The Balanced Life Spring 2015

BALANCEDLIFE

How are we doing on those New Years

Resolutions? Sam DitkaLaughing all

the way to WELLNESS

#inspiteof

You Time

HOW I BECAME A RUNNER

College Degree Pays

CONTENTS05

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08

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What is a Thrive Experience

Balancing Public Service

Are You Using the Right Fuel?

7 Principles for Entrepreneurial Excellence

How Are We Doing on Those New Years Resolutions?

The THRIVE Experience is an 8 week premium lifestyle plan, to help individuals experienceand reach peak physical and mental levels.

Our society has for too long held lowerexpectations for women, and that is unaccept-able..

Understand that your body is a machine and capable of running at top speeds if you feed it with the right fuel.

Imagine actually controlling your body and mind’s aging process and still excelling as an entrepreneur in hectic times.

Can you look in the mirror and SEE YOURSELF as enough, right now, with nothing added?

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Advertisers: 4- Dupree Dance 5- Thrive9- Premier Designs9- Cherished Girl12- IAmStephanieWilson13- The Master Juggler

14- W By Worth16- The Style House17- Keller Williams21- Lighten Up27- Lucky 30 Giveaway28 Thrive Does29- New York Life

The Balanced Life Magazine

Editor- Nicole Land

18Laughing All the Wayto WellnessDo you remember how your body felt the last time you laughed a good belly laugh?

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Proper Sleep Position

You Time

The Personal Touch

Recipes

How I Became A Runner

It is estimated that the average American sleeps 1/3 of their total lifetime.

Scheduling “you” time …yes, you have time. Schedule it!

There is something magical that happens when you gather a group of women together for an hour or two of FUN!

Protein BarsSpaghetti Squash Pasta

As my GPS watch beeped at 18.2 miles, I prac-ticed my finish line photo pose and could swearI heard the crowd cheering.

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34College Degree PaysAs parents, we understand the value of obtain-ing a college education in today’s competitiveworkforce.

36#Inspite OfSTRETCH WHATTHEY BELIEVE THEIR LIMITS TO BE, TEACH THEM HOW TO JUGGLE IT ALL AND ELEVATETHEMSELVES TO A PLACE THEY NEVER DEEMED POSSIBLE.

The Balanced Life Magazine 4

The Balanced Life Magazine

The goal of this magazine is provide it’s readers with tips on achieving life balance. After all we are all just practicing through this crazy beautiful world together. We all have the tendency to over pack our schedules and bite off a bit more than we can chew.

Our contributors each season will share their life strategies through faith, exercise, music and mindset how to bring more balance to you and your families life. Please subscribe to our magazine so you will receive your copy every quarter. If you are ever interested in be-ing a contributor please send an email to [email protected]

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What is the THRIVE Experience?The THRIVE Experience is an 8 week premium lifestyle plan, to help individuals expe-rience and reach peak physical and mental levels. You’re going to live, look, and feel Ultra Premium like never before! Results from the THRIVE Experience are high im-pact, and can slightly differ for everyone – depending on which areas of your lifestyle need the most help – and depending on your 8 week goal. Whether your goal is to lose weight, get in the best shape of your life, or simply be the best you can be, we know the THRIVE 8 Week Experience will get you THRIVIN’ in all areas of your life! In-dividuals on the Experience will enjoy premium support and benefits in the areas of:

Weight Management - Cognitive Performance Digestive & Immune Support - Joint SupportLean Muscle Support - Inflammation Support

Anti-Aging & Antioxidant Support

THRIVE by Le-Vel is something that’s hard to explain, and challenging to describe... it’s something that can only be experienced.

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BALANCING PUBLIC SERVICEWRITTEN BY: ASHLEY PAZ

When I was a little girl I was never encour-aged to develop leadership skills. I was always told to sit like a lady, that I should laugh or talk too loudly, and that I should keep my opinions to myself. As a young woman in school I was steered towards classes that would make me a successful woman. Home Economics and accounting were where my councilor thought I should be, when I really wanted to take political science and business law. My mother al-ways told me that I was going to have to marry up because they couldn’t afford to send me to college, and I certainly wasn’t going to get there on my own. More ef-fort was put into making sure I knew how to put on make-up and curl my hair, than molding my mind and teaching me how to speak to a large room.

Our society has for too long held lower expectations for women, and that is unac-ceptable. This is why I decided at an early age that I would rise above those expecta-tions and raise the bar. I have always been politically active, and active in my com-munity. Knowing that the only thing that I can change is my own actions drove my determination to lead by example. So in February of 2013 I filed to run for my local school board seat, and the following June I was elected. School Board was an impor-

tant place for me to begin a public service career, because that is the system that has the first and largest influence on a young lady’s future. My life in public service is very important to me and to my family.

