September October 2016 by femmes INTERNATIONAL Magazine

femmes INTERNATIONAL

He Has a Gun! RUN! Shetamia Taylor Tells Her Story of the Dallas Police Shooting

Kathryn E. White, M.D. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HPV The Fashion Explosion: A Fusion Affair

September October 2016

JosĂŠ Eber in Person! The Stylist to the Stars! In from Los Angeles for Makeovers on

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PUBLISHER Robin Roberson MARKETING roberson SQUARED

MANAGING EDITOR Becca Menig PUBLIC RELATIONS Isabell Rossignol PR

PHOTOGRAPHY Living the Dream Media

Strategic Directors

Contributing Writers

Isabell Rossignol

Denise Ackerman

PR & Marketing

Oyinkansola Jinadu Adu

Melinda Cooper

Robin Austin

Visionary

Katherine Clausen

Kathryn White, M.D., Medical/Aesthetics

Yvette Grove

Sheryl Jones

Gino Hawley/Photography

Motivation

DeeDee Lowder

Becca Menig

Betty Murray

Events & Entertainment Lauren Wulz Inspiration Patricia Bell Membership

Melinda Cooper

Celia Naples Deborah Ricci

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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.

From3906.blogspot.com

September OctOber 2016

ON THE COVER Shetamia Taylor, The Citizen Injured in the Dallas Police Shooting. New Host of Blazing Brighter Communities Radio Show on femmes INTERNATIONAL, speaking on positivity.

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

FEATURES

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Publisher & Editor femme = femme, sister = sister Robin & Becca With fall is just around the corner, our thoughts turn to fall colors, warm drinks, apple pie and football (well maybe fall attire!). School starts, leaves turn beautiful shades of red, orange and gold and trends change with them. New beginnings! At femmes INTERNATIONAL, we have embraced the changing of the seasons and this issue is filled with everything from thoughts of back to school to gatherings around the kitchen table to autumn travel. The magazine’s pages inspire with the tale of a traumatic night in July for Dallas Police and one amazing female citizen, information on Bowen Therapy as well as our love affair with sugar. How Risk Averse Are You will make you think about decisions best for you and our travel photo montage may have you planning a safari. And of course, as we welcome fall, we prepare for the season’s new fashions and share looks from local Dallas designer Marta Ruiz. Let’s be inspired to search, learn, and think smartly about health issues for women. You will be motivated and inspired as well to reflect on life! femmes INTERNATIONAL, in sponsorship with AMEP, is happy to announce the launch of our REVISTA femmes LATINA, our Latina version of femmes INTERNATIONAL Magazine. You will find an array of articles from business to travel to health and everything in between. Claudia Herrmann, Director of AMEP, is co‐publisher and has been very instrumental in the development of this publication and we know you find it exceptional! Exploring and Celebrating the Commonality of our Diversity is the mantra of femmes INTERNATIONAL, so in each issue, we will feature an outstanding lady as a showcase to the fact that we envelope all women; one conversation can lead to so much! We hope you will enjoy reading and please share with other femmes. That is what it’s all about; one femme to another. Visit femmes INTERNATIONAL, enjoy our radio station and learn how you can become a member and participate, www.femmesinternational.com. Enjoy and make it a femmeTASTIC fall!

The Burden of Human Papilloma Virus

By Kathryn E. White, M.D. ways to screen for the virus. This was the first time that a necessary cause of cancer had been identified! When I began my gynecology practice in 1992, there were no routine screening tests available for HPV but today that is the standard of care. Routine screening for high risk HPV in women 30 years and older was recommended in 2002 as a complement to the traditional PAP smear and has revolutionized our management of abnormal PAP results. When we first started testing it was only for the presence of high risk HPV but now we have even progressed to identifying which strain of the virus is present. The most common strains are 6, 11, 16 and 18. We have identified that two particular strains of the virus (16 and 18) are responsible for two thirds of the cases of cervical cancer and can clarify which person carries those strains. While strains 6 and 11 are typically not associated with cancer, they are responsible for over 90% of all genital warts or condyloma. There are at least one million new cases of condyloma every year in the U.S with the majority occurring in the 20‐29 year old age group. Even though condyloma is not associated with cancer, they can cause significant financial, emotional and physical

The Human Papilloma Virus is a very common viral infection which can cause significant disease in both men and women. There are over 100 strains of the virus and about 30‐40 of them involve the anogenital region. There are strains which are not likely to cause cancer (low risk strains) and those that are associated with cancer (high risk strains). HVP is the most common sexually transmitted disease and by age 50, at least 80% of people have been exposed to the virus. Most cases of HPV infection are asymptomatic and it is often impossible to determine when someone was exposed. While condom usage provides some protection, it cannot prevent all exposures and even just close skin to skin contact may transmit the virus. The findings that this virus was associated with cervical cancer sparked significantly more research and testing for more efficient 10

We also now know that HPV is associated with several other types of cancer including vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal and oropharyngeal cancers. Worldwide, mortality from cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in women. Cervical cancer deaths also tend to occur in younger women (almost half are under the age of 55). The incidence of cervical cancer tends to level off around age 35 however the HPV associated cancers of the other areas (vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal and orophyarngeal) continue to increase with age. Currently there are no guidelines for screening for HPV other than related to cervical cancer. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center however is starting a study to look at this which may provide similar testing in the future for these other sites. Gardasil was developed in 2006 as the first vaccine against HPV infection. It was originally designed to prevent the four most common strains which were responsible for most of the disease burden. Gardasil was also only initially FDA approved for girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26. Since 2009 that indication has been extended to include boys and men as well in those age ranges. The rationale for starting the vaccine at an early age is that the vaccine is most effective prior to any type of sexual encounter. The immune response is also better at a younger age so patients will mount a stronger immune response to the virus. Gardasil is given as a series of three injections over a six month time period. There is no need for a booster dose of the vaccine. Gardasil‐9 has been available since 2015 and has largely replaced the original Gardasil vaccine. This newer version covers nine strains rather than only the original four. The additional five strains that are

