Summer 2017 femmes UNDER 40

femmes UNDER 40

Such Deep Thoughts from One So Young NICOLE STONE on Depression

Jennifer Long Shares SIZZLIN SUMMER MUST-HAVES UNDER $20

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femmes Summer 2017

FROM 3906

I believe each day gives us something; a few minutes of afternoon light casting intricate shadows on a dining room wall, or a delicious Pesto because the basil got knee-high. Maybe some things broke my heart....... I write about them all. My name is Becca. I live in Dallas but I left my heart in Florence, Italy. I'd like to thank you for reading.

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femmes SUMMER 2017

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femme = femme sister = sister Robin, Isabell & Becca

As femmes INTERNATIONAL grows, our recognition of and gratitude for each other, grows too.

Appreciation for you, our UNDER 40 femmes, and how you look at the world with a view different in some ways than ours, we older femmes who have cleared paths for those to follow, has inspired us to launch femmes UNDER 40!

Maybe your life or business has driven you to the edge; thoughts, dreams, hopes, or fantasies took a different turn and you find yourself thinking, “Gee, I hope I get through this.” That can be depressing, but contributing writer, Nicole Stone, shares a series on Depression and offers hope and a message that you are NOT ALONE. Women around the world are finding their voices and stepping up into roles where they may be undervalued, but are gaining respect and recognition because failure is not an option. Read their stories as we share how they are standing tall and carving their own paths.

There are many women locally, nationally, and internationally, who are making changes in their communities, following their passions, educating themselves in pertinent arenas of life and business, and most importantly sharing and collaborating. femmes UNDER 40 Magazine is excited to introduce two outstanding RISING STARS! They are taking steps for personal growth of love, sharing, and giving, in hopes of making a kinder, better world. Enjoy their profiles and see for yourself why they are up and coming.

In the magazine, you will find key sections that each hold valuable content that will educate, inspire, and motivate you: Features on topics of pertinence, Biz Bytes is for those wanting to take their careers to the next level, Healthy Style offers options for healthier living in all aspects of life and Inspire Me does just that!

In this issue you will learn about the Thermography Center of Dallas, what thermography is and how it can predict important health issues you might not be aware of or know about yourself. And do not miss the beauty products for summer that are under $20 or the father’s story of love for a daughter who taught him to breathe.

If you are hungry; craving nourishment for your soul that can wake you up every day with eyes on the horizon, putting one foot in front of the other, we hope femmes UNDER 40 Magazine will feed that hunger and set your world on fire!

Thanks for reading and sharing, Robin, Isabell & Becca

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Bare Pt. 1: Depression

By Nicole Stone February 21, 2017 nicoleqstone

Wake up. It’s time to get up, we need to get ready. Wake up.

You have so much to do, you’re wasting time. Wake up.

Don’t snooze the alarm again. Wake up.

We need to do the dishes and start some laundry, work is in an hour. Wake up.

We have a paper to finish, you know it’s due soon. Wake up.

We need to cook for the week and start going to the gym.

You need to start taking better care of yourself. Wake up.

Why are you being like this, you need to get up right now. Wake up.

You’re hopeless, why do you even bother?

I give up.

But I can’t give up I have too much to do.

I guess I’ll get up.

Even though I don’t want to. Even though I want to crawl back in bed, slither back under the sheets and go back to sleep.

I guess I’ll get up.

Even though I’m tired of feeling this way, I’m tired of being sad, I’m tired of coming home to an empty room and crying to myself.

I’m tired of everyone else being happy around me and not being able to share that happiness.

I guess I’ll get up.

Even though I want to give up, to ignore all my responsibilities and stay in this room. Windows drawn shut, door closed. Lights off.

I have to get up.

People are counting on me. They can’t see me like this. You’re being weak, you’re being stupid.

Get it together.

We have a group project due today and you are presenting.

Get it together.

Don’t let your friends see you like this, you’re supposed to be the strong one.

You’re supposed to be the one people look to for advice, for strength.

Get it together.

You don’t have time to feel this way.

Suck it up.

This is for those who battle depression every day. This is for the ones looking, hoping for a little ounce of light to peek through their dark times. This is for the people who think they are alone and lost. That was me once, it still is me at times.

It took me a long time before I realized that I was not fighting this fight alone, and neither are you.

It feels as if you’re going crazy you think things you can’t control you feel sad when you’re supposed to be feeling happy. It’s not something you can just “suck up,” and move on from. It’s a lasting, dark shadow that haunts your steps every minute of every day. Some days are better than others but sometimes you’re so lost you don’t know what to feel, you’re drained. But you’re not alone.

You are loved. You are cherished. Even in those dark times.

You are not hopeless. You are not weak.

You are strong.