Public service is very important, but it is also very time consuming as you might imagine. Being on the school board is not a paying gig, so I also have to work a full time job to help my husband support our family. In my professional life I work as Vice President of Brand Management for a media agency. It is a lot of fun, and I get to work with some very impressive clients that are doing big things. But being an ex-ecutive for a media company also requires a large time commitment.

This is usually the point where people ask me, “How do you do it all?” Because in addition to two very demanding roles, I also am a mother and a wife who manages a household, wipes noses, feeds pets, vol-unteers for the PTA , and does all of the other things that a mom is “supposed” to do. Kind of…

In reality, I don’t do it all. I have had to find a very structured way to balance all of my responsibilities so that I don’t let any-one down. This is how I do it:


• I have A LOT of help. My husband is amazing. He cooks dinners, he handles homework duty and bedtime duty on most nights, and he understands that my career is as valuable as his and that I have 86,000 children who depend on me to provide them opportunity.• I schedule everything. I live my life by my phone’s calendar, and my daily plan-ner. Everything from phone calls to family time is listed out in detail. I also schedule time to myself and time to rest, because I know that if I am going to be productive I have to be healthy and sane. • Did I mention I have a LOT of help? My husband is amazing, but I also have an incredible team at work who understands that we all have lives outside of the office. We support each other through everything. Finally, I have some of the best friends who love and take care of my children when my husband and I can’t be there. • I say NO. This is the hardest for me, because I am the kind of person who wants to do everything. But I also have to recognize that I can’t do it all. I know that I cannot financially afford to donate to every cause that comes calling. But a lot of the time we don’t tend to look at our time as something that has value the way money does. When I started to budget my hours and minutes the way that I budget dollars and cents it be-came easier for me to say no. • I say YES. There are a lot of people in my life who want to help. Volunteers for the schools, team members at work, friends who want to take my kids to the zoo, they are all there because they want to be. It is hard for me to accept help, but when I learned to acknowledge that I cannot do everything by myself and delegate tasks life became so much easier.

As women we tend to apologize for not being able to do everything. I refuse to apolo-gize for choosing to have a family and for being a leader. The reason that it is important for me to be a leader is that I have daughters and I want them to believe that they can do anything. My hope is that other women see that I am able to have a happy and healthy family while still working in a public arena and having a successful career. That women see me doing in and say, “hey, I can do that too.” We are women and we can do it.

Ashley Paz | @AshleyGagePazVice President Brand ManagementPeaPod Group|P3817-965-1253 www.peapodgroup.com


Are you using the right fuel? Understand that your body is a machine and capable of running at top speeds if you feed it with the right fuel. When you walk into the local grocery store to make selections, you’ll see terms like low-fat or fat-free, enriched, natural flavors or no sugar added. All of these make sense, right? Sadly, these terms are very misleading and confusing to the normal every day shopper. Often, terms like low-fat and fat-free use lots of ingredients like sugar, flour and salt which add empty calories. Then you have the word diet…oh how they try to trick us! Diet soda must be good for me, right? When you see the word diet, do you think of belly fat? How about heart disease and high cholesterol? This is going to seem strange when I say this, but because your body is being tricked into thinking it’s eating sugar, you crave more. So what should we be reaching for when we are shopping for our families?

Did you know that certain foods can help you turn back the clock? Did you know that foods can help bal-ance your emotional well being, help you sleep better? By adding in enough super foods and eliminating the processed, you’re not only going to slim your waistline, you’ll be adding years to your life!

Here are just a few to look for next time you’re at the grocers. When you’re looking for snacks, take a look at avocados, pecans, almonds, berries, apples, pomegranates, oranges, or watermelon. Try switching to lean meats like chicken, ground turkey, fish or bison. For side dishes, try fresh veggies, green leaf lettuce or spring mix, tomatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, spinach, squash, asparagus, or cauliflower. When you’re looking to sweeten something, try local honey.

We are in a fast paced world with food at our finger tips from every fast food location we can think of. With a little preparation, we can tackle the food pressures that are thrown at us daily.Remember, we are all just practicing together!

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7 PRINCIPLES FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL EXCELLENCEWRITTEN BY- ROD SIMS

Aches in the morning, stiffness at supper time and back pain at bedtime: Imagine actually controlling your body and mind’s aging process and still excelling as an entrepreneur in hectic times. With that in mind, can you picture yourself fully living a healthy, happy and successful life despite everything, from our climate to our food and drink actually speeding up our aging processes? It’s definitely possible and by the end of this article, you’ll be better equipped emotionally and mentally to maneuver the sometime choppy and unhealthy waters of entrepreneurship.

1. Regardless of what’s going on, remain physically active, at all times. Your body is your main asset and it is the only ‘house’ we get to live in for life. Reduce resting heart rate while maximizing cardiac output for high performance.

