Issuu

BRICK

THE

JULY 2018

MAGAZINE

ANN ARBOR

RELEASE YOUR REGRETS RADIANCE JUST DO NOTHING! DO YOU NEED A PRODUCTIVITY MAKE-UNDER?

PLUS! ITâ€™S TIME FOR A PARENTING MAKEOVER

Susan Todoroff THE BUSINESS OF FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS

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THE

BRICK MAGAZINE

JULY 2018

CONTENTS

Publisher • Sarah Whitsett Assistant to the publisher • Jillian Fraioli

Art Director • Jennifer Knutson

Copy Editor • Angelina Bielby

Marketing Director • Steve DeBruler

Cover Photographer • Heather Nash

Contributors >>

Bridget Baker

Angela Harrison

Lisa Profera

Ryan Brooks

Sharon Lawlor

Randi Rubenstein

Kristen Domingue

Lisa Nogueira

Stephanie Saline

Madeleine Forbes

Maria Sylvester

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THE BRICK MAGAZINE makes every effort to provide accurate information in advertising, editorial content and placement; however, we cannot make any claims as to the accuracy of information provided by advertisers or editorial contributors and will accept no responsibility or liability for inaccurate information or placement. No content can be duplicated without the permission of The Brick Magazine, LLC

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Just Do Nothing Do You Need a Productivity Make-Under? The Business of Following Your Dreams Susan Todoroff on the Price of Passion Rewerk Your Wardrobe: Swap It Out and Step It Up Makeover: The Seasonal Cycle Makeover Your Skin with Your Own Plasma Woman on the Street On Writing to Yourself Release Your Regrets. It’s a New Day!

Is Your Beach Bag REALLY Ready?

It’s Time for a Parenting Makeover

Sneaky Sweets

Radiance

AN HONEST, ARTFUL AND DOCUMENTARY APPROACH TO WEDDING, FAMILY AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN & BEYOND

h e a t h e r n a s h p h o t o g r a p h y. c o m July hmnphoto @2018 g m a i|l . 7c o m

JUST DO NOTHING Do You Need a Productivity Make-Under? By Bridget Baker

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July 2018 | 9

a day, you still feel like there is so much you should be doing, or that you want to be doing. If only you had more time, you could go get a massage or write that novel. Between meetings, lunches, phone calls, kid drop-offs, and errands, our days can be filled to the brim with to-dos. On top of all this, we may dream of having time to ourselves, but instead, just end up adding on more “scheduled” fun, by having set times to make it to a play, a dinner, or an outing. Even our playtime becomes regimented. Let’s face it. You are already slaying your day like a boss, and when you take a moment to stop and think about it, you may be accomplishing more than you realize on a regular basis. What if doing more was not the answer to being more productive? What if you could be at peace with what you’ve accomplished and give yourself an actual break?

ou wake up in the morning and think, “Today’s the day I’ll get all my errands done, meditate, write in my journal, market my business, and check off all those unchecked boxes.” Halfway through the day, however, you find your energy waning, your productivity slumping, and you slug down a cup of coffee to give you the boost you need to get it all done. No matter how many phone apps, timers, alerts, or gadgets you have to help you save time, some tasks take as long as they take, regardless of these “timesavers.” Even after doing more than you thought you would, or could, in

10 | The Brick Magazine

I’m not talking about a vacation here. Traveling can be a fantastic way to refresh and recharge, but it involves lots of transit, planning, and detail. No, I’m suggesting instead something you can do anywhere in the world — and for free! Fueled by Instagram posts and “grass-is-always-greener” syndrome, we get this urge to do more, have more, BE more! When is it enough? When do we just surrender and let it all go? When do we realize that doing so much may actually be getting in the way of accomplishing more?

Soak that one in for a minute. Being busy does not mean being productive necessarily.

For productivity, you need to be relaxed, focused, calm, and clear. What if you could just do less? Rather than trying to be more efficient, or find ways to fit more into your already packed day, what if you could just take a timeout? What if you could find value and purpose in merely doing… nothing? By “nothing,” I don’t mean meditating, or taking a bubble bath, or getting a massage. I mean absolutely nothing. Some of the most productive people take this kind of break, and it’s what gives them the mental clarity and physical rest needed to get more done. If you find yourself running around in a frenzy, just stop. Here are a few reasons why doing less creates space for more:

You can get perspective. When you take a break, you make room for the big ideas to come in. You shut out all that noise, and your creativity can flourish.

Your body can get the rest it needs. When you rest and relax, you increase your vitality. You’d be amazed at what just a couple of nights with not enough sleep can do to the way you function.

Your mind can quiet.

The stress of it all can begin to melt away when you let yourself just relax with nowhere to be, no agenda, and nothing to do.

You can relish your accomplishments. What if how much you’ve already done in your life, your relationship, or your business were already enough? What if all you needed to do was to just bask in the glow of a life well-lived?

You can learn to say no. If someone asks what you’re doing while you’re enjoying doing nothing, there is no need to tell them “I’m busy;” you can just learn to say no. When that person asks what you’re doing, you can instead just say, “Oh, nothing.” Let nothing be enough. It’s time to let go of the idea that doing nothing means we’re lazy, and to bask in the afterglow of the nothingness with a rested body and a quieted mind. Take a time-out from all the noise of the world, and just let the subtle art of doing nothing be your guru.

bridget Baker web presence sherpa | productivity hacker digital nomad | freelance blogger minimalist adventurer | speaker full-time rver www.instagram.com/travellightlife/Travellightlife.com

July 2018 | 11

O u r f r ie d c h i c ke n c o m e s i n fo u r f l a vors: S i c h u a n , c h i l i g l a ze , s we et soy g l a ze , o r l e m o n p e p p e r.

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Our ban cha nâ€” sma l l side dishesâ€”is m ade in- h ou se w ith season a l p rodu ce .

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I t’s a l l i n t h e d eta i l s . S oy b u t te r ta ke s o u r s e s a m e r i ce t o a wh o l e n e w l e ve l .

ROOTED IN KOREAN TRADITION. ADAPTED TO MICHIGAN’S BOUNTY. N E W E ST R E STAU R A N T

Just a few steps from Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market, Miss Kim serves a soulful menu of seasonal Korean dishes. Chef Ji Hye Kim, who grew up in Seoul, South Korea, finds inspiration in ancient culinary texts and Michigan’s bountiful produce. From our casual Asian American lunch favorites, like hand-rolled steamed buns and fresh rice bowls, to our shareable dinner plates of crispy Korean fried chicken and street-style Tteokbokki, we make almost everything from scratch and in collaboration with local farmers. We make some really great cocktails, too!

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COME DINE WITH US!

