Published Writing Samples

Sharon L. Hadden www.Linkedin.com/in/sharonlhadden Press Release Hollywood Actress Chooses Interior Designer Through Social Media - January 2014 http://washingtoninformer.com/news/2014/jan/16/actress-kym-whitley-chooses-dc-interior-designer/ WASHINGTON — What started as a casual encounter via social media, turned into a serendipitous opportunity for Trystin Kier Francis, principal and chief of design, Trystin Kier Company, to redesign actress and comedienne, Kym Whitley's Los Angeles home.

Francis began his conversation via Twitter, advising Whitley that he wanted to decorate her home and later referencing his website to share additional details on his creative arts design firm based out of Washington.

"Design! Design! Design! How I love great design and good people! @KymWhitley I love your show and would love to decorate your beautiful home," Francis tweeted.

Francis says, “Never did I think she would respond, and two months later, I was in her home working on the biggest project of my career.”

His inquiry piqued the interest of the star of the Oprah Winfrey Network docu-series, Raising Whitley, and from there, blossomed into their current business relationship. In addition to designing Whitley's home, Francis will also make an appearance on the Raising Whitley show, official details to follow.

"I admire Kym for being a courageous mother and advocate for issues that effect women and children. I'm so honored to give her the Trystin Treatment,” Francis explains.

As a 2004 graduate of Benedict College, Francis takes the school's mission, "Be a power for good in society," to heart. He is an adept philanthropist, working with and giving to several charities and organizations such as the Washington Youth Choir and the Arthritis Foundation. A native New Yorker and the son of Panamanian immigrants, Francis is a recipient of the Envest Foundation 2013 top “40under40" award, winner of the Washington City Paper Best of D.C. 2013 “Best Interior Designer” and Radio One 2011 “Top 30 Under 30″ award. Francis has also been ranked among Washington elite as a 2013-2014 member of “Who’s Who in Black Washington, D.C." Francis is one of the most notable, young professional designers on the east coast. He is known among the Washington insiders as the “48 Hour Designer” for his 2010, rapid redesign of current

Sharon L. Hadden

2

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray’s executive office suite. Francis has an impressive professional background, having rubbed shoulders and worked with some of the world’s biggest names in entertainment and politics, formerly as an event designer. ### Natural Awakenings Greenville, SC Letter From the Publisher- February 2013 http://issuu.com/naupstate/docs/na_upstate_feb2013_web/8

Happy Valentine’s Day healthy living lovers! It’s that time again, for sweet treats, fluffy bouquets and gooey eyed “I love you’s”. But wait, just for a second, ditch the candy hearts and focus on loving yourself in mind, body and spirit.

This month’s theme is bodywork and Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas couldn’t have said it any better than, “Baby, where’d you get your body from”. Our exclusive Bodywork Guide, page 26, has plenty of alternative answers than the most colorful, “I got it from my mama”. Of course genetics play an integral part in your health, but evidence has shown that individuals who get massages regularly experience changes in their immune and endocrine systems. Bodywork doesn’t limit itself to massage, it also includes acupressure and various therapies. Skip over to the Bodywork Guide for a full description of stress-relieving, pampering, and rejuvenating bodycare practices.

Our feature article, Bodywork Goes Mainstream: Helpful Access Points to Health, page 22, further promotes the idea of whole-person healthcare. The article explains how to incorporate myofascial therapy, shiatsu and others into your fitness and nutrition regimen. If your nutrition is not so great, Food & Mood: Solutions for Emotional Eating, page 38, discusses how to navigate through the stressors of daily life, identifying the moments you feel most vulnerable to comfort foods.

Our community spotlight, page 19, showcases the people and businesses that have made our magazine what it is today. They understand what our readers need most and continue to deliver exceptional customer service daily. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Natural Awakenings introduced a new dating website called Natural Awakenings Singles. Find out more information about the online dating service on page 14. No matter how you choose to celebrate your cupid filled holiday, always remember to continue down the path to health and wellness.

In health and harmony, Linda and Jim Craig

Complete Care for Companion Animals – Natural Awakenings DC https://issuu.com/dcnaturalawakenings/docs/naturalawakeningsdc_august_2013

Sharon L. Hadden

3

Taking care of a companion animal can be a challenge. The Big Bad Woof, a local retail pet supply store, serves as a community resource to the guardians of socially conscious pets. It offers access to organic, holistic and premium raw diets and a wide range of alternatives including holistic supplements.