consequences. The economic impact of treatment of these lesions is staggering. These strains may also cause low grade dysplasias of the cervix/vulva and even respiratory papillomatosis in children and adults. Respiratory papillomas are warty growths found on the larynx which are often transmitted during childbirth. These lesions are rare but may convert to cancer between 3‐19% of the time. The rate of transmission and infectivity of genital warts is over 75% and while a certain percentage may regress spontaneously, the recurrence may be as high as 65%. Multiple treatments are often required to clear the condyloma and these treatments may be painful as well. The incidence of HPV infection peaks in the ages of 15‐24 years. Cervical cancer doesn’t peak however until around the ages of 35‐44 years. The persistence of this virus is the most significant factor in developing cervical cancer. Fortunately, the majority of women who are exposed during those early years will clear the virus via their immune system and never develop cancer. They may develop precancerous lesions however known as cervical dysplasia. Billions of dollars have been spent treating dysplasia over the years in the fear that cancer would develop without treatment. We are more conservative today however and realize that mild dysplasia is also often cleared by the immune system and usually doesn’t lead to cervical cancer. Moderate to severe dysplasia however does have a higher probability of becoming cancer so is generally treated. Since these treatments are often performed in younger women of childbearing age, it may have adverse effects on fertility and future pregnancies. 11

covered with the newer vaccine cause 20% of cervical cancers so this provides greater protection. There is evidence to show that older women up to the age of 45 may also benefit from vaccination although neither vaccine is FDA approved for this purpose. There is benefit to receiving the vaccine even if someone has already been exposed to HPV because the odds they have been exposed to all 9 strains of the virus is less than 1%. There is no reason to test someone for HPV prior to providing the vaccine. It cannot treat or decrease risk from any prior exposure to HPV but it may still prevent disease caused by the other strains. It is possible that the vaccine may protect against vulvar, penile and oropharyngeal cancers although that has not been proven. Gardasil is an extremely safe vaccine and is manufactured in a fashion similar to the Hepatitis vaccine. Over 100 million doses have been given worldwide. The most common side effects are pain and swelling at the injection site as well as fainting which may often accompany any type of injection. There is no proven link between Gardasil and autoimmune or neurologic disorders such as

Since 2006 when Gardasil was first implemented, there has been an 88% reduction in HPV prevalence in teens age 14‐19 among those vaccinated! Clearly the long term impact of HPV associated cancers and disease will be significant with more widespread use of the vaccine. The impact of HPV and its long term sequelae cannot be understated. These diseases are responsible for significant disease burden and greatly impact the cost of health care. The treatments often involve surgical procedures and other painful treatment modalities. We have the means with Gardasil to significantly decrease risk and prevent certain cancers. I would encourage everyone to strongly consider this for your children or even yourself!

Guillian Barre Syndrome.

Kathryn E. White, M.D., http://www.kathrynewhitemd.com/

He Has a Gun! Run! By Robin Roberson When the shooting started at the Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas on that fateful evening of July 7, 2016, Shetamia Taylor shouted at her four sons to run. “They started running up the block and I was running behind them and I felt the bullet,” she stated quietly. Her last vision was of her eldest son, Kavion Washington, grabbing Jermar, her youngest, by the shirt front and throwing him down behind a stone pillar at a parking garage. Moments before, the 12 year old who wants to be a policeman, had beamed while marching and exclaimed to his mother, “I’m making history!” Taylor had been shot from behind, in her right calf. Still standing, she looked to a police officer ahead of her, a heavyset, balding white man. Then he was shot, too. When asked why she took her sons to this protest rally, especially after all the dissention around the country, she explained, “I raised my sons in a Christian home and have always taught them to respect themselves. If they do that, then they will respect others. After seeing senseless fear which lead to death, I wanted to show my sons that you should respect anyone in authority whether it be a police person, teacher, minister. Repeatedly I have told them to call home if they were ever stopped or in an unsettling situation; but to always be polite and respectful and most of all to do what they are asked. The situation can be discussed after all calms down.” Taylor admired police but was increasingly disturbed by the recent spate of police shootings involving black men, and she feared for her boys. It had been her idea to go to the protest, the family’s first, which she saw announced on Facebook. She felt it would be a learning experience. Taylor is not an activist, protestor or even very outspoken. She and her family live in Garland, a Dallas suburb, and she works as a customer service representative for a national retailer. She likes her job and cannot wait to get back to work, which is still weeks away. Laughing she said, “We don’t know our way around downtown Dallas and had to follow GPS to even get there.” 14

Amid the spray of bullets, this mother

frantically

threw

herself in front of her children as the boys tried to run to safety. She was shot in the leg while shielding her 15 year old son on the ground. The other three boys scattered. The policeman in front of Taylor shouted, “He has a gun! Run!” All she could think about was her sons as she watched them dart in different directions. After she was shot, Taylor managed to grab her 15 year old son, Andrew Humphrey, and push him between a car and the curb, shielding him with her body. “I was just laying on top of him,” she said. “If it was going to happen to one of my sons, it was going to happen to me first.” She watched police stream up the block toward them and the shooting. One of them shouted, “Is anybody hit?” Andrew yelled no, unaware that his mother was injured. Taylor didn’t want to alarm him, and called out quietly to one of the officers, “Yes Sir, I’m hit in my leg.” Adrenaline pumping, she would not realize the severity of her wound until a short time later. Police rushed over, most of them white officers, and jumped on top of her and Andrew. With a far off look in her eye, she calmly remembers, “There was a policeman at our feet and another one over our heads and several of them lying against a wall. And they just stayed there with us. I had never seen anything like that before, the way they came around us and guarded us like that.” Andrew was crying for police to move them, but they said it wasn’t safe. “It is not at all like you see on TV. Loud, scary, surreal. It must be like war,” she said as she recounted the ordeal. “It was hundreds of rounds, shots all around us.” When the police decided it was time to move them to a nearby patrol car and get her to a hospital, she could see her leg was “riddled with bullets.” 15