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July 2018 | 13

14 | The Brick Magazine Photograph by Heather Nash

THE BUSINESS OF FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS Susan Todoroff on the Price of Passion by Kristen Domingue Photography by Heather Nash

We loved talking with Susan Todoroff of Juicy Kitchen in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her frankness and candor about what it takes to open a business from home with young children is a testament to the unavoidable truth that we can’t do it alone. Read on to learn how Todoroff found support, the difference it made, and the challenges it helped her overcome along the way.

uicy Kitchen started as a spark of an idea in the early 1980s. Susan Todoroff wrote in her journal of a cozy place where people could gather for a delicious, healthy breakfast in a community atmosphere while reading the newspaper and running into friends. Thirty years later that spark is a bonfire, and not exactly as Todoroff pictured. “I’ve learned you have to be open to other paths that dream may lead you to. My quiet, cozy place where people could sit on couches reading the newspaper, listening to custom-made music playlists is lovely, but it didn’t quite turn out that way. It’s a lot more chaotic.”

In every business owner’s life, there’s a moment when you realize that the price of keeping your dream alive is evolving it to keep it breathing. “I realized that I could not make a profit unless I put in as many tables as possible and had a higher table turnover. People lounging around with coffee for two hours was nice, but I was in a position where I needed to make money. My husband’s business at the time was uncertain, so I had to think of this as a profitable business, not a supplemental hobby-business,” Todoroff explains. While Juicy Kitchen is still cozy, with delicious healthy food, it now boasts crowds of people waiting for a table on weekends. It’s not the serene place Todoroff pictured.

July 2018 | 15

Photographs by Heather Nash

The path to every dream is a crooked line Todoroff knew early on that a traditional job was not her passion. She loved being a restaurant server while attending Wayne State University. After her first daughter was born, she decided to pursue culinary school since she always loved to cook and was already catering on the side. “I hated office work, so thought I could hone my culinary skills and open a catering business. Even if the business didn’t work out, I would have great cooking skills, which would benefit my family.” In a twist of fate, Todoroff started teaching Spin classes when her youngest daughter was a toddler. “I was so grateful the gym nearby had free childcare, as she was a non-stop handful who never took naps back then. With the free childcare, I was able to finally get an hour to myself.” After diving into Spin classes, Todoroff had a hunch she’d make a good Spin instructor and got certified. Shortly thereafter, she was certified as a personal trainer. Eventually, she found herself talking about food with her clients. They all wanted to eat better, but found the challenge of cooking too time-consuming for their busy schedules. “I knew the right food was a need for people who wanted to get fit -- it’s such a huge part of losing weight and being healthy. I also knew I had the ability to prepare tasty, healthy food.” But the idea 16 | The Brick Magazine

to turn this into an add-on service for her clients was cemented when she spoke with them during training sessions. Almost all of them jumped on the chance to have her simplify this part of their lives as soon as she offered. “That was really hard,” she says. “It was logistically very stressful and I was so tired all the time.” When a small Chinese restaurant next to the commissary kitchen she rented closed, Todoroff’s husband, George, encouraged the move.

The joys (and challenges) of partnering with your partner At the time, Todoroff dreamed of a little café. She imagined nothing could be harder than what she was already doing, preparing and delivering weekly food to 50 families in Ann Arbor. “We jumped on it right away,” she explains. “We took a month to renovate, doing all the work ourselves. My dad even cut down trees on his property and made planks for the wainscoting. George made the countertops, the tables, everything. It was truly a labor of love.” “My husband has always supported every outof-the-box thing I’ve ever wanted to do. I’ve had many jobs, including selling toys at in-home parties, bartending, teaching yoga and spin classes. Now I’m in rehearsals for a play and he helps me with my lines every day. He pushed me a little into opening the café, and then he jumped right in to renovate

it. He fills in when the dishwasher calls in sick, fixes the hood when it breaks, and just generally helps out whenever I ask. Yes, it has caused some stress between us. And I wouldn’t necessarily recommend working with your spouse — it’s a little too much time together, playing different roles. But nearly six years after opening the café, and almost 30 years of marriage, we are still making it work.” Five and a half years after opening the café, Juicy Kitchen thrives, but not without its own challenges. “My biggest headache is finding employees who share my vision. Right now we have a great staff, the best I’ve ever had,” says Todoroff. “But still, when it’s your small business and an employee calls in sick or needs a vacation, it’s the owner who always has to fill in the gaps. I was working about 100 hours a week for the first couple of years. That was a really hard time.”

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“There was a point when my youngest was going through some challenges in high school and I was doing my best to help her while still working crazy hours. I’m sure it had an impact on the family, but honestly, looking back, it’s a bit of a blur. I remember missing an entire spring. I love the spring flowers, blossoming trees and gardening. I remember thinking to myself, ‘I don’t even have time to look around and enjoy spring.’”

Todoroff’s husband helped a lot. He did the bookkeeping and the repairs, and provided emotional support. “I couldn’t have done it without him. I am much more emotionally involved with the café, and he is able to stand back and look at it objectively.”

She goes on to explain that one fall, she managed to put a pumpkin on the porch, and it was still there at Christmas. “The logistics and details of the café filled every bit of my headspace. It was a crazy time and I don’t wish it on anyone.”

There were many times when Todoroff wanted to just close down. “I’ve had cooks walk out in the middle of a shift, I’ve had dishwashers just not show up for work, I’ve dealt with employees fighting with each other, drug and alcohol use, you name it.”

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Photographs by Heather Nash

July 2018 | 17

“But without a doubt, the thing that kept me going then (and still does now) is the customers. Almost every single day a customer would actually thank me for what I created. Or I would be really down and then out of the blue I’d receive a wonderful email about how Juicy Kitchen is the only place a particular family can eat because of a child’s allergy. Or all of sudden there would be a glowing five-star Yelp review. Now, almost six years later, a few times a week a customer will tell me how much they love Juicy Kitchen. It means so much to me to hear it.” Todoroff describes a time when she knew she needed more help and wanted to hire a kitchen manager to partner with — someone who could invest and own half of the café and share the burden of managing it with her. “I received a two-page letter from a guy who seemed absolutely perfect. I was on cloud nine. I felt like I was in love (though a different sort of love, of course). I thought, ‘This is it. We’re going to take this place to the next level together.’ It lasted two weeks. One day, on the busiest day of the year (graduation weekend), he just disappeared in the middle of a rush. When I realized that he was gone, my heart sunk, but I jumped on the line and we finished the day. When I finally got ahold of him to ask what happened, I received a long text message.” She recalls its contents with candor. “How dare I tell him how to make an omelette? How dare I give him a recipe for a gazpacho,” and so forth. Needless to say, Todoroff didn’t see this coming at all. “That really shook my faith in my ability to read people, which had always been good. But, once again, those lovely customers kept telling me how grateful they were that we were there.” Todoroff concedes that it’s the customers’ appreciation that makes all the difference for her.

