Hfw springsummer spreadshires

Spring/Summer 2013

Eco-celebrity makeup artist

Karim Orange

5

Summer

Must Haves

When Worlds Collide:

Green & Glamorous How to Have Thriving Children: Parenting Advice from Author Erica Reid

Park it!

Make your local park your gym

Living the Decadent Life with Devin Alexander Biggest Loser Chef Shares How Food Can Be Both Delicious and Healthy

Saying NO to Conformity: Former Victoria Secret Model Kylie Bisutti Walks Away from Fame to Follow Her Faith hope for Women fall/winter 2012  1

2  hope for Women spring 2013

hope for Women fall/winter 2012  1

Editor’s Note

Spring/Summer 2013 • Relax, Relate, Release

Vol. 5 No. 3

Editor in Chief

Angelia L. White Managing Editor LaKeisha Rainey Collins Copy Editor(s) Tenita Johnson Nicole Metzler Fitness Editor Lisa Marie Metzler, CPT Art Director Kim Baker Contributors Chef Devin Alexander, Marie Cauley, Monique Farmer, Becky A. Davis, Sherrell Dorsey, Chandia Brennen, Brandie Gilliam, Kristen Hamilton, Kristi Baker, AIF®, ChFC, CLU, Marita L. Kinney, Matthew G. Newmann, MS in Kinesiology, ACSM-CPT, Lisa Marie Metzler CPT, Dr. Julie L. Stante, Rachel Cruze, Karen Taylor Bass, Jen Smedley

President & Chief Executive Officer Angelia L. White ceo@hopeforwomenmag.com Business Advisor Paul Wm Barrett paul@hopeforwomenmag.com Executive Assistant Chama St. Louis chama@hopeforwomenmag.com Sales advertise@hopeforwomanmag.com Social Media Manager Maisha Guy maisha@hopeforwomenmag.com Marketing Lindsay Butler Lindsay@hopeforwomenmag.com Tristan McAlister Tristan@hopeforwomenmag.com PR Courtney Harris Courtney@hopeforwomenmag.com

HOPE FOR WOMEN MAGAZINE LLC P.O. Box 3241, Muncie, Indiana 47307 Advertising 800-936-2214 ext. 701 Administrative 800-936-2214 www.hopeforwomenmag.com

HOPE FOR WOMEN IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OWNED BY HOPE FOR WOMEN MAGAZINE LLC COPYRIGHT 2012 COVER CREDITS: Photography done by Stephen Vosloo Hair & Makeup – Jen Johnson Styling/Art Direction - Jackie Nunez Copyright Tyndale House Publishers 2012

D

o n ’ t yo u j u s t lov e t h i s time of year? Here at Hope, we’re excited about this

season and are blooming with a new team and bright perspective on the direction of the magazine.

One of the things I love most about the warmer months is the freshness and fun that it brings. Think about it—we spring-clean our homes, declutter closets, pull out a lighter and brighter wardrobe, and watch new flowers bloom. The sunshine—in most places—warms us from the coldness of the winter season and brightens our days.

It’s perfect time for backyard barbecues, camping excursions with the family, beach vacations, family reunions and outdoor fun.

It provides the ideal opportunity to get out and enjoy some fun in the sun with the ones you love most.

That’s exactly what you’ll be inspired to do in this issue of Hope.

Former Victoria’s Secret model Kylie Bisutti encourages us to stand firm in our convictions as she opens up about her decision to say “no” to conformity to honor her faith and her husband, by walking away from fame.

You’ll be motivated to Park It! and create the perfect workout regimen right in the park while your children play. Talk about killing two birds with one stone! In our finance section, you will receive practical tips to help you plan for a fruitful retirement, and for those considering entrepreneurship, you’ll learn some basics for building a solid foundation for success.

For our ladies who love to read, we have reviews for Heather Kopp’s Sober Mercies, Jan Riggenbach’s Your Midwest Garden: An Owner’s Manual, and Erica Reid’s The Thriving Child. In matters of the heart, this spring we’re encouraging you to let go of unforgiveness and choose to pardon those who have wronged you.

It is our honor to inspire Hope to you, our loyal readers.

Make this season count by purposely engaging in more family activities and acting on those things that have been sitting idle on your to-do list. Now is the time to make it happen.

Warmest Regards,

Angelia White Angelia White

2 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

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contents Spring/Summer 2013 Relax, Relate, Release

cover 26

Saying “NO” to Conformity: Former Victoria Secret Model Kylie Bisutti Walks Away from Fame to Follow Her Faith

By Monique Farmer

26

16

features 34 B ook: How to Have Thriving Children: Author Erica Reid Shares Her Expertise

By Marie Cauley

12 K arim Orange My 5 Summer Must Haves

By Sherrell Dorsey

4 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

16 Natural Fashion When Worlds Collide: Green and Glamorous

By Sherrell Dorsey

18 F ashion Feature Bold is Better

hope for Women spring/summer 2013 5

contents

Spring/Summer 2013

Fashion and Beauty 10 My Favorite Skincare Routine

By Brandie Gilliam

Spring 2013 Finance Files 25 Dump Debt and Dump Stress

By Rachel Cruze

Body & Soul

Entertainment

14 What’s She Wearing?

Get your favorite celebrity’s look

By Chandia Brennen

Work It 24 Entrepreneurship 101: Do The Work Before The Work Creating a foundation for a successful business

By Becky A. Davis

10

30 Book Reviews

32 Rekindle the Flame How to Spice Up Your Marriage

By Marita L. Kinney 33 Family Time The Balancing Act

By Karen Taylor Bass

Delightful Food

Health 41 Good Carbs vs Bad Carbs

By Jen Smedley 44 Gum Disease Can Hurt More Than Your Smile.

Your Oral Health Plays An Important Role In the Overall Health of Your Body

By Dr. Julie L. Stante

{ Facebook.com/hope4women}

6 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

Kristi Baker, AIF®,

Marriage Matters

36 Chef Devin Alexander

By Marie Cauley

You can find us on }

Contributors

32

{ Twitter.com/hopemag}

ChFC, CLU,

Fitness 42 Park It! Make Your Local Park Your Gym

By Lisa Marie Metzler

Home 46 Go Natural Decorating with natural elements in your home will bring a timeless appeal.

by Ashlie Kyles

in every issue 3 7 9

ublisher’s Page P Contributors What Matters Most…

To (Moll Anderson)

By Kristen Hamilton

who wrote our piece on “How To Maximize Your Retirement Planning In 2013” (page 24) is President of Compensation Systems, Inc., a see market leader in retirement planning. page Kristi is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan 24 University with a degree in Insurance and Finance. She received her Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) professional designations and is a member of ASPPA (American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries). She is also a member of the National Pension Study Group (NPSG), the Midwest Pension Group and a 401(k) Coach. Kristi resides in Carmel with her husband Bryan and their twin sons.

Marita L. Kinney, who wrote our Marriage Matter column (page 32), is woman of many talents. A Published Author, Certified Life Coach and Motivational Speaker, Marita has inspired thousands of people to overcome adversity with see triumph through faith and perseverpage ance. Capturing the true essence of what it 32 means to turn “lemons into lemonade”, she has taken the harsh lessons of life and developed a plan for successfully living. www.MaritaKinney.com

Julie Stante, DDS, who penned our piece on Gum Disease (page 44), is a native of South Bend, Dr. Julie Stante completed her undergraduate see degree at Butler University, and page earned her dental degree from the 44 Indiana School of Dentistry. While covering the spectrum of dental services, her practice specializes in aesthetic and neuromuscular dentistry. She is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the American Dental Association.

Dr. Stante enjoys her time as mother to son Hayden, and wife to husband Matt. www.juliestantedds.com

Sherrell Dorsey our beauty columnist (page 12) is an eco-glamour expert, speaker, social entrepreneur, author of Eco-Glamorous: A Fail-Proof Guide to Ditching Toxic Beauty Products, see Protecting Your Health & Greening page Your Beauty Routine and creator 12 of the popular eco-beauty blog www.