It appeared a scene out of a Hollywood movie: the automobile was covered with bullet holes, the car’s tires were flat and they were driving on rims. She remembers the driveway lined with medical personnel and police, and outside the emergency room, Taylor could see a police officer on a gurney. Hours later she learned the fate of her other three sons, ages 12, 14, and 18, and of the dozen officers shot, five of them fatally, by 25 year old Micah Xavier Johnson who wanted to kill white people, especially white officers, in retribution for police killings of black men. But Taylor was only a mother of four black sons, who wanted to show them a peaceful protest could happen. Later, she was just a loving mother who was determined that nothing would happen to her boys. “I just kept praying for everyone; for my sons to be safe, for the officers,” she said. The bullet had indeed fractured a bone in Taylor’s leg, but a surgeon repaired it with a metal plate and screws and said she would be able to walk in a few months. But her biggest concern continued to be the safety of her sons. She now says it felt bad to “be celebrating my kids being alive while I’m listening to how many officers didn’t make it. It hurt. Of course I was thankful that my babies were okay, but somebody’s dad, somebody’s husband, was not.” Taylor and her strong, brave sons are all doing well. The memories exist, but they have resources, family, and professionals to help them through this time of healing. Her faith is strong and she knows they will make it through. Reverent, thankful, and supportive of Dallas police officers, Taylor and her respectful sons praise those responders who gave no consideration to their safety but rather were totally concerned for all the citizens they were there to protect, especially them. Her family members report that all she kept repeating was, “Lord, be with those families of those police officers.” She said it over and over. And it was repeated many times as we spoke about that night in July.

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HOW RISK AVERSE ARE YOU? By Robin Austin How risk averse are you? Have you ever considered your life and the decisions you make in terms of risk? You instinctively, assess risk when it comes to your children every day without thinking “How risky is what my child is asking to do?” You may think instead… ”What could happen?” Risk is the most important criteria in making any decision… especially when thinking of entering into ventures, financial investments, service companies who work within your home and choosing those you do business with. Almost every job requires you to have some determination of risk before you make a decision and people who make the best decisions in this area are considered the “best” employees because their overall success rate improves. So, again, I ask…how risk averse are you? There are a number of questions you can ask yourself to measure how tolerant you are. First, if you have children, are they still at home? Are they high school age and are you planning to contribute financially to their college education? If so, then having an additional income stream is absolutely necessary. Too, a steady income in a job usually is preferable to being self‐employed. Do you already have a successful business that you have built over the years and are making a comfortable living for many years? If so, then you are very used to determining your income and therefore have taken risks and learned much. Have you just been laid off from a job at a major corporation or even a minor one? Usually this causes you to rethink looking for another job, working for yourself and what possibilities might be open to you. Immediately, you should be spending at least 8‐10 hours a day in multiple activities that will yield income in a short amount of time. Let’s begin with asking “What is your goal?” You should design a plan from the very beginning that takes in account your goals, those things you are and are not willing to risk, what realistic income you need to make and the ramp‐up time you are willing to invest without income. The “project” plan should be very specific dividing up the time, necessary activities, resources and possible results. You must be honest and direct with yourself to determine the possibility of success with minimal risk using the least amount of resources, yet with the highest possible result. Through this exercise, not only will you hone your skills but you will discover much about what you don’t know and you will focus more effectively on a shorter distance to your goal. Again, what is your goal? You can have a number of goals: diversify your portfolio should be one especially if you have all of your money in wall‐street. Adding an additional income stream should be another. Maybe, adding several additional income streams with a target time allotment of 20 hours a week each. This is an admirable goal especially if they cross connect and time is maximized. To be successful, you have to be methodical with your project plan and taking the time to design one is the best possible use of your time before making any venture decision. Also, you should review it at least once a month to determine if you are following it and whether it needs modification. Stay tuned for the third chapter for you to continue to answer the question, “How do I choose wisely to make additional income? Robin Austin, Managing Partner Honu Capital

Are You Feeling Invigorated? By Katherine L. Clausen

As we transition into fall, there is a slight shift in our energy, both in what we are focusing on, and how much we use. Gone are the dog days of summer. As both women and business owners, it is important to be aware of our energy levels. See, the amount of energy we have to spend is limited, just as with any resource. Like a resource, it can be tracked, restored, and even budgeted if necessary, but only if we are aware of how precious a resource it is to our continued success. Every day, we are asked, “How are you?” Most the time we answer with good or fine, sometimes we even answer “Great!” Rarely are we asked, “How’s your energy?” Today, I am asking you, “How is your energy?” I am sure you have realized by now that your energy levels fluctuate all day long. We talk about the after lunch food coma or the late afternoon drop off or being a morning person vs. a night owl. Most of the time, we compensate for our drop in energy by grabbing some caffeine or sugar to get that rush of energy. After the rush drops off, we often feel worse than before we grabbed whatever, or we come home so wired that we can’t get to sleep at a reasonable time, and are sleepy the next morning, so the cycle continues. Here’s the thing: it is very natural to have ebbs and flows of high and low energy during the day. The question is if you are aware of when yours starts to dip. Not at the low point where you are looking for the caffeine or sugar rush: before that, when you start feeling a bit crabby, or frustrated, or even unfocused. Tracking your energy dips is the first challenge. I recommend every hour, on a sheet of paper with the time noted. Draw a quick smiley face – one that smiles means energy is all good. One with a straight mouth shows energy is starting to fade. One with a frown equals very low energy. Do this for one week and see what patterns emerge. When you see the patterns of the smile with the straight line these are the times when it is good to take a break. Take 15 minutes and check in with your body and mind. Is there something your body needs? Water or food? Maybe movement like a quick walk or some stretches? Is it your mind that is unfocused? Perhaps some great music, time to meditate, or visualization is what you need. By checking in with your body and mind, doing things that truly invigorate your spirit and body, your energy level will rise and you will feel happier and more at peace. You’ll be able to get back to the job at hand, do it better, faster, and more accurately. So, I ask: Are you feeling invigorated and ready to take on any challenges that come your way? Your challenge: Step 1: Track your energy level all day, every hour for one week. Find the patterns of energy dips, then take a break at that those times. Step 2: Do things that really help you feel better, such as drinking water, stretching, mediating, even juggling if that what makes you smile. Katherine Clausen, When you take the challenge we would love to support you, so email us at info@yourempoweredsolutions.com for a complementary Solution Session.