Photograph by Heather Nash

18 | The Brick Magazine

Last year, Todoroff was feeling so burnt out she decided to sell the café. “I had someone interested, so I decided to sell on a land-contract deal where the new owner would make monthly payments.” That lasted about nine months; things didn’t work out, and Todoroff was forced to make a decision. “I either had to close the café or take back ownership,” she says. When she couldn’t imagine walking away, the choice became clear.

Photographs by Heather Nash

Since taking back the café, Todoroff has learned to relax a bit. “I figured if it survived without me for nine months, it can survive if I take a couple of days off.”

On loving a dream enough to share it with others The tough decision to leave your business or stay in it is gut-wrenching for any business owner. It was no different for Todoroff. “Juicy Kitchen was like my new baby. I didn’t want to leave it in the hands of employees (even though I had good employees), so I felt I had to be there every day to make sure customer service and food were up to my standards. And when I was there, I would see all kinds of things that needed improving. A customer wasn’t greeted soon enough, they had to wait too long for their carry-out order, the front door needed to be Windexed or a customer left without a ‘goodbye’ from staff.” “I realized that I was going for perfection when ‘good enough’ was succeeding. If my standards were going to be perfection, they were never going to be met. But, if perfection sets the standard, then the ‘good enough’ isn’t too far off. Most customers are not going to notice that there is a smudge on the door, and they are not going to feel slighted if the staff is too busy to say ‘goodbye.’ But through ensuring my staff understands that I have these standards, they’re more likely to try and meet them.” When Todoroff looks back on what she created, she is happy yet wistful. “I used to wake up in the morning and think, ‘What have I gotten myself

into?’” Now I feel better about what I’ve created. It’s especially nice to go in at night when no one is there and reflect. It’s like looking at a sleeping baby. You may have an incredibly challenging day with the baby, but when you look at it sleeping, you fall in love again.”

Advice to her younger self “If I had to say anything to a younger version of me just starting out, I’d tell her this: don’t do too much too soon. Ease into growing, and don’t try and do it all yourself. If possible, find a partner who is as emotionally invested as you are.”

Todoroff’s journey is familiar for those of us on the entrepreneurial path, and provides wisdom for those of us considering one. Her story details the necessity of good support and a willingness to set high standards and change directions as needed. What’s most impressive is Todoroff’s commitment to serve at the heart of every big choice: to serve more clients with healthy food, she had to open a restaurant; when she wanted to close up shop, knowing her customers needed her kept her going. We applaud that spirit of service, and know that where passion and service intersect with talent, a purposeful life like Todoroff’s is the outcome.

Kristen M. Domingue is a copywriter and content marketing consultant in the New York City area. When she’s not delivering on client projects, you can find her cooking up something gluten-free or in an internet rabbit hole on entrepreneurship or astrology.

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REWERK YOUR WARDROBE: Swap It Out and Step It Up by Angela Harrison

ashion makeover shows are always fascinating to watch; they find the most unfashionable subjects and transform them into chic style mavens. We love seeing people step outside their comfort zone and be completely surprised by how much they love a look they would’ve never considered before. These exciting transformations don’t have to just happen on TV — you don’t even have to be fashionably-challenged to be transformed by a look. Anyone can be made-over.

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We see our same clothes day in and day out, and while we may look like seemingly normal humans from the outside, we can always step it up from the functional bare-minimum. We can swap out our usual work-tops and black pants for clothes with life and style, or dump our beloved errandrunning yoga pants for easy, cropped linen bottoms and a scoop-neck tee, or wear something other than black after 5pm on the weekends (guilty as charged!). All of these current looks we wear are fine, but fine can be turned into fabulous. And everyone deserves to feel fabulous.

DITCH THE DAYTIME YOGA PANTS Say it with me: you’re better than leggings. You know it’s true. And yeah, their comfort is unmatched and they hold us in all the right places, but if you’re not leaving from or going to a fitness facility, we can do better. With the same exact effort as putting on yoga pants, you can put on this fab pair of ‘Island Slim Leg Pants’ by Vince Camuto, whose ribbed tank and leather slides make you look like an effortlessly-chic Parisian while dominating your Target run. “Why is Marion Cotillard picking us up from school? Oh, it’s just Mom, she’s not wearing yoga pants!” Everything this summer season is striped, cropped, and wide-legged — get into it. Denim is always a great daytime pant; the trend is a looser fit, like the ‘Jagger Crop Straight Leg Jeans’ by Vigoss. It’s perfect for transitioning from daytime to causal dinner out; the boyfriend style looks great cuffed and with a simple Keds tennis shoe or strappy flat sandal. When it comes to tops, don’t overthink it, keep it simple with small style details like the ‘Tie Front Shirt’ by Treasure & Bond or the ‘Twist Front Linen Shirt’ by Calson. Both are classic styles with design details that step them up from basic button-downs to fashionable, stylized looks.

WORKWEAR ALTERNATIVES We live in an age where work attire can range from a t-shirt and jeans to a full suit. Whether it’s a performance review, presentation, new client meeting — or the mood just strikes — a clean look will always set you apart from the rest. Men usually have it easy when it comes to workwear (cue the eye-roll), and a lot of my female clients feel stuck in the same black/ grey blazer and dress pants or button-down blouse and jeans. One of my favorite suiting alternatives are jumpsuits; they’ve come a long way since the ‘70s, and there’s a fit and style for everyone. I consider them suiting alternatives because they give the same consistent look, from top to bottom, that a suit would; a set within one garment. The blue ‘Asplice’ jumpsuit by City Chic is a gorgeous cut, with its wrap-style top and wide cropped leg. It’s a fashion-forward piece that stands out for all the right reasons. Same goes for the ‘Popover Crop Jumpsuit’ by Chelsea28. Its popover-style bodice creates the illusion of two pieces and gives stunning proportions. Pair with your fave sandals or pumps and you’ll be looking on top of your game all day. For a more casual look, throw on a bright layering piece like the ‘Dapper Blazer’ by City Chic in color ‘Shock Pink,’ or jazz up your bottoms with the colorful ‘Richmond Stretch Cotton Trousers’ in the print ‘Riviera Blue/Wildflower’ by Boden. Both pieces pair great with casual cotton tees, buttondowns, or chambray shirts. July 2018 | 21

BRIGHTEN UP THE NIGHT Trust me when I say, I fully understand the appeal and desire to wear all black for your night-out looks. But we can do better to step it up. You can keep your favorite black jeans on, but add a print top like the ‘Twinkle Palm’ top by Wallis, or the whimsical ‘Tropical Garden Tie Shoulder Top’ by Vince Camuto. Both pieces are great ways to amp up your nighttime looks while still wearing dark bottoms and being colorful. If you’re a maxi skirt fan, try swapping the skirt out for wideleg print pants like the ‘Happy Dance Floral’ pant by Billabong, or the insanely beautiful

‘Border Floral’ wide leg pant by Evans. They give the illusion of a flowing skirt and pair perfectly with any fitted top tucked in. Add a strappy heel for fun and you’ve successfully made over your usual look. Makeovers don’t have to be extreme. Something as simple as trying a new color or style of top can make us feel shiny and new. If a print or cut catches your eye, TRY IT. Swap it out, step it up, make it over, and feel excited about your looks! And if you really don’t know where to start, call me!