Simple Anti-Aging Exercise should:

a. Address the nervous system and not just the muscles when you trainb. Reduce resting heart rate which leads to longer lives and decreases risk of cardiac diseasec. Promote body symmetry which prevents aging. Balance muscles to take the strain off the joints, improve healing rate after intense exercise, and decrease strain on weaker muscles and ligamentsd. Move in 3D, and in all directions, meaning not just front to back but also side to side and around your body’s axis. We aren’t built to do more than just sit and stand; we can also run, jump, skip, swim, crouch, lunge, etc. so add variety to your routine.

2. Take care of your highest priority health concerns first, and then work on lesser priority issues. Maximize the potential of all body systems

a. Avoid treating symptoms and not addressing root causes for example if you’re having problems with the health of your hair or your heart, you should always dress the heart issue first.


3. Eat in such a way that your body uses food for energy and doesn’t accumulate fat or inflammation.

Simple Anti-Aging Nutrition should:

a. Address physical needs as opposed to emotional cravings. Your body needs food to build muscle, recover from workouts, and to fuel the energy needed for movement b. Include Vitamins B6, B12, E, & K rich foods while avoiding genetically modified and processed foods or other harmful inflammation foods like sugar, trans fats, wheat, soy, or excessive consumption of corn/grain c. HYDRATEd. Include Alkaline-based foods; acidic diets have been linked to disease

4. Practice happiness

5. ALWAYS be grateful.

6. Balance: micro vs macronutrients, body symmetry, autonomic nervous system regulation, mental stimulation vs meditation(even just 15 mins), and activity vs rest.

7. Have a lot of sex.a. Longevity and improved quality of life are products of strong sexual bond and habit

Rod Sims Dallas’ Highest Rated Fitness and Wellness Professionalhttp://www.360wellfit.com/Total Wellness Architect469.667.6492

http://www.ideafit.com/find-fitness-professional/tx/dallas?country=us&sort=highest&location=Dallas%2C+TX&distance=50

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How are we all doing on those New Year’s resolutions? Have you had great success? Is YOUR life in the perfect bal-ance of family/career/personal fulfill-ment? I’m sure you are fit, wealthy, and inspiring others by now!

Like most of us, this time of year prompts either surrender of those goals we have set, or a growing frustra-tion with how to do it. I admit, I haven’t had that “a-ha” moment yet where ev-erything clicked into place: where I se-

cured ten new clients and four speak-ing engagements, am bikini-ready, and won the powerball.

It’s been HARD. I can’t say it any other way. I make business appointments and school is closed for the snow. I plan a healthy meal and my family begs for comfort food instead. I commit to a kettlebell class and can’t get out of my snowy driveway. The list is endless and frustrating some days.

How Are We Doing OnThose New Years Resolutions?

Written by: Sam Ditka

http://www.wbyworth.com


Except...

Except my job involves gorgeous luxury clothes. Except I received an email from a client telling me she loves the new style and wardrobe we are building for her. Except my sons both came home to celebrate their hard-earned report cards after a tough term. Except shoveling the snow has worked up a substantial sweat when I can’t get to the gym. Except I am inspired by the reali-ties and struggles of MANY women I know who persevere in the face of daunting odds. Except except ex-cept.

So I started to think ACCEPT instead. Can I change people’s “stuff” that’s keeping them from meeting with me? No. Accept and move on. Can I stop the snow from falling to gain back valuable work hours? I wish, but no. Accept and work around a spontaneous snowball fight with the kids--those precious impromptu moments that will go away some day. Giving the bad any more thought than acceptance is giving it POWER over YOUR success.

I remember a parable I read many years ago. It’s about challenge, using a car-rot, an egg, and a coffee bean in boiling water as examples. The carrot, sweet but strong, softens in the water. The egg defends itself by hardening on the inside. It is the coffee which changes the adverse condition and turns the hot water into something BETTER. It’s a footnote to the serenity prayer: accept the things you cannot change, but change the things you cannot accept.

I don’t claim that I am positive and hopeful every day, but I’m trying. Some days are hard, but my desire to create an AMAZING LIFE is stronger. I’ll put on my favorite new outfit, go get a cup of coffee, and know that tomorrow is going to be GREAT.

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As a Multi-Million Dollar Top Producer, Trainer and member of the Agent Leadership Council for Keller Williams Realty, I strive to provide the best possible service to all of my clients. I am an expert in the North Dallas Real Estate Market and bring a Wealth of Knowledge, a Love for Real Estate and a Passion for Help-ing others and the Expertise for Buying and Selling Real Estate in today’s highly competitive and Thriving market.. It’s not the same everywhere, so you need someone you can trust. If you have any questions re-garding real estate, please do not hesitate to contact me. Buying, Selling or Investing in a home should be a pleasant experience, let me show you how. I serve North Dallas and all of the surrounding communities.