Nicole Stone, Student, Entrepreneur, Author

10 Habits of Happy Successful Women

1. {Appreciate Life} Recognize the full worth of life and don't take it for granted.

2. {Choose Your Friends Wisely} Your vibe attracts your tribe. Who are the top five people in your circle of influence? Prosperous and positive or Negative Aunt Nellie and Broke Uncle Bob? Surround yourself with a community that will support you in your goals and aspirations.

3. {Be Considerate} Think of others. Value + respect their opinions.

4. {Personal Development} A plant only keeps growing and blooming with proper care, water and soil. What and how often are you feeding your mind? Are you investing in your personal growth with books, coaching, mentoring?

5. {Creative Problem Solving} Think outside the box. Don't be afraid to go left when everyone else is going right.

6. {Passion + Purpose} Find what sets your soul on FIRE. Learn to do it well and you can turn your passion into a paycheck!

7. {Laugh} It truly IS the best medicine.

8. {Forgive} Holding on to junk will eat a hole in your soul. Learn to let stuff GO. 9. {Gratitude} Get an attitude of gratitude and practice it DAILY. Want to take this a step further?

Start a gratitude journal. It will change your perspective and your life when you focus on what is going right and your many blessings instead of what is going wrong.

10. {Invest in Relationships} Want more success in your life and business? Learn to build PEOPLE.

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Is your Business Going in the Right Direction?

By Melinda Cooper

There is no doubt each business owner begins with a certain idea in our mind or at least a thought of how we envision how the business would turn out. After all there is a reason you started your business; especially with a goal in mind.

Have you met your goal? Or are you still working at it? With the way the internet has created a rocket of information you might consider if you are close to your goal. Or is it time to revamp? Maybe the goal should be cut up into small bites in order to allow the opportunity to indeed take the steps in the right direction moving you into fulfilling your original thought.

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What kind of ROI are you getting from your website?

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Is your social media bringing in the Traffic that you need?

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How about your referrals?

We as business owners get caught up working each day either building the business or putting out the fires. Yet we must take time to review our focus forward and see where we need to delegate duties that can keep us moving forward.

Part of moving forward is indeed making certain we are seen. That’s right; if you are 13

not seen then you are not doing business.

This also means that merely knowing everyone is looking for information on the internet; knowing they are looking for answers right at their fingertips and knowing that information is readily available to them isn’t enough. Fortunately or unfortunately, this means they can begin to make their decisions on doing business with you or moving onto the next business inside that readily available information.

connection that you become a leader in your own field. They begin to connect with you before they ever meet you and they hopefully begin to consider you a trustworthy source.

This process pushes you into looking at your everyday processes, thinking beyond today and considering you company’s communication. Just a little preparation, a little more effort into making certain your information is driving your company into the right position. Or shall we say attracting the ‘right audience’ to come take a look at your information.

So we are not able to deny this is a part of our everyday work process. Do you have the right information for your business being shown to all who are looking for you?

Nowadays it is a major difference for people who are attracted to your website, your blogs, your content or your postings throughout social media over those who will pass you by simply because your social media isn’t covering what they are seeking.

When you take a moment to look over your company’s message consider this:

The principal analyst at Forrester Research, Jeff Ernst says, “Business buyers don’t ‘buy’ your product or service, they ‘buy into’ your perspective and approach to solving their problems”. When we do things right we are able to provide the ‘right’ approach that they are looking for or giving them enough information through your social media

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What problem are you solving for your client

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Are you clear and concise in your point of view, your services, and solving the problem

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Do you frame your information in terms of value that you bring helping your audience to see new possibilities

These are merely the beginning steps to making certain when people come to your website, your blog, your posts that you are what your audience can expect from you.

They are looking for consistent with what your mission or purpose is for your business.

Like any other resource they want to know you were here yesterday and will do your best to be there tomorrow!

Melinda Cooper, creator of Living the Dream Business is living her dream helping others visualize, then live theirs. www.livingthedreambusiness.com

14

Are Your Knees Knockin’?

By Susan Hamilton Ever get so scared you tremble? See yourself walking to the front of an unfriendly room to share bad news and possibly be recorded, shared on social media and ostracized?

Yeah, it could happen to you.

You saw it, didn’t you? You understood exactly how awful that would be, in just a sentence that created a picture AND an emotion in your mind.

We have this habit of creating picture stories for ourselves. Without any way of knowing the outcome, we think that if we imagine the worst case scenario, we’ll be safer somehow. We use our imaginations to conjure up all the meddlesome details and things that could go wrong until we might actually talk ourselves out of that opportunity or strategy or relationship or next step.

We do it all the time.

We do it for our kids, our husbands, friends and coworkers. We do it not even realizing we do it. We do it in everyone’s ‘best interest’.