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Call Me a Skeptic, No More! By Robin Roberson

Yes, I was a skeptic. Aromatherapy, phooey! Smelling scents is not going to make me feel better, energized, boosted in health. Or so I used to believe until Jenny Bair, co-founder of Living Well Dallas and now Certified Aromatherapist, needed a guinea pig for her studies. So I agreed after numerous invitations on her part. I did not have time, could not take time away from work for such nonsense. But I could not tell her no, as she made it her monumental goal to improve my immune system so I would not have the continuous lupus episodes I endure.

At the start, she had me smelling this scent and that scent. Did they appeal to me and if so, how? Did I like earthy scents, citrus, calming ones, energizing ones? I knew quite a bit about essential oils from a soap making friend, so I was able to impress the teacher with my knowledge and that I knew quite a bit about what I liked. Not drawn toward earth scents, though many are good for you, nor sweet scents like rose, I was able to find that I love citrus aromas: orange, lemon, lime, kumquat, and peppermint which mixed with wintergreen, is one of my favorites.

Jenny taught me to understand how aromatherapy might physically help me, I needed to think basically. Bacteria and germs are not always the enemy, but necessary for us to survive. Our body needs

them to help us digest and assimilate the nutrients in our foods. But of course, we all can get exposed to some really nasty germs too. Just about all essential oils will help the immune system since most have anti-viral,

anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties to varying degrees. They will help keep most infections to a minimum. And for someone like me with a suppressed immune system, susceptible to most germs that average people fight right off, they can be very important.

lungs, quickly absorbed into the blood stream as they cross the airway. From there the molecules of the oils are transported throughout the body and into each and every cell. Since it only takes a few minutes for blood to circulate throughout the whole body, the essential oils you have just inhaled will be throughout your entire body within a few minutes. Jenny gave me generic blends the first day to get me started while she did specific research for blends just for my needs. The intake form I completed before we began was so detailed I felt I was about to have surgery. It was more detailed than any doctor I have ever visited in all areas of my well-being. On the next visit, she explained the first group of essential oils she chose to increase the activity in my immune system included Eucalyptus, Frankincense, and Sage, which fight infection and help you heal. Of course she mixed them with other scents to make them appealing to me. I called them her magic potions!

Diffusing immune supportive essential oils on a daily basis is a great first line of defense. Simply put, essential oils are to a plant as what blood is to an animal. They carry nutrients, oxygen, and life giving energy to all areas of a plant, just as our blood does for us. As you discover more about the incredible healing properties of pure essential oils, you will begin to realize just how powerful and beneficial they can be â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not just for your physicality, but also your emotional and mental health as well. When you inhale, breath in, or diffuse essential oils into the air, they go directly to the

Entrepreneurs deal with what many would classify as stress, but I call it overload. And that was an area I wanted to have an aroma for and Jenny gave me that, along with ones for better calmness and sleep. When dealing with a lot of stress the top immune stimulating essential oils are Geranium, Rosemary, Lavender, and Tea Tree. Perfect for daily use, diffusing these or blends incorporating these oils is a pleasant way to help you help yourself. I do not really like them individually but blended they seemed to have a positive effect. And if rubbing oils on your body, you must be aware of where to place them. Many of mine were on the bottom of my feet or my wrists or stomach,

with a reminder that some can burn so you must be careful!

of course include the ones that Jenny determined worked best for me.

By the fourth visit, I was truly able to say that my lupus episodes had lessened though I still had them occasionally, but now three months later, and a BIG KNOCK ON WOOD, I have to admit I have not had an episode since our last visit. Could it be I have just been healthier, the weather is better, it is not flu season â&#x20AC;Ś sure. But I do not think so.

I sleep better because of blends she conjured up with oils to promote rest like lavender and Vetiver with hints of Bergamot (which I detest by itself), Ylang Ylang, and Sandalwood, a favorite. And I learned I like just enjoying aromas that are personally pleasing which include Tangerine, Orange, Kumquat, Wintergreen with light Peppermint, and Clary Sage which has relaxing and soothing properties that help with rejuvenation and calming.

Those aspects never effected how often or even if I had an episode. Getting over heated, over loaded, or tired seemed to always produce one. But not after I started diffusing regularly or using essential oils. And I have enjoyed playing with potions of my own that

Though I was a skeptic, I opened my mind to the possibilities and can now admit there is something to this essential oils/aromatherapy business, more than just business! So you too might want to investigate for yourself; how, why, and what the aromatic qualities of these naturally occurring, volatile scented compounds might do for you. After all, you, too, might become a BELIEVER!