Sherrie L. ChaulkRealtor ®Keller Williams RealtyDallas Preston Road#1 Real Estate Office in TexasCell and Text ~ 469-222-2750EFax ~ [email protected] www.sherriechaulk.com http://app.kw.com/KWQ7IYE https://www.facebook.com/SherrieChaulkRealEstateAgentTheColonyTx

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WRITTEN BY: SANDY PARKER

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO WELLNESS

Do you remember how your body felt the last time you laughed a good belly laugh? Maybe your face felt warm or your sides hurt from the exercise. A good laugh can help release endorphins - the natural opiates - a similar experience some enjoy through exercise. Your production of the stress hormone cortisol dials down which is great since cortisol has been linked to exhaustion and depression. Your brain ignites its center for higher thought for a moment you are enjoying a NATURAL HIGH.

Bonding through joy and laughter happens naturally between infants and their family. That’s one of the reasons we like to tickle them so much. And no matter how old we are, sharing a laugh with someone helps the two of you to connect emotionally. Even professionals in the work place are looking for ways to bring the power of laughter into the workplace. If laughter is so good for our wellness, what if we thought of a DAILY DOSE just like taking good vitamins?

In my work as a Lighten Up Facilitator and Muse, I often ask people “WHAT DOES YOUR HEART WANT?” These are the type of answers I get: have more energy, get past my road blocks, be confident, stop thinking so much, follow my dreams, enjoy more pleasure, have more fun. Ironically, one source of help for every one of these desires is laughter! If laughter isn’t the total answer, the ability to LIGHTEN UP is a good start. Often we are too stiff, too occupied in our thinking, too planned, or too worried to “let go” and be spontaneous. Would you like to test your readiness to go and grow? Go to www.lightenupglobal.com and take the self-assessment you find there. This will give you insights about yourself.

Here are a few good ways to PUT laughter in your schedule (and I recommend it daily.)

Curtail busyness for a time slotWe often schedule important things to be sure they are in our day. What about a time block for nothing, or for crazy, or for spontaneous actions, or even a time block for laughter. I promise you, life is ready to deliver interesting happenings in serendipitous ways you could not imagine. Busyness clogs the calendar too full for exciting surprises to arrive.

Laughter Yoga Laughter Yoga is a set of skills that allow you to “learn to laugh” even when you don’t feel like it. In fact, the positive benefits of laughter are there even when you are faking laughter. Here are two


links for you. The first link (click here) [http://youtu.be/N607wYqWj1A ] is where my friend and laughter yoga teacher Carla Brown teaches us the basic tools. The second link (click here) [http://youtu.be/MPTJYDyRVwQ ] - is where you can see first-hand how a professional laughter yoga teacher deals with times when she does not feel like laughing. These are powerful tools you can learn and teach your family and friends if you dare!

Stop being carefulIn our sense of trying so hard to do the right thing all the time, we lose our sense of “who gives a rats!” Begin a practice of not being careful. Do something the wrong way on purpose. Let’s get over ourselves! Careful can be too sanitary for our own good. If you were to do something WAY out of character for you, what would it be? Now write that down. You may even want to enlist the help of a friend for the sake of accountability. This is not frivolous. This is life! Be daring.

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Learn a joke a day to tell others With access to Google, there is no reason we can’t be the source of humor for others. Guess what? You will make yourself laugh. Here is a joke I liked from the other day ... What did the Buddhist say to the hot dog vendor? Make me one with everything! Ok ... not the funniest joke I’ve ever heard ... but at least that is in my mind instead of details for the moment. Quite a relief!

What works for you? This is YOUR LIFE! Humor is very personal in nature. So find what makes for a good belly laugh for you and then go get it. Here are some things that have worked for me on different days: Watch a funny movie or TV Show (I love Tim Conway on Carol Burnett shows from the past.) Go to an improv class or show (Improv works because we are living it with the actors.)Seek out funny people (I have a friend who always makes me laugh and we get together a few times a month.)

Host a game night with friends (Bunco or any kind of play eventually stumbles on funny moments.)Play with a pet (Animals open our heart and they are so adorable. If you don’t have a pet, you can always go to the pet stores and play with a puppy or kitty.)

Sandy Parker is a modern day Muse and Founder of the Lighten UP movement. She reminds people to consider the impact of busy-ness, stress and pain and teaches how to Lighten UP and live your most vital life. Download your FREE self-assessment at www.LightenUpGlobal.com to learn how ready you are to Lighten Up your life.


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HOW I BECAME A RUNNER

WRITTEN BY: DARLA PARSONS

For this single mom, my balance comes from my children and from

Christ. There is no greater reward and no greater relaxation.