Angie Harrison received a BS degree in fashion merchandising from Western Michigan University, and after merchandising for a large retailer, went on to start Angela Harrison Style; a personal, print, and film wardrobe styling service. Her experience has led her to build a loyal client list of people from all backgrounds and professions. Angie has also worked in wardrobe on local and national tv commercials and has started a visual merchandising branch of AHStyle, providing styling and merchandising expertise to Michigan retailers. 22 | The Brick Magazine

MAKEOVER:

THE SEASONAL CYCLE By Madeleine Forbes

he wheel of the year turns, and the land is made over once again. Lit up by the full moon, then drenched in darkness as it wanes. Tides pull in and out; beaches shrink and grow; the seasons turn. As spring arrived this year, we signed papers that marked the completion of the purchase of a farm. I began to contemplate the thrilling potential of a new project. To imagine how things were just about to change. Itâ€™s been a long time getting here, requiring leaps of faith of varying degrees. Like building a remote business from scratch. Or relocating to a country where neither my husband or I spoke the language. Navigating bureaucracy, tax laws, the mundane business of day-to-day life. Occasional crises (wildfires, the arrival of our first child). And the three-year long hunt for a place we could afford, one that met our criteria (big but not too big, wild but not too wild, and so forth). Just over a year after we found it, it became ours. 24 | The Brick Magazine

A little granite cottage perched on the edge of two-and-ahalf acres of terraced farmland. Olive trees, cherries, figs, and grape vines. Like the first page of a new notebook, it was almost intimidating in its possibility. I think of all the home makeover shows Iâ€™ve watched, feeling myself stepping effortlessly into the role of excitednew-homeowner-with-big-dreams. Doodle sketches in the pages of my notebooks. Tearing out images of pretty tiles and quaint terraces. We start Pinterest boards and I find myself sidetracked by clothing brands. This new house will require a new version of me, too. One who wears floaty dresses and spends a lot of time in wheat fields at sunset (there are no wheat fields here, and too many brambles for floaty dresses, and yet I cannot stop looking). Sometimes I feel the same way at the brink of a new season. Winter-me feels so lethargic and pallid. I cannot wait to shed her when the blossom appears.

in, day out, the endless meal-cooking and house-cleaning and carpooling, that gets us to the graduation photo. Change is a process that takes a long time. That mostly happens day-by-day, minute by minute, choice by choice. Often, it’s not actually the big dramatic change that marks the biggest transformation. Moving to another country was a big shift, sure — but it wasn’t the ferry ride or the long drive that really shifted. It was the first time I managed to do a grocery shop without needing to stop and look up a phrase. It was registering with the local doctor; completing the paperwork that meant my kid could get the shots he needed. Tiny, daily, incremental changes that meant I’d put down roots. As I grow older, I am more and more fascinated by these long processes. I watch the seasons turn, the way the land wakes up slowly from the winter, stretches into summer. The apples that will be ready in a few months’ time have swelled on the tips of the branches as the days lengthened.

By midsummer, I am tired of sweaty, clammy, summer-me, who craves cold beer all the time and stays up way too late. Make me over! Replace me with cardigan-wearing autumn-me, who will read all the books I never get around to while sipping hot tea and listening to the rain. In the movies, makeovers happen in montages, and involve exactly this kind of transformation. Like those homebuilding TV shows. Rip out a wall, shake down your hair, and everything is different. The reality, we all know, is much harder and more difficult. Building a house, it turns out, takes a lot of time. Like pregnancy, it happens in stages, and there’s a lot of discomfort that goes with it. There is a lot of unglamorous, unsexy stuff going on behind the scenes to create the big shifts that make us say “Wow”. I think of the tireless work of activists and lawyers and change-makers working for social justice, in between the headlines and the marches. I think of the mothers getting by on not much sleep, day

I begin to think in timescales of decades. Raising a child. Building a farm. Learning a language. These are the projects that will define my life, and they will take slow decades of daily practice, and they cannot be rushed. Our ancestors knew about these long journeys, these quests to a fulfillment that is deeper and richer because of what it takes to get there. The old heroes set out from their homes for journeys of half a lifetime, and as the world sped up, we have forgotten that. Some of us are remembering it, now. And so I consider myself a student of the land, the hills. I make it my practice to watch the seasons change, and to remind myself that the big makeovers take time. This house is one which will evolve as our family does, year on steady year. Like me, it is changing all the time, day by day, if I pay attention to it. The way one season slowly blurs into the next. The way we’re never really finished.

Madeleine Forbes is a writer living off-grid in the hills of central Portugal. As an immigrant and former city-dweller, she started The Seasoned Year as a space to share her journey into the landscape, and help others deepen their connection to seasonal cycles. You can sign up for free Letters from the Land and follow Madeleine’s blog via her website; or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

July 2018 | 25

26 | The Brick Magazine

MAKEOVER YOUR SKIN

WITH YOUR OWN PLASMA

by Lisa Profera MD

onfused by all of the claims made by various skin rejuvenation systems? Afraid of toxins found in many skincare products on the market? Not sure what is best for your needs? Well, you have many choices, one of which is to use your own plasma for a more natural path toward a better complexion. PRP, or Platelet Rich Plasma, refers to the layer of plasma (extracted from the patient’s own blood) which contains platelets, stem cells, growth factors, and collagen. PRP is like “liquid gold” for your skin. It can be used on the surface as well as injected into the deeper layers to achieve amazing rejuvenation results inside and out. Microneedling is a facial procedure done with a sterile device that produces micropunctures into the skin surface (after your face has been numbed). This triggers the tissue to produce new collagen and elastin by 300%. This technique will enhance the anti-aging effects of topical PRP application even further. Deep injections of PRP can increase your collagen up to 800%. This can be used in conjunction with or instead of hyaluronic

