The Well Life Magazine by The Well Life Magazine

The Well Life A

L I F E S T Y L E

M A G A Z I N E

SPRING 2017 / ISSUE 1 / VOLUMEÂ 1

EAT WELL.

Summer Smoothies

LIVE WELL.

Guard Your Heart

THINK WELL.

Save More To Do More

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: IN FULL BLOOM Many of us realize our lives are called to a higher purpose on this earth. We equally realize that there's going to be some work involved. This is the kind of work that causes your heart and brain to conflict. You are passionate behind the cause but you may struggle with the thought of the labor the cause will require. So you busy yourself with good work; full of servitude and consciousness yet it's not your best work because it does not fully embrace that higher purpose in you. You commit so much of your time that you almost fool yourself into thinking, “this is it”! But you know deep down this isn't truly it. Finally one day you are forced to stop and pay attention to the nagging relentless push from within. You know the push; it keeps you awake at night, bombards your mind at the most inconvenient times and seeps out of you in public. It gives people a glimpse of that “something special” about you. Yes, it's the moment of truth. Your moment of truth. It's your destiny defining moment. This moment doesn’t introduce you to people rather it introduces you to yourself. The destiny defining moment will not allow you to rest until you say “yes” to yourself and transform from the caterpillar to the butterfly, a bud to a fully bloomed flower. It is with that encounter that your perception of your journey changes. You begin to see yourself as you really are. You embrace your challenges, expose your fears and elevate your voice with a speaker’s confidence.

You are now ready to walk on, run on and fly. You are ready for the work. You recognize that the power, perseverance, stamina and skill is in you to fulfill every task that excellence will obligate you to fulfill. You even settle into the truth that it's not always going to be easy. You become okay with that. You are finally learning who you really are. You've embraced your distinction. This, my dear friends is where life begins. Whether you realize it or not, this metamorphosis is the embryo of wellness. This magazine was designed to immerse you into your new world, your true world. It’s a world where you are at peace, strong in spirit, clear on purpose, bubbling over in your soul, progressive in your business, thriving in your health and managing your personal affairs. That, is the total state of wellness. Is it possible? Yes. As you turn the pages I want you to see yourself as a fulfilled and satisfied individual maximizing life. You have finally made it. You have taken the first step to a better life. As you continue to bloom I encourage you to Eat Well, Think Well and Live Well. Fitastically Yours, LaShanna D. Leonard Editor-in-Chief”

TWITTER: @LASHANNALEONARD INSTAGRAM: @LASHANNALEONARD FACEBOOK: @LASHANNALEONARDINC WEBSITE: WWW.LASHANNALEONARD.COM EMAIL: INFO@LASHANNALEONARD.COM

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

THE WELL LIFE

EAT WELL.

5 SUMMER FUN FOODS Catch the wave on these colorful delicious treats for the summer. Eat and enjoy without stretching the waistline SMOOTHIE SENSATIONS They're cool, sweet and everyone craves them. Drink recipes without the guilt or the stretching of your waistline.

THINK WELL. 5 WAYS TO SAVE MORE AND DO MORE You could always use more money. Listen in as Ashley Harris walks you through 5 creative steps to save more money so that you can do more with your money. SUCCEED AT SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT Franka Baly brilliantly unravels the mystery of social media success. She offers 6 tips on how to get people to pay attention to your brand and business. DO YOU LOVE ME? Have you ever asked him or wondered? LaShanna Leonard offers 3 tips to knowing whether or not it's love.

LIVE WELL. BEAUTY GLOWS Since beauty is more than skin deep, Abigaelle Coly journeys through 7 steps to living a radiant life that begins with self-care. It's time to radiate! HOME DESIGN THAT WARMS THE HEART Castille gives us a sneak peek into 4 eye-catching home choices for 10Sharon 13 Summer 2017 REWORKED WEAR Check out the latest shirt trend for women for Spring/Summer 2017. Find out where to get them without breaking the bank.