But the future is unknown. Whether the awful sequence you imagine happens or not, the time you spent worrying about it was stolen from you. In truth, you have no way of knowing whether your worst case scenario OR the most incredible and amazing thing EVER would play out.

Isn’t it weird how we gravitate to worry and doubt, and call that being careful? Isn’t it strange that people around us are so willing to pour water on our anticipation of an amazing experience, in the hopes that they keep us from getting our hopes up?

Yeesh! I’ve so heard enough of that garbage. If either way, you have no idea what the outcome will be, how is it any worse to expect good things? And on top of that, your imagination happens to have a purpose. You create everything you experience first in your mind, and then through your words. You MUST have extreme vision because it evokes passion and fire that you do not have when you expect the worst.

Passion keeps us in the game when it inevitably gets hard. Vision keeps us focused when every cell in our brain is looking for a way out. Stick-to-it-iv-ness, as my grandfather would call it, is something our culture lacks today. We’re too fluffy. We want to feel good throughout the process and we want everything we endeavor or consider embarking upon to make us ‘happy’.

But the reality is that if it doesn’t make you tremble, if it doesn’t make you a little - or a LOT - scared as hell, it will never grow you into who you need to be to manage success. Ever watch a plant coming out of the dirt? It will ALWAYS stretch to the sun. It knows what encourages its growth. Do you?

Ask yourself, “If everything I ever wanted happened today, could I manage the volume? Could I manage the task force? Could I manage the record-keeping? Could I manage the celebrity?”

Because odds are, you have a few steps to take before here becomes there. Change doesn’t feel good, friends. And we never stand still. We’re either growing or fading - nothing exists that’s just in-between.

Whether you are moving forward, achieving your dreams one step at a time, or refusing to move and therefore dwindling - both feel like hell. Neither is pleasant. You think forward motion should feel great, but eventually you will shake and shiver as you are faced with the next step. You think your safety zone is better than facing your fears, but the truth is you’re suffering, and it’s lonely and dark and helpless.

Both are painful, full of emotion, and horrifying.

But you get to choose. Every time. Good or evil, abundance or loss, integrity or deception, great big dreams or a money-pit that never develops into anything useful for anyone.

I’ve got news for ya. Your community needs a powerful, capable, influential, lucrative YOU. That will never happen without a major leap. It will feel like a fault line just broke, but it’s really a breaking free of all the things that held you back. Don’t freak out, keep going!

Children, women, and men are hungry, abused, uneducated, untrained, in need of clothes and a place to live, and the solution lies not only in the beautiful hands of those who are willing to reach out physically in spite of their own circumstance, but the solution lies MAINLY in the ability of the business sector willing to shake a bit. More money = more time = everything necessary to solve the problems we face in our families, communities and organizations.

When your knees knock, will you be willing to imagine that everything you need is available to you to conquer and solve? Will you be willing to imagine laughing at your screw ups so your attitude doesn’t alienate the people you love? Will you be willing to go forward, even if it hurts?

Practice this: Look in the mirror. Square your shoulders. Raise your head. SMILE. Look yourself right in the eye and say, “TODAY, I am one step closer to the life I desire, to the purpose inside me, and I am capable of successfully addressing all I encounter. Today, I am not afraid to do something new, to stretch beyond my limitations and to raise the bar.”

And then remember to go encourage somebody else.

It’s hard out there.

Susan Hamilton is the owner, host and editor of The OffBeat Business Show & Magazine 214-714-0495 or Susan@OffBeatBusiness.com

THE NEW GOLD STANDARD IN ANTI-AGING?

By Kathryn White, M.D. I’m sure most of you have heard of Laser Skin Resurfacing or Fractional Resurfacing. Until recently, these treatments have been the gold standard in ablative skin remodeling and skin rejuvenation. With excellent results and minimum “down time,” these laser treatments have provided us with a way to roll back the years more easily and efficiently. As we all know, with time comes change and ladies, times are changing! Venus Concepts has done it again by reintroducing what it is to be top of the line in aesthetic medicine. Now FDA approved, the Venus Viva™ is taking over the aesthetic scene and changing the way we look at ablative skin resurfacing.

Does the thought of laser or resurfacing make you nervous? Maybe you are looking for something a bit less invasive but need some of the great benefits the Viva offers? You do have other choices to make your skin look and feel great.

Bellus Medical created a device called the SkinPen II. It is an advanced micro-needling device for inoffice treatments. Micro-needling has been used in aesthetics for decades but had many flaws so it did not become popular until now. The SkinPen procedure temporarily creates hundreds of microchannels without being ablative or using heat. Your body looks at those tiny little channels as wounds and the skin starts doing what the skin does best; it starts to heal itself. Part of the healing process of the skin is to create collagen and of course the production of collagen evens out texture and irregularities, reduces lines and wrinkles and reduces the depth of acne scars.