As my GPS watch beeped at 18.2 miles, I practiced my finish line photo pose and could swear I heard the crowd cheering. Always an athletic person, I never saw the point of pushing my body to its limits unless there was a game to win or a prize awarded. It was always about competition, and my many years playing soccer and softball kept me active and fit, as well as satisfying my competitive nature, but at the age of 45, a rolled ankle sprain forced me to hang up my cleats and look for another form of exercise. Knowing that the gym just wasn’t for me, I started with a few DVDs and promised myself I’d “give it my all for 90 days”. I dropped a few pounds and my abs began to show, but with the 90 days completed, I asked myself, what now?

My husband and I had signed up for a Saint Patrick’s Day 5K with some friends, and I knew taking a few laps around the block would be smart, so I put on an ankle brace and took my new running shoes for a spin. I will never forget that first run. With heavy feet and labored breathing, I made it to the end of my street. Oh sweet accomplishment! Never had I been so happy to wait on traffic before crossing. I set a goal to make it a half mile after that, without stopping, and did it…barely. I walked the rest of the way, with no shame in my game, but seriously wondered how I would manage a 3.2 mile fun run. After a day off and some Aleve, I set out to run the same route, hoping to make it to a local trail about .75 miles from my home, and once again barely made it. With a few weeks of training under my belt, I noticed my feet felt lighter, my breath began to calm and I felt better during and after my runs. I took pictures of the beautiful Texas sunsets and listened to my favorite tunes. Running became my “me time”.

We ran that 5K and finished without stopping or walking and I continued to run a few times a week into the summer. On one occasion, my husband decided to join me, so I planned on a shortened run of 3 or so miles, but much to my amazement, he kept running beside me for a 6 mile stretch. I now had a running buddy.

We ran, slowly adding distance to our runs over the next 7 months before running our first half marathon the following year. With 13.1 medals, we pushed for another and ran the Bos-ton’s Run To Remember half marathon in May of 2014. There was just no way I could stop there. Thanks to my competitive nature and much to my husband’s dismay, I signed both of


us up for a full marathon scheduled for March of 2015. This is how the goal of running a 26.2 mile marathon before I turn 50 was born.

Since then, my buddy and I train by running 3 days a week, mixed with yoga and strength training. We’ve run on beaches of the Pacific, Atlantic and the Gulf Coast. We’ve run the shores of Cape Cod and through the freezing mountains of Maine. My husband, who travels often for business, has run a volcano in Hawaii, jungle trails in Hong Kong and along the Rhine River in Germany. We take our time, record our runs, share pic-tures and turn them into adventures. Our minds have cleared, our bodies have changed and our spirits have lightened. We feel better, we eat better and we sweat a

lot. We are distance runners, soon to be Marathon finishers, and it all started just a couple of years ago with a quick jog around the block.


RECIPESProtein Bars

2 cups Peanut Butter

1 3/4 cups Honey

2 1/4 Protein Powder - I like to use Thrive’s premium lifestyle mix packed with

pre & pro biotic

3 Cups Rolled Oats (Oatmeal)

Heat mis peanut butter & honey in microwave for 1 minute, let cool slightly then

mix in protein powder & oatmeal

Refrigerate & cut into bars

Spaghetti squash pasta

spaghetti squash2 large can of good quality crushed tomatoeschopped garlicolive oilcrushed red pepperoreganobasilsugarsalt pepperchicken meatballs

Preheat oven to 350, Cut your spaghetti squash in rings or in 1/2, place in pyrex dish, spray on a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper bake for 1 hourIn non stick skillet over medium heat table spoon of olive oil, 2 table spoons of chopped garlic and 2 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes. Let olive oil heat but don’t


burn garlic. Add your 2 large cans of good quality crushed tomatoes I like San Marzino. Next add 2 tsp of sugar, Salt, 2 TBS Basil, 2 TBS Oregano and your pre-pared chicken meatballs I like aiddells.

When spaghetti squash is finished it will just pull away from outer covering looking like spaghetti noodles, top with sauce and meatballs! Enjoy!


THE PERSONAL TOUCHWRITTEN BY: CHRISTY STACY

There is something magical that happens when you gather a group of women together for an hour or two of FUN! No matter the group or the setting, we are strengthened, encouraged, and come out refreshed after spending time with our girls. For me scheduling time to hang with my girls or even the thought of scheduling time to hang with them makes me feel guilty and selfish. With being pulled in so many different directions daily, scheduling ‘FUN’ for myself is always last on the list. Can we all agree that after we do spend time with our girlfriends, we somehow feel more human and as though we can re-conquer the world? Isn’t it interesting how spending time with our gals makes US A BETTER US?