Featured Writers FRANKA BALY Franka Baly is the Lead Designer, Brand Strategist and Business Coach for the company she founded, Franka Baly Media. She has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and small business owners launch with success by providing business coaching, branding and web development services. Franka has over 20+ years of experience in the technology field as a User Experience (UX) and Instructional Designer, having worked for some of the biggest Fortune 500 companies on million dollar projects. Franka is a native of Trinidad and Tobago, Franka is also the mother of active twin teenage boys. Connect with her by going to frankabaly.com.

ABIGAELLE COLY Abigaelle Coly is a Holistic Glow Scientist, Beauty Fomulator and the owner of the Wellness Company Beyond Her Glow™. She is passionate about helping black naturalistas love the skin they're in and glow from the inside out. In addition to formulating beauty products for her clients, she creates digital and physical resources and custom plans to help them meet their beauty, nutrition, and wellness goals. Head on to bit.ly/theglowlist to download the Free Natural Beauty Guide she made just for You.

ASHLEY D. HARRIS Ashley D. Harris not your “average” finance and accounting professional. She is the vibrant, creative and energetic Founder and CEO of Behind the Numbers Financial Consulting, LLC, a small business financial management company and The Financial Success Institute, a personal financial education brand. Known as The Growth CFO and Business Financial Educator, Ashley uses her 12 plus years of financial and managerial accounting, auditing, tax and personal finance experience to coach and train entrepreneurs on how to implement financial systems in their business that will help them achieve long term business growth, sustainable profits, and cash flow. She also helps entrepreneurs increase their financial intelligence by teaching on business finance fundamentals that will help them become financially conscious CEO’s so that they can make sound decisions. In addition to helping businesses and entrepreneurs, she provides personal financial education and training to high school and college students. Ashley's business and personal mottos are: 1) Know Your Money, Know Your Numbers, Know Your Business and 2) Plan Now. Budget Accordingly. Save Money. Spend Wisely."

SHARON CASTILLE Sharon Castille is an Interior Design Consultant and self-proclaimed chef. She is the founder of Borders Unlimited and has a nationwide clientele. Sharon has a creative eye for textures, patterns and aesthetics. She enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her grandchildren. She has been in the business for 12 years and is pleased to join the Well Life family.

GUARD YOUR HEART AND PREPARE FOR REAL LOVE LASHANNA D. LEONARD

FOOD THAT HEAL

Pack your spring/summer enjoyment with punches of healing and delicious drinks. Whether you need to lose weight, energize your body or press the “reset” button there is a Green Thing standing by ready to come to your rescue. NOTE: To maintain all vitamins & phytonutrients in these whole foods it is suggested to utilize a high quality juicer vs. the standard blender.

The heart is a muscle. It has stimuli; it feels and responds to everything that the body, mind and psyche experiences. The heart is also an overall sensory function. It is the one muscle that has the ability to both feel, see and hear. Don't believe me? How many times did your heart respond to something that it “saw” coming? How is that so? It is wonderfully connected to all of you; therefore, it is capable of feeling, seeing and hearing.

SIP ON THIS! Matcha Green Tea A natural cancerfighter and fat-burner. It's origin is China and it is a finely ground powder highly known for its healing properties and nutritional value. •Loaded in antioxidants •Restores internal balance •Calms the mind and body

Weight loss booster INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 2 cups fresh spinach, 1 carrot 1 celery rib, 1/2 cups apple juice (no added juice, natural) 1 banana, small 1 packet of Fierce Whey protein Add ice if desired BLEND until smooth POUR & ENJOY *This recipe makes up to 3 servings. Seal smoothies tightly and freeze until you're ready to drink them.

If I may I would like to encourage you to view your heart in the manner that I described above. Secondly I want you to insert this new perception into the way you approach a potential love interest. Furthermore, insert this new perception when it comes to all matters of relationship and potential love. Your love is an energy. Your love is a gift. Your

love is worth a fight. Would you give this away randomly? Love is innate, it's an automatic feel and desire. Women were made to give it and men were made to learn it. The next time a new opportunity in the form of a person approaches you with romantic interests I want you to consider this heart. The next time you are tempted to allow loneliness cause you to make a reckless move, I want you to consider this heart. The next time you feel like giving up because true love seems to be taking too long I want you to consider this heart. This heart of yours is worth its value, its contribution, its power and it's definitely worth the wait. So guard your heart. Prepare for real, undisputed, proven, loyal, pure, qualifying love. It's coming.