acid fillers. It can reduce the appearance of stubborn wrinkles and lines while smoothing acne scars and other imperfections. When done correctly, microneedling with PRP can be a safe and highly effective means of restoring your skin. There are a few techniques out there; don’t be afraid of images you might find on the internet. When someone has had a “Vampire Facial” and appears bloodied-up, know that this is wrong. Microneedling, when done correctly, should not be that traumatic. Your face may be a little red and feel tight for a few days, just like after a mild sunburn. You can go to work and even wear makeup the next day. I prefer to use the FDA-approved Eclipse system for microneedling with PRP. The patient’s blood is drawn at the time of service and is spun in a specially calibrated centrifuge in tubes designed to carefully separate out the red and white blood cells from the golden plasma. A microneedling pen creates very small punctures that allow the PRP to seep into the epidermis. I am also able to customize the depth according to the patient’s needs and tolerance level. This minor trauma to the skin, in conjunction with the activated platelets and 30+ growth factors found in the plasma, triggers fibroblasts to lay down new collagen and elastin, thus restoring structure that has been lost due to the aging process. As we age, we lose collagen and

July 2018 | 27

maintenance treatments once or twice a year.

elastin, and we also have less capillaries and blood flow to the skin’s surface. Our skin not only becomes thinner and looser, but our complexion becomes grayer and duller over time. Our own plasma contains endothelial growth factors, which trigger neovascularization. New capillary formation can increase luminosity of the skin, just as we see with a child’s rosy complexion or the glow of a pregnant woman. The numerous growth factors released by the activated platelets include PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor), FGF (fibroblast growth factor), EGF (epidermal growth factor), KGF (keratinocyte growth factor), VEGF (vascular endothelial cell growth factor), TGF-B (transforming growth factor beta) and over 20 more. You are most certainly not going to find all of this in any skincare product! These growth factors stimulate new skin and blood vessels while enhancing tissue repair and wound healing. There is little downtime for this procedure, and because it is your own blood product, there is no risk of allergic reaction. Your skin makes new collagen, elastin, and blood vessels, and your cells are re-vitalized naturally over the next 3 months, creating a youthful glow. Skin texture becomes smoother and firmer. Wrinkles, scars and pores are diminished as well. Depending upon the desired result, 3-6 treatments may be recommended, each spaced 3-4 months apart. Enhanced appearance may last up to 18 months. Once the desired effect is achieved, I recommend

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As with many other things, the skill of the person performing the technique, the quality of the equipment, and the guaranteed sterility of the needles is very important. There are some systems out there that do not adequately separate out the cells, which may lead to more inflammation and less optimal healing. There are also products out there that are not necessarily guaranteed to be sterile. This increases the risk of infection. The smart consumer should do her research. When done correctly, microneedling with PRP can be a safe and highly effective means of “making-over” your skin. Using your own plasma to rejuvenate your skin is cutting-edge technology that provides a compelling alternative to chemical peels and synthetic products. By rebuilding your skin matrix and increasing the number of capillaries in your skin, people will notice your new youthful GLOW!

Lisa Profera MD Owner and Founder of PROJUVU MD Aesthetics and Lifestyle Medicine Please note that the information in this article has been designed to help educate the reader regarding the subject matter covered. This information is provided with the understanding that the author and any other entity referenced here are not liable for the misconception or misuse of the information provided. It is not provided to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The provider of this information shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity concerning any loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this information. The information presented is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling or care. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified healthcare professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

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July 2018 | 29

WOMAN ON THE STREET

ON WRITING TO YOURSELF by Stephanie Saline

“Don’t knock masturbation,” Woody Allen has said; “it’s sex with someone I love.” While not quite as taboo as fiddling one’s bits, writing to oneself can be just as naughty and restorative. As I sit typing this on a Sunday morning at my favorite café (the best sugar donuts in town arrive around 10:30), I am seated next to a woman who is writing to herself. She is writing in an unlined journal with the precise, dramatic 30 | The Brick Magazine

script of an artist. I sneek a peek at her page, and see that she’s writing about photography. Or more specifically: her musings, curiosities, and investigations about photography. I see the line, in beautifully handwritten in black ink: how open is your lens? I started keeping a journal when I was thirteen. The first one was a purple spiral-bound Mead notebook. I wrote on the cover, in ballpoint pen: Stupid thoughts written here. Oh,

When de-cluttering a home, the experts tell us to throw open the cupboards and closets and touch every object in them. Is it useful? Is it beautiful? Does it spark joy? I do the same thing when I write to myself. I flip open the lid of my brain, and investigate the narrative that I’m spinning. Is it useful? Is it beautiful? Does it spark joy? Wait — did you know that you’re the narrator of your life? That everything that has happened to you — every injustice, every victory, every disappointment, every boon — is part of one big story that you are making up? It’s in the writing to ourselves where we can begin to see this story. Where we can meet the narrator in our lives. And where we can begin to re-work the raw materials we’ve been given into something that pleases us. When I say this to people who are new to the idea, they often tell me that a blank page is intimidating. Where do you start? What do you have to say? Isn’t this writing to oneself frivolous and self-indulgent?

my younger self… if I could only convey to you, nearly thirty years later, both the accuracy and the error in that epitaph. Now firmly rooted in the land of adulthood, I believe that every kid — and adult, for that matter — needs a place to write their stupid thoughts, and their brilliant ones. I realize this may be hopelessly out of step with the times, a relic of history where people kept private record of the evolution of their opinions, ideas, and ruminations. I also know that not everyone loves words as much as I do. Some of us come in really stitched into our bodies, and moving them around in space is what gives us grounding and our place in the world. Nor is everyone as reflective and brooding as I am. I get it. I’ve had to learn that when most people ask ‘How are you?’ They aren’t looking for an honest and original response. In part, it was other people’s short attention spans for my earnest and often not concise self-expression that drove me to write to myself. I was the only one with the patience to listen. When I sit down to write to myself, I think of it as sitting down with the world’s best listener. I get to tell my side of the story, and dump everything that’s been rattling around in my mind out onto the table.

Start there. Those questions are actually the guards at the gate to your inner world. Just because they’re there doesn’t mean you need to turn back. It just means that’s where you are — eye to eye with the guards. You can write about that. Write a story about a time in your life when you didn’t know where to start. Write a dialogue with one of those guards, where you muster your courage and all the curiosity you can, look the guard in the eye, and strike up a conversation. Ask him a question, then listen for the reply. Heck, write a list of frivolous and self-indulgent things you’d think would be fun to do. There are adventures to be had when we make time to sit down with ourselves with a pen and a piece of paper and allow ourselves to mess around, ask questions, and make stuff up. Don’t knock writing to yourself — it may be the best conversation you have all day.