God created US relational. God created US to have a relationship with Him! If God needs a relation-ship with US, how much more do we need a relationship with Him and His people? GOD SPEAKS TO US AND THROUGH US and since the beginning of time, God has used people to deliver His word, to deliver His touch, to deliver healing to our souls. If we don’t start scheduling time to ‘hang’ with our sisters, we can very well be missing out on His true riches and His divine appointments.



Through Premier Designs, I get to use the beautiful vehicle of ‘High Fashion Jewelry’ in giving women a reason to schedule FUN with their girlfriends! For 30 years, God has blessed, provided for and shown His favor on this amazing company and this business! Jewelry knows NO recession being an $80 billion industry and is consistently the #1 gift item in America…Jewelry Sells! Premier Designs is the #1 High Fashion Jewelry Company in America and the standard in the DSA! With every Jewelry Showing I greet tired strangers as they hurry inside, as if mentally crossing one more ‘to-do’ off their list. During the Jewelry Showing I see shoulders drop, guards come down and frowns turned upside down! As they gather their things to leave they are laughing, carefree as we hug, confirm-ing their own scheduled time of FUN! All because of Premier Designs, they leave feeling empowered, encouraged, and strengthened! Isn’t this the goal…for women to leave you more blessed than when they came?

Join me in serving women with that ‘personal touch’! I can’t be the only one around town, looking Sassy & Chic in Premier Designs Jewelry!

‘Serving you with SPARKLE & SHINE since 2009’Christy C. Stacy

817-991-5987christyCstacy.mypremierdesigns.com

(access code: bling)‘I love what I do and you can too!’



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YOU TIME

Scheduling “you” time …yes, you have time. Schedule it! In this fast paced go – go – go world, who has time for self? Rush to work, get the kids from school, go to the grocery store, off to work, pick up the kids, run the kids to different activities, cooking and eating. I know I’m as guilty of this as anyone. That is skipping “me” time. I made a commitment to myself at the beginning of the year to schedule “Nicole time.”

What this spells out for me is quiet time in the morning – just me, my devotional, my Bible and my pups at my feet. Spending that peaceful time in the morning, I prepare my-self for the day. I set my attitude of grati-tude for the day. After all, “This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Sometimes, it will be ten minutes, but mostly it’s twenty to thirty minutes. I know if I haven’t spent that morning in quiet time, my day will always seem a lot more hectic.

Here are just a few places to start: 1) Start with getting up just a little bit earlier. At first, try ten minutes. As it becomes more of a habit, increase that to twenty or thirty minutes. 2) Find a location that you love such as a favorite chair, most importantly, some-where you won’t be disturbed.3) Find a devotional or inspirational book. Some of my favorites are Jesus Calling by Sarah, The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson, and Battlefield of the Mind or Fruit of the Spirit by Joyce Meyer.

Written by: Nicole Land


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Make time for exercising. In January of this year, exercise was the first thing I put on my calendar, and I fit everything else around it. So many positive benefits come from exer-cise; a release of endorphins, weight loss and just a general feeling better about yourself. You seem to walk a little taller. Personally, this is one of the first areas that will go into my life when my schedule becomes too hectic.

1) Start slow. Schedule a fifteen to thirty minute walk three to five times a week. 2) While you walk, have a huge smile on your face.3) Include your family and pets. They love exercise, too.4) Praying while you walk is a perfect time to clear your mind and be thankful for all the beauty around you.5) Try downloading a book on tape to your smart phone, something uplifting.6) If you have more time in your schedule, check out a local yoga studio or gym.

“What lies ahead, I have no way of knowin’, but under my feet baby, grass is growin’. It’s time to move on…it’s time to get goin’.” Tom PettyFriend time, fellowship and times of encouragement, are so important. I’m personally involved in a few groups: book club, Bible study and Pokeno. In addition, I schedule a dinner or lunch with different girlfriends a couple of times a month. We, as women, put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be the right Mom, wife or employee. Once a month, treat yourself to something just for you; perhaps, a new hairdo, a pedicure, a massage or a new outfit.

Affiliation+Participation=Destination“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it al-lows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” – Eleanor Brown

Connect with Nicole on Facebookhttp://www.thrivewithnicole.com/

http://www.facebook.com/abalancedlifeyoga


PROPER SLEEP POSITIONWRITTEN BY- KAYLA SMILEY, D.C.

It is estimated that the average American sleeps 1/3 of their total lifetime. For someone who is 75 years

of age, this is a total of 25 years spent sleeping! Considering this huge percentage of our lives spent

sleeping, it is crucial to understand the impact the way we sleep can have.

Many people are concerned with their posture while they are awake and living their lives, but have no

idea that the way they sleep can have negative effects on their posture and overall health as well. The

following are the proper sleeping positions for the stomach, side and back sleeper.

