised me with a plethora of baking and cake-decorating gifts. I think he wrapped up something like 19 presents for me including a Wilton cake caddy full of

supplies, cake pans, rolling pins, decorator bags, offset spatulas, cooling racks, even food coloring and piping gel. It was incredible. He’d gone to a local supply shop and asked them to hook his wife up and they did! He didn’t even know what most of the stuff was (and neither did I)! I became obsessed with researching techniques on the internet and made my first cake a few weeks later for a company party at my day job. That was exactly 3 years ago, April of 2010. Six months later I started a Facebook page to network and share and learn and here we are!

Continued >

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 CAKE INTERNATIONAL - LONDON 2013

Cake International Special

A selection of some of the award winning cakes from Cake International – London 2013

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ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 CAKE INTERNATIONAL - LONDON 2013

ISSUE 9 JUNE 2013 CAKE INTERNATIONAL - LONDON 2013

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