T I P S

F O R

S O C I A L

E N G A G E M E N T

M E D I A

S U C C E S S !

FRANKA BALY Let’s start out with some quick FACTS about social media: - 2.1 Billion people in this world have social media accounts. Staggering isn’t it? - 88.2% of US companies will use social networks for marketing purposes, and is estimated to reach 89.4% by 2017. In case it’s not obvious by now...social media is here to stay. Let’s just get that out of the way. For those of you that were hoping it was going away...Sorry. This means that if you’re using social media to grow your business, it’s important for you to come up with a strategy so you’re maximizing your time, because it can be darn right consuming to grow an engaged community. It’s most important to remember that all engagement starts and ends with knowing your target customers. Understand what problems they are struggling with and how you are uniquely equipped to help them solve it.

"For your social media strategy, you have to forge your own path and do what works for you and where you are in your journey in life and in business. Don’t follow or compare yourself to anyone. This is your journey. Just be consistent." – Franka Baly

Here Are 6 Quick Tips for Social Media Engagement Success! 1. Choose the right platform to execute your strategy. Your strategy won’t be effective if you don’t post where you can connect with your ideal target customers. Don’t try to be on everything to everyone, as this is sure to overwhelm you. Only post on those sites where you KNOW you will connect with the people who are looking for your products and services. Below is a list of the social media platforms in order of number of users. Facebook – It’s still the leader and juggernaut and has the potential to reach any demographic.73% of the US adult population has a Facebook account. So for brand awareness it’s a must have.

LinkedIn – Mostly used for business this platform is somewhat difficult for businesses to find success. 79% of LinkedIn users are aged 35 or older. Pinterest – If you’re female (84% of its demographic), chances are you have a Pinterest account. I heard someone call it Google for women. Interestingly enough each pin can drive an average of two website visits and six page-views.So if you’re wanting to get sales, Pinterest is the platform for you. Twitter has lost some of its luster, but it’s still a great place for relationship-building with influencers and communicating with your customer-base. Twitter users were between 25 and 44 years old. Its best for SaaS companies, marketing companies, sportsrelated businesses, and all news organizations.

5. Use questions to stimulate conversation. Data shows that posts with questions have double the engagement of non-question posts. Ask questions which focuses on a common problem, a tool which could solve a problem or about a topic which is sure to get everyone excited.

Instagram or the "Insta" as it’s referred to by Millennials is for a younger demographic between 1829 years old, and they’re active and engaged. The user engagement rate is 4.21%, exceeding Facebook and Twitter. Image-friendly industry brands like restaurants, fashion, food, architecture, technology, and designers, Google+ is primarily used by males in the engineering and tech industry who are in their mid-20’s (average age is 28). 2. Post when you’re most likely to get engagement. You should create your strategy around when you are likely to connect with your target audience. For each platform this may be different. Below are some of the recommended peak times for posting on each social media platform. Facebook: Thursday and Friday have 18% better engagement than other days of the week with the best times being between 1pm to 4pm with the peak being Wednesdays at 3pm.

LinkedIn: Wednesdays around noon and 5pm has the highest engagement. Pinterest: Saturday mornings is the peak time. For those who love to dream and who have time on the weekends. Twitter: Peak times are Monday – Thursday from 9am – 3pm. But don’t’ be like our President and tweet more than 3X a day. Google+: Peak time is between 9 – 10am on Wednesdays. Best for those who like to post first thing in the morning. 3. Use pictures which tell a story. Research shows that Facebook posts with pictures get 120% more engagement than simple text. On Twitter tweets with images get 150% more engagement than tweets without. 4.Make posts brief and impactful. Posts which have less than 250 characters have 60% more engagement than longer posts. People are busy and distracted, don’t make them read too much. I’m guilty of not following this one.