OrganicBeautyVixen.com. Her mission: To use the principles of sustainable living and environmental responsibility as a catalyst in addressing the issues of poverty, health care, education and economic injustices in America. Sherrell has been a contributing writer on green technology, sustainability and environmental justice to publications like Black Enterprise, Inhabitat.com and Organic Spa Magazine. HFW

{ pinterest.com/hopeforwomenmag}

hope for Women spring/summer 2013 7

What Matters Most…

Interview with Interior designer and lifestyle expert Moll Anderson Int e r v i e w a n d Art i cl e b y K r isten Ha m i lton

1 What matters most

when you think of your family?

Creating a loving, warm home environment is most important, and this means, you and your partner being a great example of a loving relationship!

Our children learn by example every single day. It starts at home. I am so grateful that (even though It took me 45 years) I was able to show my son what a loving relationship could really be! My son Michael is now an adult and it thrills me that he can finally see his mother happy, in love, and in a truly respectful marriage of mutual admiration.

2 What matters most about having a healthy home environment for our families?

The environment you create in your home is everything!

People stay together for seriously wrong reasons and do so much damage to themselves and their children. You don’t get an award for staying together for the sake of the kids if you give them the belief that you just co-exist; don’t laugh together, don’t speak to one another, don’t parent together, and don’t treat each other respectfully. You might as well sit the kids down and say “Here’s how not to do it” and try explaining why it’s ok to be miserable and why you and they don’t deserve something better.

3 What matters most about giving back to your community?

Do whatever you can to give back to others. It doesn’t have to be money unless you can afford it. Giving of your time is more valuable than you realize. For those of us that don’t have a lot of time, we are so grateful when folks show up and do for others in need. Do whatever is right for you! Just do something. The energy and blessing is so awesome and it will fill your soul in

8 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

ways you can’t even begin to imagine until you just do it.

4 When it comes to making time for yourself, what matters most?

As women, juggling home, jobs, children and families we are wired to give to others first, leaving little time to take care of ourselves. It is important to make time to not only take care of yourself physically, but emotionally as well. Putting your needs and interests aside as you juggle the commitments of your life, will eventually take its toll on you and your family. Start now to carve out some “me time.” This is it. We don’t get a do over in life! You can’t continue to wait. We don’t know how much time we have and you might not get another chance. I struggle with this all the time, but we need to do it. Start small, and it will get easier.

5 You were quoted saying that you believe in dreaming; what matters most when it comes to having dreams and goals?

What matters, everything! I never gave up! I actually had friends that would tell me that my dreams were too big? Seriously?

I sometimes came close to believing them, but thankfully I didn’t!

They are also no longer in my life. It’s important to surround yourself with positive people. I believe in visualization and I do a new vision board every year, it helps me fine-tune my goals.

I believe that we also need to help other women and support them in their dreams! It’s so important to not live in jealousy and negativity. Have an open giving heart! Be open, stay open and always support each other. I want women to live in joy and realize that they can live the life they have been dreaming about! HFW

hope for Women spring/summer 2013 9

Beauty

My Summer

Beauty Routine

RMS Beauty

Lip2Cheek in Smile This little pot of coral color pulls double duty for lips and cheeks while keeping my pout perfectly hydrated.  rmsbeauty.com

b y Br a nd ie Gi l l ia m

My summer beauty routine is minimal, light and easy. I find that less is more during this hot season and I tend to go for products that can seamlessly take me from the office to the outdoors without weighing my skin or hair down. They need to be high-performing, multi-functional, protective in nature and toxicfree. Here are some of my beauty essentials for summer:

$

ARCONA

Raspberry Bar My skin is prone to breakouts, so I need something powerful yet gentle to ward off blemishes and keep my skin clear. This bar does the trick and is great for travel.  arcona.com

35

35

(without container)

$

42

(with container)

10 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

$

36

Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 This moisturizer melts into my skin for an even, smooth and dewy complexion.

Plus, natural antioxidants protect against environmental hazards with SPF 30.  arcona.com

Phenomé Blossom

Botanical Repair Me Detangling Mist

The mask smells like fresh roses and relaxes my skin instantly. It’s especially great after a day outside to soothe and calm redness.  coupheld.com

Between the harsh sun, pool water and the ocean, hair can get dry fast. All I use is this leave-in conditioner spray after I co-wash for soft, bouncy, defined curls.  peterlamas.com

$

Brightening Facial Scrub

Exfoliate, remove impurities and stimulate new cell growth with organic sea kelp, lemon, cocoa powder, French green clay, chlorella growth factor, argan stem cells and raspberry.  acureorganics.com $

14.99

$

Peter Lamas

72 Therapeutic Face Mask

100% Pure Fruit

Acure Organics $

$

32

$

85

18

African Botanics

Neroli Infused Marula Oil Marula oil has quickly become one $ of my favorite oils for face, body and hair because of its extremely light texture and moisturizing properties. It’s also great for softening lines and wrinkles.

The citrus scent brightens my day.  africanbotanics.com

bkr Reusable 28

Water Bottle in Surf You hear it all the time because it’s so true— drink lots of water! This portable bottle is kind to the environment and helps me stay hydrated on the go.  mybkr.com HFW

hope for Women spring/summer 2013 11

Beauty

Karim Orange My

5 Summer Must Haves

It’s summertime and the living is easy, especially when our skin is glowing and free from chemical-laden cosmetics.

We caught up with eco-celebrity makeup artist and raw foodist Karim Orange. Discover her top five summer must haves guaranteed to give your warm-weather beauty routine a boost.

Vapour Organic Beauty

Indie Lee Swiss Apple Facial Serum

Elixer Lip Gloss in Sultry

Love, Love LOVE this product. Super light weight, and just makes the skin feel alive.

Adds just the right amount of color to go with a tan vapourbeauty.com

indielee.com

Jane Iredale Mascara in Black Onyx Black mascara is all seasonal janeiredale.com

Vapour Organic Beauty Solar translucent Bronzer Comes in several shades, can be used where you need a sparkle of color. I personally use Spicy on my eyes, cheeks and even lips. It’s 70 percent organic so have fun. vapourbeauty.com

ZuZu Luxe Foundation Oil Free Foundation I love this product because its light weight and super sheer, with SPF 18 gabrielcosmetics inc.com

HFW

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hope for Women spring/summer 2013 13

Fashion

What’s She Wearing?

Get your favorite celebrity’s look

b y Cha nd ia Br en nen

Actress, businesswoman, mother a nd w ife of NBA star Carmelo, Alani Va z que z A nt hony, better known as La La, exemplifies a modern

woman with a passion for business and a heart for family. The charismatic beauty first obtained recognition as va successful TV host before later evolving into a brand. Today LaLa is not only celebrated for her business accomplishments, but also her knack for personal style.

The st yle star has mastered the art of dressing elegant, yet sexy. Whether it’s a dainty mini dress or a knee-length tailored ensemble, Lala’s signature style always exudes femininity and sophistication.

This season it’s all about metallics and color! The latest trend is pairing vivid shades with bold accessories or prints. Check out our “LaLa” inspired g a rment s for a st yl ish spring season. HFW

1st

2nd

look

14 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

look

Elegant and romantic, this affordable ensemble is perfect for the charming and confident woman.

Splurge A lert! This chic

Kimberly Skater Dress

Tangerine Emilio Pucci Dress

$

89.99 / forevernew.com

ensemble is great for the powerful female entrepreneur.

$

Metal Waist Belt $

32.00 / oasis.com

Leopard Platform Heel $

Metallic Snakeskin Pumps $

75.00 / prêt-a-beaute.com

Emerald Green Suede Bracelet $

30.00 / boticca.com

Gray Ostrich Bag $

90.00 / shopstyle.com

1,100 / emiliopucci.com 150 / Topshop.com

Quilted Leather Satchel $

389 / Michael Kors

Tusk Turquoise Bangle $

160 / samathawills.com

Stud Earrings $

48 / katespade.com hope for Women spring/summer 2013 15

Beauty

Natural Beauty

When Worlds Collide: Green and Glamorous

E

b y Sher r el l Dor sey

Escape into the chic landscape of detailed designs by fashion’s

favorited few. Balanced with a commitment toward both sustainable design and style there’s no compromising on eco-friendly fabrics that bring out the best in a summer wardrobe that is as planet-conscious as it is breathtaking. Welcome your wardrobe to a new spin on what it means to be green.