Robin Roberson, robersonSQUARED,com, 469.237.7084

My Reset Button By DeeDee Lowder “Necessity is the mother of all invention.” Author Unknown

A cliché is merely a gathering of words whose combined meaning has withstood the passage of time. The particular arrangement above has been floating around Western Civilization for more than a few years and perhaps a revision would benefit the more jaded sections of our collective consciousness. I see a tendency, at least in myself if not in humanity in general, to think of invention in terms of neat gadgets. Gadgets like the one I am using now that make life more comfortable. I believe innovations are so much more than that, as advancements in health care may demonstrate. Bowen massage technique is gentle rolling movements broken up by pauses, has numerous benefits, and was born out of an Australian man’s desire to help his fellow laborers. This alternative treatment addresses a broad range of ailments and both have entered, stage right, via the direction of necessity. It is almost like clicking the reset button so you gain relief from bodily pain. . Another story of necessity innovation is Bowen or NST (Neuro‐Structural Integration

Technique). Tom Bowen (1916‐1982) of Australia, developed an interest in osteopathy while working in a cement works business. He noticed the necessity to treat the aches and pains of his fellow laborers. Bowen, without any formal training, began giving massages to local workers and soon discovered a natural ability to heal people with gentle touch. Since Bowen’s death in 1982 his massage technique has gained a wide following in Australia and Europe. While this treatment has been in the United States for twenty‐five years, it is still relatively unknown. Brenda Briscoe of Living Well Dallas and Co‐ Founder of the Pain Recovery Center there, describes the technique as ‘The Bowen Technique (BowTech) and Neuro‐Structural Integration Technique (NST)’. Both, referred to as Bowen therapies, are therapeutic systems developed to facilitate whole body healing; each giving brand new signals for your brain and nervous system‐ a feedback loop to respond to. It “deletes” bad signals, or actually breaks the pain/spasm/pain

cycle, rendering the old improper signals ineffective. Now your body can respond in a more proper way to new signals and without pain! These methods, while still relatively unknown, are quickly gaining in popularity because of their incredible effectiveness. According to Brenda, “Their purpose is to remove pain and other dysfunctions by restoring the structural integrity of the body. This is like rebooting a computer when the page is frozen and won’t refresh. Rebooting gives you a fresh start. Similarly, when you are in pain, your body is in crisis. It keeps on remembering the signals it was receiving when an accident or injury happened, and it has gotten stuck. What it needs is a fresh start with new signals to the nervous system.” It makes total sense when you analyze it. Get all body parts in order, to feel your very best! The procedures consist of a series of skin‐ rolling movements ‐ gentle plucking moves over muscles, tendons, fascia, and nerves, introduces just the right “input” to down‐ regulate the autonomic nervous system and take the body from a state of hypersensitivity (sympathetic overdrive) to a state of rest and relaxation (parasympathetic). These movements are gentle and can be done through

clothing. There are frequent and important pauses between sets of moves, giving the body time to benefit from each. Bowen therapy stimulates the healing process by activating the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Relaxation, as well as an organized healing response, is often felt after a series of treatments, resulting in an unraveling of neuromuscular compensations. Brenda performed a session on me and it felt

like she was turning on switches in my body. At one point it felt like a tingling electricity was shooting up and down the weak side of my body and I did experience a decrease in pain in my lower back/hip and arm from my shoulder to elbow. Amazing since she barely touched me. Briscoe explained by doing the movements along the spine right at the beginning of a session, my body would then be ready to respond quickly and with profound and lasting changes that

address the core problem. The autonomic nervous system has just been ‘reset’. This process is just what the body needs, not only for acute injuries, but also for long‐standing chronic conditions, like fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ syndrome, repetitive migraine headaches, and even multiple sclerosis. How did Briscoe get into Bowen Therapy? Again necessity enters stage right. She saw a need and met it. Her step‐ daughter had scoliosis which was hindering her until Brenda discovered Bowen Therapies. Her daughter noticed increased energy and range of motion. While results may vary depending on the nature of one’s malady, Bowen Therapy can offer benefits on so many issues. It stimulates the autonomic nervous system,

resetting muscles in the body to their natural state of rest allowing healing to occur. This is just my experience from this era of daily innovations and data measured in zettabytes, and it can often be overwhelming to process it all. However, it is an exciting time to live, as knowledge that in previous generations might have remained geographically restrained, can now travel the globe in seconds. In the area of health, a necessity for all of humanity, innovations from all corners can bring a better quality of life to more people quicker, which hopefully shines a light on the power of necessity to bring more than simple neat gadgets into our lives. Perhaps it can bring greater and increased life even if only by gentle healing touch.

Reach Brenda Briscoe, LMT, at LivingWellDallas.com

THE FASHION EXCHANGE PROGRAM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fall Exploration By Oyinkansola Jinadu-Adu â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honeydropsâ&#x20AC;?

The stock exchange, the student exchange program, the currency exchange rate, and on and on I could go with our love for exchanges. I guess it is the norm given our commercially driven society. Indigenous fashion ideals are typical to different regions and geographic locations. These are typically dictated by culture, habits, and beliefs of these regions. Oh! So beautiful are these fashion patterns and ideals that they help us easily identify and place anyone from major parts of the globe.

the fashion exchange to new heights, making the world a smaller and more inclusive global village. While there remains much work to be done to fully integrate all types of fashion ideals on a global scale, I dare say, the movement has already begun. As we enter into the fall season of international fashion shows, we will begin to see a fusion of several blends of cultures and patterns on our runways. Fashion designers are daring to take a leap of comradery by blending their indigenous tastes and preferences with international cultural fashion. From kimono blazers and print pants, to custom couture African print blended with Persian silk and/or chiffon evening wear; designers are going all out and all around the world making fashion exchange statements on and off the runway.

Due to travels and adventurous expeditions, humans have found a way to facilitate the exchange of cultures, transcending to fashion and beauty trends. The Geisha makeup style from the Japanese culture is now adopted around the western world for the cat-eye liner style, the elaborate up do hairstyles found in several bridal portraits, and the most recent highlighting and contouring craze overtaking the makeup and cosmetics industry. Straight bobs and cropped hair styles are adoptions from the Asian fashion exchange program. We also see lots of Afro fusion trends in the cosmetic industry. The adoption of darker skin tones on runways has pushed a major demand for darker shades of cosmetic base colors. Once a monopolized market by specific cosmetic brands, now even drug store brands offer all the skin shades needed from the palest European beauty to the darkest Saharan goddess. We are fast and refreshingly taking

Fall fashion and beauty promises an explosion of diversity and risk taking inclusion of cultures, textures and patterns gracing the runways and mannequins in stores. Personally I love the adventure of crossing boundaries with fashion and learning about other cultures and regions. You could in a sense become a virtual world traveler, just by your blending of cultures and ethnicities in your fashion experiment. Gone are the days of exclusivity in whose and what fashion is accessible. Cost no longer is a barrier, with synthetic 29

alternatives offering aesthetic appeal and financial prudency. I dare you to step out of your comfort zone and take a leap to explore the exotic designs from North Africa, rich and elegant textures from the Middle East, or edgy designs of Asian millennial trends.