A teacher and advertising writer based in Buffalo, Stephanie Saline spent one decade on adventures in Japan, Seattle, and Montana, and another decade building a popular copywriting business. She now leads writing workshops where women become the hero in the story of their own lives. “We live in a world where we are all heroes now – and that’s a great thing.” Find out more about her work at www.stellaorange.com.

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RELEASE YOUR REGRETS.

ITâ€™S A NEW DAY! by Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC

Photo by Ardi Evans

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egrets — oh, how they can haunt us. They can torture us too, draining our energy and spirits, especially if excessively dwelled upon. Regrets are no fun to tangle with, yet so often they end up

Photo by Kat Love

If you take an action that results in a nasty outcome, you can end up blaming yourself, or feel a sense of deep sadness reflecting on what might have been. Sometimes we wish we could undo a choice made, and have a makeover or redo.

tying us in knots. Pestering and festering regrets come in several varieties. A regret can surface as you ponder an action taken, or ponder an action not taken.

FINISH EACH DAY AND BE DONE WITH IT. YOU HAVE DONE WHAT YOU COULD. SOME BLUNDERS AND ABSURDITIES NO DOUBT CREPT IN; FIGHT THEM AS SOON AS YOU CAN. TOMORROW IS A NEW DAY. YOU SHALL BEGIN IT SERENELY AND WITH TOO HIGH A SPIRIT TO BE ENCUMBERED WITH YOUR OLD NONSENSE. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

On the other hand, sometimes regrets come in the form of the road not taken, or the road ignored, and we are left to ponder the “what-ifs.” Sorrow and despair can easily follow. Bottom line, though, is that regrets of any

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type, if obsessed or ruminated over, can cause acute stress. Our peace of mind suffers and the emotional pain we feel takes its to toll on our bodies, spirits, and overall health. So what are alternative, more beneficial ways to navigate feelings of regret? First and foremost, truth be told, there are always valuable lessons to be learned from negative consequences, failures, or blunders. These lessons become golden opportunities especially if you can minimize, or better yet, eliminate harsh self-judgement. It can be character-strengthening to acknowledge shortcomings or weaknesses while at the same time reminding ourselves that everyone makes mistakes. Yet, acknowledging a regret in the way I just described doesn’t mean you keep hanging out there with it. Next, it is absolutely essential to

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the problem or excessively blame ourselves, we create powerful strategies for change and better living. If you have fully committed to handling similar circumstances differently, you can much more quickly rebound from the feelings of distress over your error. Your energy shifts from a self-attack to freed-up energy for the present, for a fresh start, for the new day!

focus forward, not backward. We can control what happens as we move forward, and can’t control that which has already occurred. Therefore, one of my all-time favorite remedies for moving beyond the angst of deep regret is to make amends to myself around it. By this I mean accepting responsibility for my blunder or missed opportunity, and then telling myself, “Never again will I do ____” — fill in the blank! By making amends in this way, I both own my shortcoming and, at the same time, empower myself with a big promise to correct it in the future. This approach not only creates an opening to move forward, but also is quite correctively forgiving. We are using our insights to avoid subsequent mistakes. By doing so, we improve our ability to reach desired results and opportunities in the future!

Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC is a certified Life Coach in Ann Arbor, MI who loves empowering adolescents, adults, and couples to live from the HEART of what really matters to them so that they can bring their fully expressed, vibrant selves into the world. She has a special gift for helping women reclaim their feminine power, and embrace their radiant, sensual, sexy spirits. Their lives transform. They soar into their mid-life magnificence!

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July 2018 | 35

IS YOUR BEACH BAG REALLY READY? by Ryan Brooks

tâ€™s summer, which means lots of sun, beach, and pool is on the agenda for all of us. I know most of us have our go-to beach bag musts. Usually my bag consists of magazines, ear buds, SPF, hat, and towel. We usually stop there, right? But why? We spend time in the salon getting the best summer cut and 36 | The Brick Magazine

color; why not protect that, too, and not just our skin? I am going to fill you in on some easy tips to protect those summer locks from the UV rays and the chlorine that can cause havoc on hair. Prolonged sun exposure can damage the cuticle layer, resulting in color fading, dry or brittle strands, broken and split ends, and can also

cause frizz. A few great ways you can help prevent this is buying the right product for what your needs are. One of my favorite tricks is to do a treatment while laying out on the beach! The best things to use are preshampoo masques, which are great because they are designed to be

applied before you shower. The two Iâ€™d recommend are Oribe Gold Lust Pre-Shampoo Masque or Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil Balm to Oil Pre-Shampoo Masque. Both of these are a hard balm that you warm between your hands and apply to mid-lengths to ends. You can then put hair up in a top knot and

enjoy the beach. Not only do these masques have reparative benefits, but they also have UV filters. For an easier less-mess go-to, throw a spray in your bag. These are easy to reapply to parched hair; one coat should be enough. They can also double as an easy styling July 2018 | 37

tool! Some of my favorites are KMS Moist Repair Leave-In Conditioner, Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Oil Heat/UV Primer, and Oribe Foundation Mist. These three all have heat and UV protection in them; spray them in, make some braids, and you’re ready. I know that many women love the beach hair look, and Bumble and Bumble has you covered. Don’t Blow It is a great easy styling product that offers two ranges, one for fine hair and the other for thick. Apply to towel-dried hair, comb it through, and air dry it’s that easy. These two formulas enhance natural wave, and again have the UV protectants. The best thing is that it tames hair and leaves it with a natural feel. Let’s tackle what you can do after the beach or the pool. Kerastase has launched a limited edition range called Soleil. This line has both shampoo and a leave-in cream that have anti-damage and UV protectant properties. The CC Crème can be used before or after your day laying poolside. It’s suitable for all hair types. The Bain Soleil is a shampoo that can be used after a day in the sun (ideally after you’ve done a masque); it helps nourish and protect against future sun damage and is color-safe. One last tip for those who love the pool, but hate the chlorine and how it can discolor and dry hair out. It’s simple: get your hair wet first! This will help your hair not absorb as much of the chlorinated water. You can also step it up with one of the sprays I recommended, or a spray leave-in conditioner. Also a great thing to do before letting hair dry is to give it a good rinse with clean water.

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Hope these products and tips help you not only enhance your beach trip, but keep those locks looking even better during those summer nights! Ryan Brooks has been a stylist for over 13 years in the Ann Arbor area. He currently is working behind the chair at Tricho Salon and Spa located at Briarwood. For over thirteen years as a stylist, he has worked as an educator for Goldwell and most recently Kerastase. He has also had the opportunity to work with multiple productions in stage, movie, as well as print. You can also follow him on Instagram: @ryanbrookshair. Have a hair question you need answered? Contact him at stylistryan@gmail.com he will be answering questions in future publications.