The Venus Viva™ utilizes NanoFractional RF™ to create micro dermal channels in the skin that are similar to other ablative modalities except, with the Venus Viva™, the micro-channels are smaller, which means less healing time and less treatment discomfort while at the same time having an exceptional depth of penetration to reach the deeper layers of the dermis.

Now, we can’t talk about The Gold Standard of in office treatments without emphasizing the importance of a proper homecare regimen to maximize the benefit of any skin treatment.

NEOCUTIS is medical grade skincare that is top of the line in skincare products. The NEOCUTIS products have active and potent ingredients formulated in a way that helps your skin get the most benefit. It is our favorite line for rebuilding and repairing skin at the cellular level and will maximize the benefits of any treatment we perform. We have a post-treatment kit designed especially for home care following either of these treatments. The care provided to your skin on a daily basis is extremely important to maximize the benefits of your treatments.

Unlike other ablative lasers, the Viva is safe for all skin types and will address many of the issues we face. The revolutionary NanoFractional RF™ also causes less inflammation in the skin than traditional fractional resurfacing modalities, minimizing the occurrence of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that can occur in darker skin tones after ablative treatments.

What can the Venus Viva™ accomplish?

Reduce signs of aging Tighten and firm lax skin Diminish deep lines and folds Decrease visible pore size Even out texture and irregularities Reduce acne scars Smooth neck and décolletage lines

Kathryn White, M.D. Praised for her approach to women’s health! www.kathrynwhitemd.com

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Indulgent Decadence with No Footprints

By Julianne Crenshaw

Relax and Rejuvenate. It’s good for you. And it can be good for the planet as well. I have reviewed many outstanding spas but the following not only offer an array of restorative treatments, integrative wellness programs, absolutely stunning views, sweat-your-butt-off fitness, and award-winning food—while being committed to sustainable earth policies and practices in the running of their spas.

May their accomplishments inspire us all!

Can you think of anything more sublimely blissful than being pampered in the ultimate of luxury?

Ahhh…possibly spending that time at a destination spa that’s as gentle on the planet as it is you.

I have selected several of about 50 spas around the country that strive beyond just offering superior services and amenities but take steps to assure they are working diligently to minimize waste stream and conserve natural resources through energy and water conservation, compliance with environmental legislation and following best environmental practices and building community partnerships to raise awareness and create positive environmental change.

You will find that while the following destination spas embody distinctive facilities and guest experiences they are also dedicated to practices and programs that pay respect to, and lessen our footprint on, our changing environment.

No matter where you live around the country there is no doubt a fabulous spa within easy distance offering you a positive journey; a sanctuary where beauty and well-being converge and a place to bring back balance to your mind, body and soul. Enjoy a sensory journey of your own at a destination spa near you.

Wilderness Adventure Spa at Spring Creek Ranch Sprawled 1,000 feet above Jackson Hole, Wyoming the Wilderness Adventure Spa at Spring Creek Ranch offers a dose of Old West charm—from the smell of the woodburning fireplaces to the candlelit massages that take place in teepees at night.

Experience: The Divine Detox Wrap. A juniper-cypress massage followed by a rosemary citron scrub opens the pores and draws out the bad stuff. The "Divine" part comes from the scalp massage you'll get while wrapped in warm towels. www.springcreekranch.com Lapis Spa at Fontainebleau

Miami, Florida is home to the Lapis Spa which is as decadent as it sounds; a luxurious retreat designed with your well-being in mind. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, indulge yourself in an oasis that embraces the beauty and energy of its setting to create a transformative experience for body, mind and spirit.

And there’s no need to leave your guy at home: Lapis Spa offers a number of treatments specifically designed for men, including a deep sports massage with heated rocks.

Experience: A Lapis Water Journey. Every spa treatment includes a plunge into their signature mineral water jet bath, a walk through their rain tunnel, and a soothing eucalyptus steam before or after your pampering. www. fontainebleau.com

Westglow Resort and Spa Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Westglow Resort & Spa is a top-rated luxury destination spa where personal service is an honored tradition. They pamper guests with serious personal attention since staff to guest ratio is 4:1. Inside the restored Greek Revival mansion, a perfect place to find renewal of the mind, body, and spirit you can partake in a total wellness makeover, starting with a customized stress management assessment and spa experience.

Experience: Mountain Body Salt Glow. Experience the rejuvenation of their signature salt glow which blends ancient sea salts with intoxicating sweet smells of tangerine and lavender essential oils that gently exfoliate, re-mineralize, and nourish, leaving your skin noticeably glowing and soft to the touch. Included is their Vichy shower making the salt glow a spa favorite. www. westglowresortandspa.com

The Spa at The Hotel Hershey What is better than rich luscious chocolate? Having your body, mind and soul pampered with its decadence at The Spa at the Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania! You’ll be transported to a world of excellence and luxury, marvel at the spa’s beautifully colored stain glass windows, polished marble landings, warm pecan paneling, and breathtaking views of their majestic gardens. With bowls of Hershey's Kisses and carafes of hot chocolate in nearly every room, the spa uses all forms of antioxidant-rich chocolate (even the beans!) in their wide range of massages, facials, and pedicures.