The bottom line for me is simple, step out looking fabulous, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t break the bank. Always put your best face forward; you never know what opportunities of fame and fortune awaits you around the corner. Diversity and inclusion are one in the same, and what better way to be diverse, yet all inclusive, by venturing across the borders literarily and become a fashion enthusiast and trend setter. So go on with your bad self, and enter into the fashion exchange program.

(Oyinkansola Jinadu-Adu â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honeydropsâ&#x20AC;?/ www.missfashionandbeautyafrica.com/ 214-458-3777 / contact@missfashionandbeautyafrica.com)

Dallas fashion designer, Marta Ruiz, is exciting, fresh, provocative, glamorous, contemporary!

Xzandria/Photography‐Marcus Perryman

Tiffany Tomas/Photography‐Cateye Mann

Destinnie Cherysh/Photography‐Marcus Perryman

Brittany Wilkins/Photography‐Marcus Perryman

Celcy Hill/Photography‐Marcus Perryman Miranda Brackens/Photography‐Marcus Perryman

Back to School for All of Us! By Melinda Cooper, Living the Dream

Have you ever noticed life is a school, so in the months of August and September, bringing in the new school year is simply a process of formality. It goes without saying we must continue to learn through our experiences, through our life, through our children, friends, jobs, etc.… the list could just go on! Life is about enjoying each day, allowing the best to come, to flow to us. For those who agree or accept the theories of Albert Einstein, as you’ve heard it said before; all things are relative! Indeed, this man was correct. We watch things going on in the world and we each begin to believe things need to change, decide what we’ll accept and what we will do our best to push aside as far away from us as possible. It is said in so many ways by so many other great minds, that the universe answers us in so many ways. Before I move on, allow that to flow through you as you continue reading; the universe is answering you, that’s right answering. You might think you haven’t yet asked for anything, however, realistically you are asking every moment of the day. You allow your actions to speak for you, your words to become your billboard, and your silence to make the statement of acceptance. Your conversation is as clear as the words coming out of your mouth. Every moment you focus your mind on what you want and/or don’t want, you become the source to receive exactly that! WOW there is true meaning to, “Be careful what you ask for”; you just may get it. Unless you truly monitor your thoughts, your words, and your actions, you might not be as happy with your results. On the other hand, if indeed you are ready for change then these are the first steps to receive exactly what you are seeking. Without change we remain in the same swirl we have come to know. Without the course of learning we continue to dwell on what has yet to change for us. Allow the moment to capture your thoughts and find what you are focusing on or would like to know take a moment to rearrange. It is for you to accept your energy, knowing you are bringing growth to your next steps. Your steps are already being played out in your mind and your heart. Now as the year of 2016 is winding down, recognize it’s also time for new beginnings and new dreams to be lived. Yes, it is YOUR TIME to pick up speed into your dreams coming true. I ask you to be daring and catch the swirling energy that is picking up speed for our dreams. Be bold to stand into your truest thoughts of what you do want in your life, allowing all the doubts, fears, and worries to be pushed out where they no longer exists. Have courage you can Live The Dream as you want it to be because you are the creator of the life you are living. Trust yourself to make a great list of what you will accept in your life and all other is no longer necessary. Live today knowing you are where you are because of your decisions! You can Live Your DREAM beginning today and everyday forward as you rebuild your own mind, thoughts, and ACTIONS to take you there! Melinda Cooper. www.livingthedreammagazine

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Our Love Affair With Sugar By Celia Naples Do you sometimes feel driven to eat Sugar is hidden in most processed foods, sugar—to the point that the need to eat including deli meats, ketchup and tomato sugar is beyond your control? Well, there’s sauce. No, not pasta sauce, but plain old a reason for that. I’m happy to tell you that tomato sauce. Next time you buy a can of it’s not because you don’t have enough tomato sauce, check the label. Make sure it willpower or because you are a bad doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup, person. The compulsion to eat sugar is a or any other form of sugar. There are over result of a biological drive. That’s right, it’s 61 names for sugar. Any word that ends in hardwired into our brain to crave sugar. “ose” or “tol” is a form of sugar. Low‐fat When we talk about sugar and the products always have high levels of sugar problems it causes, we are talking about in them, because when the fat is removed “added” sugar, not “natural” sugar. Added the flavor goes with it. So sugar is added to sugar is the sugar that is put into foods make things taste better. during processing. Natural sugar is the sugar found in fruits, vegetables and dairy This is one of the reasons the average products. American consumes 22 teaspoons of sugar 37

a day. The American Heart Association’s recommendation is only six teaspoons for women and nine teaspoons for men. Sugar can have both short‐ and long‐terms effects on health. It negatively influences the energy system hormones insulin, leptin and ghrelin, which leads to weight gain and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome leads to obesity, diabetes and fatty liver disease. Sugar can also have a detrimental impact on many other health issues, from autoimmune disorders to skin diseases.

important to find pleasure and sweetness in life from other sources—ones that don’t have the potential to make us very sick. There are many other ways to bring pleasure and sweetness to our lives. What did you love to do when you were a kid? Ride your bike? Play with your best friend? Maybe coloring was your thing. Whatever is was, find the time to do it often. Some of the things that bring sweetness to my life are listening to music, dancing and being in nature. I have a friend who sets a timer on her phone and dances to Pharrell Williams’ Happy every few hours. Of course she works at home— this routine might not go over so well in an office. But then again who knows? Office environments are one of the worst offenders when it comes to sugar consumption. Getting everyone up to dance during the mid‐afternoon slump would be much better than munching from the vending machine or the leftover birthday cake! Be bold, be creative, don’t hold back. Most importantly have some fun and treat yourself well – just leave the sweet treats out of it!