Susie Crippen

H&M Conscious Collection Fun and play should be at the top of your wish list for summer. These floral shorts from H&M’s Conscious Collection are made for irresponsible moments, beach soirees and date nights. Accompany them with a tank or fedora and your largest pair of Gazzels.

The suit is a required staple, holding a functional purpose in every woman’s wardrobe. This elegant, natural fabric white suit—built by J. Brand co-founder Susie Crippen who recently launched a new label this spring—is inspired by flattering, minimalist and practical design which pairs easily with skinny jeans and stilettos or a chic pair of Tom’s.

photography by: Jeff Lipsky

Vaute

16 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

Friendly fashion doesn’t have to begin and end with burlap sacks and birckenstocks.

Vaute’s Friends Not Fashion racerback tee blends organic cotton, recycled polyestevr, & naturally occurring rayon for a coveted fit. Let your get-up-and-go moments maintain their chic.

Elsa and Me Whether you enjoy breakfast at Tiffany’s or breakfast on the boardwalk, this buttercream sleeveless Elsa dress stuns the crowd in both casual and business settings. Made with 100% organic cotton from the mean streets of NYC, this curve pleaser is timeless. HFW

hope for Women spring/summer 2013 17

Jeans Style & Co.

Tank I.N.C

Blazer Style & Co— Macy’s

Bold is Better 18 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

Summer time fashion is always very versatile with color, patterns, and shapes.

Color is a perfect way to display to others what mood you are in today.

Bright colors are more for happy days and darker ones for when you’re feeling chill or mad. Express how you feel whether you’re feeling lively in your red sundress, or real mysterious in black leather shorts.

Red Strapless Dress With denim studded jacket Rachel Roy

hope for Women spring/summer 2013 19

Bold is Better Purple three-tone silk Maxi Jenise Gregg Couture

Black Leather Short Impulse Faux leather shorts— Top Bar III

Necklace Kendra Scott

Fashion Feature Credits Shoot was taken at Galveston Island Photographer: LaMond Antroi Model: Adia Harvey – Makeup by Design Styling: Melissa Greggs Copy: Lauren E. Hughes Model: Demetria Semien

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22  hope for Women spring/summer 2013

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Work It

Finance Files

Entrepreneurship 101:

Do The Work Before The Work

&

Dump Stress

Creating a solid foundation helps new businesses succeed

b y R achel C r u z e

b y B e ck y A . Dav is

A

Dump Debt

Have yo u e ve r b e e n i n th e m i d d le o f a relaxing day—maybe on vacation, at the spa, or just at

home with your family—when all of a sudden you felt overwhelmed by all the things you have to do tomorrow?

re you contemplating starting your

own business? Many people look to enter entrepreneurship because they have a great product, offer a high-demand service, or have a passion to change the way things are done; yet, many entrepreneurs fail to research what it takes to run a complete business.

According to the Small Business Administration, 66 percent of new businesses only survive their first two years.

One of the most important steps that potential business owners must take in order to avoid becoming a part of this statistic is to do the work required for research and planning.

By doing so, it helps you to build a strong foundation for your new business, which is critical to success.

Use these tips to help you get started with planning for a successful business:

Research • Find out what other businesses are doing what you want to do.

• Start networking by attending events and meetings in your industry. Talk to people who are experienced in your line of business and ask questions.

• L earn all aspects of the business. You can’t only focus on what you’re comfortable with. It is important to learn how to do everything effectively.

• Consider what type of marketing you’ll need to promote your business.

24 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

That’s a relaxation killer, isn’t it?

• L earn the fees for legalizing your business. Every business needs an attorney, accountant, insurance for liability, business license, tax identification number and business bank account.If you go without these, you put your business and personal assets at risk. Even home-based businesses need to be legal.

Planning • Move your plans out of your head and onto paper.

• Consider working with a coach or mentor that can help you plan before starting your business.

• Th ink about the materials and supplies you need, such as a website, business cards, employees, etc. Then create your plan on how and when you can add these.

• U s e t h e f r e e r e s o u r c e s f r o m S m a l l B u s i n e s s Administration’s website to plan www.sba.com. They can help you with creating a business plan and strategic planning, and applying for grant funding.

• S ave money. You can start a business with no money, but you cannot maintain a business with no money. It takes money to make money. If you are serious about succeeding in business, it is imperative that you put some cash away to upkeep maintenance. HFW

Money problems are one of the main issues that will zap relaxation mode. They add stress, fatigue and worry to your life. So the million-dollar question is this: how do you avoid the money problems that settle over you like a cloud and keep you from enjoying those times of rest and relaxation?

You may have heard it before, but I really can’t emphasize it enough: to win with money, you must have a plan.

You (and your spouse if you’re married) have to sit down before each month begins and plan out your spending for that month. Include food, gas, entertainment, clothing, mortgage payments and all of your bills. Give every dollar a name. Yes, that’s the dreaded B-word—the budget—but I promise it’s not that bad!

If you’re in debt, then build paying off that debt into your plan. We call this the debt “snowball”. List all of your debts except for the mortgage—including credit cards, car payments, student loans, etc.—in order from the smallest debt to the largest debt.

Attack that smallest debt with every bit of extra income you have and pay the minimums on the rest. Once you pay off the smallest debt, roll that payment into the payment for your next-smallest debt until it’s paid off. Continue through the debt snowball in that fashion until you’re completely out of debt!

While you’re working through the debt snowball, you should be cutting your spending as well. This means the daily latté and the nightly eating out and the weekly shoe purchases have got to go—for a little while anyway.

For as long as I can remember, my dad has said, “If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.” And that is so true. Giving up those temporary pleasures is worth it because that sacrifice will eventually bring you the freedom you long for.

When you buy stuff you can’t afford, you only add stress to your life. By temporarily letting go of those wants, you set yourself up for a healthy financial life down the road— where relaxation and rest is a regular part of your life, not a rare event.

So if you’ve ever wondered why your life is full of tension and worry, start examining your money situation. One of the quickest ways to eliminate stress is to eliminate debt.

Sure, no one’s life is totally anxiety-free—even people without debt have problems—but I can promise you that a life without a debt sure beats the alternative!

Imagine your life debt free. Now isn’t that relaxing? HFW Growing up as Dave Ramsey’s kid, Rachel Cruze learned the basic principles of money at an early age. She travels across the country teaching those same principles, in a personal and passionate message of money and hope, to teens and young adults. Rachel’s also the host of Generation Change, a course that teaches teens about money and empowers them with the skills they need to become financially responsible adults. To find out more about Rachel, visit daveramsey.com/speakers or follow her on Twitter at @ RachelCruze.

hope for Women spring/summer 2013 25

Saying “NO”

to Conformity Former Victoria Secret Model Kylie Bisutti Walks Away from Fame to Follow Her Faith b y Mon ique Fa r mer

M

the picturesque blue Montana sky she is used to seeing every morning, former Victoria’s Secret model Kylie Bisutti awakens to a crisp March winter morning in Cleveland, Ohio. She patiently asks a hotel housekeeper knocking at the door for just a few more minutes as she shares the testimony of her life-transforming decision to quit the lingerie modeling business with our readers for Hope for Women Magazine.

Nowadays, the life of glitz and glamour she was just becoming accustomed to seems to be miles from where she sits today. Her once blonde, extension-filled hair is now a modest dark brown (it’s her natural color). She talks briefly about the speech she will share with about 400 teenage girls later in this evening—a speech that will emphasize the importance of accepting and loving oneself for the person God made each of us to be. She also plans to highlight the importance of finding the courage to stick to one’s personal convictions.