Experience: The Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry. A signature chocolate infused treatment featuring a Strawberry Parfait Scrub with heady aromas that smell as luscious as the name sounds followed by a rich Chocolate Fondue Wrap. What could be more delicious! www.chocolatespa.com

Travaasa Hana For the ultimate traditional Hawaiian experience with five start service overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Travaasa Hana in Maui is it. Their spa treatments go far beyond pampering and indulgence, reflecting Hana, their passion for, and knowledge of, the human body.

And Travaasa Hana is the only spa in the US to certify all its therapists in Lomilomi, a traditional Hawaiian massage practiced by native healers.

Experience: The Ho`opa`a (meaning “to complete�). This treatment includes a detoxifying body massage and clay and algae wrap with myrtle, lemon, and juniper essential oils. www.travaasa.com/hana

The Greenbrier Spa

The only mineral spring spa in the world to receive a Forbes 5-star rating, the award-winning West Virginia spa, The Greenbrier, focuses on providing both soothing and curative treatments designed to ease sore muscles, improve skin composition and revitalize overall health and well-being.

Exceptional gifts of nature comprise the essence of The Greenbrier Spa experience.

Experience: The Detox Kur. Eliminating the toxins from your body and remove impurities from your life by embarking on a journey to a healthier you with the Detox Kur. You start with a detoxifying bath, followed by their Swiss Shower and Scotch Spray. A botanical mud wrap draws impurities from your body while balancing the skin and improving elasticity. And you finish with a petite mineral-infused massage. www.greenbrier.com

Julianne Crenshaw is a freelance writer from Tennessee.

SIZZLIN SUMMER MUST-HAVES

By JayRae MUA

Facebook: JayRae MUA Instagram: jayrae0622 YouTube: JayRae MUA

Maybelline Master Fix Finishing Spray An essential for your everyday makeup routine. This finishing spray feels cooling on the skin and keeps your makeup in place all day! Non-sticky, lightweight which is ideal for hit summers!

Airspun Loose Translucent Powder Perfect for all skin types, this powder assures your face will not run off in the heat!

Coconut Ultra Hydrating Paper Mask Drenches your skin in coconut extract after a day in the sun. It is a lifesaver!

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads With textured sides, these pads remove all traces of makeup, dirt and oil while gently exfoliating to leave you with baby soft skin.

Nivea In-Shower Nourishing Body Lotion Summer time calls for smooth, glowing skin. It is so easy to hydrate your skin hydrated from the shower, locking in hydration for 24 hours!

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“SUPERfoods” Everyone Needs

By Carla McMahon

Imagine a “superfood” powerful enough to help you lower your cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart attack and cancer, and, for an added bonus, put you in a better mood. While they strengthen bones, help prevent chronic diseases, improve your eyesight, and even sharpen your mind, “superfoods”, as they have been tagged, not only have wonderful health benefits, but may also keep you slim or so new evidence suggests. They are nutritional powerhouses which should be packed into your daily diet.And best of all, unlike a drug, there are no side effects.

Guess what? These life‐altering “superfoods” are available right now in your local supermarket. One thing they all have in common: "Every “superfood” is going to be a 'real' unprocessed food." You won't find fortified potato chips in the “superfood” category."

What are some of the “superfoods”, you ask. They include: grapefruit, black beans, oats, avocado, salmon, blueberries, broccoli, brown rice, pears, oranges, pumpkin, turkey, spinach, tomatoes and green or black tea. Experts say dozens of easy‐to‐find “superfoods” can help ward off so much, taste delicious and help you lose weight so why would you not add them to your diet.

It's easy to add healthful foods like black beans, salmon — even blueberries — to your menus. With delicious dishes you can forget that the ingredients have good‐for‐you "phytonutrients," substances credited with warding off everything from the common cold to more serious ailments like heart disease, certain cancers and weight loss. With flavorful and easy recipes to follow, indulge in foods that taste good and just happen to promote good health.

Dine with Mother Nature

By Sonja Kabell

Eating seasonal is an exceptional way to get great tasting food, full of flavor at a lower price. Now that summer is here, there are a slew of fabulous produce for you to choose from.

oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can cause damage.

Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers" and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals. Raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are at their peak during the summer.

Grab a bowl full for your “berry” delicious afternoon snack!