July 2018 | 39

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imilar to the calendar, we humans cycle through different seasons in our lives. Our revolving seasons are a time of transition and change. We often look forward to the new season only to find that once it’s upon us, the fantasy we envisioned doesn’t quite match the reality of all that’s involved. For example, the sunshine and lazy days of summer also come with mosquitos and excessive heat — well, that’s the case in Houston anyway. And even though the winter might involve skiing and snowmen, it can also be dreary, gray, and depressing. Point being, with each new season there are both positives and negatives. This is true for new parenting seasons as well. Babyhood involves so many honeymoon moments. But, it’s also known as baby boot-camp because it’s freaking hard work! Many of us excitedly anticipate our babies entering the toddler season and finally a full night of sleep. And similar to the mosquitos of summer, we quickly learn about power struggles, whining, and picky eating. So as parents, how do we embrace and grow as we experience the new parenting season’s mosquitoes and heat? I believe that most of our parenting challenges — bedtime battles, morning mayhem, power struggles, and picky eating — can usually be linked to entering a new parenting July 2018 | 41

season without a realistic plan. Just like you wouldn’t head to the beach in Galveston during the month of July without loads of sunscreen and mosquito repellent, you have to have a proactive plan as you enter your new season with your kiddos. And even though we didn’t wear sunscreen in the ‘70s and ‘80s or use bug repellent, those things are now the norm. It might be time for a parenting makeover in this new season upon us as we create the 42 | The Brick Magazine

new norm when it comes to raising confident and kind kids in our changing world. If your kids ignore your simple requests, it might be time to evaluate the new season upon you and learn some more effective communication methods. If it feels like your people don’t seem to listen until voices are raised and tempers flare, it’s because the outdated model for raising kids is well overdue for a makeover. Our

world is changing more rapidly than at any other time in history, and that’s why the old-school methods simply fall on deaf ears. Our kids are different than we were because our world is very different. Let’s say you decide to wear your winter clothes in May because you grew up in Chicago, and May in Illinois is still sweater weather. Now that you live in Texas, that beautiful cashmere sweater feels like pure

you’ll experience cooperation without aggression. Have you ever worried that your harsh words are accidentally extinguishing your kid’s bright light? This new productive parenting convo feels better for a reason. It’s a more effective way to raise the innovative thought leaders that our kids will grow up to be in a future season.

sweaty misery if you wear it in May. The seasons are very different in these two states. Well, the same is true for raising kids during the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and even the 2000s. The parenting wardrobe that was perfectly comfortable during those seasons are producing miserable results in your current seasonal environment. This new season involves a “new parenting conversation,” where

The “old parenting conversation,” the way most of us were raised, was designed for a different season. It was simply the way things were done back then. The history of the old parenting model is rooted in a world where the objective was to raise compliant factory workers: be obedient, listen to authority, and keep your mouth shut so you will grow up and have job security. Refuse to comply and risk being fired and becoming homeless. I have yet to meet a parent that dreams of their kid growing up to live a life wearing baby-blue zip-up jumpsuits and punching a time clock. No, no. We are raising innovators, thought leaders, and problem solvers.

The old parenting conversation involved threats, rewards, punishment, and bribes because that season for parenting in our country was preparing our kids for a simpler world. It was a simpler season in many ways. Cling to those methods, and you’re clinging to fantastical thinking rather than embracing our new season. Our new reality. The new parenting conversation is fresh, friendly, and progressive for the season of growth and innovation we live in right now. The future season is bright. Embracing this new season for raising kids and being willing to undergo a parenting makeover is the equivalent to being the change you wish to see in the world. Randi helps parents, particularly ones with a strong-willed kiddo, learn tools to raise confident, kind, and self-motivated kids by improving the conversations in your family. As the founder of Mastermind Parenting, host of the Mastermind Parenting podcast, and author of The Parent Gap, Randi helps parents keep cool and replace old patterns. Randi’s parenting motto is: “When our thoughts grow, the convos in our home low.” To learn more, go to www.randirubenstein.com July 2018 | 43

Sneaky SWEETS by Lisa Nogueira

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ho doesn’t love a frozen treat on a hot summer day? These treats are not only a delicious way to cool off; they have surprise nutrients in them as well — the perfect makeover! When was the last time you had avocado, spinach, or cauliflower in your dessert? Don’t worry, you won’t even know it’s there. Now, I’m not saying to double up on dessert because it has avocado or cauliflower in it. Sugar is sugar in the body, so it’s best to limit it to an occasional treat, but these frozen treasures are loved by children and adults alike. They have won over even the pickiest of eaters!

Blender Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream This is a frozen banana-based recipe. The banana must be frozen for this to work. I keep a reusable freezer bag in the door of my freezer at all times, refilling it bi-weekly or whenever I have bananas about to go bad. Slice them up and add to the bag. Don’t toss them, freeze them! If you are not hip to cacao nibs yet, it’s time. They have zero sugar and still give you that texture that you are looking for in a mint chip ice cream or anywhere else chocolate chips are used. Bonus, cacao is loaded with antioxidants and magnesium. Ingredients: 2 large frozen bananas ¾ cup fresh spinach 1/8 tsp.- ¼ tsp. peppermint extract (Use less if using pure peppermint oil. If it is blended with oil, use more.) 2 tbsp. coconut cream Pinch of sea salt 3 tbsp. cacao nibs Instructions: Slice overripe bananas and put on parchment paper or in a freezer bag and place in the freezer until completely frozen. Add all ingredients except the cacao nibs in a high-speed blender and blend until it is a soft serve consistency. Add the cacao nibs and blend on low until mixed. Now you can either serve as a soft serve or pour into popsicle molds for later. July 2018 | 45

Chocolate Avocado Pudding Makes two full servings Ingredients: 2 avocados 3 tbsp. cacao powder 1 pinch of salt 1½ tsp. vanilla extract 7 tbsp maple syrup Add everything to a blender and blend until delightfully creamy. If this is too difficult to add to a popsicle mold, you can blend in a bit of non-dairy milk to thin it out. Set aside. Now make the vanilla base. Vanilla Base This recipe makes enough to fill 8-10 popsicle molds, but you can always cut it in half. 2 cans full fat coconut milk 1 cup frozen cauliflower (I steam mine and then freeze) 1 tsp. vanilla 8 small dates (soak in warm water for 15 minutes and remove pits) Add it all to a blender and blend until well-mixed. To assemble the Pops: Alternate between adding the vanilla base and the chocolate pudding and use a knife or chopstick to poke to the bottom of the mold to blend a bit. Freeze for at least 7-8 hours, remove, and enjoy!