The speaking engagements are the new normal for Bisutti who travels around the country sharing the story of her decision to walk away from f launting her beauty before millions of television viewers, the potential to make millions and regularly having her name appear on the guest list for various A-list events.

Today, she shares her story with young girls desperately seeking a role model to help them through their own self-esteem struggles and battles to overcome unrealistic beliefs about the standard of beauty portrayed by the media.

Miles away from

26 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

Knowing all too well the challenges associated with that battle, Bisutti has made it her personal mission to lead the young women she encounters toward an attitude of self love.

That attitude, Bisutti attests, can only be achieved through the peace discovered after also learning to love and accept one’s Lord and personal savior.

HOPE: Your story of having resigned as a Victoria’s Secret model because the lingerie modeling industry clashed with your Christian beliefs generated a fair amount of media attention. Why do you feel it has attracted so much attention?

BISUTTI: No one has really ever done that before.

You hardly see celebrities or models come into lot of fame and then leave that position for their beliefs or go against the industry standards or stand up for modesty.

HOPE: When did you commit your life to Christ and what compelled you to make that decision?

BISUTTI: I got baptized when I was 16 and I had only

been in church for a year. My whole life I had a lot of issues with wanting a lot of attention so I was always struggling with that sort of thing. That’s why modeling was kind of the perfect career for me because it gave me all that attention I was always craving. When I finally got to the top, I realized that there was no true happiness there and that the Lord could provide all the attention that I could ever need and that would be more satisfying than the attention of the world.

hope for Women spring/summer 2013 27

Saying “NO”

to Conformity

HOPE: When did you begin to feel The Word strike you with conviction? What was that experience like emotionally?

BISUTTI: That actually all happened when I posed for

FHM (For Him) Magazine. The photographer was really pressuring me into doing a lot of things that I didn’t want to do. That was really the first time it just hit me that they are just paying me to sell images that are all about sex and it just broke my heart because that was so against what the Bible talks about. It was horrible for my husband to have his wife doing these things and posing for magazines like that…for men to be looking at me like that.

HOPE: What was your husband’s reaction to your decision to leave the lingerie modeling business?

BISUTTI: He was just so thankful when I made the deci-

sion that I did. He had been praying for that all along. He didn’t like having his wife model for hundreds of men in her lingerie.

He was very thankful. It was an answer to his prayers. He tells me everyday how thankful he is.

HOPE: During the V.S. competition, you were determined to win. How did it feel to forfeit something you desired for so long and worked so hard for (she was the 2009 winner of the Victoria’s Secret Model Search competition)?

BISUTTI: The crazy thing is

that it actually felt very relieving. It was the first time I had total peace ever since I won the competition. It’s really crazy to tell people that because a lot of times they just can’t believe it.

Something that I had wanted so badly for my whole life I would actually feel total peace after walking away from it. But, it was just that. Total peace. I think I felt peace because it was the right decision and I always say if it comes from the Lord, there will be no doubt about it.

HOPE: Why wasn’t winning everything you thought it would be?

BISUTTI: I worked so long in the modeling industry. So

many things had happened and I thought when you got to the top everything would change, but it actually got worse once I got there. I had always seen all the models going to clubs and getting their picture taken and getting all this attention and publicity, but I thought that once you got to the top, you wouldn’t have to put up that persona anymore. But, it was even more so. It was nothing that I thought it would be.

28 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

HOPE: Joshua 1:9 states, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.” In what ways does that passage resonate with your steadfast dedication to follow through with your decision to leave the lingerie modeling business?

BISUTTI: I think courage is something that by God’s grace, he gives us. In today’s society, you are kind of going against the grain when you are being courageous about things the world holds to standard. I think courage had a lot to do with the decision. For me, to come out and tell people that I want to honor the Lord with my life and my body, it took courage.

HOPE: What is life like for you now after being a V.S. model?

BISUTTI: I am doing a lot of speaking

events. My main goal is just to reach as many people with my story that I can. That’s kind of my ministry now and mentoring girls with eating disorders. Some are struggling with wanting attention. I don’t really do as much modeling because a lot of it, even if you’re fully clothed, is still all about sex appeal. I don’t take on as many jobs now for that. But, I do more speaking and through my Web site, I have a place where girls can contact me and ask me questions and get mentorship.

HOPE: In your upcoming book “I’m No Angel,” you open up about battling low self-esteem. How has your faith helped you overcome that?

BISUTTI: I have actually come to realize that I am never

going to please everybody or have the approval from everyone because everyone has their own perception. I’m never going to live up to everything, but I can always live up to Jesus’ approval.

He is always going to love me and think I’m beautiful. HFW

hope for Women spring/summer 2013 29

Entertainment

Book Reviews

Sober Mercies: How Love Caught Up With a Christian Drunk Author: Heather Kopp

Your Midwest Garden: An Owner’s Manual Author: Jan Riggenbach University of Nebraska Press, 2013 If you live in the Midwest, you know how challenging it can be to plan and maintain a garden. Spring weather is unpredictable, with snow sometimes falling into late April. If you aren’t sure what to plant or you attempt to grow plants that don’t always survive, then Jan Riggenbach is the expert you’ve been looking for. Jan has over 40 years of experience writing her syndicated newspaper column Midwest Gardening and her features in Midwest Living Magazine. She thoroughly covers every type of plant in a fun and entertaining way, while still giving all of the information you need on everything from climate challenges to insects and diseases. This book is a must for avid and novice gardeners alike, who want their garden to not just survive—but thrive!

30 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

Jericho Books/Hatchette Book Group, 2013 There are a lot of people in the world dealing with some sort of addiction, and the truth of the matter is that it can happen to anyone.

Heather Kopp, Christian writer and editor, felt like a complete hypocrite when she realized she had a drinking problem. In Sober Mercies she reveals the entire truth of her situation, which included hiding bottles in her closet and carrying a giant purse to stash away wine to consume in the ladies room.

Through her alcoholism, Kopp learned what it really means to give it all to God and lean on Him. She also tells how rehab and faith work together on the road to sobriety, and why forgiveness is so important. She had to ask forgiveness from others as she forgave them for things they had done to her...and hardest of all, she needed to forgive herself as God does. If you or someone you love have fallen prey to any type of addiction, Sober Mercies will resonate as it shares a ray of hope for the future.

The Thriving Child Author: Erica Reid Center Street/Hatchette Book Group, 2012 I know many parents who have discovered how much a child’s diet plays into their overall health, including moms who have seen success improving the lives of their austistic children. So I was intrigued by The Thriving Child and Erica Reid’s take on the subject, plus her views on raising well-adjusted kids Reid is quite thorough in sharing her personal story and giving information to other parents who are looking to improve their children’s lives. She also shares words of wisdom from other celebrity moms, along with expert advice from doctors, nutritionists, and teachers on how to deal with food allergies and sensitivities. The second part of the book gives lessons on teaching kids other important life lessons, such as compassion and generosity.

I learned about the topic from talking with moms, but the book was able to provide information that I didn’t know. The Thriving Child should become a go-to resource for all parents whose children have health or behavioral issues—or just want to set their families on the road to better health. HFW

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Marriage Matters

Parenting

The Balancing Act

Rekindle

the Flame

b y Ka r en Taylor B a s s

How to Spice Up Your Marriage

How many moms do you know that have balance? Do they really?

b y Ma r it a L . K i n ney

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e all know that marriage has its up and downs, and hitting a

dry spell is definitely a down time. Let’s face it, life sometimes causes you to become distant towards each other and you may not even realize that you’re in a sexual desert, until you’re there.

Experiencing this is not fun at all and the million-dollar question is how to overcome it?

There are many reasons why a disconnection can occur in your marriage; however, what matters is that you would learn how to deal with it. In order to overcome a drought in your marriage, you must first learn to identify the signs that indicate there is a problem. Here are a few signs that could be a red flag: • Feeling disconnected • Never having time for one another • Feeling too tired for sex • You dislike your spouse • Feeling unattractive • Easily frustrated • Loss of interest in sexual intimacy Okay, so you may have just realized that your marriage is suffering through a rough patch. Now what? You cannot change others, but you can take responsibility for the things you do.