Cucumbers are another favorite. They taste great sliced and dipped in a low fat ranch dressing. Can be put in a salad, floating in water to flavor it or used as an eye mask!

Go with the original fast food… fruit and vegetables!

Easy to add into your daily repertoire, the following fruit and vegetables are packed with a nutritious punch! These are some of my favorites!

Great for you, your kids and grandkids!

Berries are the bomb! They are chock full of great antioxidants and Vitamin C. Antioxidants are nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use

Cucumbers are mostly made from water which serves as a great hydrating food for the body. I carry cut cucumbers with me in a small lunchbox.

Crisp and tasty treats!

Looking for a Probotic, well look no further, cabbage is your vegetable. This green goddess is packed with fiber and Vitamin C. It is a natural probotic and keeps the digestion working!

Sonja Kabell, www.creatinghealthylifestyles.com

ther·mog·ra·phy THərˈmäɡrəfē/ Noun

By Robin Roberson

Yes, the skeptic in me roared but the believer in me whispered, “Okay, prove it!” And Dr. Michael Einsohn, D.C., founder of the Thermography Center of Dallas, did exactly that. When agreeing to take the test, I purposely failed to reveal on patient forms that I have an autoimmune issue, lupus, which in my estimation should throw up red flags in a thermogram. So, yes, Dr. Michael bring it on!

The 30-minute test is simple, quick and non-invasive. An initial set of measurements is taken of precise skin temperatures of body organs.

Much like trigger points, acupuncture meridians, your body has spots where temperature may be accurately monitored. Some such are those across your forehead, hence the thermometers that you run across your face instead of placing under your tongue.

Same basic idea.

Once they have readings from your whole body, they activate your body's regulatory system by chilling you down. Not to the degree of cryo-theraphy, brrr, but a ten-minute cooling period (those with trouble standing can lean against a high stool) standing in only

your underwear. This is followed by a second set of measurements, a true reading. The test data is then computed by the system and the results are returned for consultation with your doctor and in my case, Dr. Michael, who firmly says, “This technology is the most comprehensive evaluation of the functioning of the internal organs of the human body.”

Skin temperature determined by influences of the nervous system’s innervations to the capillary beds constrict or dilate in response to the cool air. Your thermogram is very specific to your unique biochemical profile because your skin temperature is influenced by your nervous system’s innervations which dilate in cool air. As your nervous system reacts to the cooler air, signals travel from your spinal cord through the nerves that innervate the organs where temperature and information can then be measured. The regulation thermography tool measures the difference between the two temperatures taken before and after the cool air exposure. This data is compared to a database of healthy patients and reveals deviations that identify patterns that are reflected in easy to understand charts and reports. The reports are objectively, mathematically written and available the same day. Comparing temperatures before and after stress has proven to correlate with imbalances often related to degenerative or inflammatory conditions.

A definite benefit of the Thermography Center of Dallas was their openness and easy response to all my questions. The medic in me wants to understand the technology, but reasoning behind why it is such a valuable test. How is it going to benefit me, what will it show and how does it determine areas that might be issues of concern? I was very comfortable and at ease with the professionalism and knowledge of all the staff.

We all glow. Your body emits thermal energy (in the form of infrared heat) that can be used to reveal some of what is going on in your body but that is hidden from sight and not yet felt through symptoms like pain or discomfort.

You can use the information revealed to detect abnormalities and correlations to health issues, as the theory behind thermal imaging, also called digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI), is that normal and abnormal tissues have different heat signatures. So, a thermogram, when read by an experienced examiner and run through the proper computer analyses, may reveal the infrared evidence of a potential or actual health issue that may not yet be detectable by other means, such as an X-ray, CAT scan, or MRI. In my book, that is major prevention!

Thermography offers several benefits: With early warning of a potential problem, you can take immediate action to address the issue with your primary care physician, providing the time to carefully consider all your treatment options and perhaps even heading off the problem before it becomes serious.

In many cases, thermography can be useful to track changes in a condition. Once you have a baseline thermal reading, subsequent thermograms will reveal temperature deviations over time. This may provide valuable information to you and your physician for gauging whether a condition is getting better or not, and even whether a treatment is working well or not.

Although thermography cannot see deep into the body, it can detect many of the thermal indications of abnormalities near the surface, including those often associated with:

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis Arterial blockages Soft-tissue and sports injuries Carpal tunnel syndrome Spinal disc and back issues Metabolic disorders Auto-immune disease Rheumatic conditions, including vaculitis Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorder) Nerve problems, diabetic neuropathy Some thyroid conditions Internal growths and some kinds of tumors

The results are documented in a graph, which revealed my body reactions, the functional health of my various organs and their neurological control systems. This graph was read by Dr. Michael but your results can be sent to your physician or a licensed thermography interpreter who will send a completed written report your health practitioner.