Co-owners, Pennye Jones-Napier and Julie Paez opened the store in 2005, after having a dog that was diagnosed with diabetes. They began doing their own due-diligence to help the animal, by gradually changing her diet. During their research, they were astounded to see how many pet foods contained corn, which breaks down into sugar and spikes the gluten levels. Their quest for quality pet foods, free of by-products and artificial enhancements, transpired into what The Big Bad Woof is today.

The Big Bad Woof is committed to providing nutritious foods for all companion animals, be it dogs, cats, birds, fish or other small mammals. Paez explained, “When we opened up, we looked for products made in the USA and carried very little that was made overseas.” A year after opening the store, a pet recall required many stores to discard shelves full of products. The Big Bad Woof sent back less than 500 products and earned praise throughout the community for being minimally impacted. “I credit that to the fact that we chose carefully. That was the first indication we were on the right track,” Paez expressed. She urges pet owners to read the ingredient panel carefully when searching for pet foods. The first four ingredients are the most important and should all be a type of meat. When the ingredient list begins with meat, corn, corn gluten and another non-meat ingredient, the meat content has disappeared from the meal. “If the first four are not all meat, your pet is basically eating filler,” Paez added.

In addition to premium, holistic, organic and raw foods, The Big Bad Woof is dedicated to sustainable business practices and carrying the best in eco-friendly pet supplies. People commonly forget about cleaning products and how they may effect their pet. Animals have no escape from products filled with harsh chemicals and toxins. “Their sense of smell is 10,000 times more acute then ours,” said Paez. Residue from cleaning products can get caught in their paws, fur and can often have severe consequence. Paez shared, “I have a pit bull that’s extremely sensitive to toxins. The company I use for home cleaning used a harsh product, and the dog swelled up. We had to use a steroid to get the swelling to go down.” Pet owners should also be mindful of shampoos that are strongly scented. The Big Bad Woof carries products that are minimally scented or have no scent at all.

Whether a dog, cat or small mammal needs travel gear, supplements, chew toys or a winter jacket, The Big Bad Woof carries several options to choose from. Their selection is built from Fair Trade items, and merchandise sourced from local and North American companies, with preference given to small manufacturers and minority owned companies. To further reduce its carbon footprint, the store requests that companies limit the amount of packaging used to ship products into the store. Paez finished, “We really look to support smaller USA companies as much as we possibly can. We hope to add additional stores of our own to continue carrying out our message of healthy food and healthy supplements for companion animals.”

Big Buildings Go Green – Natural Awakenings DC https://issuu.com/dcnaturalawakenings/docs/nadc_may14

Sharon L. Hadden

4

It’s easy to make eco-conscious decisions when you’re a household of two, or four, but the Consolidated Forensic Laboratory (CFL) in Washington found a way to save money, and the environment, with it’s newly built, state-of-the-art facility.

Towering at 287,000 square feet, CFL houses the city’s public safety forensic science and public health efforts, putting the D.C., public health lab, the medical examiner and police department crime lab in a single, reliable facility. CFL provides quality, timely information for law enforcement agencies and safety and health services to D.C., residents.

The laboratory was designed to be LEED Gold Certified, however, in 2013, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded the CFL with an LEED Platinum Certification, the highest level of four that can be achieved. LEED certification is recognized globally as an achievement in green building. It’s all about saving money, conserving energy, better building materials, improving air quality and more. With an actual budget of $215 million for the overall project, the building landed a contract of completion for only $133 million. Through innovative architecture and design, the CFL achieved an unimaginable accomplishment, for a building that would otherwise negatively impact the environment due to hazardous waste and emissions.

The design features recognized in the CFL are energy and atmosphere, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and materials, among others. In a release from the Department of General Services, Bill Hellmuth, president and director of design HOK, the architecture/engineering firm for CFL said, “It is a testament to the commitment of the District as well as the design and construction team to execute a high performance, high design project that not only exceeds the requirements of the DC Green Building Act, but blows them away.”

Green Your Routine – Natural Awakenings DC http://naturalawakeningsdc.com/health/green-your-routine/ Michele Muse, owner of Muse Concierge is no novice when it comes to sustainability. She says, throughout her childhood, her family always shopped local for the freshest foods and, to support the local economy. “My mom would mix low-fat powdered milk with whole milk,” she continues jokingly, “She made two percent milk, before it was even thought of.”

Muse incorporates sustainable practice into the services offered at Muse Concierge. Errands, food services and elder care are among the services offered, however Muse brings her commitment to sustainable practice full circle, through training programs such as the “Green Your Routine” seminar.