First, we’ll take a look at stomach sleepers. I will go ahead and say that if you are a stomach sleeper,

I would strongly recommend you try to train yourself to sleep in a different way as sleeping on your

stomach puts an enormous amount of negative pressure on your cervical spine (your neck). Think

about having your neck turned one way or the other for 6-8 hours at a time, this is essentially what is

happening when you sleep in this position. However, if this is the only way you can sleep, I recom-

mend a pillow that does not have a lot of resistance or density to it, for example a buckwheat pillow.

Next, let’s move on to side sleepers. If you are a side sleeper, there are two key things that you should

consider. The first being support for your neck and head and the other being support for your pelvis.

Let’s start with the neck and head support. The ideal side sleeper pillow accomplishes two things: 1)

it supports the cervical spine in a neutral position; and 2) it supports the musculature between the neck

and shoulder on the side you are laying. There are some companies that make pillows specifically

for side sleepers, however it is important to have a qualified retailer or healthcare professional assess

which size is right for you. The second thing to be aware of if you are a side sleeper is that you need

some sort of support between your legs to keep your pelvis in neutral as well. Because of the biome-

chanics of our pelvis and lower extremities, when we lay on our sides without a support between our

legs our pelvis becomes torqued due to the gap and gravity. This torsion can lead to severe back pain

and unfortunately most people would never look to their sleeping posture as the culprit!


Lastly, let’s talk about back sleepers. This is by far

the best way to sleep for a number of reasons, but

perhaps the most important is that if you have the

right pillow, it can actually be therapeutic for your

cervical spine. Your cervical spine is designed to

have an anterior curve, or lordosis, in it. Because

of the way we sit at desks, in front of the TV, tex-

ting and our posture in general, a large percentage

of the population develops what is called anterior

head carriage. Anterior head carriage is a result of

a straightening of the cervical spine due to the re-

petitive load placed on it. This in turn, causes stress

to be placed on your spinal cord and allows the de-

generative process to begin. Many problems besides just general neck pain can be attributed to this

straightening of the cervical spine. Luckily, there are ways to prevent this and sleeping on a good cer-

vical pillow on your back is one of them. Cervical pillows are designed to gently reinforce the proper

curve in your cervical spine while you are sleeping. Much like the side sleeping pillow I referred to

earlier, it is a good idea to have someone qualified in sleeping posture assessment to evaluate and fit

you with the proper sized cervical pillow.

In closing, I would like to reiterate the importance of taking steps (if you haven’t already) to improve

the way in which you sleep. A number of problems can be prevented, alleviated or at the very least

greatly reduced simply by making sure your body is supported correctly while you are sleeping.

Kayla Smiley, D.C.

The Joint West Village

3699 McKinney Ave, Ste 404

Dallas, TX 75204

Phone: 972.584.1800

www.thejoint.com


YOGA BALANCE COLLEGE DEGREE PAYSPAYING FOR IT IS CHALLENGING

Written by: Joy Simar

As parents, we understand the value of obtaining a college education in today’s compet-

itive workforce. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a typical college graduate earned

$11,749 in the last three months of 2011, nearly three times more than a high school

dropout’s salary of $4,026. And for most with graduate degrees, the median earnings

were $15,733 for the same period.1

But, even though a college diploma can pave the way to greater advancement and earn-

ings potential, paying for it still remains a challenge for most American families. A re-

cent Christian Science Monitor article reports the average tuition for a public, four-year

state school rose 5% in 2012 to $8,655 per year.2 And, at private institutions, students

need to shell out a staggering $39,518 per year for tuition, fees, and room and board. All

told, in the past five years, tuition costs for private schools have increased 13% beyond

overall inflation.2

Even as college tuition and other costs reach unprecedented levels, there are still plenty

of options available to help ease the financial burden. Look into available state and uni-

versity scholarships, financial aid packages, special college savings plans, and low-cost

loans.

Here are some steps you can take to make the whole process as easy and as painless as

possible.

• Improve your credit score. Establishing good credit can help you secure the low-cost

loans you may need—and save thousands of dollars.

• Plan for the unexpected. Estate planning and the right kinds of insurance will help

protect against the derailment of your child’s college plans.


• Save smart and early. Gain a significant

advantage and maximize your resourc-

es by choosing the college-savings plan

that’s right for you.

• Ask relatives to share the responsibil-

ity. Talk to grandparents and other rela-

tives about contributing money to your

college fund.

• Encourage your children to save. Teach

your kids to start saving for college early

by putting aside a portion of their mon-

etary gifts.

College is a major investment in your

child’s future. And, like any investment,

it is wise to do as much early preparation

and research as possible. It may also be

beneficial to consult an experienced financial professional who can advise you based on

the specifics of your situation.