In the report, there are three levels per sections of your body of concern. After my reading, Einsohn performed a kinesiology exam and further determine areas for concern and those to not worry about. From the graph, there were several areas in mid-range and one or two in high-range.

For a brief, moment, my heart stood still. Heart issue, pancreas. Yikes! Why did I take this test?

Do I want to know this? Breathe, Robin! Yes, I want to know more. Get on with the exam. As my rational brain took over, I remembered I did not tell them I had lupus and this report seems to

point to autoimmune or mid body issues. Lightbulb, this is my lupus. Good catch by the thermogram!

And after examination, Dr. Michael assures me there are no areas of major concern but I have issues mid-body. At this time, I told the truth and a slow grin spread across his face and his eyes searched mine, as he knows his exam PROVED to this skeptic that thermography is an excellent diagnostic tool and especially since it can determine breast abnormalities many years before a standard mammogram. I am a believer, as it really did point out issues that I was aware of or felt might be something I was experiencing. Luckily, nothing critical, but certainly things I can change for better health.

I am working to change my body’s acidity to a more alkaline based one and learning how my body metabolizes certain foods. By taking small steps, I know I can make giant leaps to healthier living.

Call the Thermography Center, ask for Marta Cordell, and tell her I sent you. She can provide all the information you may need, book an appointment for a consultation or examination or walk you through the whole process. She performed my exam and I asked a million questions that she patiently and thoroughly answered. I am a happy client, better informed about my overall health and was given options for change.

Dr. Michael Einsohn D.C. is founder of the Dallas Thermography Center and has analyzed over 10,000 thermography reports. He also specializes in Applied Kinesiology and Contact Reflex Analysis. Dr. Einsohn has a BSc degree and graduated from Parker College of Chiropractic where he also studied Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique (B.E.S.T.). He has practiced in Dallas, TX since 1987 and, also travels to teach other health professionals.

214.352.8758 www.thermographycenter.com

My Daughter Taught Me to Breathe!

by TeeVee Aguirre

It was one of the absolute toughest periods of my life. My marriage was falling apart and I was barely maintaining my sanity.

Somehow, I had to keep it together. My girls needed their father to figure it out. Though truth be told they played a big role.

Anastacia was not even a year old and she played the biggest role during this tumultuous time.

She hated being put to bed and would get fussy with me every single night. EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. I made it my personal responsibility to make this little human being go meemees.

So, I developed this clever system where I would place her on my chest and we would both fall asleep together. She would groan and tussle for a few minutes and then her little body would start to go under... one Z at a time. On difficult days, it would take 20-30 minutes. Somehow, I had to maintain my composure and stay calm no matter what.

This would only be possible if I controlled my own emotions. I had to control my breathing and any anxious/ nervous / angry energy I had that particular day. This was actually the most difficult part. I had to get my shit together or she wasn't going to sleep.

During especially rough personal days, I would just pick her up and lay her on my chest... and just breathe together. She enjoyed it as well and would play along as if it was a game.

We continued this routine for years and we both looked forward to it. Sadly, these days she's just too big. She's about to be 13 in a few months. Blah.

But I will forever be grateful to her for teaching me to breathe and be patient even when the world is falling apart around me.

TeeVee Aguirre, www.teeveeaguirre.com/

What Really Calls to You?

by Denise Ackerman Do you ever have those moments when you are in the midst of something and you lose all sense of time? You feel totally present within yourself, within the activity, and within the moment? Think about it. When does that happen to you?

This happened to me recently as I worked with a fellow coconspirator on an upcoming event. She’s a coach too; the kind of person I love to hang with. The class is all about vision and purpose, two of my favorite topics. It is in fact, something I am passionate about.

With our heads together and our hearts totally in the moment, we got lost in time. Before we knew it, three hours had zipped by. We were astounded that so much time had elapsed yet those hours were sweet with delight and an inspiration for both of us. We were in our zones.

What is your zone of delight? Do you ever allow yourself to play there?

Think about a moment so

delicious you can still close your eyes and feel it. We are all gifted with a passion for something and it is in this place in our soul that real magic happens. My magic happens when I’m creating and/or inspiring others. For someone else it could be serving others, leading, teaching, or building something.

The author, Danielle La Porte, says in her book, The Desire Map, that it’s our “light to steer by.” Our deepest desires for completeness and connection to ourselves are where we find our own zone of delight. Imagine how sweet it would be if those moments were knitted together in a daily tapestry called our life? How different life could be.Today, take a moment to consider your own zone of delight. What calls to you? If you are not having enough moments like that in your life, then find some time to allow yourself to do it. Put some delight back into you!

Denise Ackerman/Business and Life Strategist, Speaker and Coach/214‐478‐3244

Rising femme NICOLE STONE

Tell me something about your home life...where you grew up, siblings, experiences that maybe affected your life path.