Oftentimes, working on you is all that it takes to come out of a dry spell. Try to avoid pointing fingers and simply focus on you and the things you can change. Here are a few tips: • A makeover, internal and external, is a great place to start. You can begin by spicing up your undergarment

32 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

choices. Believe it or not, when you feel sexy your attitude will change toward sex. Don’t worry about talking; instead, allow your body language to speak for you. Flirt, flirt, and flirt! Don’t be surprised if your change has your spouse taking a second look at you.

•C hange the way you think about yourself. When you feel unattractive, that’s the energy you exude. When you feel attractive, chances are that your spouse will pick up on your confidence and view you in the same light.

•S taying connected is vital in your marriage, and physical intimacy with your spouse is a sure way to keep you connected. Granted, it’s hard to be intimate with your spouse when you just don’t like them anymore; however, when you are connected to your spouse, chances are that you will remember why you fell in love with them in the first place. If you focus on your spouse’s flaws, you will be too distracted to see the good in them.

Little changes within yourself may be the answer to your marriage overcoming a dry spell. You’ll never know until you try it. HFW Marita L. Kinney is woman of many talents. A Published Author, Certified Life Coach and Motivational Speaker, Marita has inspired thousands of people to overcome adversity with triumph through faith and perseverance. Capturing the true essence of what it means to turn “ lemons into lemonade”, she has taken the harsh lessons of life and developed a plan for successfully living. www.MaritaKinney.com

Mom and balance are two words that honestly have no business together.

It’s time for moms to simply accept the cold hard fact that balance will come, but not until the children are grown. Once you accept that fact, you can start to plan your life accordingly and authentically.

Push the reset button on your mind. I’ll give you a minute.

As a proud middle-aged mother to two children (ages 13 and 5) with distinctly different needs, I usually have an acute case of the “not enough”. You also might be suffering from a case of the “not enough”.

You lack sleep, energy, exercise, vitamins, sex, work, money and personal time. Take a deep breath, embrace your moment and understand that you are a mom and this too shall pass.

In my ode to being an older mom seeking reinvention and a forum to vent, I penned The Brand New Mommy: From Babies To Branding To Bliss. The book is a collection of stories about how, as moms, it’s important to take baby steps and keep one’s sanity via baby, branding and ultimately bliss. I’ve learned that accepting imperfection as a mom is the new black. It’s very fashionable to be off balance and tired. Many moms will appear to have it together; however, they may only exude that attitude. Honor your imperfection.

Here is what you can do for certain to remedy the not enough: ✽ Acceptance. You will be tired for a long spell, and then you are going to miss the time you were tired with the children.

Stay in the moment and enjoy these moments because if you blink, they will be gone. ✽ Sleep. Take it whenever you can get it. If you can carve a nap during the day or on the weekend, go ahead; you deserve it.

Stop feeling guilty for wanting to snooze.

✽ Sex. Married mommies, it has miracle benefits; schedule it. Enough said! ✽ Chapters. Your life is meant to live as a must-read novel with amazing chapters and tons of drama. Having children is an amazing chapter; however, like all stories, it only gets juicier as the children grow and that’s always an experience.

✽ Forgiveness. Give yourself a break. You are the real deal mom and no one can handle motherhood the way you do.

When you are kind and realistic with self, you will see a ripple in the water. ✽ Bliss. You are sacred and deserve to be happy. Take time for self every day, even if it’s just five minutes. Look in the mirror and check out that reflection, and let her know that she is one baaaad momma! HFW

Karen Taylor Bass is the PR Expert, author, popular motivational speaker and creator of The Brand New Mommy blog (www.thebrandnewmommy.com). Follow her on Twitter @ thebrandnewmom and prexpert.

hope for Women spring/summer 2013 33

Book Review

How to Have Thriving Children

Author Erica Reid Shares Her Expertise

b y Ma r ie Cau ley This mom of t wo learne d a lot of things the hard way— by trial and error.

Food allergies and sensitvities are more prevalent than ever among our children, and are beginning at an earlier age.

More kids also have anxiety, ADHD, asthma, and other illnesses than we did when we were younger. There is no doubt that the chemicals and preservatives in our food supply have something to do with this dilemma. In addition to allergies to real foods like eggs, wheat, and nuts, those artificial colors and flavors wreak havoc on the immune system.

Author Erica Reid has learned firsthand of these issues through her own allergies and those of her two children. As the wife of music producer Antonio “L.A.” Reid (former judge on The X Factor), she has met many mothers, both in and out of the spotlight, who deal with the same problems. But the catalyst for Erica’s crusade was the life-threatening illness of her son while he was still a toddler.

Erica graciously took time out of her very busy schedule to speak with Hope about these issues, along with others, that she covers in The Thriving Child, teaching children to be creative, generous, compassionate, and involved in the world around them.

HOPE: First of all, you said in the book that your mom and your friends thought you were crazy when you started this journey of health for your family. Do they still think that way, or are they believers now that they’ve seen results?

34 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

Erica Reid: No, now my friends and my mother do not think I’m crazy because they have seen beneficial results in both my children and myself through the changes that I have made for us all.

HOPE: What do you suggest to parents who are dealing with doctors who only want to push medications at their child instead of getting to the root of the issue? eR: I suggest that parents never give up when it comes to finding the root of any issue when it comes to their children.

Medication can have positive and negative effects, so be aware, be selective and follow your inner voice.

HOPE: What is the best way to handle parents of classmates who insist that you’re overly dramatic and only trying to make things more difficult for them, and really have no clue about food allergies or other health issues? eR: Parents of classmates who think you’re being overly dramatic with your children and their food allergies need to be educated as if it were a foreign subject. I say get with a teacher and see if you can do a class talk and bring the awareness to the parents in your child’s class. Address the seriousness of your child’s food allergies and inform them what can happen.

Bringing awareness is the only way we can help educate, so use your voice and do not be afraid.

HOPE: If you have older children, especially teenagers, how do you get them to change patterns that are so ingrained so they eat better, and also become more compassionate and responsible? eR: I have two children and the challenge is not at home; the challenge is at school and other places away from home. I try to be consistent and follow through with what I want for them. I demonstrate that through how I care for myself and how I care for them. I have to be the leader, because if I fall off, they fall off.

I can’t control everything they do; I can only demonstrate by showing them what I believe is positive and healthy living. Being responsible is giving responsibilities. My children have had to learn early on—you sleep in that bed, you make up that bed, you eat off that plate, you put that plate away. If you live in this house, you have to contribute to it looking and feeling the way that it does. Compassion is a learned behavior. I believe part of how my children learn compassion is seeing how I respond to their feelings, the stories that they share with me, and things we may have seen or heard elsewhere. My reaction says everything to them. HFW For more information on Erica and The Thriving Child, please visit http:// www.ericareidloveskids.com.

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Delightful Food

Living The Decadent Life with Devin Alexander Biggest Loser Chef Shares How Food Can Be Both Delicious and Healthy b y Ma r ie Cau ley

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Chef Devin learned healthy e at i n g b y t r i a l a n d e r r o r ; n ow s h e pays it fo rwa r d by teaching others.

If you watch The Biggest Loser regularly, chances are you have seen Chef Devin Alexander work her magic with food, showing contestants how to make filling, nutritious meals that taste good and still assist in weight loss. It’s no secret that if you enjoy what you’re eating, you’ll be less likely to consume unhealthy foods.

Devin’s journey to becoming a chef began as an overweight teenager, when she decided she needed to lose weight but still wanted to enjoy her favorite foods. She experimented in the kitchen with different ingredients, figuring out what worked and what didn’t. From this beginning, Devin’s influence is now felt across the country through her cookbooks (her own and those for The Biggest Loser) and her work on television. She also speaks at events to promote health and fitness.

Devin happily shared with Hope about her childhood, her work with Biggest Loser, and other endeavors…and why she’s so passionate about stamping out childhood obesity.

my lifestyle and my mindset. You always hear the phrase “calories in, calories out,” and that’s the primary thing that has worked for me. If I gain a few pounds, I cut back and avoid indulgent food for a couple of weeks. But I never, ever deprive myself. If you eliminate entire food groups that you love, it becomes impossible to stick with a healthy lifestyle long-term.