A CHANCE TO GET CREATIVE There are endless possibilities with popsicles. Here are a few popsicle flavor ideas using your vanilla base: •

Raspberry coconut creamy — blend in raspberries

•

Vanilla, pistachio, and almond — blend in the nuts either completely or leave some texture

•

Piña colada — add in a bit of shredded coconut and pineapple

•

Chai — add ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and clove

•

Cookie dough — add cacao nibs and ¼ cup blended cashews

•

Almond butter or sunflower butter swirl

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Chocolate & Vanilla Pudding Pops I absolutely loved pudding pops when I was kid. That was before I knew that it was really just a processed sugar mess. My favorite flavor was the chocolate and vanilla mix, which I have upgraded into a more healthful option that keeps the unbelievably rich and creamy taste. You can choose to make them all chocolate, all vanilla, or mix the two (which I highly recommend). To keep it easy, everything can be made in a blender. The popsicles are amazing, but you can even eat the pudding as is and use the vanilla base for other drinks and desserts, making them the perfect summer staple.

Lisa Nogueira is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach as well as a Licensed Massage Therapist who is dedicated to helping clients live their best lives through health and lifestyle coaching and a unique selection of bodywork modalities. She hosts group programs online and in person to help clients make their self-care a priority, clean up their eating and live healthier, happier lives. Her no-guilt approach to health is taking small steps for creating a lifestyle, leaving room for the sweeter things in life, and simplifying health and wellness into an approachable and fun adventure. For further inspiration follow her on Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/lisa_nogueira/ Join her free Facebook community for support, recipes and small step ideas for change https://www.facebook.com/groups/lisanogueirawellness/?ref=bookmarks

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Photo by Godisable Jacob

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Radiance by Sharon Lawlor

ummer is the most magical time of the year for me. I absolutely LOVE the warmth of the sun and the sunshine it brings. There is an aliveness within me that it sparks like no other season. Radiance is the perfect word to describe this. What is radiance to you? Shining bright comes to mind. Letting the true you shine forth from the inside out, capturing your unique beauty. When connecting with your truth in such a way, it can increase self-confidence so much that you feel unstoppable. As I’m tapping into this energy, it feels so expansive, creative, powerful, open-hearted, and outgoing. I really want to play in that sandbox, it brings such joy to my heart thinking about it! I wonder why this is. My curious mind always wants to understand these mysteries. It wasn’t until I started learning about Natural Rhythms™ four years ago with my teacher, Lisa Michaels, that it opened my eyes to a whole new level of understanding with the natural world. There was an aspect of astrology in my studies that we delved into with our Creation Teams. There are ten components of the self that we were born with determined by our date of birth, time of birth, and place of birth. It was so fascinating seeing each of them being a player on a team. When each player on our unique creation team is fully engaged, we are more whole in who we are, and life can be filled with much more ease.

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Photo by Bruce Mars

Think of it this way: doesn’t it feel so much smoother to be working with an aspect of ourselves rather than resisting it or be completely ignorant to it? Resisting it is like wearing blinders and not being able to see the entire view of ourselves or our world. Most of us have heard and may know our birth sign or our sun sign. However, there are nine other players on our creation team with unique skills, abilities, and desires to help us be our whole selves. The twelve astrological signs are divided into four categories: 1) Fire, 2) Earth, 3) Air, and 4) Water. Each category has three astrological signs in it, making up all twelve of the astrological signs. For instance, the three fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Aries is the first sign in the zodiac. Its energy is the spark — the spark of individualization, going first, birthing something new. It’s a sacred warrior protecting what’s dear to them, and the energy of a revolution. It’s a

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quick start, and great to lean on when one needs help to get going on a new project. Sagittarius is the most expansive fire sign, and needs the most fuel to burn. It teaches the significance of extension. This energy is constantly questing for expansion. It seeks out new ideas and territories as the dynamic, out-going, truth-seeking explorer. It searches for the meaning of life, and brings its expanded awareness and discoveries back to share with others as a teacher of philosophy and of evolving states of consciousness. In between these fire signs is Leo. It’s all about RADIANCE, self-love, self-confidence, leadership, being open-hearted, generous, creative, expansive, powerful, and outgoing. Leo energy is also about shining their own inner light brightly to give others permission to share their own light, too, celebrating and sharing a zest for life. Our sun signs, whether they are one of these fire signs or perhaps one of the earth, air, or water signs, is also what

fuels us. The sun sign is determined by the day of our birth and what astrological sign the sun was in. Here is a list of all 12 zodiac signs to determine your sun sign. Generally, the dates are as follows: Aries March 21-April 19 Taurus April 20-May 20

Guess what my sun sign is? It’s Leo. And it’s wrapped up within two summer months! I think that’s another reason why I love summer so much. I get to tap into the exact energy that feeds my soul. Reading deeper into my Creation Team chart, I also have Leo as an area of old specialization, which means I came into this world already embodying this energy. It’s a comfort to me that I can lean on. I also have lots of Aries and Sagittarius on my chart as well, adding to my fire element! Whoa!

Gemini May 21-June 20

Leo July 23-August 22 Virgo August 23-September 22 Libra September 23-October 22 Scorpio October 23-November 21 Sagittarius November 22-December 21 Capricorn December 22-January 19 Aquarius January 20-February 18 Pisces February 19-March 20

Everyone’s chart is different, unique in their own way. Some have more of a balance between the elements; some are heavier in one element, and perhaps possess none of another. It’s this amazing soul-print that tells a story. It’s been a true blessing for me to understand my Creation Team players and letting each one have its own voice to work as a collective team, to move forward in my life and purpose. It’s also helped me understand others and be able to truly see them for ALL they are. There is this compassion that unfolds that connects us deeper, affecting our relationships for the better. If you are interested in knowing the fuel that feeds your soul, along with the other players on your Creation Team, reach out to me. I offer a one-hour reading delving into your astrological birth chart to help you understand these different aspects within oneself. We get to explore this together and see where there may be areas of growth or opportunity to become more harmonious, co-creative, and whole within our entire cosmic being.

Photo by Godisable Jacob

Cancer June 21-July 22

Sharon Marie helps clients create spaciousness within for them to pause, connect to their heart, and feel a new sense of peace. She brings so much compassion and understanding to her clients as she holds space for them on their journey. Her suite is the perfect space holder for her work, providing a safe and sacred container for her clients to fully relax. Sharon’s eclectic mix of modalities include healing massage and bodywork, infrared sauna, medicine walks in nature, the natural rhythms and elements in nature, the wisdom of the seasons, and creativity for healing. Sharon Marie, Founder and Creative Director at Tranquil Being. Contact her through email connect@tranquilbeing.com or call 734-761-8753.

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