I was born in Magnolia, Arkansas and moved to Texas when I was in fourth grade.

When I was little I loved to dance. I was in every dance class you could think of. I wish I stuck with it but when I was 3 years old I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. It was about the size of a baseball and I had to immediately have surgery. The only thing I can remember from that time was a nurse coming to take me away from my mom and carrying me to prep for surgery. After, the doctors didn’t think I would make it, they had no choice but to tell my parents to go and say their final goodbyes. The following year the tumor had returned, this time the size of a grapefruit.

A surgery was scheduled and done and every year I had to go back for MRIs to check to see if there were signs of it returning. It truly is a God given miracle that I am alive and well today.

When did you know you were a writer/blogger? Tell us about your blog, the purpose, etc.

I actually never intended to be a writer. I am a Strategic Communications major at Oklahoma State and for our graduating portfolio we are required to have a website with up to date blog posts. It took me a while to really figure out what I wanted to write about on my blog. I discuss my struggle with anxiety and depression in some of my very first posts and I’ve grown to love writing. I put my heart and soul into my blog because it helps ease my anxiety. I love to cook, just like my blog, it gives me something to focus on other than the worries and stresses of life. My blog is where I share my life experiences and also my cooking adventures. I know a lot of college kids struggle to keep a healthy lifestyle during those 4 years so that is what my recipes are for!

By sharing what I’ve been through, I want to be a light for someone going through dark times. I want to inspire people to be the best they can be.

What do you believe in? As a millennial what is important to you in the world you will help shape?

I believe that it’s so important to give back and love each other. No matter who it is. I believe that everyone has their own struggles and obstacles in their life and everyone needs a little love.

That is what I try to do in every little interaction with anyone, to show love, show kindness and then you are doing your part to make this world a better place. One step at a time.

How do you give back to your community?

So, my family and I started a non-profit about 4 years ago called The Source of Hope. It’s based in Dallas and we strive to just help anyone we can. Whether it be to find a job, giving them a few home cooked meals, or even just praying over them. Whatever we can do to give that person a better life.

"Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a person to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.”

Find Nicole at: www.facebook.com/nicoleqstone/

Rising femme SIERRA BARNES

Tell us something about your home life...where you grew up, siblings, experiences that maybe affected your life path.

I grew up in Dallas, the oldest of three, living with my family in my Great Grandparent’s house that they built when my mom was little. My family has always supported me and my art and are always there when I need help. I love them so much and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for doing all that they do for me, especially my Mom. She’s my best friend and is always there for me. She’s my rock and I don’t know what I’d do without her. We have been through a lot together. In 2002 I was diagnosed with Craniopharyngioma (brain tumor), my Uncle passed away in 2011, and my Dad recently passed away in May 2016. My Dad was one of my biggest supporters and I believe he is watching over me, supporting me and is proud of what I’ve done so far. All of this hasn’t been easy. But it’s inspired and motivated me as an artist as well as a person. All that I’ve been through has only made me better and stronger. My goal is to turn these obstacles and challenges into something beautiful through my art and poetry to help and inspire others.

When did you know you were an artist? Tell us about your art, especially about the poems with each painting.

I created one of my first paintings when I was five years old, right after my brain surgery. It was an abstract named Complicated and I still it today as a reminder of what I can and did do. Art has always been a part of my life and I’ve always expressed myself and my emotions through my art and poetry. One day I just decided to combine them both. Some are very abstract and others are abstract figures, mostly in acrylic and watercolor paints. They come from a very emotional place, whether it be something I’m going through at that moment or something I’ve experienced in the past. Many things influence my art and poetry, but my daily life, things I observe, and things I’ve been through are just a few. Sometimes the painting inspires the poem and other times the poem inspires the painting. I know not everyone will get or understand my art and poetry and that’s okay. I know it will help and inspire those who it’s meant to; saying you are beautiful and don’t give up. With so much hate and judgment in this world, if you have the courage and the strength to live your dreams, be yourself, and not give up... I admire you!

Do you plan a career in art?

Yes, I’ve been in different shows and galleries in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and I’ve had my first solo art show in April 2016 at Art Is Life Studio. One of my dreams is to own my own art gallery.

I can’t image doing anything else but art. I like to think of my art as my calling. I am meant to do this!

How do you give back to your community?

In 2002 I was granted a wish from the Make a Wish Foundation Of North Texas to meet singer/actress Hilary Duff. Today, I continue to assist the Make a Wish Foundation by donating art for their Wish Night Auction and I’ve also raised money myself for Make a Wish. My goal is to find more opportunities to help others and to give back.

Find Sierra at http://rockdivaart.wixsite.com/artistsierrabarnes

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214.924.4609

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