This educational, third-party article is provided as a courtesy by Joy Simar, Agent, New

York Life Insurance Company. To learn more about the information or topics discussed,

please contact Joy Simar at [email protected]...(214)869-9580

1The Wall Street Journal, “College Grads Earn Nearly Three Times More Than High

School Dropouts,” Neil Shah, April 2, 2013.

2The Christian Science Monitor, “College Costs Keep Rising Faster than Inflation, Survey

Says,” Philip Elliott, Associated Press, August 13, 2013.


At the age of 3, I was molested by a female family member and for many years I buried the shame of it deep within. By the time I was 5 years old, I was fully aware that my biological father was not inter-ested in being a permanent fixture in my life and so my search for a replacement began. While growing up my mother was involved in 2 serious relationships, one was with an older man, whom was both physically and emotionally abusive. Yet because I was so desperate for male attention I clung to him and ignored the awful things that he did to my mother. Also during this time my mother had decided to bus me to a talented and gifted school that was an hour and a half away from the inner city in which I resided. She wanted me to have access to resources that the inner city schools could not provide. It was then that I experienced some of the most hateful encounters of my life. I was spit on, ridiculed and called a Nigger, not only by my peers, but by their parents as well. And so even though I knew that what was going on at home wasn’t any better, at least I had someone to call DAD. At the age of 9, by the grace of God my mother left DADDY W (which I called him) and later began a relationship with the man whom I consider my father, even to this day. My dad had 6 children and I was nicely wedged between his last 2 boys. As an only child I had always longed for siblings and I felt so lucky that I now had a little brother and a big brother close to my age. Again because I was so desperate for male attention I ignored the fact that my dad’s son, my big brother, just a year and a half older than me, showed me lots of inappropriate attention. And at the age of 13 years old he raped me. For years again, because of the shame I kept it buried DEEP down inside of me. I could go on and on with all the other horrific and traumatizing things that occurred between the ages of 13 to 28; all of which include being beaten by my biological father at 13, being beaten by the police at 17, living a life of promiscuity as a teen, marrying at 20 only to separate at 28 and come back together at 31, miscarrying twice within 6 months to the day and being diagnosed with a chronic condition at 28 (for which I have had 4 surgeries on my bladder). Yet what I most want to leave you with is that #INSPITEOF it all I have TRIUMPHED!!! I am a wife, mother, & entrepreneur, who strives to work with and in my community to help STRETCH WHAT THEY BELIEVE THEIR LIMITS TO BE, TEACH THEM HOW TO JUGGLE IT ALL AND ELEVATE THEMSELVES TO A PLACE THEY NEVER DEEMED POSSIBLE.

So here are my WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THOSE STRUGGLING TO TRIUMPH #INSPITEOF...As a survivor of neglect, abandonment, rape, molestation, racism and discrimination, I stand firm in my belief that you can overcome your tragedies, trials and tribulations. I am a firm believer that#INSPITEOF barriers such as a failed marriage, partnership or relationship; it is still possible to succeed in love, your career, and everything in between.

#INSPITE OFwritten by Wendy Whitmore


Many times when barriers are put into place and our marriage fails or our partnership dissolves, we find ourselves wanting to blame the world for our unhap-piness. Many of us will choose to play the victim and not hold ourselves accountable for the part that we played in the things that are bringing us so much un-happiness.

When tragedy strikes we naturally have a tendency to “fall apart”. And when trials and tribulations cause barriers in our lives, hindering us from being success-ful at love and in our careers; we look to place the blame on our partners, co-workers, mates, friends and family.

Yet the truth is, we are capable (although it can feel like we can’t and won’t get through it) of withstanding all the negative, hurtful and disappointing things that may come our way. We have to choose not to be a victim.

As a young woman I consciously made the choice to succeed and triumph #INSPITEOF the tragedies, trials and tribulations that occurred in my life. I chose to not label myself as a victim and to stand tall and be proud of the fact that I was a survivor of neglect, abandonment, rape, molestation, racism and discrimination. I chose to focus on my strengths instead of my weaknesses. I chose to embrace my

flaws, imperfections and shortcomings and to use them as a learning tool for both myself and the people around me. I learned that choosing to live my life to the fullest meant that I had to accept my past and my mistakes and not allow myself to play the blame game or to be hindered by the barriers, tragedies, trials and tribulations that occurred in my life.

Choosing to triumph over tragedy, trials and tribulation #INSPITEOF all the bad that may have taken place in your life, is the true definition of success and happiness.”

Wendy Whitmore M.S. LMFT & Life Coach aka THE MASTER JUGGLER“Allow Me To Teach, Stretch and Coach You To Your Breakthrough, By Mastering The Art of Juggling Family, Career & Everything In Between AND Staying Sane Through It All” Connect With Me: [email protected] OR www.wendywhitmore.com

THE BALANCED LIFEMAGAZINE

The Balanced Life Spring 2015

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