During the seminar, Muse shares 20 simple steps to take, in order to reduce your carbon footprint. Among those steps are using reusable water bottles, rather than buying a case of plastic bottles; adding a water filter to your faucet or placing energy-efficient LED light bulbs throughout your home. Other ways to save the planet, as well as keep money in your wallet, are taking a reusable cup to your favorite coffee shop or Starbucks, for a discounted cup of joe, as well as making your own all-purpose cleaner using eight cups of water, ½ cup of vinegar and ¼ cup of baking soda. “The seminar is for someone who doesn’t have time to read a 50 page book; it provides 20 things you can do immediately, to change your lifestyle habits and reduce your carbon footprint,” Muse shares. The seminar also discusses recycling. Muse puts emphasis on the fact Sharon L. Hadden

5

that recycling can also mean reusing. “I share information on what can be recycled and resources like, Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill and consignment stores.” The next “Green Your Routine” seminar will be held in July.

In addition to seminars, Muse Concierge provides additional training in small training classes, instructional design and also develops and delivers instructional material to your classroom.

Other sustainable services include organic dry cleaning and chemical free carpet cleaning.

“Think about it: do you want harsh chemicals on your feet? My green carpet cleaning service is just as effective, and chemical free,” says Muse.

Muse expresses that growing up in the District of Columbia, she understands busy lifestyles, and the balancing act between home, family and work. Her experience as a quality manager, and in catering, led her to the creation of Muse Concierge, where she is able to provide a variety of services, so you can get back to living your inspired life. “There are so many things that we take for granted in our throw away lifestyle. The services I offer give people their time back; time that they can spend on more important things, like enjoying their family vacation.”

Tai Chi & Qigong: Healing Modalities That Work – Natural Awakenings Upstate https://issuu.com/naupstate/docs/upstate_december_web The Arthritis Foundation is recognizing two types of energy medicine as credible methods of healing and prevention. Energy medicine is used to complement other medical care or as a complete self-care and self-help system. Tai Chi and Qigong. Both are ancient Chinese health modalities that work to improve mental and physical health. Qigong (chi gong) is centered on a series of posture and exercises.

The word qi, or energy, paired together with Gong (achievement) makes a resourceful tool for healing ailments and improving overall wellness. The belief is that we are able to train our minds to direct energy to any part of our body. Some forms are motionless, and require using the mind to activate qi, while others require special breathing techniques or dynamic movements. Qigong enables its participants to fine tune self-healing we are already capable of.

Qigong participants have been reported to experience reduced stress and increased stamina; improvement in cardiovascular, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic and digestive function; and lower blood pressure George Gantt, of Equilibrium Zen Gym, states: “Changing one’s way of thinking in turn changes the chemical reaction one’s body experiences.”

There are numerous styles of Qigong, including medical, spiritual, and martial- of which Tai Chi is categorized as. Tai Chi is an aerobic, yet relaxing martial art form. It focuses on deep breathing and slow fluid movements to improve overall physical and mental wellness.

The Arthritis Foundation has developed a Tai Chi program for people with arthritis. It consists of a combination between Yang and Sun style Tai Chi. Yang style, one of the most popular , flows into a series of languid postures with no pause between movements. The hands remain open, or held in a loose grasp with fingers lightly grazing the center of your palm. The movements of Sun style are slow, smooth and continuous. It requires a higher stance, and agile steps with minimal kicking and punching. Both styles work together to improve mobility, breathing, and relaxation. There are several other styles, like the Chen style, and variations to the original styles of Tai Chi. Sharon L. Hadden

6

Dr. Mary Powers, instructor at QiWorksStudio, LLC, expressed her excitement for the variation of styles and forms of Tai Chi saying, “They are all so wonderful and practicing or teaching with a group is even more exciting. You can feel the qi from others and it combines to form more qi it is just so cool. I am getting too excited just thinking about it” Recent studies have shown that people, who participate in Tai Chi, benefit by experiencing improved strength and flexibility, reduced pain and stiffness, and a greater overall sense of well being. Both Tai Chi and Qigong have been said to improve sleep and increase your sense of balance.

The Arthritis Foundation’s recent embrace of Tai Chi adds one more encouraging step to the strides of energy medicine researchers and local instructors alike.

Gantt speaks for all when he says, “I can only hope other foundations and medical practices will realize this path of healing is much better for the patient.”

In addition to arthritis, patients suffering from fibromyalgia, stroke, and shingles can benefit from these ancient Chinese practices.

QiWorksStudio (Greenville/Greer) and Equilibrium Zen Gym (Greenville) are only a few locations to take advantage of these classes. Classes are also offered by It’s Yoga Studio, at the LifeChoice Center, AnMed Health campus in Anderson and Soul Flow Yoga in Spartanburg.

Sharon L. Hadden