6. Stay current. Posting on current events is a great way to get engagement because people want to talk about and discuss what’s happening in the world. Just be mindful that topics such as religion and politics can get very heated. I would steer clear of those if you don’t have the man power to moderate these posts. So I hope these tips haven’t overwhelmed you as you start, or continue, engaging on social media. If you’re a business owner and you’re not using social media, then you’re missing out on making great connections for your brand. Your strategy will change and evolve so don’t be concerned if something you try doesn’t resonate with your audience right away. Don’t give up and keep refining until you find the right strategy. The key is to be consistent and stick to it. Anything you’re passionate about and want to make happen, connecting with likeminded people is key, and social media is an easy and free way to do just that. Sources: 1. Social media engagement – Statistics and Trends. Published by Invesp. Author: Khalid Saleh (2017) 2. Social Media Marketing: Which Platform is Right for Your Business. Published by Wishpond. Author: James Scher (2017) 3.Distribution of Twitter users in the United States asof December 2016, by age group. Pubished by Statista (2016).

7 BEAUTIFUL HABITS OF HIGHLY RADIANT WOMEN A 7-Step Plan for Holistic Beauty from the Inside Out ABIGAELLE COLY You are every woman. You yearn for “that glow” that will make people notice. However, natural radiance is an inside job. Radiant women don’t just wing it but they are deliberate about cultivating a lifestyle that honors their God-given temple through the daily choices they make. “We should not judge a book by its cover” So, they say. The truth is your skin mirrors closely your health. Here’s the 7-steps fail-proof plan radiant women live by: 1- They are intentional about their Beauty Regimen The law of reciprocity applies to your skin care. What you see is what you get. The outcome will speak for itself whether you choose to create your own beauty regimen or you hire a professional to craft an in-depth plan. There is a ripple effect in your health, inner confidence, and outer appearance when you treat your skin from the inside out.

Your beauty regimen can include: • A daily beauty routine that ensures your skin is clean, nurtured, and revitalized • A meal plan that both satisfies your taste buds but also your body’s energetic needs as well as fuel to your skin cells • Scheduled, non-invasive but efficient treatments by a specialist that a daily skin care routine won’t address 2- They eat their way to glowing skin Your skin reflects what is going on the inside. Moderation is key. You’re opening a can of worms when you habitually eat junk, processed, sugary, and trans-fat foods. Unhealthy eating habits trigger inflammation, a clogged system, a leaky gut, and a frail immune system. That is the perfect cocktail for dull, tired, and lack luster skin. It is often the culprit for breakouts, flare-ups, and other skin sensitivities. If you want that radiant glow, Fear not!

Here are few things you can do: • Decrease the toxic buildup by selecting foods that cleanse the organs of detoxification (liver, skin, kidneys, and blood). While the list is not exhaustive, find a way to add these foods in fresh meals: artichokes, lemon, ginger, turmeric, fennel, kale, garlic, parsley • Keep your gut healthy with prebiotics like fat-free yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut • Eat healthy fats to hydrate your skin from within: avocado, almond nuts, walnuts, flaxseed oil or flaxseed meal, chia seeds. 3- They prioritize self-care Have you ever heard of the mindbody connection? It is real. One simple beauty practice yet overlooked is to learn to manage your emotional health. Stress increases the levels of the hormone cortisol. This can lead to excessive oil production in the skin cells, which may cause breakouts or pimples.

Remember, the only person you can control is you and here are few things you can do: • Take a deep breath. Relax. • Take “power naps” often. Get your beauty sleep. • Pray. Meditate. Speak well (positive words) of yourself daily. 4- They are proactive about their skin care Holistic skin care is not treating the symptoms but tackling the roots of potential skin concerns before they appear. You should give equal importance to what you put on your skin (products) as much as what you put inside your body (foods). Not only will it benefit your skin but your overall health. Furthermore, you won’t need to break the bank for skin care woes that could have been otherwise prevented.

5- They avoid the Shiny Object Syndrome I am a recovering “beauty product junkie” turned “Green Beauty Formulator”. I get it. But less is more when it comes to your skin. I am not advocating for minimalism but rather encouraging you to know what you use on your skin and how much you should use. When in doubt, use the K.I.S.S (Keep it sweetly simple) method: • Give a product time to work for at least 28 days • If the product works, don’t switch it. Stick to it! • Discontinue the product only when you notice it is no longer having its intended effect 6- They are consistent If you were to wake me up in the middle of my sleep and ask the one