HOPE: Having been a teen when you began your HOPE: Congratulations on maintaining a 70 fitness journey, how excited are you that Biggest Loser pound weight loss for 16 years! Do you ever still is now tackling childhood obesity? struggle with maintenance?

DA: I can’t even describe how excited I was to see that! As DEVIN ALEXANDER: Thank you! I actually don’t a 15-year-old, I weighed close to 200 pounds and came home struggle anymore…except maybe a tiny bit when I’m writing a book or have some big project that has me around food all day, every day and forces me to “sample” when I’m not hungry. Beyond that, though, I really don’t. I truly changed

36 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

from school crying every day because I was picked on. And I started my career in the hopes that I could, someday, ensure that no teen girl ever felt the way I did back then. Honestly, the most touching part of The Biggest Loser finale for me

this year was Lindsay’s ability to suddenly participate on the cheerleading squad. That was just AWESOME! But to see the transformations the children had made, in general, resonates so strongly with me and my personal struggle with childhood obesity growing up. They really have their lives back…while they still have their whole lives ahead of them!

HOPE: How did you come to host a special dinner for Biggest Loser alumni right before every season finale?

DA: I get so much inspiration from the contestants. There’s

just a comfort being around people who’ve gone through the same thing and who are going through the same thing. The first couple of seasons that I was affiliated with the show, the contestants were gathering for the reunion since it was the only time that so many were in town, but they were doing it in a restaurant. And without fail, you know how that goes in a restaurant. Somebody has a ton of money. Someone has none.

Person X orders 4 bottles of wine, and they can afford it, and Person Z is stuck. So some people would go but say, ‘Oh, I’m not eating.’ And then finding a low-fat restaurant was a hard thing to do too. On top of that, since the contestants were all together, they were always spotted by fans who would interrupt them from catching up with each other. I had watched them do that, and many years ago, I was doing a restaurant partnership, and then the restaurant I was doing it with said, ‘Hey, do you want to bring them here?’ So I did. When I extracted from that partnership, I just invited everybody to my kitchen. A lot of them came, but nothing like today! Now, a month and a half before every finale, former contestants will start emailing, ‘Are you doing your party?’ And I’m like, ‘Sure, I guess I am!’ And now I’m even getting sponsors contacting me about donating food! Jennie-O provided all the turkey this year, because they’re a show sponsor, and then Melissa’s/World Variety Produce is just awesome and very chef-friendly. They often support LA based chefs in the media providing fresh produce when we can’t get needed items for articles and projects we’re working on due to off season or other constraints. But I LOVE the party because it allows me to gather everybody in a place where they can have fun. And I feel so blessed to be a part of The Biggest Loser family that it gives me a way to give back to them.

HOPE: Tell us more about your work with First Lady Michelle Obama and the Chefs Move to Schools program.

DA: I was one of the chefs who helped launch the program

from the White House. I’m very in tune with the project and support where I can. I’m also involved in many other charity initiatives, as I have been most of my life. My passion area is helping kids and teens, so I still serve on the Advisory Board

of the American Culinary Federations Chef Child Foundation as well as other charities in that space. For years, I was the Larry King Foundation’s Go-To Chef to Speak on Childhood Obesity, I’ve been a Big Sister of America, helping a young lady lose weight, learn to cook and mentoring her. Most recently, I’ve been spending a bit of time talking to this season’s Biggest Loser Finalist, Joe Ostaszewski; he and his twin brother, Henry Ostaszewski, are collaborating on their plans to start the Wear Your Soul Foundation. Given their NFL ties and the fact that Joe lost weight as a Biggest Loser Contestant while Henry succeeded as a “Challenge America” participant, I think they have a really amazing opportunity to help others and I’m excited to see it unfold.

HOPE: What can we expect from your upcoming food line, Devinly Delites™?

DA: Devinly Delites™ is a new food line I’m going to

launch soon. It’s no secret that I have a HUGE sweet tooth so I’ve created a line of brownies and baked goods to satisfy my cravings and yours. I’m really excited about it! The brownies are super healthy—they’re low in calories and fat, all-natural and made with whole grains (some are even gluten free). But more importantly, they actually taste decadent too.

HOPE: How important is it to you to pay forward what you’ve learned so far in your journey?

DA: When it comes to charity, they always say the

person giving ends up being rewarded even more than the one receiving. And I’m living proof! In fact, I can say, without a shadow of a doubt that I would never be living the life that I’m so blessed to live if I hadn’t signed up to help with so many causes. I never planned to be a chef. My career found me: When I first moved to Los Angeles, I didn’t know anyone, so I volunteered to help cater charity events (since cooking was the one thing I knew I was good at). That led to celebrities learning I could cook healthy food that actually tastes amazing. Next thing I knew, I was in culinary school, owning a catering business, and cooking for celebrities….and so much more.

Who knew I was in for the ride (career) of a lifetime! I’m still constantly giving back - from personally donating 1500 copies of The Most Decadent Diet Ever!, to a single event to serving on the Advisory Board of the American Culinary Federation’s, Chef Child Foundation to traveling to recently coaching 220 pounds off one man over the phone (I didn’t charge him – he had reached out to me, then became a friend, then I decided to help him). So I definitely believe in paying it forward! HFW Chef Devin Alexander wishes Hope readers a healthy, fun, and decadent summer. Please visit Devin’s website for more information on her various cookbooks and other projects.

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Delightful Food

Better-than-Classic Stuffed Shells many people say that fat-free ricotta cheese doesn’t taste good. Although I agree that many dishes made with it do not, this is definitely not one of them.

In fact, this is one of the dishes I serve to friends who claim they would never eat lower-fat food, because it fools them every time. When the fat-free ricotta is combined with the other ingredients, you’d never ever guess that this was made with lower-fat anything. It’s the perfect dish for entertaining—and I know. I’ve served it time and time again.

38 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the pasta according to package directions, cooking it only al dente. Drain and reserve.

Place a sheet of wax paper large enough to hold 12 filled shells on a flat work surface. In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta, mozzarella, 2 tablespoons parmesan, egg white, parsley, and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Over the years, I’ve heard so

• 12 dried jumbo pasta shells • 1 cup fat-free ricotta cheese • 4 ounces (about 1-1/4 cups) finely shredded low-fat mozzarella • 3 tablespoons grated reduced-fat parmesan, divided • 1 egg white • 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh parsley • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder • Salt and pepper • 2 cups Mostly Mom’s Marinara Sauce or other low-fat, low-sodium marinara sauce

Stuffed Shell s Direc tions

Place the cooked shells, open side up, on the wax paper. Spoon the ricotta mixture evenly among them, about 2 heaping table­ spoons in each. Evenly spread about 1/2 cup marinara sauce in a 10-inch round or an 11 X 7-inch ovenproof glass baking dish or a casserole dish large enough to hold the stuffed shells in a single layer. Lay the stuffed shells side by side, open side up, in the dish.

Spoon the remaining sauce over the top. Then sprinkle remaining parmesan evenly over the marinara sauce. Cover with foil and bake the shells for 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

MAKES 12 SHELLS; 4 SERVINGS Each serving (3 shells) has: 296 calories, 20 g protein, 43 g carbohydrates, 5 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 26 mg cholesterol, 5 g fiber, 615 mg sodium

Photo Credit: Theresa Raffetto

Recipe taken from Devin Alexander’s THE MOST DECADENT DIET EVER! Copyright © 2008 Broadway Books, a division of Random House Inc.

Mostly Mom’s

Marinara Sauce

Most people have their family-favorite marinara sauce—the one you grew up with. In my house, I had my

grandmother Nan’s sauce that we ate at holidays and when she visited. And then I had my mother’s, which I also very much looked forward to.