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m addicted to sugar!”? You may have even said it yourself. That may seem silly to most people, but for many of us sugar addiction is very real. Sugar activates dopamine, the pleasure and reward neurotransmitter, leading us to feel alert, excited and euphoric. Who doesn’t want to feel that way? I certainly do, but we need to find these feelings elsewhere. It’s

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The Secret Genie in Your Genes ‐ What the MTHFR? By Betty Murray

Genetics determine more than the color of your eyes. Today we now know that many of the genes we have can be modified by diet and the lifestyle we lead. The MTHFR gene mutation (a fairly common genetic variant) is one such gene that may be an underlying factor in a myriad of medical conditions. MTHF is an enzyme encoded by the MTHFR gene. The enzyme adds a methyl group to folate, making it usable by the body. When there is a mutation on the MTHFR gene, the ability to add the methyl group is hindered and has been linked to serious health conditions, such as birth defects, neurological disorders, and some cancers. It is estimated that 50 percent of the population has some type of MTHFR mutation. Some of MTHFR mutations are more serious than others. Methylation is a basic biochemical process in which the methyl group is transferred to a molecule—and it occurs billions of times per second in the cells. Nearly every reaction and function of every body system involves the process of methylation. Here are some examples of systems and functions affected by the methylation process:  Gene regulation — Turning genes on and off. Think of this as taping a light switch on or off. Doing so keeps the switch in place, but if the tape wears off, then the switch can move, meaning the gene can then be turned on. For example: cancer genes.  Detoxification — Ridding the body of toxins like chemicals and heavy metals.  Nerve function — Nerves in the body send signals to the brain for movement and sensations, such as pain.  Immune system — Development of immune modulating cells like T cells and NK cells.  Energy production — Metabolism (burning fat for energy), and cellular energy production.  Hormone regulation — Processing and detoxifying hormones like estrogen.  Cognitive and emotional health — Building the neurotransmitters that affect mood.  DNA and RNA synthesis — A chemical reaction between molecules in which bonds are formed. For proper and efficient methylation, there must be methyl groups available to transfer, and is dependent on B vitamin status (B9, B12, B6 and B2). As described, the MTHFR enzyme is the controlling enzyme in the production of methyl groups. If a MTHFR gene mutation exists, there will be decreased production of methyl groups resulting in impaired methylation.

Are you among the 50 percent? A genetic mutation, combined with the influence of methylation and environmental elements can cause a number of symptoms, often varying from one person to the next. Number and type of mutations and quality of one’s diet can affect symptoms—and symptoms can affect every system in the body. There are essentially three main categories of symptoms of MTHFR or health problems you might encounter with a MTHFR mutation: cardiovascular health, neurologic health, and systemic intoxication (increased toxic burden). Cardiovascular – Elevated homocysteine levels due to decreased methylation is related to risk of stroke, heart attack, frequent miscarriages, congenital birth defects, and anemia. Neurologic – Decreased methylation leads to decreased production of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, which make up your mood. Neurologic conditions that may be caused by an MTHFR mutation include: depression, alcoholism, aggression, autism, fibromyalgia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Systemic Intoxication – The buildup of toxic metabolites in the body causes damage to the liver, skin, kidneys, colon, and lungs. This may cause conditions including: diarrhea, hair loss, rashes, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, autoimmunity, kidney and liver dysfunction, colon cancer, and more. As you can see the methylation genetic pathway and the nutrients that play a role in these enzyme processes are vital to health and wellbeing. Luckily, today genetic testing along with nutritional testing can arm you with the information you need to take proactive steps to reduce your risk of these chronic conditions. Betty Murray, www.bettymurray.com

Click Your Heels & Find Your Magic! By Denise Ackerman

Ever feel like you are walking down the ‘yellow brick road’ of life where life is good and all of a sudden, flying monkeys come out of nowhere? Getting lost in the ‘woods of life’ has happened to all of us.

In youth, we strive to make our lives fit to our specifications. We get the education that will lay the path for a future career, we find the ‘man of our dreams’ and often marry him in a fairy tale wedding and then life unfolds as we have our perfect children and buy the dream home that puts the cherry on top. That’s the life we dreamed of growing up. Any of us who have lived awhile, know that the dreams of childhood are built on illusions, often coming from fairy tales. There is no castle, we are not a princess and Prince Charming, well let’s just say ‘charming’ can get old. Although life can have fairy tale moments, it doesn’t happen like the stories. Imagine though if life were that simple? You get the degree, the dream job, the prince and the perfect children… then what? What a short, boring story that would be! Great stories happen when challenges arise. The good stuff happens when the girl overcomes the daunting foes and becomes a heroine. As much as we believe in our dreams when we are young, life teaches us that the yellow brick road has pot holes along the way. The journey that began filled with ‘Yes’s’ eventually will have at least one big, resounding ‘NO’ where we stumble and fall. Those moments are the ones that make our journey who we become. That’s why I love the story of Dorothy. A small town girl, she lives with a doting aunt and uncle with others in her life who also love her. Yet, she’s disgruntled. She thinks it’s not enough. Then a big storm comes along and catapults her into the world of Oz, where new friends show her the way down the yellow brick road. Dorothy’s journey is a mirror to our own. Caught up in storms that turn life upside down, we too may discover that the very thing we thought would lead to happiness was instead holding us back 43

from who we truly are. When terrifying flying monkeys come up in life, we find courage. When our hearts get broken, people show us a depth of compassion we never knew existed. What seems an unexpected, unsolvable dilemma stretches our imagination and thinking further than we ever knew possible. The “No’s’ that seemed so daunting, so tragic actually become ‘Yes’s’ that open doors to worlds our smaller selves never could have imagined. With her red shoes to remind her she’s grounded firmly in life and Glynda, the good witch there to reflect the magic she already has within, Dorothy realizes that finding Oz was up to her. The wizard she thought had all the answers turns out to be human too. Life is our Oz and we are the magic. It’s up to us to click our ruby slippers and claim the yellow brick road of our own no matter the obstacles along the way. And here’s the best ending to the story. When we choose to find our own Oz, we get to pave the yellow brick road even wider kicking those flying monkeys to the curb. Click your heels girls, find your magic inside! Denise Ackerman, www.sagebrilliance.com