ingredient that will make your skin glow, I will respond without blinking: Consistency! Consistency! Consistency! Following through with a plan is not attractive in our “microwave-results” society. Apply the formula below to your beauty regimen if you want to see consistent results: • Create daily rituals • Schedule it! Stick to it! • Rinse and Repeat! 7- They love the skin they’re in Natural Beauty comes from within. It has nothing to do with fancy beauty regimen, backed-by science skin care routines or top-notch nutrition programs. It starts with the woman in the mirror, the one who’s gazing back at you daily in the mirror. The best beauty treatment you can give yourself is to show up as you are daily while embracing your “perfect imperfections”. There is no fear of judgment from the outside for the woman who loves who she truly is on the inside. Holistic skin care is not rocket science. It is a comprehensive blueprint that takes into account many factors such as lifestyle, environment, nutrition, habits, genetics, and age. Caring for your skin is not just about selecting the right products but also nurturing it from within with a nutrient-rich diet. The former requires that you tailor products to your skin needs while the latter is understanding what foods contribute to bringing the right nutrients to your skin cells. Wondering why “the girl-next-door” has such a beautiful outer glow. It could be due to many things but if you were to gauge her opinion, she would probably confirm my suspicions. What I perceive is that she is head-overheels with the person she’s on the inside first.

5 WAYS TO SAVE MORE MONEY SO YOU CAN DO MORE ASHLEY D. HARRIS With spring season in full gear and summer soon to be making it’s appearance, you are probably ready to start packing your bags to show off your new physique on sandy white beaches or jet set on family vacations. Or you may be gearing up for home renovations that will bring about more zen to your abode or even purchasing a new home that suits you and your family’s needs. But wait, all that costs money. And from the way things are looking you may be coming up short on the funds front. Oops, looks like you didn’t think things through while overspending or indulging in frivolous shopping Hmmm, that’s not good when you are wanting to take a vacation or make home renovations. But don’t fret my friend. Help is here. Check out these 5 ways to save more money so you can do more. 1. Implement a NO SPEND Day Once Per Week "Hold up…wait a minute. So you're telling us to not spend money one day each week? Geesh!!!" Yes, that’s exactly what I am suggesting to you. When I say no spending, I am not talking about your obvious bills such as your mortgage/rent, utilities, car note, insurance because those are expenses you have to pay to live. What I am talking about is the impulse spending that YOU CAN CONTROL.

If you think about it, we make frequent stops at stores daily, purchasing small items here and there, buying up lattes and coffees, hitting up the vending machine at work, buying books, DVD's, music on Itunes, shopping for clothing, eating out (which we discussed on Tip #1), household items, or grocery items, gasing up our vehicles, etc. And in one day that can add up to anywhere from $5 - $75 per day that you are spending in which you can SAVE if you just cut spending one day per week. This is such a simple thing to do for one day per week; go through the day without spending a dime. Don't think that it's so hard and that you can't do it. Just say NO to spending one day per week and watch your savings start to grow! 2. Scale Back on Dining Out and Entertainment Who doesn’t love good food and entertainment? We all do! From dining out at nice restaurants, to movie theatres, plays, festivals, sports events, group outings, etc. While all of it is fun, fellowshipping and relaxing, did you know that this is the biggest monthly expense for any person (after mortgage/rent)? Let’s talk for a minute… Did you know that one of the largest expense most people incur every month is dining out and

entertainment? To the tune of $500-$600/month. That’s a house or apartment note (in some cities) or even a car note plus insurance. Just ask yourself, what could you do with an extra $500-$600/month other than entertain and dine out myself away? We all want to be able to enjoy life without it hurting our pockets. And it can be accomplished, on a budget that is, and you can save money doing it. There are so many discount sites out there such as groupon.com and livingsocial.com, two of the most popular discount sites (and two of my favorite). They offer entertainment, dining, and travel deals for up to 70% off cost and are free to sign up for. For example, you can get movie theatre passes for $5 (regular $10, 50% savings), spa packages for $39/$49 (regular $125, 65-70% savings), drive in theatre for 2 persons w/popcorn and soda $12 (regular $19, 37% savings), museum passes $20 (regular $40, 50% savings), upscale restaurant dining $45 (regular $79, savings of 48%), etc. You get my drift here? With these deals you are looking at a savings upwards of $479 (based on average spending of $500 $600/month). Now that’s a winner! Grow savings grow. 3. Setup Automatic Savings Transfers So we've saved money by establishing a weekly "NO SPEND” day and scaling back on dining out and entertainment. Using the money you have saved from applying those two tips, you can open a separate savings account where you can setup automatic transfer; a designated amount of money either weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. The goal here is to get you started with putting back a set amount each week that