This version is very similar to my mom’s and evokes happy childhood memories for me. If your family recipe happens to be very low in fat (many marinaras are not, contrary to popular belief), use that as a substitute for this one. But if it has a significant amount of olive oil or other fat, you’ll want to make sure to use this one or a low-fat, relatively low-sodium one.

Do note, however, that all canned tomatoes contain different amounts of sugar and salt, depending which brand you buy and even the time of year the tomatoes are packed. Thus you may need to alter the added salt and sugar content each time you make this recipe to make it suit your taste. Just be sure to add as little as possible—you certainly don’t want to over do it.

• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil • 1-1/2 cups finely chopped yellow onion • 2 tablespoons minced garlic • 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes • 1 tablespoon dried oregano • 2 teaspoons sugar + extra if desired • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste marinary sauce Direc tions Place a large nonstick sauce pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil, onion, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally until tender, but not brown, about 7-10 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes, oregano, sugar, pepper flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir them until well combined. Turn the heat to low and cover the pot. Cook the sauce for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Season with additional salt, if needed.

Makes about 6-1/2 to 7 cups. Each 1/2 cup serving has: 55 calories, 2 g protein, 12 g carbohydrates, <1 g fat, trace saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 252 mg sodium Recipe taken from Devin Alexander’s THE MOST DECADENT DIET EVER! Copyright © 2008 by Devin Alexander published by Broadway Books, a division of Random House Inc. www.devinalexander.com

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Delightful Food

Chocolate

Not-Only-in-Your-Dreams

Photo Credit: Theresa Raffetto

Cake

I dreamed about eating a cake like this for years

(both in my sleep and just rapid-fire thoughts during the day). I’m serious.

I’m one of those “There’s no such thing as chocolate cake that’s too rich” types. I was dieting, but I would have to “cheat” with chocolate from time to time just to keep my sanity.

And then came this cake. It’s as rich as they come and I love it more than any other flourless chocolate espresso cake I’ve had. Plus, it packs six grams of fiber, so it really is guilt free!

If you really want to impress your friends, store some, unbaked, in the ramekins in an airtight container in your freezer. When you need a no-fuss dessert, pop them in the water bath and bake them 30 to 32 minutes.

• Butter-flavored cooking spray • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 4 large egg whites • 1 cup dark or light brown sugar (not packed) • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder • 1/4 teaspoon very finely ground espresso beans • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon powdered sugar • 4 raspberries, optional • Four 3-1/2 -inch-diameter ramekins 40 hope for Women spring/summer 2013

Direc tions Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously mist four 3-1/2 -inch-diameter ramekins with spray. Place them side by side in an 8 X 8-inch baking pan. Add water to the pan until it reaches halfway to the top of the ramekins.

Use a sturdy whisk or spatula to mix the applesauce, vanilla, egg whites, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl until well combined. Add the cocoa powder, espresso, and salt. Stir until just combined and no lumps remain. Divide evenly among the ramekins (each ramekin will be about twothirds full).

Bake for 21 to 24 minutes, until the tops look silky and puff slightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out a bit wet.

Remove from the oven and carefully transfer the rame­kins from the water bath to a cooling rack. Cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Then invert each ramekin onto a dessert plate. Let stand for 1 minute, and then slowly lift off the ramekin (the cakes should come out on their own, but if they don’t, run a knife around the edge of the cakes to loosen them). Cool for another 5 to 10 minutes. Use a fine sieve to evenly dust each cake with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar. Place one raspberry on the center of each cake, if using. Serve immediately. No more than 20 minutes hands-on prep time.

MAKES 4 CAKES; 4 SERVINGS OR 8 PORTIONS. Each portion (1/2 cake) has: 101 calories, 3 g protein, 23 g carbohydrates, 1 g fat, <1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 182 mg sodium Each serving (1 cake) has: 203 calories, 7 g protein, 46 g carbohydrates, 2 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 6 g fiber, 364 mg sodium. You save: 293 calories, 33 g fat, 19 g saturated fat Traditional serving: 496 calories, 6 g protein, 47 g carbohydrates, 35 g fat, 20 g saturated fat, 195 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 369 mg sodium

Recipe taken from Devin Alexander’s THE MOST DECADENT DIET EVER! Copyright © 2008 by Devin Alexander published by Broadway Books, a division of Random House Inc.www.devinalexander.com

Carbs:

Not All Created Equal b y Jen n i fer Sme d ley

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Women love carbs . There is no doubt about it. We love our pasta, potatoes, doughnuts, cookies,

brownies, bread, and cereal. But we face a daily battle with our delicious desires because we are led to think that carbs should be avoided. Fear not, my friends—there is hope!

Recent nutritional breakthroughs have taught us a lot about the food we eat. Most of us grew up believing that calories are calories, fats are fats, and carbs are carbs. What we have learned recently, though, is that not all calories are the same, not all fats are the same, and not all carbs are the same. In fact, just like with calories and fats, there are some carbs that could be considered “good” carbs and some that could be considered “bad” carbs.

However, this doesn’t mean that “bad” carbs have to be eliminated from your diet. Remember, it’s all about moderation!

Sometimes, trying to understand carbohydrates is like trying to decipher a foreign language. We know that carbohydrates are the best form of readily-available energy for the body to use. The body obtains energy from proteins and fats as well, but these must be converted by the body into a form that can be used for energy. Carbohydrates don’t have to be converted into a usable form; they are capable of being used for energy right away.

First, let me blow your mind a little. Carbohydrates can be both simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates, also referred to as simple sugars, are single molecules called monosaccharides.

Some simple carbohydrates are called disaccharides because they are a combination of two monosaccharides. A few examples of monosaccharides include glucose, fructose (fruit sugar) and galactose. Some disaccharides are sucrose (table sugar), maltose and lactose (milk sugar). Carbohydrates can also be complex because they are composed of many monosaccharides, which is why complex carbs are sometimes referred to as polysaccharides.

Starch is an excellent example of a complex carb.

Now that I have successfully confused you, let’s discuss why some carbs are “good” and some are “bad.” Sure, your body processes all carbs the same. Simple carbs are used immediately for energy and complex carbs are broken down into simple sugars and then used to provide energy. However, carbs differ in how they affect your blood sugar. As you probably know, high

blood sugar is a common problem and a chronically high blood sugar is very dangerous. Blood sugar problems lead to insulin resistance and ultimately type II diabetes.

Because of blood sugar problems, carbohydrates are now classified based on their glycemic index. Glycemic index is a measure of how much a certain carbohydrate elevates the blood sugar.

Carbs with a high glycemic index are absorbed quickly and raise blood sugar levels more than carbs with a low glycemic index.

After eating a carb with a high glycemic index, you can expect your blood sugar to skyrocket. Eating a carb with a low glycemic index will still cause an increase in blood sugar, but the change will be minimal. Carbs low in glycemic index are, therefore, recommended more than those with a higher glycemic index.

This is particularly important for people with insulin resistance or diabetes, as low-glycemic index carbs have been shown to control blood sugar levels.

A few examples of low-GI carbs are carbs in fruits, vegetables, pasta (yes, I said pasta), and oatmeal. High-GI foods include French fries, bread, cornflakes, and even Gatorade.

So, what have we learned? Carbs are not all created equal.

Carbs that are high in fiber, have a low glycemic index, and have little added sugar are the carbs we can describe as “good” carbs.

Carbs with little fiber, a high glycemic index, and a lot of added sugar should be eaten in minimal amounts.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that carbohydrates should be avoided completely. Believe it or not, they are necessary! Carbs should make up 40-60% of your daily calorie consumption.

Now that you know what carbs are best to indulge in, you can make better choices. Enjoy! HFW Jennifer Smedley is a health science student at Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis who primarily focuses her studies on topics related to women’s health. Jen is passionate about empowering women to be the strong individuals that God created them to be. She believes that health is a spectrum of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual factors that combine to make the fabulous YOU. She plans to become a Physician Assistant specializing in women’s health. Information retrieved from the following sources: Brown, J. (2011).

Nutrition through the life cycle. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

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Health & Fitness

Park It!