Bringing People Together…One Table at a Time By Deborah Ricci

My childhood was completely wrapped up in family gatherings. They included our own Sunday dinners, clam bakes on Long Island Sound, and trekking through the Berkshires from one grandmother to the other. My maternal Nonna lived to cook, and not just for us, for anyone who happened to be around or stopped by for a quick visit. She didn’t need an excuse to don her time worn cotton print apron and get to work doing what she did best; prepare food with an undying amount of love and tradition. I remember excitedly arriving at her home, racing through the delightful aromas to our final destination, her tiny pantry in the back of the kitchen. As kids, we always knew what waited for us would be nothing short of pure bliss, namely her famous taralli; traditional Calabrese biscuits! These delicious anise studded rings of delight would have sustained us alone, but there was always something incredible simmering on her 1940’s Robert Shaw. Her vintage green enamel table was hardly big enough for our large family, but we never noticed. All that mattered was we were gathered together making wonderful memories amidst the Italian‐American chatter we were so accustomed to. My dad’s mom was also an amazing lady. She was famous for her holiday celebrations where multitudes of family, friends, neighbors, and guests would congregate to enjoy each other’s company. She was best remembered for her home‐made popcorn balls! There were numerous bags lined up for each family, along with a loaf of their favorite sweet bread. It was amazing! Even now, after all this time, these memories are as fresh in my mind as my grandmothers’ treats. Food evokes feelings so profound, we are able to recall events from years gone by as if they were yesterday. Recently, I meandered downtown, to a wonderful shop called “Etienne Market.” This new found treasure encompasses everything needed for creating traditional cooking and eating experiences. I shared a kindred conversation with the proprietress which joyfully confirmed the importance of

re‐establishing a type of “slow food” initiative that would inspire people to cook, sit down, and enjoy the fruits of their labor. She went on to say, “Everyday moments are ever present in the sharing of food.” Her market is chock full of memory evoking items that beg to be included in our daily cooking practices. The linen towels she carries, much like one I have, takes me back to stories my Nonna shared with me about monogramming her initials on it for her trousseau. When I use it, I can feel her presence and it is one of my most treasured possessions. My good friend, Diana, creates tables that encourage multi‐generational exchanges of love and community. “We all have a story to tell and it is our responsibility to share these precious tales of familial life,” she says. We have the opportunity to be a part of something much bigger than ourselves. I truly believe this revival is capable of starting a ripple that could change the world. And, by bringing families back to the table, we are investing in our kids’ futures and instilling the importance of the long lost art of the family dinner. The kitchen is the ideal place to create traditions and you can bet your soup pot that is where you will find me; making memories that will travel through the generations for years to come. Join me, won’t you? Deborah Ricci, Deborah@Teresinas.com

YNot…Say What You Want By Yvette Grove There is so much emotion that this particular YNot seems to stir up for me. So I pressed in, I kept pressing, to understand why. There are a couple of things that stood out to me, and maybe you have these same things holding you back from saying what it is you REALLY want. 1. What if what I want doesn’t want me back? Several months ago a friend simply said, “I don’t think you’ve ever said what you want.” That statement kept me in tears for two days. I walked to another friend’s house, and she suggested that I know what it is and basically told me to say it, own it, and do it. I began compiling a list of what I really wanted. How I wanted to show up and how I wanted to feel when I show up. Emotion kept coming with this thought, “What if what I want doesn’t want me back?” Now this was a bit of crazy talk since what I wanted felt like a calling, and the book I just wrote was fully inspired. It was everything I had envisioned doing since I was a little girl. The real question is, “Why wouldn’t it want me back?” These were gifts I was given to use! 2. Sneaking in the oughts and shoulds. Later that day I had lunch with another trusted friend and mentor, and through my tears we discussed this idea of what I wanted wanting me back. I told her what it was I wanted. It was quite on track but I had a lot of extra things in there. My friend looked at me and asked, “You really want to do ALL of

that?” Again the answer rose from pain, “No, I said, but I feel like I have to do these things so I can afford to do what I want to do.” Take them out for now, she said; just say what it is that you really want. Wow, I felt so much lighter. It doesn’t mean I don’t do some of those things, but it is difficult to stay focused if you muddy up your desires with ought to’s. Besides, it feels really heavy while you are moving towards your desires. 3. It is selfish of me to want that. Oh Ladies, can I get an Amen here? Are any of you feeling this one? I think many times we do not say what we want because we feel it would be selfish. I didn’t say what I wanted or even allow myself to want something in another area of my life because I believed it to be selfish. I believed it would be detrimental, or at best not good for another person. I realized, first of all, saying and owning a desire is not selfish, and secondly, last I checked, I am not omnipotent. What if what I want could be the best thing for those other people in my life? I think we spend a ton of time (okay, I spend a lot of time) thinking we need to fit an ideal. We worry about how things will affect others or what they will think, instead of going for the desires of our heart. Start with your desires and ask, “Is it destructive? Is it for the higher good?” Saying it doesn’t mean you have to take action; it is releasing your truth, and there is power in the spoken word. What truth aren’t you speaking? YNot? Yvette Grove, Author Lily's Deliciously Different Day

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