1) you can handle 2) you won't forget to do set aside because it's automated 3) you can't easily access and 4) act as what I like to call a "convenience fund," otherwise known as an "emergency fund." So when an emergency comes about you will have some funds set aside to cover it.

to a consignment or resale shop (if it’s clothes, then places like Plato’s Closet or Style Encore or whatever is in your area).

Want to see how much you can accumulate over time? By designating $100 per week to be automatically transferred to your savings account, you can accumulate $400 per month (or $4,800 for the year). Not bad! See those savings stacking up.

5. Use Cash More Than Debit / Credit Card Cash, debit or credit? The familiar words you hear when checking out at the register when it’s time to pay for your goods. Opt for CASH. I know you’re probably thinking, what difference does it make? Well it makes a lot of difference when you are wanting to save more money.

4. Sell What You No Longer Use I know you have some items in your home, your closet, your garage, or even in your attic that you are no longer using. But you’ve been holding on to those items over a year now thinking that you’ll find the perfect outfit to wear with those haute shoes, find the right curtains to go with that bedding set, or the right time to spruce up picture frame you been wanting to hang in the guest bathroom. If you’ve been holding on to all of that stuff for over a year, there’s a strong probability that you won’t ever wear it, use it, or do anything with it. It’s time to rid yourself of the clutter and make some money using these steps. First take an inventory of all of those items around your house that you may not use or haven’t used or worn in the last year or so. Second, total what those items are worth and how much you can sell them for. And third, sign up with online storefronts like E-bay, Etsy, Poshmark, Mercari, or Craigslist to start selling your old items. Lastly, If you’re not comfortable or ready for the online selling, consider having a garage sale or take your items

Your hand me downs is someone else’s treasure. So sell sell sell and bank the money in your savings.

Cash is your best friend when making everyday purchases such as gas, groceries, miscellaneous items, not debit or credit. And here’s why. Although your debit card is essentially like using cash, you can still overspend if you are not careful. It’s so convenient and you can easily tell yourself just one more swipe since it will clear my bank account the same time. Even with credit cards, you can get to swipe happy and charge charge charge plus expect to shell out more money on interest. If you are not careful, you can overspend and cause some major damage. But using cash will cause you to really pay attention to what you are purchasing. As the physical funds get low, you think twice about buying that dress, fly shoes or that handbag. And when the amount you allotted yourself is gone, it’s gone until the next time. Damage control done. And savings is stacking up nicely. You can take that trip now or make those home renovations.

2017 INTERIOR TRENDS TO PAY ATTENTION TO SHARON CASTILLE

Cork Home Office Space Function Fashion and Fun. The cork style helps to create texture and versatility to a space within the home. Not only does it add a natural flare but it can also absorb noise. Open Plan Living Controversy has emerged when it comes to the open plan. Is it in or is it out? While there are conservative concerns with the open acoustics and aromas freely roaming the space, many creatives are still "open" to the idea of liberal space with plenty of room to design your own decor rules.

Less is More We're opting for more simplicity. It's true, less is more. Create big statements with very little. Choose a focus piece within the space or even within the corner of the room. With a central focus on one item or a dash of color a breath of fresh air is sure to be experienced. Upholstered Bediness As a staple of luxury, upholstered beds will quickly replace the wooden-style designs. Upholstered beds encourage the feeling of "escape" when it's time to retire for the night. Play around with the color or keep it neutral and accessorize.

REWORKED SHIRT

Refashion Your favorite men’s shirt for a gift. Wine Bottle Holder

Zara Asymmetrical Striped Shirt $49

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Our favorite girl of fashion (Sarah Jessica Parker) has been spotted sporting this trend. Now we’re featuring its awesome versatility.

TopShop Tie-Sleeve Structured Bardot Top $42

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