Make Your Local Park Your Gym b y L is a Ma r ie Met zler

W

We often think of our local parks as a “kids

only” place, where monkey bars and swings beckon our children to play while we sit on the park bench content to watch. But the park is your playground too! Give a shout out to your friends this week and meet at the park instead of the gym. Pack a water bottle and a good attitude. Let’s get started at your local park!

You’ve Got Swagger!

Most parks offer a walking path. Amp up your leisurely stroll and burn more calories. If you have a stopwatch or timer on on your cell phone, you can use it to time some intervals. If not, pick a tree or something to mark the spot of starting and stopping. Walk at your normal pace but when you pass a marker start speed walking and pumping your arms. When you reach the next marker, slow back down and recover. If you’re using a stopwatch, walk for 2 minutes. Speed walk for 1 minute. Repeat until you complete a full lap.

Bench It No more sitting on the bench. You’re going to utilize it to work your upper and lower body with these simple exercises.

Bench Dips: Lower yourself, with back facing bench, place

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your hands (fingers pointed forward) on the bench, knees at 90 degrees and lower your butt until it almost reaches the ground. Straighten arms to push yourself back up.

Push Ups: Place hands on bench seat, shoulder width apart and walk feet back until your body is in straight line. Bend arms and lower chest to bench and push back up.

Step Ups: Place one foot on bench and step up with other foot. Step down with one leg, then the other . Repeat.

Side Step Ups: Stand sideways next to bench. Raise leg closest to bench and place foot on bench. Push off that leg and raise other leg to meet it on the bench. Do reps and switch sides.

Don’t Stop Monkeying Around!

The monkey bars have endless possibilities. Here’s a couple to get you started.

Hanging Leg Raise: Chose a bar above your head. Hold onto bar with overhand grip, legs dangling. Bring knees up to chest and release. Try a couple and keep working on it!

Playtime Pulls: Use the ladder rung and place feet on lowest rung. Reach up and grab the rung at end of arm’s reach. Sink down into a squat and pull yourself back up to the top rung.

Swing it, Sister!

Head to the swing set for more fun.

Rowing: Grab the chains, lean back, making your body tight and straight. Pull yourself back up until you’re standing straight.

Leg Swings: Stand on the swing seat and hold chains with elbows bent, hands at ears. Extend leg out, in front of body.

Return foot to seat and extend other leg. *Warm up with a leisurely walk first. Strive to do 10 reps of each exercise, unless otherwise noted. HFW Lisa Marie Metzler is a certified personal trainer and Fitness Contributor for Hope for Women Magazine. You’ ll often find her at the playground monkeying around.

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Health & Fitness

Oral Hygiene Gum Disease Can Hurt More Than Your Smile

b y Dr. Ju l ie L . St a nte

Y

ou r Or al H e alth Pl ays An I m p o r tant Ro le I n th e Ove r all Health of Your Body.

Bacteria Can Lead to Other Diseases As periodontal disease progresses, bacterial enzymes break down the gum tissue.

This allows bacteria to enter the body in several different ways, including the body’s circulatory system, even fueling an inflammatory response that can heighten the risk to other diseases. Some of these diseases can include cancer, diabetes, pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease. Multiple independent studies have shown that gum disease can even be possibly linked to the delivery of preterm, low-birth weight babies. Multiple published studies show that bacteria in plaque can be linked to many potential problems: • A potentially fatal disease called “infective endocarditis” in which the heart valves or inner lining becomes infected or inflamed can be caused by a number of bacteria entering your bloodstream.

• A weakened immune system that can diminish a person’s response to vaccines against hepatitis B and influenza and can slow wound healing can even be life threatening.

• A strong link has been made between periodontal diseases and certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma, leukemia and oral cancer.

• A 1997 study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that women with periodontal disease were seven times more likely to have preterm low-birth weight babies than women not affected by the disease.

Untreated chronic periodontal disease can cause many serious health complications for a diabetic.

What are the warning signs?

The evidence is stronger than ever that the health of your teeth and gums may have a significant impact on the overall health of your body. According to the Center for Disease Control’s National Health and Nutrition Survey, more than 60 million Americans show signs of mild, moderate or severe periodontal (gum) disease.

Adults over 35 lose more teeth to periodontal disease than from cavities. In fact, three out of four adults are affected at some time in their life with this disease.

Behind those bright shining smiles, evidence shows that there is a strong correlation between periodontal disease and other diseases in the body, which strongly supports an oral systemic correlation.

• Red, tender or swollen gums • Bleeding gums • Loose teeth • Persistent bad breath • Painful chewing • Food accumulation in gums • Sensitive teeth • Receding gums • Pus between gums or teeth Although the warning signs can be evident, sometimes it takes a dentist to make the correlation between other possible diseases that often cause no pain and have few, if any, symptoms.

What is Periodontal (Gum) Disease?

What Can Be Done To Prevent Periodontal Disease?

A chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth, it is a disease caused by plaque, a sticky film that is always forming on your teeth. Plaque contains bacteria that produce harmful toxins. If your teeth aren’t cared for properly, the toxins can irritate and inflame the gums. Inflamed gums can pull away from the teeth and form spaces called pockets, which provide an unwelcome home for more bacteria.Untreated pockets means the disease can worsen. The bone and other tissues that support the teeth can be further damaged.

Good oral hygiene is crucial in preventing periodontal disease. By thorough daily brushing and flossing, you can remove these germs and help prevent this disease. In addition, a professional cleaning at a minimum of every six months can be just what you need to get to those hidden places where your toothbrush and flossing might have missed. A thorough dentist should show you how to floss, how to brush, how to choose the right oral hygiene products and how to care for sensitive teeth. Gum disease can cause serious problems, and can even be deadly.

It’s more important than ever to brush and floss twice a day, get dental checkups every six months and see your dentist right away with any problems. It could save your life and give you back your smile. HFW

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Home

Go Natural Decorating with natural elements in

your home will bring a timeless appeal. b y A sh l ie Ky le s

W

Whe n re decor ating our homes , we tend to overlook the beauty of natural elements already present. We spend a great deal of money buying the latest styles and products that we’ll eventually trade out in three to five years. But if you start with a natural base, there are plenty of ways to build upon it with little effort. Many of the items you would incorporate are readily and easily available.

Many popular decorating styles begin with a natural core to them, such as country, eco-friendly and contemporary. The look begins with playing on the basics. A natural look is uncluttered, airy and calm with just the right blend of texture and color.

Following is a general overview of what it takes to master a natural decorating style.

Choose colors inspired by natural objects in their purest form. These colors are typically soft and understated; with white usually topping the list. A beach, sky or mountainous landscape can all be great sources of inspiration for color. There you will find mixtures of stone or sandy colors: grey, taupe and copper to name a few. Should you choose to throw in a splash of bold or rich color, there will be plenty of opportunities to do so with the accessories. Even in those instances, you will still draw the colors from nature such as spices or plants.

Another key characteristic is utilizing natural materials.

Hardwood and stone are recurring themes in natural environments. They are durable and versatile, making great selections for furniture, flooring or walls. However, you could consider any combination of materials to use throughout the room such as bamboo, rattan, wicker, linen and burlap for items such as wall coverings, rugs and accessories. These items will bring in a degree of texture, which is another important element of design.

Be careful to not overdo one or more of these, as a key rule of decorating in this style is evoking a sense of balance and harmony. Therefore, pair rough surfaces with smooth and

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hard ones with soft. Keep the area clear of clutter, use lots of natural lighting and make sure to bring a little greenery into the space. The main elements of design are space, line, color, shape, texture, form and value. And generally you will address the majority of these when you begin to make decisions about what natural objects you would like to integrate into your area.

While this is not an exhaustive explanation of the natural style, following the above basics is a sure way in creating a room that transcends time while remaining both comforting and visually appealing. If you keep in mind the general concept of simplicity and nature, you will be able to master the natural look. HFW Ashlie Kyles has over 10 years’ decorating experience and is the owner of Bellanomics, LLC, a faith-based coaching company. Currently, she resides in the Atlanta area working towards her B.A. in Religion/Ministry.

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